Category Archives: Uncategorized

I found this an extremely interesting article on the Huffington Post about the changing geographic distribution of races and the emerging demographics of the coming century.

Here are some excerpts and the link to the full article:

Suburbs Losing Young Whites To Cities, Brookings Institution Finds.

WASHINGTON — White flight? In a reversal, America’s suburbs are now more likely to be home to minorities, the poor and a rapidly growing older population as many younger, educated whites move to cities for jobs and shorter commutes.

An analysis of 2000-2008 census data by the Brookings Institution highlights the demographic “tipping points” seen in the past decade and the looming problems in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, which represent two-thirds of the U.S. population.

And:

“A new metro map is emerging in the U.S. that challenges conventional thinking about where we live and work,” said Alan Berube, research director with the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, a nonpartisan think-tank based in Washington. “The old concepts of suburbia, Sun Belt and Rust Belt are outdated and at odds with effective governance.”

And:

“A new image of urban America is in the making,” said William H. Frey, a demographer at Brookings who co-wrote the report. “What used to be white flight to the suburbs is turning into ‘bright flight’ to cities that have become magnets for aspiring young adults who see access to knowledge-based jobs, public transportation and a new city ambiance as an attraction.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/09/suburbs-losing-young-whit_n_569226.html

It ain’t even safe in Mayberry anymore…I bet Opie did it for crack money.  Seriously…this is sad….From the Roanoke Times:

‘Andy Griffith Show’ actress robbed in ‘Mayberry’; Carroll Co. suspect arrested

Associated Press

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — The actress who played Thelma Lou on “The Andy Griffith Show” was robbed in the town that inspired the show’s idyllic Mayberry setting, after moving to the area to avoid big city crime.

Betty Lou Lynn had her wallet stolen at a shopping center in Mount Airy, the birthplace of Andy Griffith.

The Mount Airy News reports that police arrested Shirley Walter Guynn, of Cana in Carroll County. He’s being held in Surry County Jail on a $10,000 bond. It was not immediately clear Thursday if he has a lawyer.

In an earlier interview with the newspaper, the 83-year-old Lynn said she moved to Mount Airy after being robbed three times in Los Angeles.

via ‘Andy Griffith Show’ actress robbed in ‘Mayberry’; Carroll Co. suspect arrested – Roanoke.com.

This is an excellent piece I read about at http://www.Americablog.com.  Here is an excerpt and the link to the full post:

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.

Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.

Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of shit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.

Ephphatha Poetry: “Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black” – Tim Wise.

I heard this song on the radio in the car this morning driving to work.  It was the first time I had really listened to it in years.  It’s a great song.  One of the best ever written about High School.  Especially for those of us who never really felt like we fit in in High School which- truth be told- is probably just about everyone.  Seventeen is such an insecure age.  If you felt like you really belonged in High School, you probably did–and had a rough time real the Real Life that followed! I can give examples, if pressed….It’s also, a good song for parents to keep in mind.  Janis Ian is a true poet…

From Pam’s House Blend….

I really hope this guy can pull this off.  Virginia Fox is an embarrassment to the entire state of North Carolina.  She’s a throw back to Jesse Helms, but even dumber and meaner…I wish this guy luck!

Pam’s House Blend:: NC: Billy Kennedy jumps in race to topple bigot Virginia Foxx from House seat.

As we approach the Holiday recognizing the contributions of Dr. King, I always tend to think about where we were, where we are and where we have yet to go.  To me, this is a day to stop and think. And remember.

As a Southerner of a certain age, I just can’t let this day pass without comment.  I don’t see how anyone of my generation can.

I grew up in the South before integration and during the Civil Rights Movement.  I’m not sure if I even spoke to a black person, other than our maid, before the schools were integrated when I was in the 5th grade.  People seem to forget the South in the early 1960’s was like South Africa under apartheid.  It was a very separate and scary place.  Everyone–and I mean everyone– had their place and society tried to keep them in it.

I think the late, great Molly Ivins said it best.  Molly once wrote:  “I believe all Southern liberals come from the same starting point — race.  Once you figure out they are lying to you about race, you start to question everything.”

That was certainly the case for me.  Realizing the falsities of racism made it possible to question many things, including homophobia, and to grow into acceptance and happiness about who I am today.  This realization made it possible to meet and get to know people who have made my life much richer than it would have been without them in it.  It made me value the need to learn and explore ideas, people and places that many people I knew wanted to ignore or discount.  It made me think and grow.

Dr King once said:  “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”   Well said.  That was, and sometimes still is, our biggest danger.

But, thankfully, a lot of us asked questions.  We still do.  Some of us are still trying to learn and figure things out.  We have come a long way but have a long way to go.  That’s why it’s so vital we ask questions and don’t accept simple answers.  That we get to know and talk to people who aren’t like us.  We sometimes discover they really are like us.  That leads to more questions…

Racism is still very much with us.  Don’t ever think the Teabaggers aren’t about racism.  They are.  They just may not even be able to admit that to themselves.  If they could ask questions, they would ask why they weren’t upset about George Bush taking us from a budget surplus to a horrendous deficit.  Instead, they blame Obama…

You figure that one out.  I did.

If you don’t know Eva Cassidy, you should.  Sadly, she is much better known now than when she was alive.  She left us in 1996 from malignant melanoma.

Had she been able to stay with us, I’m sure she would have been as well known as Nora Jones or, perhaps, even bigger.  She had a unique way with a song.  Her “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is so different from the Judy Garland version, you feel you are hearing a different song or a new song for the first time.  Her recording of “Autumn Leaves” is amazingly beautiful.  She really presents the songs with not just emotion, but obvious thought, behind them.  All sung in her uniquely beautiful voice and arranged to suit it.  Her last public performance was Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”.

I was listening to her again earlier today and thought I would share a couple of videos from Youtube.  Lots more video on YouTube of Eva’s performances.  For more information about her, you can go to:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Cassidy

One Holiday movie we saw, that I have not commented on was “Up in the Air.”  I needed time as it hit a little close to home.

I usually do a lot of business travel.  I figured out once that, out of the last 15 years, if you add all my hotel nights together, I have spent more than 2 of those years in a Hilton or Sheraton.  I can relate to the obsession with frequent traveler points and loyalty status as they are the only perks that make business travel tolerable.

Unlike George Clooney’s character in the film, I don’t use business travel to avoid relationships at home.  I’m very happy at home and, when I travel, I try to take as much of it with me as possible.  There are two kinds of travelers:  Minimalists and Comfortable.  I’m the latter.

Unfortunately, most of my business travel is to Phoenix, a city that I loathe as, to me, it embodies all that is wrong with America.  Over built with shoddy new construction, too much traffic and nothing but big box stores and chain restaurants as far as the eye can see.  Maybe I’m just too much of an East Coast boy….I don’t get Phoenix.

My other destinations are more pleasurable, but still all one sees is the airport, office and hotel.  When one travels on business, it ain’t fun.

The points and elite status on airlines and hotels do make it tolerable.  We rarely pay for hotels or air tickets when we travel on pleasure since I rack up so many points from my business travel.  And elite status helps you avoid a lot of hassel at the airport.

Unfortunately, due to the economic situation, I hardly traveled at all last year.  My partner and I were concerned, at first, that this might negatively impact our relationship.  Up to that point,  I had been on the road for about half the time during our 12 years together.  Neither of us was used to me being home that much.  I’m happy to say, we made it just fine being home together.

Fortunately, the economy is looking better and it looks like I’ll be resuming my travel schedule this year.  I head out Sunday on my first trip of the year.

Unfortunately, that year off cost me my elite status on the airlines and at the Hilton.  I’m afraid I’m going to be treated like the average leisure traveler.  I hope I can take it.

At least I’m not going to Phoenix!  That’s the next week….

I heard this song on XM Radio going into work today and had to look it up on YouTube this evening.

I do miss the days when men dressed differently to go to work or out on the town than they did to wash the car or mow the grass…

Please note:  There are no pleats in this video.  No flip flops.  No tank tops.  (A Gentleman never shows his arm pits in public.)   People who wear tank tops AND flip flops in public-especially on planes- should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  I only say that since I don’t believe in the death penalty…