Getting Sentenced

Saw a man get sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday.

When the judge read his sentence she mentioned that he was being sentenced on charges that included unusual circumstances.

"Defendant was forced into the illegal sale of base cocaine due to the foreclosure of his home. On his salary as a maintenance worker he could no longer afford to pay the mortgage on his home."

Dude had a wife and 2 little girls too. Luckily, the judge ordered a county jail year and 3 years probation in lieu of his sentence. If he were to violate any condition of his probation . . . off to San Quentin he goes.

Affirmation: Crime is a direct result of poverty.

Today in History: Bataan Death March - April 9, 1942

At dawn, 9 April 1942, and against the orders of Generals Douglas MacArthur and Jonathan Wainwright, Major General Edward P. King, Jr., commanding Luzon Force, Bataan, Philippine Islands, surrendered more than 75,000 (67,000 Filipinos, 1,000 Chinese Filipinos, and 11,796 Americans) starving and disease-ridden men. He inquired of Colonel Motoo Nakayama, the Japanese colonel to whom he tendered his pistol in lieu of his lost sword, whether the Americans and Filipinos would be well treated. The Japanese aide-de-camp replied: “We are not barbarians.” The majority of the prisoners of war were immediately robbed of their keepsakes and belongings and subsequently forced to endure a 90-mile (140 km) enforced march in deep dust, over vehicle-broken macadam roads, and crammed into rail cars to captivity at Camp O’Donnell. Thousands died en route from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution.

Those few who were lucky enough to travel to San Fernando on trucks still had to endure more than twenty-five miles of marching. Prisoners were beaten randomly, and were often denied promised food and water. Those who fell behind were usually executed or left to die; the sides of the roads became littered with dead bodies and those begging for help.

On the Bataan Death March, approximately 54,000 of the 75,000 prisoners reached their destination. The death toll of the march is difficult to assess as thousands of captives were able to escape from their guards. All told, approximately 5,000-10,000 Filipino and 600-650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach Camp O'Donnell.

(via Wikipedia)

Wondering

Why news of the rape of a 12 year old girl in Oakland wasn't reported to the Oakland School District? Why wasn't the community notified back in February?

Why does the public have information on this separate case when we're still unclear as to why Lovelle Mixon was stopped in the first place?

Is the Oakland Police Department trying to justify gunning down another black male?
Yes, I know he shot first with an assault weapon but still...

Quick Tidbit Regarding Lovelle Mixon

I'm not going to go into a full blown opinion on the happenings in Oakland this weekend. My immediate reaction to the police officer shootings was simply, "Finally, someone's fighting back." Anything more than that would just be controversial and frankly, after the past two weeks I've had, there is very little energy left in me to get passionate right now.

What I do want to mention is this little tidbit I read in the news:

"Then, about three weeks ago, Mixon skipped a home visit from his parole officer, his family said. Mixon's grandmother said he had gotten angry at his parole officer because the agent had missed earlier appointments. Gordon Hinkle, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the family's assertion that the parole agent had missed a meeting was "highly unlikely," but added that he is researching the matter. He said the department had issued a no-bail, parole revocation warrant for Mixon's arrest after he failed to appear for a meeting with his parole officer."
-SF Chronicle

Its the primary job of parole and probation officers to make sure that their clients are closely supervised while out on parole/probation. But, if the parole/probation officer isn't doing his/her job . . . can they be in part to blame for the chain of events that unfolded? Parole officers are supposed to do regular home checks on their parolees... if Mixon's parole officer had done a home check . . . would he/she have found the AK-47 and thus, have prevented the entire tragedy from occuring?

Today in Women's History

from the KQED Women's History 2009


"Lieutenant Lea Militello began her career in law enforcement in 1981. One of only a handful of lesbians out at that time, Militello recognized the need to further open the lines of communication between the LGBT community and the San Francisco Police Department. She developed a training program for incoming recruits to help bridge the gap, and since then has met with countless police agencies across the country assisting them in developing similar programs, so they may effectively interact and develop partnerships with the LGBT communities they serve.

Militello was one of the founders and is the current president of the San Francisco Police Officers Pride Alliance, founded to support and fight for the rights of LGBT officers in law enforcement. Prior to her recent promotion to lieutenant, Militello was assigned to the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Detail, where her and her partner became the first lesbian and gay team to work homicide. They made numerous arrests in the cases they investigated and have attained a 100% conviction rate. Militello has received the California Police Officers Association Police Officer of the Year, The San Francisco Police Department Silver medal of valor, two bronze medals of valor, 3 meritorious conduct awards, 5 police commission commendations and a purple heart (which she was awarded for being stabbed in the line of duty in 2003).

Militello shares her home with her longtime partner Annamarie and their son Ryan, a sophomore at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo majoring in mechanical engineering."

Read: 100% conviction rate!!!

Alternatives for Conflict Resolution in High Schools

The principal and other staff members at South Oak Cliff High School were supposed to be breaking up fights. Instead, they sent troubled students into a steel utility cage in an athletic locker room to battle it out with bare fists and no head protection, records show.

-Dallas News, "Dallas ISD records show school held 'cage fights'"

Is this an acceptable method of conflict resolution to teach our young children?

I'm not saying it's the best way for two people to resolve conflict, but if the alternative is that a teenager pulls a gun out on the street after school and blasts one round on his classmates. . . I would vote yes. The high school administrators do have a progressive idea for modern youth to resolve conflict between and within themselves: physical activity. In middle school I volunteered as a peer in the conflict resolution program and of course no one took it seriously The conflicts lasted far beyond a half hour session of "he said/she said" finger pointing and I would end up watching the same kids on the basketball courts brawling after school. (That says something about my ability as peer facilitator but hey, I was only 13!)

But given a pair of boxing gloves, head and mouth gear, and an unbiased facilitator who will call the fight when he/she feels that one party is doing too much damage... its like starting a boxing club at a high school. What a grand idea! I hear my colleagues at the NOVA (No Violence Alliance) program, which works with repeat violent male offenders, constantly referring clients to boxing clubs in the City. There must be some positive ends to such drastic means.

And yes, not everyone will benefit from fisticuffs nor would they want to engage in that kind of resolution. I'm sure the high school computer nerd wouldn't want to step into a cage with the young black football player after accidentally stepping on his Pumas.

Today in Women's History

Solveig Barlow, aka Sol, is a 10 year old female graffiti artist. In an industry dominated by men, Sol is celebrated for her work and has recently been compared to another British street artist named Banksy. But the young miss dismisses the comparison in a very Alpha Female-like attempt to be recognized on her own merit as a graffiti artist. To date Ms. Barlow, who began spray painting at the age of 8, has created 20 legal graffiti pieces which can be found in her hometown of Brighton, England.

Utilizing bright colors and cartoon-like characters, Sol's art is a statement of the zestful inner-child as opposed to graffiti that symbolizes gang culture and territorial markings. From zoo animals to breakfast foods, Sol creates dreamworlds underneath highway overpasses and abandoned building walls. In response to the growing popularity of her work, she has also begun to expand the scope of her artistry by dabbling in tattoos. Not only has she been asked to design tattoo art for customers, she's also putting the needle to the skin herself. Who says you can't start a lucrative career before you've even hit puberty!?

I'm diggin little Miss' steez hardcore. Tattoos, graffiti and inner child aside... check the hat, stunna shades and gold chain Sol's rockin! If that isn't a modern manifestation of true 80's hip hop, I don't know what is. Much love, young sistah!

Get acquainted @ Flickr: SuperSolveig


"I have no plans to stop so watch out for me."
-Sol, age 10.

The First Woman

Mama and Auntie Nida in Manila.

2008

Since it's women's history month, I had to do a very loud shout out to my mother who just received a long overdue promotion! What I love? 1) She was so excited about getting her own office. ("I get a door!") and 2) Mama's got a government job in the Department of Social Services in Santa Barbara. Who says that there aren't government employees who don't work for the people?

Initially studying to be a nurse my mother had to drop out of college to travel with my daddy around the world. Sound romantic? It really was. But relocation didn't stop her, oh no. My mother was able to attend classes at a small business college and soon made her name as an accountant. (Typical Filipino, for real.) I remember when I was in grade school she worked two jobs and hustled long enough to buy herself a Lexus.

But it doesn't stop there. My mother's success is a large inspiration when it comes to dreaming my own dreams. Not only has she successfully put two strong Filipino women through college (and about to graduate a little Filipino man) but she's got everything she wants in life, at least from what I can see. Including that new Coach bag. I know that my father's support was integral to the process and I love his story of success equally. But because she is an Alpha and because she is a Female... I want to holler at the First Woman in my life. <3

Today in Women's History

San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi fights for rights of speech as the presiding officer to the United States House of Representatives. Second in the presidential line of succession, she would assume the role of President if something (god forbid) were to happen to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Representing Bay Area nationwide!! =)

Sara Jane Olson, community organizer, activist, film actress, and former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army was released from the Central California's Women's Facility in Chowchilla, CA today. Olson was was sentenced to two consecutive 10 years-to-life terms for possession of explosives and an additional six years in prison for first degree murder.

Any women you know making the news today?

Tattoo by Victor Trujillo

Activism Right There Festival - U.C. Berkeley

I apologize for the picture quality, I'm no photographer and I could barely stand still through the music. There was a sign outside that said "NO CAMERAS" so I assumed that I couldn't take any pictures and had my flash off for the first couple of performances. But by the the time Bambu came out, I said "Fuck it" and camera flashed away. And, dammit, I failed to catch a flick of Brwn Bflo... but they were pretty effin' sick performers.

My girl, Haze, of 40Love

Los Rakas

Zumbi of Zion I


DJ AmpLive of Zion I

Bambu

(check the story here)



DJ Phatrick



Invincible


And the dance crews!! I only took shots of the B-Girls cause they held it down....

Brown BGirl Representin'

White BGirl Representin'

Turf Fiends

Turf Fiends

My Sistahs!

(not pictured: Ms. Tonya Galvante & Ms. Daphnee Valdez)

All in all, a night well spent. The performances were slappin'. The poets inspirin'. And the vibe was swell all around. My only *ish of the night? Ms. Thang standing next to me loudly complaining, "God! Why do they keep talking about Palestine!? It's making me sad!" Duh, girl this is an activist event! Where the fuck did you think you were at, a Britney Spears concert!?

2nd Annual Activism Right There (A.R.T.) Festival, 3.10.09

Host: JENNIFER JOHNS (Oakland)
DJ: K-SALAAM (Minneapolis)$5 youth under 21 and students $10 non-student adults

Tickets will be available soon at the Zellerbach Box Office, or at http://tickets.berkeley.edu/

The event will kick off with a panel discussion by the Third World Liberation Front. TwLF originated in the late 1960's at San Francisco State University (my alma mater!) as a coalition of the Black Students Union, the Latin American Students Organization, the Filipino-American Students Organization, and El Renacimiento, a Mexican-American student organization. Together these organizations led protests, strikes, and sit-ins that eventually lead to the establishment of SFSU's College of Ethnic Studies and expansion of the Black Studies department. This event will celebrate, honor and encourage student activism through art: music, dance, and spoken word.

Performances by: (not full list)

I'm hella looking forward to catching another set by my new obsession 40Love. I caught their performance last night at Milk and was blown away by the powerhouse female emcee Haze. Not only does this fly Miss have style I can relate to (wife beaters and kicks all day, ya'll) but she has a tongue that spits Bambu-style like a machine gun. AND SHE'S FROM THE BAY. I had to bow down. Last weekend I lost out on the Blue Scholars performance (FML!) and I don't wanna miss out on another chance to get lifted! I haven't heard live music since Hopie and Bambu blew the stage out at FatCity, damn..... My body, my mind, and my soul are awake and alert now. I am ready to be rejuvenated by my favorite love: hip hop.

San Francisco Creates Another Stupid Crime

A San Francisco judge has ordered a dozen of the city's most prolific recycling scavengers to stop looting bottles, cans and cardboard from curbside bins.

The court's order, which came at the request of the city's garbage company, aims to crack down on a problem that residents say creates litter and noise and Sunset Scavenger says costs it millions of dollars a year.

The preliminary injunction is the latest effort to stop a wave of recycling theft sweeping California amid rising metal prices and falling employment. Violators would face maximum fines of $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail for each violation.

Sunset Scavenger, San Francisco's official waste hauler, went to court after receiving thousands of complaints from consumers who said organized crews of recycling "poachers" were becoming hostile and dangerous.

[ read article ]

--

Violent recycling theft? Are you serious?! The only people I see wheeling carts of aluminum cans and bottles around are old Asian people. That's right, Lolo and Lola trying to make an honest buck out of another person's trash. I can just imagine a gang of 60 year old senior citizens attacking the trash man with their walkers and tagging up his garbage truck with spray paint.

Why should NorCal Waste Systems, Inc. have the monopoly on San Francisco recyclables? Is it so wrong that in "a faltering economy" that those who can't work make money by other non-criminal means? Yes, I understand that digging through those black and blue bins can be extremely dangerous considering the amount of bacteria that one would come into contact with... but a health code violation shouldn't warrant 6 months in jail. A monetary fine equal to the amount of loot seems reasonable, don't you agree? It's ridiculous to think that someone who gains income by digging through waste can also afford to pay a $1000 fine. Trust, they do NOT make $2 million a year, not even close.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there is a gang of recyclable theives who run rampant through the City. From my point of view, it's just another example of how a Sucka Free and Green City resident hustles to make a living and how the government tries to punish him/her for doing so.

RIP Francis Magalona

"Mga kababayan ko, dapat lang malaman nyo, bilib ako sa kulay ko.Ako ay Pilipino..."

(My countrymen, you should know I believe in my color. I am Filipino.)

Pinoy Rapper Francis Magalona (aka Francis M.) died today in Pasig City, Philippines. Magalona was diagnosed with leukemia last August. The rapper and his family insisted that his medical condition be kept private but publicly sought blood donations while being hospitalized.

Magalona began his career in the early 1980's as the hip hop movement rose in the Phillipines. Starting out as a breakdancer and DJ, Magalona went on to star in several Pinoy films and his own TV show on MTV Asia titled, "Eat... Bulaga!" Magalona's biggest hit "Mga Kababayan Ko" was the first rap experience for many Pinoy youth on the Islands.

Read more about Francis M. and his last days [here]

"Kung may itim o may puti, mayroon namang kayumanggi, isipin mo na kaya mong abutin ang iyong minimithi."

(If there are blacks and whites, there are also browns, just think that you can achieve what you dream about.)

True Crime Stories of San Francisco

The following are true stories from San Francisco county inmates that I have encountered while working in the City and County of San Francisco jails. Reading police reports on a daily basis, I am slowly (but not entirely) losing my faith in the way our criminal justice system works. Many of the inmates that I have come into contact with have committed non-violent crimes, pose no threat to public safety and are more community nuisances than they are criminals.

"B. is a 63 year old Black female with arthritis in her left leg and a broken left wrist. B. suffers from early stages of dementia brought on by a long history of alcohol abuse. She was evicted from her residential hotel room and was forced to sleep on the streets. With no address, Social Security was unable to locate B. and distribute her monthly disability income. After 6 months on the streets, B. was arrested in the Tenderloin by police officers for sleeping on the sidewalk."

"K. is a 47 year old Filipino male who was petitioned by his family to live and work in the United States. Upon arrival to San Francisco, K. and his partner opened up a salon in Outer Mission where K. worked as a hairstylist. After a few years K.'s partner passed away and K. sunk into a deep depression. He was forced to close the salon and could no longer afford to pay rent for his apartment. After months of transition between the houses of close friends, K. finally ended up on the street. He developed an infection in his right ankle and was unable to receive medical assistance because he did not have health insurance. Eventually, K. had to undergo an above the knee amputation. Among the long list of other medical conditions with which K. suffers are acute renal disease and diabetes. K. has been able to survive on the streets of San Francisco through petty drug sales and kind donations from the Filipino Community on 6th Street. K. was arrested by an undercover police officer for possession and sales of methamphetamine. K. had less than one gram of methamphetamine in his possession."

"G. is a 57 year old Black male. G. is homeless and currently receives disability benefits of $1000 a month. The owners of the building he sleeps in pay him $10 a day to sweep up the building and its surrounding areas. One day, G. walked by an undercover police officer dressed as a homeless drunk. The officer kept falling down and was trying to hold himself up by leaning up against a parking meter. Clearly visible was a $20 bill hanging out of his front jacket pocket. G. approached the man and said, 'Man, you're money is about to fall out of your pocket.' The officer fell down again, began screaming obscenities at G. and the money fell out of his pocket. G. picked up the $20 and walked away. Shortly after, he was arrested for theft."

"P. is a 19 year old Black male. At the age of 2, P. was given over to the foster care system because his mother was unable to care for him due to her drug abuse. P. grew up alternating between group homes and juvenile hall. At age 18, P. was aged out of the juvenile justice system and was brought to San Francisco. He has no contact with his birth family. P. has no employment and the education of a 5th grader. P. spent the past year sleeping on the streets or on BART trains and manages a small income from petty drug sales and panhandling. Currently, he owes $600 in BART fare evasion tickets. At the age of 19, P. was arrested for conspiracy to sell drugs."

Stop. Think about it.

The amount of money spent on housing people in jail compared to the actual cost of the crime they committed is completely unbalanced. A January article posted on San Francisco Citizen states that "the cost per inmate is $170,000 to $230,000 per year." These stats are for state prison inmates, those who have committed serious crimes like murder and major drug trafficking as well as white collar crimes like embezzlement and insurance fraud. (Though white collar criminals usually end up in kush low-security prisons fitted with flat screens and recliners.) On a county level, the cost to house an inmate in the San Francisco County Jail runs between $100-$250 a day, depending on the inmates health needs.

Did these people deserve to be put in jail for their actions? What would you do if you had no job, no home, no family or friends? How would you survive? When I was first interviewed for the job, my interviewer asked, "What do you think is the leading cause of crime in San Francisco?" The answer? Poverty. Not just here in the City but in every urban environment. I met a client once who was rearrested within 24 hours of being released from county jail. He had no money and had nothing to eat, so what did he do? He walked into a liquor store and lifted a sandwich and a bag of chips. Boom, back in custody.

Meanwhile, drive-by shooters in the Tenderloin are escaping down a ONE WAY BRIDGE to the East Bay and 24 port-a-potties have been set on fire with the suspect still at large.

What exactly is the San Francisco Police Department focusing on here?

My Hood: Lakeview, San Francisco

Former SF Supervisor Brings the City's Progressiveness to the State

California would become the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use under a bill introduced Monday by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco.

The proposal would regulate marijuana like alcohol, with people over 21 years old allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess cannabis - all of which is barred by federal law.

Ammiano, a Democrat in his third month as a state lawmaker, said taxes and other fees associated with regulation could put more than a billion dollars a year into state coffers at a time when revenues continue to decline.

He said he thinks the federal government could soften its stance on marijuana under the Obama administration.

"We could in fact have the political will to do something, and certainly in the meantime this is a public policy call and I think it's worth the discussion," Ammiano said. "I think the outcome would be very healthy for California and California's economy."

A spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Agency in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on the proposal. A White House spokesman referred to a statement on a question-and-answer section of an Obama transition team blog that says the president "is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."

While Californians have shown some tolerance for marijuana, such as use for medical conditions with voters' passage of Proposition 215 in 1996, the proposal will face tough opposition in Sacramento.

A lobbyist for key police associations in the state called it "a bad idea whose time has not come."

"The last thing our society needs is yet more legal intoxicants," said John Lovell, who represents the California Peace Officers' Association, California Police Chiefs Association and California Narcotic Officers' Association. "We've got enough social problems now when people aren't in charge of all five of their senses."

But Ammiano's proposal has the support of San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey, who said the idea "should be the subject of legislative and public debate."

It also has the backing of Betty Yee, who chairs the state Board of Equalization, which collects taxes in California. An analysis by the agency concluded the state would collect $1.3 billion a year from tax revenues and a $50-an-ounce levy on retail sales if marijuana were legal.

The analysis also concluded that legalizing marijuana would drop its street value by 50 percent and increase consumption of the substance by 40 percent.

A spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for reform in marijuana laws and is backing Ammiano's proposal, said any expected increase in consumption is a "false notion."

"They are making an intuitive assumption that a lot of people make that really does not have that much evidence behind it," said Bruce Mirken, the group's spokesman, who predicted it could take up to two years before the idea wins legislative approval.

"Don't tell me that doing something like (this) proposal is going to introduce another drug into society. That's a load of bull."

-SFGate.com

In My Line of Work...

I have been taught that one victory is worth a thousand losses.

Being a "professional worrier" is part of my job description.

I have no power over other people's lives, no matter how much I wish I did.

I do the paperwork, God takes care of the rest.

Regardless of how many hours I put in, the work will never be done.

Happy Birthday Bob!

"Life and Jah are one in the same. Jah is the gift of existence. I am in some way eternal, I will never be duplicated. The singularity of every man and woman is Jah’s gift. What we struggle to make of it is our sole gift to Jah. The process of what that struggle becomes, in time, the Truth."

"Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake up and live! "

“When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.”

<3>

Razor Sharp Enterprises Presents "This Is Why I'm So Angry!"

Spoken Word/Poetry Reading
Featuring: at-risk youth from the S.F. Boys Group home and special guest appearances of some of the Bay Area's best spoken word artists.

February 12, 2009
Marcus Books
1712 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
5pm-6pm
Snacks & Drinks will be served

Get ye to the children and help support them in their transition back into a society that has written them off. Come show some love for these special and powerful youth!

Sponsored by: Marcus Book Stores, the Village Project, I.C.A.N. (Inner City Adolescents Network), "J"s Temple of Islam, Y.M.C.A., United Playaz, & S.E.O.P (Senior Ex-Offenders Program)

The Struggle Continues in the Bay Area

7 East Bay teens arrested - hate crime alleged.

One minute he was hanging out with seven seemingly friendly guys in a park, the next he said he was on the ground, the blows coming from all sides, a fist or foot landing hard enough to fracture six bones in his face.

But it was the words accompanying the blows that made Manning, 24, think he was about to die.

"Coon." And then, "How do you like this, you f-ing n-?"

A week after the Jan. 24 incident, Richmond police officers arrested seven East Bay teenagers on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon - a hate crime investigation delayed five days because of a police clerical error.

The seven are white. Manning is black.

"I don't understand how somebody could do that in this day and age," Manning said Sunday. "I never, never thought it would happen to me."

Not in California and not in the East Bay, Manning said.

The Case Against Officer Mehserle.

Exhibit A - Sig Sauer P226 Pistol

Exhibit B- X26 Taser Gun

I've only held two guns in my life and neither of them were a taser. Looking at the pictures, I notice that the trigger for both guns are in different locations but in the same vicinity. As for size and weight, they look almost the same. It could have been an honest mistake made by anyone... but a police officer? Officer Mehserle states that he meant to grab his taser and not his pistol. If Mehserle's lawyer is able to prove that claim in a court of law, Mehserle can avoid facing a murder sentence. There is a likelihood that Mehserle is going to avoid any serious criminal charges but he is going to face serious civil suits. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the family of Oscar Grant is pursuiting a $25 million dollar wrongful death suit and all Mehserle's gotta do is file for bankruptcy to avoid having to pay a dime.

But can you imagine what it would be like for him should he get sentenced to prison time? A white male officer sitting in San Quentin for the murder of a black unarmed male. That's justice, in my opinion. It may sound like a generalization but how many white male law enforcement agents do you know in San Quentin, in general?

Someone must serve as the martyr for the white male law enforcement community.

Pisces Horoscope 02.01.09

Kicking off the birthday month! Only 27 days left of being 24!

"Today may feel like your lucky day. Your feeling of good fortune could inspire you to take big chances that could garner huge winnings. There may be a dream you want to pursue but have been too scared to go for because of the risk involved. Think of what your life could be like if you were living the dream rather than dreaming about it."

-DailyOm

The Forgotten Pastime

Tiny confession about my dark side? I'm kind of a klepto. Now, I don't just steal without purpose, I mean, my apartment isn't full of unnecessary knickknacks that I accumulate as a result of my minor addiction. I tend to swipe books and cosmetics and I only swipe from corporations, never (okay, only once) from other people or from Mom and Pop/underground/small businesses. I don't know why. Luckily, I've only gotten caught once . . . trying to lift the biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. from a school library. (Oh, the shame.)

Anyway, my point is even though it wasn't one of my new year's resolutions for 2009, I have pledged to read as many books as I can this year. I had forgotten what an escapist experience it is to get lost in literature. Since I'm destined to live the next few months in my own solitude, I'm actually excited about the prospect of reading a ton of new books. Fiction, nonfiction, self-help, biographies... I'm ready to read them all. Yes, even those goddamn soft core teen porn novels about vampires. Already I've gotten two books under my belt this month alone: The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene and Hellions by Maria Raha. I'm currently reading Miles from Nowhere by Nami Mun, a story about a young Korean American runaway surviving in the Bronx and am halfway through Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert which I started back in November. Among the books I'm excited to delve into: The Gangster of Love by Jessica Hagedorn; Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff; Cebu by Peter Bacho; and The Price: My Rise and Fall As Natalia, New York's #1 Escort by Natalie McLennan.

Got any good recommendations?

The Future is for the Kids

Amidst all the feelings of hope and change that have been floating around following the election and inauguration of President Barack Obama, I have been secretly harboring cynicism about the fate of our future. As I continued to work in the streets and become increasingly aware of the rise and nature of crimes in the 7x7 area of San Francisco, my negativity seems validated. In a recent post on love in the first month of 2009, I remarked how I was lost in a state of limbo... I was devoid of hope and drive, not just about my own life but the world at large as well. It was extremely disheartening.

Luckily, I know how to remedy my personal maladies.

First, let me start by saying that I know nothing about kids. Just the other day I attended my first baby shower and found that I lacked the social etiquette necessary for that type of event. When the mother-to-be opened gifts, I oohed and aahed even though I had no clue what half of the items were. At one point she held up what looked like a tiny toilet brush and I imagined the most horrendous application of it. Thinking it was something used to clean out baby bottoms, I shrieked hella loud, "What the fuck is that for?!" It was a bottle cleaner.

I had so many questions about child birth, things I probably should have asked in my college Human Sexuality class... had I ever gone.

What happens to the umbilical cord after it gets cut? Does it retract back into the mother's body like an electrical cord or does it just hang there? Does the mother's belly turn into a large flap of skin after the child is born? How does a fetus breathe inside the mother's stomach? What does it feel like to breast feed? Does it hurt? Do you ever get turned on?

I didn't say that last question out loud because, yeah, it sounds stupid, but it's a VALID question! Amazing how much a baby shower made me, a woman on the verge of 25, feel like an infant. The party served as a gentle reminder that I am soooo not at that point in life where I can even think about thinking about children. My girl said it best, "Stick to bachelorette parties, eL. You're not ready for baby showers." So true, though I doubt I'm ready for those either.

But I digress.

In an attempt to rise up out of my previously mentioned funky mood, I decided to start volunteering for the Toddler Hour at the Salvation Army Harbor House. I've always believed that giving love is the best way to feel love so for the next couple months I have a standing date to hang out with 1-2 year old kids playing with toys, singing songs, and laughing for no other reason than the fact that life is good. It's been so long since I've been around anyone younger than the age of 16, I'd forgotten how easy life can be.

It wasn't hard for me to find joy in bouncing a rubber ball or stacking wooden blocks. I found immense therapy in singing my own hip-hop rendition of Row, Row, Row Your Boat to a group of eager toddlers. In fact, seeing the innocence in a 2 year old's cheerful eyes reminded me why I continue to struggle: if not to see a better world for myself, then to make a better world for these kids. They know nothing of the economic slump that has cut over 2.6 million jobs last year or the 800+ deaths in Gaza. They have no knowledge of police brutality or of the fact that the population of San Quentin State Prison is almost as large as the population of freshmen enrolling for the first time at San Francisco State University. I struggle now so that they don't have to.

But it's a mistake to say that today's youth have no knowledge of the troubles in our country. I recently came across an article on Newsweek.com that highlighted letters written by elementary school children, addressed to President Obama. Among the congratulatory sentiments and questions of "How does it feel to be the first black president?" the children made note of the issues they found pertinent to their own futures. If the children are aware of the struggle, isn't it in our best interests to make sure the struggle isn't for nothing?

"I wish for you to stop the war. And help the poor people to get jobs. I wish that you will be able to help immigrants get papers to come to our country." -Jowana Melendez, 3rd Grade

"Another thing is that you want to improve education for future kids. For example, you want to make college affordable for all kids so they won't have to pay a lot of money. President Obama, you will make big changes. You believe that all the money that we are wasting in Iraq could be spent on reasonable stuff like new supplies for schools, new programs and technology. You want to cut taxes for people who earn less than $250,000 a year." - Jessica Collado, 5th Grade

"President Obama, you encourage me and all of America to follow their dreams. We could be anything. You opened a door to everyone.

President Obama, may you please try to come up with new ways to help homeless people? I wish you and your family lots and lots of luck. I promise to follow you and Joe Biden's rules." -Mohamed Bamba, 5th Grade

"President Obama, can you stop the violence in our streets?" -Kris Alvarez, 4th Grade

[read full article here]

The Year of the Ox is upon us and I am refreshed today by the promise of a healthier world for my unborn child. I know my struggle has purpose, that my life has meaning, and that there is hope for our future. Sometimes, I need to be reminded.

And dude, if a 5th grader can tell that we're wasting money in Iraq, why can't our government?

Backsies!

2009 NBA All Stars Announced // The Return

WEST:

Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Yao Ming
Amar'e Stoudamire
Tim Duncan

EAST:

Allan Iverson
Dwayne Wade
Dwight Howard
Kevin Garnett
Lebron James

And Mama's got tickets to the Jam session and All Star Practice. Fuck yeah, getting the best of my Phoenix trip.
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Ellis plans Friday return to Warriors
By GREG BEACHAM

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Monta Ellis will be in the Golden State Warriors' lineup for the first time this season Friday night when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Warriors (13-30) decided after Thursday's practice to welcome back Ellis, who has missed the entire season while recovering from a sprained ankle sustained in an accident on a motorized scooter last summer.

Ellis has been back at practice for several weeks with the Warriors, who suspended him for 30 games without pay after the incident. The high-scoring guard got a six-year, $66 million contract extension about one month before crashing his scooter.

Tribute to Oscar Grant by Zion I & Mistah Fab

Violence Births Violence

Protests over BART Shooting Turn Violent
-SFgate.com


Didn't I say that the world would become increasingly violent REGARDLESS of the election of the first black male? Didn't I say that it doesn't fucking matter because the people are getting RESTLESS? Dont get me wrong, I believe in peace, I believe that if we send positivity out into the world we will receive positive things .... but I also believe that the only way we will overcome oppression is if we TAKE justice instead of WAIT for it to be given to us.

Change in the world isn't going to happen with a turn in government office... American society will continue on its destructive ways regardless of who is sitting in the Oval Office.

DO NOT WAIT FOR JUSTICE! DEMAND IT. Fuck it, let's get violent.

Bambu said it best: "Jay-Z and Barack ain't changed my block.....A black president ain't gonna change what Americans see. " (Like Us, Bambu) Listen to it here.


---
I wasn't at the protest tonight but I was in Oakland. I decided to expend my energy and efforts at a different struggle.

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 106 to 114.

Still a good game. Fuck Laker fans. WARRIOR FANS TALK BETTER SHIT (at least!)

The Future Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with the Past.

Two Thousand Nine.

Two Thousand Eight.... you were an AMAZING year and if I could, I would relive you over and over and over and over again. But here I go... looking toward the future with high hopes.

This year I resolve :

to quit smoking cigarettes for the millionth time.

to start studying for the LSAT because the courts are screaming my name and I'm compelled to answer their call.

to stop using lack of funds and/or a demanding work schedule as an excuse to not spend time with my family and friends. This goes double for my TMK homies who I miss so much.

to continue learning the art of game because ... it's fun. =)

but, more importantly to love freely, openly, and honestly because a Pisces is only at her best when she stays true to her emotional self.



Wish me luck and happy new year, ya'll. Let's make it a good one!