We aren't the only ones with a shitty economy

TOKYO -- Japan's economy Friday showed further signs of deterioration, with industrial production and the housing sector continuing to slide and consumer spending falling sharply as the job market weakened in April.

Government figures also showed that consumer prices continued to climb, fanning concerns that inflation driven by higher food and energy prices poses dangers to the economic outlook.

Japan is facing "a typical cost-push inflation, and the economy is in weak condition," said Takehiro Sato, chief Japan economist at Morgan Stanley. "The Japanese economy will worsen gradually for a while."

Sounds somewhat messed up but it's nice to see that America isn't the only country with it's economy in the shit hole. Job's are being laid off, which happened to me and prices are still soaring commercially.

Although the United States has experienced some periods of high unemployment and other times when labor was in short supply, immigrants tended to come when jobs were plentiful. Often willing to work for somewhat lower wages than acculturated workers, they generally prospered, earning far more than they would have in their native lands. The nation prospered as well, so that the economy grew fast enough to absorb even more newcomers.But now we're feeling that back end of that and everyone struggling with still even more and more immigrants migrating to the U.S.

a WTF? moment

"Grand theft against the 7 year old" because they want to "put him in the system" to "get help". Now let that have been a politicians kid who was on coke and driving 100 miles an hour and i doubt they would have been put in the system.

Buchanan=McCain.

While surfing around on some sites I came across that one racist Pat Buchanan. Now everyones been complaining about Rev. Jeremiah Wright who I spoke about yesterday but what about Buchanan??? McCain is connected with this man and Buchanan has nothing but racist ranting as opposed to Wright who actually speaks history the TRUTH.

This is what that HATER Buchanan has said:

“First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Actually Blacks have had more freedom and prosperity while in Egypt, the greatest civilization known to man and had spirituality teachings that came from more than a hypocritical book bible.

Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America’s fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent? Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?

Of course its not white Americas fault that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven time those of white American, its the governments, oh wait that is white America. I mean who else came up with the Ghettos in which drugs and weapons were poured into them and racial profiling came about?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is BarackObama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse? We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars

40 trillion tax dollars? With that kind of number i should have had my 40 acres and a mule by now. Yes the incidents in which rape of violence with some Blacks have been exagerated but is it and exageration to say that nearly all slave women were raped by WHITE men for hundreds of years with no course of action being done about it, bearly an appology if that.

But like I said, Buchanan can spit this hateful rhetoric and get away with it because he's white and deemed not a "threat" to white America. Have Rev. Wright speak some truth and he's looked at as unpatriotic and unAmerica; irony in its greatest.


YES WE CAN! GO OBAMA!

Listen America: He's talking to you!

I've been sort of following the press about Rev. Jeremiah Wright and him being "unpatriotic". Since when is speaking the truth about the United States government unpatriotic???? Was a German speaking down on the Nazi regime for their inhuman treatment of their citizens and others considered unpatriotic?
Well for those of you who don't know or haven't heard of this very educated brotha, Rev Jeremiah Wright is President ( hehehe ) Barack Obamas old pastor. Now Obama already responded by condemning Wright's remarks, cutting his relationship to his campaign, and delivering a speech entitled "A More Perfect Union" at the Constitution Center in Philly in the speech, Obama rejected Wright's offensive comments, but refused to disown the man himself.
Here's an excerpt of a recent speech he gave as he addresses a breakfast gathering at the National Press Club in Washington, Monday, April 28, 2008.

On Whether the government created AIDS to destroy the African American community:
“Based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything.”

On Patriotism:

“Those citizens who say that have never heard my sermons,” Wright said. “I served six years in the military. Does that make me patriotic? How many years did Cheney serve? (just so you know Cheney an architect of the Iraq war, received student deferments that kept him out of military service during the Vietnam War.

“God Bless America? No, God damn America God damns some practices, and there is no excuse for some of the things the government, not the American people, have done. That doesn’t make me not like America, or unpatriotic.”

Wright, 66, said the news coverage of his sermons showed a fundamental misunderstanding of the black religious tradition in America, which evolved over hundreds of years of slavery and repression. “This is an attack on the black church,” he said. “If you think I’m going to let you talk about my momma and her religious tradition, and my daddy and his religious tradition, you’ve got another think coming.”

Though Shady Hillary and the rest of her posy feel that Wright's views ( i.e. HISTORY) are the same of Obama's, its like many have said before, your own parents say many things you don't agree with but you can still respect them.

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Thats what tax payers are saying after hearing that Bush plans on giving Americans money to "hopefully" jumpstart the economy

President Bush has issued the rebate checks about a week early, hoping the cash will help stimulate the economy.

"130 million households in America will receive $300 to $1200 in rebates, totaling $150 billion nation-wide that will be pumped into the economy.

If you paid or received your taxes by mail, expect payment in two weeks. And as early as Monday, if you paid or received your taxes by direct deposit, you might see something extra in your bank account."

Well if you are in the same boat as me about filing an extension on your taxes you may be sh** out of luck. I think I need to call Lenscrafters for my tax statements, they trying to keep me from my change!

At least i'm not in Wesley Snipes position, can't mess with the governments money like that. Not only do they get you back for all the taxes but the interest is crazy!

"Three-year prison sentence for Wesley Snipes for tax evasion, according to a court filing released – appropriately – on Tuesday, tax day. Per the papers, filed by U.S. Attorney Robert O’Neill, the actor also ought to pay a $5 million fine for his “brazen defiance” of tax laws that cheated the government out of $41 million."

I highly doubt with how the economy has been going and these gas prices that these rebates are going to do much for the economy. People, if they're smart, aren't going to be purchasing much of anything. Bush feels that the rebates are necessary to help counter balance the rising gas prices. Okay Bush, i'm going to spend that extra money you give me to give back to you through your oil companies. Can i get a hell no?

With those stacks i could be getting back from the government I have a few ideas; pay bills.

Giving Back

In 2005, Donda West and the Kanye West Foundation donated $5000 to provide textbooks for children in Sierra Leone. Those funds were used to completely rehabilitate a dilapidated, roofless school building for 416 children. A new roof, new desks, new books and a new future for children who eagerly attended school faithfully each day, regardless of their dire surroundings and home life. As a result of Ms. West’s generous donation, Shine On Sierra Leone was developed to sustain these initial efforts.

In 2008, Muddy Lotus Primary was dedicated to the memory of Donda West and her love for education. In honor of this, Shine On Sierra Leone plans to break ground for the “Donda West Library & Literacy Center” (DWLC) this fall. The Donda West Literacy Center will answer the call to an 80% illiteracy rate in the community in the community of Bongema. Serving as a library for the students of Muddy Lotus, DWLC will extend its reach to the community offering free literacy classes to parents within the community.

celeb's for Obama

This video is a compilation of well known celebrities endorsing Barack Obama. Good to see that people in Hollyweird can do something right besides sitting in front of a camera and looking good. Hollywood Stars for Change & Hope Oprah Matt Damon, Robert de Niro, Halle Barry and George Clooney for Senator Barack Obama.

YES WE CAN!

Sean Bell doesn't get Justice

Today all three of the police officers indicted were acquitted on all counts. The defendants opted to have Justice Arthur J.Cooperman make a ruling rather than a jury. The ruling was handed down in a state supreme court in Queens.

In the ruling, Justice Cooperman cited the fact that testimony by Guzman, and Benefield did not make sense. He also cited the fact that they had a pending 50 million dollar lawsuit against the city. After the ruling was made, the family, led by Sharptonand several others went to Bell's graveside in Port Washington, Long Island or a memorial service. Sharpton, Bell's family, and the rest of the crowd left after the services without incident.

This is ridiculous. It just shows the injustices that we have in America still to this day with cops getting off for crimes that regular citizens, especially those of color wouldn't.

On what some of hip-hop artist have to say about the verdict:

Ice Cube: “This is just another example that the justice system in America views a black life as worthless.”

Chamillionaire:“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that shooting an innocent, unarmed man 50-plus times is an excessive use of force,It scares me to know what type of power is given to people who are supposed to be protecting us from harm.”

UGK’s Bun B: “The verdict is almost as tragic as the incident.”

DJ Drama: “To wake up and see that — as much as things change, the more they stay the same. Anybody with a voice, you gotta use your voice and speak on it when you see injustice. That’s what I think it is: injustice.”

For more information on the family or the slaying visit: www.justiceforsean.net/

This forum will center on "...ensuring improved policing and greater public confidence in the fairness of the response to tragedies such as the Sean Bell

celeb's for Obama

Rapper Snoop Dogg says Senator Barack Obama Can Win! Its not often that i agree with snoop dog on something but hes right. Even if obama doesn't win, he's already given more confidence for future black politicians because he took the next step for equality. I mean the first black nominee for a major political party. He's already made history. Now he's just trying to make more history.

Obama wanting to do something about Georges Gas

CNN) — Less than a day after Hillary Clinton’s campaign debuted an ad that attacked Barack Obama for opposing a gas tax holiday, the Illinois senator’s campaign unveiled a new 60-second spot that dubs the idea an ineffective quick fix...

In the spot, Obama calls for an investigation of the nation’s oil companies for price gouging – a position shared by Clinton — and says Congress should adopt a long-term energy strategy that includes higher fuel efficiency standards and a greater investment in alternative fuels.

“We could suspend the gas tax for 6 months, but that’s not going to bring down gas prices long-term. You’re gonna save about 25, 30 dollars…or half a tank of gas,” he says. “That’s typical of how Washington works. There’s a problem, everybody’s upset about gas prices – let’s find some short-term, quick-fix, that we can say we did something even though, even though we’re not really doing anything.”

Please Obama find a plan for gas prices. I have a 06' Corolla that I use to spend $25 to fill, now i'm at $40. Gas prices just keep going up like Janet Jacksons weight is soon to be.

As long as republicans are in charge I doubt anything about the price gouging will be done.

The real solution would be for the United States to adapt eco friendly vehicles and really push for that but of course theres to much money invested for the rich.

celeb's for Obama

Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama at American University in Washington D.C. on January 28, 2008.



Caroline and Ted Kennedy are amazing endorsers for Barack Obama! For Caroline to step out and endorse Barack after shes shyed away from politics for years is just groundbreaking for our campaign!!! I admire the Kennedys!

Progress? No.

Many people in the United States are disalusioned and think race is no longer an issue in America . They assume since colored people have rights now thanks to Martin Luther King Jr, racism is eliminated.

Colorblind. I hate that word. How can you be colorblind in a society that teaches you Darrell is Black and Tom is White. I remember someone told me they were colorblind, they didn't see other races. So I told them that was interesting and asked what my race was, well they told me I was Black. What? I thought they were colorblind, obviously not.

RACE ARE WE SO DIFFERENT? is a public education program of American Anthropological Association exploring the science, history and lived experience of race and racism in the United States.

I've looked around on the site and its pretty interesting. Its good to see that there are groups out there that realize that race and racism is still an issue which is easily seen with our Presidential election

Where my tax money goes.

"It's probably the largest family law case in the country if you look at it as one big problem," said Vick, the former chairman of the Texas Bar's family law section.

Walther and the lawyers who gathered in her courtroom split up the 400-plus children into several categories, including teenage mothers, boys and girls of different age groups, and children with special needs. But because of confusion about birth records, authorities suspect 20 to 30 of the people seized may be adults.

Several of the children have given investigators differing stories about who their parents are, attorneys told Walther.

Fearing that members of the sect remaining on the ranch would try to influence their testimony, the judge Sunday ordered mobile phones confiscated from the 100-plus mothers who accompanied children to the shelter.

Vick said he expected some of the children to be reluctant to open up to lawyers.

"Given the background these kids have had and the culture they've been raised in, they would be afraid," he said. "So it's not surprising, and certainly they have only one experience, and they do want to go home. That's not unusual at all."

Though there have been only 123 cases filed thus far by the state's Child Protective Services Division, about 416 children -- most of them girls -- are included in the custody battles.

MAAAAAN the governments just mad that these families are all still together because if they weren't they'd be collecting big time on those child support checks like Flavor Flav and his 6 (oh wait a new one is on the way) baby mama's are.
So much [unneeded] time and media attention has been brought the the "polygamous scandal" that I've become tired of CNN and FOX. Is it really that big of a deal? How important is it to this society; how does it affect my life? The media, which we've already known, reports on news that doesn't do anything to advance or teach society. The dictionary defines news as: information about recent and important events. Keyword IMPORTANT.

Supposedly the importance in this whole thing is this:

"It was no secret that a polygamist sect that built a compound in the West Texas desert believed in marrying off underage girls to older men. And the sheriff had an informant for four years who was feeding him information about life inside the sect.

But authorities say their hands were tied until last week, when they finally obtained the legal grounds to move against the group."

Well believe me, if it was that important and all of what they said was going on it wouldn't have taken 4 years for authorities to do something; unless the police were responding to citizens call from South Central, then i could see 4 years before any action taking place.

I feel these people aren't harming anyone. Though American society feels that polygamy is wrong, for some reason, I personally feel it isn't harming anyone in society. They have their own little town and live a green life, Al Gore should be happy.


Look at the fence on that thing, ain't NO one getting in there. Or out.

"Gas and Oil Prices Hit New Records After Government Reports Supplies Fell Last Week"

Ya.. that's what Bush is saying to us as we continue to see the gas prices rise.

According to the AP, "The upward trend in energy prices showed no sign of abating Wednesday as gasoline set yet another record at the pump and crude oil topped $112 a barrel for the first time in the futures market."
The article goes on to state that "The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas rose 1.2 cents to a record $3.343 a gallon". Well if the national average is $3.34 that means here in L.A. the gas is $3.99.

There doesn't seem to be much relief in oil prices until fall and I doubt many will be driving their gas guzzlers at all. This should keep many from traveling by car this summer as well but even the airlines are having their own issues.





On a side note:

If you're looking for cheap gas in the O.C./L.A. area there's a plethora of gas stations on Westminster off the 405 that are usually $.25 cheaper than everywhere else. Only problem is you're in the hood and have homeless people trying to clean your window for $.25. - so then you end up paying the same price as everywhere else, but at least you get your window cleaned :)

A. Keys African Documentary

After spending a month last year in Africa filming a documentary on the HIV and AIDS virus devastating the people of Africa, last night on American Idol a clip of the musician/humanitarians documentary "Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland" debuted.

"Everyone who visits Africa is changed by the experience, but not everyone can afford to go to Africa," says Keys. "Come with me on my journey and learn as I learn. Let's start a virus to stop a virus- send the film to everyone you know. Let's change this nightmare into our generation's greatest success story."

The entire film will then be available on the documentary's official website.

Just because the documentary is focused primarily on the AIDS and the HIV virus in Africa, people must realize that is an issue that effects everyone globally. In the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at the end of 2003, an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, with 24-27% undiagnosed and unaware of their HIV infection are a big issue that effects everyone even in the U.S.


To help out with controlling, preventing and treating the AIDS/HIV virus support here.

With that said, lets see where the 2008 Presidential Candidates stand on the issue of HIV/AIDS


Democratic Candidates:

Sen. Barrack Obama:

• Supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment

Sen. Hillary Clinton:

• Supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment

Republican Candidate:

Sen. John McCain:

• Opposes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment

A news clip of Alicia in Africa. The quality is a little bad but sums up a lot.

This high school better start making birth control a mandatory subject

“A state public health official is urging Gloucester officials to take swift and decisive action, including allowing prescription birth control, to curb a spike in teen pregnancy among students at Gloucester High School, where a record 17 girls are pregnant.”

What is going on with everyone getting pregnant. Every time I look at Myspace someone I went to High School with seems to be pregnant or have a kid already. Keep in mind I'm 20. Republicans of course would rather schools teach abstinence but in our day in age that isn't enough. Yes teach that, but also teach safe sex practices and give students the tools such as condoms and birth control to prevent this from happening.

celeb's for Obama

Chuck D on Hip Hop & Obama at Behind the lens where Spike Lee was honored. Chuck D sure is one articulate man. Hip Hop's youth can learn a lot from him and see how effective speech like his can be to the masses. While reading the comments on this video one user wrote:

I am gettin' seriously tired of these news medias. Tryin' to involve the "Hip Hop" genration in the political BULLSHIT! Hip Hop muzik doesn't have a DAM thing to with it period. Its a culture of muzik driven idealist (artists). That just simply state whats purely good & bad! When it comes to commenting on all political evils. The medias in america are indeed full of SHIT! they always want to involve Hip Hop muzik culture in its evil.

Now obviously this man either A: Has never listened to Hip Hop music. B: Only listens to the most minuet of Hip Hop music/artist. or C: Either A or B and can't spell to save his life. First off for those who may not know, Hip Hop is a culture. It is/was inspired by the plights blacks were facing in America. In the late 70's musicians felt the need for an outlet to speak of the hardships of the organized ghetto's and suppression felt. Though there is few artist like Solja Boy who speak of nonsense, a great majority of rappers speak on their experience of growing up in America with its politics and racism. Many artists are now considered to be underground hip hop when they attempt to reflect what they believe to be the original elements of the culture. Artists/groups such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Dilated Peoples, dead prez, Blackalicious, and Jurassic 5 may emphasize messages of verbal skill, unity,activism instead of messages of violence, material wealth, and misogyny.