President on Obamacare: 'I Got This'

Wordless Wednesday: Serena

Obama's Weekly Address: Congress Must Act on Transportation Bill and Student Loans

President Obama discusses the urgent need for Congress to act now on two common sense measures to help middle class families: preventing interest rates on federal student loans from going up and putting hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job.





The president had a good week and he is on the right side of politics for both of these issues. Don't you agree?

Taser Autopsy: Bobby Merrill, Jr. (Saginaw, MI)

Unidentified Saginaw police officers shot their taser five times at 38-year old Bobby Merrill when they found him running into traffic and jumping on cars back in April. One of the taser blasts connected with Merrill and he went into cardiac arrest and died.

The Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas says that the police were blameless. Thomas indicates that the man who died caused his own death with cocaine and alcohol. According to the 'powers-that-be' the 50,000 volts of electricity pumped into his body by the taser had nothing to do with his death. [SOURCE]

The investigation showed that police officers subdued Merrill with the taser shot before handcuffing him and placing him in the back of their car. The police were high-fiving each other over their 'Wild West' show when they finally allowed the medical responders to see Merrill. The medical personnel had been onsite before the tasing ... but, they weren't allowed to help Merrill. Instead the police went buck wild ... fired off five taser shots ... and now an unarmed man is now dead.

The district attorney and the police want us to believe that drugs and alchohol killed this guy. In fact, the autopsy report acknowledges that he was tased before his death ... but, the report refuses to acknowledge that the taser contributed to his death.

I suspect that the Merrill family will end up taking this decision to civil court in order to get some justice for Bobby.

Taser Death: Macadam Mason (Thetford, VT)

It happened again! This time an unarmed 39-year old man with epilepsy was electrocuted to death by a Vermont State trooper for being disrespectful. Macadam Mason needed help. Instead he got 50,000 volts of electricity shot into his body by trooper David Shaffer. Mason stopped breathing and died shortly thereafter. [SOURCE]

Shaffer and his trooper buddies indicate that Mason didn't cooperate when they arrived on the scene.

"He was certainly agitated, failed to comply with the troopers commands," said Colonel Thomas L'Esperance.

Mason was unarmed and not a threat. Why is he dead today?

Wordless Wednesday: Dragon Food

What caption would you give to this photo?

Family of Teenage Everette Howard is Frustrated by Handling of Taser-Killing Investigation

An Ohio family sends their son to a summer camp at the local university. While staying in the school dorm he is electrocuted with 50,000 volts of electricity from the taser of university cop Richard Haas. The young man -- Everette Howard -- dies. But, the coroner claims that the cause of death is 'undetermined' and nobody in authority is forced to take responsibility for his death.





An 18-year old man is dead and nobody wants to blame the officer's use of a lethal weapon? Is it wonder that the family is frustrated with how this case was handled?

Taser Lawsuit: Michael White (Vallejo, CA)

It appears that the only way that anyone can get justice for the pre-judicial electrocution of a family member is via civil action. We are simply not seeing many law enforcement officers being held accountable for their actions when they use a taser to cause the death of a citizen.

The family of 47-year old Michael White came to that conclusion this week when they filed a lawsuit in Sacramento (CA) alleging that Vallejo police officers used excessive and "unreasonable" force and were not properly trained in the deployment of their tasers. [SOURCE]

'Villagers' may recall that Michael White died June 15, 2010 after police used pumped his body several times with 50,000 volt shocks from their taser guns. The police were responding to a report that he had assaulted a woman at the Vallejo Mobile Estates.

An autopsy report said that White had cocaine in his system and died from "excited delirium."

Court documents indicate that the plaintiffs, White's daughter and her mother, are seeking $25,000 in damages for emotional distress, funeral and medical bills and loss of economic support, among other things.

Tasr Autopsy: Damon Abraham (Baldwin, LA)

The 'powers-that-be' up in Baldwin, LA don't intend to have anyone take responsibility for the taser-related death of Damon Abraham. That is the conclusion that I draw from the fact that the local coroner declared Baldwin suffered from "cocaine intoxication" that The coroner says the cause of death was excited delirium. [SOURCE]

President Obama Shows Some Cojones on Behalf of the 'Dreamers'

President Obama announces a new Department of Homeland Security policy that will allow certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria to be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings.






In many ways this is a historic day. Our president doesn't have the support necessary in the Congress to debate and pass comprehensive immigration reform. So, our president decided to take action on his own -- Thanks to our president, this nation's immigration policy just became more fair and more just.

They're a group that we've come to call the "Dreamers" -- and today, the country they love is telling them they should be able to dream as big as they want.

The hundreds of thousands of people who this policy might help are people who call the United States of America home. They study in our schools, play in our parks, and pledge allegiance to our flag. Some of them have served in our Armed Forces. They've started businesses; they've started families. They are Americans in every way but on paper.

Congress still has time to pass the DREAM Act. And if they do, policies like today's will no longer be necessary.

I wonder how Congress will respond? For that matter, I wonder what 'villagers' are thinking about the issue. What say u?

OURstory: Black Brigade of Cincinnati

I have lived in greater Cincinnati area since the mid-1990s.  I'm sad to report that I only recently learned about the Black Cincinnati Brigade.  I wonder if the public schools in Cincinnati and its surrounding suburbs are sharing information about the Cincinnati Black Brigades with our young 'uns.   Probably not.   I hope that the young 'uns and the public school history teachers in Cincinnati read this blog post!

The Cincinnati Black Brigade was the first Black unit with military purpose in the Civil War as described in this 34-page document about Cincinnati Black Brigade created in 1864.

Following the success of Confederate forces in eastern Kentucky and General John Hunt Morgan 's raids there in 1862, Cincinnatians believed that Southern invasion was imminent. Anxious officials ordered Cincinnati citizens to form home guards, but Black men willing to volunteer were rebuffed when they attempted to join a defense force. Instead, police serving as provost guards rounded up many and marched them by bayonet to build fortifications in Kentucky. Reacting to the shameful treatment of the Blacks eager to support the Union, the commander of the Department of Ohio dispatched Major General Lewis Wallace to command the civilians and to liberate Black men forced into service.

Judge William Martin Dickson, who favored enlisting Black soldiers in the Union Army, assumed command of the brigade, composed of 1,000 African American volunteers determined to fight to end slavery. From September 2-20, they cleared forests and built military roads, rifle pits, and fortifications. Receiving deserved praise for their labor, the unit disbanded when the Confederate forces no longer imperiled the city. Members of the Cincinnati Black Brigade later fought with the 127th Ohio Voluntary Infantry and other Black regiments.

The Ohio Historical Society shared the original Cincinnati Black Brigade flag for display in the Civil War gallery of the America I AM: The African American Imprint exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center in 2010. This is an important Cincinnati story that needs to be shared with all residents in the greater Cincinnati area.

Did you know that plans are underway for a monument in Riverfront Park to honor the Black Brigade?

Did you already know about the Black Cincinnati Brigade?   Migs Hackett, 15, researched, wrote and produced an award-winning documentary [see her 9-minute video] on the Black Brigade of Cincinnati.

Anyhow, I hope that more of us talk about OURstory. Our young 'uns need to learn about Black history 365 days of the year ... not just in February!

OURstory: Cincinnati / Indianapolis Clowns

Did you ever see the movie Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings? That movie opened my eyes to the old Negro Baseball Leagues.





Most Cincinnati residents can tell you about the Cincinnati Reds and their 'Big Red Machine'. But few are aware that a team known as 'The Clowns' was a professional baseball team in the American Negro League that began in Cincinnati in 1943. For a couple of years they playing in both Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

The team officially moved to Indianapolis in 1946. The most famous player on the Clowns was Hank Aaron who helped the team win the Negro League World Series in 1952.

Other baseball stars who played with The Clowns included Buster Haywood, DeWitt "Woody" Smallwood, showman Goose Tatum, and future Major Leaguers John Wyatt (A’s), Paul Cassanova (Senators), and Choo-Choo Coleman (Mets).

The Clowns also had a Black woman on the roster. Her name was Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson. She shares some oral history about her time with the Clowns in the following video:






It was great to see the Indianapolis Clowns uniform and some of the Cincinnati Clowns baseball pennants on display in the Jim Crow exhibit of the America I AM: An African Imprint collection when it came to the Cincinnati Museum Center in 2010.

What are your memories of the Negro Baseball era?

Congratulations to UC Riverside Graduates (Class of 2012)

I graduated from UC Riverside with a bachelor's degree in political science over 30 years ago. I haven't been back on campus very much since wearing the cap and gown ... but, I'm still proud of my college alma mater. As such, I thought that I would use today's blog post to share some love for the UC Riverside Class of 2012 who recently graduated.





Any other UCR grads or fans in the 'village'?

Unique Building * Cubic Houses (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

The original idea of these cubic houses came about in the 1970s. Piet Blom developed a couple of these cubic houses that were built in Helmond.




The city of Rotterdam asked him to design housing on top of a pedestrian bridge and he decided to use the cubic houses idea. The concept behind these houses is that he tries to create a forest by each cube representing an abstract tree; therefore the whole village becomes a forest.

I continue to be amazed at the creativity of architects from around the world!

Highlights of 2012 Blogging While Brown Conference

Have you attended a Blogging While Brown conference yet? Here are some highlights of the 2012 BWB conference held last week in Philadelphia.

Black Enterprise Media Interviews Wayne Bennett (The Field Negro)

I encourage all 'villagers' to take a moment to check out the insights shared by Wayne Bennett, creator of The Field Negro blog as documented by Black Enterprise Media on YouTube. Field explains how he uses his blog to initiate critical thinking and dialogue within the Black community about a wide range of issues relevant to people of color. He also shares the origin of the blog's name!





This is a nice feature by Black Enterprise Media. I look forward to further video vignettes of Black bloggers around the nation.

Unique Building * Habitat 67 (Montreal, Canada)

Expo 67, one of the world’s largest universal expositions held in Montreal to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canada. Housing was one of the main themes of Expo 67.

Habitat 67 became a pavilion invaded by thousands of admiring visitors that came from all around the world, on top of being the temporary residence of many dignitaries passing by Montreal. Habitat 67 was an event in itself at the time. It still is today.

This housing complex is home for 148 singles, couples and families. It is a community with a style and quality of life envied throughout Canada.

Habitat 67 still shines with brightness, more than 40 years after its creation. Its intrinsic genius is indeed praised by both the architectural and the urban planning circles, by the public in general and particularly by its residents.

The creator of the building is Moshe Safdie. Here is a video in which he shares his thoughts on making a building unique. He talks about four of his projects ... including Habitat 67.

Unique Building * Kansas City Public Library

Established in 1873 as the Public School Library of Kansas City, the institution became a cultural center for the city. Basically, the side of the building features bunch of famous books by bunch of famous writers. Have you read all the books *ON* the building?

Artur Davis Failed in Effort to Be the 'Next Obama'; Now He Wants to be the 'Next Herman Cain'

I see that former congressman Artur Davis decided that he doesn't want to be a Democrat any longer. He announced that he now wants to be referred to as a GOP Wingnut.

Not surprising I guess. But, it is very disappointing as I thought that Davis was going to achieve great success in the wake of the 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama. We sure got that one wrong!

What is your take on Artur Davis? Will he ever be more than a sideshow in the Republican Party?

OURStory: Tulsa Race Riot (1921)

Today is the anniversary of the "deadliest mass shooting" or "deadliest shooting rampage" in our nation's history occurred on May 31, 1921 in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Tulsa Race Riot, also known as the 1921 Race Riot, the Tulsa Race War, or the Greenwood Riot, was a large-scale civil disorder. During the 16 hours of rioting, over 800 people were admitted to local hospitals with injuries, an estimated 10,000 were left homeless, 35 city blocks composed of 1,256 residences were destroyed by fire, and $1.8 million (nearly $17 million after adjustment for inflation) in property damage.

Our glorious Black Wall Street was destroyed in the carnage of that day.

39 people were officially reported killed, although most experts agree that the actual number of Black citizens killed during the riot to be around 300. You can read about it yourself here, here, or here.

We must never forget. I hope that supporters of the Electronic Village will ensure that OURstory isn't ignored or forgotten as others write HIS-story. National columnist Jim Clingman recently wrote about his experience with eight of the survivors of the Black Wall Street murders.

We ask you not allow the Tulsa Race War murders to be swept under the rug of distorted, revised, and repressed history. We must never forget, and we must not allow others to forget either.

Rest In Peace: Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)

This blog has shared the music of Gil Scott-Heron many times in the past. He is one of my favorite artists of all time ... and has been an influential poet and musician who many think sparked the cultural revolution known as 'hip-hop'.

Gil Scott-Heron died on May 27, 2011. He is best known for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".

Scott-Heron was born in Chicago in 1949. He spent his early years in Jackson, Tenn., attended high school in The Bronx, and spent time at Pennsylvania's Lincoln University before settling in Manhattan. His recording career began in 1970 with the album "Small Talk".





Scott-Heron continued to record through the 1970s and early '80s, before taking a lengthy hiatus. He briefly returned to the studio for 1994's "Spirits". That album featured the track "Message to the Messengers," in which Scott-Heron cautions the hip-hop generation that arose in his absence to use its new-found power responsibly.

Scott-Heron struggled publicly with substance abuse in the 2000s, and spent the early part of the decade in and out of jail on drug possession charges. He began performing again after his release in 2007, and in 2010 released a new album, "I'm New Here", to widespread critical acclaim.

Rest in Peace Gil Scott-Heron!

OURstory: Joseph Phillippe Lemercier Laroche is Only Black Man to Die on the Titanic

Joseph Laroche was the only Black man to perish in the Titanic; that's after he saved his wife and kids. Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti, on May 26, 1889.

Joseph Laroche was born into a powerful family. His uncle, Cincinnatus Leconte, was the president of Haiti. When Joseph was fifteen, he left Haiti to study engineering in Beauvais, France. Several years later, he met Juliette Lafargue, the 22-year-old daughter of a local wine seller. The two eventually married.

Despite having an engineering degree, Joseph's skin color left him unable to find employment in France. The Laroches decided to return to Haiti and booked second-class reservations on the Titanic. After the ship struck an iceberg, Joseph loaded his wife and children onto a lifeboat and he went down with the ship. His body was never recovered.

Click here to read the full story

We need to share OURstory 24/7/365. If we don't spread the word within our villages ... who will do so? What did you think of this bit of history from the Titantic?

Rest In Peace: Randy 'Macho Man' Savage (1952-2011)

How many villagers will admit that they were fans of televised wrestling at some point in their life? I admit that I was a big fan of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) back in the day. My favorite wrestler was The Undertaker. However, I also enjoyed the antics of Ravishing Rick Rude and and Randy 'Macho Man' Savage.

That is why I was very sad to learn that the Randy Savage died on this day in 2011 from a car accident. It appears that he suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel ... and lost control of his vehicle. He was killed as a result of his injuries. His wife, Lynn, was rushed to a local hospital and she appears to have suffered only minor injuries.

I suppose that many of you may not remember the 'Macho Man'. Here is a video that may give you an idea of what he used to do in the ring:

Rest in Peace Macho Man!

Trayvon Martin's Mom Shares Powerful Mother's Day Message

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mom, released a video asking parents nationwide to support the Second Chance campaign, a new national campaign working to reform, repeal and prevent passage of new Florida-style "Shoot First" laws around the country.





The Second Chance campaign launched after Martin's death with the NAACP, the National Urban League, the National Action Network, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, VoteVets and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to oppose reckless Shoot First laws that are on the books of 26 states and pending in 10 more.

Happy Mother's Day

Your Mother is always with you.

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flower you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day, She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion.....Happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow.....and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feeling in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space....not even death!

Obama's Weekly Address: 'Congress Must Act on To-Do List'

President Obama is calling on Democrats and Republicans to come together and act on his Congressional “to-do list,” which will create jobs and help restore middle class security. In this make-or-break moment for the middle class, these five initiatives have bipartisan support and will help create an economy that is built to last.

Taser Death: Damon Abraham (Baldwin, LA)

It happened again! This time we discover that 34-year old Damon Abraham is dead after being electrocuted multiple times with 50,000 volts of electricity from the taser gun of an unidentified Baldwin Police officer. Abraham was unarmed and handcuffed in police custody ... but, now he is dead at the hands of the police.

The incident happened Thursday evening and now his family is in mourning and searching for answers. According to family members, Damon Abraham was at the police station following up on a restraining order that was filed against him. [SOURCE]

According to family members, Damon Abraham was at the police station following up on a restraining order that was filed against him, and when authorities told him he had warrants for his arrest, he took off on foot. Family members say a Baldwin Police Officer repeatedly used a taser on Abraham and hit him over the head with a baton after he ran from police.

Abraham was held at police headquarters after being tased but then began showing signs of physical distress. He was transported to Franklin Foundation Hospital and was then being moved to a Lafayette hospital when he died en route.



Louisiana State Police have been called in to investigate the death of Mr. Abraham. An officer was placed on administrative leave while the investigation takes place.

Unique Building * Ideal Palace (France)

Fact is often stranger than fiction. Have you heard of the 43-year old French postal worker who started the foundation of a structure in 1879 ... worked alone for 33 years ... and the result was a fairy-tale place known as the Ideal Palace. It goes to show what can happen when you look inside your soul for your dreams ... and act on them even when others doubt you.

The entire Electronic Village salutes Ferdinand Cheval (1836 - 1924). Is there a dream within your soul waiting to be released?

Happy Cinco de Mayo: Hold On To Your Dream (Gil Scott-Heron)

This seemed like the perfect day to share this musical gem from Gil Scott-Heron!





I guess that not every villager may know what Cinco de Mayo is all about. Cinco de Mayo ... or the fifth of May ... commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Unique Building * Wonderworks (Orlando FL)

Oddly enough, I had never heard of this building until seeing this photo. There are alot of amusement sites in Orlando, however it is unlikely that any of them are UPSIDE DOWN! Inside the unique building you will find over 100 interactive exhibits.

Have any villagers been to this building?

Obama's Weekly Address: Helping our Veterans Make Informed Decisions about Higher Education

President Obama discusses a new Executive Order designed to crack down on the bad actors who prey on our veterans and service members considering higher education. I appreciate that President Obama is doing everything that he can to make a difference despite the obstructions placed in front of him by the Republicans in Congress.

Taser Autopsy: No Drugs or Alcohol in Roger Anthony Before Pre-Judicial Electrocution

The police often try to blame their pre-judicial electrocutions on the victim being a criminal or a drug addict or a drunk. None of those things held true for 62-year old Roger Anthony when he was pumped with 50,000 volts of electricity from Scotland Neck (NC) police officer John Turner. Officer Turner didn't appreciate being ignored by an old guy on a bicycle ... so he took out his taser gun and killed Mr. Anthony.

Roger Anthony died last November after Scotland Neck police got a call about a drunk man falling from his bicycle. The officer said he called out to the 62-year-old man, turned on his lights and siren and tried to get him to stop.

The police officer thought that Turner was drunk. Anthony's toxicology tests came back clean. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system.

Methinks that a lawsuit is coming up next if the prosecutor doesn't take criminal action against Officer Turner. What say u?

Wordless Wednesday: Skittles, Hoodies and Death

Taser Death: Bruce Chrestensen (Grass Valley, CA)

It happened again! This time an unidentified Grass Valley (CA) police officer decided that the only way to respond to a disturbance was to electrocute 52-year old Bruce Chrestensen with 50,000 volts of electricity from a taser gun. [SOURCE] I imagine that the police thought that they were calming the situation ... instead they killed a man who was already in their custody.

It seems obvious that Chrestensen was experiencing some type of mental stress. When the police arrived he was standing in the middle of the street yelling at passing drivers with his pants down. The police say that he attacked a passing car and wouldn't listen to police commands. Chrestensen was a 52-year old man without a weapon ... he was *UNARMED*. Even if the police officer thought that Chrestensen was trying to steal a car ... it is worth noting that we don't have the death penalty for such a crime.

There is no indication that Chrestensen has a previous criminal history ... and it appears that his only medical condition may be high blood pressure. The police and district attorney are investigating this in-custody pre-judicial electrocution ... but, the officers involved in the taser-killing have not been removed from duty.

Noah Sherry was at work when he witnessed all the commotion.

"I looked out the window and the guy was sitting out there, or standing out there, cussing at people, and doing things" said Sherry. "I think anyone on that mindset would be on drugs."

Does drug use justify being killed by any random police officer?

Video Shows Taser Torture of Anastasio Hernandez

A couple of years ago this blog shared the story of the taser-killing of Anastasio Hernandez, an undocumented person who was caught, handcuffed, surrounded and then tortured by US Border Patrol agents. The story took another twist when a new video emerged that gave a fuller view of the torture endured by Mr. Hernandez.

Check out the video and you be the judge on whether or not this taser activity was necessary on an unarmed and handcuffed man surrounded by a dozen trained agents:

 
Sometimes we lose the human side of these stories. I imagine that some felt justification in this taser-torture once they learned that Mr. Hernandez was in the country illegally. However, the other side of the story is that he was a hard-working father of five who was loved by his family and respected by his neighbors. I remain convinced that something is wrong with the taser policy or training currently in place with America's law enforcement officers. Is it just me? Or do you have similiar thoughts about taser use in our nation?

Taser Death: Angel Hiraldo (Meriden, CT)

It happened again! This time we are disappointed to report that the police have electrocuted another UNARMED man with 50,000 volts of electricity from their taser guns. Unidentified officers from the Meriden (CT) Police Department arrived on the scene of a disturbance early Saturday morning. The police found 48-year old Angel Hiraldo on the porch of a home with a hammer. Hiraldo made a fatal mistake when he didn't drop the hammer. An unidentified police officer got tired of waiting ... took out his (or her) taser gun and electrocuted him to death.

Often I wonder what the hurry is for police.  Why can't they take the time necessary to talk a disturbed suspect down. Why the rush to electrocute him? I guess in this case it was because the Meriden Police Department had other people to kill that night. The police department used a taser gun later that night on another suspect ... before shooting him to death. It will be interesting to see how the police department works to demonize Mr. Hiraldo in an effort to make him the cause of his own death.

Taser Protests in Chicago Seek Justice in Death of Darrin Hanna

I don't know if Darrin Hanna was a good man or not. The police were called to his home in November 2011 for a domestic violence complaint. There is never a good reason to lay your hands on a woman. Period.

That being said, I'm uncertain when there is a good time for police officers to beat an unarmed man ... then electrocute him with 50,000 volts of electricity up to 11 times with their taser guns ... then lie about the whole thing in their police report. It is the inability of the community in Chicago to see any justice in this taser-killing that is causing the current uproar. Thousands of people marched in the streets of Chicago this past weekend. They simply want to see some justice ... which means some consequences for the police officers that killed Mr. Hanna.

Here is a video that provides some of the details in this case of police brutality against Darrin Hanna. You be the judge:



Something is wrong in this country when police feel that it is OK to kill a suspect without taking him to trial ... and feel free to lie about it on their police reports about the incident ... and there are few, if any, consequences. How do call ourselves a nation of laws if the police are allowed to flaunt them as clearly as they've done in this case?

Village Tips: Promote Your Business to Local Media

I have been self-employed since 2002. My focus is on providing online marketing support to small businesses. Many of us are amazed at the rapid growth of social networks and the ability to market one's business on the cheap. However, it is worth remembering that there are still ol' school marketing opportunities with your local media.

Media are constantly looking for new stories and information that will interest their audiences. Chances are, your town has at least one major newspaper, several smaller papers, a few TV stations, a bunch of radio stations, and at least one cable company. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Local media like to cover local stories. You have a much better chance of getting free publicity from a reporter in your area than from national media.
2. Local talk radio stations and programs are constantly in need of interesting guests. Watch for times when your area of expertise fits with a breaking story, holiday, or issue the media is covering.
3. Send your local media a press release when you have something new to announce: a new product, service, public service program, or alliance with another business.
4. Small businesses often make good feature stories. Work up a sheet of helpful tips related to your business. Make sure they are things the media audience will be interested in.
5. Work with local charities and blow your own horn.

I hope that these small business tips are helpful to you. Feel free to contact me by email or phone (513.284-4968) if you would like to discuss additional ways to market your small business.

In the meantime, I will continue to share these Village Tips on a semi-regular basis!

Unique Building: Wooden Gangster House (Archangelsk, Russia)

Nikolai Sutyagin is a former gangster who built a home that is truly unique. The house that Sutyagin built is crumbling, incomplete and under threat of demolition from city authorities determined to end the former convict's eccentric 18-year project.

There is a great article written by Adrian Blomfield in 2007 about this building and its history:

When Sutyagin began work on his dacha in 1992, he claims he was only intending to build a two-story house - larger than those of his neighbors to reflect his position as the city's richest man, but certainly not a contender for the Guinness Book of Records.

However, convinced by a trip to see wooden houses in Japan and Norway, he concluded that he had not used roof space efficiently enough and decided to keep building.

"First I added three floors but then the house looked ungainly, like a mushroom," he said. "So I added another and it still didn't look right so I kept going. What you see today is a happy accident."

There were other motives too. Having grown up in a Soviet communal flat, Sutyagin said he felt lonely living by himself.

Not only would his house make a perfect love nest for his molls, it could also accommodate the 18 executives at his construction company.

He even built a five-story bath house in the garden, complete with rooms where he and his colleagues could have a little bit of privacy with their girlfriends. But Sutyagin was never to complete his dream. In 1998 he was handed a four-year prison sentence, his third jail term, on racketeering charges. He says he was set up.

While in prison, he claims his rivals destroyed his equipment, stole his money and threw his five cars into the Dvina river - a similar fate to that which befell many of Russia's rich in the chaotic years of the 1990s.

"When I went to prison I was a millionaire," he said. "Now I'm penniless." Sutyagin, 60, lives in four poorly heated rooms at the bottom of his wooden skyscraper with his 32-year-old wife Lena.

What is left of his fantasy is slowly decaying around him. Even so, it remains a remarkable architectural feat - especially given the fact that Sutyagin built much of it himself - that defies easy description.

A whimsical jumble of planking, from a distance it bears a resemblance to a Japanese pagoda, but draw closer and it seems more like a mix between a Brobdignagian tree house and the lair of a wicked fairytale character.

Not everyone sees it like that, though. Neighbours consider it a monstrosity and the city authorities, pointing to bylaws that say no wooden structure should be higher than two floors, warn that fire could cause the whole suburb to go up in flames. They have begun action to pull it down.

Sutyagin vows to win and has erected a roof around the second floor that he says allows him to claim that everything above is purely decorative.

Meanwhile, he spends his time taking visitors on death-defying tours that involve criss-crossing rotting planking and climbing icy ladders.

A man who thinks he has six children but cannot be sure, Sutyaging kept up a commentary on the adventures he anticipated if his skyscraper had been completed.

"This would have been a great room for making love," he said, balancing on a plank he has just thrown over a chasm in the floor.

"This one would have been even better," he said, two floors higher. "Look at that view."

I hope that the villagers that visit our blog have enjoyed the dozen or so 'unique buildings' that we've blogged about over the past year or so. We had fun with it. Do you know of any other unique buildings that we should share photos and info about on this blog?

We Are Virginia Tech

Today is the five-year anniversary of a horrendous massacre at Virginia Tech. It is a good time to remember the powerful words of Virginia Tech professor Nikki Giovanni. Our prayers are with the 32 families that lost a child on that sad and violent day.

You Know You're Black in Corporate America When...

1. A coworker sees you and several Black colleagues at a casual lunch. Back at the office he/she later asks, "What was that meeting all about?"
2. You arrive at work on time as usual. Your boss, making her rounds, peeks in and remarks with surprise, "Oh, you're here!"
3. A colleague says with a broad smile, "You know, I really like you. When I see you, I don't see color. I don't think of you as Black."
4. After a staff meeting, your boss suggests, "you need to work at making others more comfortable with you...why don't you smile more often?"
5. You tell your manager about a problem you are having and the response you get is "You've got to be exaggerating! I find that hard to believe."
6. You are told you are "rough around the edges" despite your completion of many professional development programs and it is suggested you emulate the behavior of a non-person of color colleague.
7. You continually get more responsibility, but no authority.
8. You are being recognized at a company banquet. As you approach the stage to receive your company's highest achievement award, your corporations' top executive exclaims, "Yo homeboy, congratulations".
9. You arrive at an offsite business retreat dressed in business casual attire. Your non-persons of color peers approach and ask why you are always so dressed up?
10. You are told you are decreasing your effectiveness with your aggressive style.
11. You are frequently asked why you change your hairstyle so often.
12. Your first name is arbitrarily shortened to one or two syllables without your permission.
13. You are asked every summer if Black people tan.
14. After a coworker returns from a weekend in the sun, they run to you on Monday morning and extend their arms to touch yours and say, "Hey I'm darker than you".
15. Walking through the hall with colleagues, you exchange greetings with two other Blacks you pass along the way. Your colleague says in amazement, "My you know so many people."
16. You are told your attitude is affecting others. You are asked to..."lighten up, not be so serious about the work. Smile and laugh more often, to make others more comfortable working with you".
17. You realize that at times you must "dumb down" appearing to be dependent and unaware, so that your manager and peers feel they are helping you...
18. You have to perform at 250% just to stay even.
19. You have to document everything. You've learned the hard way.
20. You assumed that all that was required of you was to work hard and get the job done.

I left Corporate America in 2002 to start my own consultancy. However this list brings back so many memories. Do any of the items on this list resonate with you? Do you have any other suggestions to add to this list?

Wordless Wednesday: New Mug Shot for George Zimmerman

Taser Death: Bobby Merrill, Jr. (Saginaw, MI)

It happened again! This time we learn that the Saginaw Police Department decided to electrocute another UNARMED man to death with their taser guns. Bobby Merrill Jr., 38, was headed to his mother's house when he was met by police cars on Tuesday. [SOURCE]

The Saginaw Police Department said they received a complaint of someone disrupting traffic and jumping on to vehicles and they found Merrill just a few blocks from his destination. Merrill was unarmed and he didn't show the proper level of respect for the unidentified police officers on the scene. As a result the police pumped him several times with 50,000 volts of electricity from their taser guns.

Merrill’s mother, Dorothy Anderson, said she heard about the incident and arrived to see police officers performing CPR on her son. While in police custody Merrill began to have trouble breathing ... and he died.

Anderson wonders if police “did him unjustly” and used unnecessary force during the incident, contributing to Merrill’s death.

The police quickly released information about the criminal past of the victim. Merrill was convicted of charges, ranging in date from 1992 to 2008, including possession of cocaine, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted larceny from a motor vehicle, and assault to do great bodily harm less than murder.

I'm uncertain how this information has any relevance to the actions of the police on Tuesday. The penalty for unruly behavior or resisting arrest should never be death. Yet, here we are again ... an UNARMED man is dead as a result of per-judicial electrocution. Something is simply not right...

Obama's Weekly Address: Easter Greetings From President Obama

President Obama offers his warmest greetings to all who are celebrating Easter and Passover this weekend, and reflects on the common thread of humanity that binds us all together.

Black Unemployment Trickles Down to 14.0% in March 2012

The United States added 120,000 jobs in March 2012 - making it 25 consecutive months of private sector job growth - and unemployment rate ticked down to 8.2 percent. Job growth was widespread last month in the private sector, with large employment gains in professional and business services, health care and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and mining. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are about 12.7 million unemployed people in the country - and our nation's unemployment is near its lowest rate in almost three years. The trend of positive employment news continues to grow under the leadership of President Obama.

The news is still poor for the Black community.

The unemployment rate in the Black community dipped in March 2012 to 14.0%. This compares to previous months:

• Feb 2012 - 14.1%
• Jan 2012 - 13.6%
• Dec 2011 - 15.7%
• Nov 2011 - 15.5%
• Sep 2011 - 16.0%
• Aug 2011 - 16.7%

The overall message for the US economy is good. This is the 9th straight month with over 100,000 people entering the workforce. However, we are sad to report that the rate of unemployment in the Black community remains disproportionately high. That is why this blog is very happy to see proactive efforts to increase awareness of the power of Black Dollars. We have to look to ourselves to fix this problem!

What is your opinion of the unemployment data that was released today?

Video Supports Taser Lawsuit: Preston Bussey III (Rockledge, FL)

Preston Bussey was unarmed. He was at the Wuesthoff Medical Center emergency room where he voluntarily sought treatment. That didn't matter to Rockledge Police Department officers who electrocuted him at least six times in 2009. You can see the video of this unarmed man in the moments before his untimely taser-related death.





Surveillance camera footage reveals an unarmed Bussey pulling away from police officers who did not tell him they intended to take him into custody. Police enter the hospital with Tasers raised and aimed at the patient. Bussey backs away and then follows instructions to get to his knees. The video shows the officers aiming their Tasers at his back and chest and then shooting Bussey multiple times when he steps away.


The excessive force used by these police officers resulted in the death of Preston Bussey. The lawsuit filed by the family is in the judicial pipeline.

Preston Bussey III

It seems obvious that Bussey did not harm anyone, commit a crime, possess a weapon or threaten anyone with aggression. Yet, the police treated him like an armed and dangerous violent criminal, and used unjustified, unnecessary, unreasonable and excessive force to detain him.

The lawsuit indicates that Defendants Sgt. Timothy Hewitt, Cpl. Yvette Gomez, and Officers Patrick Kennedy, Timothy Herberner, Don Williams, Robert Owens and Matthew Leverich together and individually battered, tasered and suffocated unarmed Bussey with a pillow case. The medical examiner concluded that the officers shot Bussey with a stun gun six times -- more than twice the limit set by Rockledge Police Department policy.

This blog continues to track the taser-related deaths of American citizens ... the vast majority of them UNARMED.

Video of the Day: 'A Song for Trayvon' by Jasiri X

When will the Sanford Police Department arrest George Zimmerman? It's been over a month and still justice for Trayvon Martin is deferred.