Tag Archives: OddBox

A mother Son dialogue

My son: Mom I was just laughing today during my Drawing exam.

Me excited: good.. why? ( after all, I was telling myself, this is where this boy expresses himself with liberty)

My son: I was just thinking about all your empowering words, about me being talented in drawing. I just could not but crack from laughing.

Me: you are ! ( inside me I am saying.. thank goodness he finally realized)

My son: I was just having a flashback of memories. Looking at the drawing, myself: I was just doing. Looked around other students work and to myself: Damn.. this woman has been playing in my head for so long convincing me I am talented, and all what I can do ( after a real course ) is this four year old retarded like drawings.

Me: silent

Me with a message later: You are talented. Actually, you are a natural.

 

PS

Some years ago, while I was having a mother-son conversation with my son over the phone about the gossip, the criticism from the family …. about me after my book. he suddenly said: I need to go now. I want to draw something.

less than half an hour later .. he sent me this …. saying : I named it the nadia .

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394-deactivated: thatpettyblackgirl: Waffle House Saraland Al…

foul racism!

394-deactivated:

thatpettyblackgirl:

Waffle House Saraland Al 2am April 22nd 2018

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for the people saying she was wrong. she did not threaten anyone she
wanted to get a number to call for the bad CS they received.

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Update 4/23/18 17:30 ET:

Waffle House’s statement on Twitter:

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Goldie the waitress:

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Comment from person who originally tweeted this video:

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Edited 4/24 2:00 ET: Wrong location, it’s a different one in the same city. Calling gets you a busy message, so try the contact form on the Waffle House website (requires a name, number, and address).

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From @damethegod:

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They pointed a taser gun on her while her hands were behind her back, pulled her dress down while her hands were restrained, and choked her as she was forced onto the ground, desperately asking what she had done. Screencaps:

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فوضناك؟؟؟؟؟؟ من فوض من؟

فوضناك؟؟؟ من فوض من؟

 

 

لا أخفي سرا إذا ما قلت، إنني أحاول أن أمتنع عن كتابة ما يبدو مثيرا للرأي العام، ليس على سبيل عدم حبي للظهور، ولكن ، لأني جزء من هذاالرأي العام الذي سئم من الديباجة نفسها في الإثارة التي اصبحت وبكل بساطة مثل الألعاب النارية منتهية الصلاحية. لا يصلنا منها إلا رائحتها النتنة.

وقصصنا هكذا منذ عام أو عشرة أعوام أو ربما أكثر …. إنتخابات لا تأتي، لن تأتي. إنتخابات إسرائيلية ودولية تعود. دول تفك عقدها وتذهب إلى الإنتخابات ، ودول تتجدد فيها الدكتاتوريات بالإنتخابات، ودول ينتخب فيها من هم على النقيض من المنطق والعقل، ودولة ليست بدولة ، دولتان في دولة واحدة تحت احتلال ، لا ينجح أطرافها بالذهاب إلى إنتخابات … وعليه … يرتقي أولي الامر فيها إلى ” فوضناك” !

هل هناك مهزلة أكبر من هذه؟

خلال سنوات كثيرة، نسمع عن إنتخابات مرتقبة، ورئيس لا يريد ولا يرغب بإعادة إنتخابه ( طبعا اذا ما حصلت إنتخابات)، ومناصب وزارية ورئاسة وزراء مؤقتة، تكنوقراطية، تسير الأعمال لستة أشهر (مش مهم أن الستة أشهر عم بصيروا ٦ سنوات)، ويتم تبادل هذا المنصب المحتمل لرئيس قادم مرتقب، بين إيحاءات داخلية وخارجية. يحلم الحالمون، ويترقب المنتهزون، ويسعى الطامحون لرئاسة لسلطة لا يوجد بها من السيادة إلا الألقاب. حتى الإنتخابات أصبحت رجاء، وسط لجنة إنتخابات مستعدة دائما للحظة قادمة لن تأتي.

كيف تأتي، ولقد وصلنا إلى درس الديمقراطيات الحديثة في ثورات العرب تحت شعار “فوضناك”.

لا نحن لسنا في مصر، ولسنا في سوريا (لايهم بأي جهة من النزاع نقف) ، ولسنا بالاردن ، ولا يحكمنا ولاة امر الخليج المفوضون من قبل …….

أفهم أننا نحاول أن نرسم لنفسنا صورة مطابقة لحكم ما قد يجعلنا نبدو طبيعيين. ولكن، وبكل جدية … على ماذا “فوضناك” ؟

نسمع عن احتضار الرئيس المرتقب، وعن خليفته المحتمل أكثر من سماعنا عن المستعمرات الممتدة إلى داخل القرى في مناطق السيادة الفلسطينية المزعومة.

عن أي تفويض ولأي حكم نتجه، وأبسط ما يمكن القيام به هو مصالحة لن تأتي. حتى المصالحة صارت أصعب بالوصول إليها من الجلوس إلى طاولة مفاوضات نتوسل فيها إلى الإحتلال.

شعب كامل في غزة يتم قنصه ،كما تقنص الحجول في أيام الصيد من قبل الجنود الإسرائيليين. عنجهية مطلقة، ظلم محكم على شعب أعزل، وتمشي في شوارع الضفة وتقرأ شعارات تتصدر المباني والمحلات: بايعناك وفوضناك!

على ماذا نبايع؟

على استمرار الفرقة بين شعب وشعب ؟

على قطع رواتب أسر الأسرى والشهداء ؟

على عدم دفع رواتب موظفي غزة ؟

على السماح لقوات الاحتلال أن تجوب في شوارع المدن الفلسطينية ، تعتقل، وتقتل ، وتهدم بيوت ؟

على تهويد القدس التي توجه إعلان ترامب ؟

على ماذا نفوض؟

الاستمرار في مفاوضات لم يعد يرغب الطرف الإسرائيلي الخوض فيها ؟

على ماذا نعاهد؟

على غض النظر عن قمع الحريات ؟

على إحالة الموظفين قصرا إلى التقاعد؟

على استمرار تردي التعليم والصحة والمرافق العامة ؟

أم نفوض وننبايع ونعاهد على المضي قدما من أجل عقد مؤتمر وطني نجدد فيه الولاء للرئيس الوحيد والأوحد؟

والله كنت سأبايع ، وأفوض، وأعاهد أن أسلم أمري للرئيس لو كان هناك سيادة غير تلك التي تدعى بالمسميات. لو كان الرئيس في صحة تسمح له بالإستمرار قدما ومحاولة التغيير والتقدم نحو حل مرتقب ما . لو كان هناك مصالحة حقيقية نشعر فيها كشعب أننا على الأقل آمنين أمام أنفسنا كأبناء وطن واحد. لو كان هناك موقف واحد نشعر فيه أن الرئيس ينتمي إلينا . يؤرقه مآل هذا الوطن الذي لم تعد الأرض عنوانه الا بشعارات لم نعد حتى قادرين على ترديدها.

يريدون عقد مؤتمر وطني آخر …. لشراء الولاءات ومنح المراكز وملء الأفواه التي لم تتذوق بعد طعم الفساد كما يجب؟

من أجل ماذا يعقد مؤتمر ، ويتم إقصاء أشخاص و حث أشخاص؟

تريدون تجديد أي مبايعة أو أي عهد؟

أي تفويض بقي معنا حتى نتقدم فيه خطوة الى الأمام أمام أنفسنا ؟

الأطفال العزل يقتلون على مرأى العين ولا يوجد حتى تصريح يرقى لنقطة من دم شهيد.

غزة تموت باليوم آلاف المرات ، بين قمع وظلم واستبداد وحصار وقتل وفقر وجوع.

القدس صارت اورشليم وشعارات السفارة الجديدة لأمريكا باتت جاهزة للعرض الإستفزازي .

يريدون تفويضا من أجل إبقاء الحال على ما هو عليه ، حتى تأتي ساعة الغفلة التي ستكون يد الله فيها أكبر ، فلا يدخل مزاحم لنهش ما تبقى من جسد القضية الراحل؟

كفاكم استهزاء وعبثا في عقولنا وقلوبنا وكياننا …

تعلموا من دروس ما يجري في المنطقة . دروس الطغاة ودروس من ينتظروا الحلول من الغرب للتحرر.

سقط الكلام …..

ولم نفوض ولن نفوض.

لم نعاهد ولن نعاهد.

لم نبايع ولن نبايع.

ولن تأتي الشرعية بمؤتمر ولا بقرار…

الشعب غاضب وحائر ومحتقن ولقد تعب من الظلم والتبعية والقمع تحت احتلال وفوقه.

 

Portraits of Drummer Boy John Clem, Who Was 12 Years Old When He Became a Civil War Hero

Johnny Clem was a soldier in the service of the United States for most of his life. He was born on August 13, 1851, in Newark, Ohio. His actual name was John Joseph Klem.

When President Abraham Lincoln in May 1861 issued the call for volunteers to serve in the Union army for a three year term, one of those who tried to answer was Ohio resident John Clem. Not yet 10 years old, Clem’s service was refused by the newly formed 3rd Ohio. Undeterred, Clem later tried to join the 22nd Michigan, where his persistence won over the unit’s officers. They agreed to let him follow the regiment, adopting him as a mascot and unofficial drummer boy. The officers also chipped in to pay his monthly salary of $13 before he finally was allowed to officially enlist in 1863.

Clem became a national celebrity for his actions at Chickamauga. Armed with a musket sawed down for him to carry, Clem joined the 22nd Michigan in the defense of Horseshoe Ridge on the afternoon of September 20. As the Confederate forces surrounded the unit, a Confederate colonel spotted Clem and shouted either “I think the best thing a mite of a chap like you can do is drop that gun” or called him a “damned little Yankee devil,” according to various sources. Rather than surrender, Clem shot the colonel and successfully made his way back to Union lines. For his actions, Clem was promoted to sergeant, the youngest soldier ever to become a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army, and became known as the “Drummer Boy of Chickamauga.”

Clem’s legend grew following the battle, although some stories may be apocryphal. One holds that his drum was destroyed at the Battle of Shiloh, earning him the nickname “Johnny Shiloh” and serving as inspiration for the song, “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.” However, the 22nd Michigan, Clem’s unit, was not mustered until the summer after the Battle of Shiloh, making it unlikely Clem saw action in the battle with that regiment.

Clem went on to fight at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Kennesaw and Atlanta, where he was wounded twice. Clem was discharged from the Army in 1864 at age 13, but sought to rejoin the military in 1870. Nominated to West Point by President Ulysses S. Grant, Clem failed the entrance exam several times before Grant appointed him a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Clem enjoyed a successful second military career, rising to the rank of colonel and assistant quartermaster general by 1906. He retired on the eve of U.S. entry into World War I with the rank of major general, the last Civil War veteran to actively serve in the U.S. Army. Clem died on May 13, 1937 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Syria: Is There A Truth Bubble?

quen sabes

The deed is done!  Parts of Syria is a smoldering rubble in retaliation for the alleged chemical attacks on civilians by Assad forces.

It is interesting that a Russian general predicted the chem weapon and the US response about a month before the story began……

Sometimes bizarre claims by foreign governments are so shocking they are dismissed and never thought of again. But what happens when the events predicted occur exactly as described?

A stub of an article published by Reuters on March 13, 2018, almost a month before the purported chemical attack in Ghouta, reads:

“Russia said on Tuesday it had information that the United States planned to bomb the government quarter in Damascus on an invented pretext, and said it would respond militarily if it felt Russian lives were threatened by such an attack.

http://theantimedia.com/russia-predicted-chemical-attack/

After the attack the inspectors have arrived to check out the report….I am wondering why we did not get that report first……some are saying that Trump may have gotten it all wrong……

This is the story of a town called Douma, a ravaged, stinking place of smashed apartment blocks – and of an underground clinic whose images of suffering allowed three of the Western world’s most powerful nations to bomb Syria last week. There’s even a friendly doctor in a green coat who, when I track him down in the very same clinic, cheerfully tells me that the “gas” videotape which horrified the world – despite all the doubters – is perfectly genuine.

War stories, however, have a habit of growing darker. For the same 58-year old senior Syrian doctor then adds something profoundly uncomfortable: the patients, he says, were overcome not by gas but by oxygen starvation in the rubbish-filled tunnels and basements in which they lived, on a night of wind and heavy shelling that stirred up a dust storm.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-chemical-attack-gas-douma-robert-fisk-ghouta-damascus-a8307726.html

I give these articles because the real story may never be known……only the crappy story line that leads to what the masters what to be done to Syria….

Guest Voz: The illusion of inclusion by Texas State Board of Education Republicans

By Marisa B. Perez-Diaz

LatinaLista

(Editor’s Note: The following is a statement released by Texas State Board Education member Marisa B. Perez-Diaz after the Texas State Board of Education voted to approve ethnic studies course for Mexican Americans)

Friday, April 13, 2018 was not a victory, but a slap in the face. While I appreciate the steps that the Board of Education has taken to approve ethnic-specific courses of study, it did not come without its insults.

Author & Texas State Board of Education member

Friday, 9 of my 14 colleagues told me how they believe I should identify: “American of Mexican Descent.” What does that mean? How do any of them expect this title to resonate with any of our scholars who identify as Mexican American? More importantly, who do any of them think they are to tell me how I should identify?

Over the last 4 ½ years, we have heard from communities who are directly impacted by Mexican American Studies courses; we have listened to scholar after scholar, expert after expert present on the positive impact Mexican American Studies courses have on ALL scholars.

The time has finally come to call this what it is…DISCRIMINATION!

The time for cloaking bigotry and/or fear of diversity under the guise of “patriotism” and “Americanism” is over. I am wholly American, as I am wholly Mexican, as I am wholly a wife, mother, daughter, sister. My experience is as American as apple pie, because guess what, my ancestors were on this land well before it was conquered and named America.

Today, I am disappointed.

Here are a few points, for those reading this that I want to make VERY clear:

My colleague from Beaumont would have you believe that “hyphenated Americanism” is divisive…BULL! Again, what does that even mean?

I PROUDLY identify as Mexican American and take exception to the idea that I am a hyphenated American and that my identity is divisive. That goes against everything I stand for. I serve as a State Board of Education member of color, specifically to ensure that there is inclusivity in our curriculum, our textbooks and our discussions; something that has not historically taken place; something that I alongside, Ruben Cortez, Erika Beltran and Lawrence Allen have long fought for.

Pretty words are empty when not backed by actions. Our board Chair read, out loud, a thoughtful message following the discussion on ethnic studies courses. While the verbal sentiment was nice, it doesn’t mean anything when minutes before, the majority of the Board took a vote against naming the course Mexican American Studies.

We HAVE to be honest with ourselves and not pat ourselves on the back when we are STILL not listening to the communities who have been pleading for support from policy leaders for 4 ½ years.

My colleague from Amarillo, Texas commented that it did not matter to him what the course was called, only that he was pleased that the board had moved in this direction. Based on that logic, I suggested naming the course Mexican American Studies, moving into our June meeting, and was struck down. Where is the sincerity in the effort, then?!

Every other ethnic course’s naming convention was accepted and left untouched: African American Studies, Native American Studies, Latin American Studies, and Asian Pacific Islander American Studies. Why was Mexican American Studies singled out?

Because this is systemic oppression, institutionalized racism and an inherent fear of THIS empowered community.

At the end of the day, I, working alongside a handful of my colleagues, passionate college/K12 educators, community members, families and scholars, over the last 4 ½ years, have been advocating for the approval of a standards-based Mexican American Studies (MAS) course, not because we want an exclusive pathway for a single population of scholars, but because there is beauty in diversifying curriculum when and where it does not currently exist, with the intention of inclusivity of all scholars.

Why is this not understood? Is it, but there exists a fear of “the other?” If the latter is the case, why is this population’s history “the other?” Why is MY history “the other?”

Can we engage in honest dialogue about the underlying factors, set deep in the shameful history of our state, in order to move past this history and move forward together, to teach beauty in diversity, mutuality and respect for all?

Today, we could have ended this argument and done right by our Texas scholars. Today, we could’ve been logical, rational, and equitable in our decision making, but instead, the Republicans of this body of policy makers, presented as politicians.

Today we could have advanced Texas history; American history, but the Board decided that a clean, clear move in this direction wasn’t their route.

There is no reason why we must begin 5 paces behind the starting line, just to prove we are equal and that our history- which is just as American as any other history — counts.

Marisa B. Perez-Diaz (D), the District 3 Texas State Board of Education member, was elected in November 2012 and took office on Jan. 1, 2013. She was the youngest Latina, nationally, to have ever been elected to serve on a State Board of Education. She holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

let’s turn Gaza’s Return March a Collective March of Freedom…let’s inspire the world

let’s make a difference and fill the skies with kites not rockets and missiles

nadiaharhash

 Somehow the idea is just getting riper in my head. Can we all join forces in making a real difference?
As next week is marking the 70th year of Occupation and Gaza will be in its 4th week of the Symbolic Return Marches, I would like to call all human rights believers and all those among us who believe in freedom as a destination to all humans… let’s support the cause towards freedom with kite-running-flying friday, where we will fill the sky with kites… a resemblance of hope and peace and a call of freedom for a future… let us fill our skies with kites….. and prove to the governments that kites bring freedom not war-planes, rockets and missiles.
( of course I have no idea how to transform this into a campaign.. please spread your wings and let us run the skies with our kites… and share widely …Maybe…

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مسيرات العودة بغزة…كيف نجعل منها مليونيات عالمية؟

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مسيرات العودة بغزة….كيف نجعل منها مليونيات عالمية ؟

 

كما في كل مرة ، تثبت غزة لنا وللعالم أجمع، أن المقاومة حق لا يساوم عليه أمام بطش احتلال، وظلم حصار. وكما في كل مرة، تبتكر غزة في أساليب مقاومتها طرقا تعلم العالم من خلالها، أن القلوب الحرة لا يمكن استعبادها مهما ظلمها الزمان وطغى بها الأشقاء والأشقياء.

من مسيرة الحشود نحو العودة الى جمعة الكوشوك وقوفا عند جمعة رفع العلم الفلسطيني وحرق العلم الاسرائيلي. لا يمكن حتى للكاره او الحاقد او الباغض الا ان يتوقف بانبهار أمام عظمة ارادة شعب يحيا وسط سواد حياة كتلك التي غمرت السماء .

نعم يتباهون هم بالقتل والقصف وتكسير العظام ….

ويقف المتخاذلون الجبناء منا موقف المتفرج الهزيل الكاره لنفسه…

ولكن غزة في كل مرة تصر على ان تعلمنا ان الحياة ليست عبورا سهلا على أجساد ابنائها، وليست مكانا

لفت انتباهي بينما كنت أشاهد صور مسيرة اليوم، سارية يرتفع عليها علم فلسطين وكانت تحلق الى جانبها طائرة ورقية ( لم أجد الصورة فيما بعد، لربما تهيأ لي المشهد). فكرت كم كان المشهد مبهرا وتخيلت ماذا لو امتلأت السماء بالطائرات الورقية بأعلام فلسطين؟ كيف سيكون مشهد السماء لو كانت الجمعة القادمة هي جمعة الطيارات الورقية والبلالين من كل أنحاء العالم . لكل من يريدون مؤازرة أهل غزة في حصارهم الغاشم؟

ماذا لو امتلأت السماء بطيارات يحركها من الارض أطفال وشباب ونساء العالم من كل الاطياف. مشهد يبعث الامل لمن في الارض ومن ينظر الى السماء.

ذلك المشهد اليوم للعلم والطائرة أخرج الامل المتواجد في نفسي وأرجعني الى ايام طفولة بعيدة وحملني معه الى عوالم كثيرة . عالم يصدر فيه مشهد الطائرة الورقية بفعل جمعي للعالم تمسكنا بالامل رغم قتامة الحياة التي نعيشها.

مشهد نغير فيه لون السماء . نجعلها تعمل وحراك ايدي أبنائنا ، نفسهم اولئك الذين حرقوا العجلات ليصحوا العالم القريب والبعيد من غفوته وقتامة روحه.

غزة التي تعلم الحياة في كافة صورها …. مقاومتها تتعدد في صورها ….فلنستمر بالابداع بمقاومة لا نخجل أنها سلمية. مقاومة شعب يستحق الحياة ويعلمها .

 

فغزة كما قال محمود درويش:

تحيط خاصرتها بالألغام ..وتتفجر

لا هو موت…ولا هو انتحار…

انه اسلوب غرة في إعلان جدارتها بالحياة…

لأن غزة جزيرة كلما انفجرت… وهي لا تكف عن الانفجار

خدشت وجه العدو وكسرت احلامه وصدته عن الرضا بالزمن

Silent Tongues is one of the most wonderful live solo piano recordings ever. I once dragged a brilliant…

Silent Tongues is one of the most wonderful live solo piano recordings ever. I once dragged a brilliant biochemistry friend (who had zero training in music) into the music library and sat him down in front of a turntable – yes, we had turntables in the school library back in my days when Harrison was president). I said, “listen to this passage here…this is Louisiana boogie-woogie right here. And this passage here, there’s Bach, which is the skeleton of Bebop. This passage here….listen to the sweaty grind, it’s the furious groove of chain gang blues. There’s concurrent streams of classical, blues, and jazz history intertwined throughout.”

And just to see his face develop from furrowed confusion into a glowing bulb of recognition made it one of the most memorable achievements in my life.

Silent Tongues Full Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VglEXrmLoC0

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/obituaries/cecil-taylor-dead.html

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Maps show spring arriving earlier

From Joshua Stevens at the NASA Earth Observatory:

But over the longer term, climate change is causing spring to begin earlier and earlier across the United States. These maps reveal just how much earlier spring is arriving in National Parks across the country. The data were published in 2016 by ecologists from the National Park Service, working in collaboration with colleagues at other agencies and institutions.

Griddy.

Limited to only national parks, the view still provides a good idea. For a model-based view at higher granularity, check out the USA National Phenology Network.

Tags: first leaf, global warming, NASA