I Guess They'll Pick Just About Anybody

Reggie Bush. Running back extraordinaire. Helped USC win three national titles. Outruns just about anyone who isn't wearing a USC Trojans jersey. In other words, a guy who'd you want on your team.

Even as he's under investigation for living rent-free in the San Diego area, and that if he's found guilty, USC forfeits every damn season's victory, the trips to the National title games...and, oh, Reginald has to give that Heisman trophy back.

Like I said, a guy you'd want playing on your team.

Especially if you're the New Orleans Saints.

Bush, who many expected to be the number one pick for the lackluster Houston Texans, instead was the number two- overall- pick by the New Orleans Saints. While that may be a boon for the Saints, I can't help but wonder if the decision will come back and bite them in the ass. After all, the Texans picked North Carolina State's Mario Williams, and someone told me today that morals had something to do with the decision to pick Williams over Bush.

Still, Bush could do wonders for the mediocre Aints...er, Saints. With the right head coach (remem ber, Jim Haslett was shown the door by owner Tom Benson last winter), and the right mentor (Aaron Brooks? I don't know...), the Saints could reach the Super Bowl in, um...three decades or so?

Williams on the other hand will shut the naysayers in Houston up in September.

We'll know by then who made the right choice.

Gangs- Not An Urban Problem Anymore

It's been a known fact that the gang problem in America has gotten out of control.

Some gangs are now in the suburbs, even rural areas- areas you'd never think you'd see teenaged gangs such as the Crips, Bloods...the 13th Street Gang, etc.

But this report from WSB-TV, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, may change your mind.

CBS News Lands on Logo

It looks like the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community will get their news on CBS.

Tuesday, the Tiffany network announced that it's producing daily four minute newscasts that centers on GLBT issues. They're airing on the MTV Networks' Logo cable station (both MTV Networks and CBS are owned by Viacom).

I don't know, but it kind of sounds like niche news to me...probably even "boutique", if you will. Newscasts centered around the GLBT community. I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm supportive of the idea. But I think that if CBS really wants to stand ironclad behind the GLBT population, it should include GLBT issues in its' main news broadcasts as well as on Logo.

You know, this kind of reminds me of an idea I had thirteen years ago- of a gay/lesbian formatted radio station (I also had this crazy idea that Playboy should enter into the broadcasting business...should the White House, Senate, and House and the FCC fall back into Democratic hands, I think the Playboy idea will fly...I think...). Musaic that you would hear in the gay and lesbian clubs- you know, the hot, steamy. high NRG 150-200BPM (beats per minute) music. The kind that gets to your crotch and makes you want to...ahem, forgive me. Got kind of carried away. But seriously, I had this idea that there should be a radio station that catered to the GLBT audience. After all, I lived in Columbus, Ohio (born and raised), which in many ways is like San Francisco- it has its' own Castro, which is the Short North District (just north of the city center). Clintonville- a mostly white upper class district- is nicknamed 'Clitville', because of a good number of lesbians living there. I heard that German Village (just south of the city center) has a pretty good gay scene. Not to mention that the mayor is a Democrat (and first African-American to hold the post). So why not have a radio station there that's targeted toward the GLBT population?

I think that it's still a great idea. Only, now, I'm in Portland, Oregon, where the GLBT community is even more active, and if you're a lesbian, it's paradise- even if it rains from October to say, March (I don't want to jinx this gorgeous weather we're enjoying right now...it's sunny and 70 in the Rose City...). I think Portland will wholeheartedly embrace a GLBT radio station.

What do you think- of CBS News on Logo, or my crazy idea of having a GLBT radio station here in Portland- you guys in Columbus can chime in as well. In fact, since this blog goes out to an international audience, I'd love to hear from everyone. The comment box is always over. All opinions- pro and con- are welcome.

You're Kidding, Right, Tom?

Uh-oh. It looks like our ol' buddy Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is up to his weird antics again.

In an article in GQ magazine, Cruise said that he would eat the placenta (of his just-born daughter Suri), stating that it would be nutritious.

Is there something in that Scientology that I need to know about? And where in Dianetics does it say to eat the placenta your baby was attached to Will L. Ron Hubbard turn over in his grave over this- and other Scientology-related- weirdness? And what would Mr. Hubbard say if he were alive?

New Orleans Votes- Chapter Four

The people of New Orleans have spoken.
And then there were two.
One is the incumbent, former Cox Cable vice president Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr., 49.
The other is the scion of a Louisiana political dynasty, Mitchell Joseph Landrieu, 45.
On May 20, one will become mayor of New Orleans.
Will Nagin be redeemed and granted a second term?
Or will Landrieu follow in the footsteps of his father, Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu, 75 (who was mayor from 1970 to 1978, when he was defeated by the city's firast black mayor Ernest N. "Dutch" Morial)?

Here are some keys to victory for both:
Ray Nagin

Current Mayor of New Orleans:
Age: 49
Political Party: Democrat

Claim to Fame: Former Vice President of Cox Communications Cable, and part owner of (now defunct minor league) hockey team New Orleans Brass
Things Nagin Must Do to Win Re-election:

1. Learn from mistakes made from Hurricane Katrina (and to a lesser extent, Hurricane Rita).

2. Make amends with (mostly white) business establishment.

3. Prove that he's not racist- after all, he got 85% of the white vote when he was elected. His "Chocolate City" comment did not exact win him any points.

4. Prove that he's compentent- I know that Hurricane Katrina kind of threw him a loop, but he could have done a better job. (You know, he could have gotten every RTA bus, Orleans Parish School bus, and charter bus, even airlines to pick up the poorer residents. Yes, the city would have to foot the bill, but at least we wouldn't had to have seen all of those horrid images).

If Nagin is Re-Elected, He has to:

1. Rebuild the city responsibly. No waste. No squabbling. No fighting.
2. Reach out to ALL COMMUNITIES! Particularly the white and more wealthier communities, which brings me to...
3. Repair relations with white voter and business bases.
4. Deliver on promises made. Yes, he's only human, but please, Ray-Ray, do your best, 'kay?

Strengths: Effective businessman; knows NOLA well.

Weaknesses: A political rookie; ineffective response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; royally pissed off white voters and business bases.

Mitch Landrieu

Current Lieutenant Governor of State of Louisiana

Age: 45

Claim to Fame: Scion of Landrieu political dynasty- father Maurice "Moon" Landrieu is a former mayor of New Orleans; older sister Mary is a U.S. senator.

Political Party: Democrat

Things Landrieu Must Do to Win:

1. Prove that he's no nepotist- after all, he IS part of a political dynasty, and he must not give the appearance of having his strings pulled by his dad or his sister.
2. Prove that he is competemnt
3. Reach out to the African-American community.
4. Deliver on promises- otherwise, those black folks will probably ask for Ray Nagin- or even (former mayor, now National Urban Leage President) Marc Morial back.

If Landrieu is Elected, he must:

1. Rebuild responsibly- again, no waste.
2. Reach out to ALL communities.
3. Stay close to the black business, political, and voter bases.
4. Deliver on promises.

Strengths: Reaches out to all people; Knows NOLA well; been in politics for quite awhile.

Weaknesses: Risks becoming a "career politician"- he could get a bit too cozy; risks accusations of nepotism, and having his strings pulled.

May the best man win on May 20. I'll stay close to the campaign as the date draws near.

Copyright 2006, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

New Orleans Votes- Chapter Three

I'm looking at the early returns, and so far, the incumbent, C. Ray Nagin, is in third place- at 22 percent (as of 8:35PM CDT/6:35PM PDT), with 7 of the 4222, or 2% of the precincts reporting. Ron Forman, the Audubon Institute Director is leading at 31%, followed by Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. As I have just mentioned, Nagin is in third, followed by Republican Robert Couhig, at 11%. Virginia Boulet has 2% thus far, Tom Wilson and the other Republican, Peggy Wilson each as 1% (source: WWL-TV http://www.wwltv.com).

With all of this business of the mayoral election- however important- there are other offices at stake. For Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff, Marlin Gusman and Gerald DeSalvo are vying for the position once held by now Louisana Attorney General Charles Foti. For Civil Sheriff, the incumbent Paul Valteau is fighting off Kevin Gremillion and Justin Zitler. In the city council race, in District A, the incumbent Jay Batt leads by 46%, with 6% of the precincts reporting For District B, Renee "Gill" Brown is the incumbent. No results yet. No results on the District C race, either... In the District D race, it looks like Cynthia Hedge-Morrell is costing to victory, with 58% of the vote. 2% of the precincts reporting so far here. And in the Council District E race, Cynthia Willard-Lewis holds a commanding lead with 76% of the vote. 3% of the precincts reporting.

The latest, at 8:50PM CDT/6:50PM PDT, on the mayoral race, Mitch Landrieu has moved out in front with 28% of the vote. Ray Nagin has leaped ahead of Ron Forman, although both Nagin and Forman are at 27%, with 12 of the 442 Precincts- or 3%- reporting in.

Stay with http://www.wwltv.com (WWL-TV 4); http://www.wdsu.com (WDSU-TV 6); http://www.fox8live.com (WVUE-TV 8), and http://www.abc26.trb.com (WGNO-TV 26) for live New Orleans election results. I'll give you my thoughts tomorrow on those results.

Hold on...I'm getting these results from WDSU.com (http://www.wdsu.com/politics/8832975/detail.html is the source to check all night), Ray Nagin, the incumbent has pulled ahead of Landrieu and Forman, with 8% of the precincts reporting in so far. Stay with all of the New Orleans TV and radio stations, and also http://www.nola.com, the website of the Times-Picayune for the latest election results.

Copyright 2006 by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

New Orleans Votes- Chapter Two

Democartic National Committee chairman Howard Dean says that the Republicans- in particular the Bush administration- will pay for their response to Hurricane Katrina come the forthcoming midterm elections. This in the LA Times (click on the title for the link). But will the city be run by a Republican? The Republican candidates are former New Orleans city councilwoman Peggy Wilson ( read about her plan at http://www.peggywilsonformayor.com). and former New Orleans Zephyrs (minor league baseball team) owner and businessman Ron Couhig, who plans a 'Rudy Guiliani' style, restricting rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans East areas- both areas had high African-American populations prior to Katrina.

For Ray Nagin, the incumbent, to have at least a chance of reelection, he must get at least 35% of the city vote, a high percentage of the black vote (thus the journeys from across the country...it's pretty obvious to them that a "bad nigga is better than some honky"- sorry for the epiphets...English: "better to have a bad black [running the city] than a good white." You know that the racial climate in the Big Easy is...shall I say, politely chaotic...), and a vote of the displaced black residents. On the other hand, one of the white candidates, Ron Forman (D) has to have a high white turnout, and be first in Uptown, where parts of the Garden District is located. But that, of course worries the black population.

The runaway winner could be, however, current Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, who is, of course, scion of the Landrieu political dynasty (his sister Mary, is a U.S. Senator; his father Moon was mayor of New Orleans). He's popular with both the white voters and the African-American voters.

To get a better idea of how the candidates, watch the mayoral debate, which was nationally televised on MSNBC and locally on WDSU-TV (WDSU, of course, is the NBC affiliate in NewOrleans) at http://www.wdsu.com/video/8796955/detail.html.

New Orleans Votes

Today is the most important day in the life of New Orleans, Louisiana- and of the parish (what Louisiana calls a parish is known to the rest of the country as...a county) on which is located, Orleans. Today is the mayoral primary election. The question: what direction does the city want to go, post Hurricane Katrina? Will incumbent Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. remain mayor of what he called (back in January) a 'chocolate city'? Or will the Big Easy have its' first white mayor in 28 years? The debates have been intense. Accusations of racism, classism, etc. have surfaced.

Many New Orleans residents- majority African-American- took journeys back to New Orleans to vote. And if the black vote raises its' voice loud enough, then it looks like the incumbent will win.

22 candidates- including Nagin- are vying for the position. If no one gets the required 50 percent vote to win, then there will be a runoff election on May 22. The nation is watching to see who will lead the battered- yet beloved (this blogger agrees on the 'beloved' part, given the fact that he lived there for two years)- city's future.

I'll keep an eye on developments, and by Sunday morning- if not before- I'll find out if there will be a runoff. And if Ray Nagin remains mayor a bit longer.

Also check the details out at http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl042106khelection.599b46a1.html, and at http://www.wdsu.com

Well...At least the Van Halen Vocalist Job's Still Open

C'mon everybody, sing with me..."you know it just feels like paradise...and I don't wanna go home..." So I butchered the lyrics to some long-forgotten David Lee Roth song from 20 years back, but apparently not as bad as the on-again/off-again vocalist for the legendary hard rock group Van Halen has done over the last four months on his radio show.

As we all know, Roth replaced Howard Stern when Stern said "au revoir" to terrestrial radio in January, when he hit the stars with his Sirius show. (The FCC were probably drinking champange on the final radio broadcast of Stern's funfest. At any rate...). Roth was on several east coast radio stations, while Adam Carolla took over the west coast stations (including Portland's KUFO). Right now, it looks like Carolla's having better luck.

Roth reportedly complained to producers and management of tampering with the show, which had piss poor ratings from the start.

His replacements: the pair CBS radio fired in 2002 (for taping a couple having sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral)- Greg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia, who are on XM Satellite radio. CBS will simulcast three hours of the satellite show, with the remaining two solely heard on XM. This should prove interesting. (go to http://www.wnbc.com/entertainment/8854321/detail.html)

In the meantime, it looks like that Van Halen reunion tour may be happening afterall...then again, the remaining three Van Halen members (Alex and Eddie Van Halen, and Michael Anthony) may change their minds- and let Sammy Hagar back into the band.

Looks like Dave just can't get a break.

Rebuilding New Orleans- The Green Way

Actor Brad Pitt has announced today this competition for architects and other creative urban planners to find ways to rebuild New Orleans in a 'green' way. You know, sustainable livng and the like. Just click on the title to go to the link, and if you happen to be one of the above, register.

I was astounded to find that former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is the founder of Global Green (http://www.globalgreen.org...apparently, Uncle Ronnie has taught him well). Just when you thought that Russia was turning back into a vast gulag (like, say, Iran is now...), there is a leader who apparently cares about the enviroment. Amazing, man.

Louisiana Follows South Dakota's Lead

The abortion debate has gotten hotter as Louisana's state senate moved forward a proposal to ban all abortions- with no exceptions to rape and incest, but an exception to save the life of the mother.

I'm thinking "Louisiana- like South Dakota- have just invited rapos and incestuous parents into their state." Yes, I know, there are supposedly stiff penalties for rape, child molestation (a sidenote on the child molestation, Louisiana has one of the toughest child molestation laws. If a person over 18 has sex with a minor under the age of 12, upon conviction, that person gets the death penalty. Automatically. I know Bill O'Reilly of the O'Reilly Factor and the Radio Factor is against the death penalty. But I would think that he would make an exception for Louisiana...), but should lawmakers be making the call over what the woman decides to do? Should she be forced to carry a child created by a rapist? And what of the incest victims? I have serious reservations about this and other laws proposed around the country to restrict or even ban abortion altogether.

I guess in a perfect world we wouldn't have to worry about the issue- hell, I don't think there would be any abortions in a perfect world. But this isn't that utopia that lawmakers are trying so desperately to create- one that forces us to worship the Deity; one that only allows heterosexual couples to marry, let alone date. One that doesn't include unplanned pregnancies. It sounds to me that we're becoming like China- only China does the opposite. Now they're about to suffer from a severe shortage of pussy. But hey, that's on China. I'm worried about that good ol' U.S. of A. here.

Like I said on this subject when I talked about South Dakota's abortion ban- since passed and signed by Governor Mike Rounds (who still hasn't replied to the e-mail I wrote to him a couple months back... see my March 14, 2006 blog entry "Let's Ban the Governors Who Ban the Right to Choose")- are they sure, in Louisiana, that they want to do this?

However, from what I've been hearing lately, even the staunchest opponents of abortion are saying, "whoa, Nelly!", I'm sure for a slew of different reasons (I'll leave you to take guesses).

Are you ready for Super Saturday?

This Saturday, April 22, I've proclaimed this day as "Super Saturday". What this is about is of course thwe day I play and win the Oregon lottery's Megabucks jackpot- projected at $3.6 Million. Lump sum: $1.8 Million, post tax lump sum: $1,206,000. Oh what things I can do with that money. Like pay off debts, for one. Buy a house or two. I'm looking to at least take a vacation from the Rose City, so I'm thinking...a trip back down to New Orleans.

Perhaps...do a menage a trois with a couple young ladies- hey, it couldn't hurt.

Of course, the majority of the money stays in the bank. Let it grow daily with interest. And make me secure for years to come.

Ecstasy- The Wonder Drug For Parkinson's Disease

You've heard about the effects of ecstasy- the euphoria that makes you feel good while you're on the dance floor shaking your ya-yas off. And, uh, did I mention that it allegedly makes you want to fuck?

Yes, it's illegal in many jurisdictions- penalties could be stiff in some places for possession. Here in the U.S., the Office of National Drug Control Policy has facts on this drug at http://www.ondcp.gov/publications/factsht/mdma/index.html#prevention.

But what the ONDCP site dioesn't mention is a 2001 BBC documentay of a young film stuntman by the name of Tim Lawrence who is suffereing from the effects of Parkinson's Disease- a disease that is usually associated with the elderly (two notables being boxing great Muhammad Ali 64, and the Reverend Billy Graham, 87. Of course, one of the youngest victims of thisa disease is actor Michael J. Fox, 44). Lawerence is about my age, and was diagnosed with the disease at age 34. He takes Ecstasy to relieve the effects of Parkinson's. Now, scientists- and doctors (at least in the UK, I'm not so sure that good ol' Red, White, and Blue is following suit) are doing studies to see if MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, the official name for Ecstasy) can indeed make Parkinson's sufferers' lives easier- or is it all hocus-pocus? Tim Lawrence doesn't seem to think so, and thus far, a few doctors in the UK and South Africa seem to question why it's illegal? Could Ali, Fox, and Graham benefit from the drug? Or will it make them want to attend the next hottest rave? (Hmmm...).

Click on the title to go to the BBC link.

And We Look Up To These People?- Chapter Two-A: The pornographic Chief

Earlier, I wrote an entry on Portland, Oregon Police Superintendent Derrick Foxworth, who is now on paid leave as he's being investigated for sexual harassment (just click on the title to go to my entry, and go to the links- particularly the Willamette Week one, where you'll get the NASTY details...Chief Derrick's TALKIN' dirty, y'all!).

In all seriousness, though, if Foxworth abused his power as (then) commander of the Police Bureau's Northeast Precinct, then he should get the ax. However, if the woman (name withheld. it is this blogger's policy to withhold names of alleged victims, unless otherwise noted. The links on my journal entry do reveal the woman's name, however) is some pissed off blondie who's upset that she's not getting anymore of Foxworth's hot throbbing cock, then perhaps she should hush up. I'm not going to draw any conclusions until the facts are revealed and judgment has been set.

In the Duke lacrosse rape drama in North Carolina, apparently none of the players' DNA was found in the woman. The woman's black, and the players- many of them- are white. Now, racial drama has been played out in this, but from what I've seen and heard so far, it looks like someone's been playing the race card. And that's one card no one- not even this African-American blogger- should play. Sure, there's racism, and we should all deal with it, but if these players are innocent, then let the case die and let's move on.

The Return to Louisiana

Let's face it. I miss New Orleans. I miss it painfully, very painfully. Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita decided to do a number on my beloved Big Sleazy, I don't think I was able to hold back tears everytime I thought of what was...the vibrant life. 24/7. With streetcars running, revelers not giving a care in the world as they partied on Bourbon Street. The city that really never slept (sorry, New York...), with total Southern hospitality. Many of the folks were friendly (yeah, a few knuckleheads...a given...).

As I took a look at the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority's website (http://www.norta.com), I've noticed that the bus and streetcar service have been reduced. Once the majority of the system's buses and streetcars ran 24/7. Now, you're SOL after 11:00PM. Fortunately, New Orleans is a pretty navigable city, but with areas devastated by Katrina and Rita, I doubt if anyone would want to be stuck in the middle of what could be perceived as badlands at 3 in the morning.

Still, I miss Louisiana.

That's why I'm returning there in July for my birthday. Although I will be lodging in Baton Rouge, I will spend at least a full day in the Big Easy (not quite 24 hours, but still, gotta get the party on, right?). With camcorder and digital camera in tow, I'll catch all the excitement on Bourbon (if you're good, I may show you some 'flashers' on still and video...), plus I'll put in some shots of neighborhoods as they recover from Katrina and Rita. I'm looking forward to returning to the place I've called home for two years (2001-2003)

The city and its' people still need our love. After all, it's the birth center of jazz, and party center outside Las Vegas, and New York City. Give to the American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org) and Mercy Corps (http://www.mercycorps.org). And if you ever get the chance, go and visit Louisiana- and particularly New Orleans. I also included a link to a pdf plan from the state of Louisiana. Go now to http://www.crt.state.la.us/LouisianaRebirth/Plan/LouisianaRebirthPlan.pdf and read up on what's to be done as New Orleans rebuilds.

To all the folks I've known- the Herbie Phelps; the Cynthia Edwards and the many others I've had the pleasure (and occasional pains!) of working with and knowing during my time in the Big Easy, you have my love, and I hope to see you all when I visit New Orleans on July 29, two days before my birthday. I hope all of you have made it through the storms safely.

Copyright 2006, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to Mac-Dows

The day of Macintosh computers running on Windows has arrived.

Tuesday, Apple announced that it will allow Windows to be run on the latest Intel-powered Macs by using this program called Boot Camp. All you need to do is install the beta (just click at the title to go directly to the Boot Camp beta). Follow the instructions- and don't forget your full version of Windows XP (and come January 2007, Windows Vista) and the anti's- anti-virus; anti-spam, etc software. We Mac types don't want our Apples infected with worms.

This sounds rather intriguing, not to mention switching between programs (though I'd have to shut off the Mac before going to the other OS- you know, Mac to Windows, and vice versa...think Apple will let Linux into the loop? I hope so...I hear Linux is a pretty impressive little OS program- though I don't know how Linus the Penguin will handle eating Apples...). Yes, it's a bit scary- after all, we're letting the enemy into ur house. The price of calling a truce, I suppose...if anyone wants to look at it from a Star Trek perspective, it's like the Federation (United Federation of Planets) letting Klingons pilot the Starfleet ships- and vice versa(or more recently, in the case of Star Trek: Nemesis- letting those S&M types, the Romulans, on the Enterprise. I know, I know. The Ferengi are the ones who are into BDSM- and strip joints, too...).

How will this work out? Will the heavy players in the Windows world- Lenovo (the Chinese PC manufacturer who bought out IBM's ThinkPad line); Hewlett-Packard; and Dell, and the smaller players, Alienware, among others- consider allowing the Mac OS X into their computers? After all, come next year, Mac OS X, 10.5 Leopard will be out, and Boot Camp will be included. So, if Microsoft can allow Windows users to use Mac into their computers- of course, you'd still probably have to shell out the $130 it costs for the Mac OS X- perhaps the Windows-Macintosh rivalry will come to a crest. And all in Redmond, Washington, and Cupertino, California will live happily ever after. And we all have a Santa Clara, California chipmaker to think.

Then again, perhaps staying separate on their respective sides of the fence may not be a bad idea after all...

Take a look, also at Walter Mossberg's take on Boot Camp at http://ptech.wsj.com/ptech-20060406.html

And We Look Up to These People?

Last week, US Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-Georgia) was detained by Capitol Hill police after ignoring orsders for her to stop in the US Capitol security check poiint. She said that she was en route, in a hurry to a meeting, and couldn't stop. Of course, later, she said that her being black had something to do with them stopping her. (Oh, Cindy, Cindy, CINDY!)

stark23x/YouTube

Then just last night, a deputy chief of the US Department of Homeland Security, Brian Doyle, was arrested on suspicion that he was trying to lure a 14-year-old girl for unlawful carnal knowledge. Only the '14 year old' was actually a 20- to 30 something deputy sheriff out of Polk County, Florida. He did something stupid, yes. But what really makes me laugh (even as I have gritted teeth and clenched fists) is the fact that Doyle brazenly identified himself as a Homeland Security official AND when he was arrested, he was still trying to solicit the 'teen' on his computer.

And now comes word out of good ol' Moscow/Amsterdam/Havana on the Willamette that our police superintendent, Derrick Foxworth is facing sexual harassment charges over an alleged sexual misconduct.

And we look up to those people? These people who are supposed to protect us- in the cases of Doyle and Foxworth- and represent us (all three) are now in deep shit over actions unbecoming. Kind of makes me wonder if I should follow my mother's lead and return to the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, since these fools can't seem to keep their hands out of their pants, let alone use the race card (McKinney, not Foxworth...both are black like this blog's author). I can't say that I'm happy, nor can I say that I'm too surprised. I wonder if I've become somewhat too apathetic at times in trusting these lost souls with securing the city in which I've called home for almost 10 years (Portland), and the country in which I was born, raised, and lived in for all of my 39 years (as of this July) on planet Earth.

No one is above the law (I have to sometimes remind myself of this, being the fine, upstanding citizen I am...). No one should expect specail treatment just because they're black, Latino, etc.; nor should they receive it even as they wear the uniform of the Portland Police Bureau- be it the chief/superintendent down to the officer on the street, or a federal (and in many cases, elected) official.

In closing, let me say that the facts must be laid out. Conclusions must not be jumped to. All parties I've mentioned are innocent until proven otherwise, so although I'm tempted to say that Cynthia McKinney is a conniving, race baiting bitch; and that Brian Doyle is a lech leering at teen girls when he should be leering at al-Qaida instead, and that Superintendent Foxworth is being railroaded just because he happens to be an African-American in a position of power, I can't give into that temptation. Instead, I must do the same thing I ask of you- let due process play out. Let the guilty be found guilty, and let the innocent be acquitted.

Copyright 2006, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.