Manns Medium

Late August 2011, my mother was informed by her granddaughter, whom shall remain anonymous and does not reside with her, was reporting being abused at her home.   Now this family, being so tight-knit, was quite surprised at this news.   We automatically began to check out her story to find out if any of it was true.   We soon learned that the incident did not happen but we did learn that there were a few issues we as a family needed to address.   We learned to better spot a call for help by our children and we educated ourselves on what we could do to help them through this phase.   To some, this information would have broken the family but to us, it only served to make us stronger.   That was until the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) got involved.   Early September, my mother received a phone call from an individual saying that she was the supervisor of one of the investigative specialist assigned to this case.   At fi...

Republican National Committee (RNC) offers Political Action Committees (PACs) “access to top RNC leadership throughout the Convention and an opportunity to network with other Fortune 500 Companies and Trade Association executives,” for a fee.   The fee is “a contribution of $15,000 to join the Majority Fund for 2011 and making an additional contribution of $15,000 in 2012.”   The two year membership commitment opens PACs to access to “four credentials and two hotel rooms in Tampa.” What does that really mean and how does this prove how money has taken control of our politics and election?   It is quite safe to assume that any entity that pays this much to have access to our political representatives will eventually get something in return.   No one will pay this much and get nothing in return.   This contribution promises contributors a “Grand Majority Fund status and will be invited to attend and receive premier credentials to special events at the 2012 RNC Co...

One of the most remarkable things about any nation is often times, its history and not its people.   What makes the history remarkable does however depend on nothing less that its people.   The people who refuse to learn from the past and repeat it as often as they can ignore that times and situations changes.   Nothing proves this more than the uproar coming from the TLC show All American Muslim and the advertisers running for cover. According to Dylan Stableford’s article titled “ Another company pulls advertising from TLC’s ‘All-American Muslim’   “On the heels of a controversial decision by Lowe's Home Improvement to pull its advertising from TLC's "All-American Muslim" following protests from a conservative group, another company has decided to do the same--though it claims it was not because of the backlash.   In a letter of apology to customers , an executive at Kayak.com , the online travel site, explained the decision to stop advertising on the new re...

We all have heard the GOP’s constant claim that raising taxes on the “job creators” is why they oppose any movements to decrease unemployment and get the nation back to work.   In the beginning many had come to believe it and support it but lately the public is waking up to a different realization thanks in part to the exposure of this myth by National Public Radio (NPR).   John Stossel felt compelled to step up and save this lie but only managed to bring on further damage to the claim. Mr. Stossel, who made a name for himself by investigating those stories other journalist was afraid to touch.   He made his name by refusing to accept things as they seemed and kept digging until he got to the truth.   He was a very trusted journalist for those of us who are less interested as to what was being reported by the lesser journalist and more interested in the real story.   I remember having to stop what I was doing when Mr. Stossel made his report because it woul...

Being a single parent, I can really feel the anguish many parents may endure this holiday season when it comes to not having the finances to put anything under the Christmas tree or even have a tree this year but while thinking about that, another thought entered my mind.   What if this event is happening for another reason, what if this is an opportunity for all of us to get back to the real meaning of Christmas. In a well-written article by Phil Wahba and Martha Sanchez-Avila for Reuters titled Poor struggling, rich spending as Christmas nears, it was reported that “Adriana Garcia won't be buying her family Christmas gifts this year.   The 26-year-old from Huntington Park, California lost her job as a teacher's assistant last year and now works part-time at a Jamba Juice near Los Angeles.   Her husband, a security guard unable to work since hurting his hand three months ago, is not yet getting his disability checks. The couple spends on the basics: food and rent. ...

Nataliya Vasilyeva of the Associated Press pens and article titled Mikhail Gorbachev calls for a new vote in Russia in this article she writes that “Russian authorities should annul the parliamentary vote results and hold a new election, ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev urged Wednesday as popular indignation grew over widespread reports of alleged election fraud.   Thousands of Russians have rallied in Moscow and St. Petersburg in the last two days, facing off against tens of thousands of police and Interior Ministry troops. Gorbachev told the Interfax news agency that authorities must hold a fresh election or deal with a rising tide of discontent.   Sunday's parliamentary vote suggested Russians are tiring of Putin and his United Russia party, which has dominated all other political forces in Russia for the past dozen years and earned a reputation for corruption.” If her reporting is correct, does this not sound quite familiar?   The people are beginning to feel m...

After watching the Chevron Tournament featuring Tiger Woods first win in a very long time, one begins to wonder if this is the turning point to where we will now begin to see the best golfer in the world retaking his place in the history books.   Personally, I say that watching him during this tournament makes me think that the commentators and analyst might just have a point but a part of me is still a little apprehensive because of the fear of disappointment.   Not disappointment in in personal life because no one should have to live up to the standards set by another but his performance on the course.   I saw a Tiger Woods on the final shot at the 18 th hole that I haven’t seen in quite some time.   I heard a Tiger roar and saw a Tiger strut.   I liked what I saw and it makes me want to follow him closely so that I may see that again. I submit that if the Tiger who showed up on the 16, 17 and 18 th hole shows up and plays all week, America might ju...

A story by MSNBC.com Staff reporting that Fulton County sheriff’s deputies refused to evict a 103 year old woman and her 83 year old daughter should remind us about what this nation is really about.   It is not a nation of greed but a nation of each for another.   No one will stand in anyone’s way of making a better life for them and their families but failing to see people instead of profit should demand a loud cry from all of us. The story reported that “Fulton County Sheriff’s deputies and a moving company hired by the bank showed up at Vita Lee’s Penelope Road home on Tuesday, according to a report on WSBTV.com.   But when the men saw the frail woman, they opted to leave instead of carry through with the forced move.” Nothing says more about the strength of this nation than that.   While it may be true that those ordered to carry out this task did not do their jobs, it must also be said that true and sincere convictions of a people is not and will never be...

Throughout the years, many have seen our educational system go from the best interest of the child to whatever policy suited those in charge best.   Knowing that rules need to be made in order to prevent any possibility of favoritism, I stand with rules that make sense but as time moves forward so should the rules we abide by. One main rule that requires changing is the rule where decision of suspension and expulsion are made prior to notification of parents.   Image being told that you child has been suspended or expelled offering parents no role in participating at all.   Many educators say that parental participation in a child’s education can make a world of difference but how many parents are really involved when decisions are made without their input. I do not have a problem with policies that say if a child commits one offense or another, they will have to suffer the consequences of suspension or expulsion but to make that decision only to have that child ...

It’s been 49 years and I still can hear the laughter, the taunts and sneers of children my age teasing me for being on Welfare.   It didn’t matter that my mother was challenged to raise ten children single-handily or the quite clear fact that I was not able to choice to what family and to what situation I would be born to.   Honestly the memories were only whispers until Newt Gingrich reminded me with his comments of poor children cleaning the school bathrooms and mopping the floors.   The arrogance of those who believed as a child and now as an adult that getting financial help from the government was nothing short of charity and making all those who receive it lazy.   I used to think that way. I had made up my mind that I would never beg the government for help and this also made me quite defiant to asking anyone for help.   As I think back now, I believe that this has served me well.   I’ve paid very close attention when it came to learning somethin...

Be it known to all who read this that I am not an expert in relationships, dating or human nature nor do I play one on television.   I am only a mere layman with the power of observation and that power, which is shared by all of us, is where I come from with this revelation.   I am sure that you have read or heard of hundreds of articles about why people cheat but none that I have ever seen or heard of have mentioned what I consider the number one reason. Many have been preaching that the reason men cheat is because it’s part of their DNA or some animal instinct.   I think these reasons are just an excuse and with any excuse if you play it long enough people will start to believe it and do nothing more than except it as fact.   Many preach that the reason women cheat is because it is to even the “playing” field for both the sexes or just plainly to get even.   Again, it is my belief that these are excuses and fall along the same line as previous stated. ...

Not being a particular fan of the show, I was present to watch Season 5, Episode 4, series called Handy Man.   While I believe that Patrick Warburn/Jeff and Mehyn Price/Andrey are well worth watching the show, I could not help but to feel sick after seeing the relationship between David Spade/Russell and Adhir Kalyan/Timmy. I guess the writers on this show still feel that indentured servitude is still funny because viewing how little Russell seemed to value Timmy made me ill.   I guess having to say sir to someone who thinks so little of you that you must scrap all the little seeds from his sandwich bothers me greatly.   People are free to choose the style of life that they wish to lead and in this story, if Timmy wishes to follow Russell around like some lost little puppy then so be it but for me, this show will never grace my TV watching schedule again.   I think the real reason I have such a problem with this dynamic is that Timmy cannot find the spine to jus...

If you listen to the many lawmakers in Washington and in local areas, one would be forced to believe that regulations are the sole reason why the economy collapsed and why it is recovering so slowly.   One would be dead wrong. Regulations can help businesses more than it can hurt it.   There are three major ways how regulations does just that but seldom are these heard because they just might not fit the image many would like for the public to see.   As many of us are very much aware, a falsehood/lie has to dressed up before being paraded around which often times draws our attention while the truth is always plain and clear to see but without the dressing is often ignored. Regulations help businesses by requiring the best possible ingredients be used for any product made in America.   How that helps business is this forces business to use the best possible ingredients and thereby allowing them to claim that high quality mantle.   Americans do not mind p...

We all know that in order to thrive as a business you need customers but in order to get customers they have to have an avenue to pay for your product.   If customers are to have an avenue to pay for your product, they need to have access to a job.   In order for businesses to hire they need customers to buy their products.   It’s as plain as the nose on your face that in order to make all of this happen the first thing any economy needs to do is to create as many jobs as possible. In business school, we are taught that this is mainly called supply and demand.   You supply the products people want and need to buy but that number is very much related to the demand that is out there for that product.   You may have the best product ever but if the demand is not there, it will not sell.   Customers having disposable income are and always will be the difference between thriving and surviving for any business.   It can be said that disposable income is...

As a former U.S. Marine, I quite often find myself attempting to meet the standards set up by those in power and seldom do I ever match any of them.   I am held responsible for keeping your freedoms free and accomplishing the mission that allows those in power to obtain that power but even that is not good enough collateral to secure a loan or run your business. In the military, you are mostly graded on your ability to follow orders, accomplish the mission and the time you have spent dedicated to your particular job.   When that life is over and you are integrated into the civilian world, it’s a rude awakening to learn that the promises made are not the promises kept.   When you wore the uniform of the U. S. Armed Forces, people come up to you all the time to express their gratitude for your willingness to lay down your life to keep the joy in theirs but as soon as you disrobe from that obligation, so goes all that goodwill. You are charged with keeping America s...

If you are a political junkie, like me, you have probably chosen your ideal place to receive your fix but all of them are missing a vital lesson being provided by these early poll numbers. Many are aware of the inability of Mitt Romney to garner more than 25% of the vote from the Republican base and their reason is that the base does not like Mitt Romney.   I suggest that there is another more obvious reason which is not being reported by these same experts, pundits and commentators.   The lesson is America is seeking someone with a spine that is willing to show a tiny particle of respect to all that they are running to represent.   This is not the case for Mitt Romney.   He is avoiding all those areas where he may not be welcomed with open arms but these are the same areas which will be looking to him for leadership if he intends to occupy the White House. Regardless of what you think of Barack Obama, there was no part of America he would avoid and many tim...

In order to understand this question, I will attempt to set the stage and the parts that each actor is playing.   NBA Owners and David Stern will be casted as Wall Street and Congress refusing to help create jobs, ESPN and the other media will be playing the part of Fox News while the NBA players will be playing the part of the 99ers or laborers. The players are really the ones who are putting the butts in the seats and why tickets sell, it is not how expensive the arena looks or feel that draws the crowds and even though many of the laborers receive a hefty salary for their work, there is still a such thing as respect that right now appears more important that a paycheck.   NBA Owners and David Stern have been running roughshod over this group for years and using money as the carrot to make the workers mind unwilling to accept that their titles does not declare them the soul reason for the billions which pad their bank accounts.   It has gotten to the point that the...

I tire of hearing some African-Americans who say that Herman Cain is not getting a break from the news media.   What they should be saying is those around Herman Cain are not as in love with him as they pretend and is therefore only using him to get what they can while they can. Some of you may ask why I say this and to keep it quite simple it’s because if you cared as much about Herman Cain as some say they do, the bonehead mistake that he makes while making all African-American look like backwards people would not be happening.   If you cared enough, you would make sure that when he speaks, he speaks from some position of some knowledge instead of playing this entire exercise as a game or something to have fun with.   This is a serious job requiring a serious person.   We have had enough court jesters in the Oval Office we do not need one in the run up to the nomination. Herman Cain claimed to be the Koch Brothers brother from another mother and we all kno...

For 15 years, Penn State University officials knew about the robbing of innocence children of their self-esteem and self-worth but did nothing except hide behind the wall of ignorance.   Each did just enough to help them sleep at night but none did all that they could to help them rest peacefully.   It has always been said that what you do in the dark will eventually find its way into the light.   Welcome to the light Coach Paterno, Coach Sandusky and Happy Valley. Many commentators, pundits and reporters are shocked by this news and some still are only speaking of Joe Paterno’s legacy and his “good” name.   For these people, let me put your mind at ease, Joe Paterno will still get into the Hall of Fame and his wins will still be printed in the records books.   His legacy will not suffer but I cannot say that about his soul.   Like that of the Catholic Church, when these allegations were first brought to light back in 1998, there was a moral obligation...

To say that the Republican Debate conducted by CNBC was painful to watch is an understatement.   I had hoped to hear something different and find a reason to be positive about the upcoming 2012 election but was greatly disappointed.   I cared not about the accusations of sexual harassment involving Herman Cain but I was glad to hear him being asked about character.   I cringed when Rick Perry spoke about the agencies he would close and so many other things. It was nice to hear Jon Huntsman respond to the questions asked of him and even though I may not agree with much of what he said, it was the only highlights that I can point to.   I wonder when the “real” Republicans are going to stand up and declare that the 23% does not speak for them and instead of trying to take this country back to the 1800s, take the party back from the Tea Party first.   We need a different set of voices to help us make the best decision for this nation’s benefit as a whole but wh...

Many reporters, commentators and pundits are now on a tear about Bill Clinton’s new book and while that may be good for book sales, it leaves a lot to be desired about the controversy that supposedly exists between Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. There needs to always be a differencing of opinions when it comes to which direction this country should go.   We need to have it because not one person knows everything and often times will over-look something which could be sorely needed when it comes to decision that need to be made.   Because President Clinton is a completely different man than President Obama, having him around gives the Obama Administration something else to consider before a decision is made.   Obama has always maintained that he needs people around him that will challenge his ideas and Bill Clinton as well as many others surrounding this president will do just that.   Mr. Clinton proves that you can disagree with anyone without being disagreeable...

Simply speaking it is because they backed the wrong horse.   When the Tea Party emerged the GOP left a vapor trail attempting to co-op them because they were speaking the language that they wanted to hear and it benefitted them in their opposition to this president and his administration.   Now comes Occupy Wall Street and the message is distinctly different from that of the Tea Party so they cannot switch horses now that the race has started. The GOP constantly use the words “the American people” but polls show that the majority supports much of what the Tea Party does not.   They stepped out there to grab a hold of the Tea Party reigns and for a while there seemed to be getting their points across.   That was before the true owners of the Tea Party revealed themselves and all hell broke loose.   Now they favor a smaller government except in the case of standing between a woman’s rights and their doctors or an individual’s choice in religion, not to mentio...

I, like many I am sure, were taken for a ride when the new crop of Republicans vowed to dedicate their election to office toward job creation.   I did not appreciate the skepticism of Democrats and Independents that stayed home during the midterm elections but thought that the GOP would at least follow through on their promise of jobs.   Now that they have been in control of the House of Representatives and not passed one jobs bill, makes me regret not making more of a fuss prior to the conclusion of the midterms but what makes things even worse was seeing their true agenda plainly displayed on C-Span yesterday. C-Span showed the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee debating the authority needed to subpoena the White House about the Solyndra loan.   While I support this committee finding out what happened and making the necessary laws to insure that it does not happen again, I was taken aback to see that the real purpose of this exercise was to give the head of this...

Maybe it’s just me but lately I’ve been noticing an increase in class-action lawsuits being brought by attorney’s on behalf of those who would otherwise have no voice or way to receive justice.   While I can support this need for equality, I also can’t help but think that there may be more to it than meets the eye. I say this because I was once asked to join a class-action lawsuit where there had been proven illegal activity and having lost a generous amount of money; personally, the received settlement was miniscule compared to the amount which was supposedly set aside by the judge.   The set-aside amount of in the millions yet my portion of the settlement amounted to less than $20.   I then had to ask the question of just how much the attorney’s representing the plaintiffs received. I fear that the same thing may happen in the case of Black Farmers getting their justice.   Michael Hewlett of the Winston-Salem Journal reports in his article that a Judge has a...

Michelle Kessel and Jessica Hopper presented a story for Rock Center on the North Carolina sterilization program that targeted women, young girls and blacks.   I the article they speak about Elaine Riddick who was raped at the age of 13 and without her knowledge was sterilized.   Talk about the over-reach of government. In the article they spoke with now Governor of North Carolina who said “From my perspective, and as a woman, and as the governor of this state, this is not about the money.   There isn’t enough money in the world to pay these people for what has been done to them, but money is part of the equation.”   The main issue right now is reported to be just how much money should be awarded to the victims of this state government over-reach.   The decision on who should be sterilized was the job of what was called “a five-person state eugenics board in Raleigh, Eugenics was a scientific theory that grew in popularity during the 1920s.   Eugenicists...

Many mainstream pundits and talking heads of the GOP were quick to blame the outing of Herman Cain sexual harassment incident on Democrats and some even called it another “lynching” as was mentioned in the Clarence Thomas Hearings.   Now that it appears the incident may have been leaked by those within his own party, those who first claimed this is suspiciously quiet. What may be getting lost in this entire endeavor is that Mr. Cain’s team may have leaked this themselves and playing the media for their own gain.   Consider this, blame the Perry campaign and raise millions of dollars by gathering a larger part of the Republican elective,   This ensure that Perry will not be the one to contend with Mitt Romney for the Republican nominee for President.   The more people who side with Cain, the less Perry will garner and eventually may be forced to withdraw.   Why else would you implicate anyone without providing proof?    Now Rick Perry is attempting...

Before President Obama could meet with the Republican, they met and decided not to assist this president with anything and this was shortly after he had been inaugurated.   From day one it was apparent that nothing this president supported would receive any embarrass from the GOP.   They had a pretty good argument in the beginning when they were asking the question of how the policies this president wanted would be paid for. That argument is no longer valid and it seems that many looking on have figured that out except for those in the position to make life better for those they were set to serve.   They then created the myth that the 1% or job creators were against paying a little more in taxes and it was their job to protect business from being gouged by this administration.   Even though polls overwhelmingly showed that the majority was in favor of what the president was proposing, the GOP still leaned on the premise that taxes should not be raised in a reces...

You-tube video of a father and mother disciplining their 16 year old daughter has created a firestorm about child abuse.   Texas Judge William Adams and wife Hallie was shown using a belt to whip daughter Hillary because she was caught downloading music from the internet.   To Hillary the punishment did not fit the crime and according to wife Hallie, she was forced to participate.   While I am a strong supporter of this form of discipline, I am saddened that these parents took it way too far.   I have always advocated that before any parent begins this form of punishment, they need to first remain calm, explain the reason for the punishment and then proceed following the rules as they have set down.   No offense is worthy of striking a child more than 3 times and in most cases once.   What this demonstrates to me is the lack of control by both parents. The Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge appears to have been influenced by anger instead of resolve...