The Outcast

I feel like an outcast in this big world of diversity of cultures. I listen to all types of music so no one can place me on any category. Some people say that I am weird. For an example, when I was young or in my early teenage years, my friends would come over and watch TV with me. During that time MTV was a big hit. Well it was in the 80s and MTV was awesome. I knew every song and every video. Although I am an African American my favorite group at that time was Duran Duran, Journey, Huey Lewis and the News, The Pet Shop Boys, Metalica, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and many more. Of course I did like the others, Prince (My favorite of all time) Michael Jackson. Kool and the Gang, The Gap Band, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Ronnie Milsap and much much more. I should have been a DJ that would have been my dream job. I know my true calling and it is movie production. The weird ones will always have the upper hand in art. We are always creating things and using our wild imagination. At first I thought it was a curse but now I know it is a blessing. I have been teased all of my life about this problem but I am the one with the last laugh. No matter what the outcome will be in my future I will come out on top. I think everyone has that chance in life. Everyone can reach their goals. All we have to do is believe in ourselves. At one time I almost lost that belief. It almost took my dreams away again but this time I will not let my dreams fall by the way side.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut

It seems strange when a person likes to do research on a subject and the tell the world what they have found out. I am that type of person but their is one big difference that I have than the rest of those type of people. I will write it in stone and put the information on film. Maybe I am a black Michael Moore, HA!HA!HA! I have decided to not only produce and write movies with other themes but the documentary will be the most informative. Next year when I find time, one of the documentaries will be the history of slavery and how it shaped America. I have thanks to my English glass for that one. When we talked about race and slavery came up in the conversation, transpired a great debate on some companies that began from slave money. I was sort of shocked that some people did not know about these companies. Since not many people know about these companies, I think a documentary should inform them about this issue. Like I said in one of my other blogs, if you knew about these companies you would fall out of your seats. I am not trying to hurt any one but I believe that there should not be any hidden history. All history should be told, as long it is the truth and the history can be investigated by everyone. All links to the information given should be open to the public so they can find out for themselves.

A Fight For My Life

This semester started out well until I had another diabetes attack. Since my sugar level went up to 394 my body have felt a weakness that is out of this world. It feels like someone have drained all of the energy out of me. My legs aches from the knee down to my feet. Sometimes it feels like someone put rubber bands around my knees so my circulation will not go down to my bottom legs. For the last few weeks I have been stuck in the bed and have falling behind on all of my work. I am desperately trying to keep up with my studies but I am more determined than ever. I am so mad at my body or what I might say the devil. It might seem strange to anyone else but I think the devil has a lot to do with my sickness. Ever time I am about to accomplish a feat something always happens. Not this time I will not let anything get in my way this this time. The devil is a lie and the truth is not in him. I know God will help me graduate and accomplish all of my goals. I am a firm believer in God and Jesus. I have prayed about this and I have confermation from both of them. I will reach my goals with all of their help, regardless of my sickness, weaknesses and getting behind in my work. I will become successful with my company, school, family, and everything else that I want to accomplish in my life. Praise God and Hallelujah!

A Little Confused!

Right now I am very confused about this summer. If I go to summer school my time at U of Memphis will be a lot shorter. I have 2 choices that will probably change my life. I will graduate, if I work very hard and if I go to summer school, in December 2008. Then again if I wait and do not go to summer school, I will graduate the spring of 2009. This summer I plan to work on my movie projects and start my production company. If I go to school this summer my company will be harder to start. I will not have enough time to actually work and began working on my projects. I know it takes time to begin a business but this summer could really make my career shoot off like a rocket. The other problem is I am tired of school. I would like to get it over with and graduate this fall. I hate making these decisions. There is hope. I just want to do the right thing. This choice could make me or break me. What I am afraid of is if I do not keep going to school I might not go back and finish and if I put off my career I might lose my inspiration to create art in movie making. There is one thing for sure about this summer. I am going to work out as much as possible so I can look decent in film. Does anyone else have any good advice for me.

Still is not a Racist

Although a person did give a good definition on racism, Kaynye did not say that blacks are more superior than whites. Wendy did not however discuss the other comments about the Katrina tragedy and how other people used the statement "White people." I would not use that sort of language but sometime you have to understand what the person meant in that situation. Of course I would hate to repeat myself but I do not think some people read or heard what was said in my blog. When the Indians use that same dialect in history nothing is said. Some Indians use those words when they talk about their history. Please watch the history channel. They have a history documentary on early America. The show was called 500 Nations. I still do not think the Indians used the words " White man." as a racist statement. They were angry and they had a right to be angry. Terry Bradshaw saw the Katrina issue as a racial problem also. The way as Kanye did and Terry was not called a racist. What if you find out the truth about New Orleans and the devastating loss of lives that occurred during Katrina? You just might say that this was a big racial issue in America. Kanye should have said it a lot clearer and nicer but I do not think he is a racist. The ones who allowed people to parish in this horror are the real racist.

Working On My Web Page

The other day I decided to work on a web page for my company. A friend of mine who I used to work with and a former college classmate will help me. I thought this would be easy. It is not as easy as I thought. The name of the company will be BOATWRIGHT PRODUCTIONS. I have a large arrange of movies that will be produced. I will film and produce and act in almost every type of movie with the exception of porn. I am into horror, drama, mystery, documentaries, action, phenomena and weird sightings. My biggest problem is finding a logo for my company. With a name like Boatwright, it seems that a logo should be easy to find. Maybe a large boat sailing the seas drifting to the right. Baring over trouble waters but surviving the high waves and coming to a stop in a mystical island. This summer will be the hardest work I have ever done because I will work my butt off to start my own business. I am working on projects but I can not put my full effort because I am behind on my studies. So people if you have any ideas on my logo, please give me some input.

My Paper

I have decided to do something very risky but I hope this works out. I have decided to start my paper over in some places. Instead of talking about consolidation my paper will become a work about property taxes. I have more information on property taxes then consolidation. Most of the businesses in West Memphis, Arkansas pays property taxes to Marion, Arkansas. The county seat claims that the sales taxes stays in West Memphis, Arkansas but I have proof that they are wrong. I have spoken with a city tax collector in Little Rock, Arkansas and the laws changed during the late 80s. I should have updated these figures earlier and changed my paper at a better time but I work better under pressure. I will probably work all night on this paper and all weekend for the entire paper. Work does not bother me but diabetes will be under control in a few days. This will make me work habit better than ever. Maybe the districts changed there line on property taxes but that was not the issue. The district line had been the same for years. The money changed hands in the small government system in West Memphis, Arkansas. This will be brought up in the next election. It is funny how a project can change an entire county. Wendy I did not use this as a revenge message. I am a film producer and some of my works tells the truth. I will let the people decide what they want to do with the truth.

Maybe We Should Investigate!

It seems as if no one likes to do research on certain subjects. The other day in class I made a statement about companies that were build from slavery. Some people started to criticize the statement but they would fall out of their seats if they knew the truth. They have to understand that I like to research on different subjects. At first a history teacher told me about these companies. I was like some of the class members. I did not want to believe that certain companies were built from slavery. Well, I did research on my own and I had some help from history instructors. Let it be known. The stories that some of the companies had told the public was not true. The companies that the person named was built from old slave money. The people who did not believe me really need to investigate this for themselves. There is nothing wrong with these companies. I found out that some other companies of today were built from drug trafficking and other unfamiliar cases. One company that I really look up to is Miramax. Miramax in the early 80s made there first money from porn. Yes the great company that filmed and produced some of the greatest movies of our time also produced x-rated films back in the day. Although some companies were built from strange business ventures from the past does not make the company a bad one. Always remember do research before you disagree with a person. If you do not believe a person, investigate and research their statement and prove them wrong, if it means so much to you. I DARE YOU. The only reason why I say these things is to teach people the truth. If I just tell them the truth they will never know the truth but if the person who do not believe me please investigate for themselves then they can not call themselves a lie.

Is Kanye West A Racist!

Some people might consider the rapper Kayne West is a racist. They probably believe this because of the statement he said during the Katrina tragedy. This is only a paraphrase, they claimed that he made the a statement" Bush does not like black people and whites will pay for what they did of did not do about the Katrina victims." Since he only put the word whites and did not point out which ones, some people thought that he was talking about all whites. It seems sort of strange some people believe that he is a racist. First you have to know the definition of racism. Racism is owning a business, holding a high position in office or governmental status and making laws, using money and other ways to stop one or more ethnic groups from prospering and making a living. It also stops civil rights and liberties for certain ethnic groups. This is highly unlikely with Kanye West since he does not own any companies or hold office in this country. When Terry Bradshaw said that the only reason why New Orleans did not receive any help right away was that most of that city was African American, did that make Terry a racist also. In other statements about race, when the Indian's wrote in history pamphlets about how the white man took their land and committed genocide against them, does that make the Indian's racist, since they did not point out the white people who committed these crimes against them? I really do not think so! In the case of the Katrina victims, as an educated person no one could not say the events that occurred in this tragedy did not have anything to do with racism. A person would have to look at how race related on how this problem was handled. Maybe Kanye West should have worded it a little different but the actions of some people that had the power to send help sooner showed the real racists.

We Should Remember!

In class the other day a person made a statement about how Asians were slaves in America and they did not talk about the situation nor remembered the ordeal in any fashion. It literally struck me by surprise that she would not consider on taking the initiative to even reflect the tragedy of that history. History tend to repeat itself and every type of history should be remembered in every shape or form, good or bad. If America can study the great progress and strides that made this country then we can also consider the horrific events that shaped this country. Lets not forget that slavery made this country and we should always remember this problem. Slavery also stemmed racism, bigotry, prejudice, Jim Crow laws and the civil rights movement. Of course slavery should not be celebrated but we should recognize the struggles and the accomplishments certain ethnic groups transpired through the times of building this great country. We should also remember the old saying in the world "We can not find where we are going if we do not know where we have been."

Weird Happenings

Last Thursday on March 27, 2008 was one of the strangest days of my life. My wife, (Angie) was feeling bad and I had to take her to St. Francis emergency room. Her left jaw felt tight and she was losing feeling on her left side of her body. When entered the emergency room she checked in and they immediately was sent to the back. I went to use the bathroom and decided to purchase a diet Pepsi. I ate some barbecue skins with that drink. After the so called delicious meal, I went to the back to check on my wife. As she was getting undressed I slid her shoes to the corner so no one would trip over them. Well, almost fell over them and the nurse said " Don't fall because only one bed can fit in each room. We laughed but while the nurse was checking Angie's blood pressure I started to feel dizzy. My stomach felt bad so I went to the bathroom in the waiting room. I stayed in the bathroom for awhile. When I felt a little better I walked to the car to get some information for the doctor. I had to lay in the car for awhile because it seemed like the world was spinning. Finally I staggered to the emergency room and asked the receptionist if I could get my sugar level tested. He said "I would have to sign in first". I signed in they called a few more people and then they called me to the back. When the nurse checked my sugar level, it was 319. When they I went to the room in the back, the nurse checked my sugar level again and it went up to 394. The doctor kept me in the room until my sugar level went down. The nurse gave me a glucose shot and my sugar level was brought down to 284. I was in room 5 and Angie was in room 8. We were both in the hospital at the same time. Angie was looking for me and the nurse told her that I was a patient also. So we started to text message each other. The doctor finally let me go and I went to see my wife. They kept her for the weekend. The doctors found out that her iron was very low and she would have to take medicine for the rest of her life but she came in at the right time. If she would have waited she would have been in a worse shape. The same can be said about me. This was the highest my sugar level had ever been and I am glad I was near an hospital at that time.

The Adventures of Writing a Sript

I am a film producer slash actor, director, editor, special effects, and script writer. Some people might think that writing a scrip is very hard but a beg the differ. Here is an easy way to start a script or a rough draft of one. First open your mind and think of a situation that you have been in or someone else's. Then think on how you would play the scenario out. I would usually create characters while I write the script. Always think of storytelling rather than scenes. Just writing scenes will make a movie very boring. As a person writes a scene the strangest thing might happen. You will become the movie. It is very easy to become lost in your writing. In other words you will become one of the characters and the movie will be your reality at that moment. The character will become you and you will become the character. When you are in this mode make sure you are in a place where you are alone because if you are writing a sex scene then you might say the wrong things out loud and if you are writing a horror scene or movie then you might yell at the top of your lungs. The people around will probably call the crazy house and admit you.

Losing Weight

In the year of 2003 I weighed at a staggering figure of 245 pounds. It does not sound that much but if you are 5'8 then it is a massive problem and a person would have realize that the weight was all fat not muscle. I had overlapping disease at its worst form. If you do not know what that is then picture this in you mind. My stomach almost reached my lap and that is large. It puts you in the mind of a black Homer Simpson. That is right I was just that fat. What made me realize that I was over weight when I was lying down in bed and my wife told me to role over. I said why should I role over and she said I was snoring. I told her that I was not sleep. I weighed so much by breathing was loud. That next day I went on a diet and the next few weeks I lost over 30 pounds. In that same year I lost over 6o pounds. The weight came off years before I was diagnosed for diabetes, that came 3 years later. Now I have one other problem besides diabetes, I would like to work out more but for some reason I can not find the time. I want to work on my abs and get a six pack. The ab lounge in my living room is used for a coat hanger. I am about to star in my own movies and I would like to look good or descent in them. Can someone give me so pointers on how I can achieve these goals. With my diabetes I know I have to start exercising more to become healthy again. I also just found out that I have high cholesterol also.

The Wrecking of the Gray Goose

Last Thursday, me and my children was traveling to West Memphis, Arkansas from my doctors office. I was driving on Crump and was on my way to cross the old bridge when all in a sudden a starter fell off of a truck. I had only a couple of choices. The first one was to try of avoid it and turn to my left. If I would have tried to swerve in the right land I would have hit a car beside me. The second option would have been to stop. In that case an 18 wheeler would have rammed us in the back. The third thing to try to avoid the starter was to turn to the left and I would have hit the medium. So I did what anyone else would have done and hit the starter. I hit the starter so hard that it knocked a big hole in my transmission pan. Fluid spewed on to the ground and I had to put on my emergency signals on to wait for traffic and pull to the side of the road. When my children heard the impact of the starter at the bottom of the car, it scared half to death. My oldest daughter got on the cell phone and called my wife and she was on her way. She got there in record time because she was worked up the street. The strangest was when I looked for the starter it was gone. Someone picked it up while I was inspecting the car. The truck that was carrying the load of starters could not be found. My brother in-laws pulled my car to his house and he said if I buy the parts then he will fix it. My wife and I is sharing one car right now and it is very hard to do so since our schedule is very different.

Getting Back in the Thick of Things

Have you ever fell down and tried to get back up. Normally it is the way you fell down or how hard. That determines on how fast you can recover from the fall. Well I am still in the process of catching up on my work. It is hard but I know I can do it. This time I do not need to much encouragement. My body is just adjusting to the new medicine the doctor prescribed for me. My energy have just come back and I will stay up for at least three days to catch up on my school work but it will be worth it. The sugar level in the blood that is granted to me by God is gracefully going down at a steady pace and I am doing fine. Sometimes I do worry about my work because I hate to worry. I need to calm down in a sense but it is difficult for me to sit in one spot now. I do not know where to start in my studies. Rather to begin in Spanish, English or history, I am still behind but I will conquer my goals. By this weekend, I will catch up in all but one class and that class is Spanish. I have to take a make up test in the history class and the Spanish class. So I will study most of the weekend. I will write my but off to catch up in the rest of the classes. I know in the future, I will look back at this year and laugh about it but for right now I do not see the humor in the present.

An Unwanted Natural Sugar High

I am a type 2 diabetes person. I was diagnosed with this condition 2 years ago and I am still trying to fight this disease before it gets worse. One of the big problems is trying to eat healthy. It is hard to change a habit that you have lived with for as long as you can remember. I miss the fattening foods that I used to chow down on during dinner, lunch and breakfast. Sometimes I will eat my favorite dessert, ice cream, chip ahoy cookies and a coke but I will feel pay for it a couple of hours later. At one point and time I thought I was addicted to the stuff. I have learned by lesson for eating like that now that I had to go to the hospital. I have a lot to live for and I will not let this disease beat me. I have a big future ahead of me and I will not let this problem get me behind again. Now that I am taking my medication correctly, I have more energy then ever before. My last paper sucked big time because I was half sleep trying to write it. That is old news and this is a new Ricky. I have a business to run, scripts to write, movies to produce, act in movies, catch up on my college homework, take care of my wife and kids and live a long prosperous life and I can not forget one of the other precious things I am fighting for, GRADUATION THIS FALL. All the work that I am behind in will be a fight to catch up but that is a battle I will win.

Heart broken

The last community college that I graduated from will not have a media broadcasting major. I received a proficiency certificate from this school and realized the importance of the classes that were taught there. I owe my career to one of the best instructors in the world. Mrs. Starks taught me how to do research for movies and documentaries and how to hold a camera, edit film and write scripts. The problem with Mid south community college is that they are putting all of there eggs in one batch. The school is relying on one business to hold on to there existence. Hino a company from Japan is putting a lot of money in the school but if they leave for money purposes then MSCC will be left out in the cold. Hino already have a high turnover rate and production is well below standards. Hino is a company that produces car parts. If they do not produce there goal then they would shut down. While in the mid-south big film producers are bringing movies to this area. As long as a person can produce movies, write movies, edit them, and etc. a job will always come to the mid-south. MSCC will grow fanatically if they put more money in the media and film classes. The other problem is West Memphis, Arkansas is a city that is afraid to take chances in certain areas and the entertainment business in one of them. There is so much talent in this area. I do not understand the concept of only working in a mill or labor job. Please open your horizon.

Freedom Even for a Little While

Have you ever wanted to do crazy off the wall things. Maybe a person would like to say and do things without being judged. We need a club that will consist of people that will have the nerve to say and do anything they please and make an oath to not judge and keep what happens in the room will stay in the room. This would be a very relaxing moment but we only do this one time a year or a semester. It could take a load off someones shoulder. The hour or hours will be spent forgetting your problems for awhile. No boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, finance's, parents or any type of kin and children allowed in this meeting. Some loved ones might get hurt in the process of forgetting and letting frustration out. We are trying to forget our problems not remember them and sometimes loved ones are the people we are trying to get away from.

Music shows that shaped American diversity.

Growing up loving all types of music can be great but hard to cope with. I was born on November 24, 1969. In the 70's music was on its way for a high greatness of diversity. This was the birth of Soul Train, The Midnight Special and the first time I heard of American Bandstand. Soul Train would come on channel 13 at 10:30PM on a Friday night. I was only four when I saw my first show. Don Krishoner was the host and it was always a stone gas honey. That was one of his sound bites he would use on the show. After Soul Train would go off, the Midnight Special would air on channel 5. Who could forget Wolf Man Jack and the great people he would have on the show. On this show I thought Richard Pryor was the funniest man on Earth. American Bandstand would air on Saturdays on channel 13 after college football games. Although Dick Clark was the host for this show for many years he kept his youth. The 80's changed the whole criteria of music. One of the greatest moments of my youth was the birth of MTV. I remember the first video that was played, Video Killed the Radio Star by the Boggles. The Boggles only had one hit but they still made history just from that day. MTV created the definition VJ''s. One of my first crushes was Martha Quin. Even till this day I still love her. The VJ's of this crew from that era was Nina Blackwood, David Hunter, Mark Goodman and last but not least Triple J or Jay Jonah Jameson. MTV is not what it used be. In the 80,s MTV showed some the greatest videos of all times. From Billie Jean to Deff Leppards "Fooling" the diversity of music was astounding. One more great show that aired in the 80's was Video Soul. This show became the genre of music on the BET station. Women were crazy about the host Donnie Simpson. I think most women will go crazy about a black man with green eyes. I think he was a great host but I did not get the fascination. Maybe because I am a guy.

Borrowing Money From China

I understand that some Americans are concerned about why the China has increased its military. These concerns are mostly from the Republicans. There are a few problems with this concern or may we call it a scare tactic from McCain. If the republicans tell the public this situation, then for there sake people would probably vote for McCain instead of one of the democrats. Do really think China would turn against America. China claim that America is there close friends. America buys most of their products from China and we send most of our business to their country. Since America is in so much debt because of the Iraqi war, the only countries that would lend us money is Great Britain and China. China is lending the United States the most money. This is happening under George Jr. administration. Once they cut off their supply who will America depend on for money and I have to remind you that the yen is higher than the dollar.

Corrupt Judge

In the case of the city of West Memphis, Arkansas the police chief has considered anyone who did not agree with the Dante Farrow case were criminals and he would have his officers put them in jail or prison. He suggested that the citizens mostly on the south side were rapist, thieves, child molesters, and robbers. Paudert had the audacity to say this to the news media in front of a camera. It seems strange that the police chief would mention criminals in West Memphis, Arkansas. Especially when one of his own is spending time in jail on the weekends for a criminal act. One of the judges in West Memphis, Arkansas was stopped by the Memphis police and arrested. The judge was accused and found guilty of DWI, drug paraphernalia, DUI and reckless driving. In this case he killed a child. How can a person of higher rank commit a crime and still hold his seat on the bench. Maybe when the police chief was talking about criminals, he was speaking about the judge.

The Real Hypocrites In West Memphis, Arkansas

The police chief of West Memphis, Arkansas claims that the community that reside on the south side of town are nothing but criminals and trouble makers. He also claims that the crime rate went up 100% since the Dante Farrow case. Before the Dante Farrow case the crime rate in Paudert eyes and the court system of West Memphis, Arkansas goes up at a certain time of year. For the past twenty years or so, arrest grow to a higher demand during income tax season. Between January and May the local police usually go on a tirade and harass the citizens of West Memphis on the south side of town. You can guess on how many colored people live on that side of town. Mostly African Americans are stopped in this process. Just like the Jim Crow laws in the past the city act as if they need our money to stand on its legs. With the arrest that the police make the court house and the judge make a killing on fines. For an example, channel 5 reported that West Memphis police officers made over 70 arrest. If the reporters would have investigated most of those arrest they would have found out that the arrest was not legit. They would have also noticed that with those amount of arrest the fines would make a staggering figure for the court house and the city. This shows discrimination at its worst form.

Problem with Starting a Business

I am a film major that will be graduate in the fall. The problem is I am ready to start my business but sometimes procrastination gets the better of me. I would start on a script and set it aside for another day. I have great ideas but that is as far as it goes. I can get access to equipment. There is not problem with that now. Maybe I can work with some of the writers at University of Memphis. Another that I have is homework is my first option. Graduation is just around the corner for me and I can not wait for that special day. Boatwright Productions will be establised in the near future but it seems that I am running out of time. Everytime I come up with an idea someone have already taking it and put the idea on film. This I will be ahead of the game and write it and produce the movies as fast as they come in my head.

Where is the Justice?

The police chief of West Memphis, Arkansas claimed that the council members who argued about the Farrow case, was nothing but criminals and he would see to it that the council members would be arrested at any cost. It seems strange that the police chief should mention criminals on the council seat. One of the municipal court judge have a criminal record of their own. This judge have been arrested for DUI, drug parphanellia, and wreckless driving. During the wreckless driving the judge hit a child and the child was killed on impact. The judge was convicted and he spends his weekends in jail. The worst part is the judge kept his seat. He goes to jail on the weekends and sits on the bench during the weekdays. Maybe Paudert was talking about the judge and not the council members. In other words West Memphis had this problem about corrupt officials before the Farrow case. The problem exist in the court system and police station. So tell me who is going to police the police. Sad to say this is a problem for the city not anyone elses' but I am still begging for HELP!

Media and people taking away rights.

I wonder what happened to innocent until proven guilty. Does this only apply to people outside the University of Memphis basketball team. How quick are we to judge a matter without knowing the real situation. Just because a person has been accused of something does not mean that person is guilty of the charge. I am not saying that he is not guilty either but what I am saying is that no one should accuse a person if a trial have not proceded in a case. In this country, just because a person is found guilty by law does not mean they are guilty at hand. Under certain circumstances, other players have been charged for assault. The problem is we do not know what really happened during that incident. How do you know if the other party did not start the fight? Of course we do not know that situation. The other party that claimed the assault occured did not give a written statement to the Helmsman nor any other paper. Maybe by law, a reporter should recognize both sides of the story. If they do not obide in this law the reporter should not be able to work in the media again.

Borders

The borders in America should be open to all Hispanics. Have we forgotten our history on this subject? What if the Indians would have cut off the borders during the European settlement. Well, atleast they would have kept thier land and most of them would have survived from the diseases the Europeans passed on to the Indians. America would have a different aspect of history in that manner. Africans and caucasians would reside in Great Britain. Most of us would have a deep english dialect and would have a queen and Parliament rule over us. Some how America seems to forget the problems that was set on them from the past. Why should we treat other people different from how we would want to be treated. I know that people might think that Mexicans and other Latinos are taking over jobs but always remember jobs are moving across seas. Businesses are owned by Americans who are not Hispanic so who can be blame for cheap labor practices. It should be against the law to pay that amount of wages to anyone.

History Really Repeats Itself

As I sit in my history class some strange vision came over me. I started to realize that history really repeats itself but it always come in a different area. History will transform in another place but have the same situation. The Vietnam War began in the late fifties. At that time our leaders thought that communism would become a big problem. Well that is what American government wanted us to think but later on citizens found out that the Vietnam War was about money. Now we come to the fuure. The Iraqi war was about terrorism and later the world found out that weapons of mass destruction was literally destroyed years before the war began. Remember Haliburton, the company that produces weapons for American militaries. Well the former CEO is better known as our vice president, Cheney. Sadaam Hussien was once America's allie during the 80,s. Reagan and Bush Sr. knew of the killings and murders that went on during the reign of this so called mad man but they did not care at that time. Where did Hussien get the weapons to use on his own people anyway. You guessed it. The Reagan cronies of America. So if you want to tell the future, don't call a psychic read your history. It is bound to come back the way it left.

Strange Liberal

I am somewhat like a liberal but there are some issues that would make me seem strange. I think everyone should have health care. It should not matter how much money you make. How can a person get off welfare if jobs keep moving across seas. The jobs that did not move have laid thousands of people off. Unemployment checks can only go so far and food stamps can not pay for mortages, light bills, and etc. Social security checks will not exist because of the deficit we have today. The deficit has reached the highest in the history of America. Now we are borrowing money from China. There is a ressesion in the United States and if it goes any higher business problems will occur. The only power we have is the military. Do we have to fight with everyone. Oil should not be in high demand. Scientist have found away to stop using oil but for some reason the government ignores them. There are many issues that have changed the United States and this generation can make a difference.

The Presidency

McCain has the same dialect as George Bush Jr. Remember he also argeed with the Iraqi war. Did the Republicans find weapons of mass destruction. Maybe the military will give a horses butt if McCain talks about compensation. McCain also voted to take away benifits from the soldiers. Now that seems like kick in the butt does it. I have a big question? I thought the senator McCain spent time in the service. If he did not learn from the past then how can he teach people from the future. Do we really want another republican in office for 4 more years. The last 2 administrations spent money as fast as the poles are melting from global warming. Yes, our great country is borrowing money from China. Our deficit is larger than life if you think life is important. What will it take to start a change. It will take atleast 2 terms to straighten out this mess. It is time to make a change. If we do not change America, the republicans will destroy all of us. Should we have an age limit to become president. McCain might not last the whole term. If you are over 70 then you should retire. Well, atleast he will recieve his social security. When I reach that age social security will not exist.

Thaddues Matthews

Although I do disagree in the tactics of Thaddues in some cases, I wonder what really happened to the NAACP. The NAACP has helped the community in the past but it does seem that they run from very serious issues. In the city of West Memphis, Arkansas discrimination has been a problem for many years. My brother went to the NAACP to file a complaint against the West Memphis, Arkansas police department. Yes, as you could have guest it my brother was harassed by the police. The NAACP in Memphis told him that they do not commit to those kind of cases or incidents. My brother does not get in any type of law trouble. He works in the Army Reserve and he is a Gulf War Veteran. The police pulled him over and claimed that he was trying to flee from the police. Even with witnesses he still lost the case. They roughed him up in the process. The NAACP did not want to get involved. It seems that if it does not have anything to do with a death or money issues, the problem of discrimination does not exist in the United States. Please do not take this the wrong way. The NAACP does help certain people in different ways but a change is in order. It is strange that if a person says discriminating things the NAACP will fight till the end to get that person fired but if that person do the actions of discriminating the NAACP run from the issue at hand. I AM NOT AGAINST THE NAACP BUT THIER PIORITES NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IN A BETTER MANNER.

Abortion issues

Even though I am a man that is probably looking from the outside in, I believe in abortion in only certain situations. All because the law says it is legal does not mean it is right. Remember slavery was also legal in America at one time. If that was not wrong then maybe we do not know right from wrong. The child should have a choice in this matter. For an example, what if someone would ask you if you wanted to be born or killed. I forgot the child does not have that choice and niether would you. The woman should have the choice but what about the father. What choice does he have. If a father wanted the mother of the child to keep the child, would she go through the pregnancy. If she did not want to have anything to do with the father of the child would she give the child up for adoption? The father could raise the child on his own if he wished but would he have that wish? In other words the father does not have any rights to the child until the baby is born. He has no say so during the pregnancy. What if he wanted to give up his rights during the pregnancy? Could this be possible? He would be less than a man if he did. I have 2 beautiful daughters and would not trade them for the world. They are what you might say daddys' girls. Abortion should only be an option if the pregnancy endangers the mother or the during an ultra sound the docter finds out the child is under developed. The child might not have enough limbs to survive outside the wound. In some cases, babies does not develop the head, the brain, without intestines or even worse intestines outside the body. Maybe abortions would seem like a better solution. One thing I really disagree with abortion. It should not be used as birth control.

Did hip hop make the world more violent?

People from the elder generation claims that hip hop music and videos changed the world in a awful way. Statements like : The music of today degrade women and more killings occurred after the style of music. Another accusation about hip hop is drugs are more rampant in the community. For some reason we as adults seem to forget that these things happened before the new generation of music began. During the civil rights movement there were many women that marched but none held the helm of leadership. Those women was just as strong as men in those days. In those days men thought that women should be seen not heard. In the seventies 25 year old women played as 16 year old girls on commercials to sale to the public and I remind you that they were not wearing clothes that covered up most of their nakedness. There were songs in the seventies that talked about sexual behavior in code. Now days the radio stations just bleep out the curse words. Drugs were sold and made long before hip hop arrived on the scene. Remember the song Cocaine by the super group Cream. The front man for that group was Eric Clapton. One of the biggest funk bands in the World during the seventies (Parliament Funkadelic) ritual was smoking weed. If some people can not comprehend on these theories do not forget the Doobie Brothers. The definition of a Doobie is marijuana. With violence, gangs was started in the seventies. They were already established long before hip hop emerged. The wars ,before the new generation, erupted the birth of murder. Hip hop did not grow drugs, manufacture guns or hypnotize men to degrade women. In other words, they did not start the fire.

Bigger or Smaller

Is the world getting smaller or bigger? It seems that the world is getting smaller with the technology that we have at hand. If we are so close than why is global warming becoming such a big problem? The second Bush Administration claims that the problem did not exist. Well, not until the last years of little Georges' presidency. In the past scientist informed Ronald Reagan that global warming would become a problem if the United States did not cut back on pollution. Reagan and his cronies tried to debauch the theory and claimed that global warming was a phantom of ones imagination. Now the problem has become very hazardous. The earth climate is in a difficult situation. The polar caps is melting at an alarming rate and the east and the west coast will probably flood in the next fifty years. The polar bears rely on the polar caps for food in these scenarios. Without the North poles the bears will die of hungry. In this case the bears will become extinct. Not only the bears will become extinct but we will have to look at the human race. At this rate we probably would not become extinct but a great deal of us will die from the elements of the weather. The movie The Day After Tomorrow tells the story of global warming. It will not happen in that time sequence but it was compressed in a twenty year spand.

Stay at Post

The other day I was taking my children to school and something caught my eye at the corner of Ingram and Barton in West Memphis, Arkansas. A police officer was working as a crossing guard and he was leading some children across the street. One car to the right of me kept going and turned to the left. The children was on the other side of the street when this happened. Although I think the driver on the other side should have stayed at the stop until the children crossed the street, the police officer actions made me very upset. When the driver was in the middle of the street the police officer pointed at the driver and started to say something to the driver. The driver kept going, ignoring the police officer. I remind you that I totally agree with the officer at that point but what happened next made my blood boil. The officer ran away from the children and jumped in his squad car. He left his post to chase down the driver. I understand that the driver was in the wrong but what about the children that had to cross the street on their own. I watched the children cross the street safely and took my children to school. I turned around drove back to the area where the incident happened. The police officer still was not at his post. Children had to cross the street on their own. To the police officers of West Memphis, Arkansas children are worth more than a ticket. Call back up in these type of situations.

Daunte Farrow Case

Everyone in the mid south have heard of this terrible tragedy in West Memphis, Arkansas. If not then maybe you did not watch TV in a while. A West Memphis police officer shot and killed a 12 year old child. The police officer (Sammis) claimed the child had a toy gun. The officer thought the toy gun was real. Farrow, the child was running with another young boy and the officer asked him to stop. The other stopped but Farrow did not hear him in time. When Farrow turned around the officer shot him twice, once in the leg the other in the chest. There was another officer at the scene, he did not shoot. In the report the police's claimed that they did not fear for their lives. Another thing that sounds very strange is the toy gun that Farrow somehow had in his possession did not have any fingerprints on it. Sammis was acquitted of all charges by the state and federal. A trail was never set for his actions. The black counsel members are seeking for a trail date but the other three (white) voted against it. The police told the news that those counsel members (who was looking for justice) were nothing but trouble makers, criminals, child molesters, and rapist. The police officer who shot the child did not have a clean record as the Police Chief claimed. How could a child have a toy with him and there was not fingerprints found on the toy gun. It mystifies me that the local news have over looked that fact.

Corrupt System

The town that I reside in has created an awful fiasco, that would make Boss Hog from the original Dukes of Hazard cringe. Every income tax season the police department give out tickets the way Saint Nick disperse presents before Christmas. They seem to believe that this is the only time the city can make money. The problem is most of the citizens are innocent. This was a problem before the Daunte Farrow case. I wonder where was the NAACP was at that time. Of course no one sees the them during the Daunte Farrow case but that is another story. The police department always leaves a paper trail in these sitations. For instance. I recieved a speeding ticket last year. The police officer claimed I was going 45 mph in a 30 mph zone. He even wrote the area and time on the ticket. The problem is the ticket shows that I was going 45mph in a 45mph zone. In that area the speed limit is 45mph. A mile behind me the speed limit is 30. I presented my case and even had the audience on my side. I brought pictures to court and guess what! I still lost the case. I asked the judge why. His comment " I just believe the officer". The officer wrote on the ticket where he clocked me going 45mph. Since he wrote the incident on the ticket, it showed that in that area the speed limit was 45mph. In other words he left a paper trail. I still have the ticket. So how could I lose in court. I had to pay 180 dollars that day.

Ricky Boatwright

Ricky Boatwright (November 24, 1969) was born Ricky Darnell Boatwright, in West Memphis, Arkansas. My mother was a high school graduate of Parkdale, Arkansas and my father only had an eighth grade education. He was raised in England, Arkansas. One might say that Ricky was raised in a big family. He is the youngest of five brothers on his mother side. His father had early children from a previous marriage and other encounters of other women. At the age of 11 Ricky's parents split. The father moved out because of his infidelity. His father wanted Ricky's mother to ask him back but she was tired of his actions and never did. Although this incident happened Ricky still became sort of close to his father. He was never close with either of his parents. Lillian (Ricky's mother) did raise the family but she did have some problems with her sister. In other words my aunt did not want Lillians children to become more successful than hers. Ricky began his school at Wonder Elementary and went to Wonder Junior High. He made many friends but for some reason he made enemies also. Mostly because some students became jealous of him. Ricky did not try to chase any of his peers girlfriends. They just thought that was the reason some girls spoke so highly of him. At first it was very hard in school but even with problems he still had a good times. The good weighed out the bad. Of course Ricky also had some girls that despised him. That goes with the territory. Ricky say his very first football game at the age of 3. He still remembers that game. It was the Steelers versus the Oakland Raiders. The Steelers was behind and seconds was counting down. On the last play of the game Terry Bradshaw passed the ball to Lynn Swan and Jack Tatum hit the ball out of Lynn's hands but the ball flew into Franco Harris hands and he ran to a game winning touchdown. This is how he fell in love with football. Both teams became his favorite. Ricky played little league football in the fifth grade. Instead of playing offense he became a defensive star. Hence the nickname Bam-Bam Boatwright. That pleasure did not last long because in high school Ricky did not like the coach's attitude. The coach did not let the best players play on the field. In the 11th grade he quit football. Something did happen during the ninth grade year. In french class Ricky wanted to ask this beautiful girl out. She turned around looked right in his eyes and said "I am not interested in you". It seems funny now because the same girl that told me those words married me ten years later. Ricky and Anji have been married for 12 years and have two daughters. Ricky was very happy she turned him down at that age because he was very immature. They would have never stayed together. During the years without his wifes' love, Ricky did have some problems finding a career. He went through many jobs and all of them was horrible. From working on the Mississippi river, Panchoes, Southland Greyhound Park, Family Dollar and 3D screenwriting just to name a view Ricky decided that labor jobs did not appeal to his career. Later on he finally fell in love with movie production. He was on his forklift one day at work after working over seventy hours that week, he looked up to the ceiling and asked the Lord "I want to find someway to go to college". Later that week he got sick and fired from his job. Some people would wonder how could that help him go to college. Well after he was fired from his job, his wife decided to go back to school. She woke him up and asked him if he wanted to go to Memphis and gather all the information (tax forms) so she could start school. He told her why not and they both started college. After entering the collegiate status, there were many trails and tribulation. His family was flooded out twice and he also lost jobs because of racism. The fight for education went on. Without his wife's' and family love he would never graduated. Now he has a general education associate degree and a proficiency certificate in media broadcasting. Ricky have many more obstacles to climb before he receives his bachelors degree in film production and a minor in Spanish. Last semester anything that went wrong did go wrong. His children caught strep and he lost yet another job. He got so far behind, Ricky almost gave up. With the help of Mr. Craig Leake, Mrs. Kris Markman, Ms. Sarah Brown and other awesome students Ricky would not have been in the position to graduate this fall. Sometimes a few kind words and the push from others can carry a person a long way. Ricky also have to thank Ms. Roxy Ghee for her encouraging words.