ARE WE INADVERTENTLY TEACHING OUR CHILDREN SELF-HATRED?

I recently came across a story about a fourteen-year-old girl who had been bullied in school. The children teased her because she had a long, crooked nose and ears that stuck out from her head. The teasing was so bad that the girl tried to avoid school if she could, creating false ailments to keep from attending. Apparently it had gotten so bad, that she even considered suicide.

Her mother had recently become unemployed and also had a nine-year-old son with cerebral palsy at home to take care of. At first, the girl didn't want to bother her mother with her problems, but she eventually confided in her begging for surgery. The girl's mother was surprised to find out the severity of her daughters troubles, who had recently began chocking it up to 'migraines' to mask her reasoning for crying. Her mother contacted the Little Baby Face Foundation which is based out of Manhattan, NY. The organization provides free surgeries to children with facial deformities who have financial needs.

Dr. Thomas Romo, who is president of the organization and head of facial plastic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, volunteered to do the work free of charge. He pinned her ears back, operated on her nose and even shortened her chin. The total amount for her work came to $40,000. For free. Dr. Romo explained that the girl wasn't picked because she was bullied, but because of her facial 'deformities'. Her mom feels that it's no different from a child receiving braces.

My question is, does this seem a bit extreme? Aren't we sending the wrong message to our children by telling them that looks really do matter? TLC has a show that comes on called Toddlers and Tiaras, where parents enter their children into competitions to be judged based on their looks. I've seen kids that are so confident at the beginning of the show just break down and bawl their eyes out when they don't win. Doesn't it seem cruel to tell a child you aren't as pretty/handsome, your hair doesn't look as good, you can't sing/dance/do magic tricks etc... as the next person? In my opinion, this is just setting them up for disaster. Children already go through so much just trying to fit in, but when the parents join in on the shenanigans, who do these children have to turn to?

What happened to the days where parents told their children they were different because they were special? What happened to parents teaching their children morals and respect for others? Where are the parents that tell their children that they are beautiful in spite of, smart in spite of and that they can succeed at whatever they set their minds to despite what anyone else thinks or feels about them? I think we as parents need to redevelop the kinds of relationships with our children where they won't find it strange or awkward to come to us if they have a problem.

So many children have opted to do the opposite of what this young lady did. Even though she considered suicide but decided to go to her mom instead, some children do commit suicide or rather they will become homicidal killing others because they have been bullied. I do commend this young girl on that decision. As I look at her before and after pictures, I do see a slight difference. I notice her chin is shorter and that the tip of her nose not so narrow. The most evident is the pinning back of the ears. But, I also notice that her eyebrows seem to be arched now and the color of her hair has been changed. She still has a slight crookedness to her nose as well. although now, it's not as obvious. Could the extra minor changes have been attempted before those permanent drastic changes were made? She does seem happier in the after picture, but could that just be psychological?

Although these physical changes have been made, has no one stopped to think that she looks like one, if not both of her parents? The physical has been changed, but the genetics are still there. What happens when she has children of her own and they inherit some of those same traits? Does the cycle continue or does it stop? What happens when she has fully gone through puberty and decides she doesn't like her breasts or her butt or something else about herself? Is cutting on yourself the answer to achieve what society deems to be beautiful?

I went to the website of the foundation that did her surgeries. I read a list of the services that they provide. Now, remember Dr. Romo saying that she wasn't picked because of her being bullied, but because her face was deformed? Well, I don't see her issues listed under the deformities they have there. And first of all, as I look at this girl, I don't see any deformities at all on her face. If even the doctor who is treating you says your face is 'deformed', what in the hell do we expect this child to feel like? Her mom compared it to a child needing braces. So, you mean to tell me if my child needs braces, he actually has a deformed mouth? I don't get it.

 The surgery was estimated at $40,000. The foundation is a charity that consists of a board of doctors that donate their time to perform these surgeries on needy children. They also accept donations according to their website. Now, I don't mean to seem harsh, but that $40,000 worth of service could have gone to a child with much more serious issues in my opinion. Especially if you're gonna ask for donations to help provide these services. I would like to think that my money was actually going to help a child with life threatening problems other than someone who's only problem is just that they aren't happy with the way that they look. 

What do you think readers? Am I being asinine about the story? Do you think that this girl's mother could have handled the situation in a different way? Do you think children are conditioned into thinking that the way we look determines whether or not we would/should be accepted? If you were the parent here, how would you have handled this situation? I would love to hear your feedback.


Deuces, Smooches...
Nena Grace          

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DUMB LAWS OF AMERICA: FLORIDA

(Author's note: For those of you who thought I'd given up on this series, I just took a break from it for a while. I mean, I can't stop now, there are too many more states with dumb laws to write about.)

Throughout history there have been laws passed and laws removed from the books. Depending on what era you grew up in, I'm sure all the laws made sense at that time. As time progressed, some of the laws that could be deemed crazy, weird or just plain stupid have managed to slip through the filter and remain intact. In this series, we will be taking a look at dumb laws that are still on books in these here United States. Ninth in the series... Florida.

1. Unmarried couples may not commit "lewd acts" and live together in the same residence. So, couples can't shack up and they can't get freaky with each other... Florida sounds like your Mom's house, huh?

2. In Cape Coral, it is against the city ordinance to hang your clothes outside on a clothesline. Well, I guess you can just throw them across the shrubbery and porch railings like I've seen done so much when people don't own a dryer. Who doesn't own a clothes dryer these days?

3. In Daytona Beach, while being intoxicated, also being under the influence of narcotics is prohibited. Yeah... you wouldn't want to make that zombie attack from those bath salts you ingested any more gross than what it will already be... :/

4. Florida law prohibits rats to leave the ships docked in Tampa bay. Unless they have the Pied Piper on deck constantly blowing on his magic pipe, I can't see that happening.

5. Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. And I can imagine also very painful.

6. In Florida, failure to tell your neighbor his house is on fire is illegal. Unless he is in it of course, then you may just want to dial 911.

7. In Miami, men may not be seen publicly in any type of strapless dress. Which answers my question as to why the population is so high in Atlanta, Ga.

8. When having sex, only the missionary position is legal. I shall never reside in the state of Florida... That is all.

9. Women who fall asleep under a hair dryer can be fined, as can the owner of the salon. I have never liked hair dryers. They take too long and they get too hot, which makes me wonder, who in the hell can sleep under those things? They don't need to be fined, they need to be rewarded because that heat is murder on your ears.

10. My last and final pick for one of Florida's dumbest laws is, *insert drum roll*... The stand your ground statute. Since the beginning of the year, people of all races have been doing all kinds of craziness and claiming this law as their defense. If you've been paying attention to the news lately, there is no need to elaborate.


Okay readers, do any of you reside in the Sunshine State? Are you aware of any crazy laws that are still on the books? We would love it if you would share.

Deuces, Smooches...
Nena Grace

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SO...MAYBE PEOPLE CAN BE BORN GAY AFTER ALL

#insane - Working in the medical field, I'm always interested in learning more about all things medical. And, being the analogist that I am, I'm always looking for ways to figure out why, where and how things come to be and 'are' the way that they are.

I was recently reading an article in the March 2012 issue of Reader's digest that I picked up at the local hospital here titled, "Five Body Parts You May Not Need". It was written by Robert T. Gonzalez, a science writer for i09.com. In the article, Gonzalez names five body parts that experts say we could really do without.

*The Coccyx- The left over part from the tail we had as embryos.
*Ear Muscles- Apparently, our primate ancestors used them to "move their ears like satellite dishes searching for signals". Of course, the most we can do today is give a little wiggle.
*Wisdom Teeth- Anyone between the ages of say, 17-25, know how much of a nuisance these can be.
*Arrector Pili- These are muscle fibers that contract and give us what we know as 'goose bumps'. In furry animals, this would cause their fur to stand on end which traps heat, which in turn warms the animal. Humans aren't so hairy, nor lucky depending on which climate you live in, it just cautions us to wear more clothing.

When I got to the last body part, a light bulb went off, I had sort of an epiphany.

*Male Nipples- According to science, all humans start out as females in the womb. Fetuses begin developing certain female body parts like the nipples for breasts. When the 'Y' chromosome is introduced, testosterone is produced turning what is female into male, thus stopping the formation of breasts and leaving only the nipple behind.

I began to wonder, if we all begin as females, could this be proof that gay people are the way that they are because of the increase in or lack of hormones that are present?
For example in males, after testosterone is introduced, could it be possible that though they developed male characteristics, the level of estrogen could be at such a high that these males also carry female characteristics? Could this be the cause of many of the feminine traits that we see in some males and could this be the reason some males are attracted to other males, or maybe both sexes, depending upon the levels of hormones present?

This could also be said for females who are attracted to other females. The level of testosterone produced may not be high enough to fully 'transform' the fetus to a male, but causes male characteristics in the female causing her to be 'manly' and attracted to other females, or maybe even both sexes.

Studies have found that when these hormones are introduced in fetuses, there is an imbalance so severe that a fetus can develop both male and female genitalia causing the fetus to become hermaphroditic. Although one set of organs may be more prominent than the other, the individual does indeed carry both sets of reproductive organs present in both males and females.

This causes me to wonder that, maybe when homosexual people say that they were 'born' the way that they are, they could possibly be telling the truth. For example, I have a male cousin who is homosexual. I can remember when he 'came out' to me. We hadn't seen each other in years because we had re-located to the South while his family remained in Chicago. He called me on the phone one day and we were talking about him coming for a visit. He then said, "Well, I may as well tell you, I'm gay and my lover and I have been together for seven years." To which I replied, "I'm not being funny, but I kinda knew it anyway." He went on to ask how and I explained to him that he had been 'feminine' almost all of his life. That is no exaggeration either. Even as a young child, he always behaved 'like a girl' to me, thus this came as no surprise.

So, I wonder, could this be the cause in all cases? Could this unleveled balance of hormones be the reason that people are homosexual, and could they have a legitimate argument when they tell all of the bashers, haters, homo-phobes and people who commonly use religion to belittle them and make them feel less human and more animalistic, that they were indeed born this way?

What do you think?

Deuces, Smooches...
Nena Grace

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VIDEO: TRANSVESTITE AND STUD FIGHTING/ WTF IS A "CHIRREN"?

#insaneasylumblog- A friend of mine shared a video on facebook yesterday. The video was posted on the World Star Hip Hop website, and it was of two people from Florida fighting- a transvestite and a stud. I did a little investigating and found that the video was originally posted on Youtube in August of 2010.

Apparently, prior to the beginning of the video, the stud and transvestite had gotten into an argument and the stud burned the transvestite with a cigarette in addition to hitting him/her with a bottle. Then the fight ensues. Check it out...

Now, this is just a hot ass mess. What part of Florida was this in, is what I want to know. And what in the hell is a "chirren"? The transvestite keeps screaming that, "she got muthafukken chirren" and "my mama got chirren". Is this some new found disease that affects women? Does it start in the ovaries and spread to the uterus? I'm confuzzled... Somebody help me, help me please.

And why do studs think that they can actually beat a man up? I mean hey, a dude can wear make-up, women's clothing, hairstyles and some of them look better than some chicks I know, but when push comes to shove, he's still a man. And he will kick your ass. "Chirren" or not.

Oh... Now, I get it...

Deuces, Smooches...

Nena Grace

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AN OPEN LETTER TO MY HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

#insaneasylumblog I was wondering what I could do for Black history month. Should I write about a specific person, a certain event? I already share historical facts daily on my facebook page, so I didn't want to do anything like that. So, I took into consideration that the website is called The Insane Asylum, and we normally write about weird and crazy issues. That's when I remembered a paper I wrote on Malcolm X in high school. The grade I received for that was crazy, at least I thought it was. So, I'll just share that story with you in the form of a letter to my former English teacher, Ms. Pounds.

Dear Ms. Pounds,

I understand that you have had many students passing through your class over the years, and you may not even remember who I am, but I was that thick light-skinned chick with the long wavy hair, size DD breast and a butt the guys felt compelled to rub on. Oh, I was also that chick who beat up a lot of guys in high school.

I don't know if you can recall, but back in 1989, you gave your College Prep English class an assignment to write about anything or anyone they wanted. It was to be a written assignment that would be presented orally in front of the the class. I can remember being excited about the assignment, since I had recently started reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X. I knew immediately that he was gonna be my topic. I prepped for this assignment like crazy. I wrote and re-wrote drafts trying my best to make sure I remembered to add all details and high points of the book. I made sure I included important dates and times and checked twice to assure that all quotations were as spoken.

The night before my presentation, I recited my report to my brothers for practice. It was perfect. I couldn't wait until the next day in class when I got to show you how much hard work I had put into it. Well, the day arrived and I was anxious. I sat and watched as people stood in front of the class stammering and some practically reading from their papers. I must admit that I silently laughed at them, thinking that I was gonna blow them away when my time came. After what seemed like forever, you called my name. As I walked to the front of the class, I glanced at you, looking at me over your glasses that were sitting on the edge of your nose. I remember briefly thinking that, for such a small frail bodied woman, you were rather ballsy. But you didn't intimidate me. I raised my head higher and I looked straight ahead as I faced the class.

I read my topic and began my report. Although I had my papers in front of me, I knew my report by heart and I recited it verbatim with a superabundance of confidence.

I started off by telling how he was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925, how his mother was a homemaker, his father a Baptist minister and how he had seven other siblings. I told of the tragic death of his father and other events that led to him going to prison and being introduced to the Nation of Islam. I told of how he was an eloquent and powerful speaker that wasn't afraid to say what was on his mind. I can remember quoting him when he spoke on the mixing of races, using coffee and cream as an example. I can also remember the look of shock crossing the faces of some of my fellow White students as I spoke and the smiles and snickers that came from some of the Black students. I remember telling of his homage to Mecca that changed his way of thinking completely and how he was murdered for teaching against the beliefs of the Nation.

As I ended my report, I can remember receiving an applause that was, in my mind, the equivalent to one given to a musical superstar after a concert. I can also remember you telling everyone to see you after class to view our grade. I couldn't wait, I knew I had aced it. As I approached your desk to see my grade, I was smiling from ear to ear. When I looked down, that smile immediately faded. I look at your grade book as you spoke these words, "Although I must admit, you did an excellent job, no one is perfect. Your grade is 99%."

I wanted to slap your glasses from your face. I had put so much work into this report and no matter what you said, I know I deserved 100%. I've thought about this throughout the years and I took this opportunity to tell you this: Though my subjects and verbs may not always agree, my phrases sometimes may not transition well, I may tend to go crazy with my comma usage and I may often dangle a participle or two, bump you Ms. Pounds. Say what you will about the paper I wrote on Malcolm X. I say, I rocked that shit.

Deuces, Smooches...

Nena Grace

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MAN STABS FRIEND BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW BEYONCE AND JAY-Z WERE MARRIED

#insaneasylumblog - I've often heard people say that ignorance is bliss. I've never agreed with that nor have I ever found joy in being stupid. And I'm sure that if you asked the 48-year-old man from Parma, OH that was stabbed by his friend for not knowing that singer Beyonce and rapper Jay-Z were married, he would beg to differ also. This fuckery went down on December 31 and I'm just gonna assume that alcohol was involved, I mean hey, it was New Years Eve.

According to reports, 31-year-old Ronald Deaver and a 48-year-old unnamed friend were standing outside Deaver's apartment talking when the subject somehow turned to Jay and Bey. Apparently, the victim was unaware that the pregnant Beyonce was married to Jay-Z. I guess that Deaver is a die-hard fan because he went ballistic and stabbed his friend. The stabbing happened right around 11 p.m., after which, Deaver took off running. Emergency services were called and the victim was rushed to a local hospital. He was later transferred to MetroHealth Medical Center where he is reported to be in good condition. Police looked for Deaver at his apartment where they were told by 31-year-old Jennifer Forman, who I'm just gonna assume was his girlfriend, that he didn't live there anymore. Deaver was arrested a short time thereafter and charged with felonious assault. Ms. Forman was also arrested and charged with obstruction of justice.

Now, I have a few questions... At what point do you become so damn fanatical that you just start stabbing people up? Does he get an allowance from Jay-Z or something to make sure people know that Beyonce is his wife? I mean, hell, is Beyonce his cousin and the guy said something out of the way like, "Beyonce ain't nothing but a bitch. Jay wouldn't marry her.", so he had to seek vengeance? I'm baffled here. I can't for the life of me understand why people take stuff like this so seriously. I can assure him that Jay nor Bey could care less about his ass and they sure as hell ain't about to bail his ass out. I have some advice for Mr. Deaver... Getcha' ass something constructive to do and stop acting like a damn teenager when it comes to these celebrities. Stop arguing about senseless sh*t. I'm sure the next day after he sobered up, he thought to himself, "That was real f*cked up what I did." To which I say, Yes. Yes, Mr. Deaver it was. And for that, you get... The Ultimate Face Palm.

Deuces, Smooches... Nena Grace

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NASTY WOMEN, CABBAGE AND POOP

#insaneasylumblog - Throughout my life I have come across all types of people. There are the liars, the thieves, the lying thieves, the wanna-be's, the wanna haves, the pretend to haves, the know-it-all's and the ones who just really don't have a clue at all. You have your clean freaks, you know the ones, who if they see a speck of dust it's time to clean the entire house. And then you have your Nasty McNasty's. These are people who will do sh*t that is so gross, or say things that are so filthy, and it doesn't phase them at all. It's like second nature to them. I sometimes watch the show Hoarders on television and some of those people just seem to have mental problems to me. Now, going overboard when you're collecting things, I may let you pass on this one. But, when you have hundreds of cats or dogs and they are pooping and pissing all over the place and you're not even bothering with cleaning it up, hey, you are in need of some serious help. Or a good a*s-kicking.

I know this chick, we'll just call her...Shaniqua. Shaniqua and I have known each other for a very long time. Shaniqua's house was always messy. Sh*t was always everywhere. Clothes, trash, you name it. I can remember going to Shaniqua's house one day and saying, "You must've cooked. I smell cabbage." To which Shaniqua replied, "Oh, no. We cooked collard greens like three days ago." I just shrugged it off and left it alone. Maybe the smell just got 'trapped' in the house somehow.

Well, I went to Shaniqua's house again about a week later. And the smell was still there. I had to pee really bad, and though I tried to hold it, I just couldn't. So, I broke down and asked to use the bathroom. Big mistake. (Oh, I failed to mention that Shaniqua had a toddler that was still in diapers.) As I entered the bathroom, I noticed that the smell got stronger and more rancid. I immediately changed my mind about using the bathroom which was in such disarray that I wouldn't have wanted to squat over that toilet anyway for fear of something leaping up from the seat and attaching itself to my poon.

I decided to play detective and find out where in the hell this smell was coming from and what it was. I looked under the cabinets and in the laundry basket that was overflowing anyway, so that didn't take much effort, and then I pulled back the shower curtain that was obviously pulled to hide something in the tub. And there it was. The tub was full of worn shi*ty, pissy diapers. And maggots. I almost screamed. Maggots were everywhere, all over the wall of the tub, on the inside of the shower curtain. I guess I had disturbed them because they seemed to have gotten angry. I immediately exited the bathroom and told Shaniqua that I had to go. I never said anything to her about it but, I knew she knew what I had seen.

I didn't get it. How could a person live like this? Did they become so accustomed to the scent that they didn't smell it anymore? Why weren't the diapers discarded? And, where in the hell did they take baths at? I was full of questions, and I still am 'til this day.

Recently, one of my facebook friends shared a video. It was of a woman in a store doing the unthinkable. The people that commented thought this was hilarious. Why in the hell did this woman do this? Was there not a public restroom? Did she even ask? And she didn't even wipe her a*s. Maybe she is related to Shaniqua. *shrugs* I dunno... I will never for the life of me understand why people are this way. Maybe it's not meant for me to understand. I'm getting a headache now, so I'm gonna end this. But, what do you think readers? Do you have an explanation as to why people can be this way? Do you have any stories that you would like to share? You can share them here. I'm curious to know.

Deuces, Smooches...
Nena Grace

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BLACK-EYE PEAS, GREENS AND LOOSE CHANGE: 10 NEW YEAR SUPERSTITIONS

(repost from 1/1/2011)

I recently heard about some very weird traditions/superstitions that go on in people's homes on New Year's day. I thought the year-round superstitions were bad enough, but hearing about these made me understand a bit more why I think humans are crazy. At first I thought some of these were a joke, but I went to the internet to see if this was as widespread as it was made out to be, and surprisingly it is...which is scary.

Anyway, the list goes as follows:

Eating black-eye peas bring you luck. I remember this one growing up. Everyone in the family used to (and sometimes still do) put quarters in the pot to bring money throughout the year. You know, I do fancy the taste of dirty money on the first of the year. You know what else brings money throughout the year? A job. I noticed that for some reason, no one ever blames the black-eye pea when their year turns out crappy anyway. Just sayin'.

Eating greens bring you luck. Ahh, but not just eating them is enough.  You have to stir the greens toward you in order to bring money to you throughout the year. What fun is it being lucky without any cash, right?

Do not wash clothes on New Year's day. It's believed that if you wash clothes on the first day of the year, the owner of those clothes will die (be washed away) some time during the year. So if your significant other, parent or child is washing your stuff, chances are they're trying to kill you...and get away with it.

Do not lend money on New Year's day or you'll be lending money all year.  Chances are if you're the only one you know with a job, you'll be lending money all year. Just sayin'.

Do not cry on New Year's day or you will be crying all year.  No watching Overhaulin' for me then. You know I love happy endings.  What if I stub my toe on the first day of the year? Can I cry then? Will I be stubbing my toe all year?

The first person to walk through your door will bring you good or bad luck. This is tricky. Supposedly if it's a woman, you're going to have bad luck all year. If it's a man, you're going to have good luck. You are to let this man walk into every room of your house I guess to spread the luck or something. This is also the man that will break into your house later in the year when you're not home.

Do not take anything out of your house on New Year's day or you'll be taking things out the house all year. You mean if I take the garbage out today, I'll be...taking garbage out all year?! NOOOOOO!

Do not break anything on New Year's day or you'll be breaking things all year.  I tried to not break wind today but failed. What can I say? I'm a farter.

Do not spank your kids on New Year's day or you'll be spanking them all year. It's believed that it sets the tone for the year. Chances are you'll be spanking them again if you've spanked them before. Who's ever gotten just one spanking?

Open the front and back door of your house at Midnight. It's believed that one should let the old year out the front door and let the new year in the back door. I wouldn't advise this for people living in like, Minnesota or something like that. Just sayin'...it's cold.

I had no idea so many people were so warped in this way.  At first I thought these were more crazy things Black people did, but being superstitious on New Year's day is an across-the-board mentality.

Did you or someone you know partake in any of the traditions/superstitions? Tell me about it.

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RANDOM THOUGHTS: FORGET $2.00 GAS, HERE ARE 5 THINGS MICHELLE BACHMANN SHOULD BRING BACK

Okay, Michelle Bachmann tells a crowd in South Carolina that if she were president she would bring back $2.00 gas.  What the people of South Carolina probably don't know is that if gas were to be $2.00 again, then something would have to be terribly wrong somewhere.

It's no secret why she chose South Carolina to make this statement.  I mean, we all know about Ms. South Carolina and former Senatorial candidate, Alvin Greene, who was probably planted so there would be no revolution to televise down the road.

The point is, people from South Carolina (except @MahoganyDymond) are stupid.  Remember their ex-Governor who said he was hiking in the Appalachians but was really in Argentina with his mistress reporter chick on and around Father's Day?  Just checking.

Anyway, oil is a supply and demand product. Consumption would have to be lower for this to happen, and with no real plans for alternative fuel sources, this is highly unlikely.  Preaching the "drill baby drill" mantra won't help either.  Whatever amount of oil we gain by drilling will surely be offset by OPEC's decreasing of production in the Middle East.  Don't forget to factor in "inflation". Do you think $2.00 gas then will still be $2.00 today? We're looking at "$2.00 gas", so we should just enjoy it while it's not a lot more.

So what should Michelle bring back instead of $2.00 gas?

1. Yahoo 360 - 360 was my first real taste of social networking. It was the first site that allowed me to blog full-time, my first taste of dealing with html, and the first site to let people update their status.  it was called  "blasting". You "blast" your status across site to let others know how you're feeling.  If she brought 360 back, she's on the way to millions of votes.

2. The Riches - My favorite TV show that was cancelled due to the writers' strike of 2007-2008. It was just getting good too.  Michelle can pull that off, there's another group of people who would vote for her.

3.  Garbage Pail Kids - Come on, how could you not like Garbage Pail Kids?  Gotta have something to remind me of how sick I was as a youngin'.  Maybe I'm showing my age a bit.

4. Teen Summit - Oh man, do you remember Teen Summit? Check out Xscape before they got famous.  Of course, this was before 2003 when BET wasn't Viacom-controlled.  Teen Summit taught us respect and gave us solutions to common problems in the African-American Black community.  I loved B.E.T....those were the days.  Now B.E.T. gets NO airplay in my house, period.  I can't stand the programming and I find that people appear dumber after watching a single program than they were before they tuned in.

5. Girls who don't fart - I grew up knowing that girls and women don't fart...or poop.  I don't know what's happening now, but these chicks have evolved to a point where they've developed this ability to process gas.  I don't know, it's crazy. Nowadays they fart all over the place and poop all in the toilet, then expect you to love all on 'em.  *Kanye shrugs*

I know politicians make campaign promises, and I know people tend to forget them, but if Michelle brings these things back, I would shout from the mountaintop my love and support for her.



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QISAS: AN-EYE-FOR-AN-EYE... OR NOT; WOMAN BLINDED BY ACID PARDONS ATTACKER

Picture this... Someone does something so bad to you that you were severely scarred by it. Yet, you live in a society that, by law, would allow you to inflict an equally bad punishment upon them. If given the opportunity, would you?

Well, Ameneh Bahrami a 34 year-old Iranian woman from Tehran, found herself in this very position. In 2004 Bahrami's face was severely disfigured by a man who was angered that she refused his marriage proposal. Bahrami suffered horrific burns to her face, scalp and body and lost her sight when Majid Mobvahedi threw acid on her out of rage.

In Iran, victims and their families have a legal right to ask for a strict enforcement under Islamic law, where an attempt is made to reach a settlement. If no agreement is reached, then "Qisas", or eye-for-an-eye retribution is enforced. Under Iran's policy of "Qisas", convicted murderers can be sentenced to death or a convicted thief can have their hand amputated.

In November 2008, in the trial of Bahrami's attacker, the court ruled that the woman could have a doctor pour a few drops of acid into only one of his eyes as retribution. In a March 2009 radio interview in Spain where she traveled for treatment for her injuries, Bahrami said that she was happy with the sentence.

"I am not doing this out of revenge, but rather that the suffering I went through is not repeated," she said.

Well, this past Sunday Bahrami had a change of heart. Just as the doctor was about to put several drops of acid into one of Majid Movahedi's eyes, she asked the doctor to spare him, stating that she had forgiven him.

Although he has been pardoned, Bahrami's attacker will remain in jail until a court decides on an alternative punishment. He will also have to pay financial compensation as requested in the past by Bahrami... $200,000 dollars.

As I read this story, and then looked at Bahrami's before and after pictures, I wondered... Could I have been able to pardon someone who severely disfigured me for life? Or, could I forgive someone who has scarred me emotionally or in any other way, if I was given the chance for revenge?

Bahrami had a few years to pass after the initial assault and maybe she had time to think about things, so it was probably easy for her to pardon her assailant. She said, "It is best to pardon when you are in a position of power."

But what about you readers... If we lived in a society that allowed you to carry out the age old law of an 'eye-for-an-eye', would you? Or better yet, could you?



Deuces, Smooches...
Nena Grace

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WHAT REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS: UNFLUSHED POOP IN THE TOILET

You know what really grinds my gears? When people don't flush the toilet after they finish using it. I'm not talking about public bathrooms, I'm talking about residential here. Oh, and I'm way beyond being merely annoyed at seeing yellow water in the toilet when I use someone's bathroom. After being accused of not flushing during a social gathering at a total stranger's house, seeing an unflushed toilet brings out the worst in me. 


Recently, I went to an outdoor get-together at someone's house out in the woods with a cousin of mine here in Alabama. There were lots of people, lots of food, drink and music. I hate when primates get together They do it differently in the South, so I had to keep my eyes open. It was nice to know that despite being secluded, the people there had heard my music before, so that loosened me up. There was even a real-life Grandma there. Her feet shuffled when she walked and everything. It was awesome.


My hands were getting sticky from the food I was eating, so I asked the real-life Grandma if I could use the water hose to rinse off. She insisted I go inside the house and wash my hands in the bathroom. When I walked in the house, there were kids running around everywhere, and I noticed a couple of guys around my age playing a video game as I walked down the hall.  I walked into the huge bathroom .  The toilet was damn-near around the corner.  I washed my hands and then dried them.  I looked in the mirror.  I played with my phone.  I spent a nice little while in there.  Little did I know, there was a massive pile of poop in and on the side of the toilet.  


I obliviously left the bathroom as Video Game Player One passed me to go in. 


I walked back outside to where my cousin and the real-life Grandma were talking. Shortly after, kids started pouring out the house yelling, "ugggghhhhhh, boo-boo!", repeatedly. Since I didn't know who this "Boo-Boo" person was, I turned back to the conversation. The kids ran up and starting pointing at me saying that I boo-booed in the bathroom and didn't clean it up. Then Video Game Player One walked out telling everyone that I pooped all over the real-life Grandma's bathroom and didn't care enough to clean it up. I was crushed. I tried defending myself but it didn't work. A feeling of defeat came over me as I went from Mr. Chap, that guy who made that song about Walmart that people like so much, to Mr. Poopy McDoo-Doo: Bathroom Defamer.


I couldn't help feeling like I did the first day of Second grade when I pooped on myself and got found out. I was six years old, fresh out of Kindergarten. I had skipped First grade and I was at this new school around all these older people. Before I did it, I was afraid to ask to go to the bathroom. I don't know man, I just shat my pants. What do you want from me? I was six. Anyway, I made it through lunch and everything.  I made it through the second half of the day, even got on the bus to go home. Of course the bus smelled like s***, but I played it off. At least I tried to. Pretending to help, I fanned my own essence around. As long as they didn't say it was me, I was okay. We were just a couple of blocks from home when one of the neighborhood kids pointed at me and yelled, "it's him!"


That same feeling I had on that first day of Second grade was the feeling I had walking to the car.


Since then, it really grinds my gears when people don't flush or wipe the seat before they leave, so I look for violators. When I go to use someone's bathroom, I'm going straight to the toilet, and if there's anything other than clear water in there, I'm letting it be known. I'll never be done the way those people did me again.

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DO CHURCHES STRIP PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT THINKING AND COMMON SENSE?

It's no secret that the church is filled with corruption, lies, wild theories, misinformation and misrepresentation. And no matter where you go, there's that same core of people inside each building: lost souls who need someone to tell them anything.  I should know, I've been affiliated with enough of 'em: Apolstolic, Baptist, Church of God in Christ, and recently Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Apolstolics were...something. When I joined this one church of theirs, you know at the end of service where they say "if anyone wants to join..."? After I joined, these women took me to this back room. They told me that I wouldn't be saved and admitted to the collective until I spoke in tongues. Getting dipped in the water wasn't even necessary. So for hours I sat in this room with these chicks reciting over and over what sounded like "tie my bow tie" and "anaconda honda" really fast. Try it for a few seconds. You can imagine how stupid we sounded tying bow ties all through the night. Maybe they thought the engine would start if we gave it a little push. Faster and faster I repeated the utterings until I decided in my mind to fake it. Needless to say, I never returned.

The Baptists were flashy.  Big bands, big choirs, big everything. They were very Old Testament. The message was simple too: if you're good, you go to heaven. If you're bad, you go to hell. You didn't need to speak in tongues, but you needed to get in the water.

Church of God in Christ, or C.O.G.I.C. church members are the most stuck-up group of churchgoers I've come across to date. The one I belonged to seemed like a cult to me.  The only time the pastor was allowed to speak was on men's day, which was every 5th Sunday. These people were the type that looked down on those less fortunate and openly talked about each other during service. This was the first church I ever saw give W2s to people during tax season.

The Jehovah's Witnesses are a different breed. Of all the other denominations, I like these guys the best. They never ask you for a dime.  There's a small box by the door in their building. If you put something in, great. If not, you won't be made to feel bad or like a sinner. I pretty much like everything about the JWs. They spread the word in every country on Earth. No other group can say that. What I don't like is the number of falsely predicted doomsdays in the past under their belt. They believe that Jesus and Michael the Archangel are the same person. The logic or deduction that is used to prove this makes me feel like I'm being talked to like a fool or something.  The theory goes as follows: the bible mentions Michael leading an army of Angels. It also mentions Jesus leading an army of Angels. Since the bible only mentions one army, Jesus and Michael must be the same person.

The U.S. also has one army...

No matter what I've encountered while patronizing the aforementioned organizations, none of them compare to the members of the "Followers of Christ" church in Oregon. Followers of Christ has a history of children dying from untreated medical conditions. Their members and leadership use what is called "faith-based healing", and it excludes any medical treatment. Of 78 children buried in their church cemetery from 1955 to 1998, at least 21 could have been saved by medical intervention, according to a 1998 analysis by The Oregonian. None of the deaths resulted in prosecution.

Recently, Timothy and Rebecca Wyland was charged with first-degree criminal mistreatment of their 18-month old daughter, Alayna Wyland. She has a large growth over her eye, and may even go blind because of her parents religious beliefs. Alayna has hemangioma, a growth of blood vessels that is blocking her vision.



I just don't know. Some people lose their mind when it comes to the church and it's rules. I know some people who had money for bills and gave it to the church. When their utilities were cut off, they went to the church for help, but couldn't get any.  The one person I know that did get the money, had to pay it back.  People would rather give what they can't for fear of being ostracized.  As far as the members of "Followers of Christ" goes, where's the common sense?  Even the Amish use doctors.  And even though the JWs don't believe in blood transfusions, there are medical alternatives for that. There are no alternatives to avoiding medical care as a whole...well, except death.

Do you think religion has gotten out of hand? Have you heard of any strange religious beliefs or practices? Do you think the "Followers of Christ" church a cult?  Do you know of any cults?

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ROACHES - THE PINK ELEPHANT IN MY KOOLAID

When I was young I used to go across the street to my friends' house to play.  There were 3 boys and 3 girls over there, so I had different reasons for going each time.

The only thing I didn't like about their house was the roaches there. They had  lot of 'em too. I just kept my eyes peeled, and I knew how to shake off before I went into my house.

From my experience, I've seen people handle their roaches two ways: try to kill them fast and furiously while blaming it on the nearest neighbor, or totally ignore them, like they weren't there.  My friends did the latter. I wonder if people who have roaches at home discuss that in their family meetings. I wonder if people with roaches have family meetings. Their Moms had to have told my friends not to pay the roaches any attention around company.  Maybe she told them that people wouldn't notice the roaches if they didn't acknowledge them.  Their roaches crawled on the walls, lived in the VCR and liked to get extremely close to humans.  I never said anything about them, and no one ever appeared bothered when one would pop up.

One day I was over there in the boys' room playing Mike Tyson's Punch Out.  One of the sisters came in and asked me if I wanted some Kool-aid.  Normally I don't eat or drink anything from roach motels, but I was in the moment, and it was Sharkleberry Fin.  She came back a couple minutes later with my cup.  I inspected it thoroughly, but visions of roaches doing the Stanky Leg in these people's sugar container wouldn't let me drink any.

When I looked up from my inspection, she was standing there looking at me, I guess waiting for me to drink it.  I looked at my cup, looked at her, looked at my cup, then looked at the roach on the wall behind her - who was also waiting for me to drink.  I brought the cup toward my mouth then let it slip out of my hand onto the floor.  I couldn't do it, and good thing too: there was a roach in my cup.

Of course, no one mentioned the roach, just the fact that I wasted a perfectly good cup of Sharkleberry Fin.

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

What would do if you witnessed a man beating a woman like she was a man?  Oh sure, some of you might not think anything of it. Women have been fighting for equal everything from voting rights to being able to speak at the dinner table.  And nowadays, women  do talk a lot. Women have come a long way in society though, and have even blazed the job market trail in the recent years.

But still...

I couple of years ago, I went with a buddy of mine to see a lady "friend" of his for the first time. Living in the same small town, of course each one knew the other.  They just never crossed paths.  Facebook brought them together as "friends", so this was "the first meet".  We sat around for about an hour, watching TV, listening to the radio and talking - you know, black people stuff.  I remember during that time my buddy jokingly (but probably seriously) asking if her man was gonna bust in and kill everybody.  She replied, "I don't go with him anymore".  For some reason, I didn't find her choice of words troubling at all. Maybe if was the fact that everyone in this town knows each other, and the probability of a triple-homicide/suicide with no note was slim to none.

When it was time to go, I got up and went to the car, giving them a couple minutes of goodbye time inside.  A few minutes later they were standing by the car, talking.  Look, I don't know where this dude came from, but it was as if he materialized out of thin air, right on the scene.  He grabbed her by the throat and asked her what she was doing. The next thing I know, he's punching her like a professional.  He climbed on top of her and punched repeatedly.  We yelled and ran toward him.  He pulled his out gun and told us to stay out of it - that it didn't have anything to do with us.  Were we willing to die for the person who said she didn't have a boyfriend, who decided to have company, to spite him? What were we to do?  No one wanted the cops involved - this is a small town with small-town cops.  We all would've gone to jail that day, and everyone silently understood that very thing.  I told myself to never get involved in anyone's business again.

  After the incident my buddy and I went to the McDonald's parking lot to gather our thoughts.  I don't know what it is about Micky D's, but it's like the "base" in the game of tag we call life.  Maybe it's because Micky D's is one of the places we could feel safe after dark, for real. Anyway, we saw her about an hour later.  Fate happened to put us in the same spot. She pulled right up next to us.  We saw that she was lumped up pretty badly when she stuck her head in the car window.  She apologized to us and said they squashed their business.  She told us to hit her up on Facebook some time.  I haven't seen her since.

The other day I watched ABC's "What would you do".  It's a hidden camera show where actors portray various scenes to see what the people around them would do.  There was a scene where this teenage couple was in the park.  The guy was grabbing on the girl and yelling at her really loud.  They wanted to see how many people would stop and come to the girl's aid.



Although some people stopped, the majority of them kept going.  The ones who did stop were vigilant, not caring if the guy have a gun or knife.  They were going to make sure the young lady was safe and got away.

I admire that in them, but after the incident I witnessed, I would've been one of the ones walking by.  I might've stared a little, but I would walked away.

What about you? What if you witnessed my situation? What about the one in the park? Would you intervene or would you stand down?

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END OF WORLD PROPHECIES MAKE WOMAN CUT KIDS' THROATS AND WRISTS, SELF

The latest doomsayers have caused a lot of trouble with their end of the world predictions.  Because of them, there are stories about the people who stopped saving college tuition for their kids. There's the family that threw away all their food and possessions.  To top it off, there's this woman who tried to kill herself and her kids, so they wouldn't have to "suffer through the tribulation".

With the events of the world happening, 47-year-old Lyn Benedetto was convinced enough to buy into the latest predictions.  Enough to take a box cutter and paring knife, slice the necks and wrists of her daughters (11,14), then her own.  She then drove them to a house she knew would be empty.  She and the girls huddled up in the garage to die, but the owner of the house came home early and unexpected.  He called for help.  Benedetto is in jail on a $1 million bond.



I can't believe her daughters sat there and allowed their Mom to cut on them with two different knives. I also find it hard to believe that they willingly rode to someone's house and just lied there in the garage to die.  What about the protesting, screaming or pleading for their Mom to stop cutting on them?  An 11 and 14-year old should be old enough to fight off a "religious sacrifice".

Doomsday theories make people say and do the darndest things. For years, people have predicted the end of the world and failed.  It seems that everyone has gotten into the predicting business at least once. The Jehovah's Witnesses predicted the end several times.  On doomsday eve, Sherri Shephard of The View recalled the "JW prediction of 1975" in which she spent all of her money and ran up her credit cards.  Sherri Shephard would've also been 8 years old, thus making her a liar on TV.  Maybe she thought the world would end Saturday and no one would be able to recall what she said.  She got an earful from fans of The View over the weekend. 


Anyway...


What's strange to me is that no one labels these guys as crazy old people.  It's seems like it's almost fun to see someone's religious beliefs shot down.  

Look at this guy.  This is Robert Fitzpatrick.  He's the retired MTA worker who spend $150,000 advertising the end of the world..  This is him realizing that there would be no apocalyspe at 6PM.  Let's take a look at what he has with him:

1. His bible. Okay I see that.  I don't know which brand, but I'm assuming it's the one that helped him with his calculations.

2. Manbag. Duh, gotta have the manbag.  It carries stuff.  Like getaway plans and a computer.

3. Safari jacket. What do you wear when you're going on the adventure of a lifetime?  A khaki-color jacket with lots of big pockets.  It also holds stuff.  Cell phone, Sunglasses, suntan lotion, sunflower seeds. You know, things one would need to survive on an island.

I know there'll be more stories to come.  There are a lot of people who couldn't wait for the world to end.  There are also a lot of people in need of a spiritual leader, and would love to be a follower of the one who's actually right.

Did you think the end was upon us?  Did you hope the end was upon us?  We'll talking about this again in 2012, do you believe the end will occur then?

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GIRL WHO REPORTED STUDENTS HAVING SEX ON SCHOOL BUS PUNISHED

Picture this...two Ohio students having sex on a school bus during a field trip. Another student sees whats happening and reports it. Guess who gets into trouble? If you guessed the reporter, you are correct.

This story comes to us from Dayton, OH where students from the Dayton View Academy were headed on a field trip to tour out-of-state colleges in April. A 14-year-old girl shared a seat with another female student on the bus, but exchanged seats with a boy who wanted to sit with the other female. After the seat exchange, the 14-year-old noticed the two students having sex. She says she was afraid to tell school officials for fear the boy would retaliate, so when she got home she told her mother. Her mother told school officials and they said that they would investigate.

Apparently, after the investigation, school officials informed the girls mother that her daughter would not be allowed to attend the eighth-grade prom or the upcoming class picnic, but that she could graduate with her class.

Well, needless to say, the mother is furious.

"They punished my daughter- who did the right thing by telling what she saw - but did nothing to the eight chaperones who were sitting in the front of the bus watching a movie at the time and should have been watching the kids. If they are not doing anything to the chaperones, how can they punish my daughter?"

The mother feels that the actions taken sends her daughter the message that she shouldn't have said anything. Understandably, her daughter was very upset over the schools decision because she had been looking forward to the prom all year long. The dress her daughter was going to wear will be giving to a kid in her church.

According to the school, the girl was punished for not reporting the incident to the chaperones when it occurred. The two students who had sex on the bus were both suspended, but school officials would not say what- if any- further disciplinary action they might face. At the time of this news report, the mother was keeping her daughter out of school and looking into home schooling her for the remainder of the year. She had also contacted a lawyer and will ask the school to revoke her daughters punishment.

I have a few questions regarding this story...

1. If the girl was punished for not telling at the time the incident occurred, why weren't the other students? I'm sure someone else saw these two students getting bus in the back of the bus and none of them said anything.

2. Why were the chaperones all in the front of the bus watching a movie? I've been on a class trip before and I know what goes on the back of those buses. I think the chaperones should've been placed strategically throughout the bus and doing their jobs.

3. Does this send the wrong message to students not to say anything when they see something happening that shouldn't be? I mean hey, we hear a lot of stories about teenage girls becoming pregnant, some of us even know a few personally. What if it were our own child... Wouldn't we want to know?

4. Was the girl's punishment given by the school too extreme? Personally, I think it was. She expressed that she was afraid of the boy retaliating, should anyone wonder why she was afraid of him? I'm not sure if the children had assigned seats on the bus or not. As children, we had assigned seats on field trips, and in the schools here the children have assigned seats on the buses so the teachers and chaperones can easily keep up with them. If this were the case, maybe she didn't say "no" to him when he asked to swap seats because she was afraid of him. I'm not trying to make the kid out to be a 'bad guy' because obviously, I don't know any of these people. I'm just saying...you've gotta look at this thing from all angles.

What do you think readers? If you were the school officials, how would you have handled this situation? If this were your child, what would you do?



Deuce, Smooches...
Nena Grace

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IS NYPD'S "OPERATION LUCKY BAG" A FORM OF ENTRAPMENT?

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines the word entrapment as the action of luring an individual into committing a crime in order to prosecute them for it. Knowing this, what is called when a person not only isn't given a chance to commit a crime, but is arrested anyway? This appears to be the case with the NYPD's "Operation Lucky Bag". Operation Lucky Bag is a sting where police leave a bag oozing with money and electronics such as an iPad unattended. As soon as someone touches the bag, police rush in and make an arrest, charging the violator with petty larceny.

Grace Meng, an Assemblywoman (Representative), introduced a bill to ban the sting after being flooded with calls from her residents in Flushing. "This practice by the NYPD discourages people from seeing something and saying something. It also discourages people from being good Samaritans", she said.

In January, a pastor picked up one the "bait bags" only to be pounced upon by the NYPD and taken to jail. He said he was on the way to turn the bag in. I'm not saying he was telling the truth because he's a pastor. In fact, EVERY pastor I know personally shouldn't hold that title. My point is, there's a time limit for people who find things to turn it in or return it to the owner. Attorney Norman Siegal agrees. "People who are arrested through Operation Lucky Bag should pursue a lawsuit for false arrest. Anyone who finds lost property has 10 days to return it to the owner, so that makes the sting illegal. The program is unjust, and should be discontinued".

David Hawkins makes the sting worth it. He was at an ATM at an HSBC in Flushing when he noticed the bait bag with money oozing out of it. He grabbed the bag and walked out. He was immediately arrested by the police and charged with petty larceny. He pleaded guilty.  I'm not sure what his intentions were, but he admitted guilt. Maybe he was scared or pressured into doing so, but score one for the NYPD.

What do you think? Do you think this sting makes good Samaritans look like criminals? Do you think this is a violation of civil liberties?  What would you do if you found a bag of money?

You can read the story courtesy of New York Daily News

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DOES TLC'S EXTREME COUPONING PROMOTE HOARDING, COUPON FRAUD?

TLC's new show Extreme Couponing has got to be the best reality show I've seen to date. It's about people who religiously use coupons when they go grocery shopping. Never have I watched a show that was able to elicit so many different emotions back to back while I remained thoroughly entertained. I saw a guy grab over $1000 worth of items and ended up paying nothing. I was blown away.

The "extreme couponers" keep binders full of coupons neatly sorted, and without embarrassment take them to pay for their groceries. The secret to not coming out of your wallet or purse is the amount of coupons you have. You can't just do it off of one Sunday newspaper worth of coupons. You need lots and lots of coupons. I saw one lady steal newspapers from her neighbors and dumpster-dive for thrown-out Sunday papers. Another lady printed coupons from the internet. These people are serious to the bone about this. Each shopper has a different method, but the objective is the same: To pay as close to nothing as possible.

After being hooked off watching one episode, I decided to immediately show my cousin who is my fellow movie/tv show critic. I invite you to watch also.  If you click the play button, you'll want to watch all of it.



We were halfway through an episode when he said, "now wait a minute, Cuz. They can't do that can they? Is that legal? Isn't that fraud?"

I wondered the same thing, but apparently not. These people had stacks on stacks on stacks of coupons accumulated from all the sales papers they picked up. They were using the same coupons from different papers. It was currency to them. 10/$.50 off coupons on a 4.99 item means the store owes them a penny back.  I guess no one ever technically said  to me that paying for your groceries entirely in coupons was illegal or morally wrong, but it sure feels that way. This is the perfect example of something being so good, it's got to be bad.

We're watching a little more and they're showing the homes of these people. Whole rooms consumed with groceries. Whole garages were filled. Living rooms, kid's room...full of stuff. This one lady and her husband lived in a 2-bedroom apartment with mounds of items stacked everywhere. My Cousin said "those people are hoarders".

Hearing him say that snapped me out of the trance I was in.  I never thought of them as hoarders.

The Budget Saavy Diva recently wrote an excellent article about this show. She accuses TLC of televising coupon fraud, promoting hoarding, and research of several of the shoppers profiled revealed some interesting things.

In the house I grew up in, there was a storage room in the basement. Whenever my Pop went to the grocery store, he always bought something for the room. We had cases of soda, cases of can goods, cases of Ramen noodles and anything else you could store for long periods of time. We also had a couple of deep freezers where we stockpiled meat and other frozen goods. My Pop always said we should always have something stored away for a rainy day - that anything could happen.

Of all the episodes aired, only one person donated all of their groceries to charity all the time. That was the man mentioned at the beginning. Everyone else seemed to treat it like a game or challenge; to see how much they can get for free. They bragged about their operation, how they accumulate items they don't even need like cat food and items for babies. They all starting couponing to save money, but once it got under way, it became an obsession. In a way, they're abusing the game and may cause Congress to get together about it. Then again, no they're not and maybe it's not "Congressworthy". It's not like the grocery industry is losing out on money. The grocery stores get paid regardless of how we pay for food. Maybe we're the dumb ones for not using coupons. Extreme Couponing airs on Wednesday nights on TLC.

Do you clip? Do you know any extreme couponers? Do you think these people could be labeled as hoarders? Do you think they're committing fraud?

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SIGN LANGUAGE MISCOMMUNICATION LEAVES TWO DEAF MEN STABBED AT BAR

For some people, gang life is all they know. Even if they're all grown up and no longer affiliated with gangs, the mentality is still there.  Years of running from the police, fighting, shooting and robbing people can really put a damper on someone's social life.  I've seen guys on Lockup talk about how the life consumed them, and it's pretty sad.

The same goes for this guy I met recently from L.A.  He had to be over 40 years old, he wore all red and said he despised everything blue.  His conversation was limited to talking about watching Crips who might want to kill him. He was living in paranoia, and his head stayed on a swivel.  Even though he was in no danger whatsoever.

It's even worse when women do it though.

45-year-old Barbara Lee became irate at the Ocean's 11 lounge in Hallandale Beach, Florida when she thought 31-year-old Alfred Stewart and his guest - both of whom are hearing-impaired, were throwing gang signs at her.  When she went over to them, they motioned for her to leave them alone.  She did them one better by leaving the bar, only to return with 19-year-old Marco Ibanez and another unnamed underage person.  In the commotion that ensued, Ibanez allegedly stabbed Stewart and the other person and the bouncer was hit in the head with a bottle.  Stewart and three others including the bouncer are at a local hospital recovering.



How drunk or full of yourself must you be to think a table full of hearing-impaired people are throwing gang signs at you?  Obviously they were signing the whole time they were there, and she should've paid more attention before running up on them.  She must have jumped right up the moment she looked in their direction and saw them communicating.  It's strange that she's 45 years old, and leaves to get a couple of people who shouldn't have been allowed in the bar in the first place.  It's true what they say about wisdom not coming with age.

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MAN SHOOTS TEENAGER FOR NOT GIVING UP HER LAST CIGARETTE

Cigarettes make people do crazy things sometimes. I've seen people pay up to a dollar for a single one.  I once saw a guy change a set of brake pads for a pack. I saw two people scrap to get to a butt (with no white left) that was thrown on the ground. I even saw a young lady become someone's indentured servant for the night as payment for smoking off someone's pack throughout the day.

Not having a cigarette or not being able to buy them affects people differently. Some people eat to distract their brain from the urges while some people drink lots of fluids. I know a guy who takes butts out of an ashtray and rolls the tobacco in a small piece of brown paper bag when he's out. I've seen people get cranky, throw a mini-tantrum, pout, cry, and even steal when they were without a cigarette.  But the one thing I've never seen or heard of is someone shooting a person because they wouldn't give them one, let alone their last one.

Pittsburgh police say a 32-year-old man shot a teenage girl in the knee after she refused to lend him her last cigarette.  Lamarr Marshall remained in the Allegheny County Jail Wednesday on aggravated assault and weapons possession charges.  Police didn’t identify the 16-year-old victim but say Marshall encountered the girl in the city’s crime-ridden Homewood neighborhood about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police say a witness saw Marshall shoot the victim, who police interviewed at a hospital. She’s expected to fully recover.  Lt. Dan Herrmann tells WTAE-TV that said Marshall became angry and argued with the victim because she refused to lend him a cigarette, because it was her last one.  Marshall has a criminal record for robbery and other offenses, and was also charged with illegally possessing a weapon because he’s a felon. -source

He shot her because she wouldn't give up her last cigarette.  It used to be an unspoken rule to understand when someone said they only had one.

Whatever happened to smoking your own cigarettes?  Within the last 6 years, I've been hearing this phrase being thrown around - let me catch the short or short me up.  In case you don't know, let me catch the short means when you get low on the cigarette you're smoking, let me finish the rest.  Before then, I'd never shared a cigarette with a guy.  I've passed it for a drag or two, but it was always ladies only.  I'd just never known of a man putting his lips on the same cigarette as another man. 

Up until about last year, letting people catch the short was tolerated.  Then around here, it seemed like people stopped buying cigarettes.  That amounted to more cigarettes being smoked at a faster pace for me.  Once upon a time I was a pack-a-day smoker and I wasn't even smoking that many.  I was smoking half-cigarettes all the time, rationing out the short based on who got it last and who hadn't gotten one yet.

Guys have gotten creative with getting people's cigarettes too.  They'll know that they're not "whole cigarette material", but will ask for one anyway, knowing they would get offered the short instead.  When you pull out a cigarette, they'll offer their lighter in hopes that since they did the good deed of providing a light, they'll get offered the short.  Or they'll wait until you smoke your cigarette all the way down before they ask for the short in hopes you would just give them a fresh one. 

With cigarette prices on the rise and people having no shame asking you for one or its short,  people aren't into sharing anymore like that.  Especially their last one.  That young lady had every right to deny Lamarr a cigarette.  Even if she had a whole pack, she still should have been able to tell him no without worrying about getting shot.

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