CLASS MATES

I once was interested in the website that promises to link me with my classmates from the 1970’s, but now that I think about it not so much. I was born and raised in The Bronx [NYC] there so many kids in my high school for one, and I was a loner for two, so it would be hard pressed to remember a lot of people. Not to mention how much weight I have gained lost, gained, lost, gained again. Then there are the guys, jocks, who muscles that have sagged or went bald with the beer belly.

Let me place a disclaimer: I am grateful to be alive, I am thankful to see anyone who is still on earth walking among us with me. Any day above ground is a good day!

Back to today’s rant:

I for one do not recognize anyone from that era, four years, from the 1970’s for that matter. Maybe in a smaller town this idea of a reunion is a good thing but growing up in NYC, with different neighborhoods attending the same school would be hard to remember the prom king and queen [if we had one]. So when I get these email alerts saying “do you remember___?” or “someone says you were an athlete!” I’m thinking “not so fast!”.  For one I did not want to attend my graduation and was awaken by my father to attend my own graduation. I felt I had graduated from indentured servitude form school and now it was my time to do whatever I wanted being 18 and all and never looked back.

Somehow, today, these ads have a haunting effect. Reminding me of that time in my life I was on a cusp. I was between childhood and legal adulthood being able to make decisions without parental permission or adult supervision.

I lost both my class ring and graduation book and looked for the publisher and ring makers. I found a jeweler, but the publisher only goes back to the 1980’s. [Go figure]

ADLAI EWING STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL [no longer exists] it is now A.E.STEVESON EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS..

GO PENGUINS?

…Pandora

More Snow

Once again somewhere on the east coast it is snowing. I feel for the people in the New England states who have not seen relief since…? I’m wondering if this weather pattern is repeating itself from 100 years ago.

 There was a time when there were less people with fewer cars in most cities and the fact that there was a snow storm was something they just waited out for the most part. I remembered as a child when there was a “blizzard” everything was closed, public transportations stopped running and the school were closed. There were no transport or supply trucks on the roads. There was no need to have anything right now, tomorrow or ASAP. People closed their establishments and businesses and went home.

We used to go outside and play until we were exhausted, throwing snowballs, building a snow man out of a fire hydrant as a base or hurry to create snow angels before the yellow snow showed up. That was then this is now. Here today 2015, from Maine to Florida there is some form of snow. …”

Maybe the fewer cars had no effect on what is known as global warming but here today it is another story.

…As of Feb. 23, 99.9 inches of snow has buried [Boston, MA] the city. Of that total, 87 inches has fallen in the past 28 days alone. With a total of 107.6 inches, 1995-1996 has long held the title of snowiest season on record, but this winter is close on its heels in second place.”[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/02/24/boston-just-inches-away-from-snowiest-season-on-record-with-more-in-the-forecast]

…Winter Storm Remus will continue to batter the South on Thursday morning before moving into the Mid-Atlantic by Thursday afternoon. A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will fall from Tennessee and the Carolinas north into Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. In addition, this system may bring a few thunderstorms to southern Florida. [http://www.weather.com/storms/winter/news/winter-stor

I do not have any answers or suggestions, just to be safe as we sit this out. Find activities to do with your family and loved ones.

...Pandora

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

87^th Annual award show did not disappoint again. The show was once again the “white Hollywood” show. Looking out at the audience I saw the fields of lilies with the sprinkles of black-eyed Susan. Mr. Neil Patrick Harris carried the show and gave a show that I would imagine was difficult for a mere mortal like myself.

According to the U.S. Census white American population is becoming the minority. With more interactional marriages and “immigrants” [they were here before anyone] there was no fair representation of this last night at the AMPAS.

There have been plenty of movies that are geared towards communities that audience love and was well received, but the AMPAS for whatever reason do not recognize, ever. I guess this where the independent film comes in. None the less it is getting more obvious of the segregation in this industry. There is a category for Best Foreign Language Film, how will I know for sure it was a good film? Foreign language &*@%$^, here’s a foreign language for you.

There is a Black female president [Cheryl Boone Isaacs] of the AMPAS which should soften the blow of blatant discrimination at this point who cares.

…”In the last two years, we've made greater strides than we ever have in the past toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization through admitting new members and more inclusive classes of members. And, personally, I would love to see and look forward to see a greater cultural diversity among all our nominees in all of our categories." [Cheryl Boone Isaacs] http://perezhilton.com

It is, I guess hard to break habits or break with traditions when you've been at it for so many years. It is about time before the world will shames you we need to do better.

SELMA, THE THEORY OF EVERYTING, BIRDMAN, AMERICAN SNIPER, BOYHOOD, WHIPLASH [KUDOS] by the way did anyone see the movie WHIPLASH?

…Pandora

Malcolm X

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabaz

الحاجّ مالك الشباز

One of his philosophies were we in our community have lost our family names and were given the slave owner’s name. In this case he adopted the concept of X.

Today is the 50^th anniversary of the killing of the civil rights leader known as Malcolm X at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. He was gunned down by someone who infiltrated the Nation of Islam during that time. Speculations of the F.B.I. having hand in his death as well as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Stockley Carmichael to name a few.

In the beginning of his civil rights career he was anti-white. The white people were devils and it took a trip to Mecca to witness people of all colors worshipping together to see we have more in common than we have different. He came back to the United States with a different message of uniting the black people of every religious persuasion. We as a people have to do for ourselves and not wait for the “white man” to do for us. Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this Ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.

…”I have been blessed to visit the Holy City of Mecca. I have made my seven circuits around the Ka'ba, led by a young Mutawaf named Muhammad. I drank water from the well of the Zam Zam. I ran seven times back and forth between the hills of Mt. Al-Safa and Al-Marwah. I have prayed in the ancient city of Mina, and I have prayed on Mt. Arafat. There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blonds to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white. America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered 'white'--but the 'white' attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color. “[http://www.malcolm-x.org/docs/let_mecca.htm]

As a child growing up in NYC I was privileged to see him in person speak in Harlem one day on a platform with my father. My mother and I were at the Audubon Ballroom the day before he was killed. AS a child I listened to the adults around me speak on political matters that affected our community and was taught to be proud and strive for better.

In later years my mother still remained friends with Dr. Betty Shabaz.

Sleep in Peace Leader

…Pandora

Commercials

 …”Do you have this wrong with you? We have a pill for that! 30 or 40 years age there no diagnosis for “Restless legs” or “uncontrollable laughing”. At no time I am making fun at symptoms I have no clue that exists. The point of this rant is about [in my opinion] the drug companies creating an illness to tailor the pill. It is 3am and there is a commercial about something, according to the television, I may have.

“Do you experience any: hair loss, muscle ach, joint strain, can’t “go”, can’t stop from “going”, can’t hear the television, can’t see at night, there is a pill, ask your doctor! When you get to the doctor’s office, tell your doctor if you have had: [whatever, the doctor should ask you before he prescribes it]” Taken as directed while supplies last”.

Tomorrow night there these: “Did you take XYZGBJM or JFKLMNOP or suffered from%^&* while taking this medication or DIED? Call 1-800 WE-GOTCHU, you could be a part of a class action lawsuit!

Then you change the channel and start seeing the skinny malnourished 20 year olds selling weight loss pills or $4,000.00 gym equipment.

Who do I talk to about the viewing choices after midnight? I pay a premium price to watch “cable”; this is supposed to be a cut above network television. In the 1980’s this was true as well as FM radio [I digress]. I can count at least 8, 10, 15 stations that have “PAID PROGRAMING” listings.

So let me get this right, I PAY FOR TELEVISION THAT HAS COMMERICALS, THAT PAY TO ADVERTISE, and then I have to watch PAID PROGRAMING?

I have to put my “Snuggle” on. Don’t judge me it was $19.99 + shipping and handling

…Pandora

ST. VALENTINE & CUPID

 Although the mid-February holiday celebrating love and lovers remains wildly popular, the confusion over its origins led the Catholic Church, in 1969, to drop St. Valentine's Day from the Roman calendar of official, worldwide Catholic feasts.  Some parishes, however, observe the feast of St. Valentine.

The roots of St. Valentine's Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year.

Pope Gelasius I was, understandably, less than thrilled with this custom. So he changed the lottery to have both young men and women draw the names of saints whom they would then emulate for the year (a change that no doubt disappointed a few young men). Instead of Lupercus, the patron of the feast became Valentine. For Roman men, the day continued to be an occasion to seek the affections of women, and it became a tradition to give out handwritten messages of admiration that included Valentine's name.

There was also a conventional belief in Europe during the Middle Ages that birds chose their partners in the middle of February. Thus the day was dedicated to love, and people observed it by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their beloved. Legend has it that Charles, duke of Orleans, sent the first real Valentine card to his wife in 1415, when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. (He, however, was not beheaded, and died a half-century later of old age.)[http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/ValentinesDay/origins.asp]

CUPID

Cupid is the most famous of Valentine symbols and everybody knows that boy armed with bow and arrows, and piercing hearts. He is known as a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows. The arrows signify desires and emotions of love, and Cupid aims those arrows at Gods and Humans, causing them to fall deeply in love. Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. In ancient Greece he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus.

There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride Psyche in Roman mythology. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him.

[ http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/cupid.htm#fCrgOStyq45hUTMe.99]Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded her to look at Cupid. as soon as Psyche looked at Cupid, Cupid punished her by leaving her. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished too. Psyche found herself alone in an open field with no signs of other beings or Cupid. As she wandered trying to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and more dangerous than the last.

For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box. During her trip she was given tips on avoiding the dangers of the realm of the dead. She was also warned not to open the box. But Temptation overcame Psyche and she opened the box. But instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber. Cupid found her lifeless on the ground. He gathered the deadly sleep from her body and put it back in the box. Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid made her a goddess.

Today, Cupid and his arrows have become the most popular of love signs, and love is most frequently depicted by two hearts pierced by an arrow, Cupid's arrow  http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/cupid.htm#fCrgOStyq45hUTMe.99]

There you have a few examples of the story we now come to know as Valentine’s Day.

I used to get cards on Easter, Halloween; these holidays mean a lot more to me once you get to know me. Get to know your special someone, they will appreciate the effort you have put into the gift.

Commence the sugar rush/crash

…Pandora

Triskaidekaphobia [UPDATE]

Triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, does not fit neatly into a clinical definition of a specific phobia. The number 13 is not an object or a situation, and it can be impossible for the sufferer to avoid. Moreover, in order for a phobia to be diagnosed, it must significantly impact the sufferer's life. Most people with triskaidekaphobia find that their fear only arises in certain situations, and does not significantly impair their lives.[ http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/triskaidekaphob.htm]

The phobia, known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, is not uncommon. The word comes from Frigga, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number thirteen. It is also sometimes called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek Paraskevi for Friday, Dekatreis for thirteen and phobia for fear.[ http://www.ibtimes.com/friday-13th-history-origins-myths-superstitions-unlucky-day-395108]

Superstition:

Excessively credulous belief in and reverence for supernatural beings.

This year where all of the craziness is that usually follows? Maybe it is because I am getting older, that I could care less about that stuff. The black cat, the opened umbrella in the house, walking under a ladder is a few things I do not see in my foreseen futures. The fact that I once avoided stepping on a crack to keep from breaking my momma’s back and saying “bread and butter” when you and a person you’re walking with “split a pole” was such a waste of my youth time. We used to through a pinch of salt behind your shoulder to keep evil [in the devil’s eye] away when you spilled some. Hang a horse shoe up in the house[under the shot gun].

As an adult I used to keep a black cat, and open my umbrella to dry after the rain. Life has a way of changing one’s outlook on what is important.

I challenge you to try to remember the silliness or superstitions of your youth and see just how many you continue. How many do you pass onto your children as “old folks say” or cultural traditions?

By the way, I never put my handbag on the floor!! [You will be broke and never keep money]

…Pandora

Welcome!

To the new family member, I would like to welcome to our family. I want to introduce you to the mix that you come to know as family. There are people of different ages, race and nationalizes. You have plenty great musicians. There quite a few artist and designers.  There too many great cooks to mention as well as consummate food connoisseurs. You have so many cousins that I can’t even count. You have Aunts and uncles already love you [sight unseen], blood relations and not [we have no “steps” in our family]. There is so much I can talk to you about I have to wait.

There are a couple of Great grandmothers, great grandfathers, great-great grandmothers great -great grandfathers, great aunts and uncles that would have adored you. I know they were there to greet you in spirit last night to help pull you through when the doctors said they were “concerned’.

You have a set of wonderful parents that love you so very much and a big brother how adores you right now.

You come from greatness. I know you with all of the children that call me “grandma, Yah-Yah, Miss Renee will continue on your journey of greatness to leave your mark on this planet called Earth.

DaQuan Jeremiah

Marcelino

Isaiah Paul

Zenee Unique

Aniyah Nicloe

Nakeem Sammie

Jason Jr., Richard

Justin Benjamin

Joshua Curtis

To the new edition: Imaní EmiLee Croome  

WE LOVE AND WELCOME YOU!

…Pandora [Yah-Yah]

MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA

I am neither a doctor nor play one but what I am is a living, walking testimony of how a medically induced comma can save a person’s life.

…”What is a medically induced coma?

So basically what happens with a medically induced coma is that you take a drug and administer it until you see a certain pattern in the monitor that follows the patient's brain waves, the EEG [electroencephalogram]. Patients with brain injuries who are in a coma have a similar pattern. If that pattern is there, then you feel comfortable that the patient is in a drug-induced coma. You are doing it so that you can hopefully protect the brain.

What are you protecting the brain from?

If you've had a brain injury, what happens is the metabolism of the brain has been significantly altered. You may have areas without adequate blood flow. The idea is: "Let me reduce the amount of energy those different brain areas need." If I can do that then, as the brain heals and the swelling goes down, maybe those areas that were at risk can be protected.

But the main thing about a drug-induced coma, as opposed to a coma, is that it's reversible. If you do this to someone with a normal brain, they would come right out of it once you removed the drugs.” [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-a-medically-induced-coma/]

What it did for me was to give my heart a chance to not work as hard and get stronger. There was no brain activity to where all focus was on letting my body heal itself. It may have taken about two weeks for the doctors to agree to wake me. It was a trying time for my family to say the least. Some people came to see me and said their “goodbyes” believing that would never walk out of the hospital again.

When I woke up I saw a few loved ones, family and friends who stuck by my side never believing I was going anywhere.

 To the Brown family and the Houston families and any families who have loved ones in this state Hold On! God has the final say.

 About three after I woke up, I was the “pain-in-the-ass” patient wanting to go home!

Yours truly

…Pandora

Childhood Disease

It is sad time when we as a civilization have reverted back 50 years to exposing our children for the sake of “freedom to choose” to worry once again about childhood diseases that were mostly eradicated in my lifetime. Yes I get it; there is a chance for anything. There is a chance when I walk out of my door I may get hit by a car but this does not stop me each and every day from venturing out. The internet has connected us, to people, to large amounts of personal insanity.

To truly believe that vaccinations are harmful for children is very selfish. The adults are putting children at unnecessary risks. They are putting their own children at risks of the laws of nature. The laws of nature is “the survival of the fittest” were there will be thinning out the human race. I know I’m reaching here but, I might as well. When I listen to those parents who babble about their rights but put [my] children at risk it is the same stupidity.

They don’t believe there are any benefits of vaccinations or inoculations. I am old enough to remember the old people of my youth who contracted polio. Walking with those metal braces on their legs telling we younger ones how they contracted their disease. One does not see this anymore in the United States of America. As a child we got vaccinations at the Health Stations in New York City. Our scares were a badge of honor of sorts. We were showing off the next day in school “see I got mines!” ensured the completion of the task.

Vaccinations: the introduction into humans or domestic animals of microorganisms that have previously been treated to make them harmless for the purpose of inducing the development of immunity. [http://www.historyofvaccines.org/ ]The administration of antigenic material to stimulate an individual’s immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate morbidity from infection[Wikipedia]

I get that it is every person’s right to have a say to what is put into our bodies. The question is if it is for the greater good should one be forced. I used to worked where there was housing for The Commutable Disease where there was court ordered treatment for tuberculosis. I got paid to watch the medical staff to treat patients.

HIV/AIDS, Cholera, Influenza, Typhus, Smallpox, Malaria, Mumps, SARS, /AVIAN Flu, H1N1, it doesn’t matter there will be resistance in our society. Freedom of speech.

I have the right to live healthy and not be afraid of being exposed to contamination of any sort.

I GOT MY SHOTS. [my children and grandchildren did as well]

This has been a public service announcement [MY OPINION]

…Pandora

Monday Morning Footballing

So The New England Patriots Have won the 2015 Super bowl. To my surprise it was a great 4^th quarter. I usually pay close attention to the 4th quarter in any game.  Where anything that is worth watching will happen especially in football. This year I was not disappointed.

As an avid New York Giants fan I am glad Tom Brady got the win in without us in the playoffs!

The lesson to the Seahawks, pay attention! They are a young [in age] team. Stupid mistakes can happen. “Murphy’s Law” whatever can, happen will happen.

…Pandora