Lots happening, but right now I just have to post this video. I can't really even begin to describe all the various thoughts running through my head as I watched it. The title of the link was "This is why you need a gun." I am not a fan of a concealed weapon, but this might have to be an exception.
I usually don't like to present bad images of people of colour, but this is absolutely ridiculous. Please, though, when you view this, know that not all brown people act like this.
I can kind of understand why no one went after the guy outright to get him to stop. It is not a bright idea to go up to a crazy man with a bat and expect to talk sense to him. But, help me understand why the car in front of this lady did not move the &*^*^ out of her way so she could get away from this dude.
I think it is the Kings of Comedy show where one of the comedians talks about the difference between the wishes of black people and the wishes of white people. White people wish for things by saying I sure do wish he would stop. I wish someone would help me. I wish this car would move. I wish this would never happen to me.
Black people are a little bit different with their wishes. Because if this happened to me or anyone near me. My wish would not be about having the car move. It would be about if the car did not move. Or if this dude did come up to my car. Or if he did hit my shit with a baseball bat. Or if no one came to my aid. My wish:
I wish a motha-fucka would!
Because it would not be pretty if this happened to me. I would have had to roll him over a few times. After he stopped beating my car, I would have had to get his bat and start hitting their car for being dumb shits and not moving out of my way. Bump that. He has a bat. He obviously does not have a gun. So I would get out of my car with what ever I had in there. Umbrella, backpack, car jack -- whatev. And beat him back. Beat him like old ladies beat purse snatchers. Only I don't have osteoporosis, so that shit would hurt. And I would have come back to the corner he claims a his own and done some serious damage. Well, maybe not by myself, but with some assistance of some sort. I for sure would have gone after the camera man who let this dude do this to my car.
On a final note, do not be afraid of every brown person walking on the street when you drive. Just the crazy asses with bats who run up to you on a street corner they deem their own.
08 May 2008
Throwback Thursday
Some of my students at school are very retro when it comes to their fashion and the songs that they sing in the hallway. Early '90s, late '80s. It's really refreshing to hear them sing some actual songs with lyrics that meant something rather than Soulja Boy or something.
Though it's not refreshing to see an old hairstyle still on a student with all the gel encrusted to her one side of her head. She is still rocking her prom hair two weeks after the actual dance. I wonder how she sleeps at night. I remember Tokini used to say she tried to sleep with her head in her hands so that she wouldn't mess her dos up. But I guess for her it has all worked out as she is now a professional hairstylist traveling the country for hair shows and getting on tv shows doing the stuff. But I'm hoping she has found a better way to make her hair styles stay.
Back to the throwbacks - the best comment came today when a student came up to me between classes as I was monitoring the hall way to make sure another "fight" didn't start like the one I encountered this morning.
Student: I want to ask you something, but I don't want you to be offended.
Me: Ok. What kind of question is it that might offend me? Are you sure you want to risk it?
Student: Yeah. My mother was talking with my auntie the other day about how she still has that whip appeal.
Me -- start smiling, but try to hold it in with that old school reference.
Student: Do you have that whip appeal? What is whip appeal? How do you know when you have it?
Me -- can't hold in the laugh any more; it starts and almost can't stop
Student: What? (looking confused)
Me -- tries to explain whip appeal to the girl
Wow. Who thought Babyface stuff would come back? Seriously. I guess it's not totally back, but, why is her mother still using the phrase in 2008 when it came out in like 1989?
Though it's not refreshing to see an old hairstyle still on a student with all the gel encrusted to her one side of her head. She is still rocking her prom hair two weeks after the actual dance. I wonder how she sleeps at night. I remember Tokini used to say she tried to sleep with her head in her hands so that she wouldn't mess her dos up. But I guess for her it has all worked out as she is now a professional hairstylist traveling the country for hair shows and getting on tv shows doing the stuff. But I'm hoping she has found a better way to make her hair styles stay.
Back to the throwbacks - the best comment came today when a student came up to me between classes as I was monitoring the hall way to make sure another "fight" didn't start like the one I encountered this morning.
Student: I want to ask you something, but I don't want you to be offended.
Me: Ok. What kind of question is it that might offend me? Are you sure you want to risk it?
Student: Yeah. My mother was talking with my auntie the other day about how she still has that whip appeal.
Me -- start smiling, but try to hold it in with that old school reference.
Student: Do you have that whip appeal? What is whip appeal? How do you know when you have it?
Me -- can't hold in the laugh any more; it starts and almost can't stop
Student: What? (looking confused)
Me -- tries to explain whip appeal to the girl
Wow. Who thought Babyface stuff would come back? Seriously. I guess it's not totally back, but, why is her mother still using the phrase in 2008 when it came out in like 1989?
07 May 2008
How many degrees are in a full circle?
Is it really only Wednesday?????
Shout out to Ibie for finally trying to help people understand that a 360 degree change really means that you have not changed at all. I have never understood why people say that. Did they not take geometry? And even if they did not take that class, can't they understand that 360 degrees is completion? When you throw a boomerang, it should go 360 degrees and come back to its starting point. If you think that you life has changed 360 degrees, you have come right back to your initial behavior. You have not changed. At all.
It really is only Wednesday.
Shout out to Ibie for finally trying to help people understand that a 360 degree change really means that you have not changed at all. I have never understood why people say that. Did they not take geometry? And even if they did not take that class, can't they understand that 360 degrees is completion? When you throw a boomerang, it should go 360 degrees and come back to its starting point. If you think that you life has changed 360 degrees, you have come right back to your initial behavior. You have not changed. At all.
It really is only Wednesday.
06 May 2008
Another dumb, racist(?) anchor comment
Sometimes I forget what year it is. Especially when I am watching CNN with my sisters, really it's just on as we admire the new addition to Kid Sis #2's family.
Home boy was talking about how Obama was leading the poll results in North Carolina. They have these new Smartboard type screens that the anchors can touch, circle things on, open things up, etc.
As he is circling a section of southern North Carolina, the words that came out of his mouth were something to the effect of "He received a lot of black votes here (circled area) because this is a former slave territory."
All three of us are sitting there not really paying attention, but for whatever reason, just before he said this, it became quiet. And we all were completely shocked by that statement.
What the hell does that mean? What the hell does it have to do with the election occurring in 2008? What does that have to do with the people who currently live in the region's voting habits? What in the world made him say that comment? Did he really just say that on TV? And none of the other numerous anchors put him in check? And he didn't catch himself after saying it? Or explain the comment? Were we the only three offended? Am I crazy?
I know that some people who are not of color don't really think about the statements they make about brown folks, but that is bit much. Seriously.
Trust that I have emailed the station about that shit.
Almost made me not hungry. Until I remembered that it was Teacher Appreciation Free Burrito Night at Chipotle.
Home boy was talking about how Obama was leading the poll results in North Carolina. They have these new Smartboard type screens that the anchors can touch, circle things on, open things up, etc.
As he is circling a section of southern North Carolina, the words that came out of his mouth were something to the effect of "He received a lot of black votes here (circled area) because this is a former slave territory."
All three of us are sitting there not really paying attention, but for whatever reason, just before he said this, it became quiet. And we all were completely shocked by that statement.
What the hell does that mean? What the hell does it have to do with the election occurring in 2008? What does that have to do with the people who currently live in the region's voting habits? What in the world made him say that comment? Did he really just say that on TV? And none of the other numerous anchors put him in check? And he didn't catch himself after saying it? Or explain the comment? Were we the only three offended? Am I crazy?
I know that some people who are not of color don't really think about the statements they make about brown folks, but that is bit much. Seriously.
Trust that I have emailed the station about that shit.
Almost made me not hungry. Until I remembered that it was Teacher Appreciation Free Burrito Night at Chipotle.
04 May 2008
What a day!
What a time! We got to the track on Friday and it was sunny and nice. While we practiced it started to mist a bit. Kind of weird since it was still sunny and the rain clouds looked like they were miles away. We did see the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. It covered the whole sky and was complete -- from one end to the other. We all saw this as a sign of the good things that would happen on Saturday.
Dinner was nice -- got to meet up with Kid Sis #3 since she goes to school in Cape. Back to the hotel. I was super tired and went to bed pretty early, especially since I couldn't get phone service to call my main man.
The next morning every one got up with out me having to make extra wake up calls. Drury Inn has some great hot breakfasts! Even could make fresh waffles.
Everyone made it to the bus by the exact time I requested to the minute. Bus driver starts the bus. Bus driver tries to start the bus again. And again. And again.
The bus was broken.
Fortunately, one of my athlete's boyfriend had just pulled into the lot since he was going to watch her and his best-bud at the meet. He truly was our leprechaun at the end of the rainbow. He took me to the track so I could get to the mandatory coaches' meeting. When I got there a coach who has been a prick for the past two years (but this year is really an awesome guy) let us use their bus to bring the kids to the meet. Ours was towed back to the Lou and another sent down for us.
Everyone made it in time. And the meet began.
The only bad thing was the wind at the beginning and the fact that it took over 3 hours to run the girls high jump.
I was so impressed with the kids. We won seven events. I had a kid step up to take the spot of another athlete with an injured foot. He had never run on a varsity relay, but helped us get first in one and kept us in there to get fourth in the 4x4 (only fourth because he didn't remember to cut in on the second leg so he ran about 420 meters instead of 400).
Thirteen events made it on to the Sectional meet next week. So many personal bests. A lot of top eight finishers.
Great day!! Great kids!! Great performances!! No drama!! And we have more to come in the next two weeks.
And we really don't need a rainbow to bring us luck. We have skills, we have kids who have done the workouts I have given, we have kids and coaches on a mission!!
Dinner was nice -- got to meet up with Kid Sis #3 since she goes to school in Cape. Back to the hotel. I was super tired and went to bed pretty early, especially since I couldn't get phone service to call my main man.
The next morning every one got up with out me having to make extra wake up calls. Drury Inn has some great hot breakfasts! Even could make fresh waffles.
Everyone made it to the bus by the exact time I requested to the minute. Bus driver starts the bus. Bus driver tries to start the bus again. And again. And again.
The bus was broken.
Fortunately, one of my athlete's boyfriend had just pulled into the lot since he was going to watch her and his best-bud at the meet. He truly was our leprechaun at the end of the rainbow. He took me to the track so I could get to the mandatory coaches' meeting. When I got there a coach who has been a prick for the past two years (but this year is really an awesome guy) let us use their bus to bring the kids to the meet. Ours was towed back to the Lou and another sent down for us.
Everyone made it in time. And the meet began.
The only bad thing was the wind at the beginning and the fact that it took over 3 hours to run the girls high jump.
I was so impressed with the kids. We won seven events. I had a kid step up to take the spot of another athlete with an injured foot. He had never run on a varsity relay, but helped us get first in one and kept us in there to get fourth in the 4x4 (only fourth because he didn't remember to cut in on the second leg so he ran about 420 meters instead of 400).
Thirteen events made it on to the Sectional meet next week. So many personal bests. A lot of top eight finishers.
Great day!! Great kids!! Great performances!! No drama!! And we have more to come in the next two weeks.
And we really don't need a rainbow to bring us luck. We have skills, we have kids who have done the workouts I have given, we have kids and coaches on a mission!!
02 May 2008
My upcoming weekend
Today I leave for small town Missouri. Track meet out of town. Too far to travel in the morning, so we will stay over night. I'm hoping it is better than the last time we stayed over night for Districts. That time two students were fighting over a boy that neither of them needed to be claiming. It was so loud that a person staying their was awakened and called the front desk repeatedly. Then he talked to me the next morning. Threatened to call the school. Then did. Repeatedly for a week. Other athletes were in the hallway yelling and singing and fighting throughout the night.
This time I have already laid the preeminent smack down. They know not to do anything crazy.
But I will still have to be with 20-something young ones for the night.
I am excited about the possibilities and what they can do, though. And there are some kids that are pretty decent to be around.
This time I have already laid the preeminent smack down. They know not to do anything crazy.
But I will still have to be with 20-something young ones for the night.
I am excited about the possibilities and what they can do, though. And there are some kids that are pretty decent to be around.
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