Feb 20 2008
I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing but these pictures/animations had me cracking up when I first saw them. I don’t even know where to give credit for most of these because I hijacked them long ago…
Jan 26 2008
Growing up in Vegas I never actually lived in the “city” of Las Vegas. This means that I never had a chance to vote on the mayor or city council. Also, I just missed out on voting for the president there because I turned 18 right after Clinton’s second term. So now the primary in Nevada is a Caucus and of course I don’t live out there anymore. But, I was able to talk with some friends and family about the experience of going to a caucus. Reading up on the process it seems like it would be pretty interesting but perception and reality are two different things.
So, I emailed two of my “insiders” who went to the Caucus…one Democrat and one Republican (of the ten or so black Republicans in Las Vegas half are in my family or I grew up with them. LOL!). I just asked them general questions about the day. It seems that the Dems had it really organized. On the other side it seems that things didn’t go as smoothly as you would expect.
But, below are the answers to the questions I sent them. This is purely for insight into the process for those in states, as myself, who only have a regular primary:
What were your first impressions when you went to the caucus?
It was very positive. There were volunteers for both Barrack and Hillary with campaign stickers outside the entrance doors. I encountered the Barrack volunteer first, took a sticker, and he directed me to the location were my precinct was meeting. Then I encountered the Hillary volunteer she gave me directions, too.
What were the demographics (in other words…any black folks except yourself)?
There was diversity, but it was majority white. I saw two black Prescient Captains.
What actually happens in the Caucus for those who don’t know?
You register with your prescient, sign in and receive a voter registration card. My caucus was in the gym of Silvertri Middle School. There were campaign signs all along the belchers along with your prescient number. You were to sit with your prescient in the section with the folks who supported your candidate. The registration was set to start at 11am. I arrived about 10:45am and registration had already begun. I sat next to a young black woman with a couple of children. I even called a couple of people to come join me at the caucus. Each prescient had a Captain and it was his/her job to direct folks where to sit and make them feel welcome. The Prescient Captain for my group had called me that morning to remind me of the caucus time and meeting place. I also had a call from the Hillary campaign from Boston informing me of the caucus meeting. By 11:45am registration was over, the doors closed and the process began. A man introduced himself as the temporary Headquarter Captain. The first order of business was to take a vote for someone else who was interested to lead the proceeding. This man said he did receive training on how to run this meeting. As a group we agreed he should keep the position. He had two welcome letters one from Pres. Bush and one from Sen. Harry Reid to read to our group. We voted not to listen to the letters but proceed. We were instructed not to fill out our ballot until the end. We sat close together with the folks that were voting for the same candidate. As we were sitting chanting starting, first someone starts chanting Hillary, then someone starting chanting Obama. Actually I like the one the Obama folks got going, “Obama08, be part of something great!” The atmosphere was very spirited, a lot like a pep rally. Once we were divided in our groups, each Prescient Captain for each candidate took a physical count of the people in attendance. A candidate had to have at least 15 people to receive delegate votes. There were 98 people in attendance and 3 choices. Folks for Edwards had less than 15 votes. They could choose to vote with Hillary or Obama or not be counted at all. Of the five Edwards’ people, one vote went to Hillary, four went to Obama. The votes were taken 3 times before the final number were decided. It ended up being a tie with Hillary and Obama each getting five delegate votes. We then filled out our paper ballots. The next order of business was to choose 10 people to actually cast the votes for our prescient at the State Assembly meeting. Five Hillary people raised their hand, and six Obama people raised their hands. Since there were to be only five Obama representatives, we were asked by the Headquarter Captain to give a 2 minute speech expressing why we wanted to go to the State Assembly. The first volunteer called on to speak changed his mind and now there were just five. But in order to be fair, the Headquarter Captain thought we should still continue with the speeches. A few people said they need to leave; it was now after 12:30pm. An older white man gave a short speech stating he was a lifetime democrat and he belonged to a local political group. I gave my speech next saying I was a librarian with the Clark County School. It would be my privilege to represent my prescient because Obama was a man I believed should be our next President. I wanted to be a part of history. The others didn’t speak, the meeting was dismissed. The volunteers went back to the registration table to fill out a form registering to be at the State Assembly.
Was everyone given a chance to talk?
Yes.
Was it an open forum or very controlled?
It was very controlled and very organized.
How was your experience?
It was a great experience and I’m glad I was there, Was it what you expected? I didn’t really know what to expect but I was very interested and even changed my personal plans so that I would be there on January 19th. I definitely would attend another caucus.
What were your first impressions when you went to the caucus?
First Impressions: Unorganized, wack and could have been done over the Internet
What were the demographics (in other words…any black folks except yourself)?
There were a few black folks, majority white.
What actually happens in the Caucus for those who don’t know?
You sit on the side of the candidate you want to support. If that candidate doesn’t get at least 15% support they are nixed.
Was everyone given a chance to talk?
Not everyone needed to talk. Only those who wanted to convince others, who were supporting a different candidate, could state their case.
Was it an open forum or very controlled?
The Dem Caucus was very open. The Republican Caucus was more controlled.
How was your experience? Was it what you expected?
On a scale of 1 - 10. I would rate it a 4. It wasn’t what I expected.
Jan 19 2008
I think that we (as Americans) do not understand fully how the world is trying to catch and surpass us. It really hit home for me in grad school because it wasn’t black v white, East v. West, North v. South…it was really American born v. Foreigner. I have a masters in a technical degree (as you can see from my poor writing skills) but it was about a 35/65 (US/Non-US) split there.
This video clip really captures how the world is changing around us…
Jan 19 2008
Keep Nate Dogg and his family in your prayers…
Former Death Row artist Nate Dogg is paralyzed on the left side of his body, his rep Rod McGrew told MTV News. Dogg, 38, suffered a mild stroke over the holidays and is in a rehab facility.
He didn’t suffer brain damage and his voice has not been affected, his rep said.
“Time will tell everything, obviously. The doctor can only guess what the outcome will be,” McGrew said. “But based on situations with similar people his age, and based on his health, the prognosis is good right now.”
Jan 14 2008
All I can say is if I found some dude naked in my closet my first impulse would be to give him a “knuckle” sandwich too. I’m just saying…
Glen Rice, a former three-time NBA All-Star and member of the 1999-2000 champion Los Angeles Lakers, was arrested on Friday and charged with felony battery after he beat a man who was hiding in his estranged wife’s closet.
Rice had apparently gone to the home of Christina Rice and found Alberto Perez hiding in a closet. The 6-foot-8 Rice then punched Perez several times before the he could flee. Perez then notified Miami police.
The former first-rounder surrendered to police and was released after posting $5,000 bond.
Rice finished his 15-year career as the NBA’s fourth all-time leader in three pointers made with 1,559.
Jan 13 2008
A little inspiration to help you through those hard days. I think I have seen this posted before, or in a forward, but I always give credit where it is due…
You say, “It’s impossible.”
God says, “All things are possible.”
(Luke 18:27)
You say, “I’m too tired.”
God says, “I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say, “Nobody really loves me.”
God says, “I love you.”
(John 3:16 & Jeremiah 31:3)
You say, “I can’t go on.”
God says, “My grace is sufficient.”
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say, “I can’t figure things out.”
God says, “I will direct your steps.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say, “I can’t do it.”
God says, “You can do all things.”
(Philippians 4:13)
You say, “I’m not able.”
God says, “I am able.”
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say, “It’s not worth it.”
God says, “It will be worth it.”
(Romans 8:28)
You say, “I can’t forgive myself.”
God says, “I forgive you.”
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
Jan 05 2008
In the love of all things corny! Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors F/C, put together a video to get people to vote for him to goto the All Star game. It is pretty lame but I don’t think it is as bad as my boy singing Chocolate Rain (I guess this has been around forever but I’m just finding out about it). America you decide…
-or-
Jan 05 2008
No matter where you stand politically Barack Obama winning the Iowa caucus is huge. 91% more democratic voters turned out for the caucus compared to 2004 and that is huge (and a really bad sign for republicans). A black man winning a state like Iowa by such a large margin is huge. It was just such a monumental night and the speech that he gave afterwards was excellent…
Dec 31 2007
Will Smith only makes quality movies. You can say what you want about him but he is on a really good streak of big budget blockbusters and “major event” type movies as I like to call them. But, the new trailer for his movie “Hancock” looks pretty funny. The last 20 seconds is just hilarious…
Dec 30 2007
Sometimes when your young and dumb you make bad decisions…especially sexually. But, when your young, dumb, and working as a coach at a high school you can’t make those same silly mistakes.
At my old high school one of the football/track coaches messed around with a senior and got her pregnant. Then, he and his girlfriend paid for the girl to have an abortion. I don’t know what to say except for “It’s a wrap”…if it is all true. I’m going to reserve judgment until everything comes out and after he goes to trial but when you are working with students you can’t let it get to this level. Even if the girl (highschooler) was throwing herself at him, and 1 day away from 18, you still can’t go there.
A former Las Vegas High School track coach impregnated one of his team members and then helped her get an abortion, Las Vegas police allege….
Craig worked as a substitute teacher for the Clark County School District from May 2003 to May 2007. He also was a track coach at Las Vegas High School from February to May 2006. His arrest report said that he was an assistant track coach for boys and girls at the school.
Police have recovered hundreds of pages of electronic correspondence between Craig and the then-17-year-old senior from a computer that the girl used. They subpoenaed Craig’s MSN hotmail subscriber information. Some of the messages indicated that Craig feared discovery and knew that the relationship could have criminal consequences, police said.
In one message, Craig talked about the possibility of facing jail time and losing his job, police said.
In another message, sent to the teen on May 26, 2006, Craig wrote, “You forget although track is over your still in school … which means if I get caught at your house … that is MY ASS,” according to his arrest report.
He then told the girl that he was willing to meet her at night because it was less risky, the report said. He also reminded her to keep their relationship on the “DL,” down low, the police report said.
The former Las Vegas High student told police that she and Craig first had sex in March 2006 in her parents’ home, according to Craig’s arrest report. Medical records obtained by police through an Oct. 15 grand jury subpoena showed the victim had an abortion on June 22, 2006…..
When police talked to the former student, she said Craig and Riddle accompanied her to an abortion clinic.
She said that “Deanna paid approximately $500 cash for the abortion and obtained the paperwork from the clinic,” Detective Paul Slaninka wrote in the police report.
Police interviewed Riddle in May.
“I asked Deanna if she drove (the teen) and Kenneth Craig to an abortion clinic and Deanna stated that she drove her to a doctor’s office and was unaware if it was an abortion clinic,” Slaninka wrote in the report.
“She also stated that she gave Kenneth Craig money on numerous occasions and is unaware if he used those monies to pay for an abortion.”
Electronic correspondence between Craig and the track team member make several references to her pregnancy and the abortion, according to the arrest report. Craig urged the student to save money because “we still have to go to the clinic in a couple of weeks,” according to the police report.
Like I said…if this is all true, it is a wrap for him and they will probably give him as much time as allowed by law. Paying for the abortion is just icing on the cake to make this just a train wreck.
