intransigent Me

'Da Hoodie

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:56:00 +0000

..... and that about say's it all!!

Thanks Wyclef

Creekside Incident

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:02:00 +0000

"Creekside Incident"

Larry M Sharpe

Graphics by Edward Warren

http://www.e-warren.com/

When I come

I'll be runnin' through the creek

When I come

The hounds 'll be chasin' after me

When I come

I'll be runnin' through the trees

Lord I'm jest tryin' to be free!

Coming Soon

Creekside Incident

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Coming Soon!!

"Creekside Incident" an exciting new book based on pre Civil War narrative. Featuring the lives of Lieutenant Ben Mason and runaway slave, Billy Duke. You will read of exciting adventures and misadventures of two individually dynamic characters who have grown to become best friends from unlikely backgrounds and often uncommon interest. Be prepared to think, smile, and even cry. You will not want to put this book down. Coming June 2012.

"CREEKSIDE INCIDENT"

NASCAR,s Finest

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:38:00 +0000

Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle all declined the White House invitation for next Wednesday, each citing scheduling conflicts. OK! From now on I have scheduling conflicts with these A-Holes.

Our Economy Ran Into the Sand

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:28:00 +0000

On most Americans mind lately is the economy. Our first thought of the economy is the lack of jobs with unemployment rate hovering at 9.1% average. The two major political parties cannot find a solution so they spend unnecessary energy pointing fingers at each other instead of solving the problems with our economy. Playing politics has proven to actually be detrimental to the process of solving the problem. Recently it came time to adjust the nation’s budget by raising the country’s debt ceiling. Our two major political parties have been infiltrated by an ultra-conservative entity called the Tea Party. The Tea Party consists of a segment of populous that is anti-government, fiscal and social right wing idealist. They won influence into the political process by organizing and taking over the traditional Republican Party. With the new found influence over the Republican majority, the Tea Party refused to allow the nation’s debt ceiling to be raised without a lengthy argument. They held the process hostage in an attempt to institute legislation that would defund entitlements, while lowering taxes for the rich. The whole debacle caused America’s credit rating to be downgraded for the first time in history. The Tea Party then blamed President Obama’s budget for the cause of the downgrade when the office of Standard and Poors clearly stated the cause was their inability to release the economy hostage.

During the elections of 2010 the Tea Party was instrumental in the resurgence of the U.S. House of Representatives becoming a Republican majority. The American voters overwhelmingly voted conservative due to the looming economy storm approaching. The Tea Party with the help of traditional Republicans convinced America our failing economy was due to policies put in place by President Barack Obama and a majority Democrat Congress. Ironically, with the exception of a few policies that directly affected the economy, most of the policies that plunged the economy into the red were made and instituted by former Republican President George W. Bush who inherited a budget surplus from his predecessor. President Bush took the country to war after we were attacked by Osama bin Laden, leader of an extreme Muslim terrorist group called al Qaeda. Al Qaeda flew two passenger jets into the two World Trade Center Tower’s in New York, while simultaneously flying another into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. A fourth passenger jet was to be crashed into the White House, but brave American passengers thwarted the attack causing it to crash into a field in Pennsylvania. The whole nation, Republicans and Democrats, with few exceptions, were lead and rushed into war with Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the terrorist attack on America, but Bush and some of his Neo Conservative administration saw the opportunity to make a costly war with Iraq due to the country’s sentiment over being attacked by outside forces for the first time in history. Within hours we knew who was responsible for attacking us. It became clear that it was Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda from bases in Afghanistan and not Saddam Hussein in Iraq. When the Taliban government of Afghanistan was asked to turn over members of al Qaeda responsible for the attack, they vehemently refused. A new doctrine was constituted, the Bush Doctrine, which loosely states any government that harbors enemies of America also become enemies of America and are subject to be attacked. The whole incident called 911, named for the date it took place, plunged the USA into war on two fronts. One war marginally justified and the other totally not justified, and neither war placed into the nation’s budget.

The cost of fighting two expensive wars and the attempt to establish democracies in both countries put a financial burden on the American tax payers while it benefited the industrial military complex of America. Meanwhile several nations who were lured and enticed to assist us in our war frenzy found their budgets were strained also. As was the attack by al Qaeda on America, there became again the opportunity for Neo conservatives to take advantage of the situation. They quickly attributed worsening economies to entitlements for its most needy citizens. A campaign was launched to paint entitlements as the one reason for the whole worlds failing economy. I need to add that there was a housing mortgage implosion due to opportunistic Wall Street speculators and complicit banks.

Adjustable mortgages were granted to people who did not have the means to repay banks after the full interest rates matured. Banks and mortgage companies did not scrutinize the ability for many of the mortgagees to repay their loans because the financial institutions were systematically bundling and passing those toxic loans to speculators. When the mortgagees defaulted on loans they never should have received, the massive quantity of those loans caused mortgage holders to go into default also. The chain reaction was devastating to the whole world’s economy. The blame for those defaulted loans was placed squarely on those unsuspecting borrowers that assumed the banks issued the loans because they were confident of the ability for repayment. In reality those loans were granted solely for the profit of writing them and passing them on to the next speculator like a hot potato.

America has faced an attack on its major financial city, two unfunded wars, Katrina, and several other major storm damaged cities, while trying to compete in a global market rift with cheap labor and unregulated manufacturing. Practically every economy debilitating event has pounded wave after wave on our economy. What have kept the American people afloat in theses trying times have been social safety nets put in place by Democrat and moderate Republicans. The image of America would be quite different if the 9.1% unemployed didn’t have unemployment compensation to exist on during the prolonged phase of economic strife. Unfortunately conservative Republicans believe the safety nets are the culprit of our failed economy. They disregard all other factors that a wreaking financial havoc to pin the blame on those citizens who exercise the use of our safety nets. The more extreme sect of Republican conservatives again sees the opportunity to overreach and attempt to destroy and disassemble some old pet peeved social programs they never were in favor of. Programs and institutions like, Social Security, Medicare, and government backed mortgages, the department of education, labor unions, and the whole government itself if possible. Just like going to war with Iraq, conservatives have declared war on the wrong enemy. My hope is we fair minded sensible liberals will resist the assault or at least put up a better defense than we did when we agreed to give George Bush permission to plunge our economy into the sands of Iraq.

Listen, There Is A Message, Even In Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Do I condone reckless rioting? NO! Not at all. Do I understand social frustration? YES! Yes I do. I cannot comment with personal knowledge on the reasoning for the civil disobedience happening in the UK, but I can say with all familiarity the frustration of being a minority, already on the lower echelon of society, during economic crises.

Everybody is at a fever pitch and ready to burst out in anger, but they are not sure who to place blame. Boiling anger brings forth uncontrolled raging steam. To my dismay I recognize we here in the USA may have our own tea kettle ready to boil over. We all know steam can be faultlessly scalding hot. Do we blame the steam when we get burned or is the blame more appropriately given to the one who lights the fire?

One of the hottest fires being kindled today is "austerity" that leaves the rich free of any obligation to participate in the pain of economic reconstruction. The people who are less able to balance our national debt are being asked to bear the full burden. The rich have an ironclad excuse not to participate. They say they are the "job creators" and that's enough!. Really?? I can hear the rich now after being scorched and blistered from rising hot social steam of dissent, displayed by riots, when the people have had "enough"!

I Do Not Respect The Tea Party

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:46:00 +0000

Beware Citizens and Workers of America. The Tea Party is no more than unsuspecting puppets of corporate America. What the Tea Party has effectively done during the issue of the United States debt ceiling being raised, as it historically had been routinely done, is bring Americas reputation down in the sight of the world. What many of us fail to realize is the members who are passionately involved in the Tea Party are not of the same intellect or quality people who made America an excelling country in the first place. I dare say they are second rate uninformed backward fools. The original Boston Tea Party event had great merits and was truly justifiable in its protest against being taxed by Britain. Even then the protesters went too far by destroying property that was not theirs to destroy. The act of those protesters eventually caused the Revolutionary War. The result of that war ended up being a positive outcome. It was the beginning of an independent America and later a great and respected United States. Now the faction of people today who have wrapped their mantle around those Patriots of the Boston Tea Party are not of the same caliber as those Patriots of old.

Today the modern Tea Party is much more reckless with agendas that sound wonderful but are not their own. The Tea Party of today stands on the platform of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government, and Free Markets. These are noble sounding objectives until you examine them closer. Corporate America has financed the Tea Party movement and coerced these people into doing their bidding. Fiscal Responsibility is corporate speak for “we don’t want to pay entitlements or taxes”. Constitutionally Limited Government simply means, the business community does not want any regulations standing between us and them. They want it amended in the Constitution so they will have legal cover to protect themselves from any abridge of safety, fairness, social responsibility, or environmental concerns. Free Markets, the term speak for itself. Corporations want the freedom to collude, to enact hostile takeovers, and monopolize so they can drive prices up or down depending on their objectives and motives.

How long have corporations and ultra-rich business entities manipulated the American people into the sorry state of affairs we find ourselves. How often have social differences been magnified and promoted as the cause for our despair. Corporate America once used race relations as a wedge between Blacks and Whites. White people were constantly bombarded with the idea of Blacks taking their jobs. How ridiculous was that? Black unemployment is 16.2% while white unemployment is 8.1%. Has it resulted in the fears corporations lead us to believe? I think not. Those fears were forgotten until the Hispanic population began to grow. Now the forces of corporate America are pitting our citizens against immigration. It’s the same old con job and we keep falling for it. Meanwhile look at the earnings that are ballooning in the coffers of corporations throughout America. They said Blacks and Latinos were going to take White peoples jobs, so they sent them to China for safe keeping. Corporate America made its prosperous beginning under the protection of the American people then took their money and invested it in other countries leaving those same Americans whose protection they benefited from unemployed and languishing in debt from building an America for corporations to thrive. We were once the impassioned lovers of corporate America. Now we have been kicked out of the marriage bed while they are making whoopee with others. But don’t fear. We are enlighten too their ungrateful ways. Sadly to say the members of the Tea Party continue to be screwed by them and it seems the Tea Party is glad to bend over for them. Our problem is since the Tea Party is so willing to be fucked by corporate America; we end up being raped ourselves.

I do not believe I overstate this. We are in a clear and present danger. We are a significantly divided nation. Our prejudices and fears are being used against us and systematically causing our demises. Our politicians are either not wise enough or are being paid not to represent our best interest. We are living with less than the last generation while the rich managed to accumulate ten times the wealth of their predecessors. What is shameful is we defend them for that inequity. We defend the rich because we hold out false hope that one day we can join them in the luxuriant superfluity they have become accustomed to.

If you are a Tea Party type reading this and you are offended, I really don’t give a damn. By bringing this nation to the brink of defaulting it’s debt you have ruined this nation’s reputation. You have brought this country misery now and you have guaranteed a discomforted nation for the next thirty years. You have needlessly disrupted the world’s economy to keep corporate America and the rich from paying taxes. Whether you intended it or not you are guilty and do not deserve my respect nor will you receive it. You Sir may “Go to Hell”!!

Historic Reference Pointing to Republican Failure on Debt Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Good morning, everybody. I want to speak about the ongoing and increasingly urgent efforts to avoid default and reduce our deficit.
Right now, the House of Representatives is still trying to pass a bill that a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have already said they won’t vote for. It’s a plan that would force us to re-live this crisis in just a few short months, holding our economy captive to Washington politics once again. In other words, it does not solve the problem, and it has no chance of becoming law.
What’s clear now is that any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan. It must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people -– not just one faction. It will have to have the support of both the House and the Senate. And there are multiple ways to resolve this problem. Senator Reid, a Democrat, has introduced a plan in the Senate that contains cuts agreed upon by both parties. Senator McConnell, a Republican, offered a solution that could get us through this. There are plenty of modifications we can make to either of these plans in order to get them passed through both the House and the Senate and would allow me to sign them into law. And today I urge Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to find common ground on a plan that can get support -- that can get support from both parties in the House –- a plan that I can sign by Tuesday.
Now, keep in mind, this is not a situation where the two parties are miles apart. We’re in rough agreement about how much spending can be cut responsibly as a first step toward reducing our deficit. We agree on a process where the next step is a debate in the coming months on tax reform and entitlement reform –- and I’m ready and willing to have that debate. And if we need to put in place some kind of enforcement mechanism to hold us all accountable for making these reforms, I’ll support that too if it’s done in a smart and balanced way.
So there are plenty of ways out of this mess. But we are almost out of time. We need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will have the ability to pay its bills on time, as we always have -- bills that include monthly Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits and the government contracts we’ve signed with thousands of businesses. Keep in mind, if we don’t do that, if we don’t come to an agreement, we could lose our country’s AAA credit rating, not because we didn’t have the capacity to pay our bills -- we do -- but because we didn’t have a AAA political system to match our AAA credit rating.
And make no mistake -– for those who say they oppose tax increases on anyone, a lower credit rating would result potentially in a tax increase on everyone in the form of higher interest rates on their mortgages, their car loans, their credit cards. And that’s inexcusable.
There are a lot of crises in the world that we can’t always predict or avoid -– hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, terrorist attacks. This isn’t one of those crises. The power to solve this is in our hands. And on a day when we’ve been reminded how fragile the economy already is, this is one burden we can lift ourselves. We can end it with a simple vote –- a vote that Democrats and Republicans have been taking for decades, a vote that the leaders in Congress have taken for decades.
It’s not a vote that allows Congress to spend more money. Raising the debt ceiling simply gives our country the ability to pay the bills that Congress has already racked up. I want to emphasize that. The debt ceiling does not determine how much more money we can spend, it simply authorizes us to pay the bills we already have racked up. It gives the United States of America the ability to keep its word.
Now, on Monday night, I asked the American people to make their voice heard in this debate, and the response was overwhelming. So please, to all the American people, keep it up. If you want to see a bipartisan compromise -– a bill that can pass both houses of Congress and that I can sign -- let your members of Congress know. Make a phone call. Send an email. Tweet. Keep the pressure on Washington, and we can get past this.
And for my part, our administration will be continuing to work with Democrats and Republicans all weekend long until we find a solution. The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now. And I am confident that we can solve this problem. I’m confident that we will solve this problem. For all the intrigue and all the drama that’s taking place on Capitol Hill right now, I’m confident that common sense and cooler heads will prevail.
But as I said earlier, we are now running out of time. It’s important for everybody to step up and show the leadership that the American people expect.
Thank you.

A 'Sure Fire' Republican Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:36:00 +0000

The American Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 14:56:00 +0000

Thanks George Carlin for enlightening us. Now we'll drift back off asleep, Again!

Austerity, Huh!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:46:00 +0000

The Watson Institute presents Mark Blyth on Austerity from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

Rich Man's Nightmare

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:55:00 +0000

This qualifies as "hate speech" to a Republican. Oh wouldn't it be wonderful if these were still America's goals?

Special Comment by Keith Olbermann

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:09:00 +0000

Obama Got Osama!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:06:00 +0000

(CNN) -- The mastermind of the worst terrorist attack on American soil is dead, U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night, almost 10 years after the attacks that killed more than 3,000 people.

Osama bin Laden -- the longtime leader of al Qaeda -- was killed by U.S. forces in a mansion outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad along with other family members, a senior U.S. official told CNN.

U.S. officials have taken custody of bin Laden's body, Obama said. No Americans were harmed in the operation, he added.
***
On a personal note: The mastermind of September 11, 2001, the greatest terrorist attack on America has finally faced justice. The American people are good and well intended people, but if you do us harm we will make you pay no matter how long it takes. The world is not big enough for you to hide, there is no hole deep enough to crawl in to, no mountain high enough to scale to escape the wrath of an injured America. Ordinarily I would not celebrate a person's death, but if anyone in history needed to die for their crimes, it's Osama bin Laden.

All thanks needs to go to our American Military and our political leaders, Presidents Barack Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton. There should not be any partisan politics credited for this success, but make no mistake about it, Barack Obama's persistence won the day. Let us not forget the victims of 911 and the many soldiers who have lost their lives or been maimed in this effort.

Larry M Sharpe

Twister!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:50:00 +0000

Few people, but far more than imagined with the increase of extreme weather, has had up close and personal experience with a killer storm, a tornado to be more specific. On April 16th 2011, a quiet Saturday afternoon, I had an experience of a lifetime with just such a storm. In no way will I say that my experience supersedes those who lost lives, homes and personal property, because I am counted with those who were only a near miss of the tornado that came through Sanford, NC. My sympathy goes out to the affect population and those in my immediate neighborhood.

I casually watched the news reports of a line of severe storms coming across the mid plains of America. Those news reports soon became background noise as weather caster after weather caster reported a large line of tornado spawning storms were headed east doing damage along the way. Even the morning of the 16th there were warnings to watch out for severe weather expected that day. It seems always in the back of your mind you think, “it’ll miss us for sure, maybe a little rain and wind, but nothing bad.” That was my thought. I was watching television when a fresh news flash warned again of storms headed our way. I took this warning a little more serious since it was local. I decided to stay at home to avoid the rain if nothing else. I looked out my window and saw the wind had picked up and trees were swaying a little more than usual, the sky had darkened only a little. I sat down in my favorite easy chair and tuned in to some television chatter when I noticed a strengthening of the storm. I was home alone with the exception of my little Yorkie, Bronco. My wife, Janice, was visiting her mother’s house about four miles away. When I noticed the storm picking up and trees bowing, I said to Bronco, “This might be more than we expected buddy”. Bronco is extremely afraid of storms; they give him a nervous condition. What was to follow could have given the bravest among us a nervous condition.

I began to hear an unfamiliar rumble in the distance, not like thunder or lightning, but of baffled wind. That’s when the reality of a possible tornado headed my way became a great concern. I am not easily panicked so I sat for a moment longer and said aloud to Bronco if the lights go out then it’s probably a tornado. I knew the proximity of the power lines and the direction I was hearing the rumble. I figured if it was a tornado those power lines failing would be a final notice to take cover. No sooner had the thought left my mind the electricity went off. I jumped up and grabbed Bronco. I looked out the back door to see if I could determine for sure if indeed it was a tornado. What I saw left no doubt. There was an extremely huge ferocious dark funnel cloud hovering just above ground level headed straight for my house. It looked as though it was moving slowly, but that’s because of the mere size of it, I would almost add it seemed to be moving divinely if not for the destruction and misery it was leaving behind.

This house was moved from it's foundation and the roof was carried off.

My up close and personal experience had begun. All the pre instructions that practically everybody knows came rushing into my mind as to what to do for safety. I knew I was supposed to go to the center of the house, get in a closet or bathroom, get down and cover my head. I thought clearly and plainly on what to do. I even had time to struggle with my inner self while the tornado approached. I took a step towards the interior of the house, and I took a step towards the door to look. I repeated that about twice. My urge to fully view this raving monster won out above common sense. With Bronco in my arms, because I had picked him up for safe keeping, I stepped out onto my deck and watched the tornado come across mine and my next door neighbor’s yard. It was the most alluring and mystifying sight to behold. I was having an out of body experience. It felt as though I could reach out and touch the fierce body of that tornado and I got the sense that it didn’t want to hurt me. I could see large debris swirling way up in it. Some debris looked as big as a car other was mostly tree limbs, leaves and paper. Much of it was unidentifiable. As it passed by I turned and ran through the house to the front door and stepped out onto my porch. I watched that tornado crossed over my neighbor’s house in front of me and headed down the street. I watched as it sat down on the ground a few hundred feet or so from me. Only when a tornado wants something does it take something. I saw huge pine trees snap like the proverbial twigs so often people describe as what they see in the aftermath. I saw it actually happening real time. A clump of trees would be wrung together and the tops removed like a person would hurriedly pluck a bouquet of flowers as a gift. Those tree tops would fly high into the air and come crashing down in the next yard. Some pines would become uprooted and fall conquered by the force of the twirling wind and lay on the ground uprooted like so many pick-up-sticks. Those were the trees that didn’t find a house to fall on or through. Many of those trees choose to fall into and across houses or on top and through automobiles. It was not a matter of this tornado using trees as an agent for damage. The twirling forceful wind actually picked houses up and moved them from their foundations. Several roof tops were carried off into different directions. I viewed this with only a little obstruction from the rain for the first few seconds and then a torrid period of rain lasted for a few minutes. I never heard the sound of a freight train like many people say they hear from a tornado. It sounded more like jet engines roaring at roof top level. Even through the roar of the tornado, the snapping of trees and the crackling of homes being destroyed,

Luckily no one was injured in this home

I cannot truly give an accurate account of the experience of being a victim of this tornado, because I was only an observer, it did no damage to my home. Only those with loved ones and homes lost could attempt to paint a more accurate picture and I’m sure they could not easily reveal the devastating pain of it. There was no loss of life in my immediate neighborhood, though it is a miracle that it was not. In the surrounding area where the tornado went, and where it came from, a few people were not as fortunate. There was a count of two lives lost and dozens of injuries in the area.

Our low count of lives lost from the damage done was given due credit to a heroic store manager at the local Lowes Hardware store. The same tornado that came across my yard went a couple of miles and totally demolished a Lowes store. Reports indicate the manager saw it coming and immediately warned staff and customers to take cover at the back of the store away from the front windows. There were approximately one hundred people in the store at the time. Miraculously no one was killed and only a few slightly hurt when the whole store was totally demolished leaving no roof or walls. President Barack Obama personally called to thank the store manager for his heroic action.

Lowes hardware store with 100 people inside when tornado struck, There were no deaths, only minor injuries.

On a brighter note, I can say our safety management personnel were swift and immediate in their response to this recent tragedy. Emergency personnel were on the job immediately ready to help survivors and injured. There was no shortage of ambulances and fire trucks passing by my door. The law enforcement agencies quickly accessed the situation and cordoned off the community for the night, and proceeding nights, to prevent the unfortunate practice of looting.

In Honor of Patrick the Pit Bull

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Project Description
From Newark, New Jersey Mayor, Cory Booker:

Recently a heinous incident of animal cruelty took place in our city and shocked the world. On March 16th, the day before St. Patrick’s Day, a 1-year-old pit bull was found inside a trash bag, starved and near death after having been thrown down a trash chute. At the time of his rescue by a heroic and caring maintenance worker, he weighed only 20 pounds – less than half of what doctors considered normal weight. After receiving immediate medical attention from the City of Newark’s Animal Control, he was quickly transferred to a trauma unit at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, New Jersey where they found him to be severely anemic and malnourished requiring a blood transfusion in order to survive. For his miraculous recovery and the holiday on which he was found, he has been dubbed “Patrick the miracle dog.” Despite his horrific abuse, Patrick is expected to fully recover into a happy, healthy dog.

Patrick’s story is one of countless instances of animal cruelty taking place daily around the world. It is a reminder that many animals suffer appalling abuse, and without our help, cases like this will end even more tragically. It is my hope that through spreading awareness and working together we can help save many of these defenseless animals from abuse and neglect.

For almost two years, my administration has been working hard to establish a state-of-the-art animal shelter in Newark. Thus far, we have identified and readied a site and have architects working on the design. This facility seeks to serve other New Jersey municipalities in Essex and Hudson counties that desperately need other options for housing and caring for homeless animals. By working to build a modern, state-of-the-art shelter through public and private funding, and by employing innovative policies to improve responsible pet care, decrease birthrates, increase adoptions, and help keep animals with their responsible caretakers, we believe that Newark’s animal shelter operations can become a model for the rest of the nation.

For my birthday, my wish is that you join our Cause to help spread awareness of Patrick’s story and animal abuse, and, if possible, contribute toward the construction of “Patrick’s Place” – the animal shelter which we hope to build in the coming years in Newark. Patrick’s abuser claimed she could no longer care for her dog – it is our hope that by providing this additional facility in our city, more animals can be rescued from unnecessary neglect and abuse. Any money we raise not used for this project will be donated to a local organization for the protection and care of animals.

Newark will be known as a city that cares not only about its people, but its animals, too.

Racist! Are You Sure?

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:27:00 +0000

The question of "race" and the emotions "racial issues" tend to bring out in people are quietly being suppressed lately. We have a number of disasters and political unrest in various parts of the world that are keeping us from our usual favorite past time of "race hating". When world events slow down to where we can continue our silly race debates. The video has a message that may help us overcome the meanness of it all, which may lead to a better understanding of it.

One lesson sure to be learned is; pointing fingers often let guilty people off the hook. It always bothered me when a person eats the cookie, says he didn't, but he has cookie crumbs around his mouth. You know he ate the cookie, he knows he ate the cookie, and his mouth should be evidence enough, but the son-of-a-bitch will lick his lips everytime.

We're At War! Again......

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:48:00 +0000

WASHINGTON -- U.S. and British ships and submarines launched the first phase of a missile assault on Libyan air defenses, firing 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles Saturday at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya's air force.

In announcing the mission during a visit to Brazil, President Barack Obama said he was reluctant to resort to force but was convinced it was necessary to save the lives of civilians. He reiterated that he would not send American ground troops to Libya.

"We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said in Brasilia.

It was clear the U.S. intended to limit its role in the Libya intervention, focusing first on disabling or otherwise silencing Libyan air defenses, and then leaving it to European and perhaps Arab countries to enforce a no-fly zone over the North African nation.

Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff, told reporters the cruise missile assault was the "leading edge" of a coalition campaign dubbed Operation Odyssey Dawn. Its aim: prevent Moammar Gadhafi's forces from inflicting more violence on civilians -- particularly in and around the rebel stronghold of Benghazi -- and degrading the Libyan military's ability to contest a no-fly zone.

A chief target of Saturday's cruise missile attack was Libya's SA-5 surface-to-air missiles, which are considered a moderate threat to some allied aircraft. Libya's overall air defenses are based on older Soviet technology but Gortney called them capable and a potential threat to allied aircraft.

Also targeted: early warning radars and unspecified communications facilities, Gortney said. The U.S. military has extensive recent experience in such combat missions; U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft repeatedly attacked Iraq's air defenses during the 1990s while enforcing a no-fly zone over Iraq's Kurdish north.

Cruise missiles are the weapon of first choice in such campaigns; they do not put pilots at risk, and they use navigational technologies that provide good precision.

The first Tomahawk cruise missiles struck at 3 p.m. EDT, Gortney said, after a one-hour flight from the U.S. and British vessels on station in the Mediterranean.

The U.S. has at least 11 naval vessels in the Mediterranean, including three submarines, two destroyers, two amphibious warfare ships and the USS Mount Whitney, a command-and-control vessel that is the flagship of the Navy's 6th Fleet. Also in the area are Navy P-3 and EP-3 surveillance aircraft, officials said.

Gortney said it would take as long as 12 hours to assess the effectiveness of Saturday's strikes. Then a high-altitude Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane would overfly the target areas to get a more precise view, the admiral said. He would not say how long the attacks on Libyan air defenses would last, but he stressed that Saturday's assault with cruise missiles was the first phase of a multi-stage mission.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was scheduled to fly to Russia on Saturday afternoon to begin a week-long overseas trip, postponed his departure for 24 hours. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Gates decided he should remain in Washington to monitor developments in Libya at the outset of U.S. strikes.

Gates had been skeptical of getting involved in Libya's civil war, telling Congress earlier this month that taking out Libya's air defenses was tantamount to war. Others have worried that the mission could put the U.S. on a slippery slope to deeper involvement in yet another Muslim country -- on top of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hours after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton attended an international conference in Paris that endorsed military action against Gadhafi, the U.S. and Britain kicked off their attacks.

At a news conference in Paris, Clinton said Gadhafi had left the world no choice but to intervene urgently and forcefully to protect further loss of civilian life.

"We have every reason to fear that, left unchecked, Gadhafi would commit unspeakable atrocities," she told reporters.

Clinton said there was no evidence that Gadhafi's forces were respecting an alleged cease-fire they proclaimed and the time for action was now.

"Our assessment is that the aggressive action by Gadhafi's forces continues in many parts of the country," she said. "We have seen no real effort on the part of the Gadhafi forces to abide by a cease-fire."

Among the U.S. Navy ships in the Mediterranean were two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Barry and USS Stout, as well as two amphibious warships, the USS Kearsarge and USS Ponce, and a command-and-control ship, the USS Mount Whitney. The submarine USS Providence was also in the Mediterranean.

Relax, Chilll, It's Going to be Alright

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:11:00 +0000

Next time you hear that it "could" be trouble on your job, raise your salary 50%, like the oil compainies do. Meanwhile, Chill out! If your collective bargaining power is being usurped, don't worry about it, Chill out! If your health care is repealed, get over it, and Chill out! Just Chill the f*** Out!

"The Moving Finger" Dorothy Ashby

Thanks Linda

Love of Money Makes the Rich Richer, Not You!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:11:00 +0000

This is more true today than ever! Our future is being determined by souless Corporations and "Robber Barrons".

A Case for Affirmative Action

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I don't want to take your job Mr Man. I want a fair chance to compete for the jobs that are available. I don't want to take your seat in the University, I want to fairly compete for the vacant seat. After all, it's not YOUR job, and it's not YOUR seat. If you didn't automatically assume it was we wouldn't need Affirmative Action.

Peaceful Protest

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:50:00 +0000

How far should we allow Corporations to go? Why do we continue to turn a blind eye to them buying our government?

Black History Month: Greensboro, NC Lunch Counter Sit In

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Black History Month: Canada Lee

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:27:00 +0000

Canada Lee (born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata on March 3, 1907) was one of the greatest actors of his generation. No one who witnessed his performances on the stage and screen (his films included: "Lifeboat", "Body and Soul", "Cry, the Beloved Country") could fail to be affected by his blazing talent, and the dignity and humanity he always imparted. He was a self-trained actor who used his musical training and his background as a jockey and prize fighter, to inform the movement and physicality of his performances. His deep, melodious voice was also a great asset

However, Canada Lee was much more than just a great actor. He cared deeply about his fellow man and fought diligently to break down the barriers of racism. In fact, his concern for furthering brotherhood and equality was so deeply ingrained in him, that he only accepted roles that would enable him to educate society and help benefit his race.

At a time when black people were exclusively offered stereotypical roles, Canada Lee refused to engage in such portrayals. Even if he had to rewrite lines, he would constantly fight for dignity in his portrayals, he would not back down. Against great odds and opposition, he was successful in bringing dignity to the role of the stevedore, Charlie, in Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 film, "Lifeboat." This role was one of the first in Hollywood for a black character that departed from the stereotypical casting of the era. In fact, the role of Charlie, in "Lifeboat," was originally written stereotypically but Lee refused to portray it that way. Not only did he change the role but Lee's reinvented character became the moral center of the film. Canada Lee was determined to do whatever it took to be a man and to live his life with integrity.

This quote from the New York Times, Sunday, July 10, 1949, gives a glimpse into his determination...

"Canada Lee, Negro actor, charged yesterday that the "lynch mentality" of American radio made "cannibals, dehumanized monsters, clowns, menials, thieves and liars" out of the Negro people whom it had "jailed in a concentration camp of silence where we are surrounded by indifference and our real words reach nowhere".

The unfortunate fact however is that Canada Lee today, has largely been forgotten by the general public.

As film historian, Robert Edwards wrote, "Lee's achievements were all but swept away during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s. For speaking his mind about race relations in this country [and for preserving his dignity and integrity], Lee was blacklisted and eventually hounded into an early grave." Writer Stefan Kanfer eloquently states in 'A Journal of the Plague Years', "Canada Lee is the Othello of the blacklist, at once its most afflicted and ignored victim."

The global community in which we live today, needs to understand our past in order to march forward into a better future for all mankind.

As we look back on the twentieth century from this new millennium, everyone should have the opportunity to learn about and rediscover one of that century's most important and talented achievers. Canada Lee achieved great things at a time when overt and institutionalized racism was rampant in this country. Of his groundbreaking role as Bigger Thomas in "Native Son," Brooks Atkinson wrote: "Lee is a superbly imaginative player. When he is on the stage, he inhabits it - knows where all the doors lead, what the windows look out at, knows where he can be seen or not seen from other parts of the room - the quality of life Mr. Lee imparts to a scene is overwhelming - partly physical, partly magnetic." Another critic commented: "Canada Lee draws from the role every ounce of meaning, sympathy and sincerity... It is a performance of extraordinary sensitiveness, great natural force [and] fierce intensity of feeling." Lee's main desire he said was "to help win better roles for people of my race, and [to win] a better understanding of people of my race. I want to do things to repair the wrong impressions that have grown up through the years."

For taking such a courageous stand, Lee paid a great price. He became better known for his roles on stage because he refused to play stereotypical roles on the screen, and so was limited (despite his great talent) in his film career. The limits did not matter however... Lee was not interested in furthering his career for ego or monetary gains. He was more interested in "rallying those he touched to the cause of the equality of man." His great stature as a man and as an artist is unequaled.

Such a man can only inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. Canada Lee was a giant among men. He combined the courage and heart of a lion with gentleness, compassion, integrity, and above all love for his fellow man

Just Like You

noreply@blogger.com (Sharpe) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:15:00 +0000

Are we really so different that we must take 2nd Amendment remedies against each other? Must we be targets instead of together. Are not we all Americans? Am I not "Just Like You"?

Just Like You @ Yahoo! Video