Does anybody read these?

In the news...

Yesterday I was shaking my head over the fact that some African Americans could embrace the Party of Pat Buchanan, Strom Thurmond, Trent Lott, Bill Bennett, etc. This morning one of my dearest friends sent me an email. I'm not sure if she thought I was on her side or that I could be convinced. Basically the gist of the email (which I deleted in utter disgust) was that it was the poor, immoral black folks of New Orleans own fault that they were left in such bad shape because of Hurricane Katrina. There's so much wrong with that I am speechless. I did however go check out the author, Rev. Jesse L. Peterson's web site. Go look if you're feeling brave. And if you find out how there are black people who knowingly join the Republican party, stop back by here and let me know why, OK?

I have seen a few Angelina Jolie movies and she was good. I'm not sure that I'd say I like her, but I enjoyed those films. I've admired what she has done for international good will, especially her adoption of two children. But I've never stood in the check out line and felt compelled to do something because she or any other celebrity did it and I read it while I was waiting to buy my yogurt and Coke Zero. The same cannot be said for my friend Ann Charles and her husband, Jason, who are adopting a baby from Ethiopia after seeing Angelina on the cover of People. They told their story on Good Morning America this week.

This is the story of Lance Cpl. Travis Williams. You'll remember I mentioned the marines from Ohio who died in Iraq? Lance Cpl. Williams is the only member of his unit who is still alive. The state of our nation's military operations is sad, but thank goodness there are still a few good men out there. However, he's not re-enlisting and he's ready to go home. He deserves it. Semper Fi.

I hate Wal-mart like poison. (Thank god blogs don't need corporate sponsors!) Unfortunately in the dinky town where I live they've gone and put everyone else out of business. The original premise was good. Sam Walton put Wal-marts in where no other stores would go. Then he decided to go in and undercut everyone else and be the only dog in town that way. It sucks. I have to go there for CDs and they don't offer any that aren't sanitized (sucks when your Kid Rock CD gets scratched.) and everything else is always so picked over because we have nowhere else. And, of course, there's the issue of the working conditions and anti-union sentiment at Wal-mart. That pisses me off. So it was nice to read that Wal-mart workers in Florida are starting to organize for more rights. Let's just hope they don't close their store this time.

Song of the Day: Touchdown Tennessee by Kenny Chesney. The Vols had a great game, beating Ole Miss 27-10. And surprise, surprise Rick Clausen started this game. As I always say Phil Fulmer is a coaching genius. And my friend Jen who went to Mississippi lucked out and I forgot to call and sing Rocky Top at half-time!

posted by Laura at 10:41 PM