Connect The Dots !

Maternal Grandmother, Mary 'Mammy' Bennett was a Central City, Kentuckian transplanted in the 1920's  East St. Louis, Illinois. Her husband, E.V. Bennett left the Kentucky coal mines to pursue a carpenter's life 'up North.' Of course, the crash of '29 devastated the hopes of E.V. and certainly made him a somewhat bitter man towards government. E.V. did hold on to a few houses and his grocery store where Mammy managed and worked. Mammy Bennett was a God-fearing woman who preached and personally witnessed the gospel of Jesus Christ. As they say, she' talked the talk and walked the walk.'


I was one of many frequent targets of Mammy's sermons; I hung out at my grandparents home often and loved them dearly. Mammy's actions were as powerful as her words. I watched her carefully as she interacted with family, friends, neighbors and grocery store customers. Back in the 1940's, the area had frequent transient workers some noted as ''train-jumpin' Hobos.' Mammy would often befriend these vagabond beggars. She would find them some leftover vittles and perhaps an old shirt of E.V.'s to replace a tattered one. I suppose Mammy was hung-up on that scripture about 'share what you have for such is pleasing to the Lord.' Maybe it is the scripture suggesting: 'Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord.'
 Mammy, on several occasions knowing that a family was going through tough-times would enter a penciled number into a store customer's account booklet and tell them, "When you get back on your feet a bit you can catch-up with your payment." Overtime that customer would find times better and begin; making-good on the account. Mammy would often accept the monthly paybacks to a point and then tear up the bill. I guess Mammy was living-out the scripture about 'doing for the least of HIS people.'
Come to think of it, my Mammy's thinking and behavior was a forerunner to today's government 'link-card' and welfare assistance...why Mammy followed the teachings of her Lord...you connect the dots !


'After the game...both the King and pawn go into same box.'  Old Italian Proverb

Drink of Choice

Recently, a friend emailed to tell me that he attempted to read my blog but stopped because he thought I had consumed too much 'Obama Kool Aid.' He went on to imply that I likely have second thoughts about Obama considering 'his' White House Administration' and the impotent folks with which, Obama surrounded himself. I gave the emailer's comments some thought and still cannot square-it-all.


A few days later, I read where many Republican Senators argue that Obama's proposal to cut the military budget is unacceptable to these 'war hawks.' Of course, the pro-war crowd will stand before microphones and lament the weakness of our Nation's defense should we reduce forces and trim back on expenditures. Damn if that makes any sense at all to this Kool Aid guzzling liberal. If we are no longer fighting a war in Iraq and plan to withdraw more soldiers from Afghanistan then why the hell would we keep our expenditure levels at the same higher (at war) mode. I pay my professional lawn care guy $250.00 for lawn protection during the spring-summer and fall months. I sure the hell would not give him lawn care money during the winter dormant months.


Let's cut out the bullshit, okay. We all know that war is an economic boost to our nation's economy; always has been and seems to be the likely scenario in the predictable future. Never mind trying to explain to the 'Hawkers' about human sacrifice. We all know which socio-economic status makes up the most 'foot-soldiers.' Whereas most ranking military officers come from higher income families, the greatest number (percentage) of ground (Army) soldiers come from the middle-class... and Blacks are disproportionately found in greater numbers in the Army.  While country club members watch the market closing numbers; union card-holding families watch the evening news war coverage.


We certainly would not be 'cutting' the defense budget or even withdrawing troops from any occupied country if that 'other' outfit had been elected back in 2008. Why Senator John McCain would ante 'up' in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as bomb the Iranians while  sending troops to Syria and Ukraine. As for the little GOP darling, Sarah Palin, she would be content shooting rockets from her back porch where she "can see Russia."
...my emailing friend needs to drink some PRUNE JUICE !

To Thine Ownself...

Michael Sam is a Missouri University football player who anticipates being drafted by a National Football League team this May. He is likely a middle-round draft pick but he is receiving first-round media attention due to his recent announcement that he is a homosexual...'gay.' A few days ago, I watched a press conference conducted by the rather affable athlete. He answered one question after another about his personal life, which was totally unrelated to that which he apparently does well>>>play freaking football.
Several days later another professional athlete, Jason Collins stood before a similar group of scribes to answer questions about his sexual orientation. Collins plays NBA basketball for the Brooklyn 'Nets.'


While watching these pencil-scribbling media-reporting-homophobic nut-bags, I had another thought; suppose Michael Sam or Jason Collins were proven successful brain surgeons who were going to do delicate and complicated surgery on your child; they have done this procedure successfully hundreds of time. Would you give a rat's ass about their sexual preference? Would you give a crap that they were Catholic, Methodist or atheist? Before opening your child's skull, would you ask the doctors if they were 'banging' any nurses? The answer to all these questions and others not posed is absolutely...NO ! Therefore, why are we Americans such Puritanical hypocritical prudes?


Just weeks ago, Arizona lawmakers passed legislation that will permit businesses to 'deny' service to anyone if the person (s) seeking service has different beliefs than the business owner. I recall a few years ago when a physician refused treatment on an injured person because that person had tattoos and piercings. The ultra-conservative Christian physician said, 'scripture' instructs us not to pierce or mark on our bodies. To paraphrase our Lord...'He who is without sin cast the first stone'...'Physician heal thyself.'
Meanwhile, a question for Arizonians ...if a North Carolina tobacco farmer opens a restaurant in your State why can't he allow HIS patrons to smoke inside HIS building where HE is paying the mortgage? Is that issue not centered around  personal belief and choices??

Dr. King Deserves Better

Last Sunday evening, I watched a 3-hour 'routine' on ESPN that reminded me of the famous comedy routine delivered thousands of times by the late comedic-team Abbott and Costello. This ESPN routine (show) was NOT funny but somewhat pitifully sad. More on that soon but first about the Bud Abbott / Lou Costello shtick. You all recall how little-chunky 'would-be'  baseball player,  Lou asked pretend baseball manager-straight-man Abbott, "Who's on first?" Abbott responds, "WHO IS on first." The next seven-to-eight minutes has audiences in stitches.


The ESPN show was filled with similar gobbledygook and misunderstood semantics double-talk similar to the "Who's on first" comedy routine; unfortunately, this ESPN subject left no laughter!! In fact, it caused me to be disgusted. The three-hour long debate focused on the use of the 'N' word. Dozens of celebrities, (mostly Black) including sports' writers, athletes and entertainers weighed in on the topic with their opinions as did many ordinary folks who were attempting to get their minds around what was being stated...believe me, what was stated, mostly, was nonsense.


The question...is usage of the 'N' word ever acceptable? The obvious conclusion after much beating around the bush by all parties who were trying their best not to offend anybody was this: White people should not use the 'N' word but some Blacks believe it to be okay for Black people to use the 'N' word because they take the negative power away as they use the 'N' word with other Blacks as an endearing term. I say bull crap and I stand on solid ground. Throughout the years, I coached many White and Black basketball players. While coaching at Edwardsville high school (1970's) and Jacksonville high school (21-years) I received anonymous telephone calls and letters calling me a "N.....-Lover." I always suspected that those anonymous attacks came from prejudice White parents with self-interests and low basketball IQ's. I played the best male athletes at each high school where I coached; most were White kids; many were Black kids. I had this insatiable appetite for winning...I would play the kids who gave me the best chance to WIN!


The underlying supportive comment giving Blacks the okay to use the 'N' word, while denying usage by Whites was based on the notion that the 'N' word is part of the Black culture and thus belongs to Blacks and society should understand. Again, I say bull crap  and ask the following question: If that 'N' word is such a cultural THING for Blacks for public bantering THEN we must acknowledge the Confederate Flag as White-Bubba's cultural THING!
Folks who argue for the use of the 'N' word are a personal affront to the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King...shame on them!
"WHO'S On FIRST?"

Wanna Play Catch?

"Let's have a catch, Dad." That was the underpinning phrase from the movie classic, "Field of Dreams." A grown man builds a baseball field in the middle of Iowa corn fields. Legendary baseball greats 'use' the field to play their beloved baseball game. Ultimately, the field's owner sees his deceased father on the field and joins him for a 'catch with Dad.' The movie with its moving father-son  relationship theme was embraced by movie-goers, especially men of all ages who had those days-gone-by-memories of playing catch with their father.


My own recall of 'catch' with my Dad also marks the moment in time that my career path was put in place. My father insisted on 'using' (the game) my sport participation as a vehicle to instill a myriad of 'living guideline-lessons.' I missed a thrown ball and the message: 'You'll some times miss the ball but it's your responsibility to go for it.' I garnered news clip attention for a pitching achievement and my Dad acknowledges it but quickly dismisses the words of praise asking when is the next game played; he completes the lesson saying, "People have a way of expecting more when you once deliver."


Throughout the my high school and college athletic journey, my Dad showed great support but did not dote over the my every effort. My father waas always careful to keep praise at a minimum while pointing to areas where improvement could be made or pointing to the efforts and contribution of teammates; all his actions and comments were designed to promote and instill a balanced focused life for his son.


Today, in the stillness of my personal midnights, I often allow my thoughts to fly across the many years and I recall a vast history of wonderful memories; none more sacred than those baseball 'catch' times and the comments of praise and challenge. Thanks Dad...Thanks for 'the catch.'

Only in America...Ageless Pizza

Sometimes, my wife will read my blogs but often she does not; I am hoping she does not read today's post.
I once noticed that my father ate everything and anything that my mother made and put on the family dinner table. I recall asking my Dad, "Is there any foods that you don't like?" He answered with a question of his own. "Boy, you have never gone to bed hungry have you?" I did not follow with another comment; I understood his point. Okay, here is the deal about my wife. I don't know that she ever went to bed hungry but I am convinced she values 'left-over foods' to the extent that she thinks it to be sinful to 'throw-away' left-over morsels. Whereas, I seldom if ever bring home restaurant 'left-overs', my wife never leaves a any food 'ordered' at the restaurant; "Can I have a 'to go' box, please," she insists.


I would not categorize this idiosyncrasy as one of my significant pet peeves if she actually ate the damn stuff that she brings home and shoves into the fridge! That is not often the case. I usually throw the dried up, ugly looking item into the trash four-to-five days after paying the restaurant or when it begins 'growing' fungi-fuzz.
Now comes this frightening news from our military;  they call it the 'holy grail' of ready-to-eat meals.. they have developed a pizza that has a self life of three (3) years. Oh boy, a college roommates nightmare!


This military food development should have been 'classified information!'

Not 'The Four Tops'...but..."It's The Same Old Song"

USA Today News Paper, Tuesday February 18, 2014, page 2A...'Clinton-Lewinsky Tale Won't Fade.' Oh my goodness, I cannot believe that anyone can possibly think that 'old-crap' is STILL news worthy!!! This 'sex' stuff, which Americans forever embrace and consume with insatiable appetite has no end.


It appears that the Benghazi story will not be enough to derail the Hillary Clinton 2016 Presidential campaign...so the 'right-wing' guardians of the Holy Bible, protectors of CHRIST staying IN Christmas, anti-abortionists, pro-capital punishment, water boarding and 'Shock & Awe' bombing crowd will drum-up the Cinderella 'stained-dress story.' Never mind you sorry-asses that Hillary was not guilty of anything except being married to a man who had a tryst with a subordinate., Shame on WHOM?


Here we go again...never mind that folks don't have a job when they wake up each morning; just tell us WHO THEY WERE  SLEEPING WITH THAT NIGHT.


While the self-righteous pious-paragons of virtue, i.e., Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz continue to say outlandish gobbledygook about 'Obamacare' (a law of the land), they ignore the random killings in our public square for fear they could alienate the NRA supporters. Innocent Americans are murdered daily in movie theaters, malls and schools. We continue to ignore the obvious that old ' White guys,' consuming Cialis and Viagra really get their 'gun-off'' shooting teenage 'Black boys' who look suspicious or play loud music. And for God sakes, let's all accept laws that allow us to carry concealed guns and use them in crazy-ass States that encourage the use thereof because every freaking Cowboy has the right to 'stand-your-ground!!


Dear God save us from our self-absorbed saintliness!!