WY Deputy Sheriff Bryan Gross Drowns Trying to Rescue Girl who Jumped in River After Fight with Boyfriend

Converse county WY deputy sheriff Butane Gross drowns trying to rescue girl who jumped in North Platte River after fight with boyfriend. The girl was pulled from the water by bystanders but Gross was swept away Thursday. His body was found four days later.

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White House & Congressional Leaders Reach Deal on Debt Ceiling to Avert Default

President Obama and the Congressional leaders have reached a deal on the debt ceiling and we won't be staring a default in the face. Well, the passage of this won't be a shoo-in and I suspect the Democrats sold their souls for this one, with the Republicans getting what they basically wanted, but a deal has been reached. President Obama is expected to speak momentarily.

Cuts of $1 trillion over the next ten years. President Obama said it has been "messy" and "took too long." He said some modest adjustments will be made to sacred cows such as Medicare. Implements spending caps, balanced budget and other issues. No tax hikes, though President Obama said he believed taxing the rich was the right way to go. He also said there will be a bipartisan panel that will revisit the issues later in the year and bring a bill to Congress for an up or down vote. If this can't be accomplished, everything will be on the table and harsh realities will set in for both Republicans and Democrats. Um, couldn't we have reached this agreement last month? Why all the drama from adults in Congress? They're like crabs in a barrel. Of course, this isn't over by a stretch. We will now see if the "children" in Congress will vote for this deal or we will be party to more bickering. When all is said and done, this will be a modest victory for Centrists in this country. President Obama moved to the center, as well as Republicans & Democrats.

Film Review: Cowboys & Aliens, a Great Popcorn Flick that Kept Me on the Edge of My Seat

Film review: I took my kids to see "Cowboys and Aliens," and while it wasn't the best film I have seen in recent months, it was pretty decent and I am glad we went. For starters, Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig turned in some good performances. The main gist of the story is evident from the title, "Cowboys & Aliens." No surprise there. The film was overall very predictable, but hey, it was fun.

The film starts off with a cattle baron, played by Harrison Ford, who likes to let the town know he's large and in charge and he tries to intimidate the local sheriff, played by Keith Carradine, into releasing his immature, rotten-to-the-core son who shot a deputy and very unwisely picked a fight with the wrong man, Daniel Craig, who plays a fugitive with amnesia. When the aliens show up, Ford, who happens to be a Civil War veteran, is forced to team up with the fugitive and the townspeople to find his son and their missing kinfolk and come to blows with the aliens. While on the way, they meet up with the fugitive’s gang and a band of Chiricahua, who might kill them before the aliens do.

Predictably, the townspeople and the Native Americans find a way to work together to save the planet. Without giving the story away, the aliens were after gold and a damsel in distress gave her life to blow up their space ship in the end. A young boy becomes a man by using the knife given to him by the cattle baron, to kill an alien. All predictable but fun nonetheless.

All in all, Harrison Ford did his thing and Daniel Craig, not my favorite James Bond character, is menacing, but largely sympathetic because he couldn't remember a thing until the Native Indians took care of that problem. I wish they had magnified Keith Carradine's character a bit more. The pacing of the film was excellent and the action sequences had me on the edge of my seat. In short, this was a great popcorn flick and was well worth the money we paid to see it. I'll definitely get the DVD when it's released in the coming months.

Rep. Raul Grijalva Says He Won't Support Emerging Debt Deal that "Trades Peoples' Livelihoods for Votes of Right Wing Radicals"

The Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus are none too happy about the deal that's shaping up to avert a national default on August 2. Rep. Raul Grijalva, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, released the following statement today on the emerging debt deal via email:

“This deal trades peoples’ livelihoods for the votes of a few unappeasable right-wing radicals, and I will not support it. Progressives have been organizing for months to oppose any scheme that cuts Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security, and it now seems clear that even these bedrock pillars of the American success story are on the chopping block. Even if this deal were not as bad as it is, this would be enough for me to fight against its passage. This deal does not even attempt to strike a balance between more cuts for the working people of America and a fairer contribution from millionaires and corporations. The very wealthy will continue to receive taxpayer handouts, and corporations will keep their expensive federal giveaways. Meanwhile, millions of families unfairly lose more in this deal than they have already lost. I will not be a part of it. Republicans have succeeded in imposing their vision of a country without real economic hope. Their message has no public appeal, and Democrats have had every opportunity to stand firm in the face of their irrational demands. Progressives have been rallying support for the successful government programs that have meant health and economic security to generations of our people. Today we, and everyone we have worked to speak for and fight for, were thrown under the bus. We have made our bottom line clear for months: a final deal must strike a balance between cuts and revenue, and must not put all the burden on the working people of this country. This deal fails those tests and many more. The Democratic Party, no less than the Republican Party, is at a very serious crossroads at this moment.

For decades Democrats have stood for a capable, meaningful government – a government that works for the people, not just the powerful, and that represents everyone fairly and equally. This deal weakens the Democratic Party as badly as it weakens the country. We have given much and received nothing in return. The lesson today is that Republicans can hold their breath long enough to get what they want. While I believe the country will not reward them for this in the long run, the damage has already been done. A clean debt ceiling vote was the obvious way out of this, and many House Democrats have been saying so. Had that vote failed, the president should have exercised his Fourteenth Amendment responsibilities and ended this manufactured crisis. This deal is a cure as bad as the disease. I reject it, and the American people reject it. The only thing left to do now is repair the damage as soon as possible.”

It should be noted that CPC has also called an emergency meeting for Monday. Minority Leader of the House Nancy Pelosi is also saying she doesn't think the votes are there to pass a deal tonight. No matter what, this mess will live another day. I would urge voters out there to note how their elected officials are voting in this matter. If their vote doesn't meet your views, then vote against them in the next election, if they run. We all know that many of the 87 new elected officials in Congress really don't give a hoot about their constituents or even being re-elected.

I will be the first to say that we need to cut spending and increase revenue, but can we? We are no longer a manufacturing society. We are now a service society, outsourcing even the kitchen sink. We will never be able to fight the demons of runaway spending and high deficits if we don't find a way to create more revenue and not at the expense of the poor and middle class. It should be noted that only one other country in this world has a debt ceiling -- Denmark -- and it is set high enough that they don't expect to exceed it in the near or distant future. Why are we as a country allowing our debt ceiling to be constantly raised without fixing the problems that got us in this mess to begin with?

David Russell Held Without Bail After Shooting Deaths of Kenneth Taylor & Moneet Baker, Fired Until Gun Jammed

A Far South Side Chicago man, David A. Russell, was ordered held without bond by Judge Peggy Chiampas, after being charged with the murders of Kenneth Taylor, 24, and Moneet Baker, 22, Friday. According to the Chicago Tribune, Russell was charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder in the shooting deaths.

Prosecutors said in court that Russell admitted to the shooting and told police where to find the gun. He fired 14 shots from a 40-caliber pistol "until the gun jammed," officials said.

Judge Peggy Chiampas in ordering him held without bail noted the "brazen" recklessness of the alleged conduct by the 22-year-old.

"Thankfully this was observed by a uniformed police officer... Thankfully the gun jammed. Thankfully the police officers were not struck and no innocent bystanders were struck," Chiampas told Russell. "All this at the very young age of 22 years old, and you're facing a potential life sentence." Source: Chicago Tribune

Kirra Goddard, 13, Killed After Overturned Vehicle Driven by Stabbing Victim Sean Lewis Lands on Her in front of her Brooklyn Home

SHOCK: Kirra Goddard, 13, was killed Saturday, after a car being driven by Sean Lewis, who was stabbed in the torso, overturned and landed on her in front of her Brooklyn, NY, home.

Sean Lewis of Brooklyn, desperate for help, was driving west on Pacific St. in Brownsville with a stab wound to the torso when he ran into three parked cars near Saratoga Ave., cops said. He then backed into another parked car and flipped his vehicle. As the car overturned it landed on Kirra Goddard, sitting in front of her home, killing her.

"It was too late for her to get up and move, and it just hit her," said Kirra's half-sister, Tanisha Harewood, 14. Source

Lewis, who sustained head injuries from the crash, reportedly died at a local hospital. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Kirra Goddard.

Principal with White Supremacist Ties, Frank Borzellieri, Running Bronx-Based Catholic School Where Students Mostly Black & Latino

Frank Borzellieri, who has ties to white supremacist group, promoted two years ago as principal of Bronx-based Our Lady of Mount Carmel school, where mostly black and Latino students in attendance.

Frank Borzellieri, 48, who has ties to a white supremacist group and wrote for racist publication American Renaissance is now running Bronx-based Our Lady of Mount Carmel school, where most of the students are black and Hispanic, the New York Daily News reports.

Frank Borzellieri, 48, was quietly promoted to principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School two years ago - despite a history of controversial writings and campaigns, including a push to ban a biography on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

In 2004, Borzellieri wrote the book "Don't Take It Personally: Race, Immigration, Crime and Other Heresies," in which he declares "diversity is a weakness" and says the rising black and Hispanic populations in America will lead to the "New Dark Age."

He has also written frequently for the white supremacist publication American Renaissance, with which he is still "intimately involved," the non-profit Southern Poverty Law Center says. Source

How could the pastor, Rev. Eric Rapaglia, even have the guts to say he knew of Borzellieri's views but didn't "see any cause for concern" when he hired him to run the 200-student school. Really? You send the fox to guard the hen house? I am pretty sure if Rev. Rapaglia named Rev. Jeremiah Wright as the next principal all hell would break loose, because many have claimed his views are racist.

Here's a very disturbing excerpt from Borzellieri's book, from the Village Voice:

On average, blacks score lower on every conceivable aptitude test than whites and Asians...These results have not changed despite decades of heroic efforts to uplift blacks to [sic] and to tinker with the tests.

But rather than acknowledge what every (yes, every) study and informed scientist has put forth, the government's official position is that blacks fall short because of white wickedness. Oppression and discrimination by whites are responsible, not inherent shortcomings. (Asians, who outperform whites, have a significant history of discrimination in America, but that's an inconvenient fact.)

Either Rev. Rapaglia shares his views or his just downright stupid. Why would you elevate someone with known ties to a white supremacist group to run a school, any school that prides itself on being progressive.

UPDATE #1:  Frank Borzellieri has been fired from his job as principal for his white supremacist ties.

CA Television Reporter Leanne Suter & Cameraman Shot with BB Gun During Live Broadcast, Two Teens Arrested

KABC-TV's reporter Leanne Suter, who was reporting live from Fontana Saturday evening, was shot with a BB gun pellet.

Police was able to locate the home that was possibly involved in the incident and two teens, ages 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon. Suter and her cameraman were fired upon during a live weather broadcast. Suter, who was struck in the hand, was taken to an area hospital and was not in serious condition.

Bishop Eddie Long & Wife Vanessa Long Absent from New Birth First Sunday After Name of Centino Kemp, Fifth Accuser in Gay Scandal, Revealed

Bishop Long & wife conveniently absent from church on the first Sunday after MyFoxAtlanta reveals name Centino Kemp, an openly gay man, who is the fifth accuser against Bishop Long in the gay sexual coercion scandal.

Live blogging: The broadcast was conveniently cut at a point when the Bishop Long usually comes to the stage. It resumed with a prayer for the family and that they are on vacation. The woman who prayed called for healing on their family, particularly for them as a couple, and God's grace as Taylor Long goes off to college. It's ironic that they should mention the daughter. Seems to me there is a lot going on in the Long household, particularly with the revelation of a fifth accuser -- Centino Kemp -- an openly gay man, who was part of the gay coercion settlement, even though he did not file a lawsuit. It's convenient Long and his family are on vacation. He can't quite show his face, can he? Back to my opening comment about the transmission being conveniently cut in midstream: I am of the opinion this was a deliberate move because something may have been said that they didn't want the whole world to hear.

The moderator says that the preacher for today stuck by Bishop Long as others were running away. Gee, I wonder why? Pastor Stephen Davis, senior pastor of New Birth Birmingham, will deliver the message today. Ezra 3:12 -- Many of the priests & Levites old men who had seen the first temple.... The people shouted with a loud shout and the sound was heard a far off.  Haggai 2:6 -- Once more it is a little I will shake heaven & earth, the sea & dry land. I will fill this temple with glory. The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former. In this place I will give peace. He prayed that there is pressure in the church, but it will make it great.

Davis said there is a new restoration coming for New Birth. God has not withdrawn his glory from the church. Another veiled confirmation that all is not well at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Long and his wife. He said the glory doesn't explain the hell they have been church. He said they called him in Birmingham for his comments, but he didn't say anything. He said he was going through hell there as well. Really? He said the "hell is over." Besides being a horrible public speaker, with poor diction, Stephen Davis shows that he is one of Bishop Long's "boys," who won't stand on principle. He said when trouble comes he doesn't back off? Really? He said there have been some "accusations" but the church members should be ready for a fight. He said the "glory of the Lord is coming on your life" if you get up and fight. A lot of religious BS. He said if his cat, who is from Georgia, will get up and fight the snakes in the yard, why shouldn't the people of New Birth do the same thing against the accusations?

He said when somebody moves in the opposite direction from you they are either crazy or know something. He is asking if anyone is ready to run to the glory because it comes with persecution because something greater was coming after. He said even Jesus was crucified and buried, but rose on the third day in all his glory. He said he wants to be known as a son of Bishop Long and he said if they don't like him because of his "Daddy" Bishop Long, they just won't like him. That's okay. He said his attorneys in Birmingham have been acting funny and on his documents Bishop Long's name is on all of them and he said he was "ready to fire them." He said, "let them talk," because God has different avenues for you to follow. I'm sure if you talked to his attorneys they would have a deeper reason for their opposition than the BS Stephen Davis is spewing.

He said God is up to something great. He said he doesn't care what they are saying on CNN, his Bible always wins when measured against CNN. He said how is he "going to listen to someone from CNN talking about someone I know?" He said if he can paint a picture of God's glory on the lives of the congregation, then they must keep on working, building and persevering. He said he has never gone through trouble without a trouble. "When trouble comes, he already received a word on what to do." He said, "God trusts New Birth with trouble and when hell comes New Birth stands through it."He said New Birth grew by 3,000 people on June 10, and if one room in your house is wrecked, doesn't mean the entire house is wrecked. Step into another room." In other words, what happened at New Birth in Lithonia doesn't mean the whole church is wrecked.

He said there is a train of people God is lining up and if you count the engines you will know how many people are involved. He said every time he calls out a name the glory of God will be unleashed -- Bishop Eddie Long, Pastor Kenneth Law, Bishop Terrell Murphy, Pastor Carl C. Smith, Pastor Tommy Powell, Pastor Sharome Gentry, Pastor John Kennedy, Oliver (Texas, not New Birth yet), Wise, Stephen Davis -- enough engines around Bishop Long and Vanessa. "Want 50 folks to bum rush altar who know the church isn't losing." "We're winning." He's now asking for 200 people who believe what they are a part of is the glory of the Lord. He said everybody who "hooks up with these engines will have resources and lead to supply." Now he's calling for 500 folks to give God a shout of praise. He said the last accusation has been broken by saying "Oooh," a war cry. Go figure.

In closing, how is the atmosphere at New Birth Missionary Baptist church Sunday after Sunday any different from a cult? Davis told them to shout 'Oooh' and they did. He told them to "bum rush" to the front and they did. You can't lambast your critics and expect the controversy to abate. On the contrary. It will come across that you motives are sinister and meant to mask the truth. Sadly, the display I saw at New Birth today is indicative of a bunch of people who have been brainwashed, in the tradition of Warren Jeffs, David Koresh, Jim Jones and others. The reality is Eddie L. Long needs to man up like Ted Haggard and either come out of the closet or get some help to stop messing with young adult males. He has a serious problem and it will rear its head again.

Dallas Swingers Clubs, The DarkSide & The Playground" Being Operated as Churches by Ordained Minister Glenn Hudson

Swingers clubs, The Playground and The DarkSide, being operated in Dallas as churches, owned by "ordained minister" Glenn Hudson, who's currently on probation for drug & gun possession.

Swinger's club operating as a church? What have we come to? According to WFAA, the city of Dallas said it has found a second business owned by Glenn Hudson, who is an ordained minister, that is a strip club, being run under the guise of  "churches."The two establishments are called "The Playground" and "The DarkSide." This is a low-down, dirty shame.

The latest case involves a building on Harry Hines Boulevard that's licensed as a church. The windows are tinted and the doors are padlocked. It sits inside an industrial complex and has no religious markings on it. Even so, the owner says this is a church. The city calls it a swingers club.

In a lawsuit obtained by News 8, the City of Dallas says owner Glenn Hudson has a certificate of occupancy for a church, mosque or synagogue. But the suit alleges that this business is really called The Playground, and described as "a swingers club that is a business that caters to adults, often couples, who wish to engage in random consensual sexual activities with other adults other than their spouses."

The city filed the lawsuit to shut down The Playground. According to the documents, Dallas police sent undercover officers inside. They found flat screen TVs showing porn, topless female dancers, and a VIP room where customers have access to beds and condoms. The city maintains that this is an unlicensed sexually-oriented business.

Last week, News 8 reported the city filed a lawsuit against Hudson for operating a club called The DarkSide. Hudson claims that it, too, is a church — but the city attorney and police say it's a rave club where drugs are sold to teens. Source

Mr. Hudson reportedly earned his ministerial degree from an online website and has a criminal history that includes arrests for marijuana possession and unlawfully carrying a weapon. He is currently on probation. How can someone openly mock God? Shameful.

H/T A Toast to Wealth

Live Blogging: Profound Prayer for Bishop Long & Vanessa Long for their Family as they are On Vacation

Bishop Long & wife conveniently absent from church on the first Sunday after MyFoxAtlanta reveals name Centino Kemp, an openly gay man, who is the fifth accuser against Bishop Long in the gay sexual coercion scandal.

Live blogging: The moderator says that the preacher for today stuck by Bishop Long as others were running away. Gee, I wonder why? Pastor Stephen Davis, senior pastor of New Birth Birmingham, will deliver the message today. Ezra 3:12 -- Many of the priests & Levites old men who had seen the first temple.... The people shouted with a loud shout and the sound was heard a far off.  Haggai 2:6 -- Once more it is a little I will shake heaven & earth, the sea & dry land. I will fill this temple with glory. The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former. In this place I will give peace. He prayed that there is pressure in the church, but it will make it great.

Live Blogging: New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Technical Problems or Did They Pull Plug on Live Broadcast of Service?

Live blogging New Birth Missionary Baptist 07/31/11 service: Technical problems or did they pull the plug on the live broadcast of the service?

Raymond Gatling & Three Teens Arrested After Rampaging Mob Descends on Philadelphia's City Center Area

Raymond Gatling and three other teens, who are too young to identify, have been arrested and charged with assault, reckless endangerment and robbery after a rampaging mob descended on the City Center area in Philadelphia, and beat two men and a woman. Police said the youngest child arrested is 11, while the other two are 16 and 17, respectively. Of course, their parents will get on television and say these monsters are good kids.

No Arrests After Gould, Ark., Mayor Earnest Nash Claims he was Pistol-Whipped During Heated Argument with Sonya Farley & Rosieanna Smith

BIZARRE: Earnest Nash, the mayor of Gould, Ark., claims he was pistol whipped following a heated discussion with city council members. He said the incident was the culmination of months of abuse against he and his family. Um, why didn't he pick up the telephone when it started and notified the police? According to the Daily Mail, a witness said Nash had been talking to council members Sonya Farley and Rosieanna Smith in a car Thursday evening when a member of the public joined in the heated discussion. Black-on-black violence. Shameful.

Mackisha Johnson & Shacona Johnson Left 10 Children in Sweltering Car for Two Hours While Drinking at MO Bar with Christopher Jones

DISGRACE: Mackisha B. Johnson, 25, mother of six children and Shacona Johnson, 30, mother of four kids, left their children in a sweltering car for two hours while they drank at a bar with another friend, Christopher M. Jones, 38. According to the Daily Mail, witnesses told police they saw the car parked outside Alibi Lounge in Springfield, Missouri, at around 1.10pm last Thursday. The children inside were reportedly seen turning the car and air conditioning on to keep cool, particularly since the temperature was pretty high that day -- 99 with a heat index of 101 degrees, the Daily Mail said.

The children, ranging in age from seven months to 11 years old, were taken into custody by children's services. Mackisha Johnson, Shacona Johnson and Christopher Jones were arrested and charged with second degree child endangerment. It is utterly reprehensible that all they are looking at is up to a year in prison, plus a $1,000 fine if convicted. The judge should send a stern message of zero tolerance for this behavior. Some people just shouldn't be blessed with kids. I bet you these kids had different baby daddies.

GOP Congressional Leaders Say Deal with President Obama to Raise Debt Limit Near, Now They Want to Compromise When Their Poll Numbers are Low?

URGENT: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) have indicated that they are close to reaching a deal with President Barack Obama to raise the debt limit and avoid an unprecedented national default. That's all good, but they all acted like spoiled brats over the last few weeks, up until today. It's ironic that Boehner had to nerve to say, "In spite of our differences, we're dealing with reasonable, responsible people." Really? Didn't he throw a hissy fit on television earlier this week and basically said it was "my way or no way?" McConnell said he talked with President Obama and VP Joe Biden "within the last hour" and was "confident" and "optimistic" that an agreement would be reached in the near future. He also added that a national default "is not going to happen." Couldn't we have avoided all this mess if these idiots actually compromised and took the time to work together instead of against one another, with the Tea Party leading the way where John Boehner is concerned.

UPDATE#1: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says that Republican claims of new progress on a debt ceiling deal are "not true."

Body of Missing GA Woman Tonya Lynn Found, Husband James Lynn Jr. in Custody

The body of missing Winder, Ga., woman Tonya Lynn was found in a well. Husband James Lynn Jr. was arrested and is being held at the Barrow County jail. He is being charged with his wife's murder and obstruction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tonya Lynn's family.

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Harry Belafonte Says President Obama & "Mission" Failed Because He "Lacks Moral Courage and Vision"

"Day, me say day oh, daylight come and me wan go home....," Harry Belafonte belted out decades ago, in his signature song. He has never been shy about letting his true feelings be known. This time he said that  President Barack Obama and his "mission" have failed because of a lack of moral courage and vision.

The president is "not a stand-alone," Belafonte said Thursday. Regarding the debt-ceiling crisis, Belafonte said he would ask Congress, the president and other U.S. institutions of power "what happened to moral truth" and moral courage.

Well, if that's not a smackdown to our political leaders, then I don't know what is. Harry Belafonte is a civil rights icon in his own rights. He knows a thing or two about compromising and working together, which it is clear our elected officials don't have the will to do.

Belafonte made his remarks to the Television Critics Association during a discussion of "Sing Your Song," an upcoming documentary about him set to air this fall on HBO.

"Red Tails," the True-Life Story of Tuskegee Airmen, & Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Coming to be Released in Theaters January 2012

The true-life story of the Tuskegee Airmen, who formed the first all-black aerial unit, is coming to the silver screen on January 20, 2012, via Lucasfilms "Red Tails."

"Red Tails" will be released by Twentieth Century Fox, which brought Lucas' "Star Wars" films to the big screen. The movie, directed by Anthony Hemingway, stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and Bryan Cranston.

Hillary Clinton Comes Under Fire for "Manly" Pantsuits But Are Women Power-Brokers Viewed in Terms of their Wardrobe & Not their Abilities?

Hillary Clinton criticized for her "manly" pantsuits and Condoleezza Rice called a "Dominatrix" for wearing black boots, is there a double standard in wardrobe choices for powerful women vs. powerful men?

Hillary Clinton & her "manly" pantsuits (Corporate Fashionista)

COMMENTARY:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was lambasted by fashion expert Tim Gunn during his appearance on George Lopez television show Thursday night. He slammed Mrs. Clinton of favoring unflattering manly clothes and that she should use her position to send a more positive message about American fashion. He said she seems to be "confused about her gender." Gunn also said, "I have great respect for her intellect and her tenacity and for what she does for our country, her governmental role." But is it fair to hold women leaders to a higher standard based on their wardrobe? Some of our male leaders have been seen in frumpy, plain and god-awful suits, but we don't hear complaints coming from people like Tim Gunn. I could ask if Tim Gunn is also confused about his gender for obvious reasons.

So much attention is being paid to what women wear, particularly powerful women. Take former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, for example. In 2005, she arrived at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield on Wednesday dressed all in black and some in the press went nuts. Here's how the Washington Post described her attire:

She was wearing a black skirt that hit just above the knee, and it was topped with a black coat that fell to mid-calf. The coat, with its seven gold buttons running down the front and its band collar, called to mind a Marine's dress uniform or the "save humanity" ensemble worn by Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix."

As Rice walked out to greet the troops, the coat blew open in a rather swashbuckling way to reveal the top of a pair of knee-high boots. The boots had a high, slender heel that is not particularly practical. But it is a popular silhouette because it tends to elongate and flatter the leg. In short, the boots are sexy.

Ms. Rice's boots oozed "sex and power," and, according to the writer, she was a "Dominatrix." Really? Are we so jaded that we can only pay attention and give respect to a powerful women dressed in a sexually-suggestive manner?

Let's turn to Madeleine Albright, secretary of state under Bill Clinton's administration. Does anyone even know about she was unanimously confirmed on December 5, 1996 by a 99-0 U.S. Senate vote? Or does anyone even care about the struggles she went through in her early life that shaped the tough secretary of state she became late in life? She got married at 22 while her husband was in the Army, she had dreams of becoming an international correspondent, had twin girls and at 24 started her Ph.D. but didn't finish until they were in high school. What we are programmed to remember about Mrs. Albright are her pins, nice clothes and yes, those bright red heels. Madeleine Albright was asked about the fact that powerful women and the issue of being scrutinized for their clothes:

"Well, it's pretty irritating actually because nobody ever describes what a man is wearing. But people did pay attention to what clothes I had. What was interesting was that, before I went up to New York as U.N. ambassador, I talked to Jeane Kirkpatrick who'd been ambassador before me, and she said, "You've got to get rid of your professor clothes. Go out and look like a diplomat." So that did give me a lot of opportunities to go shopping. But still, there were all kinds of questions about, did you wear a hat? How short was your skirt? And one of the things - if you remember Condoleezza Rice was at some event and she wore boots, and she got criticized over that. And no guy ever gets criticized. But that's the least of it." Source

Michelle Obama has come under fire too, for many of the outfits she has worn since her husband became president. The most stinging criticisms come from people who believe she should limit her choice of designers to American designers. Her choice to bare her arms caused an uproar in her first official picture as First Lady. Then during President Obama's first Congressional address, she wore a purple sleeveless dress, again baring her toned triceps and biceps. The press went nuts.

The obsession with how a woman is attired shouldn't be the focal point of any debate, particularly where our nation is concerned. Barring the Frederick of Hollywood look, shouldn't our female power-brokers be allowed to dress as they feel and are comfortable? Does a dark, well-tailored suit spell competence for our male political leaders and power-brokers, while women in similar positions of power have to contend with cultural demands and understand that success is tied to one's wardrobe? Are Hillary Clinton's "manly" pantsuits an attack on feminism, considering the U.S. and other countries are fighting for their economic lives at this juncture?

когато...

Drago-My Worlds 

Когато си далече от мен 

и възможност няма да се видим, 

от липсата ти полудявам.
Има толкова много неща, 

които искам с теб да споделя...
Има толкова много моменти,

в които от прегръдката ти имам нужда...
Има толкова много мигове,

в които искам просто да те прегърна с обич...
Искам да се сгуша в теб, 

да притихна в прегръдката ти 

и да усещам само дъхът ни как се слива...
... да усещам как сърцето ми 

започва да бие с ритъма на твоето сърце...
... да усещам, че сме едно... цяло...
А сега ми липсваш... 

и ме боли от липсата ти...

и ме изгаря от мислите ми, 

които за миг се не спират...
От ония мисли, които споделям с теб, 

а ти не мислиш, че им е време...
Искам прегръдката ти, 

когато ме привличаш към себе си...
когато ме караш да се чувствам 

специална и единствена...
когато се чувствам част от теб, 

част, която с обич си взимаш, 

за да те допълни до цялостта ти...

Искам... Искам теб!

.

Kensley Kirby, 5, Dies After McDonough GA Urgent Care Clinic Gives Her Deadly Dose of Lidocaine Trying to Set Her Broken Arm

Kensley Kirby, five year old Henry County, Ga., girl dies after Family Medical Clinic gives her too much anesthesia as they tried to put her broken arm in a cast.

How can a child go to an urgent care clinic for a broken arm and end up dying? According to WSB-TV, Kensley Kirby was taken to an urgent care clinic in Henry County, Ga., for a broken arm and ended up dead.

This week, the coroner told Diamant that someone at the Family Medical Clinic on Hampton Road in McDonough gave Kensley a lethal dose of anesthesia. In June, Kensley’s parents took her to the urgent care clinic after a fall. “They went from picking the color of the cast with their daughter to basically being with her as she died,” said Pete Law, the Kirby family’s attorney. Law said clinic workers gave Lensley too much medicine while trying to set her arm instead of sending her to an emergency room. This week, the Henry County Coroner confirmed that Kensley died from a lethal dose of a local anesthetic called lidocaine. Source

If the clinic couldn't handle this, they should have told the parents to take to the hospital for proper medical attention. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. This could have been avoided. I hate to say it, but until this case is litigated, people should steer clear of the Family Medical Clinic in McDonough. You're better off taking your chances at the hospital.

UPDATE: The Medical Board suspended the license of physician assistant and clinic co-owner Allan Imes for injecting Kirby with three times the recommended dose of Lidocaine for someone her size and performing an unauthorized procedure on Kirby’s broken arm, WSB-TV said.

Cartoons of the Day: Republicans Digging Grave for President Obama, Compromise is a Dirty Word in Washington D.C.

CARTOONS OF THE DAY: What's in President Obama's closet?

Compromise is now a dirty word in American politics, at least from the Tea Party's perspective.

Republicans and Democrats kicking any chance of compromise down the road

Republicans digging a grave for President Obama on so many levels

Do either Republican or Democratic parties really give a hoot about unemployed Americans and the eroding black and Hispanic middle classes?

President Barack Obama has a big headache -- Republican Party

Philadelphia Police Investigating Fatal Stabbing of 21 Year Old Man on Campus of Drexel University

Philadelphia police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a 21 year old man, early Friday morning on the campus of Drexel University. According to media reports, the man was stabbed in the head and chest on the corner of 34th and Race streets. It is not clear at this time whether he is a student at the university.

Rosa Parks Essay, Found by Civil Rights Historian Danielle McGuire, Reveals Harrowing Rape Attempt by White Neighbor in 1931

Civil rights icon Rosa Parks penned a harrowing account of nearly being raped by a white neighbor, who hired her as a housekeeper in 1931.

Civil rights historian Danielle McGuire said she had never before heard of the attempted rape of Parks and called the find among Parks' papers astounding.Of her own experience, Parks wrote, "He offered me a drink of whiskey, which I promptly and vehemently refused... He moved nearer to me and put his hand on my waist. I was very frightened by now."

"He liked me.... he didn't want me to be lonely and would I be sweet to him. He had money to give me for accepting his attentions," she wrote. "I was ready to die but give my consent never. Never, never." Source

That's pretty profound and shows that even Rosa Parks had to confront an issue that so many women have been faced with at one point in their lives -- violation of their bodies.

Fashion Expert Tim Gunn Slams Hillary Clinton's Appearance, Says "She's confused about Her Gender"

Fashion expert and Project Runway judge Tim Gunn criticizes Hillary Clinton's choice of clothes, saying "She's confused about her gender" and accuses her of wearing "big baggy menswear pants suits."

Project Runway judge Tim Gunn delivered a scathing criticism of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his appearance on "George Lopez" last night. He accused Mrs. Clinton of favoring unflattering manly clothes and that she should use her position to send a more positive message about American fashion. Um, given the mess we are dealing with both domestically and internationally, I think the last thing on Hillary Clinton's mind is her choice of outfit. Though I will concede that the criticism may have been well-timed because she showed up this morning at the Norwegian embassy dressed in a pink jacket and a strand of pearls. He did express his admiration for Hillary Clinton, saying "I have great respect for her intellect and her tenacity and for what she does for our country, her governmental role."

He did give his two cents about GOP presidential hopeful and wingnut Michele Bachmann, as well as Alaska's Quitter-in-Chief, Sarah Palin:

He said: 'I've never seen them in the same room together. I'm not entirely convinced that they're not the same person. And I mean that... The fact that Michele Bachman is declaring her candidacy for president and Sarah Palin is not - she can't because they're the same person.' Source

You have to admit his take on Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin is funny.

Gallup Poll: President Obama Rates Higher Than Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid on Debt Situation

Gallup poll: Obama Rates Higher Than Boehner, Reid on Debt Situation, but nothing to cheer about, all three get more negative opinions from public than positive.

The results of a USA Today/Gallup poll show that more Democrats are loyal to President Barack Obama than Republicans are to Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner. That played out Thursday night in his inability to bring his debt ceiling plan to a vote on the House floor because he could not get the 217 votes he needed along party lines. Some of the Republicans in the House are willing to throw Boehner under a bus and greatly diminish his stature in the process. Here are the findings from Gallup poll:

President Obama's 41% approval rating on handling the situation is 10 percentage points higher than Boehner's and 18 points higher than Reid's. However, more Americans have an opinion about Obama's handling of the situation than is the case for the other two men, so when those with no opinion are factored out of the results, Obama's advantage is lessened. Among those with an opinion about his handling of the situation, the president has 44% approval and 56% disapproval, compared with 39% and 61% for Boehner and 31% and 69% for Reid.

Obama does better than the other two, based in large part on the high approval rating he receives from his fellow Democrats. Boehner receives significantly less loyalty from Republicans, half of whom approve of his handling of the situation. This no doubt reflects the current divisions within the Republican Party, with conservatives and Tea Party supporters pressing for a rigid stance against compromise and tax increases, while other Republicans are more inclined to push for a settlement with Obama and the Democrats. At this point, the former group is the most supportive of Boehner, which suggests that he faces more problems from the moderate wing of his party than from the conservative Tea Party wing. The fact that as many Republicans who do not support the Tea Party say they disapprove of how Boehner is handling the situation as say they approve highlights his leadership challenges.

No matter how you view this situation, it clearly shows the world our many of our elected officials are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites who don't know what the word "compromise" means.

SC Gov. Nikki Haley, Born Nimrata Randhawa, Lists Herself as White on Voter Registration Document 10 Years Ago

SC Gov. Nikki Haley identified herself as white on March 2001 voter registration document, is she like Peola in "Imitation of Life" forsaking her true heritage?

Ever wondered why South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or Nimrata Randhawa, doesn't give a hoot about the Confederate flag flying near her office at the statehouse? Er, she considers herself white, not the person of color she really is. She's a "wannabe white" Indian-American ashamed of her heritage, it would seem. Well, South Carolina Democrats seized on a 10 year old voter registration document where she lists her race as "W" for white, according to the Seattle Times. It should be noted that she is married to a white man and there is no trace of her Indian heritage in her name. Actually, she uses her Indian-American heritage conveniently -- as the nation's second Indian-American governor.

A little background on Nimrata Randhawa, er Nikki Haley -- her parents migrated from India and she was born in Bamberg County, SC, which has a high concentration of blacks and whites. Do I detect a strain of Peola in "Imitation of Life," who forsook the her true heritage just to get over?

CMS Study Finds Affordable Care Act Under Obamacare Isn't That Affordable After All

A study published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found that the Affordable Health Care Act, part of Obamacare, will actually drive health care spending up slightly, to nearly one fifth of the U.S.A.'s gross domestic product by 2020, while extending insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans.

The report from the CMS Office of the Actuary projected that health expenses will rise 5.8 percent annually over the next decade -- 1.1 percent higher than anticipated economic growth. That kind of growth will mean the nation's total health tab will come close to $4.6 trillion in 2020, accounting for about one-fifth of the U.S. gross domestic product.

According to the report, the federal government's share of the bill is likely to increase from 27 percent in 2009 to 31 percent by 2020. Add to that expenses incurred by local governments and states, and the overall government portion of health care comes in at 49 percent, according to the report. Source: PBS

Conversely, the study found that last year's national health spending grew at the slowest rate ever recorded -- 3.9 percent -- due in large part to the lingering effects of the recession. Millions of Americans who lost their jobs skipped expensive but oftentimes needed medical procedures. Of course, the Obama Administration spun the study results to highlight the low growth rate, but again, that was due to recession and nothing else.

Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh Being Sued by Ex-Wife Laura Walsh for Over $100K for Back Child Support Payments

Illinois Tea Party lawmaker Joe Walsh being sued by ex-wife Laura Walsh for back child support payments of over $100,000, yet he was able to take vacations & loan his campaign money while crying poverty.

SHAME: Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), a Tea Party freshman, who has been very critical of President Barack Obama, even going as far as calling him a liar, is being sued by his ex-wife Laura Walsh for over $100,000 in back-payments for child support. According to the Chicago Sun Times, she has been after him for nine years to take care of the children he fathered with her. He now claims his ex-wife's actions amount to a "hit piece," really? He had the nerve to say in a video,“President Obama, quit lying. Have you no shame, sir? In three short years, you’ve bankrupted this country.” Wow, has Joe Walsh no shame? Why won't you take care of your children? That's far worse than what he is accusing President Obama of doing.

Before getting elected, he had told Laura Walsh that because he was out of work or between jobs, he could not make child support payments. So she was surprised to read in his congressional campaign disclosures that he was earning enough money to loan his campaign $35,000.

“Joe personally loaned his campaign $35,000, which, given that he failed to make any child support payments to Laura because he ‘had no money’ is surprising,” Laura Walsh’s attorneys wrote in a motion filed in December seeking $117,437 in back child support and interest. “Joe has paid himself back at least $14,200 for the loans he gave himself.” Source: Sun Times

The hypocrisy emanating from some in the Republican Party is so nauseating. Here is a man, who gets on his pedestal and assumes the role of the moral compass of the party, but yet he has failed miserably in his fundamental duty as a parent. He also managed to take vacations overseas while crying poverty. Shameful. Joe Walsh, stop blaming the media for this hot mess and pay your child support payments. Here's someone who would so critical of a black or Latino who doesn't take care of his kids, all the while he's just as guilty.

Report: Private First Class Naser Jason Abdo Arrested for Fort Hood Plot to "Get Even"

Private First Class Naser Jason Abdo was arrested Wednesday after making a purchase at Guns Galore in Killeen, TX. This was the same store Maj. Nidal Hasan purchased the weapons he allegedly used when he went on a shooting rampage killing 13 people and wounding 32 others on November 5, 2009. Abdo reportedly admitted he was planning an attack on the U.S. Army's Fort Hood base in Texas.

Abdo, 21, allegedly told law enforcement he wanted to "get even" and was targeting Ft. Hood because of the previous attack there allegedly carried out by Hasan, according to law enforcement documents obtained by ABC News. He allegedly did not plan to attack the base itself, but instead planned to plant a bomb at a nearby restaurant popular with Ft. Hood personnel.

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) Compares Executive Order to Increase the Debt Ceiling to the Emancipation Proclamation to End Segregation in Schools

Rep. James Clyburn likens President Obama using Executive Order in debt ceiling debacle to the Emancipation Proclamation used to end segregation in public schools.

PULLING RACE CARD: Elder statesman Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) pulled the race card of sorts, like his colleague Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee. How? Clyburn said:

"I've said time and time again, if the President gets up to August 2nd, without a piece of legislation, he should not allow this country to go into default. He should sign an Executive Order invoking the 14th Amendment and send that to all the governmental agencies for us to continue to pay our bills. He could do that with a stroke of a pen."

"We've seen many big things done in history that way. I've joked with my staff the other day, 'tele me what was the bill number of the Emancipation Proclamation.' It was an Executive Order. We integrated the armed services by Executive Order. We integrated public schools by Executive Order. Sometimes executives must order that things get done." Source: Real Clear Politics

Judge Richard Leon Denies Andrew Breitbart's Request to Dismiss & Relocate Former USDA Director Shirley Sherrod's Defamation Lawsuit Against Him

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issues series of orders denying motions to dismiss or relocate former USDA director Shirley Sherrod's defamation lawsuit against him.

Right wing blogger Andrew Breitbart just got a major smackdown -- U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a series of orders denying motions to dismiss or relocate former U.S. Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod's defamation lawsuit against him.

Leon denied Breitbart's initial motion to dismiss as well as a special motion to dismiss under Washington's new statute barring strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. Leon did not publish a written opinion along with his orders.

Sherrod is suing Breitbart, Breitbart’s colleague Larry O’Connor and an unnamed defendant over the release of a video clip and accompanying text on Breitbart’s Web site claiming the video offered proof that Sherrod, who is black, discriminated against white farmers. Sherrod, in her complaint, argues Breitbart made defamatory accusations of racism based on a “deceptively edited” clip that was taken out of context. Source: Legal Times

Karma is a beeyotch, isn't it? We don't know how this case will play out, but we do know we have a judge who is on the ball. Shirley Sherrod is no Anthony Weiner.

Pastor Steven Andrew Calling for National Repentance Because USA "Must Turn from Wicked Ways as a Nation"

From Christian News Wire: Pastor Steven Andrew of USA Christian Ministries is calling for national repentance based on 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from." Here is the self-serving and overly-pious press release in its entirety:

"God has an answer for the crisis the USA is facing; He asks us to turn from our wicked ways as a nation and by doing so He will heal our land -- He will fix the economy and give us strong families," says Pastor Steven. "God loves us," he adds.

"It is the duty of all nations... to confess their sins and transgressions... with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon," said Abraham Lincoln.

Americans are invited to join two steps of national repentance. The first step is to agree with God to repent of personal and national sin. The second step is to actively promote righteousness. Christians are encouraged to call talk shows and read 2 Chronicles 7:14, blog about God, run for office, bring back the Bible and Christian prayer to schools and get involved in other creative ways.

Pastor Steven has identified the key sins that he is calling the USA to repent of. National repentance is explained in more detail in his new book "Making A Strong Christian Nation." The sins include:

• A lukewarm church (Revelation 3:16)

• Separation of church and state lie (2 Chronicles 15:2)

• Not raising children in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)

• Allowing 53+ million abortions (Exodus 20:13)

• Not honoring our father and mother (Deuteronomy 5:16)

• Condoning sexual and homosexual sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

• Serving money instead of God (Matthew 6:24)

• Voting for ungodly people (2 Chronicles 19:2)

• Putting trust in something other than God (Proverbs 3:5-6)

• Not seeking God's counsel (John 15:5)

• Unbelief that God will heal our Christian nation (Zephaniah 1:12)

• Allowing foreign gods (Judges 10:13-14)

• Being divided instead of keeping the unity of the Spirit (Matthew 12:25)

• Selfish individualism and other sin... (John 13:34)

"I am asking every American to give all your heart to Jesus Christ -- Jesus suffered on the cross and died for our sins," adds Pastor Steven. "Let's ask God to fill our government, schools and courts. We need God in America," he adds.

One question, what foreign god is he talking about? So, I guess it's all President Obama's fault that the nation, all of a sudden, has slipped away from God, right? I'm not trying to help his cause, I want my readers to see the hypocrisy oozing from the pores of the religious right, who say my way or no way at all. No middle ground.

Actor Morgan Freeman Vehemently Denies Narrating Citizens for Strong America Attack Advert Against WI Democratic Candidate Shelly Moore

MORGAN FREEMAN SOUND-ALIKE: The Republicans are engaging in, what Democrats call, "dangerous deception," over using a Morgan Freeman "sound-alike" in a political attack ad. Freeman denied narrating the overly aggressive advertisement saying, "they are close, but no cigar," according to the Daily Mail. The ad, created by Citizens for a Strong America, is aimed at Democrat Shelly Moore, candidate in an upcoming election for Wisconsin's state senate. The advert attacks Moore for allegedly supporting tax rises, giving 'free health care to illegal immigrants' and opposing tax reform.

Rev. Al Sharpton's Support for Comcast Purchase of NBCUniversal Raises Questions About a Possible MSNBC Job

Rev. Al Sharpton threw his support behind Comcast purchase of NBCUniversal, parent company of MSNBC and that raises issues about a possible job on the network.

Could Rev. Al Sharpton be up for the 6 p.m. slot on MSNBC because of his support for Comcast's purchase of NBCUniversal, which owns the cable network? Isn't a little disingenuous for MSNBC to have suspended Keith Olbermann and Joe Scarborough for making political donations and then jump in bed with Rev. Sharpton, who quite clearly is a political influencer and not a journalist?

Mr. Sharpton, the president of the National Action Network, a civil rights organization, was one of the many activists and boldface names who agreed to support Comcast as it sought government approval for its takeover of NBCUniversal.

The Comcast chief executive, Brian L. Roberts, and the head of the company’s lobbying effort, David L. Cohen, met with Mr. Sharpton and other representatives of minority groups to talk about their bid early last year. That meeting, Mr. Sharpton said later, was the most important factor in his decision to support Comcast and urge the Federal Communications Commission to approve the NBC deal. Comcast then used the support of Mr. Sharpton and other civil rights activists to promote the proposed merger to government officials.

Rarely, if ever, has a cable news channel employed a host who has previously campaigned for the business goals of the channel’s parent company. But as channels like MSNBC have moved to more opinionated formats, they have exposed themselves to potential conflicts.

The possible transition for Mr. Sharpton — from political influencer to television talent — highlights the complex relationships that can arise when cable news channels employ activists who take sides instead of journalists who don’t. Source: NY Times

I'm not here to throw cold water on Rev. Sharpton's possible rise to network television, but I believe he is too deeply connected to influencing political discourse in this country to be a fair and balanced host, unless of course, that's what MSNBC is seeking to accomplish. I should also note, MSNBC hasn't said that Sharpton is being offered a show, but where there's smoke, there's usually a fire. If they offer his a spot, it's not criminal, but just not ethical given his lobbying efforts.

SCLC President Rev. Howard Creecy Jr. Dies Suddenly After Suffering Heart Attack

URGENT:  Rev. Howard Creecy Jr., president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, died at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday after suffering a heart attack.

Rev. Howard Creecy Jr., president of SCLC and pastor of Olivet Church in Atlanta, died suddenly after suffering a heart attack at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday. He was elected SCLC president after Bernice King declined the position. You will recall there was a lot of controversy around the leadership of SCLC, after a group led by Markel Hutchins welded the locks shut at the Atlanta headquarters because he claimed he was the interim president. That drama played out in court. The organization was founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Rev. Creecy.

Drama at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church as Board Sought to Fire Rev. LaVell Jones, but Deacons who Sided with Him Ousted Board

Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church board votes to fire Pastor LaVell Jones, but deacons siding with him fire the board, the infighting became so intense police were called after tussle over collection money.

What's going on at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Stockton, CA? The church board sought to fire Pastor LaVell Jones but the drama unfolded when the deacons who sided with him, ousted the board. Oh what a tangled web we weave when we have a snake in the pulpit.

"The deacons are outright villains," fumed Jesse Nabors, a former city councilman and church board member. So tense has the infighting become that police were called after a tussle over collection money.

It's a sad state of affairs for a once-flourishing church that grew to 500 members in the 1980s, and which fed the poor in nearby Columbus Park.

Membership has sagged to 135, by one estimate, as members recoil from politicking, intimidation, slander and other acts that are not what Jesus would do.

The church's bylaws give the board the right to call for a vote of the congregation. However, the deacons (church officers who help the pastor with religious duties) refused to communicate the decision to the congregation.

This is like a soap opera playing out in Stockton. All I can say is "Jesus take the wheel...." To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Stone Mountain GA Brothers Charlie Burton & Lapraver Burton Charged with Statutory Rape of 13 YO Girl

Charlie Burton, 25 and his brother Lapraver Burton, 18, were arrested July 25 for raping a 13 year old girl.

A 13 year old girl reportedly her Stone Mountain, Ga., home and was picked up on the streets by Charlie and Lapraver Burton. The two brothers gave the girl marijuana and sexually abused her, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Both men are charged with statutory rape, child molestation, aggravated sodomy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and enticing a child. We should pray that these two dirtbags never see the outside of a prison cell for the rest of their lives.

Bishop Eddie L. Long had a Fifth Accuser, Centino Kemp, who Was Part of Multi-Million Settlement for Sexual Coercion of Young Black Men

The Eddie L. Long soap opera continues with the revelation of yet another accuser, Centino Kemp's allegations of sexual misconduct against Bishop Long brought him front and center into the recent settlement negotiations, according to MyFoxAtlanta.

Isn't it time for the people of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to tell Bishop Long to pull a Ted Haggard and get some help? It is obvious that all these young men can't be lying on the Bishop and he should just admit that he is a homosexual and come out of the closet, instead of sneaking around with young black men. Well, there is no mistaking the fact that Centino Kemp is a sistah. I would love to hear Bishop Long's excuse or explanation for this revelation. Where is Art Franklin? Is he going to send a nasty letter to Dale Russell, for telling the truth?  One more thing, where the hell his buddy Creflo Dollar? Is he going to tell departing New Birth members to go back because the Bishop had a bigger wreck than first thought? Laughable and sad at the same time. No wonder Bishop Long and his wife Vanessa had no clue that their daughter Taylor Long had credit issues at school and wouldn't be allowed to graduate.

Centino Kemp, 22, who also goes by Centinio, is openly gay, as you can clearly see. According to MyFoxAtlanta, Kemp has Long's name tattooed on his wrist and is currently recording songs from a jilted lover perspective.

UPDATE #1: Bishop Eddie Long didn't attend Wednesday service. He was said to have been at home "resting." Right. MyFoxAtlanta spoke with some members of the church and they support Long, but at what cost? If a child does something wrong, over and over, isn't it the parents' job to correct the behavior? Then why are some members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church giving Bishop Long a pass?

Bishop Eddie Long Had Fifth Accuser in Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Cheating Scandal Isn't All that Smells in Education in Georgia, is Ageism Among Older Teachers a Problem?

Coming soon, investigative report -- Cheating scandal may not be the only problem confronting Georgia schools, as in the case of Atlanta Public Schools, is ageism a problem among older teachers in some counties too?

BET Cancels The Mo'Nique Show, No Reason Given to Public

BET cancels "The Mo'Nique Show" after a two-year run.  I tried to watch the show a couple times and I couldn't get past the opening monologue. Mo'Nique was too abrasive for me. I watched only when she had a guest I wanted to see and I would literally channel surf until that guest hit the stage. She brought entertainers such as Stephanie Mills, Alyson Williams, and Anita Baker back front and center to the black community. It's true that Mo'Nique was no Oprah Winfrey, but I will give her credit for trying something new. I can also think of a several other shows that BET should cancel, but hey, I don't tune in to the channel on a regular basis because of it's ghetto-like feel, so I guess I could care less what shows are still left. "The Mo'Nique Show" is the least of BET's problems. No word on the real reason for the cancellation, since the ratings weren't that bad, but the word on the street is that there were conflicts between management and the stand-up comedian. Go figure!

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing to Ration City Services Based on What a Neighborhood Looks Like

Detroit's mayor Dave Bing unveiled plans Wednesday to ration city services based on what the neighborhood looks like -- condition of homes, how many people live there and the level of blight -- because of a $155 million budget shortfall. Well, we all know where that's going.

"Our focus is going to be on the people in the neighborhoods," Bing said. "We can effect real change and improve neighborhoods."

Under Bing's plan, more attention would be paid to demolishing vacant houses, enhancing vacant lots, and improving recreation services in distressed neighborhoods. Transitional neighborhoods would get high concentrations of services mostly across the board, while more attention will be paid to code enforcement, illegal dumping and business attraction in the city's best neighborhoods than in others. Source: CNBC

I can see it now, the "good" neighborhoods will get adequate resources, while the "bad" and "blighted" neighborhoods will be on the losing end of this rationing.

SC Gov. Nikki Haley Caught Up in Confederate Flag Mess, After NAACP President Asks Her to Remove Flag from Near Her Statehouse Office

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is caught up in the Confederate flag mess. Ben Jealous, president of the NAACP, is urging the Indian-American governor to remove the Confederate flag that flies near her Statehouse office.

But NAACP head Benjamin Jealous said at the group's annual convention in Los Angeles on Monday that "one of the most perplexing examples of the contradictions of this moment in history is that Nikki Haley, South Carolina's first governor of color, continues to fly the Confederate Flag in front of her state's capitol."

Of course, Mrs. Haley's spokesman said she has no plans to revisit the Confederate flag issue. But wait, shouldn't the voters of South Carolina who want the flag removed show her who is really the boss? No matter how hard Nikki Haley tries to separate herself from her Indian heritage, whether it's marrying a white man, ditching her Indian names, blankety, blankety, she'll never cross over to the other side. Just ask Clarence Thomas. She's still a person of color and should be offended by what the flag meant to blacks in this country.

House Republicans Chant "Fire Him" After RSC's Paul Teller Caught Sending E-Mails to Conservative Groups to Pressure Vote Against John Boehner's Proposal

The hot mess unfolding in the Republican Party, thanks to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) being backed into a scorner by the Tea Party, continues for yet another day. This time, House Republicans are screaming "fire him" of Paul Teller, the executive director of the Republican Study Committee, after he was caught sending "kill the Boehner deal"e-mails to conservative groups urging them to pressure GOP lawmakers to vote against a debt proposal from Boehner. This is pathetic and a disgrace to this country. Grown ass men and women whining like babies. The schism in the Republican Party continues to grow.

It is also interesting to note, the leader of Tea Party Nation Judson Phillips is calling for John Boehner "to go" and be replaced by a "Tea Party Speaker of the House." This is too funny. Tea Party Speaker of the House. Right, we'll have that in place when donkeys fly! LMAO.

NC Children's Minister Jonathan Rose Charged with Internet Sex Crimes Involving Children, Being Held on $50,000 Bond

SHAME: Jonathan Rose, children's minister at Rocky Hock Baptist Church in Edenton, NC, has been charged with Internet sex crimes involving children. Rose was arrested Monday by the S.B.I. and the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Cumberland County deputies say the 35-year-old Rose engaged in illegal conversations with children via his computer.

Rose has been charged with solicitation of child by computer to commit unlawful sex acts and is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Senior Pastor Dr. James Horton of the church says he called a meeting with his congregation Tuesday night about the charges filled against Rose who has been with the church three years. Horton says, "It's just an absolute shock to us. We just don't know what to think or to make of it. Like I say we don't know the content of it or what the accusations entail or exactly what happened so were just waiting to find out." Source

Yeah, I'll tell you what to think, Jonathan Rose is a wolf in sheep's clothing, preying upon young children. It is no surprise that he is married with four children.

Pastor Jonathan Rose facing charges of Internet sex crimes against children:

Sarah Palin Compares Debt Ceiling to TARP & Says Obama Using Life & Death Tactic as with TARP

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin forgets her support of Wall Street bail-out and tries to rewrite history again, saying President Obama insisted TARP had to be passed, but wasn't George W. Bush the president when the bail-out process started?

Every time Alaska's former Gov. Sarah Palin opens her mouth she reconfirms my position that she is a complete idiot. Last night, during an appearance on Fox News, she criticized President Obama for his "life and death tactic" with the debt ceiling talks, as he did with TARP. Um, two problems -- George W. Bush was the president when the TARP debate started and the first disbursement was made and second, Sarah Palin supported TARP. In other words, Sarah Palin is a hypocrite. Her exact words were:

“Scaring the American people is exactly what President Obama is doing. In that bizarre speech that he gave last night, it reminded me of when he insisted that TARP had to be passed — it was life-or-death, at that time, also.” (video below)

Let's revisit Sarah Palin's comments from 2008 to the present:

During the 2008 financial crisis, Palin held an infamous interview with CBS News‘ Katie Couric, during which she endorsed the bailout. Of course, she couldn't quite explain how she got to her position, strangely tying the bank bailout to health care reform, but you can see she favored the bail-out, just like John McCain did:

COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy? Instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: That’s why I say, I, like every American I’m speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in, where it is the taxpayers looking to bailout. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up the economy—helping the—Oh, it’s got to be about job creation too. Shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track… And trade we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive scary thing. But 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

During an October 21 CNN interview, Sarah Palin also indicated her full support for the bailout:

Now, as for the economic bailout provisions and the measures that have already been taken, it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in playing an appropriate role to shore up the housing market to make sure that we’re thawing out some of the potentially frozen credit lines and credit markets, government did have to step in there.

In her book, Going Rogue, released in 2009, Sarah Palin noted that the bailout had been absolutely necessary, and she even chastised the House Republicans who had voted against it:

The House of Representatives rejected a Bush-backed economic bailout plan in a vote in which two-thirds of Republicans voted no. The impression this made on the electorate was not helpful to our cause. Millions of Americans were poised to go bankrupt or lose their savings, and the perception was that Republicans had failed to respond.

This woman picks on the media saying they operate under a "gotcha mentality," but she's the one who forgets history, tries to rewrite history and forgets her own words. So, what are we supposed to do? Roll over and ignore these half-truths, untruths or downright stupidity? I try to swear off writing about this nitwit, but I can't help it. She always puts her foot in her mouth at the expense of coming across as knowledgeable.

Copa Burse, Black Des Moines IA Resident, Finds Racial Slur Painted on Garage Door & Doll with Face Painted Black

Copa Burse, a black resident of Des Moines, Ia., said she is the victim of racial harassment. According to the Des Moines Register, Burse, who works the graveyard shift at John Deere as a forklift operator, said when she returned home Monday morning, she found a racial slur spray-painted on her garage door, as well as a doll with the face, hands and feet painted black dangled in effigy from a cord on the garage door knob. There was also a message telling her to quit her job at John Deere "or else."

Burse said she’s been dealing with racial harassment from co-workers for months. She believes this graffiti was a retaliation for a complaint she filed after she found a racial slur written on her locker at John Deere in May. Des Moines police are investigating the incident as a hate crime. Tuesday, Burse had a message of her own: “I am not going to be intimidated out of my job. I just want this to stop.”

The graffiti was discovered five days after John Deere officials sent a memo to employees that said Burse would be suing the company for harassment, said Tom Newkirk, Burse’s attorney. Newkirk said no lawsuit has been filed; however, “the company’s response has been less than spectacular.” Source

Of course, the police have no suspects, since the punk or punks chose to do their dirty deed at night. The company said it doesn't tolerate racial harassment, so let's see how her lawsuit unfolds.

Olympic Silver Medalist & Aerial Skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson Dies from Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

Aerial skier & Olympic silver medalist Jeret "Speedy" Peterson commits suicide in Lambs Canyon, UT.

Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (USSA)

SHOCK: Olympic silver medalist Jeret "Speedy" Peterson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday in Lambs Canyon, UT. Peterson, an aerial skier, called 911 saying he was going to commit suicide and gave them his location, according to CNN. He was already dead when officers arrived at his location. Peterson won a silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

St. Paul Teen Antoine Willis Suffering 2nd & 3rd Degree Burns After Mother's Abusive Boyfriend Curtis Reed Sets him on Fire as He Slept

SHOCK: Antoine Willis,19, of St. Paul, MN, is wrapped in bandages after suffering second and third degree burns to his head, neck, and torso after being doused by his mother's abusive boyfriend Curtis E. Reed. Willis was doused with lighter fluid and set on fire by Reed as the teen slept, according to media reports. It is a travesty that all Curtis Reed has been charged with is assault. Shouldn't he have been charged with attempted murder? Why hasn't this tragedy hit the mainstream media? It's high time single women took note of the trash they are bringing in their homes to prey on their children. My thoughts and prayers go out to Antoine Willis as he recovers.

Quanita Smith, Aunt of Missing Five Year Old Detroit Girl Mariha Trenice Smith, Fails Polygraph Test & is Being Held by Police

Quanita Smith, aunt of missing five year old Detroit girl, Mariha Trenice Smith, reportedly fails polygraph test and is in police custody, boyfriend being questioned & burned body of little girl found in abandoned home.

SHOCK: Quanita Smith is reportedly in police custody after failing a polygraph test in connection to the disappearance of her five year old niece, Mariha Trenice Smith, who went missing from her Detroit home last Sunday. According to media reports, the girl's mother, Konesha Smith, said police informed her Quanita Smith was being held because of the results of the polygraph test. The police are also reportedly questioning her boyfriend and another male who was seen in the home last Sunday. I am bracing for the worst in this case because police found the burned body of a little girl, thought to be between five and seven years old. Mariah was last seen wearing a black shirt with pink roses on it, and sadly, a piece of fabric with pink roses on it was found under debris in the abandoned home were the burned body was found. An autopsy on the body has been performed and it was determined the child died of asphyxia and her death has been ruled a homicide. This is a sad, sad turn of events. This precious child, whether she is Mariha Trenice Smith or another little girl, like Leibby Kletsky, didn't deserve the fate they met.

FROM CLICK ON DETROIT:

Watch: Unidentified Girl's Body Found In Burned Detroit House 
Watch: Konesha Smith Says Daughter, Mariah Trenice Smith, Was Taken From Home

UPDATE#1 (07/27/11): Shots fired outside Detroit home where Mariha Trenice Smith went missing Sunday. This happened during a Tuesday night vigil for the five year old girl.

UPDATE#2: (07/30/11): DNA tests confirm the badly burned body found in vacant home is that of Mariha Trenice Smith. Police seeking person of interest who purchased gasoline.