99ers CAN Make a Difference Here’s HOW...

99ers can make a difference, and according to 99ers.net - here’s HOW:

Today I stumbled across a website called 99ers.net and noticed a good idea posted there on how we can possibly move the 14 week extension bill (HR 589) out of committee limbo and get moving on the path to making this law now.

Believing that one person CAN make a difference, I have updated information on how each of us can work to help Congresswoman Lee achieve a 14 week extension, to Tier I, that will give at least some relief to all 99ers.

Her bill to add these 14 weeks is on hold in the Ways and Means Committee.

I am getting very tired of hearing “The Republicans aren’t doing this, the Democrats aren’t do that” We are none of the above…..just AMERICANS!

This bill #HR589 is critical to millions of Americans in need of any kind of financial help, whether it’s to pay a utility bill, a mortgage payment to help avoid foreclosure, food for the table, gas in a car or countless other needs. With the billions of dollars being spent on foreign aid and targeted pet projects; HELPING AMERICANS should be a number ONE priority with our Congress/Senate. With all the mismanagement of funds over the years, in both houses, this is One expense that should be approved, by everyone of our Employees…

The US House of Representatives, the US Senate and the White House!!!

I’m calling on everyone to help Congresswoman Lee; it won’t take much of your time, but it will take a little effort.

Contact every Member on the House Ways and Means Committee, Democrat and Republican. Below is a list of committee member names/numbers. Let your voice be heard direct to the 1st line of battle
.
The main number for this committee office: 202-225-3625

Then, contact Speaker John Boehner; 202-225-6205 and ask that bill HR589 be brought to the House floor for an approval vote and ask him to stand behind this bill and vote yes.

Why should he vote yes with all the other pressing issues in play? Just as we need a balanced budget for our future, we need immediate help for our countrymen, NOW.

The future is important, but the path to get there is NOT TO LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND. America is the first to be called when a foreign country or a local community is in trouble. The 99ers are in trouble and calling on America for help! If they need a reason to send in the financial troops-here it is:

This is a Nation Wide epidemic; affecting every community, town, business, city and state. It was created by bad government choices in spending our money. If the auto industry, banks & wall street can be saved with Billions of Americans hard earned money-TARP, and are now showing profits, then it’s time Congress use that return on their “investment” - To reinvest in Americans!

Since the government hasn’t been able to help increase jobs at the same pace they helped loose them, then it’s their responsibility to offer this temporary help that’s desperately needed. It’s painfully obvious that job creation is going to take a very long time, but this small amount of help can go a long way to raise the spirits of so many in need, that continue their search for a new line of work.

These are the members of the House Ways and Means committee represented by both Democrats and Republicans…Americans; it’s best to call the Washington DC offices; you get more help and reaction there; so start calling; there’s no time to waste:

Committee Chairman
Dave Camp (MI) 202-225-3561

MEMBERS:
Wally Herger, CA 202-225-3026
Sam Johnson, TX 202-225-4201
Kevin Brady, TX 202-225-4901
Paul Ryan, WI 202-225-3031
Devin Nunes, CA 202-225-2523
Pat Tiberi, OK 202-225-5355
Geoff Davis, KY 202-225-3465
Dave G. Reichert, WA 202-225-7761
Charles Boustany, LA 202-225-2031
Dean Heller, NV 202-225-6155
Peter J. Roskam, IL 202-225-4561
Jim Gerlach, PA 202-225-4315
Tom Price, GA 202-225-4501
Vern Buchanan, FL 202-225-5015
Adrian Smith, NE 202-225-6435
Aaron Schock, IL 202-225-6201
Lynn Jenkins, KS 202-225-6601
Erik Paulsen, MN 202-225-2871
Rick Berg, ND 202-225-2611
Diane Black, TN 202-225-4231
Sander Levin, MI 202-225-4961
F. Pete Stark, CA 202-225-5065
Jim McDermott, WA 202-225-3106
John Lewis, GA 202-225-3801
Richard E. Neal, MA 202-225-5601
Xavier Becerra, CA 202-225-6235
Lloyd Doggett, TX 202-225-4865
Mike Thompson, CA 202-225-3311
John B. Larson, CT 202-225-2265
Earl Blumenauer, OR 202-225-4811
Ron Kind, WI 202-225-5506
Bill Pascrell, Jr., NJ 202-225-5751
Shelley Berkley, NV 202-225-5965
Joseph Crowley, NY 202-225-3965

***************************************
HERE’S THE LINK TO THE BILL #HR589
***************************************

I will be making my calls first thing tomorrow morning. How about you?

[The donation button below is for Paladinette. If you like what I write please donate so I can keep on fighting for the 99ers! Thank You!]

NY Times #NYTimesNews Paywall Slammed On Twitter: Social Media Idiocy

The New York Times obviously didn't think twice about purchasing the hastag #NYTimesNews on Twitter, and in the process showed a new, high level of Social Media idiocy. As of this writing the vast majority of Twitter tweets are in protest of the New York Times plan for an online digital subscription process, with many tweets explaining that once the free 20 articles offered is done, that's it.

No paywall money for the New York Times.

But what gets this blogger is why the NY Times would be stupid enough to use Twitter for such an announcement? Buying that hashtag, thus insuring top Twitter Trend placement, was a direct route to criticism and hammering on Twitter. It's like PR suicide: the Times of New York serving itself up for lunch, to be eaten over and over again.

Yuck.

Check out some of these Twitter tweets:

Phitter Japhet
Interesting how #NYTimesNews has triggered larger discussion about value of journalism instead of attracting new subscribers. #CartB4Horse
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Paul_Conrad Paul Conrad
My suggestion to #NYTimesNews, don't punish your loyal readers with a subscription fee when you're giving your stuff to Facebook for free.
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

jbrianhouston J Brian Houston
NYTimes porous paywall: Won't generate much $, so maybe just a "we must be paid" statement? http://bit.ly/hOMpbd #NYTimesNews

hirshsandesara hirshsandesara
@brianschwab time to become intimately familiar with the @newsobserver. This blows. #NYTimesNews
3 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

jerseyblueboy Karim Walker
#NYTimesNews will lose a lot of long time readers because of this new subscription plan.
4 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Esotericus J. Leif Johnson
$15 is too much for #NYTimesNews when you can get news for free elsewhere. Five dollars is reasonable, but not $15.
5 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Yes, $15 is a price per month that gives a number of people pause. That's a week's bus ride money for a lot of people. To charge that much is sheer arrogance, not to mention complete stupidity. (Of course, the two tend to go together.)

In "A Letter to Our Readers About Digital Subscriptions," issued on this St. Patrick's Day, and leading this blogger to wonder how much drink was already consumed at the New York Times, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr., the NY Times Publisher (and hater of this blogger's constant jabs at his new media efforts and particularly his fear of Google - word travels) writes:

This change comes in two stages. Today, we are rolling out digital subscriptions to our readers in Canada, which will enable us to fine-tune the customer experience before our global launch. On March 28, we will begin offering digital subscriptions in the United States and the rest of the world.

HA! Dump it on Canada first! Nice. I'm sure the Canadians will appreciate being used in such a direct way. So, if the paywall doesn't work, look for Mr. Sulzberger to blame Canada!

Really, he should blame himself.  Whatever online good press the NY Times could have gotten was dashed by thousands of Twitterers, nastily tweeting about its paywall effort.

I'm reminded of my conversation with Salon's Scott Rosenberg, where he explains that journalists are just trying to pay the rent or mortgage.   I know, but this paywall isn't the way to go about it.

Follow Zennie62 on Twitter for re-tweets on this.

Happy St. Patrick's Day: Corned Beef and Cabbage In Oakland

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone, and it's a lovely one at that in Oakland and in San Francisco. Which should make it all the more easier to enjoy the festivities. And before I mention them, please remember that everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, even us black guys, so have a heart!

Speaking of heart, get down to the Oakland's City Center in the heart of Downtown Oakland between 12 noon and 1 PM for a special performance by Driving with Fergus. And it's certain Max's City Center will have some special St. Patrick's Day menu (and if they don't, they've really fallen off the way!), so check them out.

Also visit Crogan's Montclair in the Oakland Hills for a great time. It's at the corner of Mountain and LaSalle in the Montclair District. Crogan's has a great kitchen and a good version of Corned Beef and Cabbage!

In the evening, The Alley, at 3325 Grand Avenue, is all done up for St. Patrick's Day. While they don't have a special menu, there are a lot of four leaf clovers around as decoration.

There's also the "St. Patrick’s Day Rockridge Walk n’ Drink Oakland," where you are asked to "Meet at McNally’s at 6pm. Walk up Manilla Ave to stairways around Margarido Dr. Return to McNally’s around 7pm. Drink."

They don't tell you where McNally's Irish Pub is, so I'll help: it's at 5352 College Avenue.

With that, Happy St. Patty's Day, follow Zennie62 on Twitter, and watch for tweets of photos!

Congress Says “99ers are NOT an Emergency” - But Defunding NPR is?

Congress says “99ers are NOT an Emergency” but apparently defunding NPR is?

House Republicans escalated their war against National Public Radio, calling an "emergency" meeting Wednesday to consider a bill that would strip the organization of federal funds.

NPR, which operates 797 radio stations across the country, gets less than 2% of its annual budget directly from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which receives more than $400 million a year from Congress. But the CPB also gives money directly to NPR member stations, which proponents of the organization fear could be shut down without public funding.

According to a spokeswoman for Lamborn, Catherine Mortensen, the new standalone bill would only target NPR. And unlike the CR amendment would have defunded public broadcasting through the 2011 fiscal year, HR 1076 would permanently prohibit all federal funding to NPR and affiliate stations.

The House already passed a similar bill to defund both NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service through September, but the Senate defeated it.
The latest bill, spearheaded by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), is not likely to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

House GOPers scheduled their “Emergency Meeting” to cut the miniscule amount of federal funding to NPR - yet Congress has allowed jobless 99ers to languish without any source of income for over a year now.

UI benefits accounted for 100% of the necessary income to survive for millions of UI exhaustees called “99ers” but it would seem that 2% of NPR funding is far more important to the FAT CAT Republicans and obviously Democrats as well.

This is the sort of CRAP that Congress gives “EMERGENCY” status to? I cannot believe that every American with a brain is not hounding Speaker Boehner with calls and emails demanding he get off of his ugly orange, golf playing, lazy butt and get to the business of the American people - NOW.

EMAIL: speakerboehner@mail.house.gov
Tweet Him: @speakerboehner

CALL SPEAKER BOEHNER TODAY and let him know that survival of 99ers/UI exhaustees is an EMERGENCY - defunding NPR is NOT! His West Chester OH office number is

513-779-5400, and his DC office number is 202- 225-6205.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

[The donation button below is for Paladinette. If you like what I write please donate so I can keep on fighting for the 99ers! Thank You!]

No Leprechauns Need Apply

On St. Patrick's Day it's tempting to lecture about stereotypes, discrimination, and the scorn that greeted Irish immigrants to North America, including how the Ku Klux Klan, in particular, reacted with violent prejudice, since there are now more people of Irish ancestry living in the U.S.A. than on the Emerald Isle. But the legend of driving the snakes from Ireland is a metaphor for conquering our fears.

It isn't about green beer and shots of Jameson's; the celebration of Saint Patrick's Day is about embracing those we meet - finding and recognizing our similarities instead of dwelling upon the differences.

When my grandfather's grandfather made the epic journey from Ireland in the 1860s to settle in Adrian, Michigan and establish a cobbler's shop, he had no idea his descendants would be able to watch events unfolding some day in places as exotic and "remote" as Cairo, Haiti, Japan, or even New Orleans or Madison as though we were all right there let alone use cell phones to text financial support. But he'd have loved the idea of helping those in need, of standing with workers fighting for their rights, and walking like an Egyptian.

Because culturally the Irish are inclined to see us all as one family. Irish-Americans are glad to see the wearing of the Green, today, even among those who can't spell Leprechaun and never eat potatoes. We're clear on why some Scots and Brits select other colors, and that's just fine, too - we'll still be toasting and singing and embracing all who can, even for one day, see a bit of something different as part of themselves, and a bit of themselves in the goodwill of Irish blessings and humor.

Join me - we can always make room for one more at the table because it's easy to stretch the stew with potatoes to serve another new member of the family. Guinness optional.

Thomas Hayes is a Irish-American Entrepreneur-Journalist, and former Congressional Campaign Manager; he's a communications strategist-consultant, photo-videographer, computer-geek, hyphenated-scoundrel, and union-supporter who writes on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

You can follow Tom as @kabiu on twitter. Tweet

Being The Only Black Guy In The Room Sucks

I was at an event last night that was a lot of fun, save for one fact: for much of it, I was the only black guy in the room.

Now, I'm not going to name the event, only say that it was for a good cause. But after one conversation, with a sister (a black woman, for those of you who don't know what I mean), that went a little off, but that was quickly replaced by three cool women, one of them also a sister who was really just "normal," I happened to take stock of my surroundings.

No brothers - no black guys.

OK. Now, I have to explain what happened with that first conversation with the first sister (not to be confused with Michelle Obama, who I'm sure would be more pleasant to talk with.) I simply went over to introduce myself, but talking with her felt icky. Like wading through a classist mine field thrown up by someone who seemed bent on implying you didn't belong in her World.

You see, she sells a very expensive item that, if I mentioned it, would give away her. That's not my intent here at all. And my objective at that point was to introduce myself, as one does at parties, and because we knew the same people. But I realized, as we were talking that had I took my leave of her, she would have been standing there by herself. So, I tried to at least have a conversation with her so she would not feel left alone. Mistake? No. Regardless of the outcome, I'd do it again; it's just the right thing to do.

At any rate, her desire to issue her little put downs was so intense I had to finally break through it. I know she's having a hard time selling this thing because she implied as such, but I didn't say so at all. But after being peppered with comments about how many rich people are "out there" and that they "can afford it," and her constant looking around, and not in my eyes in response to my questions about the economy and with respect to the economic climate five years before, I'd had enough with the bullshit and peppering, and just said "Can we talk? I am a human being."

That did break through the ice, and there was a lot of it, but it revealed someone who has obvious issues with black guys that no conversation with me could ever cure. The bottom line is to assume a person's not in your social space because they are black and male is off-putting. To have it done to you by someone who's black is more hurtful.

Fortunately, I was saved when the more well-adjusted sister asked me if I would buy a raffle ticket. I saw an opening for a more pleasant conversation, and took it faster than you could say "Run!"

That was when I looked around.

Groups and groups of white people, mostly women. The female part was cool; I'm used to that. But after a while on this earth, you can't help but wonder (and I know this is something that goes through the head of every black guy in this situation), do they have any black friends?

Now, the people were nice and willing to talk, once the cocktails flowed. And being a video-blogger is a great way to start a conversation with anyone, especially if you want to get them on camcorder for an interview. But absent that, you have the man who comes up and is stupid enough to mistake you for the help.

There was a black guy holding a sign that pointed the way to the party. He was never in the room afterward. Later, as I was talking with a good friend I'd not seen in a while, this guy came up, didn't bother to say "excuse me," and just asked "Are you the person who helped me up here."

Now, that black guy and I not only don't look alike, he had on a white shirt and red tie; I'm dressed entirely in black, from neck to feet. Plus, I'm at the business of chatting and swigging a martini, so you'd think he'd at least act like a gentleman, let alone get a clue that I wasn't the help. All that went through my head in two seconds, and I answered "No," and returned to my conversation.

Eventually, he realized he really screwed up in the manners department, and we wound up having a brief conversation about camcorders. But for me, it was just to rid myself of the annoyance.

Whatever's going on in the Bay Area, the declining black population is part due to the passing of families, as it is lack of economic opportunities. But also, I think, it's social. We're too used to seeing clumps of white people together, so we think it's OK. Really, it's not OK.

It's not healthy for anyone to have friends and associations all of the same skin color. And I think what happens in The Bay Area, and for anyone who's a black guy and runs in circles where they wind up being the only black guy in the room, is the desire for a more welcoming society eventually pulls them away to another city.

I think that's why black population numbers have increased in the South. It's more than jobs. In the South, my view is that whites and blacks have gotten over a lot of crap and just move in the same circles. Interracial relationships are far more common in metro areas. In that way, the society, at least to this outsider, seems more advanced than in the Bay Area. If a person has a "race issue" in the South, at least you know that, and can avoid the nutcase. In the Bay Area, that's much harder to do.

Here, whites who have race issues don't act that way, they just shield themselves with other white people they call friends, and satisfy themselves with the idea that as long as someone black walks by them, they're in a diverse community. That's the biggest joke of all.

It's too much effort for black guys to have to battle someone's race issues by being friendly and absorbing a person's issues. In the Bay Area, it's all so subtle that it kind of builds and sneaks up on you. From people mistaking you for "the help," either accidentally, or - as it happened to me at The Balboa Cafe recently - intentionally. (And in that instance, I openly told the person, who I was already familiar with, to knock it off, as she was being a jerk-off and not in a pleasurable way.) To how some white people don't even bother to say "hello" to you first, because they expect you to make the first move all the time.

If you're black and male in The Bay Area, and reading this, try it sometime. Instead of being the guy who makes the first move in a greeting, try saying nothing and see if the same people approach you first. More often than not, they won't. I've seen this for years here. I call it the racial pecking order and I've seen it play out again and again: my experience is if you're white, someone else white isn't as likely to treat you that way. They will seek your company.

And that, for whatever weird reasons that boil down to racism, is why there were clumps and clumps of groups of white people. For all of those clumps, I'll bet there's a story of someone who knows a black guy, but just treats them as window dressing: someone they see but don't let in to their social circle.

For me, in large part because of my objective of calling out such behavior, I have a set of friends who are white, who just don't act like that. In fact, that's why I was at the party: they invited me.

Eventually, though, I wasn't the only black guy in the room. Our ranks increased by two - making it three black guys out of 200 people. One of the brothers I already knew; he puts himself out there socially, friendly to all, and to the point of grabbing someone away from a conversation in a fashion I'd never copy. He's done it again, and again. And with all that, he showed up alone, as the party was winding down.

The other man was the head of the organization. Smooth, cool, but apprehensive, too (and I think it was because he was concerned with the event itself, which went well, I think). In a way, he the best example of what I'm blogging about. So used to being in mostly white social circles, and mostly because of education (Hey, going to college at a big university and gaining great friends of different backgrounds can prep you for these situations), that he rose to become the boss of a large local Bay Area company.

For some of the whites in the room, his assent was perfect, but it's got to be lonely for him. I know it is. They get to maintain their social circle as devoid of black men, yet have one black guy just close enough for them to say "I'm OK and don't have race issues." But he's not really a friend at all; in an odd sort of way, he's still just the help.

Being the only black guy in the room sucks. But, if the people who aren't black take the effort to reach out and gain black friends, and blacks in that environment can just relax and enjoy themselves, we can make our society a little better for everyone. And maybe stem the tide of black folks leaving the Bay Area, just a little bit.

Follow Zennie62 on Twitter!

Blogging: The State Of - Salon's Scott Rosenberg, Author, "Say Everything"

This video is an interview with the author of "Say Everything," the best book on the history of blogs and blogging written to date, and someone who's start as an Internet-based journalist goes back to 1994. He is Scott Rosenberg of Salon.com.

(As a note, if you're seeing this and the video has a white space icon in front of it, it's because it's a new upload and you're among the first to view it. Give it a few minutes to finish compressing. It's a huge video file.)

Scott Rosenberg, who's one of the founding editors of Salon.com, and this blogger sat down for a talk that lasted 45 minutes, making this the longest video interview done for this channel to date.

Rosenberg and I talked about everything from how Salon.com got started, to the State of Blogging, journalists versus bloggers, The Huffington Post, The Daily for the iPad, the impact of Twitter, what happened to Salon, blogging for profit and reaching the market versus not doing so, James O'Keffe and his video ambush that led to the resignation of NPR's Executive Director, and a host of other topics.

And that was just the first 30 minutes of the video interview.

But mostly, we talked about The State Of Blogging. While some Old Media publications like The New York Times think blogging activity is decreasing, Scott disagrees, explaining that we have more blogs than ever and the number continues to grow. In fact, BlogPulse reports there are 157,828,245 blogs, with 79,327 established over the last 24 hours as of this writing.

No wonder the New York Times is threatened. That's a lot of media being created at a rapid pace. So sweet.

You can also check out Scott's blog at wordyard.com

99ers: Plan to attend the "We Are One" Rally near you - April 4, 2011

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. The workers were trying to form a union with AFSCME.

Beginning with worship services over the April 1 weekend, and continuing through the week of April 4, unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies will host a range of community and workplace-focused actions.

Join us in solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for. It’s a day to show movement. Teach-ins. Vigils. Faith events. A day to be creative, but clear: We are one.

Find your local event or create one by visiting: http://we-r-1.org/

AARP Fights to Repeal Discriminatory Unemployment Insurance Law

AARP Fights to Repeal Discriminatory Unemployment Insurance Law. Bipartisan Bill Would Repeal Law that Reduces Unemployment Benefits to Social Security Recipients :

As if 99ers and soon to be UI exhaustees needed anymore impediments to their very survival or rejoining the work force, every year in Illinois, thousands of unemployed older workers face age and economic discrimination due to an outdated state law that unfairly reduces their unemployment benefits.

Illinois is one of only two states in the nation that still carry the law on their books, called the Social Security unemployment "offset" law. In a tight economy, this unfair law makes things worse for older, unemployed workers and AARP is fighting to repeal the law.

"Many older adults in Illinois are struggling to pay for basic necessities – and are working because they have to," said Nancy Funk, volunteer with AARP Illinois. "To penalize these workers after they become unemployed simply because of their age is unfair and clearly wrong."

Illinois is one of only two states in the nation, along with Louisiana, that has never taken action to repeal the offset and continues to penalize jobless older adults who receive Social Security. The offset law classifies one-half of an older adult's Social Security payment as disqualifying income for purposes of receiving unemployment benefits.

AARP is supporting legislation, Senate Bill 144 sponsored by Senator Heather Steans, House Bill 96 sponsored by Representative Karen May and House Bill 1115 sponsored by Representative Sidney Mathias, that would repeal the Social Security offset law in Illinois. Representative Mathias is also a chief co-sponsor on House Bill 96.

"We need to end this age discrimination right now," said Representative Karen May. "More and more seniors have to work to make ends meet, especially during this recession. Losing a job can be devastating to seniors as well as any citizen."

"It's time to repeal the unfair and discriminatory social security offset law that denies seniors unemployment benefits simply because of their age," said Senator Heather Steans. "We are one of only two states that has not already done so; this is simply wrong."

Employers are required to pay into the unemployment fund fully for each of their workers, regardless of age. Repealing the unemployment offset will ensure that all workers receive their full unemployment benefits, regardless of age as well.

SOURCE AARP Illinois

[With everyone donating to Japan these days- The 99ers seem forgotten. If you like what I write please donate so I can keep on fighting for the 99ers! Thank You!]

Seann William Scott Goes to Rehab

Seann William Scott also can be known as "Stifler" from American Pie (and more recently his memorable roles in Role Model, Cop Out, etc), but add to the list thing that he can now be known for: getting treatment.

CBS reports that the star has entered rehab as confirmed by his representatives on Tuesday.

E! Online was able to speak to the representatives and find out why the star checked himself in:

"Seann William Scott has voluntarily admitted himself for proactive treatment to address health and personal issues," his reps said in a statement to E! News. "He appreciates the support of his many fans at this time."

It is great that he got treatment before it was too late and before any of his behaviors were publicly exposed.

Alexandra Wallace Cappie Pondexter Racist Anti-Asian Rants Show Racism Still Alive

We all like to think 21st Century America's advanced, but when I see how some people chose their friends by race, I wonder if, in their worst moments, they are really like UCLA student Alexandra Wallace and WNBA Player Cappie Pondexter.

For some reason best known to Ms. Wallace, she made a video that's on YouTube and features her ranting on in a racist way about Asian students at UCLA's library. And Cappie Pondexter decided to go to Twitter to spew her racism about Japanese right after the Japan Earthquake.

Here's the Wallace video:



Frankly, Anti-Asian racism is something I've heard before, and from white students at Cal Berkeley, both when I was a grad student, and still within recent years. I always thought "Ok, and how do you feel about black folks?" And it's something I've heard from blacks, mostly in the South, but frankly only from those who tend to have all-black friends and associations.

Geez. If you see anyone in a diverse urban society and all of their friends are one color, be it white, black, or whatever, you can bet there's racist conversation that takes place among them.

But what's up with women making these racist rants, today? Is it some expression of frustration with men being more interracial in their selection of mates than ever before? Is it that they can't stand seeing white guys with Asian girls?

Those of you who regularly follow this space recall this video where Reality TV Show Star Josie Goldberg went off on "Jewish men" who seem to want "Chinese Girls," and not white Jewish women:



Is Alexandra Wallace pissed off about that, too? I wonder because both Wallace and Goldberg live down in UCLA and Hollywood, not far from each other.

And Cappie Pondexter, again for some reason best known only to her, decided to use Twitter to express her own racism, directed specifically at Japanese citizens suffering from one of the worst disasters in recorded history. Yep. The same Rutgers University Basketball Player Cappie Pondexter who was called a "nappy headed ho," by Radio Talk Show Host Don Imus, and said that was "unacceptable and inappropriate," got on Twitter a few days ago and said:

First: "maybe god was tired of the way they treated there own people"

Then: "u just never knw! They did pearl harbor so u can't expect anything less"

Are we seeing women as the new racists? Is it all because they can't find a guy of a certain color? What's the deal here with this spewing of female racism? Not only that, it oddly underscores the point that the best man out there for a woman doesn't always have the same skin color, so they should get over it.

Alexandra Wallace Gets Death Threats For Comments

But expressing racism doesn't mean anyone like Alexandra Wallace should get death threats, yet, according to The Daily Bruin, that's what's happening to her. The third-year political science student is trying to figure out where she's going to study for finals. (The library's definitely out of the question.)

The Wallace video, called repugnant by UCLA's Administration, has went viral.  And even though Wallace took the original version of the video down, in today's fast-moving New Media World, copies were already made of it, and one of them, the one above, has been seen 3 million times as of this writing.

Wallace, Pondexter, and Gilbert Gottfried Shed New Light On Racism

After the last five days, and in the wake of the Japan Earthquake, we sadly find racism to be alive and well, and in this case directed at Asians and specifically Japanese, and at their greatest time of need.  We have Wallace, Pondexter, and Gilbert Gottfried expressing their racism against Asians.  Gilbert's just an angry guy, period.  It's no surprise Gottfrield would make stupid, racist Twitter tweets with a preamble that goes "I just broke up with my girlfriend."

I can guess why.

What Can You Do?

Get your head out of the sand and correct anyone who makes racist statements, that's what you can do. And if you're in a group who's doing it, have enough common sense to correct the group. Stand up and be counted among the ranks of good people in this World.

And help Japan.

Stay tuned and follow Zennie62 on Twitter.

Michigan UI Exhaustees Increase as US Aids Every Country but Its Own

Michigan UI exhaustees may increase meanwhile US aids every country but it’s own.

According to CBS News in Detroit, the U.S. Department of Labor has some bad news for 35,000 jobless people in Michigan.

The federal government said that Michigan no longer meets all the criteria for the extended benefit program. Cutting the program would leave about 35,000 people without benefits, as of April 2, and could eventually affect another 150,000 people receiving extended benefits.

In order to be in compliance, officials in Lansing will have to pass enabling legislation. Governor Rick Snyder, along with a statewide business-labor coalition, is in support of the needed legislation. If the enabling legislation is passed, it would extend the payments through the end of 2011.

FROM THE TRENCHES WORLD REPORT article today: 99ers HR 589 Supporters Do Not Tolerate the Green Weenies

Well our so called government has sent warships to aid the Japanese and also, through the Suez Canal, to anchor off the coast of Libya. You see the people in Libya are being oppressed. They are not being allowed their pursuit of happiness. Therefore, our politicians are chomping at the bit to rush to their aid. Wouldn’t it be nice if the 99ers’ lives were thought worthy of salvation by our so called government?

The article goes on to say: As for you 99ers out there, we need to get the Easter Project into high gear. And who knows, maybe some of these green weenie tough guys will try to stop us and we can have the pleasure of knocking a few knots on their heads. Personally I would hitchhike to get to that fight.

And don’t forget April 2nd and the Nationwide Protests that are planned. We must start becoming active before it is too late.

I received a powerful email from 99er Randy Moe yesterday after he attended a rally in the Chicago area yesterday that he allowed me to share with you here. When we last featured Randy in July 2010, He was attempting to sell 99er T-shirts to stay afloat as Washington refused to pass a badly needed Tier 5 for the 99ers.

Participating in Moveon.org’s series of protests yesterday called ““Defend the Dream - We're taking it back!” - Randy chronicled his personal experience in the following email yesterday:

Just got back from the MoveOn “Defend the Dream - We're taking it back!” rally at the James R. Thompson Center, downtown Chicago, there was a modest turnout of about 300 people. I ran into several old friends, one I used to work with until he found a Union job with the City of Chicago, good for him, sad for me.

What struck me was, almost the entire crowd appeared to be still-employed Union men, and I do mean men there were few women in attendance. There were no students, no young people, no 99ers, no homeless, no major media, no anger, and nobody I could relate to.

The first speaker roused the crowd with a PA system that gave his voice strength, a woman handed me a song and chant sheet. I started retreating. The cheers and words rang hollow upon my tired ears. The speaker demanded we all need a good paying job, health care, and the dream of our own home. The Union men roared. I turned and walked away.

My emotions overcame me, I nearly cried. I was sad that I see no way of ever joining a Union or ever getting another good job. The Dream is over. The 80% still working see us not, we are invisible and worthless. We (are), no - I am forgotten.

The 99er Nation feels invisible and at times worthless, especially in the eyes of Washington law makers, Obama, employers and the media. Exactly when will the US Government see clearly that their responsibility lies with FIRST with helping their own citizens survive and fend off oppression.... Oh wait.... it is the US Government oppressing the 99ers and the middle class to boot. Well then I suppose unless or until we show the “Deaf, Dumb & Blind” in Congress and the White House that we mean business - they never will have the motivation to change the status quo. It is really that simple. It is up to us to take to the streets and take back our country

[The donation button below is for Paladinette. If you like what I write please donate so I can keep on fighting for the 99ers! Thank You!]