Requiem- or Celebration- for Stanley "Tookie" Williams

In about 8 and a half hours from now, Crips co-founder and convicted murder Stanley "Tookie" Williams is scheduled to die by lethal injection at California's San Quentin prison. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has refused to grant Williams clemency, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (which should be renamed "the Ninth Circus Court of Schemiels") refused to grant him the chance even to have his death sentence commuted to life.

In the opinion of this author, Williams should pay for the crimes he committed- specifically the four murders he committed back in the late 1970s. I'm not saying this just because I happen to be pro-death penalty. I'm saying this because that is my opinion period, and if it so happens to be death by letahal injection, so fucking be it. In essence, Williams is responsible for tens- if not hundreds- of thousands- if not nillions- of casualties caused by his gang, the Crips. Now, I'm not saying that the rival group, the Bloods, are a bunch of eagle scouts- they too should pay for the crimes they've committed- past, present, and future. But Stan Williams should have known better. After all, he could have chosen a different path. He could have been mayor of Los Angeles; police chief...even President of the United States, in lieu of committing atrocities in the streets of :Los Angeles, and subsequently, in communities all across the United States. Gangs and the violence they bring forth is like a cancer that keeps growing. Unfortunately, even as California destroys the main head of the dragon, the aforementioned Stanley "Tookie" Williams, we, as Americans- and likely the world community as well- still must live on hair trigger alert. After all, gang violence isn't confined to just the inner cities and slum areas.

As an African-American, I'm of course saddened that another of my kind will die, but as an American, I'm satisfied that justice has been served here. I think of those casualties- the maimings and deaths of mostly innocent people, and even the not-so-innocent killed at the hands of Williams and his cohorts. What lives they could have led, and in the case of the gang members, the lost opportunities to turn their lives around. No kind of children's book decrying the act of gang violence can ever erase what Tookie Williams and his cohorts have done. If Williams wanted to make a difference, he would have one, relinquished his gang affiliation a long time ago, aand two, even as an inmate at San Quentin, shown remorse for his actions. Apologize for those four murders (and likely more, however undocumented, unproven, or what have you...). But instead, Tookie Williams will die with a needle in his arm. To many, it'll be a meaningful one- justice served. For others, a meaingless death. Perhaps members of the Crips will see Williams as a martyr. Maybe the Bloods will celebrate with weed, a few 40 ounce malt liquors, and Hennessey or Courvosier. Or maybe they'll set aside their weapons for a moment to mourn Williams' loss. I don't know.

All I can do is close out this blog entry with lyrics from the theme from "Baretta"


DrPheelGoodman/YouTube/ABC

Keep Your Eye On the Sparrow
by Dave Grusin & M. Ames, 1975
Performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.

Don't go to bed/with no price on your head
No, no/ Don't do it
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time/ Yeah/ Don't do it
And keep your eye/ on the sparrow
When the going/ gets narrow
Don't do it/ Don't do it
Where can I go where the cold winds don't blow
Now, well, well, well.

Copyright 2005, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Baretta, Copyright 1975, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

Ideas For The Pioneer Courthouse Square New Years' Celebration

Our very smart and intrepid city government of 'Moscow (or in some cases, Amsterdam) on the Willamette', aka Portland, Oregon has decided to can the annual New Year's celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square (aka Portland's living room).

Remember the last time such a smart idea happened? Can you say "2001: Kristallnacht on the Willamette" (only substitute 'anarchists' as opposed to 'Nazi', and 'every damn thing' as opposed to the Jews who suffered that fateful night in November 1938). I can only hope that the natives- meth-addicted or otherwise- have enough sense to bring in 2006 with a bit more sanity.

So...Taliban Commie, er, Tom Potter, our rookie mayor says that there's no money in the budget to hold such an event, known to be 'family-friendly' by many. Might I offer a few 'family-friendly' suggestions?

1.LET PLAYBOY OR MAXIM MAGAZINE- OR MTV SPONSOR THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION:

After all, they have every goddamned thing you need to throw the biggest (or one of the biggest, anyway) soirees of the year: Babes, Booze, and most important, MONEY! LOTS OF IT! Sure we may have to pay a cover charge (say, $10, but no more than $20), and you'll have to get carded at the PCS gates (oh, don't forget the metal detectors and private security...or extra Portland- in addition to Gresham, Beaverton, Milwaukie, and even other jurisdictions- police officers. After all, we don't need any haters crashing the party...). But think of all of the beer, Cristal; Absolut...all of those nude and/or semi nude hotties dancing on that stage (don't worry, girls, the stage will have heaters, and you'll be well protected from that patented Pacific Northwest winter rain). Plus, you have the TriMet MAX and bus service (as well as that of C-Tran, the transit district across the Columbia in Clark County, Washington), all gratis.

2. MOVE THE CELEBRATION TO TOM MCCALL WATERFRONT PARK

Hey, it's a bigger space! Plus those corporations aforementioned can afford it. Plus, you can bring the big acts- Beyonce Knowles (such a fucking pity that Destiny's Child split up...tsk, tsk, tsk...); the Sisters Simpson (Ashlee and the soon-to-be divorced Jessica, the latter who could do a strip tease or two out of those Daisy Dukes. Sorry, Nick, you can't say shit about that anymore...oh, by the way, neither of them can sing...); Mariah Carey (who I'd like to pork any day, any time, any motherfucking place! BRING IT ON, BABY!); and perhaps the harder rock acts too. Hey, even KXL's Lars Larson can emcee the event, alongside PK from "The Playhouse" on KXL's sister station, Jammin' 95.5 KXJM (and the next day, get a frying pan across his big fat head by his beloved Tina. But believe me, Lars, it'll all be well worth it...by the way, Lars, nice fucking idea on the cross on PCS. Will your head- or a papier-machie sculpture of it grace the top of the cross?...). Even better, have the celebration at both places!

Since our so-called liberal oasis decided to pussy themselves out of the party business, these are but two of the best ideas I can come up with (after all, I doubt very seriously that bringing a religious revival to the Square on New Year's Eve will sit well with people wanting the holy wine mixed in with their Absolut...might work in The Dalles, 80 miles to the east, or even Bend, 160 miles to the southeast, however...). If anybody can come up with better ideas, post your comments here, or e-mail me at dwa97209@yahoo.com or thealex03@netscape.net.

HAPPY FUCKING HOLIDAYS! MERRY CHRISTMAS! AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, BABY!

Copyright 2005, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

What's the Big Fuss About Not Saying "Merry Christmas" Anyway?

Happy Holidays!
Merry Chrishannakwanzakuh!
Merry Holidays!
Merry Christmas!

(Darren looks up at the sky. It's still there...and yes, it's still cloudy out there. Remember, he's in the Pacific Northwaest, kids...).

What's the big freakin' deal?

Some pundits-mostly those of the conservative ilk- are griping about stores and other entities not displaying the words "Merry Christmas", and are up in arms when those same entities they're bitching about are calling the Christmas tree a 'Holiday tree'. Excuse me, kids, but isn't a 'Holiday tree' the same thing as a 'Christmas tree'? I tend to think so.

Remember the term 'political correctness', back in the 1990s- basically during the Clinton years (1993-2001)? Well, it sounds like to me that the same people who deride the term 'p.c.' are doing the same damn thing- only, either they don't know that they're playing the 'p.c.' card, or they're just not admitting it. after all, they're crying "They're taking Christ out of 'Christmas'...it's a 'Christmas tree, not a 'Holiday tree'...stores that ban the words "Merry Christmas are to be boycotted... store employees who don't say "Merry Christmas" will immediately be fired". I didn't know that Christmas was under that much threat. Gee, if I didn't know better, I'd say that these people were worried about al-Qaida taking over the holiday (imagine Osama bin Laden wearing a red suit. Now if he would only gain a few pounds, then he'd looklike Santa, as opposed to looking like an anoxeric...).

Got a problem with me saying "Happy Holidays"? Tough! That's on you.

So, from me to yours, with love, Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Same fucking difference.

Copyright (C)2005, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Same Goal, New Date

I didn't hit the Oregon Megabucks jackpot last night (one, two, three: Awwwww!). I'm crying in my beer as I write this.

Actually, I've decided to stay the course, and although I didn't hit the prize like I wanted to, and although I didn't yet achieve the goal, I am far from calling it quits. In fact, I have a new date in my sights: January 28, 2006.

That's right! The new goal date for reaching this goal is January 28- that's eight weeks from this Saturday. I'll be the first Oregon Megabucks jackpot winner of 2006, and I could win an upwards of $8.8 Million (this Wednesday night's jackpot is $3.8 Million. And yes, I'll play for this prize...likely, no one will hit this amount. In fact, look for the prize to go up to that $8.8 Million. Then it'll go back to $1 Million, because I have won that $8.8 Million on January 28).

In the meantime, I'm modifying my plans, kind of doing a 'slimming' down of items to get, places to go to. In essence, I'm working on my 2006 plans- which includes, of course, that Megabucks win on January 28. I'll talk more on those plans in a future post.

Now I Hold My Breath...And My Face is Turning Blue

About a half hour ago, the Oregon Megabucks jackpot drawing took place. And now, I hold my breath.

Seven weeks of preparation- daily visualizations, seeing myself enjoying the money (and mainly tapping on the keys of the Apple PowerBook G4 and iMac G5. Believe it! My days of using library computers are coming to an end...I only have an hour to play with these guys, whereas I have my own computer, you'd have to pry me away from it). And now, all I need is those six magic numbers that changes everything. I already claimed this prize, so I feel that I have won thisprize. The suspense builds...and builds...and builds.

My itineraries are set. I'm leaving Portland, Oregon for Los Angeles and Atlanta- at least for awhile (oh, don't forget the Bay Area, baby...). Get away from those so-called friends who have scorned me forever, but now become my "best friends"(With an entourage like this, who needs enemies?). Plus, I'll have more time to think and relax. And get things ready for 2006- the eight-week filmmmaking classes in Los Angeles (or if I so choose, New York City), which I'll start on May 1, 2006; SXSW in Austin, Texas...and I intend to get into podcasting (any amateur can do this. You know, I just got into blogging just months ago...).

Anyway, back to the main subject, I'll head to Los Angeles this week- Thanksgiving Day. Spend a weekend there, get writing and filmmaking software. Then, I'll fly to Atlanta, relax for about two weeks. Return to Portland to pick up my orders, then head into the Bay Area and spend Christmas and New Years there, also attend Macworld Expo '06 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

And, one more thing- another lottery win! January 11, 2006! Just as I attend Macworld.

But for now, I've got to pop the champagne open. There's a lot of celebrating to do.