Perception & Race Part 1.

This is part 1 in a two part series.

Perception is how we see things with our third eye. It is how we analyze, process, and react to what we physically see. Often times our perception becomes our own personal reality. More often than not it is a skewed view of the world influenced by many different factors such as cultural conditioning, socio-economic background, education, or a lack there of. These variables, factors, and or circumstances are the root causes of how we draw conclusions and make judgements. Because perception and judgement both go hand in hand. They are indullably intertwined and exist as one unit operating within our consciousness. It is extremely rare to have one without the other. Many us have seen a group of belt less teens with their pants sagging, and thought that they must be thugs, criminals, or a gang of hoodlums to be feared, and we've all seen a woman wearing something to short, or revealing and assumed that she must be a slut, a tramp, or a cheap trick.

However, the act of perceiving, and the concept of perception can have a devastating effect if acted upon to the extreme. Especially when it comes to those of us who happen to be both Black and male in America

 A former FAMU student, Jonathon Ferrell crashed his car, crawled out the back window looking for help, and then knocked on the door of the first house he saw. A woman, thinking it was her husband knocking, answered. When she saw Ferrell she shut the door, hit her alarm and called the police. What happened once the police arrive is not clear. There evidently is dashcam video, but it hasn't been released. Lawyers have seen it and I think this reaction is important.

"(Ferrell) advanced toward the officers. His hands were not in the air," said George Laughrun, attorney for Officer Randall Kerrick, speaking to reporters about what he saw in footage from a police cruiser's dashboard camera. 

"You see one of his hands partially behind his back, concealed as he ... continued to advance. He was given three commands to 'Get on the ground. Get on the ground.' He did not. And Officer Kerrick backed up and then felt the need to deploy his service weapon."

Later in the story the police chief makes the obvious point that not complying is not a good reason to try and kill someone. People do not comply for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they mean harm. But they also might not clearly hear you. They might be mentally disabled. Or having just emerged from a car crash they might be totally disoriented.

With that being said, it's important to understand that, in America, it is broadly believed that police can and perhaps should kill people who do not comply with them. Roy Middleton was shot in his own driveway after a neighbor called the police on him, thinking he was a burglar breaking into a car. The car was Middleton's. When the police arrived, they claim to have given Middleton orders to which he did not comply. Middleton thought it was neighbors playing a joke. The police claim he "lunged" at them."It was like a firing squad," Middleton told PNJ from his bed at Baptist Hospital. "Bullets were flying everywhere."  The local sheriff doesn't believe the police did anything wrong. 

"There's been some rage directed at the woman who called the police. I think this is wrong. You may believe racism is an actual force in our interactions. I certainly do, but you don't know whether it was an actual force in this one. It's important to recognize that this is both a woman and an individual. You might speculate about what she thinks of black people. I might speculate about whether she'd been a victim of sexual assault, or any other kind of violence. That also happens in America. But it would be better to speculate about nothing, since all we actually know is that this was a woman who was home with a young child, opened the door in the middle of the night, and found a dude standing outside. 

Her reaction may not have been your reaction. But this woman is not paid by the State to keep the peace. Police officers are trained to deal with situations like this. In too many cases that training does not emphasize de-escalation, but killing people who make them jumpy. Miscommunication is not an excuse. Mental illness is not an excuse. Confusion is not an excuse. If the officer believes you are a threat to their life, they have the right to shoot you and anyone standing near you."

If you peal back the layers of this quote and flesh out the connotations in the Sheriffs statement. It is clear what his preceptions are. 

Why did he equate a black man knocking on this woman's door that night with possibly reinvigorating memories of a sexual assault or violent act that as far as we know is speculative? Then he goes on to say that Police are trained to kill people who make them jumpy. Given the fact that there has NEVER been a case where a white man was shot and killed by Police because he asked for help, it is quite clear who makes Police "jumpy".

PR

Jonathon Ferrell: Murdered in cold blood!

Perception & Race Part 2.

In the last 2 weeks how many times have you asked yourself and others the following question: where is Avonte Oquendo? If you’re a New Yorker, you’ve likely wondered more than once, as posters seeking help in locating the 14 year old autistic boy, missing since October 4,  have been posted throughout the city. If a New Yorker who just happens to be African-American, you’ve probably asked yourself why most of the nation is not aware of who he is. I came across this story because being a native New Yorker, I still follow the New York daily news.

But here’s a query we may all be overlooking. If you saw a black teen boy wandering a city, how closely would you pay attention to him? If you truly noticed him at all, would it only be because he raised your suspicion? We you avoid his gaze for fear of his possibly harmful intentions, or would you show concern for this unaccompanied child. In a city as densely populated as New York there is a distict possibility that thousands of people have seen Avonte Oquendo who either thought he was suspicious and steered clear of him, or just mistook him for just another wandering Black kid.

Wandering is a common, high-risk occurrence for children with autism. According to Autism Speaks, which is currently offering a $70,000 reward for Avonte’s safe return, nearly half of diagnosed children over age 4 are prone to breaking away from family, school, or friends and disappearing. Fifty three percent of these wandering children were missing long enough to cause their loved ones to worry. What happens after that is often left up to the perceptions of passersby and announcements like the ones the NYPD and others have posted around the city to find Avonte Oquendo. If a commuter were to encounter a wandering adolescent, would she pay enough attention to connect him to the face plastered on lampposts and subway platforms? Would she notice that the boy is disabled, worried or lost? It’s difficult to know in any case, but when the wandering teen is black, racial bias makes these questions doubly fraught.

We can’t ignore the ways in which racial suspicion colors our assessment of people and their circumstances. On the heels of the Jonathan Ferrell case, where negative perception of an injured, disoriented, unarmed black male doomed him to death, we are reminded that first impressions are life and death matters when black young men are involved. Whereas Ferrell was never given the opportunity to identify himself and explain his needs, Oquendo would not be able to. His autism renders him unable to verbally communicate, and predjudice has rendered much of the public unable to empathize, sympathize, or see past his skin color.

PR

Saved and Shacking Up?!

Sin is a slippery slope. Even for those of us who believe in the word of God and try to live by it. I use the word "try" because, although we serve a perfect God, none of us are perfect people. With that being said, we must keep ourselves out of situations in which we are tempted to sin.

For those who are not familiar with the phrase "shacking up", it is a term that has been used in the African-American community for decades to describe a man and woman who are not married but live together as if they are. Enjoying all of the benefits of the union without actually having one. The Bible teaches us in 

1Corinthians 6:18  

Flee fornication: Euery sinne that a man doeth, is without the body: but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his owne body.

So it is established, and although the phrase "shacking up" is not used in the text, those of us who are of sound mind and have one shred of common sense understand that a man and woman sleeping together in the same bed, living as if they are husband and wife are going to fornicate. It never has, never was, and never will be about just living together.

On Wednesday night the second episode of the controversial reality show, "Preachers of LA" aired, and one of preachers, Deitrick Haddon was being counseled about marrying his fiancé with whom he already has a child. Another preacher on the show who just happens to be a Bishop, told Haddon that a Christian man marries the women that he loves, and they don't "shack up". Instead of accepting the wise counsel of this elder preacher, Haddon quickly went on the offensive, asking where it says in the Bible that "shacking up" is wrong. Haddon questioned the validity of the word of God by pretending not to know the principals of the word. He was making an attempt to justify his carnal needs, and playing a dangerous game by misrepresenting the body of Christ to the entire world. He would be much better off serving one master than straddling the line between two.

When I sinned, I never pretended that it was anything more or less than what it was. When I was out there doing everything and anything that I was big enough, and bad enough to do, I never pretended to be something that I wasn't, and I never had a congregation, a record deal, or a TV show.

PR

3 Reason's Why You Should Stop......

We have all engaged in behavior that is neither beneficial to us or those around us. Some of us grow up, and mature and some of us lead exhausting lives exhausting everyone else's patience. If this is you, you need to stop......

1. Telling everybody at work your business. Most people either don't care, just pretend to care, and all of them talk about you behind your back.

2. Stop being a professional victim, and begin to realize, recognize, and understand that most of the things that have happened to you, you brought on yourself. Don't continue to be your own worst enemy.

3. Stop trying to be anybody except who you are, and accept who you are. Fulfillment begins when you are the absolute best you that you can be. Being content with how The Lord created you gives him glory. Just improve upon your attributes, and work on your faults. Nobody can be you but you.

PR

Just When You Thought You Heard It All News (10-19-2013)

A young man named Kyle from GiveBackFilms took to the streets of Salt Lake City to give $100 to people in need. The heartwarming reactions he gets will brighten your day and maybe even inspire you to perform some random acts of kindness. 

To donate to the PRBrown Report send all e-mail inquiries to theprbrownreport@gmail.com.

I'll accept the money that jingles. But I'd rather take the kind that folds! Just kidding! Unless........

GiveBackFilms is an organization that believes in the power of giving back and paying-it-forward. For more smile-inducing moments, check out GiveBackFilms' YouTube channel every Monday for new videos.

There are a lot of things that I can do, that I just won't or don't do simply because it is not a good idea.

I could go to the circus, stick my arm into a cage and smack a lion. But I won't do it, because it's just not a good idea.

I could take the portion of my paycheck that was supposed to go towards the electric bill, go to "Rent and Roll" and come out sitting on 28's.

But I won't do it, because it's just not a good idea.

I could probably post a video of myself on YouTube singing a Luther Vandross song and get 89 million hits.

But I won't because it's just not a good idea.

Last weekend in in Louisiana, some food stamp recipients realized that their EBTcards were suddenly showing up as having no limit, resulting in empty shelves and overflowing shopping carts as people tried to buy as much stuff as possible with their cards before the glitch was fixed. Now, Walmart and Xerox are playing the blame game over who’s at fault.

I would say Walmart, Xerox, and all of the people who loaded their carts not thinking that the would ever get caught, are at fault.

It all began last Saturday, when Walmart managers in two Louisiana towns called the police because customers were filling the stores and emptying the inventory because their EBT cards were not showing any credit limits.

“Some people had eight or 10 shopping carts full of groceries,” said the Police Chief of Springhill, LA. By the time he arrived at his local store at 7P.M. last Saturday evening, he says there were hundreds of customers with overflowing carts waiting to check out.

The Chief says he told the manager he had the right to refuse service, but the manager claimed he’d been instructed by Walmart HQ to accept the limitless cards.

A few hours after he arrived on the scene, the glitch was fixed and limits were reinstated.

“When they heard the announcement, people just left their carts in place and walked out of the store,” recalls the Chief, who says that police were not needed to disperse the crowd of shoppers.

The big question is: Who’s going to pay for this? EBT money is paid by the state and uses money provided by federal subsidies. The state of Louisiana is most certainly not going to pay for all the stuff that should have been disallowed had the system been working properly on Saturday.

“The outage was the result of failures by our contractor, Xerox,” said a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. When the system went down, retailers have a phone system for getting authorizations on EBT purchases.

Check out the video.

http://youtu.be/k8iB1wwK5To

I have always believed that the opinion of one psycho often echo's the sentiments of many who aren't brave enough, or crazy enough to express themselves.

An Arkansas restaurant owner is apologizing after posting a racially insensitive sign that disturbed his customers.

Johnny Howard, owner of Smokin' Joe's Ribhouse in Rogers, Ark., upset community members and business patrons when he posted a sign outside of the eatery that read "Obamacare America's punishment for slavery years." The sign, which was up for 45 minutes, was taken down and replaced with one that said "Why cook? Get some carry out," after several people complained.

“I apologize for the sign. It’s offending people, as it did," Howard told said. "I didn’t intend for it to be racist-oriented at all.”

Maybe it's not offensive to anyone who lives in Butt Tussle, Arkansas. But as for the rest of the world, except maybe Florida. Yes, it's offensive

Howard said the sign was taken out of context, and that his issue is with the Affordable Care Act as a policy, not with the president or any particular individual.

“It’s the policy and I made the mistake of wording it in the wrong fashion. The policy. It’s not the person it’s the policy,” he said. “To me this health care plan is a job killer. I myself will have to eliminate at least one location if all the policies that were written originally go through.”

Howard certainly isn't the first critic of the health care plan, and he isn't even thefirst business owner to display troubling messages outside his establishment. However, his move has prompted backlash against the restaurant, and Howard said he has learned his lesson and plans to keep his political opinions to himself moving forward. 

TOO LATE!!!

PR

6 Myths About Food Stamps

I've never been a huge fan of the food stamp program.  I've heard about and seen so  too many people take advantage of the system. But the fact of the matter is, there are many people who are in need, and not helping them simply because Congress doesn't want to give anybody anything, is shameful. Especially given the fact that some of them have benefited and are still benefiting from government programs.

In the middle of the worst economy and job situation in decades Republicans in the House voted to cut $40 billion from food stamps. This will kick 3.8 million people out of the program by 2014, 3 million more each year after.

Republicans in Congress have blocked every effort to help the economy. They block bills to create jobs by fixing our crumbling infrastructure because it’s “government spending.” At the same time, right-wing outlets (accurately) complain that the economy is so weak that millions are hurting. And then the same Republicans who blocked efforts to help the economy cut assistance to the people who are hurting, claiming they don’t really need the help. No shame.

There is absolutely no logic in thwarting every effort at job creation, acknowledging the still ailing economy, and it's effect on people, and then cutting food stamps as if people will be able to sustain themselves by dining on thin air.

In the months leading up to this vote , right-wing outlets such as Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, RedState and the rest of the far-right propaganda machine invented a number of justifications for cutting the program. Here is a takedown of some of those myths and lies.

Myth #1: Food stamps are “growing exponentially” because of waste and fraud.

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) recently said, “Throughout the Obama presidency, we’ve seen the food stamp program grow exponentially because the government continues to turn a blind eye to a system fraught with abuse.”

Interestingly, a number of members of Congress disparage food stamps while receiving  farm subsidies. Rep. Vicki Hartzler (R-MO) said, “This program is known for waste, fraud and abuse.” (Halter has received $516,000 in farm subsidies.) Kristi Noem (R-SD) said, “Loopholes and fraud …have led to federal spending on SNAP to increase 270%.” (Noem has received $503,000 in farm subsidies.) And Rep. Doug Lamalfa (R-CA) said that churches are more “accountable” at helping the poor than government. He said government has “failed” at helping the poor, so we should “retract” the program. (Lamalfa has received more than $1.7 million in farm subsidies.)

And other conservatives call President Obama the “food stamp president” both because the program has grown since the recession hit and because African-American's have long been the fact of the average food stamp recipient despite accounting for a small fraction on actual recipients.

Actually, the SNAP (food stamp) program is doing exactly what it is supposed to do and what a democracy would ask of it. It is helping people who need the help.

Last March the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) responded to the charges that the program’s growth is out of control, reporting that:

• SNAP has responded effectively to the recession.
• The recent growth in SNAP spending is temporary.
• SNAP reaches a high share of people who are eligible.
• SNAP payment accuracy is at all-time highs.

What about “fraud?” Implicit in the accusation that the program is “growing exponentially” is the idea that the program is rife with fraud and waste. But the fraud and waste rate in the SNAP program is less than 1 percent. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the SNAP program. They say the fraud rate “has fallen significantly over the last two decades, from about 4 cents on the dollar in 1993 to about 1 cent in 2006-08 (most recent data available).”

Finally, the “error rate” which includes overpayments and payments to ineligible households is very low as well. According to Feeding America using USDA data, “SNAP error rates declined by 57% since FY2000, from 8.91% in FY2000 to a record low of 3.80% in FY2011.” Want to guess what the “compliance rate” with the IRS is? Last time they checked (2006) $450 billion was left uncollected because of non-compliance. In one year. But conservatives aren’t complaining about that.

Myth #2: Cutting food stamps will make people get jobs because able-bodied people are getting food stamps instead of working.

Republicans call food stamps “welfare” and called the bill cutting food stamps the “Work Opportunity Act.” The idea is that after five years of recession and with 11.3 million people unemployed, 4.3 million out of work for 27 weeks or more, along with 7.9 million people working part-time but looking for full-time and another 2.3 million “marginally attached” what the country needs is even more hungry people.

Actually, even though many on food stamps are children, elderly, disabled or temporarily unemployed, lots of people who use food stamps already are working. According to Feeding America “76% of SNAP households included a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person. These vulnerable households receive 83% of all SNAP benefits.” According to the USDA, “Over 30 percent of SNAP households had earnings in 2011, and 41 percent of all SNAP participants lived in a household with earnings.”

One more thing, people don’t get very much food stamp money: 4% only $16 a month. The average household gets $281 a month. The average individual gets about $133 a month.

Would you quit work or refuse a job for $133 a month which can only be used to buy food?

Myth #3: Food stamps make people “dependent.”

Rep. Mike Cramer (R-ND) recently served up an example of right-wing mythology, saying that food stamps are responsible for “a culture of permanent dependency.”

The right-wing Heritage Foundation and others constantly harp on this idea that democracies providing government services for people makes them “dependent”—as if people are squirrels who will lose the ability to find their own food in the wild.

This idea that government services make people “dependent” is an insult to people, democracy and civilization. Does the government service of bringing water to your house make you dependent on not taking a bucket down to the stream or something? Does a road make you dependent on not walking your donkey through the woods to town? Do police and courts make you “dependent” on not having good swordsmanship or carrying a large club?

If anyone is “dependent,” itis corporations that pay so little their employees have to come to the taxpayers for help buying food for their families.

Myth #4: Food stamps are about politicians “buying votes” with other people’s money.

Amplifying the “dependency” argument, conservatives disparage democracy by saying that elected officials “buy votes” by providing food to hungry people—and other government services.

The Christian Post has an example, in “Signing Up Seniors for Food Stamps Is Called ‘Buying Votes’ for Obama, Says Fox News Host.” The story reports that Fox News’ Stuart Varney says, ”The AARP, huge support[er]s of President Obama, politically and financially, big supporters of Obamacare.  And now they’re out there signing people up for food stamps. This is part of the buy-the-vote campaign. They’re really shifting America, changing what America really is,” he said.

Far-right Brietbart blasts, “HOW MANY VOTES WILL A 70% INCREASE IN FOOD STAMPS BUY?” Similarly the right-wing Washington Times says, “Food stamps for votes.”

The idea of a democracy is that people vote for the things they want, everyone has an equal vote, everyone pitches in and everyone shares in the resulting prosperity. Government spending in a democracy is, by definition, We the People doing things to make our lives better. But to conservatives, government doing things that make our lives better is just “buying votes.”

Myth #5: Food stamp recipients take drugs.

The Republican bill to cut food stamps also will “allow states to require food stamp recipients to be tested for drugs.”

Harold Pollack and Sheldon Danziger at the Washington Post look at this in "House Republicans want drug tests for food stamp recipients. There's no good reason for that." They write, “Using 2011 data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), we looked at the behaviors and circumstances of adults ages 18-64 whose households received SNAP. We examined whether respondents had used some illicit substance during the previous month or year. We then looked at whether they met screening criteria for abuse or dependence on alcohol or illicit drugs.”

They found a slightly higher illicit drug use among food stamp recipients. But if you correct for the demographics of people who will be on the program compared to the population at large, that slight risk gets even slighter.

So a few more people on food stamps use some drugs than people not on food stamps. Does this warrant testing everyone? Or is it about further humiliating people who aren’t rich? And why should smoking pot exclude someone from getting food stamps, anyway?

Myth #6: People use food stamps to buy cigarettes and alcohol.

Conservatives have widely circulated stories about people using food stamps to buy cigarettes and alcohol. The Blaze trumpets stories like, “THIS 65-YEAR-OLD CLERK WAS FIRED FOR REFUSING TO SELL CIGARETTES TO A FOOD STAMP CUSTOMER” and outlets like Fox echo it. These kinds of stories are everywhere in the right-wing echo chamber.

Here are the facts: According to USDA, households may use food stamps to buy foods, such as breads and cereals; fruits and vegetables; meats, fish and poultry; and dairy products. Also they can buy seeds and plants which produce food to eat. (In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.)

Households may not use food stamps to buy beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco; pet foods; soaps, paper products; household supplies; vitamins and medicines; food that will be eaten in the store; hot foods.

So here we are in the worst economy in many decades. It’s more than difficult to find a job. Wages are actually falling for 95% of us. We have the highest income and wealth inequality since just before the depression.

Meanwhile according to the National Priorities Project the government is handing over $1 trillion dollars to the wealthiest and corporations in the form of “tax expenditures.” Then there is that $450 billion a year that the IRS just fails to collect. The corporate foreign-income tax “deferral” has corporations holding as much as $2 trillion of taxable income outside the country. And hedge-fund managers making into the billions each year still get their Romney-style tax breaks .

Yet Republicans are picking on the poorest citizens, lying and smearing them as lazy druggies and blaming them for the high unemployment by saying that $133 a month is keeping them from bothering to look for a job. Why do we put up with this?

Despite all of the statistics, the lies, and the myths. The true narrative at the heart of the matter is that fact that the GOP is afraid that the African-American "food stamp" president is going to help "his people", continue to help them, or help them more, that they have cut this budget based on nothing more than perception, and mythology. After all if you're a black man in the highest seat of power who cannot at all be honest just by virtue of what you are, what better way is there to reach your people then utilizing the system that most of them take advantage of. So the ignorant, small minded, ridiculous thought process goes. This may sound a little cooky, or maybe even a little far fetched. But I can almost guarantee that this mind set exists, and some may even starve because if it.

PR

Philly Stop & Frisk

No matter what part of the country you live in, if you're an African-American or Hispanic male and you live in an urban area you can be sure of two things. You will be racially profiled, and you will be stopped and frisked.

As the controversy over stop-and-frisk heats up in New York, another battle is playing out in nearby Philadelphia . 

A video posted to You Tube at the end of the last month that attracted attention this weekend- reportedly shows a stop and frisk gone terribly wrong.

In the video, two men appear to be stopped by two police officers after saying hello to another man on the street.

"You don't say hi to strangers," the first officer says. "Not in this neighborhood," says the second.

In the 16 minute video, which was reportedly taken on September 27th, the officers also curse, make fun of,and threaten the two men. 

According to Philadelphia media, the Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the incident. 

Watch the video below and let me know what you think.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G4exZ-jXgWE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DG4exZ-jXgWE#

PR

Did Kwame Kilpatrick Bankrupt Detroit?

One of my favorite movies is "Black Ceasar". It's a 70's era blaxploitation film starring Fred Williamson as Tommy Gibbs. A cool, sharp gangster who ran the Harlem underworld with an iron fist. He was loved, and feared equally, and he always beat "the man" at the end of the movie. Was he a stereotypical African-American villain, complete with big cars, fancy clothes, and a lavish lifestyle? Yes. Did he pretend to be anything more? No. He wasn't a gangster who masqueraded as a Mayor, or a Mayor who led a double life as the Godfather. He was never confused about who he was, or confused anyone else about who he was.

More than 30 convicted public officials and business people pumped tens of millions of dollars out of Detroit in the six years and eight months Kwame Kilpatrick was mayor.

Prosecutors accused Kilpatrick and his favorite contractor Bobby Ferguson of scaring off investors and exacerbating the city's financial struggle.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds said court testimony established that hey "bullied" and "muscled" their way to vast amounts money and power.

"Their serious impact on the morale of the city of Detroit cannot be overstated," she said.

But they can't be blamed for Detroit's $18 billion bankruptcy, Edwards said before sentencing Kilpatrick to 28 years and Ferguson to 21 years in federal prison last week, seven months after hewas convicted of public corruption in federal court.

It marks the end to another chapter in the saga of Kilpatrick, who was elected mayor of Detroit at the young age of 31. Once mentioned as a possible candidate for president later in life, Detroit's "hip-hop mayor," now 43, is generally credited as one of America's worst mayoral leaders of the past decade.

The former Detroit mayor's sentencing recommendation called for at least 28 years to life for kilpatrick, who prosecutors say robbed the City of Detroit of millions through criminal enterprises when it was at its most desperate. It's "equal to the longest sentence" for corruption ever handed down to a public official, said U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade after the sentencing was announced.

Judge Edmunds, also said that it was important to look at the entire history of the defendant, noting that Kilpatrick's numerous convictions regarding criminal enterprise were drawn from crimes committed during his entire six-year tenure as Detroit mayor, and possibly even during his time in the Michigan Legislature. It was also important to consider the enormity of the investigation -Edmunds said 34 other people have been convicted for crimes pertaining to Kilpatrick.

"Kwame Kilpatrick was entrusted by the citizens of Detroit to guide their city through one of its most challenging periods," the prosecution's memo read. "The city desperately needed resolute leadership. Instead it got a mayor looking to cash in on his office through graft, extortion and self-dealing."

Kilpatrick was found guilty on 24 counts related to bid-rigging, extortion and bribery in his latest trial, which ended in March. He has already been jailed three times.

In court on Thursday, Kilpatrick brieflyaddressed the crowd before the sentence was read, choking up as he struggled to speak. "I respectfully ask for a fair sentence, based on what happened here." he said, according some media outlets. "I respect the jury's verdict ... I think your honor knows that I disagree with it."

He also said his wife, Carlita, and their children were not in attendance.

"One thing is certain," Edmunds told the courtroom, "It was the citizens of Detroit who suffered."

Government officials say Kilpatrick and his partner Bobby Ferguson ran a "criminal enterprise" out of Detroit's City Hall, with Ferguson obtaining at least $76 million in contracts through extortion. Prosecutors say Kilpatrick used the mayor's office to steer $127 million in contracts to Ferguson, a contractor and head of Ferguson Enterprises. Ferguson was convicted by a jury of nine out of 11 counts he faced during trial. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

PR

Just When You Thought You Heard It All News (10-12-2013)

This little girl has a warm, giving, heart of gold.

When Helaina Morgan learned that a mom in Syracuse., N.Y., needed food stamps to feed her family the 7 year old went straight to her piggy bank.

She'd heard the story of single mom Meghan Fry from her own mother, Roberta, who'd read about Fry's struggles in the local paper.

"When I told [Helaina] that this family usually didn't have extra money to buy ice cream, cookies or gummies, she actually gasped," Meghan said, "then asked me if we could bring them some food."

Morgan told her that'd be difficult to do. She decided to send Fry a gift card for extra groceries, but Helaina wanted to act, too. So the 7-year-old gathered up $10 and penned a letter to Fry's 3-year-old daughter, Essence. 

"We thought it was adorable, complete with spelling errors," 

The note reads:

Hi Essence, Here is $10 from me. You can go to the grocery stor and buy wat you want. I like ice cream and sprinkls. Sincerely: Helaina.

"This is the first time she's done anything like this," Morgan added. "But it didn't surprise me. She's always cared very much about her friends. And she's getting to the age where it's time for her to realize that there are others out there who aren't as fortunate as us."

Morgan went on to say that Helaina's jaw dropped when she heard the Post Standard had printed her letter. The 7-year-old hasn't heard back from Essence yet, but her mom is hopeful that they'll get in touch soon. 

"We hope they can at least talk on the phone some time," Morgan said. "It would probably be a cute conversation."

When I was a 9 year old chubby kid growing up in Brooklyn, the worst thing that I did was sneak into the kitchen and make a bologna sandwich when everyone was asleep. But I was never able to sneak across the country. Were you?

A 9-year-old runaway went through security at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, boarded a plane without a ticket and flew to Las Vegas, an airport spokesman said Sunday.

Security officials screened the Minneapolis boy at the airport shortly after 10:30 a.m. the Thursday before after he arrived via light rail, Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Patrick Hogan said. The boy then boarded a Delta flight that left for Las Vegas at 11:15 a.m.

The flight crew became suspicious mid-flight because the boy was not on the list of unattended minors. The crew contacted Las Vegas police, who met them upon landing and transferred the boy to child protective services, Hogan said.

Minneapolis Police Sgt. Bill Palmer said officers talked to the family after Las Vegas police contacted them. A family member said the boy ran away and had last been seen early Thursday.Side Bar: Don't hide your face now! You weren't hiding it when you were trying to be grown!

I know the adage goes “let him who is without sin, cast the first stone,” but there are some people who actually deserve to have stones thrown at them.......with the greatest sin being utter stupidity. Meet 

televangelist Rick Joyner, who recently made headlines for openly praying to God for a military takeover of the U.S. government. While appearing on "The Profetic Perspective On Current Events", Joyner claimed that democracy in America has failed and that the nation might not last even to the end of President Obama's term. 

He also said that the fact that a Negr...., African-American was twice elected president was a sure sign that democracy has failed.

Actually, no, he didn't say that. But you and I both know that he wanted to.

PR

Comparing The Affordable Health Care Act To Slavery?!

Each and every time the subject of slavery is brought up African-American's are told that we should just forget about it or get over it. As if it were nothing more than a bad relationship or a minor blemish on the face of American history. But with the usual gall, and insensitivity that has become a hallmark of the GOP, some have the nerve to use something as wicked and evil as slavery in a desperate attempt to prove a point.

Conservative columnist and pundit George Will on Wednesday compared Obamacare to the Fugitive Slave Act and segregation to demonstrate the "bruising, untidy, utterly Democratic" process of changing laws.In an interview with NPR's "Morning Edition," host Steve Inskeep asked Will about President Barack Obama's argument that Republicans are short-circuiting the system by using government funding and the debt ceiling as leverage to dismantle Obamacare, rather than repealing the law outright.

"How does this short-circuit the system?" Will said. "I hear Democrats say, 'The Affordable Care Act is the law,' as though we're supposed to genuflect at that sunburst of insight and move on. Well, the Fugitive Slave Act was the law, separate but equal was the law, lots of things are the law and then we change them."

Will said that one party using the debt ceiling as leverage to extract concessions from another is "not novel," but said it's unlikely Republicans could use that strategy to thwart Obamacare.

The Fugitive Slave Acts

The Fugitive Slave Acts were a pair of federal laws that allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves within the territory of the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1793, the first Fugitive Slave Act authorized local governments to seize and return escaped slaves to their owners and imposed penalties on anyone who aided in their flight. Widespread resistance to the 1793 law later led to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which added further provisions regarding runaways and levied even harsher punishments for interfering in their capture. The Fugitive Slave Acts were among the most controversial laws of the early 19th century, and many Northern states passed special legislation in an attempt to circumvent them. Both laws were formally repealed by an act of Congress in 1864.

Only a moron would compare the The Affordable Care Act to The Fugitive Slave Acts. George Will probably has no idea that there is even more than one. But I suspect that he's just falling in line with the "brain trust" of his new employer, FOX News.

One thing is for sure if the GOP sinks any lower, they'll end up at the bottom of the ocean with the Titanic. Then again, the party has become the modern day Tiranic.

PR