Insight News ::: 11.29.10

Holidazzle illuminates downtown MORE ON PAGE 5

INSIGHT NEWS November 29 - December 5, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 48 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

! k c o R s l r i G Black iew v r e t in d n o B ly r e The Bev

By Alaina L. Lewis Contributing Writer

Photo:The Sorensen McQueen Group

Beverly Bond

Too often when searching through mass media, Black girls aren’t always marveled by a variety of positive Black images draped in success and artistic excellence. But model, producer, DJ and activist, Beverly Bond, with her myriad of entrepreneurial hats, creates promise with every step; a picture of visual excellence that promotes, inspires and shows young girls that as a woman of color, nothing can stop a dream.

Bond is a Black girl and, unequivocally, she rocks! With this ideology in mind, and a goal to ignite her steadfast reflection within the lives of our Black youth of tomorrow, she founded Black Girls Rock Inc. in 2006, an organization designed to enrich, encourage, and develop young women into leaders and future role models of tomorrow.

On November 7, Bond’s organization held its annual Black Girls Rock Awards on BET. The show was hosted by celebrated actress Nia Long and an entire evening was devoted to honoring a select group of Black women who display exemplary leadership and promote positive images within our community.

Honorees for the evening included Raven Symone, Ruby Dee, Keke Palmer, Iyanla Vanzant and many others. Insight News caught up with Bond to learn more about her organization, the awards, and what she’s doing to promote positivity within the lives of young Black girls.

Insight News: How do you go from being a

DJ to a motivational speaker?

Beverly Bond: Usually people ask me how I went from being a model to a DJ [LAUGHS] Insight News: [LAUGHS] Well a lot of people don’t find themselves scratching records and then motivating girls.

Bond: I think I am in a very unique position being a DJ in this time when a lot of material that’s targeted at women has not necessarily the best stuff. As a DJ, I’m paying attention. I have a beacon for what’s going on; I’m listening to all kinds of stuff. Sometimes I’m like: oh my God, is he serious? I started spinning in 2000, and I remember that was during the time when R. Kelly had done his “thing,” and the music industry was passing out the videotape like it was a new record or something. I remember one guy coming up to me and asking: you got the R. Kelly tape?

And I’m thinking, Dude, why would I want that, and why would you want that, and why are you passing that out to deejays?

I don’t want to generalize, but sometimes I think the thinking process in men is different.

Where they might not mean any harm, until somebody checks it, somebody might not be thinking. I’ve seen them not think about some really dumb things. In the industry people kind of get going on the way it is, and things that shouldn’t be, become acceptable. For me as a woman it wasn’t acceptable, and as a person it wasn’t acceptable because I’m the type to pay attention and thinks about the world.

BOND TURN TO 3

In the 2010 election, fear won out •An interview with US Senator Al Franken (D-MN)

By Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford, The Editors Al McFarlane: Senator, what’s at stake right now for progressives and all citizens of Minnesota? What’s the likely impact of change in leadership in the House of Representatives and the rise of the conservative party?

Al Franken: Well, we’re going to have to find a way to go forward that continues to build the economy, to create the economy. We’ve actually made progress since the President took office… when the President took office; we

were losing about 750,000 jobs a month. We’ve had now, I believe, nine straight months of increased private sector employment. We’ve had reduced public sector employment, but that’s what we really want to do --increase private sector employment. But we’re going to have to find a way to work together, to create prosperity, to create jobs and so people have the hope that we can rebuild our economy. It’s really, really the number one challenge.

AM: And so what’s at risk?

For instance the visionary healthcare reform is back on the table, isn’t it?

AF: It is. But if you look at the Pledge to America that Republicans issued during the campaign, they said that part of their pledge is to repeal the healthcare law. On the other hand, on the other right hand of the page, they said that they wanted to keep so much of what was achieved in the bill, including if you have a preexisting condition, you can’t be denied health insurance or punished for it, and, getting rid of the caps on annual care and lifelong care and a number of things that you cannot repeal the healthcare bill and keep those things without it costing an incredible amount of money.

Senator Al Franken The whole bill was a comprehensive bill which

Official photo

will insure 31 million more people. As a result the

insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies will be paying more in because they’ll be covering more people.

That money will be used to subsidize folks from 0 to 400% of poverty. It’s comprehensive healthcare reform.

The Republicans said, ‘We’re going to repeal it’ but keep all the things that everyone likes.

You can’t do that. So even though it was a pledge, a solemn pledge of the American people, I think they knew that didn’t actually make a lot of sense.

AM: And so it leads us to wonder how much of this drama

FRANKEN TURN TO 12

“Wow”: The E.J. Henderson Turkey Basket Giveaway

By Ryan T. Scott Contributing Writer “Wow! They give you milk and everything! Lord I needed this.” These were the words of a gleeful and appreciative young mother from North Minneapolis as she breezed by with her basket of Thanksgiving sustenance donated by the E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation, Cub Foods, and the Jennie-O food brand.

In just three years, the E.J. Henderson Turkey basket giveaway has doubled in size, and judging by the masses who

braved the November morning cold, “doubled” may be a wild understatement.

Standing before the North Minneapolis crowd in the east side of the Cub Foods (701 W. Broadway) parking lot, Henderson was joined by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and US Rep. Keith Ellison, to address the frigid, but thankful crowd. Ellison gave a brief opening, showering praise upon Henderson, Rybak, and the spirit of the season. “What you’re seeing in your mayor is a man known to Washington as a leading advocate for urban America. …What you have in

Edwidge Danticat

The Create Dangerously interview

PAGE 4

Suluki Fardan

E.J. Henderson (green jacket) with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak (foreground) and volunteers

Lifestyle

Thanksgiving and Christmas together

PAGE 8

E.J. Henderson is more than a gifted athlete, but a real hero in America,” said Ellison with emphasis. Following Ellison, Henderson suggested that he would keep it “short and sweet” due to the weather, but spared no mention of all those who were involved to assist in the effort. Following the distribution of several initial gift baskets, Henderson whisked away to sign autographs along with his brother Erin Henderson, and then continued on to the second of the three Cub locations where he would repeat the effort to assist the local community.

Added to this years’

Technology

KFAI champions community radio

PAGE 9

presentation were several of the most involved community organizations in North Minneapolis including, but not limited to: Shiloh International Ministries, US Bank, Bolder Options, Masjid An-Nur, Minneapolis Urban League, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Meals on Wheels, Northpoint Gateway and First Community Church. Their purpose in attendance was to join Henderson’s platform so that attendees would have functional access to the many life changing

GIVEAWAY TURN TO 11

More than a building

Johnson Publishing remembered

PAGE 11

Page 2 • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Insight News

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BUSINESS Social Media: Not that kind of leader?

Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com “I’m not that kind of guy.”

The terrified smile suggested this man of influence and considerable decision making authority had considered the question, decided against it,

and would not, for any reason, be persuaded to change his behavior. The firm stance would have been perfectly appropriate if the individual were facing any of the inappropriate proposals businesspeople are often handed.

This time, however, the question was, “How does your company employ social media?”

Technology is moving so fast that it can seem like one of those sound barriers along the freeway. It divides. And those who suddenly realize they are on the wrong side of the barrier are slow to move forward and are

hard-pressed to find a way over or around the wall.

The book Here Comes Everybody, by Clay Shirky, paints a clear and fascinating picture of the fundamental shift in American behavior that allows a company to capitalize on the interactive magic of the www.

Collaboration online, through Flikr, Meetup, Facebook and more, can happen spontaneously and efficiently among people who might never have met, but who share a common interest or expertise.

Social media functions

flexibly and effectively (how many human employees do that?) by putting communication into the hands of ordinary people. A hotel guest might comment online that their stay was average: the sheets were crisp and clean, but the complimentary breakfast was toxic. Aware that consumer opinions are more reliable than any marketing brochure a hotel chain creates on its own, the owners might choose to do some reputation management online themselves, correcting the problem and mitigating the

consumer’s complaint before that cold cup of coffee spills out across the company’s next financial statement.

Leaping over the social media sound wall is possible and critical to tomorrow’s businesspeople. A jumping off point is Shirky’s book and others which are straightforward and persuasive as well as instructive.

Beyond books, social media by nature is so public that it is accessible even to the least savvy of leaders. An online education is as close as the www. Reading about social media and seeing

how others are using it should give a traditional person some solid ideas about its benefits and how-to’s. By investing some time and curiosity, a good leader can overcome the social media divide and proudly and prosperously become “that kind of guy.”

Julie Desmond is an experienced career planning advisor and oversees accounting and finance contract recruiting for Express Employment Professionals in Edina, MN. Write to julie@ insightnews.com.

Why you should choose your charities carefully

By Jason Alderman Today’s tough economy has been doubly hard on nonprofit organizations that rely on charitable contributions. Many people feeling the pinch have had to cut back on their donations; and because so many are out of work, charities that assist low-income families are being swamped just when their funding has been reduced.

If you’re able to make charitable donations, whether cash, material goods or volunteering your time, make sure the organizations deserve your support.

Here are a few ideas that might help: Make sure the non-profit organization is well-run. Ideally it applies at least 75 percent of contributions to programs that serve beneficiaries, as opposed to salaries, advertising, fundraising and other administrative expenses.

Study the organization’s website, annual report and mission statement, and ask for a copy of its IRS Form 990, which details how contributions are spent. Speak to staff members or volunteers, or volunteer there yourself. Or, if you know someone who has used its services, ask for their impressions of the organization’s

efficiency and client service.

Several online research tools can help: GuideStar (www.guidestar. org), provides financial summaries and other data on over 1.8 million IRS-qualified, taxexempt organizations. Its basic search engine is free; or you can order more customized research for a fee. The site also features helpful questions to ask and tips for choosing a charity.

Charity Navigator (www. charitynavigator.org) rates more than 5,500 large charities by financial strength, revenue spent on programs and services and other criteria. Their “Top 10” lists and “Tips and Resources” sections provide helpful evaluation tools.

The American Institute of Philanthropy (www. charitywatch.org) is a nonprofit charity watchdog and information service whose Charity Rating Guide (available for $3) rates more than 500 major American charities on how they spend donor money.

The Better Business Bureau (www.give.org) rates whether organizations have met its standards of accountability, including ethical conduct and honest solicitation practices.

Take advantage of tax deductions. If you itemize deductions on your federal taxes, you can deduct money and property contributions to qualified

tax-exempt organizations, within IRS guidelines. And, although your time spent volunteering isn’t tax-deductible, associated mileage and other expenses may be. The IRS’ Tax Information for Contributors website (www. irs.gov/charities/contributors) features a search engine for eligible organizations, information on reporting and substantiating charitable deductions and other helpful tips.

Guard against fraud.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people and organizations will take advantage of your desire to help others – if you let them. A few tips: Be suspicious of telemarketing and email solicitations. When in doubt, hang up or delete the email and contact the organization yourself.

Be aware that scammers often choose names that are similar to those of legitimate organizations.

Never give out personal or credit card information unless you initiate the contact.

A few additional tips: Ask if your employer will match a portion of your contributions, and if it allows automatic payroll deductions to charities of your choice.

As long as you charge a donation to your credit or debit card by December 31, 2010, it will be eligible for a 2010 tax deduction, even if the charge

doesn’t clear until next year.

Also, a check that you mail to a charity is considered delivered

on the date you mail it.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs.

To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney

insightnews.com

Bond From 1 My spirit is humanitarian by nature. To hear some of these songs that straight degrade women, I wonder: how is this playing on the radio, and how are young girls affected by this. At the time there were real raunchy and racy videos, and as a person who loves music, is a music connoisseur, and a person who loves Hip Hop, I’m always looking to see the best of someone’s artistic expression.

Tell me your story. I love Biggie because Biggie tells me his story. Now I’m not going to go and smoke crack, or sell crack after listening to Biggie’s story, but Biggie tells me a story in an artistic way, and a creative way first. He’s creative first. What’s worse is not so much the artist, because maybe that’s as far as they can go creatively, but who at the record company said this is okay? Who says this is constantly okay?

Insight News: I’m glad that you are challenging this and trying and bring integrity back to media and into the lives of little girls. Some of our youth are kind of lost. It’s really nice to see that you have created this organization that is motivating girls and empowering them to be who they can be, and not who society tells them they should be. So with that, tell me about your ceremony that aired November 7 on BET. Bond: You are so correct.

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporters Shanice Brown Ivan B. Phifer Christopher Toliver Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

Insight News • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Page 3 Wow. Well, this was our fifth year, and our first year on television. We’ve been doing the Black Girl Rock Awards to honor stellar women in our community. However, all of our honorees have not been Black.

We honored one woman, she’s Caucasian, Rachel Lloyd, who founded an organization called GEMS, through which she crusades against the trafficking of Black and Hispanic girls in mostly urban communities. She literally goes out there and saves them and brings them back to their childhood. Because of her

work, laws have been changed so that now girls who are truly being molested and manipulated, are not the ones being arrested for somehow being manipulated into prostitution at those ages. Her work was so commendable that we honored her.

We shine the spotlight on stellar women in our community, mostly Black women, but we do our one Soul Brother #1 award which was online this year. We try to get these women who are community activists, social humanitarians and/or people who use their fame, their name, as well

as their stage and platform to bring attention to people in hardship and impoverished condition.

From our rockstars, to who’s got next --someone who shows promise.

We recognized our Shotcallers this year. We added Teresa Clarke to our Shotcallers this year. She started Africa.com, which is this huge organization.

We honored our Motivator, Iyanla Vanzant. She’s someone who, I think, motivates us all. And we honored Raven Symone, our Young, Gifted and Black. She has an incredible story, but for some reason her success is not

exposed to our kids. This is the girl people need to be emulating –not video models. Our girls need to emulate this little mutlimillionaire powerhouse. I know sometimes they know Raven is there, but they probably just see her as an actress on a TV show, but her story to me is important to tell our kids.

Beyonce’s work ethic is important to tell to our kids. She didn’t just pop up and become a pop star. It’s because of her work ethic she has achieved such overwhelming success. We haven’t honored her yet, but her

story and others have to be shown.

We can’t just put everyone on a platform and say they’re a star because they’ve gotten on a reality show or because they’ve been in a video and they’re somebody’s video chick for sometime. I think these are the wrong messages to send. There’s a difference between a Beyonce and someone who is a video model, but for some reason they’re being put in the same category in our community.

For more information on Black Girls Rock Inc. or to donate to the cause, please visit: www. blackgirlsrockinc.com

Page 4 • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Insight News

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Edwidge Danticat: The Create Dangerously interview Interview

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com Edwidge Danticat was born in Haiti in 1969 and moved to the United States when she was 12.

She is the author of two novels, two collections of stories, two books for young adults, and two nonfiction books, one of which, Brother, I’m Dying, was a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. In 2009, she

received a MacArthur Genius Fellowship.

Here, Edwidge talks about her latest opus, Create Dangerously, a collection of essays based on a series of lectures she delivered at Princeton University last year.

Kam Williams: Hi, Edwidge, thanks for the time.

Edwidge Danticat: I hope you don’t mind that I have my baby daughter with me. Usually, I make some sort of arrangements.

KW: No need to apologize.

I once interviewed Soledad O’Brien while she was surrounded by her kids in the kitchen, and the children only added to the experience. First, let me say I enjoyed Create Dangerously immensely. When did you arrive at an understanding that your aesthetic coincided

with that of Albert Camus in his essay of the same name which served as the inspiration for your book’s title?

ED: [Laughs] You ask that question in such a very, very serious way. I’ve always enjoyed the work of Camus, and found it very thought-provoking, especially his novels. But less universally read are his essays which are very beautiful. I read that one when I was in college and starting to think seriously about writing. He always seemed to express more ambivalence than certainty. That’s certainly how I feel, that this is all a kind of quest, and that things change in terms of what you’re trying to accomplish as you go along.

I like the fact that he talks about both sides and the ambivalence of artists.

KW: FSU grad Laz Lyles says: I heard a New Yorker Magazine podcast that mentioned you and Junot Diaz in tandem as the frontrunner “immigrant” writers. I’d like to know if there are any other writers we should be looking out for who are creating and writing in this tradition.

ED: [Laughs] I don’t know if it’s true that we’re at the forefront. I think we are just part

Edwidge Danticat of a big and emerging group.

Two of the people I’m most actively reading right now are Dinaw Mengestu and Jhumpa Lahiri. Also, Tiphanie Yanique who wrote an absolutely amazing novella and collection of short stories called “How to Escape from a Leper Colony.”

KW: Rudy Lewis says: I have read several of your books and think that you are the finest and most courageous writer living today, on par with the late South African poet Dennis

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Brutus. Do you think it a waste of energy to protest for the return of President Aristide to Haiti when it is almost certain that the United States, Canada, and France will not allow his return?

ED: Rudy is right that it would be very difficult for Aristide to return as a leader because the larger powers won’t allow it, but I don’t think the people in Haiti who support his return would consider it a waste of energy because he is a citizen of Haiti.

KW: Rudy also says: South Africa was a cause célèbre. Why do you think that Haiti has not risen to that level in the African American political imagination, in their churches and other social and political arenas? Is it the problem of language or some other factors?

ED: There has long been an ideological and intellectual engagement with Haiti as the first Black republic by people like Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Randall Robinson, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Katherine Dunham, Frederick Douglass and Ntozake Shange.

And since the earthquake, we’ve witnessed a very visceral reaction and a new wave of engagement on the part of many African-American communities all across the country.

KW: Speaking of the earthquake, Heritage Konpa Publisher Rene Davis wants to know if there’s an earthquake relief charity you recommend, ED: There are two. Haitian

Women for Haitian Refugees (http://haitianwomen.wordpress. com/) has been on the ground since the beginning. The majority of Haitian households are female-headed because of politics and migration. The other is the Lambi Fund of Haiti. (http://www.lambifund.org/) Both work primarily in areas outside of Port-au-Prince which get less aid.

KW: Rene also wants to know whether you have any political aspirations in Haiti, ala Wyclef Jean?

ED: No, no, no, no, no! The only thing I will ever run for is a bus. [LOL] KW: Harriet Pakula Teweles says: First of all, I want to say how very much I appreciated The Dew Breaker. How has winning a MacArthur Award and being dubbed a genius affected your writing process?

ED: It hasn’t made it easier, strangely enough. [Chuckles] Writing is the same, no matter what else happened with your previous book, because ultimately you have to sit down with a blank page and wrestle with an idea. It hasn’t changed that process in terms of the anxiety. Once you’re involved in the work, it’s really just you and the characters and the words.

What does change is that the more you do it, the more practice you have, the less stressful writing is. You know how that is, Kam KW: Yeah. What did being named an Oprah Book Club selection do for you?

ED: It gave me a lot of time.

What it did was allow me the time to concentrate on writing so I did not have to do so many other jobs. The greatest gift anyone can give to a writer is time, as you very well know.

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says: I am always so incredibly moved by your writing, especially Krik Krak, The Farming of the Bones and The Dew Breaker. I see that your new work is once again about life’s challenges respecting immigrants. I wonder if one day you will write an extended work which will examine happiness instead of suffering.

DANTICAT TURN TO 5

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Insight News • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Page 5

Target Holidazzle illuminates downtown Nothing says the holidays like bundling up, heading to Nicollet Mall with family and friends and participating in the wonderful holiday tradition that is Target Holidazzle.

Target Holidazzle, now in its 19th season, is expected to draw more than 300,000 local, regional and national guests wishing to enjoy the glistening lights, beloved storybook characters and enchanting holiday music.

“There are many new enhancements to look forward to in this year’s parade,” said Leah Wong, vice president of events and marketing of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. “For the first time in Target Holidazzle history, opening night will kick off with a spectacular fireworks display.”

Launching along the parade route, fireworks will begin promptly at 6:30 pm on Friday, November 26, and continue throughout opening night.

Danticat From 4 ED: [Laughs] I think I’m just melancholy by nature, and a lot of that gets into my writing. But on a practical level, I think it’s hard to write a book about happiness because fiction requires tension and complication.

KW: Bernadette asks: When was the last time you were in Haiti?

ED: I was there towards the end of the summer to visit family and to work at a camp called “Li Li Li” (http://www.lililiread.org) which means “Read Read Read.”

KW: Yale grad Tommy Russell asks: Were you surprised at the outpouring of support after the earthquake? Are things getting better? And what more needs to be done down there?

ED: I was surprised at how broad the recovery was. Every one was doing something.

On another level, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised because there is something human about the way people react to and identify with

Holidazzle photos by Richard Westley Wong

Bullseye, the beloved Target bull terrier mascot, will kickoff this year’s Target Holidazzle parade season. This is Target’s third year as a title sponsor of the event.

“Target is thrilled to roll out the red carpet for this year’s Holidazzle Parade,” said Shawn

Gensch, vice president of Marketing for Target. “Target has a longstanding tradition of supporting our communities and we are proud to help host this event in our hometown.”

Along with this new addition, Target Holidazzle continues to entertain with old favorites.

suffering. There’s a lot more empathy in the world than we perhaps realize. The response to the earthquake proved that.

Unfortunately, many of the donations haven’t been used, and we still have a million and a half people homeless, plus the recent cholera outbreak shows the vulnerability of the situation.

So, I think there needs to be a renewed urgency.

KW: Marcia Evans is a person who grew up in the Cambria Heights section of New York City. She asks: Why is this lovely neighborhood never discussed by the media when covering the Haitian community?

ED: Marcia’s right about that, although since the earthquake there’s a reporter from The New York Times’, Anne Barnard, who’s been writing a very extensive series about that particular community in Queens. I think it’s hard for an outsider to capture the flavor of a community and all its nuances, so ultimately Haitian-Americans need to start sharing intimate accounts of their stories. But, Marcia’s right, there are many

wonderful stories waiting to be told. We also have to support Haitian-American media, like Heritage Konpa and The Haitian Times, because they not only link Haitian communities to each other, but they are the portals from the Haitian community to the greater community.

More than 350,000 twinkling lights adorn the 13 floats and two doodlebugs along the parade route and nearly 300 volunteers show off festive costumes each night.

Target Holidazzle will once again partner with Ameriprise Financial for the 14th annual Food and Cash Drive. Each night before the parade, volunteers from Ameriprise Financial and Emergency Foodshelf Network will walk the parade route to collect non-perishable food and cash donations to benefit the Emergency Foodshelf Network.

The Circus Train float will also be collecting during the parade. Since 1998, the Emergency Foodshelf Network and Ameriprise Financial have raised 461,171 dollars and pounds of food at Target Holidazzle. With help from

the community, the holidays will be a little brighter for everyone.

Parade details Free and open to the public, Target Holidazzle runs along Nicollet Mall between 12th and 4th streets Thursdays through Sundays from Friday, November 26 to Sunday, December 19, beginning at 6:30 pm. Most people start lining up on both sides of Nicollet Mall at 6 p.m. Many parade-goers congregate in between 7th and 9th streets, but on busier nights, particularly weekends, it is recommended to watch near the beginning or end of the parade route.

There are also options for those not wanting to brave the elements. “Hot Seats,” enclosed, heated seats that serve free hot

cocoa and cider, are available for purchase, and downtown’s skyway system provide great options to keep warm. “Hot Seats” tend to sell out for the season quickly, so get yours now at www.holidazzle.com to ensure availability.

Getting to Target Holidazzle this season should be a cinch. On Saturday, December 11, Metro Transit will offer free bus and light rail rides from 4 to 8 pm for parade-goers.

Target Holidazzle is produced by the Minneapolis Downtown Council. The parade is sponsored

by Target, Ameriprise Financial, Xcel Energy, U.S. Bank, Minnesota Twins, Metro Transit, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, Star Tribune, WCCO TV, WCCO Radio, and LiteFM.

THREE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

ED: [LOL] No. KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

ED: Yes, I’ve been afraid a few times, especially now that I have kids. I’m more afraid for them than for myself.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

ED: Yes, most of the time.

[Chuckles] KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

ED: Just now, with you.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

ED: That reality show

DANTICAT TURN TO 11 www.SoundsOfBlackness.com

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Page 6 • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Insight News

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HEALTH McCollum asks FDA to ban triclosan

By Sharon Rolenc Minnesota News Connection U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-4) and two congressional colleagues are calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the chemical triclosan, a common ingredient in antibacterial soaps, shampoos, household cleaners and even such products as socks and toys. They’ve asked for a full review of triclosan to be submitted to Congress

by April. The co-sponsors are

US Reps. Louise Slaughter of New York and Raul Grijalva of Arizona.

Dr. David Wallinga, director of the food and health program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, says that for years the scientific community has expressed concern over triclosan contributing to the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so-called “superbugs.”

“Bacteria - bugs around us - are actually quite smart, and exposing them to antibacterials or antimicrobial chemicals helps to make them smarter.

So putting an antibacterial or

Official photo

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum

antimicrobial like Triclosan out there in the environment and our waterways unnecessarily is just not a good idea at all,” said Wallinga.

One of the other big concerns about triclosan is that its chemical structure closely resembles dioxin, a highlytoxic substance known to cause cancer.

Wallinga says more and more research shows that triclosan, like dioxin, is an “endocrine inhibitor” or “disruptor”; meaning it can mimic and block or change regular hormone function.

Environmental links to prostate cancer

By Earth Talk® From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that environmental factors could be playing a role in the increasing number of prostate cancer cases in the U.S. and elsewhere? - Joshua Gordon, New York, NY Prostate cancer is a growing problem for men in the U.S. as well as in other developed nations around the world. Some 40,000 American men lose their battle with prostate cancer every year— the only cancer more deadly for U.S. men is skin cancer. Age is the primary “risk factor” for developing prostate cancer. One out of every six American men over the age of 40 will develop prostate cancer, while four out of five over 80-years-old will get it. Of course, genes also play a big role. The American Cancer Society reports that a man’s prostate cancer risk doubles if his father or brother has suffered from the disease. Researchers believe a genetic predisposition accounts for as many as 10 percent of all cases of the disease in the U.S. Beyond age and genetics, though, environmental factors do likely play a role. WebMD

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The take-away for men concerned about prostate health? Eat healthier. reports, for instance, that prostate cancer occurs about 60 percent more often in African American men than in white American men, and when diagnosed is more likely to be advanced. But interestingly enough, prostate cancer rates for African men living in their native countries are much lower. When native Africans immigrate to the U.S., however, prostate cancer rates increase sharply.

According to WebMD, the reason for these differences are not fully understood, but an environmental connection— possibly related to high-fat diets, less exposure to the sun, exposure

to heavy metals, infectious agents, or smoking—might be to blame.

Some new research suggests that a switch to a diet high in fat could be a significant contributing factor in these cases. “The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are dietary staples,” adds WebMD. The take-away for men concerned about prostate health is to eat healthier. Several studies suggest that a diet high in lycopene (an antioxidant found in high levels in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon and some other fruits and veggies) could lower an individual’s risk of developing prostate cancer significantly.

Researchers have also found links between other environmental factors and prostate cancer. Dr. Matthew Schmitz, a prostate cancer specialist at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital and the prostate cancer “guide” at About.com, reports that exposure to high levels of cadmium (a naturally occurring element used in industrial processes and present in cigarette smoke) as well as dioxins (chemicals widely used in herbicides and other applications) have been linked to increased prostate cancer risk. Other researchers have noticed that men

who take calcium supplements and multi-vitamins regularly may be at higher risk. Schmitz says that more research is needed to learn how risky such exposures really are.

For those who do get prostate cancer, some promising new treatments will be undergoing clinical trials soon. Dr. Marianne Sadar of the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, has used an experimental drug adapted from sea sponges to shrink cancer tumors in mice. It will be a year before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permits trials of the new drug on humans, but prostate patients and their doctors are holding out hope that this and other new treatments can obviate the need for many surgeries.

CONTACTS: American Cancer Society, www.cancer. org; WebMD, www.webmd.com; About.com, www.about.com; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, c/o E – The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@ emagazine.com. E is a nonprofit publication. Subscribe: www. emagazine.com/subscribe; Request a Free Trial Issue: www. emagazine.com/trial.

“Hormones are sort of like the messengers within our bodies; they tell different parts of the body what to do and they coordinate all the different organ systems of the body so they work well together,” said Wallinga.

Exposure to endocrine disruptors is particularly concerning during fetal development and for small children.

Wallinga says household products containing triclosan offer no more effective protections than those without.

“We’re putting it in a whole

slew of consumer products for reasons that are absolutely unnecessary. There’s absolutely no reason to use triclosan in most of these products. There’s no evidence that triclosan in soaps work any better than just plain soap and water,” said Wallinga.

Wallinga added: “We’ve played public health roulette far too long” by allowing persistent chemicals like triclosan into consumer products without ensuring their safety for humans or the environment.

More information is at www.louise.house.gov

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Insight News • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Page 7

COMMENTARY “And yet love exists” says Dr. Maya Angelou Opinion

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist Dr. Maya Angelou is a gracious, wise, and witty woman who has been an absolute treasure to our nation and our world.

I just learned that she will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving. Of all the things that Dr. Angelou has accomplished, I am most impressed by her ability to radiate optimism even in pessimistic times and to teach about “the courage to love.” I am fortunate to have her as an advisor, sister, friend and board member at Bennett College for Women. So often, I have had

the blessing of sitting at her feet and receiving phenomenal words of advice and guidance.

My dear friend, Robby Gregg, shared a thanksgiving message from Dr. Angelou that motivates this column: “I’m grateful for being here, for being able to think, for being able to see, For being able to taste, for appreciating love - for knowing that it exists in a world so rife with vulgarity, with brutality and violence, and yet love exists.

I’m grateful to know that it exists.”

I savored Dr. Angelou’s words on the Sunday before Thanksgiving as I despaired over the Tea Party nonsense and the “vulgarity, brutality, and violence” that too frequently define our world.

I was mourning the fact that four young women who were pledging Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at East Carolina University were in a horrible

car accident, with two dying and two holding on to life. The girls were 19- and 20-years-old, the accident a one-car accident, the tragedy monumental, the mourning extreme. And even in mourning death, I am reminded by Dr. Maya to give

that made me utterly unfit for human company, and then I traveled to New York to greet more than 50 folks who came out for a book signing at the wonderfully warm Hue Man bookstore in Harlem. In my mind I asked the woman who

“I am grateful for Limbaugh and Beck because they are poster children for ignorance, the kind of people you want to point to as examples of what not to be.” thanks for life and for its ebbs and flows.

Even as I fight with life (what’s the point) and its extreme and profound unfairness, I also savor the spirit of gratitude that rests on my shoulders like a stole and makes it possible for me to manage the rage I often feel at life’s unfairness. I had a morning one day last week

was smiling in the evening to say a few words to the woman who was scowling in the morning, and I gave thanks.

Despite the drubbing Democrats took in the midterm elections and the obvious obstruction Republicans plan in this next Congress, I remain grateful for leaders like President Barack Obama, now-Minority leader Nancy

Pelosi, and South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn.

I’m not so grateful for Maryland’s Steny Hoyer, but I am sure that I’ll get over it.

I just can’t figure out how this man thought he should have Clyburn’s slot as Whip, and how Clyburn let him have it.

I suppose I am grateful for the likes of Rush Limbaugh whose racism (he had a series of extremely unflattering things to say about Clyburn) is galling. I am grateful for Limbaugh and Beck because they are poster children for ignorance, the kind of people you want to point to as examples of what not to be.

They are the wind beneath Sarah Palin’s wings, and Mrs. Palin, for all her newfound influence (enough to get the talented Brandy ejected from Dancing with the Stars in favor of the clumsy Bristol), is not an example of much more than opportunism.

And yet love exists, says

Dr. Maya. It does. It exists as tens of thousands of Americans devote at least part of their Thanksgiving to feeding those who will not eat. It exists as people choose to spend part of their holiday time asking for change for the Salvation Army, and as even more people offer money to help others. It exists as people bring canned goods and wrapped toys to the charities that have promised to help families whose Christmas seasons might otherwise not be so bright. Would that it would exist for Haiti, where promised dollars still have not reached that beleaguered country. Love exists.

I am indebted to Dr. Maya for her Thanksgiving sentiments, to Robby Gregg for sharing them and to the Creator for grace and gratitude and for the love that exists.

Julianne Malveaux is President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.

GM lessons: Stimulating Black economic development Opinion

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. NNPA Columnist President Barack Obama reached another significant milestone on the long difficult road toward economic recovery when General Motors (GM) recently launched one of the largest initial public offerings (IPO) in American history. I believe that the proper stimulus investment in the African American business community will also bring a much-needed economic recovery.

To the astounded pseudoeconomists and near-sighted politicians who vociferously criticized President Obama for using federal stimulus funds to

reorganize and stabilize GM, the fact is the stimulus worked. The investment of taxpayers’ dollars worked to save GM jobs and to catalyze a financial rebirth of GM. Now as a result, in Detroit and in other cities where GM and the automotive industry is based, there is an increase in the opportunity to regain some of the jobs and businesses that went under when GM went down. The nation’s biggest automaker in very heavy trading closed its first day on its return to Wall Street at $34.19-a share price. Billions of dollars were raised. President Obama stated, “We are finally beginning to see some of the tough decisions that we make in the midst of crisis pay off.”

Now in the African American community, we should not just be a witness to how the recovery of GM happened. But we must take due note and ask if there are lessons that we can learn that can be applied to an action agenda for the economic development

to bring the African American community out of economic crisis to recovery?

Black-owned businesses need reinvestment, expansion, and most of all support from African Americans. The Black Press is a business as well as a community service. We need to be more supportive. We are about to enter into the biggest holiday spending season. Even in the poverty that exists, we spend hundreds of billions of dollars annually without considering how to target our collective consumerism for more economic development of businesses that are owned and operated in the heart of our communities across America.

Yet, I believe, the first lesson is not just about money or investment capital. If you analyze what I call the Obama effect, the first lesson from the GM stimulus recovery is the question and issue of leadership. President Obama’s leadership in facing down the

skeptics and not doing what may have been perceived to be popular, but rather doing what was necessary and prudent from a financial perspective was outstanding and effective. We need more bold, innovative, and committed African American business leaders, as well as political leaders, who will dare to fight for all that is necessary to advance the economic development interests of our communities, families, and institutions.

Secondly, we need an African American Economic Recovery and Development Plan that will set the right measurable goals and objectives for the ongoing economic benefit of African American businesses and communities. We have many different professional business organizations from the Black MBA’s, National Business Leagues, National Bar Association, National Medical Association, the National Association For

Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), National Urban League, Congressional Black Caucus, and the NAACP along with many others not listed here that all should work together to formulate and implement the African American Economic Recovery and Development Plan.

Poverty and economic crisis should not be the reality for far too many African Americans. In fact, we have something that GM did not have. We have, in circulation, in the African American community nearly a trillion dollars every year. But, most of this money goes out of the African American community.

The plan for recovery must address this contradiction. We should think about this and act accordingly. It is time that we “stimulate” our own communities and businesses with our own capital. Yes, we need to do more for ourselves in terms of our own self-help and

development.

Lastly, our most vital resource is our children.

Thus we must do whatever is necessary to ensure the best education of our children. Our youth need to be encouraged to excel in education at all levels. We need more handson opportunities to literally rise up a new generation of young “freedom fighters” who are also versed and committed to the economic recovery of our communities. We must say to our youth, “Don’t leave our communities as a measure of your financial success, but rather stay to help lead our communities to new sustainable heights of wealth-building, development, and economic prosperity.”

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr is Senior Advisor to the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and President of Education Online Services Corporation

Michael Vick finally gets out of the dog house been accused of being the last player in the locker room and the first to exit. Under McNabb’s tutelage, Vick became more of a student of the game, spending more time studying film and learning to remain in the pocket instead of eyeing the nearest lane to run.

In a surprise move, the Eagles traded McNabb to the Washington Redskins, a division rival, prior to the start of this season. Eagles Coach Andy Reid declared young Kelvin Kolb as his quarterback of the future. But when Kolb was sidelined with an injury in the opening game, Michael Vick was given the opportunity to display his upgraded talent; the quarterback of the future quickly became the quarterback of the

Opinion

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist Michael Vick has been sensational on the football field this season as quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Two weeks ago, he put on a phenomenal show against the Washington Redskins, setting a single game record by throwing for 333 yards, including four touchdowns, and rushing for 80 yards and two more touchdowns.

The visiting Eagles routed the Redskins 59-28.

NFL analyst and former Eagle Quarterback Ron Jaworski called it, “the most remarkable performance I’ve ever seen on Monday night.”

However, the most remarkable part of the rise, fall and second rise of Michael Vick is what happened off the field. The Atlanta Falcons selected Vick as its top pick in 2001, the first Black quarterback to be the No. 1 overall pick in an NFL draft. Vick signed the largest contract ever for a rookie, $82 million for six years.

The nadir came in 2007 when he pleaded guilty to dog fighting-related charges. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison and served 18 months at the federal prison in Leavenworth, KS, followed by five months of home confinement in Virginia. In 2008, he filed for bankruptcy.

Rather than throwing Vick to the dogs, former Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy reached out to the gifted but troubled athlete, visiting him in prison, counseling him after his release and advocating on his behalf with NFL brass.

When the NFL agreed to allow Vick to return to pro football under a strict set of guidelines, Dungy was there to help guide Vick, keeping his spirits up while he was ridiculed and hounded by animal rights activists. Some critics have suggested that justice for Vick would be his dying and coming back as a fire hydrant.

Last year, the Eagles signed

Michael Vick training with the Eagles Vick to a $1.6 million contract, with a $5 million option for 2010, which it exercised.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), issued a statement saying, “PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Philadelphia Eagles have chosen to sign a man who hanged dogs from trees, electrocuted them with jumper cables, held them underwater until they drowned in his swimming pool, and even threw his own family dog into the fighting pit to be torn to shreds while he laughed. What sort of message does this send to young fans who care about animals and don’t want to see them harmed?”

Fortunately, the Humane Society of the United States took a more humane approach toward Michael Vick after his advisers approached the group about the fallen athlete’s embarking on a speaking tour to discourage urban youth from engaging in dog fighting. So far, Vick has

Flickr (wigstruck)

spoken to more than a dozen groups about his bad behavior. In a fact sheet, the Humane Society stated, “Vick was a role model for many young people, and he lost everything because of what he did to dogs. His story is the strongest possible example of why dogfighting is a dead end. Just as former drug addicts are able to reach people with addiction, former dogfighters are some of the most effective voices against this crime.”

One of the most effective voices lobbying for the Eagles to sign Vick upon his release from prison was quarterback Donovan McNabb, a friend who had played with Vick in the Pro Bowl. Not many NFL quarterbacks would volunteer to serve as Vick’s big brother and even fewer would ask his team to bring in a talented player who could possibly be his replacement. To his credit, McNabb did just that.

By all accounts, Vick became a changed player in Philadelphia. In Atlanta, he had

past. Vick played so well that Reid, who had said Kolb wouldn’t lose his starting job because of an injury, had to reverse himself and anoint Vick as his quarterback. Vick was sidelined for three games with a rib injury but returned to his starting role.

Vick has won every game he started this year and there is even talk of him becoming selected the league’s most valuable player.

Sunday night, Vick led his team to a 27-17 victory over the New York Giants, placing the Eagles atop the NFC East for the first time this season. It was a game marred by dropped touchdown passes, mindless penalties and two fumbles by Vick, who had not fumbled or thrown an interception all year.

“This was an important game for him,” his coach said after the game. “It’s very important to battle through when a team is coming after you, bringing extra people, you’re getting hit and knocked around, and things might not be going as smoothly as you want. You have to fight and that’s what he did.”

Vick has fought his way back to the top.

George E. Curry, former editorin-chief of Emerge magazine and the NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through his Web site, www. georgecurry.com You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/ currygeorge.

Page 8 • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Thanksgiving and Christmas together Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com Leaving church this past Sunday, I stopped to hug Nicole and wish her a happy thanksgiving. “You cooking, right?” I asked. I’ve been told by many church-folks that she “throws down” in the kitchen, although I have yet to find out first-hand. In her usual, tell-it-like-it- is style, she responded, “Yes, girl, and I’m making enough for Christmas, too! There’s no sense of doing all that work twice!” She explained how she doubles up on her dressing and sweet potato recipes, sticks half, uncooked, in the freezer and the other half in the oven.

Then for Christmas, two of the main essentials are oven-ready.

Sounds great, right? Although I’m a little too far into my Thanksgiving 2010 planning to double up, it definitely will be on my to-do list for Thanksgiving/Christmas ’11.

Want to save cooking time and stress during the holidays, or any other time of year? Be like Nicole and tackle two (or more) meals at once by planning menus in advance and preparing certain items to go right into the freezer. Here are a few tips to get you started.

What To Freeze – While it’s true that not everything freezes well, a few holiday staples, dressing, sweet potatoes, and corn casserole, are great choices. In addition, yeast rolls, and most baked goods are great candidates for freezing. I learned a couple of things the hard way; 1.The texture of some things change when placed in the freezer and 2. Just because an item is sold frozen in stores, it doesn’t mean my at-home freezing will yield similar results (they add extra stuff to keep it stable).

Another tip to remember is that the flavors of herbs, onions, and celery are stronger after freezing, so adjust your recipes accordingly.

How To Freeze/How To Package – As soon as the cooked food has cooled to room temperature, place it in the freezer; if it’s too hot, it could defrost other frozen food. Disposable aluminum foil containers, misted with cooking spray work well for dressing, sweet potatoes, and corn casseroles. By tightly wrapping food items with plastic wrap and then heavyduty foil, you’ll help maintain the food’s flavor, color, and texture. Freezer bags work well too. Simply store it flat, so that food thaws evenly. Finally, the best way to defrost food is s-l-ow-l-y in the refrigerator rather than attempting to do it under water or in the microwave.

Around the time of our oneyear anniversary, my husband and I drove from Minnesota to

midstatemills.wordpress.com

Michigan to spend time with our families during the holidays.

We marked our anniversary by digging out the top layer of our wedding cake from my aunt’s freezer. After unwrapping

the ten, no twenty layers of aluminum foil that protected the cake, we all dug in. It tasted just as good as it did the day we were married. At the end of December, we will celebrate

twenty years of marriage. Since my husband no longer eats sweets and I still do, I think I’ll grab his piece of the twentiethanniversary celebration cake, wrap it thoroughly, toss it in the freezer, and ENJOY it next year.

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

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Insight News • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Page 9

TECHNOLOGY KFAI champions community radio

By Ivan B. Phifer MMMC Technology Reporter Protect and empower community radio was clearly the message of the meeting held this summer with FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, and FCC Attorney, Louis Peraertz. The Federal Communications Commission controls commercial and noncommercial radio and television and is exploring its role in the burgeoning internet and digital communications world.

Presenting the case were the KFAI staff, and area communicators who talked about the importance of community based radio. There was opportunity for everyone, the underserved, unheard and unspoken to express their views.

People of all ethnicities and backgrounds were present.

KFAI managers talked about the issue of signal strength despite the installation of a 900watt correctional antenna in 2008, which itself was a marked improvement from the 125-watt signal when the station was first established. According to Adam Mehl, Program Director-KFAI, the signal is strongest in the southeast metro area, and West St. Paul. He explained how signal strength affects listenership. Then there is the issue of non-English speaking communities who are not reached because of the language barrier, though, ironically, they are surrounded by KFAI transmission.

Ahndi Fridell, News DirectorKFAI, said that the language barrier is one of the challenges, but she said, “This is a generation thing; the second generation is speaking English a lot more than their parents are.”

Andy Driscoll, KFAI Programmer, said that his programs are as broad as the communities he chooses to focus on. He tries to include information the community needs to know; issues that are local,

FCC Comissioner Mignon Clyburn (woman in dark suit) meets with KFAI staff at KFAI studios in Minneapolis regional or statewide. He said that KFAI takes on issues that have a greater impact at the local level than commercial or public radio.

Regarding immigrants, Driscoll said when they moved out of the inner city, they were moving out of the strongest signal coverage area of KFAI. He said many young people do not even listen to the radio. Rather, they listen to everything on their iPods, and read their news from the Internet.

Hence he suggested that one way to increase listenership would be to create pod-casts.

KFAI’s slogan, “Fresh Air Radio/Radio Without Boundaries” essentially says it all. It provides the separate programming of

music, politics, gospel and community, yet shows how they are all connected to one another.

That connectivity should be the basis for linking the station’s work with the aggressive technology training and adoption goals of the University of Minnesota’s Broadband Access Project.

The Broadband Access Project, envisioned as a service to bridge the digital divide for Twin Cities communities of color and underserved populations, consists of 11 public computer centers located inside four federallydesignated poverty zones: North Minneapolis, South Minneapolis Southeast Minneapolis, and West St. Paul. The project is a $3.6M

initiative of the University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC) in partnership with the University of Minnesota’s, Office of Business Community and Economic Development, and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium.

Mike Wassenaar, Executive Director-St Paul Neighborhood Network said that ironically, KFAI in the late 1990s was the sole Somali language service when web streaming first started for the station. Unfortunately, the size of the community determines the economics of the market; hence, communities of color, such as Somali and Hmong communities

are not significant for the broadcast market place. “Our media institutions fail them, they ignore them, because they are not deemed to be a viable market,” he observed.

Another KFAI volunteer, who is also an affiliate of ABC news, stressed that commercial stations only target communities they see as important. He said, “I will find a job, but I want to make sure this station stays.”

Cheryl Leanza, a policy advisor, mentioned how the media and budgeting are important factors in the success of a radio station. One of the key elements she says is the inability to access the value of the community. If

Suluki Fardan

the community you are trying to fundraise in does not have a lot of money, the results of the fundraising are going to be low.

The goal of fundraising is to demonstrate effectiveness of a station.

The compelling case emerging from each individual account at the meeting impressed upon the Commissioner that there was a cohesive voice to support community radio stations. She said that she understood the value of community, loyalty and hard work for those who struggle to make ends meet. Everyone’s voice was heard, and those voices demonstrated that KFAI really is a radio station “without boundaries.”

Community Action Partnership awarded $120,900 for food program Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties was awarded $120,900 to establish a Food Support Program. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and Greater Twin Cities United Way, this program will increase both awareness of and access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) among lowincome households throughout Community Action’s service area.

In a recent report titled How Effective Are We?, Ramsey County Community Human Services stated that “In 2008, 60% of those eligible for food support in Ramsey County received their benefits.”

Thousands of eligible Ramsey County residents are not receiving food support benefits.

The report further noted that seniors in particular have a “lower rate of participation.”

Making food support available

to eligible people frees up funds for other basic necessities such as transportation, rent and medical care.

Washington County has been subject to rising poverty and unemployment rates in recent years. According to the Washington County Office of Administration, the poverty rate among Washington County residents in 2008 was 4.7%.

“We want to reach people living in Ramsey and Washington counties who are

eligible, but not yet receiving food support. We are excited about this opportunity to help our neighbors,” said Clarence Hightower, executive director for Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties.

Community Action will provide eligibility screening for 3,000 households and assist a minimum of 500 households through the application process so that they may secure their food support benefits.

Page 10 •November 29, 2010 - December 5, 2010 • Insight News

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Eating local, healthier in Minneapolis A Homegrown Minneapolis community meeting 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Urban Research and Outreach Center, 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis will give folks a chance to learn about how Minneapolis is making progress in helping residents eat and grow more healthy and local food. Over the last two years, these initiatives have been a part of “Homegrown Minneapolis,” which is a City-community vision that unites efforts to get more healthy, local food grown, processed, distributed and eaten in Minneapolis.

At the meeting City staff will also unveil the draft of the City’s new Urban Agriculture Policy Plan and kick off the plan’s public comment period. The plan will guide City land use and zoning to support local food-related activities.

Homegrown Minneapolis successes so far include ordinances changed to allow indoor farmer’s markets; require grocers to sell fresh, whole foods; and permit beekeeping in the city. A Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support State Health Improvement (SHIP) obesity prevention grant also helped expand the use of food stamps (EBT) to two farmers market locations to make fresh produce more easily available.

“Homegrown Minneapolis is a groundbreaking attempt to provide better access to local, healthy and affordable food,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak.

“No other city has accomplished so much so quickly, but no other city has the great energy we have in our community.”

Funded by the SHIP grant, the Urban Agriculture Policy Plan culminates 18 months of public meetings, focus groups, and city/ community-led work groups studying communitybased food activities, from community gardens to farmer’s markets to food canning and preservation.

Bright Water Elementary Take advantage of the Northside Montessori option: Bright Water Elementary, a public Montessori Charter is now accepting applications for enrollment for grades k-5 for the upcoming school year 2011/2012. For more information contact us at 612)302-3410 or www.brightwatermontessori.org.

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff.

Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.

2.

Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy.

3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants.

4.

Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports.

5.

Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood development. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred.

Licensing and Certifications: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Minnesota Teachers’ License (preferred).

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required.

Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information.

• Tight deadlines.

• Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager.

• Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines.

• Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org

“In the first phase of Homegrown Minneapolis, the community gave the City ideas for how we could make Minneapolis a leader in the local food movement,” said Council Member Cam Gordon.

“We’ve been working to implement these great ideas, and this meeting is an opportunity for the community to see the exciting progress we’ve made.”

Small groups will invite further community discussion on the Urban Agriculture Policy Plan and the following topics: • Developing local food resource networks designed to assist backyard and small scale urban agriculture growers.

• Establishing a new food policy commission for the third phase of Homegrown Minneapolis, beginning July 2011.

• Developing a Homegrown Business Development Center for 2011 to support emerging local food-related enterprises with low-interest loans.

Launched in December 2008 by Rybak and the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, Homegrown Minneapolis has engaged more than 130 Minneapolis residents working alongside City staff to forward more than 50 recommendations to the City. The City’s efforts complement many business and individual projects already occurring across the city. A primary aim of the first two phases of Homegrown Minneapolis has been helping residents across the city build skills and find the tools to grow, process, distribute and eat more vegetables and fruits. Key to the work accomplished by the initiative thus far has been the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support’s SHIP and Communities Putting Prevention to Work funding.

Any questions about the initiative or this community meeting can be directed to June

Calendar

Photos courtesy of City of Minneapolis

(Left) The Emerge Youth Community Garden is used to train teens about food production and is a collaborative project between the City of Minneapolis’ youth employment programs and the Homegrown Minneapolis initiative. (Top right) A Food Preservation Network was established in Minneapolis to train community food preservation guides and provide canning instruction at sites throughout the city. (Bottom right) The City of Minneapolis was able to expand the use of food stamps (EBT) to two farmers markets.

Mathiowetz at june.mathiowetz@ci.minneapolis. mn.us or (612) 673-2027. Interested residents can also visit the Homegrown Minneapolis website www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/homegrownhome.asp. The plan and opportunities for comment will be available online beginning Dec. 9 at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/urban_ag_ plan.asp.

These meeting sites are wheelchair accessible. If you need other disability related accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter or materials in alternative format,

PHONE: 612.588.1313

Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, andrew@insightnews.com, by fax: 612588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Andrew Notsch. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events Minnesota Identity and the Arts - Nov 30 — What does it mean to be a Minnesotan, and how has that identity been shaped by our artists and storytellers?

How has our rich artistic culture shaped the way we think about themselves, each other and the rest of the world? Is there such a thing as a shared Minnesota culture and how has art shaped it? Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m., at Intermedia Arts, 2822 S. Lyndale Ave., Mpls, MN 55408 Intermediaarts.org “Musical Equinox” - Dec 1 — The Chamber and Jazz Ensembles of Minneapolis Community and Technical College under the direction of Yolanda Y. Williams will present “Musical Equinox” at the Irene Whitney Fine Arts Theater, 1424 Yale Place, Minneapolis on Wed., Dec. 1. The 7:00 p.m. concert will feature the works of Byrd, Gershwin and Tadd Dameron among others. Admission is free and children are welcomed.

“Your Heart is in My Mouth” - Dec 1-4 — Naked Stages returns to Pillsbury House Theatre 7:30 pm. In the midst of a medical demonstration, the patient’s heart jumps up and runs across the room.

“Your Heart is in My Mouth” by Janaki Ranpura takes a daughter on a carnival ride with puppets and shadow projections through her father’s life and deeper into their relationship. Tickets: $15 adults. $10 students/seniors. Wed. Dec. 1 @ The House Pay-What-You-Can-Preview. More information and tickets at 612-825-0459 or www. pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

“Body Parts: Reflections on Reflections” Dec 1-4 — Naked Stages returns to Pillsbury House Theatre 7:30 pm. This African-American transgender woman lives life balanced on a tightrope. A truly multi-media experience, “Body Parts: Reflections on Reflections” by Andrea Jenkins uses video and visual art, movement and music and monologue to express and explore the dual nature of the human body. Tickets: $15 adults. $10 students/seniors. Wed. Dec. 1 @ The House Pay-What-You-Can-Preview. More information and tickets at 612-825-0459 or www.

FAX: 612.588.2031

pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

WomenVenture Small Business Classes - Dec. 2 — The Best Place to Start Thursday, December 2nd, 6:00PM - 6:45 PM at WomenVenture, Free.

Overview of WomenVenture’s programs and services. Business Ownership 101 7:00 PM 8:30 PM at WomenVenture. Explore starting and financing new businesses. For further information and to register, visit womenventure.org or call 651-646-3808. WomenVenture is located at 2324 University Avenue West, Suite 120, St. Paul, MN 55114.

Holiday Favorites Concert- Dec 3 — The first of four free concerts of the Minnesota Sinfonia on Fri., Dec. 3, at 7pm. in the Metropolitan State University’s Auditorium, 700 E. 7th St., Saint Paul.

It’s Snowing Books - Free Book Giveaway for Children - Dec 4 — The Reading is Fundamental (RIF) event will take place on Sat., Dec. 4 at 1:30 pm at the Hope Community Children’s Village Center (CVC), 611 E. Franklin Ave., Mpls. RIF is a federally funded family literacy program designed to encourage and engage students and parents in motivational reading activities. Bring your children for an afternoon of stories, activities, and fun. Call Colnese Hendon at 612-871-0662 to RSVP your attendance.

Free Diabetes Seminar - Dec 4 — Info. on physical fitness from Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson (U of M Professor of Kinesiology), American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Northpoint will be checking blood glucose levels. Sat. Dec. 4 101pm at UROC 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls.

Take Me Back to Hip Harlem - Dec 4&5 — Intergenerational, Intercultural Music & Dance Mash. Join Irv Williams (“Mr. Smooth”) on his tenor sax with the Irv Williams Quartet, as they perform with centenarian choreographer/dancer Ida Arbeit, gospel singer Tom Tipton, young break dancer Kortland Jackson and the Kairos Dance Theatre company, performing on Saturday, Dec. 4, 7pm and Sun., December 5, 3pm at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Avenue South in Mpls. Reservations and tickets: 612-926-5454 www.kairosdance.org Insulin I - Dec 4 — A fifteen band benefit for the U of IA Diabetes Research Center at Eagles #34, 2507 E 25 ST by donation. Country, pop, rock, blues, jazz, cajun and an open mike. Dinner available,

please contact June Mathiowetz at (612) 6732027 or june.mathiowetz@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

by Dec. 1, 2010.

Homegrown Minneapolis is a city initiative working to get more healthy, local food grown, processed, distributed and eaten in Minneapolis.

The Urban Agriculture Policy Plan is funded by the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), which aims to help residents live longer, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic disease. Homegrown Minneapolis

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

bake sale, raffle for a new laptop, and more fun.

Sat. Dec. 4 3-12pm. www.minneapoliseagles34. org 1850s Holiday Party at the historic Ard Godfrey House - Dec 5 — The GODFREY HOUSE, located at Chute Square Park, is at the corner of University & Central Avenues SE in Mpls. Visit the oldest remaining wood frame residence in Minneapolis, built in 1849. The house is decorated for the holidays in the modest style of the era. Sun., Dec. 5, 12:30-3:30pm.

Diversity oversight committee for new ESC seeks community input - Dec 7 — Community members are invited to provide input to the committee as part of the meeting. The committee will convene on Tue., Dec. 7,at 8:30am in the Assembly Room of the John B. Davis Building, 807 N.E. Broadway St. Mpls. The committee will hear updates from James Burroughs, Director of Equity and Diversity and Lynn Littlejohn, Director of Community Affairs for Mortenson/Legacy.

Community members are invited to provide input to the committee as part of the meeting. All speakers will be limited to three minutes. Input can also be submitted for the committee via email at equity.diversity@mpls.k12.mn.us or by calling (612) 668-0518.

Community Catalyst Networking Event Dec 7 — Do you live or work in the Central neighborhood area of South Minneapolis? Are you interested in being part of positive social change in this community? Would you like to network with like-minded organizations for potential partnership? Are sustainable food issues important to you? Then join us for a continental breakfast on Tue., Dec. 7 from 7:30-9am. Park Avenue United Methodist Church - 3400 Park Ave. Mpls.

“The Hebrew Lesson” - Dec 8-11 — Naked Stages returns to Pillsbury House Theatre 7:30 pm. A “rite of return” about the right of return.

“The Hebrew Lesson” by Esther Ouray is performed with live music and weaves myth, history, and personal narrative into the story of a thwarted journey to deliver an ancestor’s ashes to a homeland perverted by conflict.

Tickets: $15 adults. $10 students/seniors. Wed. Dec. 8 @ The House Pay-What-You-CanPreview. More information and tickets at 612825-0459 or www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Page 11

More than a building: Johnson Publishing remembered Special to the NNPA from the Chicago Crusader News of the sale of the only Black-owned building in the Loop didn’t come as a surprise to some former Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) employees who shared cherished memories of working at the Michigan Avenue edifice. Recently, officials at JPC released news that the 11-story, 110,000 square foot, 40-year-old building has been sold to Columbia College. In the college’s news release, Chairman Allen Turner, said the building will ultimately house the institution’s library.

Monroe Anderson moved to Chicago in 1972 to work at Ebony as an assistant editor. He recalled the building at 820 S. Michigan as “incredible.” He said it was an innovative, highly regimented but fun place to work. Anderson said the JPC conference room had picture phones, adding it was very rare then. “Cubicles were new things, and we had cubicles.”

Anderson was quick to add that no eating was allowed in the cubicles. He said employees took their 15-minute morning and afternoon breaks away from the cubicle and in the company cafeteria -- the same cafeteria where employees got all-youcould-eat soul food lunches for a dollar a day.

Danticat From 5 Basketball Wives.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

ED: Dinaw Mengestu’s new book, “How to Read the Air.” KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod? ED: “The Suburbs,” the new album from an indie rock group called Arcade Fire.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

ED: Diri Ak Djon-Djon. It’s Haitian rice with mushroom.

“Lunch money” was deducted from the employees’ paychecks. Another innovative amenity was an in-house movie theatre. “We got to screen all the “Blaxplotation” movies as they came out,” Anderson said.

And because of the importance of JPC, many of the movie stars visited the headquarters.

The first time Billy Dee Williams stopped by was shortly after he made the movie “Brian’s Song” and a second time after starring in “Lady Sings the Blues”.

“Women were following him down the hall then, the same women who had ignored him the first time he was here,” Anderson laughed. Anderson said he still remembers having lunch with Lena Horne.

Cheap food, movie star visits and a view of Grant Park didn’t equate to a relaxed work environment. “Mr. John H. Johnson was very strict about time,” Anderson recalled. “We started at 9 am and Mr. Johnson stood in the entry to see what time you came in and if you got there at 9:01, you were late,” he said. The former Tribune columnist said a scowl and scolding from Johnson was the punishment for being late.

The Michigan Avenue location epitomized architectural innovation as well, Lee Bey, a former Sun Times architect columnist said. Bey, current director of the downtown business group/

think tank Chicago Central Area Committee, said “The grid-like exterior, which was a staple of modernism with the recessed windows makes the building resemble a ladder, which is kind of a perfect metaphor for John Johnson’s achievement and the achievements of those his publication wrote about. “The building is interesting in more than a few ways.

The penthouse, built for and occupied by Johnson, had a theater. The building was built with heat absorbing glass, making it energy efficient long before that kind of thing came into vogue.

The additional distinction to the JPC headquarters is John Moutoussamy the noted African American architect designed it. Bey, former chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley,

described the building as “among Moutoussamy’s most notable works and certainly his most famous.”

Jeff Burns, who headed JPC’s New York City office until 2007, said “The building was especially appealing because every floor was color coordinated and Mr. Johnson loved art… He had a treasure of artwork from major artists.”

“There were a lot of sculptures throughout the building. All of his awards were behind a glass showcase so everyone could see them,” Burns said.

Anderson and Burns said they were aware of the historical significance of the JPC headquarters because of the traffic it generated. “Even though I was in New York, whenever someone I knew was going to Chicago, they’d call me

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

ED: My mama. She sews.

[Laughs] KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

ED: A 40+ year-old woman.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

ED: A true rebuilding of Haiti.

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

ED: My mother cooking. I think I was about two-years-old.

KW: The Nancy Lovell Question: Why do you love doing what you do?

ED: Because it’s fun.

KW: The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?

ED: By praying and reading.

KW: The Rudy Lewis question: Who’s at the top of your hero list?

ED: Barack Obama.

KW: What has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?

ED: That’s a tricky one.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

ED: Just do it.

KW: The Tavis Smiley questions.

First, how introspective are you?

ED: You know I have to be very introspective to do the work that I do, so I’ll say quite

a bit. [LOL] KW: Finally, how do you want to be remembered? What do you want your legacy to be, and where are you in relation to that at this point in your life?

ED: [Laughs] That’s funny, because that was also Tavis’ last question when I was on his show recently. I have young daughters, and I want my legacy to be more connected to them.

I hope to be a good role model for my daughters. I’m only at the beginning of the process, because they’re young.

KW: Thanks again, Edwidge, and best of luck with the book.

ED: Thank you, Kam. It was a lot of fun talking to you.

Johnson Publishing Co., Inc building

NNPA

and ask who do I need to call at Johnson Publishing so I can get a tour.” Burns said a favorite story about JPC headquarters tourists is of an 80-year-old woman who saved to come to Chicago.

“When she got to Chicago, she went to the Johnson Building and told the people I’m here to see the maker” Burns added that once word got to JPC Founder John Johnson, he came to the lobby greeted the woman and then took her to lunch.

Anderson chuckled when he talked about Johnson’s fondness for tours. “He was always having tours and you’d be trying to write a story and people would come by, laughing and talking with you. It was quite a distraction,” he said. One of those tours included a surprise visitor, a former neighbor of Anderson’s and friend of his mother’s who had known him since childhood.

“She just couldn’t believe I got a job at Ebony, so she took one of the tours to find out if I really worked there. I think now she has more copies of things I’ve written since than my mother has” Anderson added.

Burns said the building is inseparable from the legacy of its first owner. “A lot of people don’t realize that Mr. Johnson underwrote the civil rights movement. When he put that picture of Emmett Till’s body in his magazine, and that magazine went all over the country, it got people’s attention and got them involved.”

It was that involvement that caused United States presidents to reach out to Johnson. According to Burns, every president from Roosevelt to George H.W. Bush sought Johnson’s counsel, and invited him to the White House.

Despite the ties to heads of state, Johnson developed and maintained a strong relationship with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Burns said he was instrumental in getting Howard University to name its School of Communications after Johnson. Johnson noted that a number of JPC employees were HBCU grads, with Howard sending the most.

Anderson said the significance of JPC to the Black community was impressed on him when he chose to leave Ebony after a 20-month stint.

“My mother couldn’t understand why I would leave Ebony to go to work for the Chicago Tribune,” Anderson said.

Conrad Worrill, the national chairman emeritus of the National Black United Fund, said he wished there had been a different outcome for JPC. “It is unfortunate that the sale is not reversed (i.e. Johnson Publishing buying the Columbia College building). It is a real breakdown in holding on to historical properties that became as a result of blood, sweat and tears of an African American entrepreneur,” he said.

Giveaway

provides guidance-oriented programs that emphasize the importance of having a sound Mind, Body, and Soul. Through sports training, various forms of schoolwork assistance, and several charity events such as the Turkey Basket Giveaway, Henderson continually demonstrates why he was chosen as the Vikings 2009 Community Man of the Year. With one in seventeen Minnesotans relying on food shelves to help feed their families, Henderson is providing for very acute needs in the community, and thus a reason for Minnesotans and Viking Fans far and wide to be thankful.

For information about the E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation, visit ejhyf.org

From 1 resources and programs available through existing organizations.

The purposeful presence of such a broad swath of the North Minneapolis community, and the spirit of all attending for participation or charity benefit, provided a strong image of something even bigger that may come through Henderson’s simple philanthropy in the future.

The E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation focuses on improving the overall well being of urban youth through a holistic approach.

The foundation

Page 12 • November 29 - December 5, 2010 • Insight News

insightnews.com

SPORTS A post-Thanksgiving dinner sports discussion Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Seeing as everyone should be a little too comatose from the 15th and 20th helpings of turducken (turkey, duck and chicken combo), I figure that it is best to approach this article with everyone’s capacity to stay awake in mind. Thus, we’ll do something like a Q&A, and cover a wide range of topics.

We’ll do this just in case you fall asleep in the middle of a sentence, and then suddenly wake up talking about, “Yeah boy that Michael Vick is something else.” Only to be told: “Boy we were talking about college basketball. Go back to sleep. Unless you want some of Uncle J’s sweet potato pecan pie before it’s gone.”

It’s amazing a person with a full belly can go from sleep, to lopping Cool Whip on a piece of pie, within 30 seconds; only on Thanksgiving; and I’d say that’s something to be thankful for.

What do you think about the Vikings?

Ron Washington, manager of the Texas Rangers baseball team, has a saying, “That’s the way baseball go.” Well, that’s the way football go, too. So, win one for the Gipper and the possibility of a new stadium.

Franken From 1 is media focused or messaging.

It seems that Republicans have been more effective in simplifying the message, creating or tapping into general broad, loose discontent in the electorate. Democrats on the other hand, failed to maintain clear simple digestible messages that motivated people to come out in support.

AF: Well, I think at the bottom of this all is 9.6% unemployment. That’s the official unemployment percentage. Add to that the underemployed and people have given up. That trumps everything to me.

DeWayne Wade? Needs to focus more on ballin’ and less on his selection of Urkel/nerd glasses.

Fortunately, it never gets old watching A.P. run all day.

What do you think about the Packers?

I think it might be their turn to do the NFC Championship thing, like the Vikings did last

year. The only problem is that the Packers may have to face the Michael Vick mojo, which isn’t much better than the Creole mojo that got the Vikings last year.

What do you think about

Michael Vick? That boy good.

What about the Cam Newton situation at the University of Auburn?

I know somebody is getting paid, and it might not be Newton.

So you have a situation where there is tremendous economic anxiety. That is easily exploited. So if 2008 was about hope, 2010 was about fear. I think fear won out unfortunately.

You know, when Roosevelt became President, there had been three and a half years since the October 1929 stock market crash and under Hoover we’d gone from 3% unemployment to 25% unemployment by the time FDR took over. So at that point, people are saying do something, just do anything.

And people were ready for all the things he did.

Obama became President three months after the meltdown. He didn’t have the same free reign and unfortunately, I think, the things he did, including the stimulus

package, probably should have been a bigger package and balanced differently. A third of it was the biggest tax cut that we’ve ever had and people don’t even realize they got it.

About a third of it aided states, so they didn’t go bankrupt so they didn’t have to make some kind of draconian cuts that would have hurt the economies in their states. And the third of the stimulus was infrastructure projects.

I would have liked to see in the balance a little different, but I wasn’t there. You might remember that I didn’t get to the Senate right away. But nevertheless, very conservative economist Mark Zandy who was presidential candidate Senator John McCain’s Chief Economic Adviser during the 2008 campaign did a study

and said that if it weren’t for the stimulus package we may very well have gone into a second great depression. Now, it’s very hard to argue during a campaign, the slogan “Things could be worse…” [Laughs] isn’t a very effective slogan.

So I think it was the timing of Obama taking office. We were losing 750,000 jobs a month when he took office.

We’ve had a growth in private sector jobs nine months straight, but it’s hard to sell those kinds of achievements because people are hurting so bad. It doesn’t mean much to someone who is unemployed to hear that we’ve made progress.

It doesn’t really help people losing their homes.

AM: Will that thinking prevail over the next 24 months? Will discontent grow?

Or will there be substantial and continued improvement that will disprove the Tea Party allegations that the Obama Administration is the root of all evil? And what is your prediction for the outcome of 2012.

AF: I don’t know. I just don’t know. 2012 is not what we should be thinking about.

When the election ends you got to get to work on doing the job for the people of Minnesota, and in my case, people of the country, trying to accomplish things that will get people back

fondospantallagratis.com

What is Randy Moss’ problem these days?

No problem. He plays when he wants to play, and told everybody that a long time ago.

Moss doesn’t want to sacrifice his body anymore, but wants

to keep collecting checks. It’ll be interesting to see what he does for the rest of this season and off-season. Whoever has him should be instructed to ask Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson his secret to handling Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest.

Will the Miami Heat experiment work out?

Historically, trying to buy a championship doesn’t seem to work too well. It’s hard to imagine them not getting it together at some point in time.

But they seem confused and in need of leadership. In other words, Pat Riley is on the way.

DeWayne Wade?

Needs to focus more on ballin’ and less on his selection of Urkel/nerd glasses.

LeBron James?

We had it out at the barbershop a couple of weeks ago talking about James.

Everybody else seemed to be on James’ side except me. My major point was that James is not a great leader, and it was reflected in his decision to go to Miami.

And then gloriously a few days after our quintessential, loud, barbershop banter, James said it: “For myself 44 minutes is too much.”

Or as Hoppin’ Bob in the movie “Life” might say, “He say he tired boss.”

After James saying that, I need to find a microphone, go back to the barbershop, drop the mic in the middle of the floor, and walk out pumping my fist in the air like Spike Lee’s character Radio Raheem.

Elias Goldensky (1868-1943)

Franklin Delanor Roosevelt in 1933 to work and will educate our kids so they are ready for the 21st century economy.

I’m on the health committee, education committee, and labor and pension committee. The education committee is where reauthorizing in the Elementary

and Secondary Education Act –“No Child Left Behind” takes place. I think there’s bipartisan agreement on some of the things that need to be changed.

I would like to see things like the Northside Achievement Zone come out of that. What Jeffrey Canada did in Harlem is exciting and I want to be helpful so more things like that can be done.

AM: That calls for an earmark, right? And earmarks are under scrutiny.

AF: Earmarks are a way of taking appropriated money and spending it on specific projects. Either you have the Congress do it or you have the Administration do it. And so this may give the different executive agencies more power than Congress has. It’s interesting that Tea Party people are coming in and saying we don’t like Obama but we’re going to get rid of earmarks so we’re going to give the Obama Administration all the power on where to spend the money.

There is probably something to be said for the fact the Congress does appropriate more money because of earmarks so that they can send money back to their constituents in terms of projects. The ones that I have tried to steer toward Minnesota are all projects that I believe are extremely worthy.

I get requests for hundreds and hundreds of very worthy projects so by the time I have to pare them down to make my request, they’re all extremely worthy projects that would be extremely helpful to Minnesota.