Good News Tuesday: Fisher's Celebrate World-Record 84th Anniversary

Soulclap to NAACP Wichita Blog for sharing this Liz Bowles/Sun Journal article with us!

A Craven County couple are in the Guinness World Records book. The two did nothing outlandish such as sky-diving upside down, dancing for days, taking the longest lawn mower ride or having the most tattoos. No, Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of the Brownsville community have been married for more than 84 years. That is a feat in itself. They have the world record of the longest marriage for a living couple.

They can thank their granddaughter Iris Godette for getting the recognition. She submitted the information to the Guinness Book of Records. The information was apparently checked by Guinness and a certificate was given to the couple.

Herbert was born June 10, 1905. His hearing is going but his mind is sharp. Zelmyra was born Dec. 10, 1907. She uses a walker to get around the house and yard. The two of them can still give their reasons for marrying on May 13, 1924.

“He was not mean; he was not a fighter,” Zelmrya said. “He was quiet and kind. He was not much to look at but he was sweet.”

Livin' on the Wrong Side of the Tracks!

This is one of those photos that makes you go 'hmmmmmm' if you look at it closely. Use the COMMENTS (or 'Village Voices') link below to create your own caption for this photo!

Pam Spaulding is an Ultimate Game Changer in Politics

HuffPost's Game Changers celebrates 100 innovators, visionaries, and leaders in 10 categories who are harnessing the power of new media to reshape their fields and change the world. Huffington Post is the top-ranked blog in the world. As such, it is truly an honor to be selected by them for these categories.

Our village is very happy to announce that one of our AfroSpear kinfolk, Pam Spaulding (Pam's House Blend) has been selected as one of the 10 people who are changing the game in Politics.



Villagers are encouraged to take a moment to cast an online vote for Pam as the Ultimate Politics Game Changer. HuffPost will reveal the Ultimate 10 in November.

Police Don't Let Taser-Killing of Derrick Jones Change Taser Policy

17-year old Derrick Jones was the first person killed by taser-wielding police officer R.L. Wray in 2009. His death took place on January 8 at the hands of the Martinsville (VA) police. The taser-deaths have continued at a rate of one-per-week ever since.

Martinsville City Manager Clarence Monday received a "very brief" report filed in the Virginia State Police investigation into the taser-death. The report stated that the taser could not be definitively excluded “as a causative or contributive factor” in Jones’ death. [SOURCE]

No charges would be filed against R.L. Wray, the police officer who deployed the taser gun, and the 9-month investigation of the incident was concluded. In fact, city officials determined no changes were needed to the current policy on police use of tasers.

“Basically, as far as we’re concerned, the case is closed,” Clarence Monday said. Police Officer Wray is back on full duty and “has been for some time. We feel our taser policy is in accordance with guidelines” governing the use of tasers. “We have examined our policy to make sure it’s up to date, and we feel no changes are needed at this point,” Monday added.

Previously, Martinsville Police Chief Mike Rogers said those policies conform to guidelines prescribed by the state and outlined in the Standards for Law Enforcement Officers.

The Rev. William Avon Keen of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) said, "our position remains the same. We’re still calling for a moratorium until we find out whether or not tasers are causing deaths."

Villager's Voice: It is apparent that the SCLC is taking an aggressive role in these taser-related deaths. That is a good thing. Perhaps it will lead to congressional hearings. Too many people are dying. In this case a young 17-year old who was not the subject of the original police action died outside of his own home. And the powers-that-be in his city say ... 'Oops, my bad' ... no change to our policy. The young brother wasn't important enough for us to make a change in a policy that kills.

Sunday Inspirations: A Prayer Worth Repeating

Lord, thou knowest better than I know my self that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. And give me. Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Amen.

Federal Government is Holding a Public Meeting on Taser Guns

Drumbeats from Narmer brought us information about this upcoming hearing entitled, "Electroshock Weapons Measurement Methods and Issues".

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: NIST invites manufacturers of electroshock weapons that deploy skin penetrating barbs for operation to attend a public meeting. The purpose of the meeting is for manufacturers to present to NIST nonproprietary information on their methods of measurement and test of the output of these weapons and associated lessons learned.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 From 9 a.m. To 12 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD. Information on accommodations, location, and travel can be found at: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/visitor/Visitor.htm .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To support the development of rigorous performance requirements for electroshock weapons, the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at NIST, is developing methods to measure the current and high-voltage output of these weapons, to calibrate these measurement methods, and to compute measurement uncertainties. NIST is holding this public meeting to obtain individual input from workshop participants on their non-proprietary efforts in these areas.

All visitors to the NIST site are required to pre-register to be admitted. Anyone wishing to attend this meeting must register by close of business Monday, October 19 in order to attend. Please submit your name, time of arrival, e-mail address and phone number to Cindy Stanley and she will provide you with instructions for admittance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Stanley at (301) 975-2756 or by e-mail at cindy.stanley@nist.gov.

Any villagers available to attend this meeting and report back to us?

Taser Death: Yuceff Young II (Brooklyn, OH)

It happened again! This time a young 21-year old man, Yuceff Young II, died just minutes after police zapped his body with 50,000 volts of taser-generated electrocity.

An unidentified officer stopped Young, about 1:30 a.m. on September 19, because his car appeared to be unsafe, Linndale police. No warrants. No drugs. The police just found a handy excuse to pull the young man over.

"The front bumper was hanging off, there were dents on it, and the windshield was shattered and bowed out, as if someone's head went into it from the inside," said Sgt. Tim Franczak. "The officer couldn't believe that anyone would drive such a car with that kind of damage. We don't know how he was able to see through the windshield. The officer thought the driver had been involved in a hit-skip accident."

The unidentifed police officer assumed the worst about this young man because of the condition of his car ... and then takes that poor image into action by killing 21-year old Young. Young died after his car crashed into a utility pole after being shot with a stun gun by Linndale police just minutes before the crash.

Franczak said police smelled a strong odor of alcohol from Young and asked him to get out of the car. He refused.

"The window was open, but the door was locked," Franczak said. "Police know better than to reach into a car, so the officer tasered him. Just as he fired the Taser, the car took off at a high rate of speed."

Young drove erratically as he sped off, Franczak said. Before the Linndale officer had a chance to report the fleeing vehicle, Young's car was spotted by a Linndale police officer, who gave chase.

Young's car went a short distance and turned onto Tiedeman Road, where it crashed into a utility pole.

"It was horrific, it looked like a plane crash," Franczak said. "I wish it would have ended differently, but our officer did everything right."

---

Villager's Voice: It appears to me that this situation never happens if the police didn't profile Yuceff Young II based on the condition of his car. What a waste of human life ... and all because the police decided to use a taser gun when it wasn't necessary. 42 people killed in the first 42 weeks of the year after police deployed a taser on them. Do you see a problem here?

This Week in Blackness: Obama is the Worst. President. Ever.

I'm a big fan of Elon James White. First, we're both 2009 Black Weblog Award winners [shameless self-promotion]. Second, he is simply a funny guy with the type of humor that I enjoy. As such, I'm proud to share his irregular video vignettes whenever they are published.

I had to laugh today when he published a TWIB episode with a title that (sarcastically) indicates that our President is the worst-ever on the very same day that our President wins the 2009 Nobel Peace Price!

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the hilarous rantings of Elon James White in This Week in Blackness:

VIDEO: Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.





Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

The President shared his thoughts on this prestigious award earlier today:



I am very proud of my President today. How 'bout you?

Old School Friday: Billy Preston

The theme for this week's Old School Friday meme is 'Freshman Year of High School'. High schools in Los Angeles begin with the 10th grade ... which is the 'sophomore' year. I figure that I'm supposed to share a musical throught from my 9th grade year -- which was 1973.

There was some great music in 1973 from Gladys Knight (Neither One of Us), Isley Brothers (That Lady), The Temptations (Masterpiece) and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Love I Lost).

But, I decided to go with Billy Preston. I sported a large afro for most of my high school years ... and that was the deciding factor in choosing the 1973 hit song, Will It Go Round in Circles.




Did you ever see 11-year old Billy Preston when he made his national television debut in 1957 on The Nat King Cole Show.

Racist Gary Frago Strains Atwater's City Budget

The city of Atwater paid more than $55,000 in legal fees this past summer to its law firm, Merys Nave, so that they could handle the fallout following the publication of a series of e-mails sent by Councilman Gary Frago in late 2008 and early 2009 that denigrated Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Black people in general.

The law firm chalked up 228 hours of legal work going over public information requests, meeting with the City Council and staff, and preparing for and participating in public meetings, among other things.

"This is an outrageous cost," said City Councilman Nelson Crabb, who initially requested a price tag on legal fees. "This is basically a police officer-and-a-half that we are dealing with and we are not done yet."

Crabb wonders why the city is expending so much effort to protect itself. If he were arrested for drunken driving, Crabb said, the city would not pay for his lawyers. And they wouldn't be forced to undergo classes on drunk driving, he added.

Mayor Joan Faul simply said, "It was very costly." Faul explained that the city had to take the action it did to protect itself from litigation.

While Frago has apologized, at first he said he didn't regret sending the e-mails.

Gary Frago and Glenn Beck are both realizing that there is a price to their brand of racism.

Taser Death: Alton Ham (Modesto, CA)

It happened again! 45-year old Alton Ham, an inmate at the Stanislaus County Jail in downtown Modesto died after unidentified jailers killed him with a taser gun meant to subdue him as he was being moved to another cell on September 16. Soulclap to Rosalio Ahumada (Modesto Bee) for her excellent reporting on recent taser-related deaths in the Stanislaus County Jail.

This is the third time in five months an inmate has died while in custody after law enforcement officials used tasers to subdue the men. All three were being held at the sheriff's downtown Modesto jail when they died.

Ham was arrested by Sheriff's deputies on September 15 on suspicion of home invasion robbery. The deputies were trying to move Ham to a cell for his safety because he had "exhibited irrational behavior and was combative." Ham stood 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds.

"Some of the details we don't have because this is still under investigation," Sheriff's Capt. Tim Beck said. "I don't know how many people (the detectives) still have to interview."

Beck said he did not know where in the jail Ham was being held when the jail staff noticed he was acting strangely. But about 2 p.m., the deputies decided to move Ham to the safety cell, also known as a "sobering cell." Less than 40 minutes later Mr. Ham was dead.

Inmates are placed alone in the safety cell so they can't harm themselves or other inmates. No indication of where Modesto prisoners are sent to be safe from the taser-wielding jailers. As the deputies were moving Ham, "he started fighting," according to the news release. When asked if Ham was punching or kicking the deputies, Beck said he could not release those details.

It was unclear how long the struggle with the jailers lasted. Beck, who is a sheriff's spokesman, said he didn't have information about how many deputies were involved in the struggle, how many deputies used a Taser on Ham or how many times Ham was struck by Tasers.

Beck said the deputies and medical staff stayed with Ham in the cell until he became unresponsive. Medical staff tried to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. Ham was pronounced dead at the jail at 2:38 p.m.

Sheriff's officials said an autopsy showed that Ham had an enlarged heart and coroner officials are awaiting toxicology results before they can determine a cause of death. Beck said it could be four to six weeks before the toxicology results are returned.

Two other inmates at the downtown Modesto jail have died while in custody after officials used a Taser to subdue them.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said these deaths involved pre-existing, contributing factors such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse and mental health illness. He said Tasers have proven to be nonlethal weapons used successfully by law enforcement agencies across the country.

"Tasers are used every day on the street and people don't die," Christianson said.

He said downtown jailers follow specific departmental guidelines in using Tasers, and the Sheriff's Department will conduct an investigation into Ham's death the same as for the other two inmate deaths.

Villager's Voice: It seems that Sheriff Christianson isn't aware that his so-called nonlethal tasers are killing people at the rate of once per week.. I imagine that I'm going to have to count up the number of these taser-related deaths in which the victim would have died of their own accord ... with the taser gun and it's 50,000 volts being merely a coincidence. In this case the police want us to think that Ham would have dropped dead from his "enlarged heart", not the multiple jolts from police taser guns.

Ain't it time for congressional hearings?

80 Companies Join Boycott of Fox's Glenn Beck Show

Glenn Beck simply went too far. The Fox News host called President Obama a “racist” who “has a deep-seated hatred for white people” during an appearance on Fox & Friends.

ColorOfChange.org called on its 600,000-plus members to sign a petition urging companies who advertise on Glenn Beck to cut off their advertising support of his work. Since then, more than 280,000 members have responded to the call by signing a petition directed at advertisers.

Today, we learned that another 19 companies agreed to join the boycott of the Beck Show. The impact continues to be felt by Glenn Beck as we now see 80 companies pulled their advertising from his show. These advertisers are:

1. Aegon


2. Airware


3. Allergan (maker of Restasis)


4. Ally Bank (a unit of GMAC Financial Services)


5. AmMed Direct


6. Ancestry.com


7. Applebee's


8. Ashley Furniture


9. AT&T


10. Bank of America


11. Bell & Howell


12. Best Buy


13. Binder & Binder


14. Blaine Labs


15. Broadview Security


16. Campbell Soup Company


17. Capital One


18. Citrix Online


19. Clorox


20. ConAgra


21. Concord Music Group


22. CVS


23. The Dannon Company


24. Diageo (a London-basd alcohol company that produces Guinness and Tanqeray)


25. DirecTV


26. Discover


27. Ditech


28. Eggland's Best


29. The Elations Company


30. Equifax


31. Eulactol USA


32. Experian


33. Farmers Insurance


34. GEICO


35. General Mills


36. GetARoom.com


37. Hoffman La Roche (maker of Boniva)


38. HSBC


39. ICAN Benefit Group Insurance


40. Infiniti


41. Jelmar


42. Johnson & Johnson


43. Jordan McKenna Debt Counseling Network


44. Kraft Foods
    


45. Lawyers.com


46. Lowe's


47. Luxottica Retail (owner of LensCrafters and Pearle Vision)


48. Men’s Wearhouse


49. Mercedes-Benz


50. Metropolitan Talent Management


51. NutriSystem


52. ooVoo


53. Overture Films


54. Procter & Gamble


55. Progressive Insurance


56. RadioShack


57. Re-Bath


58. Regions Financial Corporation


59. SAM (Store and Move)


60. Sanofi-Aventis


61. Sargento


62. SC Johnson


63. Scarguard


64. Schiff Nutrition


65. Seoul Metropolitan Government


66. Simplex Healthcare (creator of Diabetes Care Club)


67. Sprint


68. State Farm Insurance


69. Subaru


70. Toyota-Lexus


71. Travelers Insurance


72. Travelocity


73. United States Postal Service


74. The UPS Store


75. Verizon Wireless


76. Vonage


77. Waitrose (a popular British supermarket chain)


78. Wal-Mart


79. Woodland Power Products


80. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare

I suspect that Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the other wingnuts that mobilize and motivate the Republican Party will think twice before they go buckwild on the President of the United States in public.

Wordless Wednesday: Serena Williams in the Nude

Taser Death: Craig Prescott (Modesto, CA)

On April 11, jailers used Tasers and pepper spray to subdue Craig Prescott, 38, of Modesto, during an altercation with jailers as they tried to move him to a safety cell. Prescott was taken to a Modesto hospital, where he was pronounced dead two days later.

A pathologist determined Prescott died of hypertensive heart disease, something his wife disputes. The Sheriff's Department has handed over the investigation to the Stanislaus County district attorney's office.

Prosecutors will determine whether a crime was committed in Prescott's death. The investigation is ongoing!

Villager's Voice: - It amazes me how often the powers-that-be determine that a person would have died a natural death within moments of being shot by a 50,000 volts of electricity by a taser gun. We're supposed to believe that this guy died of heart disease and the taser shots were non-consequential?

Good News Tuesday: William Kamkwamba, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Soulclap to Zafar Minhas for pointing me to the story of William Kamkwamba. William grew up amidst poverty and famine in rural parts of the African nation of Malawi. It turns out that 14-year old William wanted to light his village.

His journey shows the power of having a goal.

Kamkwamba used discarded motor parts, a PVC pipe and an old bicycle wheel, to harness one of the only resources available to the people of Malawi: wind.





This inspiring true story is documented in an autobiography titled, 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind'. There is also a documentary film project based on his windmill that is supported by an American nonprofit group called 'Moving Windmills'.

Is WellPoint the Worst Corporation in America?

WellPoint, the nation's largest health insurer which pays its CEO roughly $9.8 million, announced that it is cutting back on the health benefits it offers to its own employees. WellPoint also announced that it will eliminate some jobs at the company, while raising deductibles and premiums for some of its employee health benefits.

Netting $2.5 billion in profits last year wasn't enough for WellPoint, the nation's largest insurance company ... now, WellPoint's affiliate, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is suing the state of Maine for refusing to guarantee it a profit margin in the midst of a painful recession.




Health insurance companies are truly screwing the American people as they seek to avoid health care reform in our nation. Methinks that these companies are choosing profits over health and life. What say u?

Sarah Palin Completes Book on Her 15 Minutes of Fame

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin "has finished her memoir just four months after the book deal was announced." The 400-page book is titled 'Going Rogue: An American Life.'

"It's her words, her life, and it’s all there in full and fascinating detail," said the book publisher.

You can check out two other books about Sarah Palin here and here. Do you plan on reading any of this Palin books?

Sunday Inspirations: Be Encouraged

Iya sent this to me a few years ago. It spoke to me this morning as I re-read it. I thought other villagers might find strength from it as well.

In today's society, we need all the encouragement we can get!

---

Lord, I'm disappointed in myself. I don't like what's happening inside me. I'm up and then down. When I listen to an uplifting Bible teaching or I'm blessed by a scripture passage during my quiet time, I feel fine for awhile. I think, "I'm on my way to wholeness." I'm reminded of who I am with you and life seems wonderful for a little while, maybe even for a few days. I dare to hope I'll feel that way the rest of my life. Then one day I suddenly realized that my wonderful confident feeling has disappeared like the morning dew, and I'm down again. The pattern keeps repeating itself. A Christian ought not to be like this. What can I do about it?

Dear Child, You are putting unnecessary oughts on yourself. Who says a Christian shouldn't be like this? Allow yourself to be human. You're still living in a fallen world. You know, you still live in a human body and subject to its limitation. Instead of being down on yourself when you feel less than yourself, encourage yourself with the thought that just as painful circumstances never last, neither do such feelings. They're always temporary. Life has it hurts and its interruptions, but it always picks up again, and you are wiser and stronger for your experiences. You are growing and changing constantly. You're not the same as you were yesterday, last week, last year or 10 years ago. It happens so gradually that you're not aware of it. But growth is not necessarily steadily forward. That's alright; I accept you as you are.

Since you know your feelings are changeable, don't pay to much attention to them. Instead of trusting in your feelings, put your anchor in Me. I never change, I am always dependable. My purposes are eternal, unchanging, and perfect. The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:11)

When you're feeling down, you have difficulty being aware of my presence. The enemy would like to use that to keep you from communing with me. Don't let his suggestions affect your devotional life. I am as near you when you feel I am a million miles away as when you're rejoicing in My presence I never leave you.

Precious child, do you realize it's when you drive yourself the hardest that you're most prone to gloomy feelings. Give yourself a break. Allow yourself to do things just for fun. Stop taking yourself so seriously. The earth won't stop turning if you fail to get everything done in a day. Even Jesus didn't work all the time. He took time to go fishing with His disciples. He called them aside to rest. He relaxed in the home of Mary and Martha. He enjoyed a wedding party. Stop feeling guilty for your feelings. Remember that no one escapes occasional times of low spirits. Look at your shadowy times as opportunities for greater trust in me. Refuse to struggle over anything you have no control over. When your commitments become too much for you, give yourself permission to say no. The world won't fall apart.

Remind yourself that I'm in charge. Rest in the knowledge that I am with you. Nothing can happen without my consent. You are my responsibility.

Join the psalmist in declaring "You O Lord are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15) Bear that in mind, that every time you are tempted to give into gloom. Your feelings are OK but don't let them order you around. Remember that you can't always be sure of your feelings, but you can always be sure of my love, and faithfulness. That's what matters most.

"There's no such thing as failure, only results...
with some more successful than others." ~~Jeff Keller

---

Sunday Inspirations is the meme created by Sojourner in honor of her Mother. This is just one way to help get us through the week ahead, the trials we may face, and yes, to say Thank Ya and testify! I hope that you participate and share with us your Sunday Inspirations. Your weekly contribution may very well be the inspiration that someone else may need and has been looking for.

The Rules:

1. Anyone can participate.
   
2. You may post a video, poem, religious verse, song, story, picture, ANYTHING that has given you inspiration and the motivation to go on. Just make sure not to offend anyone.
   
3. Add your name to the meme list so others can be inspired.
   
4. Be and get inspired and be sure to comment.

President's Weekly Address: 'Health Reform Urgent for the Economy'

The President discusses ongoing efforts to spur job creation. He also explains why health insurance reform is needed not just for long-term economic stability, but in the immediate future, discussing statistics on how costs will continue to skyrocket and hurt small businesses even next year.





What are your thoughts on unemployment, economy or health care reform? What are your thoughts on President Obama's performance over the first 9 months of his administration?