The Discuss Race Group is open for membership (& discussion)

Keep calm and stop racism

Keep calm and stop racismThe Wei announces the opening of the Discuss Race Group. We will discuss books and issues related to racism, privilege and justice in face to face and virtual meetings (via teleconference, Skype or Google+ Hangout). In August 2013, we kick off with readings and discussion of The New Jim Crow by Michelle West Alexander.

To make it easy for people reliant on public transportation to attend f2f meetings, we hope to hold them in urban centers. In between times, communication will happen through a private email list, and meetings will be announced through this list as well. read more

English Muffin with butter & jam

fork split english muffinI want to make sure all my friends know that English Muffins must get split with a fork (or another tined object) but never a knife. The point is to preserve the nooks and crannies which after all, is an important aspect of every good American’s civic duty.
English Muffin with butter & jam
Then you toast the muffin. English Muffins must always be well toasted. Apply jam, butter or cream cheese and munch happily away. My sainted mother passed these traditions along to me when I was a girl, and now you know too. Enjoy! read more

Trayvon’s killer won’t suffer – he lacks a conscience & has money

zimmerman smirk

zimmerman smirkEverybody wants to believe GZ will suffer. Pffff. If smirky George had a conscience, this might be true. If he wasn’t getting his legal expenses paid by private donations, this might be true. But now he’s got money, is nuts, arrogant, self-deceiving and self-aggrandizing. His wife is a lady willing to perjure herself for personal gain. And, George has presently situated himself outside of the US where he might experience trouble, in a secret overseas location where he must feel safe. read more

GZ’s pampered jurors & one’s Twitter-defeated book deal

Twitter stops b-37's book deal

Twitter stops b-37's book dealI’m interested in knowing if the pampered jurors in George’s trial, who visited gyms, nail salons and movie theaters … ate in restaurants, had alone time visits family, watched TV, checked voice mails and lounged around their hotel – also had opportunity to visit the GZ fundraising website or the show and tell site his lawyers set up to keep fans informed.

Juror B37, whose husband is a lawyer, apparently negotiated a book deal for her while the jury was sequestered. But Tweeter outrage stopped the deal cold. read more

Act for Trayvon

Trayvon Martin American flag hoodie

Join the movement.

Here’s a list of actions we can carry out to honor Trayvon Martin’s life and protest the Florida government’s handling of his murderer’s trial. Please add yours as a comment.

Trayvon Martin American flag hoodie

  • Trayvon’s Bday was Feb 5th. So, NO SPENDING every month on the 5th.
  • No Florida NOTHING! We are boycotting Florida tourism, travel, spending, entertainment, oranges, orange juice … EVERYTHING!
  • No more BLACK Friday … We are turning Black Friday RED! No spending, period.
  • Vote out bad politicians and replace them with politicians who are caring, fair and who will be accountable to us.
  • Vote in local, state and national elections
  • Boycott products of all companies and brands the Koch Brothers own shares in
  • Increase our civic engagement and bring our voices to the table on every issue
  • Practice community journalism
  • Reduce our spending to the bare minimum
  • Go green and sustainable
  • Move money out of banks and into to credit unions (which are cooperatively owned)
  • Boycott Big Money and their financial institutions as much as possible.
  • Increase entrepreneurship
  • Rethink investments in stocks and insurance. How can we invest in communities instead.
  • Mentor youth of color
  • read more

    Does Disney World have sovereign nation status?

    Disney World

    Disney WorldWhat’s the status of Disney World relative to United States law? If it exists outside the law and is “detached from” the State of Florida, is Disney World a sovereign nation or …. or, what?

    This and other issues are explored in National Geographic’s brilliant article on the entertainment empire:

    Disney’s new empire in central Florida would be marketed as Disney World. Its official name was, and remains, the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Thanks to a sweetheart deal with the state legislature, the lands Disney purchased were detached from the rest of Florida to form a Magic Kingdom, above and outside the law. Even now, Disney World’s rides are exempt from state safety inspections. Democratic process is excluded, too. Power remains in the hands of a board of supervisors composed of Disney allies. However much you pay for a time-share condo in Disney World, you cannot buy property outright, and therefore establish official residence, and therefore vote for the board. Celebration, Disney’s residential community themed to evoke pre-1940s small-town America, has a city hall but no actual municipal government. read more

    Watoto children honor Trayvon with hauntingly beautiful music video and original song

    Watoto recreates Trayvon's walk


    Watoto recreates Trayvon's walkThe loving and wonderfully talented young performers from Watoto from the Nile have produced a hauntingly beautiful song they call “Warning”. In their music video, the young people follow in the wake of Trayvon’s fateful footsteps as he walks to the 7-11, singing –

    … Watoto here with a Warning … right now our Nation’s in mourning. Oh Martin Family, we’re with you … I put my hoodie oh I weeping … because this case is so misleading. We come together we must care … Trayvon Martin your spirit is in all of us. read more

    Google’s word look-up

    Have you tried Google’s awesome word look-up feature? I love it, and use it often.

    In a Google search window, type a word followed by meaning, or significance and hit search (or the enter key) to get back a complete dictionary definition. Try it and let me know how you like it.

    For example, type: intransigent significance or intransigent meaning and get this back:
    Google definition of intransigent

    Moms, instill manly values in your sons

    make another man

    make another manI just like this budding author’s encouragement to single mothers:

    2pac said it best when he stated “THUGLIFE” stood for the The Hate U Gave Lil Infants Fs Everyone! Single Mothers Bragging about Not Needing A Man but at the Same time Raising their Son to be Gay, or homosexual, a Non Productive Thug, a Gangster, a DeadBeat Dad, everything but a Man. Women, Overstand you have the Power To Produce and Birth Kings, Doctors, Entrepenuers, Scientist, Inventors, Young Gods. The First Teacher is the Mother, You cannot Teach him how to be A Man, But Instill and teach Him Manly Goals, Instill in him to be Strong and Warrior Minded. Because We are at War! Physically, Mentally, Spiritually against D’ Evils read more

    The Great Healers

    Focus on the moment you are in and the enjoyment of life you can experience in that moment. Watch while a string of enjoying moments transform hours, days, weeks, months into a pillow magically whisking you away from loss, pain and frustration. Enjoyment, small happinesses, gratitude for life and time … are all great healers.

    ~ A Kimiism