Winter Storm Warning

Waiting for the snowflakes...it's just raining down here near the equator.

Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)

Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental’s book distribution program! Since 1966 this vital program has provided books to children of poverty. The Publisher's Weekly article notes that 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million books in 2009! The chasm between haves and have nothings grows wider and deeper.

Photo from PW Blogpost

Julian Bond & Congressman John Lewis at Paschal's

Just a quick post now that it's a few minutes after midnight. MARCH 1st: how timely to meet Julian Bond and Congressman John Lewis here in Atlanta. This is such an unprecedented moment in our history. What's happening now in the presidential race is a result of the courage these men (and many other men, women and children) demonstrated during the Civil Rights Movement.

Johnnie Carr Joins the Angels & We Mourn

Photo by Rob Carr, AP

My heart felt heavy when I read the news that 97-year-old Johnnie Carr died on February 22, 2008. Southern Poverty Law Center co-founder Morris Dees called Carr a Civil Rights Icon: Carr joined her childhood friend Rosa Parks during the Montgomery bus boycott. Her son Arlam Carr, Jr. was a classmate at Montgomery's Sidney Lanier High School, although it took the court case his mother initiated to end desegregation at the city's formerly all-white schools. My condolences go out toArlam and his family as I reflect on life in the South during those turbulent years.

The Countdown Begins...7 Days...

...until I'm in Atlanta for the beginning of an incredible journey!

Civil Rights South: a 7-day trip led by Julian Bond. The Gypsy Queen Cab will be on the road with camera, video, and laptop to chronicle the journey through the eyes of those who led the Civil Rights Movement.

As Ken Burns explored "emotional archaeology" in his production of The War, I join other travelers who refuse to live with "historical amnesia" about events that were "too awful to countenance."

Eric Kingrea's Jewish Mama Makes a Plea to Baratunde Thurston

Friday night, January 4, 2008, at Fairhope's Eastern Shore Art Center...Debbie Kingrea, who asked me to tag her as "Eric Kingrea's Jewish Mama", wants Baratunde Thurston to hear her plea for her son Eric to become an intern for THE ONION!

Baratunde, I can tell you that Eric is one heck of a writer! I heard him just a few years ago, at age 17, reading one of his stories (in print...MacAdam/Cage BLUE MOON CAFE) and Eric is great!

He's a bouncer at the Trash Bar in Williamsburg/Brooklyn, New York. He's also an actor, he reviews theatre...and he already interviewed to be an intern for The Onion. Y'all, please see this young man!

Here's Eric's Mama in a shameless promotion for her son...and she knows Eric is going to be mortified to learn that his Mama is appearing in a blog as well as on Facebook!

How Green Is Your Presidential Candidate?

Take a look at Grist's guide to determine just how green your presidential candidates are!

What?! No Response from Flip Video

Well, FLIP VIDEO folk, I'm more than annoyed with you. I asked nicely to find out when I might receive my replacement FLIP VIDEO and DVD with all the video downloads...and you haven't replied to emails since 12.22.07. Shame on you! Now I've posted my frustration on Facebook, joined the Facebook group for FLIP VIDEO and announced my dissatisfaction, and I'm posting again here...along with a JPG file of the Facebook post.

Next stop TECHNORATI...