Where is the logic?? Another one bits the dust........

I liked Fanchon Stinger of Fox TV News (Channel Two) and will miss watching her broadcasts. Fox TV Channel Two did benefit from having her on their news team, but had to let her go once news got out about her being a consultant to a company under a Federal probe . Her news delivery and reports were very polished and professional, which is really lacking here in this area. It seems that most of our downfall as women, is getting so caught up with guys or money that we lose all sense of self and respect. I must admit that I been there before also, but self preservation brought me back from the brink of losing myself. It is sad that Ms. Stinger did not use good judgment, or she let greed overtake common sense, whatever the case may be with this scandal. There is so much mess is coming out with our Detroit's city government, especially now with this Synagro Technologies scandal, that I have chilled out watching the news and reading our local papers. I get most news from radio/online, and it is so easier to turn off, which is preferable right now because it will be a while before the issues with our local government be cleared up. Watching TV news for me at times, is somewhat like driving past a horrendous car accident and you can't stop gazing at the wreckage.

But we all have issues, some tame and some not so workable.

Still have the hair issue. My hair is slowly growing in and I have been dealing with it. I only pulled out the wig twice, but the humidity made me abandon it. I have been wearing my scarves and hats lately also. But after checking my head out today, I am growing more comfortable about it.....But my vain self will be glad when I get some length back. Went to a local event in the hood and saw a lot of old acquaintances. I wore my snazzy hat. It was all good and interesting seeing folks. As usual I flirted, enjoyed some gossip,and had some questions answered. I enjoyed hanging out with them and felt a bit hopeful about the future.

Had to help out the Ex last week when my son called me for assistance. He injured himself and ended up in the hospital. I had to transport him there, and realized that I had not been to that emergency in two years when my son injured himself flipping off his grandparents' porch stoop. The Ex banged himself up pretty bad and I felt sorry for him because it could have been avoided, but it's hard trying to get the guy to understand that he needs to change his life. Part of me wants to get more involved, but that is a slippery slope, and he ain't trying to extend himself to me either. Counseling has not helped in the past, or maybe the Ex just has not met the right counselor, or he just can not be reached until he is motivated and ready. Another thing is that my friend has a issue, although he really can not make a claim because he has not really verbally expressed or stated EXACTLY when and what he wants from me either. So that is the paradox of caring for folks that are mentally scarred and fearful.

But I need to worry about myself. I may have to move soon, and my options of another residence are available, but are not what I desire. I must emphasize that I am very grateful for those options. I like my place, but can no longer afford it, like many folks that are out of work here. I hate to move, although moving allows you to clean house, and shed yourself of things that you no longer need. However, pulling up roots is a bit traumatic for me. Getting acclimated to a new climate takes some time, and I just am not looking forward to do it. At times like many girls, I sometimes fantasize that I had a knight in shining armor to rescue me, but I have never had that luck, although I have know of several girls that have been that fortunate, but it does not last forever. So it is just God and me right now, and I keep the faith that he will work the situation out, although like most of his children, I am hoping that it be in my favor, which really means to the way I Want It To Be...

Real Talk and Real Theft.....

I don't have cable. It is a luxury that I can not afford. It is more important to me to keep a roof over my head, utilities on, food in the house for my kids, and other basic amenities which are so hard to do currently. I did not see the Mayor's new show, "Real Talk." I listened to it on the radio. I hope someone will post it on YouTube.com later, so I can watch it then.

Hearing that Kilpatrick's first guests were City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers and Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, let me know that everything was going to be staged anyway. After seeing some of the show's clips on the Freep.com this morning, I felt from Bully-Cummings' demeanor, she was compelled to do the show by her boss. Conyers' performance was like a flirty, giddy teenager who is determined to assertive herself. Her demeanor was entirely different from what we see as she spars with fellow council members and what we saw when she had to catch herself while talking to that middle school student last week.


Although the show was cozy and amicable, I still can't help but wonder what does our Mayor have on both of these women? Conyers gave us a hint of whose pocket she is in when she admitted on the radio last week that she supports "strip joints as long as they are not near schools." The ones near me are located near and on nice looking blocks where Detroit citizens who are also parents of school age children. Those folks have and are keeping up their property. So she has no problem that they are situated in the neighborhoods though? I guess as long as she does not see them in her neighborhood, the strip joints in our city are not a problem for Mrs Monica Conyers, who is also a parent of two sons.


Unfortunately, Detroit Council Member and former Motown Singer Martha Reeves got a taste of what the citizens of Detroit have to deal with on a regular basis. Her childhood home was burglarized and audio/recording equipment among other things were taken. As I watched her on TV (WDIV, Channel 4 Detroit), I was amazed at her reaction that nobody saw anything and that someone of her stature did not have insurance on those items.

"I would cry if I wasn't an adult," Reeves said Monday after leaving a long City Council budget session. "And what can I do? You know, the police are not watching the neighborhood. Somebody should have called the police while this was happening. The neighbors are not going to talk."

Shoot, nobody saw anything when my home and the homes of both neighbor's on each side of me were burglarized. I can't get frustrated at my neighbors because they were at work or not watching what is going on outside, nor can they get upset with me. Since the break in, I have tried to get to know my neighbors more so that we can watch out for each other. I do truly feel for Martha Reeves' loss, and hope that the police do recover her property. The police told me that they would file a report after my incident, but was not going to check for evidence, like fingerprints. Both of my neighbors moved some months after their homes were invaded.

So right now I am stuck between two vacant houses. My daughter later found the laptop's screen on Seven Mile Road, but it did not do me any good. I guess whoever tried to sell it got ridiculed because the laptop was so old. The burglar probably got frustrated and destroyed it. But I lost all my writings and data. It taught me to back up my data, and reminded me that material things can be replaced, although it will be a while before I can replace my laptop which was used anyway.

Now it's On..............Get Ready to Rumble..............

Now that the charges have finally officially come down against the Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, I was impressed by Prosecutor Kym Worthy and the Mayor's attorney Dan Webb. This morning I listened to both of them on several radio programs, and both lawyers are presenting a strong front. However I am a bit worried with Dan Webb's assertion during the press conference that the text messages were illegally obtained during the civil whistle blower trial. Today's Free Press article indicates:

“Dan Webb, former U.S. attorney in Chicago, said he will attack Prosecutor Kym Worthy's case on at least three fronts: that the telltale text messages should be excluded from evidence because they were obtained in violation of federal Stored Communications Act; that Worthy's office rarely -- if ever -- charges anyone with perjury resulting from a civil case, and that the evidence of perjury is vague.”

If Mr. Webb's argument is successful in excluding the text messages from the trial, I hope that Prosecutor Worthy is capable in having other documentation and proof that will successfully prove her case. However I doubt the citizens of Detroit and Michigan are looking forward to the potential of some long term legal proceedings that will keep the current Mayoral stalemate going.

I found the below interesting article at the Chicago Tribune's website (chicagotribune.com). It is also listed on the WWJ Radio site also. (wwj.com)

Some US mayors who have faced criminal charges

By The Associated Press 10:45 AM CDT, March 24, 2008

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was charged Monday with conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, misconduct in office, perjury in a court proceeding and two counts of perjury other than in a court proceeding.

Some other U.S. mayors charged while in office or after they left, include:

Former Newark, N.J., Mayor Sharpe James is accused of steering nine city contracts to a girlfriend when he was in office. The federal corruption trial is under way. James has pleaded not guilty. After this trial, which is expected to last several months, James is to be tried on charges he used city-issued credit cards to pay for $58,000 worth of personal expenses while he was mayor, including trips with several women other than his wife.

-- Austin, Texas, Mayor Will Wynn pleaded no contest earlier this month to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a 2006 incident. Wynn was ordered to pay $68 in court costs and perform 20 hours of community service or receive private counseling.

-- Collins, Mo., Mayor Allen Kauffman was charged in January with soliciting sex over the Internet from a police detective posing as a 13-year-old girl. Kauffman, 63, is charged with three counts of felony enticement of a child. He has resigned from office. His lawyer has said the 62-year-old expects to plead not guilty at an arraignment set for April 14.

-- Former Syracuse, N.Y., Mayor Lee Alexander was indicted in 1987 and spent six years in prison after his conviction for racketeering, tax evasion and conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation in a scheme that brought him $1.5 million from city contractors.

-- San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock was forced to resign following a 1985 conviction for perjury and concealing illegal campaign contributions.

SOURCE: Associated Press research

State of the City...........hollow message

I could only shake my head as I listened to the last minutes of the message that Mayor Kilpatrick gave on the state of Detroit. It started off the way it should have, and later deteriorated into a petty tirade. As usual, he lambasted the media for his problems. To my surprise, his statements prompted long time WDIV broadcaster Carmen Harlan to make a personal commentary. She let the mayor know that his problems were of his own doing, and were not the fault of the media. I must say that WDIV (Channel 4) has been the most charitable of the three local news stations, especially when they were the station chosen to originally broadcast his January 30th "apology" at his church.

I think that the media has been very lenient with Mayor Kilpatrick, especially The Detroit Free Press who has the text messages. Although they have already revealed some salient details, they have held back which I feel is best option right now. WCHB Radio Host Mildred Gaddis made a valid point on her program today. She suggested that until Mayor Kilpatrick has been formally charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor, holding back the text messages would be in the best interest for any future legal proceedings concerning him. He could demand a change of venue for a potential trial because his argument would be that potential jurors could be influenced by the text messages published by the Detroit Free Press.

I just hope the Wayne County Prosecutor is ethical, and is able to build a solid case against Mayor Kilpatrick when she formally reveals the charges against him. On another note, seeing Carlita Kilpatrick who has maintained a low profile lately, made me pause. Observing the outfit that she wore to the event had me wondering if she was trying to make a political statement. Most of the rest of Kilpatrick clan was dressed conservatively.

But with Mrs. Kilpatrick's attire of a white pantsuit with a black blouse, I could not help but think of widely publicized image of Al Pacino in the movie "Scarface". Was she trying to let folks know that she was on top of the world? Or was she rebelling against the image consultants that her husband recently hired?