Story Archives 2004

by Joe B.

Locked Down "Bro’s publishing poem’s, letters,and serious genius thoughts/writing process.

I’d like to hear equally from penned up Sister’s as well.
It's a way of saying Thank You.

Maybe a few saw my online photo,or read the columns. askjoe@poormagazine.org column and decided...
"This guy has issues and no letters are emailed.

If not spread the word.

I may have a Christmas/ New Years date(s) but still,bucking up women behind bars paying for crimes or are there under false arrest or framed matters not to me.

Everyone needs to know they’re not completely along believe me being free can as deadly if not more than watching ones back night and day in jail unless you have trusted friends.

So Plllease spread the word women outside for Your Sister's in steel'n' stone.

Straight or Lesbian no discrimination from me.

Everyone hurts the same though in different ways human loneliness can drive the strongest man or woman to despair and suicide.

If one life is saved behind concrete metal glass,and Plexiglas then its worth 'ole Joe looking Stuuupid online.


Joseph Bolden/Columnist
Staff Writer of Poor Magazine. Inc.

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco, CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

RELATIVE SLAVERY

Slavery was supposedly ended and most people are free except for isolated places in Sudan and areas of the Middle East where religion binds servitude, enshrines one sex over the other which is only now beginning to crack under practicality.

I’m talking about family dynamics of honor, duty,with guilt thrown as insurance.

It began for me with a frantic call about rent going up, being alone,and a dread fear of homeless.

This desperate person is my mother who had lost her home to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
because she had the only house bought legally in her name while her friends,all of them in the medical profession.

It is a devastating time for a first time home owner to lose a captured dream.

My brother tried getting her a house but she being particular didn’t want what house he could afford to buy her.

Now she has to move from her Fairfield Apartment complex because the rent continues to rise.

Funny,people who can afford to rent tend to live where they can but as rent increases whether by market forces or personal greed renters leave and apartments become empty.

My mother and the renter were once able to pay their rents each month but over time $750 to $900 mom’s S.S.I. (Social Security Insurance) money goes only so far between medicine,food,rent,or extraneous (mad money) to buy personal things for herself.

My first thought "Oh, no – don’t want to do this,she’s moved before with me and my brother helping move and I really though this was it.

I know this isn’t her last move and the "I have two good son’s" mantra won’t work as I place forefingers and thumb together forming the universal sign of money that I should be paid for it.

I go,Friday night, driven by my brother, sister-in-law which mom didn’t say anything about.

It was heavy work and recently I had date to see a young lady I met at church but the Fri. Sat. Sun. and Mon. wrecked that all to hell I hurried up called when getting back four and a half hours late!

My new lady friend warn me not to strain myself and I said "Won’t but will figure out strength for strain lines.

If this was a stranger I’d not give a second thought about saying no but when it’s a relative from father,uncle, nephew, aunt,sister,brother, cousin,or mother – well there is a duty,honor sort of thing so we do it.

That’s why I say "Relative Slavery" that is until you know the score long after or before and brake the blood bonds shackling you to do for someone what you’d not do for anyone else.

It’s for days of heavy lifting, some brakes, jokes,sleep,and back to mom’s free labor force.

My younger brother Solomon voice it first "I’m to old to do this, no more,never again."

"Same here,I’ll pay folks for the next move and supervise no more free labor ever again."

Mama always pulls the "I didn’t have to let you live,I could’ve closed my legs."

She says things like this all the time. "You can’t the birth card every time."

I’m thinking but the best way is to be sooooo far away that I couldn’t help her in her next move and Solomon and I both know this isn’t her last move.

Requel,Solomon,drove me home where I shower and change and four hours late to work. I’m so tire, worn, muscles aching that I almost fell asleep standing in the shower.

I look down and see some striations along my smaller head.

"Damn! I used my legs instead of my back,it may have been holding mom’s safe,walking,bending lower it to floors or walking and placing heavy items somewhere?

Guess stress lines become strength lines as blood fills ‘em up?

I don’t know which are natural or almost–hernia induced veins anymore.

The only lifting I want to do is either weight training or slow bedroom evenly matched lovemaking with a lady friend or two.

I’m glad,I helped my mother,that its over,and gladder still that after this no more "relative slavery" cause folks, its still around and as long as relatives know they can get help for free without pay; slavery will always exist.

So what do you readers think of "Relative Slavery"
Don’t be shy, I know its been done to us all – vent about it.


Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco, CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

Good Son’s Reward

My brother and I are good son’s in that when our mother calls say she’s has to move,found a place but only has weeks to do it we rushed to help Solomon and Requel, Sister-in-law,and myself from San Francisco.

It’s a grueling 3 and a half days but mother treats us to Long John Silver for fish & chips with tartar sauce.

Finishing in record time both brother’s go their separate ways vowing never again to do the manual labor but hire people and pay them well for the privilege of helping dear mom.

I had already written a column about the 1947 film classic "It’s A Wonderful Life" But Stuupidly erased it somehow.

Its about small town life in Bedford Falls, George and Harry Bailey and how one life can affect others.

Both Bailey boys are good son's doing good and right deeds their own way.

George who always wanted to travel but fate intervenes an he has to stay in town when his banker father dies.

having a really bad year George makes a fateful wish

"I wish I was never born." In comes Clarence angel Jr. grade who’s has been chosen to help George on earth,you see George is a good souls doubting his life and doesn’t believe his is worth zip.

One minor incident in George and Harry’s life disproves elder brother Bailey’s theory.

This is before Harry, younger brother became a pilot in World War II.

As children Harry fell into the Bedford lake that the kids skated over but this time Harry had falling into the frozen lake.

Clarence explains "Your brother,Harry Bailey,broke through the ice and died at the age of nine.

George Bailey angrily declares "That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war!

He got the Congressional medal of honor,he saved the lives of every man on that transport!"

Sadly Clarence says "Every man on that transport died!

Harry wasn't there to save them because you weren't there to save Harry!


You've been given a great gift, George.

A chance to see what the world would be like without you.

"You see,George,you really have had a wonderful life."

Harry Bailey"A toast to my big brother George. The richest man in town."

The fable,story,or parable tells us every life affects every other life,touches them in ways we’ll never completely understand.

So whatever lot in life one has it up to us to make it better and improve on it and help others too.

Recently,in a fully packed church after talking about a wonderful program that helps millions each year I made a personal plea for a date! Yes,I did online friends.

Those online know how I came up with verbal Cyber-S
racy,intimate language and the women know they egged me on wanting more acting all innocent and sweet at its conclusion yet wanting more of same hmmm,hotline lassies heated me up not knowing I’m both a delicate,passionate, complex,gentle,soul as blood coursing through capillaries made sitting, standing, or laying down difficult.

Shame,shame,on those online Vixen’s taking verbal,mental advantage of someone both visually and imaginatively.

Guy’s know women know how to discretely push our buttons then say "You dirty minded young,middle aged, old, man."

We’re learning your subtle mental tricks slowly but surely.

But enough as I said every life affects others as if all is a tenuous strung web – if one life is no longer their others fall or get jangled in the balance.

To everyone online and off have a safe blessed, holy days,and spiritual, spirited Christmas and New Years.


Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco,CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

METROSEXED UP Pt. 1.

Yes, its late in the day for this but hey- readers that’s why I say ask or tell Joe cause I don’t know but you out there do.

I’ve been hear the term "Metrosexual" to me it meant persons or persons unknown having freaky sex on trains but looking further into it the correct meaning is an ancient one.

Metrosexual(n.)New English Definition Profile.

Word: Metrosexual
Syllabification
me-tro-sex-ual
Noun,Part Of Speech

metropolis, from Greek "mother city"+ sexual.

Whew,three more things.
Definition:A dandyish narcissist in love with not only himself,but also his urban life style.

Where credit is due: Submitted by Mr. Van Norkov the date submitted Thurs.March,13, 2003
Edited,Thurs. March 13, 2003.

I thank Mr. V. Norkov and Langmaker at www. Langmaker.com for this information.

Not to be sexist there are Metrosexual Women as well.

I don not know how long this so called fad,trend has gone on but it seems to me its another Madison Avenue or other Metropolitan ad campaign to create another sales niche this time for ‘het men who are equally at home with culinary arts and shopping,with wives, sisters,or girlfriends as they are rebuilding vintage cars or working with steal,wood,making cabinets,and camping out.

Why is it its alright for women to where men’s clothes,do whatever they can,change their minds but for men to simply dress neater,take better medical care of themselves its all of a sudden a big deal; because in isn’t.

Channel’s 7’s "The New Masculinity?
Manly Men,Move Over: Metrosexuals Are It.

From Aug.5,2003
Is manure because most men do keep themselves clean, neat,and are respectful of women its just women and most of society ignores the fact when its in their face.

I still see red remembering what a very successful woman lawyer said about men "Their Generic" of course there are exceptions.

This woman granted is beautiful,intelligent and has personal as well as hidden assets that can be used to sway men but all not even most men are the way she deems them however I could be wrong in that the same can be said of women who’s stock and trade are natural or enhanced feminine features that some men pay money to see and not touch.

These women may be college students, studying,law,physics,or criminal justice system using their bodies at night brains in day is a cliche’ but are they generic because of their occupations obviously not but men are generic–hmmm, all things being unequal indeed.

I’ve been thinking of Ms. Meredith Brooks "Bitch" lyrics the 90’s I AM Woman anthem of fierce female freedom.

Well below though it is for and about women lets switch it from I’m a mother to(father)same song about men especially so called new metrosexual males.

I'm a bitch,I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother(father)

Now remember So take me as I am? Just as women don’t get men because we’re so varied and different they are forever on our asses about something and

So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man

As in another lyric Just when you got me figured out-men’s seasons also changes.

We are stronger men to constantly deal with women’s ability not only not knowing what they want but once getting it rejecting it.

From men of the 50’s to the 90’s men have been changing as women have although slower we do change and don’t stop but its funny how as men gain more individual freedom women get anxious do you really want freedom for all or just for yourselves?

When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing


Thanks To Ms. Meradith Brooks "Bitch Lyrics" and www.music songlyrics.com.

This way of the macho man is just as silly a label or tag name as the 1980’s Alpha Male or ‘90’s balanced male so now regular guys learning from women and gay men,also lesbian women in how to be more in tune is as silly.

Is it really a revolution in men’s attitudes or is it what the whole of society ignored it until the market place saw dollar signs and ways to expand their cosmetic industry?

Women talk of societies double standard economically, biologically, psychological,and sociological as well.

All true especially economics even though there are women starting up small businesses and in college than men.

We guys at least most of us grew up being told never to hit girls,women, because its not manly, unfair,and we’re stronger but my hard working single mama also said if they hit you hit ‘em back. Most of us didn’t hear that second warning.

Girls and women took advantage this then in the 70’s and 80’s it’s the same no win situation fight a woman and men lose twice even in a fair fight of equal weight if men win it means nothing to beat up a women but it means the world for women to show up men physically.

The best men can do when challenged is to back off,laugh it off taking the jibes and of course the traditional punch and kick to the balls makes women laugh its funny to them because it show’s we’re really vulnerable people.

Most women don’t want to hurt men but a few do is it any wonder men are careful in martial arts.

Men learn how to hurt, incapacitate, wound,knock out, maim, then kill.

Women because they are constitutionally stronger but physically weaker compared to men women bypass hurt,wound,and go directly to maim-kill mode.(scratch eyes, grab pull at groin hard and fast.)

First women say we kill ourselves in wars, over stress, don’t communicate, show little emotion, don’t touch them or play with their children as they should.

Now that we do and we’re more expansive we’re not a different evolving species named Metrosexual?

Come on it’s the same guys who always dressed snazzy,waited patiently as women shopped and likes cooking but never made a big deal as women sometimes need to.

Its funny that women now worry as straight men get to be butterflies, peacocks,and retain male desire females.

I don’t know about "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,Its All Relative,or Six Feet Under, shows but it seems women get nervous as heterosexuals too has not only an eye or fashion from but can whip up meals,fix toilets,enjoy opera,cry at romantic movies,shop with girlfriends and wives and still desire them too.

Isn’t it like women to want men to change not placing limits on them until we start looking, feeling better than them.

They want tamed ‘Hets but not to out beauty them in their own realms.

Well,we’re just following you lead ladies (some of us go to far as women do but I notice most women frown on going Dutch for dinner,(equally splitting the bill)rich women still want richer men to marry and won’t dare stoop to dating poor working men,women still can ware men’s clothes and we cannot where yours, lastly in dance clubs ladies go free while men pay.

I know because there are more men than women these clubs. (if its free for women how come less women than men because they can dash from club to club for free and most men are not make of money.)

Yet this unequal societal rule women most wish not to change because they can pick and choose from many men where they (women) are the queens.

Like I said a few columns ago why not have women pay to get in and men get in free at some clubs?

One young female friend said "It wouldn’t work because society sets the rules.

This very svelte, lovely multi racial woman knows the rules are wrong but since it works in her favor it "Oh, well-Joe."

When society sets up ways,rules unequal for one in favor of the other both sexes suffer injustice no matter which is advantaged or inconvenienced.
Metrosexed Pt.II(I want to get off this Metro crud quick)

What do you think about it folks?


Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco, CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

Metrosexed II

Looks like everyone’s checking out the next in thing, Its a metrosex fling.

My minor metrosex experience began innocently with a dear friend of mine talking me into a manicure after watching her get one in a shop she decides to "help" me with mine in her home.

All goes well,she in her bathrobe,me fully clothed,leery of all of this but I trust her as a any good trusted friend would.

After a warm soak that wrinkles my hands,fingers cutting nails,then dried with paper towels.

I feel calm,safe,and comfy as her she placed clear nail polish on my clean smooth nails.

"Close your eyes,its alright,Joe."

I Do as she says eyes closed relax feeling safe in her care.

Hands warm,as if floating–that’s when the change up happened!

With a slight suppressed giggle she says "Open your eyes."

"How do you like your nails, Joe?"

I look down,seeing neat,clean,polished,very pretty nails.
(Pretty Nails!)

Too damn pretty because she put bright multi colored glitter on them.

Oh,My,God,I said to myself."

"Why'd you do this? I’m takin’this off... How do I take this stuff off?"

She's laughing,breasts jiggling up,down,side to side (what can I say our friendship is platonic but still this young woman is stunningly,achingly pretty being a straight male I cannot help but notice face,form,and features I also use my brain even though helmet-head has no conscious the head between my shoulder does.

Any other time this would’ve been a delightful sight but my freakin’ pretty nails is the main priority now.

She loves my basic straight guy reactions.

"You can’t take it off, it’ll take a few weeks or months for ‘em to ware away."

She didn’t understand, has no concept of this being a nightmare to me especially living in San Francisco.

I already feel like odd man out in this Gay-Lez– Transgender-Cross- dressing,or other pan sexual city of light by the bay.

I think she couldn’t resist seeing painted glitter straight guy and my reaction to it is a priceless bonus to her and she may have told her other straight or gay fem /men friends "Old Joe is definitely straight,he didn’t like what I did to his nails."

For a few months my bosses,(females)interns, (mostly female)with a few guys too had a great time as I used the PC doing my work.

A valuable lesson was learned from the experience:
either go to a certified manicurist or do it yourself but be leery of friends no matter how trustworthy they are sometimes they cannot help their inner drives.

Would I trust her with money,my life,yes still do but as for personal grooming; I’ll take her tips but not let her implement them ever again.

Flamboyant straight guys-hmmm,almost a contradiction in terms but there are many its only now that society and market forces see them.

Missed a lot about this so called new phenomenon there’s even a "Die Metrosexual Die by Mr. Matt Haber,he writes for www.lowculture.com.

I thought I’d write that so he doesn’t accuse me plagiarism.
"POOR MAGAZINE" Inc." is always at a deficit and this year unfortunately is no different.

I need another column writing job folks and if any of you read them you know "I GO THERE AND EVERY WHERE IN BETWEEN."

With my job at Poor,a Non Profit Organization (a real problem for me-PLEH.)a Art/Spoken -Rap Poetry,

Book making,self publishing entities,our money grows wings not stuffed in bags on trees for us although checks in mail would help a lot especially if some were ear marked to this humble scribe.

Those parties for New Years no way to go to any of ‘em so I’ll be with family (the plan was visit them,go to party, knock boots with a babe or two,then back to family.)


Don’t know if this metro-sexism is another fad,trend or a harbinger of things to come.

Remember,when I talked of Men and Women's brains being more in sync with each other there’d be less friction between the sexes?

Could this be the gender blend not only by gay men and women, transgender folks,it seems the only ones left out are now coming to the fore.

If regular straight guys can really be their true selves without societal pressure pressing down on them does this signal a new psychological day or false dawn?

Are straight values going beyond basic man, women,babies,and the dead, dying stereotype of frozen male privilege too is falling away but it too slow with neo- conservatives doing their last stand dance of Old White Male privilege when even old white males get it and see it’s a dead issue.

I wish the so called current President or the new President to be in 2004 doing something akin to the 1969 Moon Landing.

To take medical science to the nth degree and have life extension as its top priority for 2to3 decades.

If someone not necessarily a President but Vice President, Senator,or anyone with the prestige to begin getting the ball rolling.

It would the moon shot so passe and would galvanize not only America but every nation upon the planet.

The only bad thing is again America will be blamed for upsetting earth on its axis yet again leading nations into a real tomorrow that for now few of us can dimly see.

Happy New Years everyone online and off.

May all of us see the next 1000 years great health,love,and no more wars.



Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco, CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

New Year, Day, Now What?

Friday,January,2,2003. Have you made your new year’s resolutions? Began exercises or been kissed by some strikingly pretty girls?

(oh,pardon me that’s what I’ve been up to It’ll be explained in minutes.)

Last year to do more than recite ‘Po Poet slam bio’s,manning tables where most of the time if one had urinary urges one could not leave the merchandise,writing a book full of stories not at all relating to Poor

Magazine’s main theme: solving working poor’s problems with bottom up solutions and not from the top down.

Remember former President B.Clinton’s Off-Welfare-On-To-Work in 1996? Better know as:
[ The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.]

Certain problems remained in the rush of getting people of welfare and onto work like Child Care,Education or reeducation/vocational opportunities,and time for study for both jobs, career opportunities.

Those problems still remain,the war in Iraq, Selected President Bush’s 2 stunts one in an air force jet the other on Thanks Giving in Baghdad, and former President Saddham,Hussein’s recent capture.

The best gift ever would've been for S-Prez to bring all the troops home while utilizing internatioal gray/black opts operative to speed up the already undermined leadership in Baghdad.

But surprizing the troops makes greater news copy "buzz" doing little for suffering,starving American’s but this only one poor slob's opinon.

Distant and recent past.

Pre New Years learned Salsa,Meringue, volunteered to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS Virus,and publicly in a church begged for a date stating my single,heterosexual, and availability status also wanting to have my dates in the City and not travel all over Berkeley, Oakland,or San Leandro for dates.

Folks it does pay to advertise.

One woman I have exchanged phone numbers, email addresses,and so far so good while at the same function a well dressed elderly gentleman wants to introduce me to his daughter.

My mother moved to another part of town into a gate community and I’m thinking of moving to Berkeley going on Section 8 because San Francisco’s too expensive,has less S-8 stock,and if I could find a kitchen/bathroom inside and apartment I’d be able to stay in the City and invite more friends there.

Funny,my pay is so low I cannot afford credit, write up business cards for a one person business, or take time to go to school because if it interferes with the media job guess what goes?

I’ve tried doing standup comedy,singing, learning to play the piano all this in the space of a few months because I had to do something other than transcribe letters,reply, letters sent by very creative prisoners also I wanted if I must reply and transcribe letters is to get them equally from women prisoners as well I’m sure they have a need for self expression also so far it has not happened.

Yet a silver lining shows itself it my regular offbeat,strange,unusual columns.

If I can find employment where I’d have this much freedom writing columns on a daily basis (2-3) times a week or in radio (Yes,my voice is on radio announcing KPFA's morning show in Berkeley every or near the last day of the month)

I have tidbits of stories mostly humorous however if one listens to P.N.N. Poor News Network well,lets say its politically left oriented, that is as it should be but for me it have very little humor.

As for Myself I’m not left, right, or centrist leaning but ‘ya gotta have some down time from all that stuff and have a breather,some air, before diving deep into political undercurrents.

Being Apolitical in a deeply political non profit organization isn’t hell but limbo in that I’m so near where I want to be though not quite close enough.

I use to have there female editors constantly taking columns out hence a column, or maybe a book on "Forbidden Columns" formed in my head but I don’t who’s publish them?

On New Year’s Eve my thoughts on partying was to stay at home,have Trader Joe’s Honey laced, buds heavier eggnog,or Silknog or soynog, a lighter,softer tasting at least to my palate.

That third female editor is with family, friends and I miss her face, our outing as she took me out to multi ethic Quisiene not her political arguments I don’t argue with because she always has facts, figures to back her up sometimes she’d get so angry with me when I say "What was here before politics-people – what will be here long after politics is gone, people." She helped me see alternatives to basic American foods.

In a funny way I accused her of forcing me to increase my life span I’d say "Look at what you’ve done to me,your making me lose weight,eat less, and eat healthier."

"So, Its my fault you may be living longer Joe?"

My mouth is moving and nothing was coming out because my brain is saying "shut up Joe your an idiot."

She won’t have to 3rd editor anymore because after I delved in comedy, singing,poetry,at the Hotel Utah my column writing is less angry about certain seemingly fundamentally unfair social constructs.

The Utah closed hopefully temporarily as of New Years its to be across the street from the Guitar Center.

Mr. Simms of the Procrastinators New Years party.

It was slow going at first not far from my home and I left thinking it might rain any second.

It did but before New Years is christened.

There's music,various kinds of food,people coming,going,and returning.

It’s a slow night with singing and very pleasant without the desperate have-to-be-at-a party-get- high by drinking or having a toke thing.

When New Years did come a set is playing and someone had to announce it along with outside noise.

Before I said my good byes a four more women had entered the building and one bold one kissed me.

"There,I kissed a total stranger on New Years."

I myself kissed more unknown females before leaving without getting phone numbers or emails that’s why I’d make a lousy reporter.

The four young women are all pretty and fearless I may not ever see any of them again but it was nice to know I’m a kissable,likable,non threatening kind of man.

A short walk in the rain using the Bart train station as temporary shelter from the rain.

Then called mama, thought of calling a new girlfriend or former 3rd editor friend but knowing she might be busy with family obligations, catching up with long missed friends.

Gunfire,fireworks from formally known Candle Stick Park.

I forget what the place is called now.

I go to bed sober, healthy,no stress,ready to do nothing except Yoga and piano practice on January 1,2004.


Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco,CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

Comedy,Song,And Passion

It’s a new year,my resolutions are simple do yoga,keep apartment, person clean neat so women can enter feeling safe, comfortable and not in a no-womb-land kind of place.

Last year I did embryo comedy on relationships of men,women,gay,lesbian or myself trying to figure out where I fit it into all this stuff.

Meanwhile trying to do more audio pieces on radio in a comic vein which means cutting most of column written material to immediate on air universal situations or making a serial of parts each month making it much easier than creating a piece each month.

(yep,I’m a lazy guy I became that way by coming up new things each month then finding it couldn’t be used because of time.)

Have to think of school,class,time, exercise and engaging the world.

I don’t know if I can sing because of minor throat injury in my youth or if self taught piano playing will help me compose songs running in my head.

Eclectic passions cause havoc when their so much one likes to do but knowing time is a thief and nature is a cruel mistress.

Tonight,with a few props,words,and common human foibles that may garner a few chuckles, titters,and outright guffaw’s of laughter.

Comedy,singing,song writing,playing a musical instrument is still new causing inner awe in me.

The Mars Mission so far a success is as challenging as a human finding ways to be,do more than originally thought possible.

I’d like to be a colonist on Mars,raise Mars/Earth children but first I must live long on old Gaia and this means life extension, rejuvenation, regeneration,or youth revitalization processes that seems only speculative fantasy now.

Few know what the future holds and don’t trust the experts who believe and pronounce what here and now stays we know once so called experts do this their credibility begins to widen into an ever widening gap.

Now to figure out comic sketches for tonight and have and share few laughs at my expense.

Well, all you have your own ways of dealing with this new time plus its an election year to boot.

Take care on and off liners don’t get too entangled on line that y’all rarely take eyes, fingers, voice box from flickering energies of PC’s with the Net surrounding your senses.

Take time off,date, bike,hike in mountains, forests, rivers, deserts, icy climates,or walk around the block connecting to all life forms both animal and human.

As you can see I still don’t trust this connective collective-Borg minded-love-technologies until we’re independent of it and have choices of being on or off it as we chose. Remember the blackouts?

Its way past time to disconnect from a weak technological electromagnetic grid which S-‘Prez Bush Jr. wants to repair,patch up so it can happen again.

The more disconnected from certain technologies the freer we ultimately become so brown and blackouts will no longer happen as frequently as it has been becoming a normalized thing.

That’s it more me,take care,be safe, stay independent and free,also Live Long And Prosper this from a certain fictional character that may soon sadly may leave us.

Any Suggestions, Questions or Answers?


Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco,CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Tiny/ POOR Magazine/PoorNewsNetwork

3 days to pay rent or quit , Unlawful detainer for non-payment off rent, Judgement for back rent, homeless shelters and then the Sidewalk Motel, these places and spaces were constants in my vocabulary throughout my childhood. In a capitalist society like Amerikkka the fact that you don't have enough money for rent is enough reason for you to become homeless.

Of course there are many other reasons that people become homeless, such as gentrification, greedy landlords, racism, redlining, and on and on.. many of which my family and I have experienced, but none so clearly as the inability due to poverty to pay the rent. If everything went ok , if doctor bills weren't too high, if I was able to make any money at my part-time micro-business, if I was able to get work that didn't interfere with my care-giving of family if the utilities didn't run too high, If ..if,if if then the rent would be happily handed over to the landlord

So sometimes the rent was paid and sometimes it wasn't and when it wasn't we were outside, served with the pleasureable farewell of the requisite eviction, unlawful detainer and all other related paperwork of poverty.

And then one day a miracle happened, or at least a miracle within this capitalist reality, We got a section 8 voucher. Now come to find out the whole section 8 thing is no easy deal when the landlords equate Section 8 with tired old stereotypes of folk on welfare (I've been that too!) but notwithstanding that classist hurdle, it is still pretty wonderful, allowing hundreds of thousands of poor families across the nation to become homeful when they used to be homeless. Enabling my family to actually pay the rent is in fact, some form of a miracle, or at least economic justice.

The Bush Administration was alarmed at the rising cost of Section 8 vouchers and will take steps to make sure that no more are issued In Bushs'budget for 2005 he is planning to rein in domestic spending i.e. steal from poor folks to feed his endless war machine (87 billion approved for more war costs) Among other things he aims to make veterans pay more for health care, eliminate job training and employment programs but worse of all, make cuts to the already meager section 8 voucher program. Now a lot of us economic justice organizers have been worried about the gutting of the Section 8 program ever since Bush got in office. The amazing part of these proposed cuts is the fact that Bushs alarm at so many vouchers being issued is due in large part to HUD's gentrification program ordered by the federal government which began in the 90's and included the demolition of several thousand units of so-called blighted project housing causing thousands of new families to rely on section 8 vouchers after they were evicted from their long time residences.

So what to do, once again it is urgent that you write to your local legislator be they roll over demican or republicrat as well as Bushs office and express your horror at the proposed cuts to Section 8. If we don't argue, fight and scream the sad fact is families like mine will once again face housing instability forever and ever

To read more about the roots of homelessness and gentrification get a copy of The Houzin Project Words, Art and Resources on eviction, gentrification and homelessness published by POOR Press -you can buy a copy on-line by clicking on the POOR Press button

by Erik Todd Dellums/AFROCENTRIC NEWS NETWORK

My name is ErikTodd Dellums. I am a Black man, a professional actor and a semiotician and film lover. I am therefore underemployed, under-appreciated and an afterthought in Hollywood.
I am also a man who rarely sees an accurate depiction of Black people and American History in film and on television. It's something I've grown used to, but now I'M MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

I am calling all people that truly care about honest representations of American History in Hollywood to standup and boycott the heavily promoted film, "Cold Mountain." At a cost of $80+ million dollars and sporting a stellar cast and crew, this adaptation of Charles Fraizier's acclaimed bestseller opens Christmas Day everywhere and is being touted as the film to beat at the Academy Awards. It has generated glowing reviews for Disney, Miramax and all involved. It is also a sham; a slap in the face of African Americans everywhere, whose ancestors gave their lives in the Civil War, fighting for true freedom (Sorry, President Bush!) from the most heinous slavery system known to modern man: the American Slavery System. How could a 3 hour film depict life in the heart of Virginia and North Carolina during the Civil War use 30 seconds of Black people picking cotton as its total reality of slavery during this period?

In an article in the Washington Post, the film makers have said that slavery and racism were simply "too raw" an emotional issue to present in their film.
In other words, who would want to see a love story with the beautiful Jude Law and Nicole Kidman set in the reality of the Southern monstrosity of slavery.

The film depicts one of the more important battle decision in the Civil War; a battle in which the Union trained Black Soldiers to tunnel under Confederate lines; a battle in which Blacks suffered their highest rate of casualties of any Union division in the fight!

This is the great battle that opens "Cold Mountain." You tell me if you spot ANY Black actors in the film fighting. It plays like "Saving Private Ryan" another film in which Black contributions to history -- namely the Battle at Normandy -- are completely excised from a major film. Shame on you, Hollywood. Shame on you!

The Weinstein Brothers (owners of Miramax, the distributors of "Cold Mountain" are smart, astute business men with keen cinematic sensibilities. They should know better. I ask, could you imagine "The Pianist" or "Schlinder's List" ever being made with but 30 seconds of the reality of The Holocaust? Of course not. A film with such a gross misrepresentation would never make it past page one of a screenplay! And in reality, isn't The Holocaust, which occurred a mere two generations or so ago, "rawer" emotionally than slavery?

Every year, the Academy Awards give a documentary about "The Holocaust" it's award and every year Hollywood releases sumptuous, hauntingly beautiful films about "The Holocaust." And every year I go. Why? Because I love film. And I love the truth. But there must be some reciprocity somewhere. I have attempted to sell stories to Hollywood -- true stories -- from our history as Black people during the years of slavery. The response from Hollywood, "I saw something like that already in "Roots". What an insult! Why are we as a people always an afterthought? We must let Hollywood know that we deserve respect. How do we? By not giving them the pleasure of our dollars.

Let a boycott of "Cold Mountain" begin our response to Hollywood: tell our stories; tell the truth and we will come. And if Hollywood has a problem with that, simply say, "I'm not going, because I saw a film like that already!"

Erik Todd Dellums

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