this ish right here…

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress shoots himself in the leg at a nightclub Friday night. I’m trying to understand. Was it so cold in the D that Plax had to keep the peace by hiding a piece in his pants pocket? Was he scared that some random cocktail waitress would nut up and throw a glass of Hypnotiq in his face because he didn’t tip her? I mean, what’s really going on?

Epic Fail, man.

be thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

where is a safe haven from bad parenting?

The state of Nebraska recently amended its “Safe Haven” law adding an age limit provision in order to prevent a spate of nearly grown kid dropoffs at local hospitals. One particular case that made national news was when a father abandoned his 9 children, ranging from age 1 to 15 because he felt “overwhelmed”.  Since July of this year, over 30 children and teenagers have been left at these safe havens. The previous version of the law allowed parents or caretakers to drop off their children up until the age of 19 at a designated safe haven if the child was in danger. The new law limits the age of the child to just 30 days.

I don’t get it. It seems to me Mom and Dad, that once Junior starts walking and talking, you can’t make a return on him. He’s a kid, not a car. You chose to have him; you have an obligation to keep and care for him. Yes, there are circumstances that happen which can make life difficult, but do you really think that packing your child in a car, dropping him off at a hospital, and driving away will make it all better? How do you think your child feels knowing that Mom and Dad, the examples of strength and responsibility decided to just cut and run because bills can’t be paid, or an illness or death impacts the family dynamic?

I hope that with the change in the law, legislators in Nebraska and other states will make a concerted effort to improve mental health and family services. Because of budget constraints, many states are forced to cut these kinds of services. As a result, families in crises are more often than not left to fall through the cracks. However, that’s just part of the problem. We are living in a throwaway society where at the slightest hint of trouble, we are willing to toss aside everything-even our children. Why even have a child if you know you aren’t mentally equipped to care for one? Having a child with a behavior disorder doesn’t make you a bad parent. Losing your job or your home due to an economic crisis doesn’t make you a bad parent. However, abandoning an older child so that the state is forced to take up your slack DOES make you a bad parent.  

And if you decide to change your mind or circumstances change and you want your child back, what makes you think you are entitled? How in the world do you explain to Junior that it was just that ONE time he wasn’t wanted, but things are better now and he’s welcome to come back. It ain’t that damn easy. Do you think that Junior would even want to come back to you? Sure, that’s fine. Give him a sense of abandonment along with everything else why don’t you? If you need help ask, demand, cajole, or plead for it. Take advantage of whatever services are offered like counseling and financial assistance. Even if you don’t think so, your child is worth you exhasuting every avenue. The consequences are too great if you don’t.

But I’m preaching to the choir. People are still going to make effed up choices no matter what I write. Maybe if the Nebraska lawmakers decided to add to the law that if a parent does abandon a child older than 30 days, they can be arrested and fined for the cost of taking care of the child. How ’bout that? Of course I don’t want children to be left with parents who might abuse or neglect them, but neither do I want laws that allow a parent to just walk away from their child with no punishment. Being a parent is a responsibility as well as a right. If a parent can’t be a child’s one true safe haven, what else is left?

campeons!

Spain’s Davis Cup team capped off the 2008 season with a decisive 3-1 win over Argentina. No one gave Spain much of chance when they landed in Mar De Plata. Rafa Nadal had withdrawn from the team due to injury and was replaced by a one Marcos Granollers (who?!) . Along with the ultra famous Granollers, Captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario had a slumping David Ferrer, an inconsistent Feliciano Lopez, and a headcase called Fernando Verdasco. They faced a strong Argentinian squad headed by veteran David Nalbandian and hot shot Juan Martin Del Potro fresh from his debut at the Shanghai Master’s Cup. To make things worse for Spain, they had to play on a fast home court in front of a hostile crowd that was hungry to see their hometown team finally win a Davis Cup title.

You can’t help but feel for the Argentines. Everything was supposed to go their way. They had home court advantage, the surface of their choosing, two strong singles players, a boisterous sold out crowd, and no Nadal. But strange things happens as they often do in Davis Cup; expectations are defied, nerves are replaced with steely resolve, and inconsistency is brushed aside by fearlessness. Lopez took out Del Potro. He then teamed up with Verdasco and beat Nalbandian and his partner Augustin Calleri. Verdasco continued the run with a win over late minute replacement Juan Acasuso (Del Potro came up lame after his defeat). And after all was written and done, the Spainards held the cup aloft.

So much is made about the importance of team harmony and strength of depth. It is especially salient in regards to tennis since Davis Cup contests are held only four times a year. What the experts never counted on was that the Spaniards were a solid team who were bound by friendship and deep sense of national pride. It never crossed their minds not to do anything and everything short of dying on court to win that title.  The Argentines seemed to have placed all of their hopes of the shoulders of three men: Their two countrymen and the Spaniard who was stuck at a beach resort in Mauritius. There was no plan B for the Argies, while Team Espana had a plan A, B, and C.

Congratulations to the Spanish Davis Cup Team. I hope you celebrate in style!

10 cds a music lover should own: hip hop (part 2)

Moving right along….

• 6.  Criminal Minded (Boogie Down Productions)-Victors of the Bronx vs. Queens War fro bragging rights, MC KRS-One and DJ Scott LaRock dropped Ciminal Minded  to high acclaim in 1987. Classics such as “Criminal Minded” and “South Bronx” moved the crowd and raised rap to a new consciousness. Sadly, LaRock was murdered in August of that year and even though BDP continued to turn out a steady stream of hits throughout the late ’80’s and early ’90’s one can’t help but wonder what further heights could they have attained if La Rock had lived.
• 7.  Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life (Jay-Z)-Yeah, yeah, yeah you can argue with me until the end of days that “Resonable Doubt” should be at this spot instead of Vol. 2. But, while few would disagree that the former solidified Jay’s status as rap’s heir apparent, no one would deny that the latter turned Jay into a rap superstar. Every track is solid and on point and it still sounds as fresh today as it did when it was released in 1998. Vol 2 also won the Grammy for Best Rap album. So there!
• 8.  The Chronic (Dr. Dre)-Call this Dr. Dre’s freedom song if you will. The Chronic was his declaration of independence from the looming shadows of Easy-E and Ice Cube. With this cd, Dre completely reconfigured West Coast Hip Hop and as a result, it became one of the best selling cd’s of the genre. Showcasing his extraordinary production skills, Dre tapped up and coming artists such as Snoop Doog, The Dogg Pound, and Lady of Rage to create some of the banginest hits in rap history. The Chronic is a true classic.
• 9.  Miss E…So Addictive (Missy Elliott)-Missy Elliott’s third solo outing is certainly her best. With her partner in crime Timbaland, Missy had always pushed the envelope. She might have been the first singer who could rap to break the charts, but she was and still is, the best. What she lacked in pure rap skill, she always made up with tantalizing beats and danceable melodies. Tell me that, “Old Skool Joint” or “Get Ur Freak On” won’t make you move something.
• 10. License to Ill (The Beastie Boys)-No this isn’t an Affirmative Action pick. If it was, I would have thrown Vanilla Ice up in this piece. License To Ill is one of the best rap cds ever made, period. Under the helm of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, Mike D, Ad Rock and MCA rapped about broads, beats, and booze with wry wit coupled with a touch of rock. It appealled to everyone from urban youth to frat boys. This was the cd that truly placed rap in the mainstream without losing an ounce of it’s edge. The Beastie Boys were never a parody, they were true hip hop artists and this cd shows why.

10 cds a music lover should own: hip hop/rap (part 1)

Ever get tired of reading an article or watching a news story about a list of what music you just have to have? Well have no fear; here’s another list. I make no secret that I love music. I upload a song everyday on my Facebook page. I listen to my IPOD anytime I’m out of the office and I have my ITunes bumping when I’m in it. My love for music crosses all genres, subgenre’s, ages, space, time, etc..etc.. What I’ve noticed is that most music addicts like me have a core set of CD’s/albums/mp3’s as part of their collections. I’ve decided to share mine with the world. If you agree, then you are indeed a real music lover. If you don’t, well these lists will help you get there. Let’s start off with Hip Hop/Rap.

1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill)-When the indelible Ms. Hill dropped her solo debut in 1998, no one was prepared for the near flawless fusion of R &B and Rap that this CD delivered. Highly personal, fiercely artistic, and perfectly produced Miseducation showed who the real MVP of the Fugees was. Standout tracks such as “Lost Ones”, “Ex-Factor”, and “Everything Is Everything” make this CD a bonafide classic and a must have for any hip hop head.
2. Death Certificate (Ice Cube)-By the time Death Certificate dropped in 1991, Ice Cube had already been hailed as a premiere MC, but his second solo outing solidified that label. One of the first concept rap cd’s, Ice Cube spit tales of hope, despair, anger, and resignation with vivid imagery and rapid fire delivery. And without a doubt , “No Vaseline” is still one of the best dis records ever.
3. Mama Said Knock You Out (LL Cool J)-LL came back hard on his 4th cd released in 1990. While hip hop was becoming more militant and introspective, LL delivered more braggadocio and sex appeal and it completely worked. Cuts like “Boomin’ System” and “Round the Way Girl” became hip hop anthems. Mama Said truly gave LL a reason to call himself the G.O.A.T.
4. Doggstyle (Snoop Dogg)-No debut was as highly anticipated nor delivered on its promise as well as Snoop Dogg’s. Moving from Dr. Dre’s sidekick to premiere MC, Snoop rode the wave of West Coast Rap’s growing popularity to superstardom. Snoop was cut a unique figure with his languid cadence, clever wordplay, braids, and kahkis. Backed by Dr. Dre’s beats and guest appearances by the Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg and Lady of Rage, Doggystyle is the best solo rap debut ever.
5. Fear of a Black Planet (Public Enemy)- In the spring of 1990, “Fight The Power” was bumping through every stereo from New York to Los Angeles. Hip Hop fans finally had their own theme song  by way of Chuck D and his invenerate sideman Flava Flav. Fear of A Black Planetwas the cornerstone of political hip hop. Melding street knowledge with the philosophy of Nation of Islam, “Welcome to the Terrordome” and “911 Is A Joke” voiced the fear and frustration that  Reagan era politics inflicted upon the inner cities and small towns. With sparse drum beats and intelligent rhymes, Chuck and Flav didn’t rap for the sake of rhyming. They truly had something to say, and everyone listened.

no country for bitter old men

Defeated, convicted, and worn out Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska gave a farewell speech to his fellow Senators today on Capitol Hill. At the age of 85 and 7 felony charges looming over him, he finally conceded defeat and will finally leave Washington. There’s not much good I can say about Senator Stevens. I like my Senators younger, friendlier, and with no criminal record-but that’s just me. Obviously his Senate colleagues liked him enough because they gave him a standing ovation after he spoke. One could argue that it was a show of respect for 40 years of public service (or that folks should always clap after an old guy speaks). But the tone and the circumstances just didn’t seem to justify that kind of response. Ted Stevens is prime example of all that is wrong with Washington.  You know, those politicians who are so caught up with a sense of entitlement that they feel as if they can get away with any and everything-and Ted Stevens almost did. He thumbed his nose at the law and once he was caught, he bitterly refused to bow out of the limelight with grace and honor.

So we bid you adieu, Ted. Hopefully your successor will serve the state of Alaska better than you have.

To see Ted’s farewell:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/20/ted-stevens-farewell-spee_n_145202.html

don’t forget about us!

Name: Ashley Dupree

Claim to Fame: Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s favorite good time girl.

Now she’s speaking out to tell her side of the story which is the story that most hookers have to tell: He gave me a call. I showed up. He paid me. We did the do. I left. The only reason why she generated so much interest was because her john was a Governor who was thought to have walked the moral high ground. But hasn’t history repeated itself enough to let us know that those who try to be so high are the ones who have the farthest to fall. So now it’s Ashley’s turn to get her 15 minutes and some more cash. She’s even throwing an apology to the wife. How noble. NEXT!

Name: Sam “Joe The Plumber” Wurzelbacher

Claim to Fame: Obama Questioner and McCain campaign created PR Monster.

He’s become the thing that will not go away. Kind of like Sarah Palin without the real job, the appeal, or the personality. Since he was first mentioned in the Presidential Debate, Joe the “not quite the plumber” has become a celebrity. He’s been on the news, on talk shows and on the campaign trail stumping for McCain against the “wealth spreader” Barack Obama and freeloaders like himself who received welfare benefits, ducked out on taxes, and got behind on child support payments. But forget all of that. Joe is planning on further capitalizing on his fame by releasing a book next month called, “Fighting for the American Dream” (he writes!) , making a country album (he sings!), a gearing up to run for Congress in 2012 (he serves the public!). As much as we would love him to, Joe is not planning on taking a slow walk in fast traffic anytime soon.

Name: Dr. Alan Keyes

Claim to Fame: Perinnial Presidential Candidate and hater of all things Obama

That other African American politician simply refuses to let anyone forget about him. After losing the Presidency as the Candidate for the American Independent Party (awww!), Dr. Keyes is convinced that President elect Obama has done the ultimate bamboozle. You see, there are some who think Barack Obama is not a natural born American citizen even though he has provided a birth certificate, a birth announcement, and all the other stuff you need to prove that you were born in the U.S. But for reasons only known to Keyes, he thinks otherwise. He has joined that tinfoil hat wearing contingent in filing a suit in the state of California to block Obama’s electoral vote verification until it is proven that Obama is indeed a red blooded American man. Damn Alan, I know it hurts to lose against a guy who happens to have a hold on sanity for a second time, but you are better than the wingnuttery that hovers just under the surface of the Right. Your place is in front of a podium in a near empty room pointing at something in the distance, and using big words. Stick to your own brand of crazy Alan, I beg you.

what to do about joe…

Joe Lieberman has to be sweating in his dress socks right about now. Later this morning, the Democratic Senate Caucus will be voting whether or not to  remove him from the chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee, boot him out of the caucus, and/or strip him of his seniority status. Joe brought all of this on himself with his open love affair of all things John McCain and his open lust for war against any entity that doesn’t hold Israel in the highest esteem. Plus, he hadn’t been so nice about Barack Obama during the Presidential campaign. As a result, his name has been moved to the top of the list of nearly every Democratic politician’s slam book.

The Netroots have been calling for Joe’s scalp ever since he ran for re-election a couple of years ago as a Liebercrat (you know, not quite Independent-not quite Democrat, just Joe). They’ve blogged until their fingers have bled ranting about his lack of loyalty, his divisive nature, and his general whininess. Nope, Joe is not a popular guy but I don’t think that really matters to him. He knows he’s needed and I suppose to him, being needed at this moment in time is much more important than being liked.

So the Senate Democrats are faced with some tough decisions.  Do they keep a guy around that votes with them on every issue except the war in order to increase their majority? Can they trust him to stay as chairman and not undermine Obama’s policies regarding the war? If they do decide to cut him loose, will he run to the Republicans and caucus with them? If Al Franken wins in Minnesota, Jim Martin wins in Georgia, and Mark Begich win in Alaska would Joe’s services be required then?

If it is the general consensus that Lieberman needs to be punished somehow what would be the consequences? There is a risk that the Caucus could be seen as petty and vindictive. We’re in the era of change . The same old political games are supposed to be obsolete. Embracing your opponents is the de riguer of the new administration. Okay, enough of that. Let’s get back to reality. It’s really all about choosing between the path lined with nails or the path lined with fire.

The President-Elect has wisely kept out the fray, leaving things to Majority Leader Harry Reid  & Company to solve.  Considering everything that is at stake, it looks as if Joe might not be the only Senator who will need to change socks.

UPDATE!!!

The Democratic Senate has voted 42-13 in favor of Joe keeping his charimanship of the Homeland Security Committee. In return, he will be removed from the Environmental & Public Works panel and the Senators get to put in writing how much they thought his behavior sucked by putting out a resolution.

It’s a win.

But for who?

The Best Matches of 2008

The tennis season is over (with the exception of the Davis Cup final this weekend. Vamos Espana!) but I didn’t want to wait until the make my list of best matches of the year. It was a rollicking unpredictable year for tennis fans. New number #1’s emerged, new stars broke out, and the Olympics added to the drama. It was just a cornucopia of good matches. I feel really lucky to be a fan of the best sport in the world.

So here’s my list of the best matches of 2008, starting with the ladies:

5. Ana Ivanovic vs. Daniela Hantuchova -Australian Open Semifinal (0-6, 6-3,6-4)

4. Serena Williams vs. Jelena Jankovic-Sony Ericsson Open Final (6-1, 5-7, 6-3)

3. Dinara Safina vs. Maria Sharapova-French Open Round of 16 (6-7, 7-6, 6-2)

2. Venus Williams vs. Serena Williams-Wimbledon Final (7-5, 6-4)

1. Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams-U.S. Open Quarterfinal (7-6, 7-6)

And the Fellas..

5. Rafael Nadal vs. Carlos Moya-Chennai Open Final (6-7, 7-6, 7-6)

4. Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer-Australian Open Semifinal (7-6, 7-6, 6-4)

3. Andy Murray vs. Novak Djokovic-Masters Series Cincinnati final (7-6, 7-6)

2. Andy Murray vs. Roger Federer -Master Cup Shanghai RR (6-4,7-6, 7-5)

1. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer-Wimbledon Final (6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7)