Who Doesn't Like MLK?

Although MLK Day is the third Monday of every January, I think that Dr. King deserves a little more focus than just that one day a year. These thoughts were sparked by a poll from Rasmussen Reports from January of 2008 that only 79% of polled people have a favorable opinion of King. Who are these people in the 21% that don't like him? Besides winning the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, the guy did all kinds of awesome stuff. (Additionally, I've always been especially fond of the original Martin Luther and his 95 Theses. But maybe that's a different post.) Its like those folks who don't really care for my boy Abe Lincoln (me and Abe and Barack are from the same hood). Here's a quick history lesson and some information that's new to me about an MLK conspiracy and more current news related to his death. Just FYI.

We all know that James Earl Ray shot King at 6:01 p.m. April 4, 1968.

According to Wikipedia:

"In 1997, Martin Luther King's son Dexter King met with Ray, and publicly supported Ray's efforts to obtain a retrial. In 1999, Coretta Scott King, King's widow, along with the rest of King's family, won a wrongful death civil trial against Loyd Jowers and "other unknown co-conspirators". Jowers claimed to have received $100,000 to arrange King's assassination. The jury of six whites and six blacks found Jowers guilty and that "governmental agencies were parties" to the assassination plot. William F. Pepper represented the King family in the trial.

On April 6, 2002, the New York Times reported a church minister, Rev. Ronald Denton Wilson, claimed his father, Henry Clay Wilson—not James Earl Ray—assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr. He stated, 'It wasn't a racist thing; he thought Martin Luther King was connected with communism, and he wanted to get him out of the way.'"

Pretty strange huh? We all know that I could write a book about conspiracy theories, so I find this super interesting. Too bad that's already been done. Like, a million times. Go MLK!

I miss you St. Pats.

I really love St. Patricks day and all its Glory (evidence here in photographs), but this year I will experience very little St. Patricks day fun. I will be traveling for work the entire week/weekend before St. Patricks day AND will be in class on St. Pats itself. I will be running a Shamrock Shuffle 8k on the 9th, and for this I plan to color my hair and face green to express my love for the holiday. Because I will practically miss St. Pats this year, I will try to provide some St. Pats fun-facts for you all in the weeks preceding the holiday. This is a fact I just learned at about.com this year that involves Old St. Pat AND Leap Year!!

"Leap Year has been the traditional time that women can propose marriage. In many of today's cultures, it is okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Society doesn't look down on such women. However, that hasn't always been the case. When the rules of courtship were stricter, women were only allowed to pop the question on one day every four years. That day was February 29th. It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year. "

I mean, its cool for gals to propose to their guys all year round, but its interesting that St. Patrick was involved in this sly little agreement. I guess my advice to you all is to propose to your sig other tomorrow...or in 4 years...or, heck...maybe just wait til you are ready. :)

The Meow of Change

Barack Obama recieved the endorsment today of Marmalade Kitties all over the Nation. I wonder how many delegates the kitties have?

I hope this is a joke.

CNN Reported today that ALL STARBUCKS WILL CLOSE FOR 3 HOURS this evening.

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Warning to Starbucks junkies who usually get a fix on their way home from work: You're out of luck on Tuesday. Starbucks, which last week announced 600 layoffs, plans to temporarily close its 7,100 U.S. stores on Tuesday for three hours of employee training. The coffee chain said the in-store training program which will begin at 5:30 p.m. local time, would foster enthusiasm in its 135,000 U.S. employees and improve the quality of drinks made by Starbucks baristas."

I mean, sure, I want my barista to make the best possible drink, but I can guarantee that I'm gonna have a hankering for my iced Americano somewhere between the hours of 5:30 and 8:30 local time. This is truly distressing.

Once again, Illinois beats Michigan

You all may have read about the cow in Saginaw County, Michigan which miraculously has the image of the state of Michigan in its markings on its side:

But I really think you all should be aware, that, as usual, Illinois has beaten the heck out of Michigan. In this rare photograph you can see the true awesomeness of Mother Nature:

Thats right. This Zebra not only boasts the shape of Illinois in its glorious hyde, but also a vivid representation of Illinois roads, unlike the vague resemblence to Michigan the above bovine demonstrates. Go Illinois!

NYC is Dangerous for Kittens

I've previously posted about how cats are bad-ass survivor types and heres just one more example!

The Associated Press reported that a six month old kitten was found after 25 days scurrying about New York Subway tunnels. Here is the full text:

" NEW YORK (AP) - A skittish kitten that scampered out of its carrier on a subway platform has been found after 25 days in the underground tunnels. Transit workers tracked down 6-month old Georgia under midtown Manhattan Saturday. Police reunited her with owner Ashley Phillips, a 24-year-old Bronx librarian. After hearing that the black cat might have been spotted below Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street, track workers Mark Dalessio and Efrain LaPorte went through the area making "meow" sounds. Georgia responded, and they found her cowering in a drain between two tracks. Georgia had lost some weight and scratched her nose but was otherwise unhurt. She had disappeared while Phillips was bringing her home from a veterinarian visit last month."

There wasnt a picture with the article, but I can imagine the scrawny furball this little cat must have been after her rescue. I wonder if she had any close encounters with those famous NYC sewer alligators...

Darn You Constitution!

This opinion article by Dick Marple in the Concord Monitor is now my favorite example of primitive ideas and behavior that have surfaced in Presidential Election because a woman is up for the nomination of the democratic party. Of course, we have all read that Mrs. Clinton can't be president because she would be too emotional or not respected by men in power in other countries, but this is the first time I've read that she can't be president because the constitution doesn't allow women the right:

" Most people believe not only that the 19th Amendment permitted women the right to vote but that since women serve in Congress, the courts and other offices of government, the office of president of the United States has been de-genderized.

Not true. This important legal question exists now and has not been constitutionally addressed. The language and syntax of the 19th Amendment merely removed the barriers that prevented women from voting. It did not identify women to be qualified to become elected president.

The language is clear. The 19th Amendment says: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Man, this guy really has some serious mommy issues if he's really trying to prove that women legally can't serve in public office in the U.S.. Well, I can't wait for it to come before the Supreme Court, Dick. This is awesome, right?

Just for Kitten's Sake...

This was my favorite random kitten image from a recent Google Search on "Kitten Bucket". Thanks to Steph, who's glass is apparently half full, for the image.

Celebrate V-Day

Valentine's Day is a nice holiday and all but its not all that February 14th is all about.

Feb 14 is also V-Day.

V-Day was born in 1998 as an outgrowth of Eve Ensler's Obie-Award winning play, "The Vagina Monologues." As Eve performed the piece in small towns and large cities all around the world, she saw and heard first hand the destructive personal, social, political and economic consequences violence against women has for many nations.

From this experience V-Day was born.

V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls.

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.

V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

V-Day is a day.

We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence. So, wear Red today, and every Feb 14, to stop violence against women and girls, especially if you, or a woman you know, has been a victim of violence. When someone comments that you are wearing red for Valentines day, correct them —- tell them the real reason you wear red. For more info visit: http://www.vday.org/contents/vday/aboutvday/mission

Sorry about the Lack of Blog...

I've been really sick, yo.  Here's Proof.  I'll hopefully be back on the blogwagon this weekend. I know I've been missed. :)