Anatomy of a Laid Off Worker's Job Hunt in 2009, Day 0, 2/28/09 (Updated Weekly)

Day 0, 2/28/09: Friday morning, I was laid off from my 2 1/2 year position as a Business Operations Coordinator for a leading law firm and public safety/legal marketing firm. Three of us were laid off in what has become a national pattern of lay offs due to the economy. Now I was just one of over 125,677 casualties of the worst economy since the 1970's. In my case, I played an important role in my firm's day to day operations since I managed the billing and accounting functions, was the President/CFO's right hand, and was the primary software trainer for over 500 attorneys nationwide who were members of our legal marketing network. Unfortunately, many of those firms had been affected adversely by the downward trending economic conditions that have already hit hard other industries. As a result many tightened their corporate purse strings and declined to renew quarterly, bi-annual, and annual marketing contracts with my firm.

With a significant drop in monthly revenues provided by such renewals, my firm was forced to lay off several support staff including myself. It was too bad because I had made a number of good friends while working here, and all of us at a private, closely held firm were like family. It would be strange waking up in the morning knowing that I would not be driving 30-plus miles to work from Lakeland, FL to downtown Tampa, FL to interact with co-workers and clients that I had been dealing with the last few years.

The last time I left a firm, I was single, living at home with my mother right after graduating from college, and didn't have to worry about anyone but myself. Now like millions of other laid off American workers, I have a wife and family with school-age children and a mortgage so I know I need to move quickly and utilize the professional and personal network that I have spent years building in order to gain employment and re-enter the workforce as soon as possible.

Gasparilla International Film Festival 2009 Opening Night

Thursday night, I attended the Gasparilla International Film Festival 2009 Opening Night with Red Carpet VIP Reception & Film and After Party at Spain Restaurant as a guest and co-marketer of the event with Keisha Pickett of Pickett Public Relations Group along with members of my e-magazine, TheListbyKeto. GIFF is Tampa Bay's largest annual film festival which recognizes independent and international films through film competitions between film makers & offers film viewings and opportunites to interact with the stars. The annual arts event has grown tremendously since it's first edition in 2007, and expects to attract over 10,000 attendees and participants during the week-long festivities in February/March 2009.

Media and attendees of Opening Night VIP Reception & Film were treated to VIP access to celebrities like Armand Assante (Dominic Cattano in American Gangster), producer Oren Koules, director Rod Lurie, complimentary food, desserts & wine tastings from restaurants like Smoke Barbeque & Grill, Timpano Chophouse, Taps, RawBar, Bamboozle Cafe, Bella's, and more. As well, legendary actress Terry Moore, wife of the late billionaire pilot Howard Hughes was honored on opening night with an award celebrating her legacy, longevity in film & impact on the film industry. Finally, on two opening night films were shown, "Crime's a Cookin'" a hilarious 7-minute silent, short film (winner of Focus on Florida, Short) and the main feature, directed by Rod Lurie and starring Kate Beckinsdale, Angela Bassett, David Schwimmer ("Friends"), and Alan Alda (Hawkeye from M*A*S*H).

As for, "Nothing But the Truth" the best quote of the film is from Kate Beckinsdale's defense attorney, "Sometimes a mistake is like wearing white after Labor Day. Sometimes a mistake is like invading Russia in the winter." He was referring to the fact that her refusal to disclose her source who illegally leaked the identity of a CIA agent, (a la the US government's 2005 grand jury investigation of NY Times reporter Judith Miller and outed CIA agent Valerie Plame whose identity was illegally revealed by Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby) was going to cost her a lot more than just making a simple error just as Germany's invading Russia in the dead of winter in WWII was a game changing, bad move which impacted the outcome of WWII.

Black History: Joseph Cinqué to Barack Obama (Part 2: 1901-2000's)

Ralph J. Bunche (1903-1971)—political scientist and diplomat and first Black awarded Nobel Peace Prize (1950) for mediating in Palestine. Helped organize and found the United Nations.

Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950)—Dr & researcher who developed the world's first blood bank, blood storage & blood transfusion methods which saved the lives of thousands of US soldiers during WWII.

Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906–April 12, 1975)—Born Freda Josephine McDonald; world-famous choreographer/dancer, became French citizen in 1937 where she was better accepted than in the racially charge US. First African American female to star in a major motion picture, to integrate an American concert hall, and to become a world-famous entertainer, Civil Rights activitst in the United States, assisted the French Resistance during the WWII & first American-born woman to receive the highest French military honor, the Croix de Guerre.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993)—first African American selected to US Supreme Court (1967 by Lyndon Baines Johnson). Prior to his Justiceship, Marshall was famous for his victory as Chief Counsel for the NAACP in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).

Jesse Owens (1913-1980)—first American to win four Olympic gold medals in track and field; shown here at 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany where he laid to rest Hitler's propaganda that the Aryan race was superior with Africans being inferior.

Rosa Parks (1913-2005)—the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement." Here shown being booked into Alabama jail after refusing to give up her seat at the front of a bus. She was Secretary of Montgomery NAACP & her actions were a major catalyst for Dr. King and others to boycott the Birmingham bus system for 381 days & a major symbol of the Civil Rights struggle for equality.

Lena Horne (June 30, 1917-)—born in NYC of Black, White & Native American ancestry. American songstress, actress who has recorded with Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstine & more. Cabin in the Sky was her most famed movie but was denied many roles or edited out of movies due to theatre rules against portraying African Americans in certain films. Horne briefly retired from showbiz in 1980, but returned shortly & recorded albums through the 1990's. She was also noted for working with NAACP and other Civil Rights leaders including Medgar Evers & Paul Robeson.

Jackie Robinson (1919-1972)—Robinson endured racial discrimination while becoming the first African American in Major League Baseball in 1947. First athlete in UCLA history to letter in four sports (baseball, basketball, football and track) and was a second lieutenant in the Army from 1942-1944. Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Robinson also became first African-American Major League Baseball analyst and the first Black vice president of a major American corporation. Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. (1920-1978)—first African American to reach the rank of (four-star) general, US Air Force.

Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965)—actress & songstress. She influenced many modern actresses, has a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame & was played by 1999, Halle Berry in the HBO Movie "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge".

Malcolm X (1925-1965)—Born Malcolm Little, but also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X gained world-wide fame as Minister of the Nation of Islam & special assistant to it's founder Hon. Elijah Muhammad, public speaker, and human rights activist. Malcolm X became a Sunni Muslim after leaving the Nation due to bitter rivalries & death threats from other Ministers, and also founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc & OAU. On Feb 21, 1965 he was assasinated by the Nation while giving a speech.

"When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won't do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn't believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire . . . or preserve his freedom." Malcolm X

B. B. King, born Riley B. King, (September 16, 1925-)—is an African American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter known for his expressive singing and inimitable guitar playing. Critical acclaim and widespread popularity have cemented his reputation as possibly the most respected,successful, and most recognized bluesman, not just in the United States, but in the world. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him at #3 in "the 100 greatest guitarists of all time".

Ralph David Abernathy (1926-1990)—famous Civil Rights leader who worked with Dr. King, Jesse Jackson, Rosa Parks and other notables. After Dr. King's death, he took leadership of Southern Christian Leadership Conference Poor People's Campaign.

Sir Sidney Poitier (1927-)—Academy Award- (1963), Golden Globe-, BAFTA- and Grammy award-winning Bahamian-American actor (In the Heat of the Night, etc.), film director, author, and diplomat. Appointed as Bahamian ambassador to Japan since 1997.

Maya Angelou (1928-)—Born Marguerite Ann Johnson, poet, playwright, memoirist, actress, author, television producer, professor & Civil Rights activist. Her most famous work was "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", (1969), her first of six autobiographies. Angelou has recited at Pres. Bill Clinton's 1993 Inauguration & received over 30 honorary degrees.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)—the most famous modern Black American Civil Rights leader. Baptist preacher & pastor, orator & human rights legend who fought for equality and desegregation. Assinated in Memphis, TN April 4, 1968 on the balcony of Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel. He had traveled in support of Black sanitary public works employees on strike to protest pay inequality.

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."

"I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."

Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965)—playwrite of "Raisin in the Sun", author of political speeches, letters, and essays.

Toni Morrison (1931-)—Born Chloe Ardelia, Morrison is a Nobel Prize-winning American author (Beloved-Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 1988), editor, and professor.

Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (1934-)—"Hammerin' Hank" played in Major League Baseball 1954-1976 and set MLB record o f 755 HR (broken only in Aug 7, 2007 by Barry Bonds) among many other records & inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

General Colin Luther Powell (1937-)—Graduate of West Point, 4-star General, US Army, National Security Advisor (1987-1989), Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command (1989), first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), first Black Secretary of State (2001-2005). Powell continues to encourage service as well as promote education and bridging of the digital divide for disadvantaged youth. Powell further helped make history when he endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States.

Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994)—first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games (1960).

Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. (October 8, 1941-)—modern Black American Civil Rights leader. Baptist preacher & pastor, orator & human rights icon & statesman who fought for equality and desegregation along with Dr. King, Ralph Abernathy, Rosa Parks, and other notables. founder of Rainbow Coalition/PUSH. In later years, Jackson was sent numerous times as a special envoy in securing the release of American hostages in Syria, Cuba, as well as promoting free elections & voting around the world. Jackson campaigned for President on the Democratic primaries in 1984 and 1988, and gained a significant number of delegates as well as forcing rule changes instrumental in Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential win.

Aretha Louise Franklin (1942-)—Queen of Soul and pioneer in jazz, rock, blues, pop, R&B and gospel genres, winner of 20 Grammys & recently sang at the Inauguration of Barack Obama.

Muhammad Ali (1942-)—Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., Ali converted to Nation of Islam, Sunni Islam, then Sufism, was the first American boxer to hold three World Heavyweight Champion non-consecutively & 1960 Summer Olympic Gold Medalist. Currently Ali suffers from Parkinson's disease but was portrayed by Oscar-nominated Will Smith in "Ali" (2001). Favorite phrase was, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee".

Arthur Ashe (1943-1993)—winner of 3 tennis Grand Slam Titles, US Davis Cup Captain, founder of Nat'l Jr Tennis League, Intnat'l Tennis Hall of Fame (1985) inductee & sports commentator. Recognized aimply one of the greatest athletes to ever live.

Dr. Ronald E. McNair (1950-1986)—An African American physicist, researcher, NASA astronaut and one of 7 astronauts to die aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986. A renaissance man, McNair was a saxophonist, martial arts instructor, and received several honorary degrees for contributions to physics. The federally funded TRIO program Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is named in his honor.

Oprah Winfrey (1954-)—TV talk show host of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" the highest rated talk show in TV history, book critic, Emmy Award winner, Academy Award nominee, Actress (The Color Purple), media mogul, publisher of "O" magazine, and philanthropist. Oprah is first Black female billionaire. Economists at University of Maryland estimated that her endorsement of Barack Obama netted him over 1 million votes in the 2008 Democratic Primaries & helped decide the Presidential election in Obama's favor due to her extremely loyal following.

Tiger Woods (1975-)—Currently the World No. 1, Woods was the highest-paid professional athlete in 2007, having earned an estimated $122 million from winnings and endorsements.

Woods has won 14 major golf championships, the second highest of any male player, and 65 PGA Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour. Woods was the first Multiracial American to win the Masters in 1997 at Augusta National.

Woods has held the #1 position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record 9 times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times, and has tied Jack Nicklaus' record of leading the money list in 8 different seasons. He has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year a record-tying 4 times, and is the only person to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once.

President Barack Hussein Obama II (August 4, 1961-)—Elected the 44th President of the United States and the first President of Black (Kenyan) & White (Caucasian American) parentage. On November 4, 2008, then Senator Obama, the Jr. Senator from Illinois was elected first African American President of the U.S. after becoming the first Black Presidential nominee of a major party and defeating Republican challenger, Sen. John McCain (AZ).

Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School where he became the first Black editor of Harvard Law Review. He then moved to Chicago, IL, practiced civil rights law and became a community organizer working with churches and community organizations on behalf of the poor who had lost their jobs. He married Michelle, and they gave birth to Sasha and Malia. Barack Obama gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. After election as Senator, he served on Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works, Veterans' Affairs, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees of the U.S. Senate.


Most research on Black History figures courtesy of Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Black History: Joseph Cinqué to Barack Obama (Part 1: 1700-1900)

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)—a free African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author and farmer. Banneker was a figure bigger than life with legends made about his photographic memory. He was a grandson of Europeans & slaves, carved one of the first clocks in America from wood and is reported to have had a significant role in the surveying & planning of Washington, D.C.

Sojourner Truth (1737-1883)—Originally named Isabella Baumfree by her Dutch masters and spoke Dutch fluently. In her adult life, she worked with abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and David Ruggles. Truth travelled and spoke widely after publishing her memoirs, "The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave". One of her famous speeches was "Ain't I A Woman?"

Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable (1745(?) -August 28, 1818)—"The Father of Chicago", was a Haitian colonist in North America of mixed French and African ancestry. Du Sable was the first settler and the first African-American in the area which is now Chicago, Illinois, He was declared the Founder of Chicago by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago on October 26, 1968.

Phyllis Wheatley (1753-1784)—born in Gambia, was America's first Black female poet during American Revolutionary War and started African American literature. Her first book of poems, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" was read widely & loved by George Washington. She was freed due to her scholarship, but died in poverty. Her first name was derived from the slave ship which transported her & her last name from the family that purchased her.

James Lafayette Armistead (1760-1830)—American Revolution hero, became a spy for General Lafayette by pretending to be a slave in a British army camp. His intelligence on British troops helped the Americans defeat the British at Yorktown, acts for which he later gained his freedom.

Nat Turner (1800-1831)—leader of slave rebellion which killed more Southerners than any other while freeing numerous slaves. Turner was also deeply religious & a preacher who believed God spoke to him through signs. After his capture & execution, his attorney published his book, "The Confessions of Nat Turner".

Joseph Cinqué also known as Sengbe Pieh (1813-1879)—born in Sierra Leone, Joseph was illegally captured by slave traders, shipped aboard the Amistad, and sold to Cubans who transported the 53 captives to the US. The captives led by Joseph mutinied but the traders navigated to the US. Upon arrival in the US, the captives were tried in US Court, but those sympathetic to their cause including former US President John Q. Adams who represented them before the US Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the 53 had been illegally sold into slavery and ordered all to be sent back to Africa as they had requested.

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)—American abolitionist, women's suffragist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. First African American nominated as a Vice Presidential candidate in the U.S., running on the Equal Rights Party ticket with Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States.

Hariett Tubman (1820–1913)—Born Araminta Ross; founder of "Underground Railroad" which helped slaves in South escape to freedom in the North, Union cook, nurse, armed scout & spy during Civil War, abolitionist & humanitarian. The Underground Railroad wasn't a railroad of course, just her method of transporting slaves called "passengers" to freedom in the North & Canada.

Elijah McCoy (1843-1929)—A prolific African Canadian inventor and engineer with many US patents including: lubricators for seam engines of trains & boats, folding ironing board, lawn sprinkler. The term "The Real McCoy" describes any product of excellent workmanship that is the real thing.,

Jan Matzeliger (1853-1889)—Born in Surinmae to Dutch father & slave, Jan became a sailor & emigrated to the US. He learned English & became inventor of shoe lasting machine which increased the productivity of a shoe maker from 50 shoes by hand daily to 150-700 shoes daily.

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919)—Born Sarah Breedlove; first Black female millionaire (Guinness Book of Records), inventor of curling iron, straightening comb & numerous beauty & hair products for females, founder of Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company.

Scott Joplin (November 24, 1868 – April 1, 1917)—was an African American composer and pianist born near Texarkana, TX, into the first post-slavery generation - his father an ex-slave and his mother a freeborn woman. He would be best-known for his ragtime music, dubbed as "The King of Ragtime."

Rev. William J. Seymour (1870-1922)—Pastor of the Apostolic Faith Mission at 312 Azuza Street in Los Angeles, CA. Founder of modern Christian Pentecostal movement in with Assembly of God, Church of God, 4-Square Church & Full Gospel Church founders under his influence.

Carter Godwin Woodson (December 19, 1875 - April 3, 1950)—was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He first proposed the second week of February be celebrated as Black History Week in 1926 to coincide with the birthday celebrations for Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He used his research as a historian in order to formally record and recognize the numerous achievements of Blacks to world history and history of the United States. In 1976, Black History Week was expanded to cover the entire month of February. Dr. Woodson is honored with his own Christmas ornament which is hung on the White House Christmas tree annually.

Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (July 10, 1875-May 18, 1955)—Founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls (now Bethune-Cookman College) in 1904, and served as president from 1904-1942 and from 1946-47. Was a leader in the black women's club movement and served as president of the National Association of Colored Women. Was a delegate and advisor to national conferences on education, child welfare, and home ownership.Was Director of Negro Affairs in the the National Youth Adminstration from 1936 to 1944. Served as consultant to the U.S. Secretary of War for selection of the first female officer candidates. Appointed consultant on interracial affairs and understanding at the charter conference of the U.N. Founder of the National Council of Negro Women. Vice-president of the NAACP. Was awarded the Haitian Medal of Honor and Merit, that country's highest award. In Liberia she received the honor of Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa.

Garrett A. Morgan (1877-1963)—inventor of gas mask, traffic signal, hair straightener, and also the first Clevelander to own an automobile.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. (1887-1940)—Born in Jamaica; Pioneer of Back to Africa or "Colonist" Movement, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, Black nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and orator.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)—American folklorist and Harlem Renaissance author of four novels and over than 50 published short stories, plays, and essays. Hurston is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937).

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)—first African-American woman to earn an international aviation license and US aviation license. Known as "Queen Bess".

Frederick McKinley Jones (1893-1961)—only finished 6th grade, but self-taught engineer who invented mobile refrigerated systems for transporting perishable materials in trucks, railroad cars & boats. His work led to formation of US Thermo Control Co. Also invented A/C unit, starter generatory, rotary compressor, temperature control, portable X-ray machines, sound equipment, gas engines, and many other things we take for granted today.

David Nelson Crosthwait, Jr. (1898-1976)—pioneer in the field of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC), held over 30 U.S. patents; first Black elected Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in 1971.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899–May 24, 1974)—was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader. Duke Ellington was known in his life as one of the most influential figures in Jazz music and American music in general.

Most research on Black History figures courtesy of Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Who Started Black History Month?

There are, I'm sure, a number of people who wonder who it was that started or came up with the idea for Black History Month. It was Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), educated at University of Chicago (1907), Sorbonne of Paris (1908) & Harvard University (Ph.D., 1912) who first proposed the second week of February be celebrated as Black History Week in 1926 to coincide with the birthday celebrations for Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He used his research as a historian in order to formally record and recognize the numerous achievements of Blacks to world history and history of the United States. In 1976, Black History Week was expanded to cover the entire month of February. Dr. Woodson is honored with his own Christmas ornament which is hung on the White House Christmas tree annually.

One of Dr. Woodson's most famous quotes was as follows: "We should emphasize not Negro History but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate & religious prejudice."

"When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his "proper place" and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary." Dr. Carter G. Woodson, "The Miseducation of the Negro"

Rihanna & Chris Brown: A Father's Conversation with His Daughters

Celebrity gossip website, TMZ.com acquired a photo of a battered Rihanna taken by police shortly after her Grammy-night run in with boyfriend Chris Brown. The picture is absolutely horrible and the abrasions, bruises & cuts to her face from her forehead down to her lips make it plain that Brown didn't just slap her a couple times, he beat her as we say among my folks "like she stole something."

Normally I would say, hey you know that is too bad for the lady; here's another out-of-control celebrity with issues who will probably get a second chance because he is a great entertainer (see Michael Jackson). However, in this case, I'm especially concerned as a father of two daughters because now I look at everything from the perspective of a married man with children. I know exactly how I would feel if someone did (or tried to do) what Brown did to one of my daughters, especially as I have learned of females in my family who were abused by males in their past. I would seriously go postal. The average man due to a number of biological factors is physically stronger than the average woman of the same size. Due to the differences in strength, it is quite possible for a significantly smaller man to physically intimidate a woman of larger stature, whereas that same man would not try to antagonize another man of larger stature than himself.

This week while driving my girls to school, radio host & comedian Steve Harvey was briefly discussing on the Steve Harvey Morning Show how bad Rihanna's injuries apparently were from the leaked picture. I used that opportunity to educate my girls on what to do if any boy or man ever tries to physically harm them in any way. I let them know that first of all a real man does not harm women for any reason, and secondly if any male ever tries anything, they need to fight back and defend themselves with all vigor. The fact is that a man that is capable of fighting a woman is also capable of killing that woman. I let them know that there is a good man for every woman, but they when they come of age they will need to not allow the losers access to their lives.

In the final analysis, I don't have to pass judgement on Chris Brown because he has already judged himself. The 19-year-old Brown is currently free on $50,000 bail with a court date schedule for March 5. For the sake of my daughters and my nieces, I hope (21-year-old) Rihanna receives the justice she deserves.

Beta Gamma Sigma Celebrates Founder's Day

February 19, 2008 marks the 96th anniversary of Beta Gamma Sigma Founder's Day. This is the day that fellow members and collegiate chapters of the world's largest Business Honor Society are encouraged to celebrate the founders and beginnings of BGS. A group of commerce students attending college at University of Wisconsin got together to form BGS in 1907.

The first inductees formed Beta Gamma Sigma at the University of Wisconsin in 1907. The name of the Society came from the initials of three of it's members: D. Earle Burchell, (B) Stephen W. Gilman, (G) William A. Scott. Fayette H. Elwell, also pictured above as a junior, became the Society’s first president when it became a national organization in 1913 upon the merger of business clubs at University of Illinois (Delta Kappa Chi), University of California (The Economics Club) & the aforementioned University of Wisconsin.

Entry #1: What Not to Do in Public

If nothing else, readers of The Great Blog of Kéto come to us for knowledge, opinions & advice. Because you can never have enough good advice, we present "What Not to Do in Public". Watch this awesome video of an Asian woman getting hysterical after missing her Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco. She acts like someone just made off with her favorite puppy or something. I just can't believe she was able to keep up this energy for over 3 minutes! Truly a viral video, the Youtube wonder had over 400,000 views this morning and now is at over 1.3 million views as of 3:30pm.

The doors to the woman's flight had already closed, so Cathay Pacific wouldn't let her board. As a result she threw a three-minute tantrum screaming, "I want to go, I want to go" in Cantonese. Her original flight was bound for San Francisco, the airline said it put her on a later flight to Los Angeles.

Dispelling Immigration Myths & America's Obsession with Illegals

Immigration Myth: Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist". I understand that the terminology is a bit of semantics since an "illegal alien" is someone that is here in contradiction to the laws of this country. In many cases, their school, work, or travel visa has run out, and they haven't returned to their home country. Obviously in some other cases, illegal immigrants arrive here on makeshift boats or cross the US/Canada or Mexico/US borders. Nonetheless, I don't like the quote because everyone that is here in this country with the exception of the Native Americans is here because their ancestors were immigrants; many of whom came here both legally and illegally from Italy, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Scotland, Bulgaria, so forth, and so on. Prior to the mass emigrations of the 1700's-1940's many of those who emigrated to the United States in the 1600's murdered the Native Americans who were the original legal immigrants to this country and oppressed the Africans through slavery until the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. That is the definition of "illegal immigration"--the displacement and/or forced subjugation of peoples who are the occupants of a geographical region. However, when most Americans speak of illegal immigration, they are stereotypically referring to "those" Mexicans and Haitians, among the poorest but hardest working immigrant groups. I have experienced both sides of the legal/illegal debate, so I'm a bit more passionate about the subject than some might be.



The United States will never seriously put "undocumented immigrants" out of this country because they are an unlimited source of cheap labor. Immigrants working on the migrant farms in Florida and working as hotel maids and housekeepers for the rich work those jobs because they can't get any other employment, despite their level of education in their home country. The owners of capital in this country love having millions of "undocumented immigrants" because they can pay them $1-2/hour to pick strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, etc., "give" them substandard migrant housing which they have to pay for (if you live in Florida you've may have seen these shacks), don't have to provide benefits, time off, education expenses, and avoid payroll taxes by paying them "under the table". Those in this country who love to talk about kicking out all the illegals would find it expensive to shop for groceries if they were paying $2/tomato instead of $.75-.85 which is probably what it would cost if the average American was performing such slave labor. Not to mention, the American workers would unionize which would drive up the price further while protecting the workers from employment abuse and work hazards which lead to on-the-job injuries.



Now I must ask, are immigrants of any ilk, not humans too? Do they not deserve to live free of the threat of death for daring to express their religious or political convictions in their home country? Do they not deserve to allow their family to enjoy a decent education and live a life better than that of their parents? Are we not all God's children? To answer "No" to these questions because of some "holier than thou", Eurocentric self-righteousness speaks to the fact that we are always looking for someone to hate because they are different or not as deserving as us. It is no longer politically correct to oppress those of African descent, so Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and the like are the "new Negroes".

The bottom line is that while certainly, being in any country illegally is against the law, we must not fault those whose purpose for getting into this country is making a better life for themselves and their families. The majority of these folks are not hardened criminals by any means. As a matter of fact, many of them have fled from political, social & economic persecution in their own countries. But once they are safely in the United States, they begin making a new life for themselves. Many of them through hard work put themselves and their children through school and work menial, back-breaking jobs which ordinary Americans would not take in order for their families to survive. As a matter of fact, immigrants to America save and send more money back to their families in their home country that in any other country in the world. with Haitian immigrants sending $1 billion abroad annually. They believe that although they may not actually possess the necessary documentation--i.e., valid visa/passport, social security card, green card, and certainly citizenship) they have the audacity to believe that the words of "The New Colossus" held inside the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island apply to them:

The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
—Emma Lazarus, 1883

For more on America's obsession with "those people" refer to my earlier blog, "Vote for US, We'll Protect You from the Immigrants (October 10, 2008)".

Stimulus Bill Passes House, Heads to Senate Next

The compromised version of the ARRA or Stimulus bill passed the House of Representatives by a final tally of 246 Democrats (Yea), 176 Republicans (Nay), 7 Democrats (Nay), 1 Present vote and 2 No Votes. Of significance is that not one Republican voted for the bill. The Senate is expect to vote on the matter later today. In the Senate, Judd Gregg is expected to vote "No".

Journalism Student Rocks Obama Townhall in Ft Myers

One of the stories dominating national news coverage is about a college broadcast journalism major who rocked Obama's townhall in Ft. Myers, Florida yesterday. Yes, he knows how to get attention and should be well served in the future by his communication skills. I looked up Osegueda on Facebook and requested him. There is also a Facebook Group "I want as much energy as Julio Osegueda" that is open for public membership.

Within hours of his national TV spotlight, Julio was fielding interviews on CNN (see video below), "Countdown with Keith Olberman", and then was offered a temporary job as color announcer for the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team’s radio broadcast for its home opener on April 10. Hopefully, Julio can parlay that gig into other lucrative opportunities and the career of his choice, and more power to him! The primary objective of a college education is to provide a student with the skills needed to pursue a financially viable career for himself and also become upwardly mobile. In plainspeak, a working class student should be able to use his college diploma to improve his social and economic standing, else what good is a diploma? After all, very few people attend college for the sake of learning alone.

College student Julio Osegueda stole the show at President Obama's Fort Myers town hall Tuesday afternoon, just one day after attempting to sell tickets to the event on Facebook.

WATCH: OSEGUEDA APPEARS ON "COUNTDOWN," TALKS ABOUT OBAMA'S RESPONSE

Osegueda enthusiastically asked Obama the final question of the event.

"It's such a blessing to see you Mr. President, thank you for taking time out of your day!" Osegueda shouted. "Oh, gracious God, thank you so much!"

Osegueda, a 19-year-old student at Edison State College and a four-year employee at McDonald's, asked Obama a question about employee benefits.

Obama graciously answered the question while many in the crowd laughed and some onlookers even took photos of Osegueda as he asked his question.

"You sound like you've got good communication skills," Obama told the aspiring broadcaster/DJ, who is majoring in communications at Edison State College.

Senate Passes Stimulus Bill of 2009

The United States Senate passed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act more commonly known as the Stimulus Bill of 2009. The bill passed by the necessary two-thirds vote of 61 votes-36 votes with 3 moderate Republicans, Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) joining Democrats in a highly partisan vote. Monday evening one Republican Senator, Jon Cornyn who did not show up to vote on the preliminary cloture vote which apparently is like a test vote. Obama's Commerce Secretary nominee, Senator Judd Gregg recused himself from the vote, which was a smart move on his behalf. Talk about priorities. There is still more work to do as the Senate and House of Representatives must conference to work out final compromises to reconcile both versions of the bill which are separated by several billion dollars and a number of differing proposals on education, aid to states, first-time homebuyers' tax credit, etc.

Picture of the Day, 2/9/09

This Picture of the Day entry is courtesy of one of my Facebook "friends" and could become an instant PoD classic. The graphic of course refers to the inability of George W. Bush to speak in complete, coherent sentences or give answers relating to the question at hand. Instead, GW relied on many "Bushisms", which are slightly more intelligent than "Palinisms" which isn't saying much.

Limit Salaries at All Banks Taking Taxpayer Dollars Campaign

I received a online petition request signed this petition online from MoveOn.org this morning & wrote the following note to accompany the MoveOn script.

"Limit Salaries at All Banks Taking Taxpayer Dollars" Campaign

Wall Street banks distributed $18.4 billion in year-end bonuses in 2008. $18.4 billion to the people who crippled our economy with their recklessness and greed and then took $700 billion of our money.

President Obama took an important first step, limiting pay at companies taking bailouts going forward. But Congress is considering going even further.

Congress can apply the limits retroactively, and might even take back some of the most extravagant bonuses at firms that take taxpayer money. A huge public outcry will put them over the edge.

A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to your senators and representative.

Dear Florida Congressman,

As a hard-working, tax-paying professional, I was outraged to see on the news last week that bailed out companies rewarded their management failures by doling out over $18 billion in bonuses (over and beyond their salary). I don't begrudge anyone bonuses-except when they run their companies into the ground, beg the government, and by extension us, the taxpayers to save them from themselves, and then celebrate at our expense. Please do what we sent you to Congress to do and stop this madness. Sincerely, Kéto N. Hodges/Tampa, FL

Shirre's 28th Birthday in Orlando

I took my wife Shirre to Orlando for her 28th birthday, and it goes without saying that we had a good time. We lunched at Bahama Breeze, and tried out a couple of their new entrees, a Fish Taco dish and a Calypso Shrimp Linguini dish that was awesome along with Jamaican Grilled Chicken Wings which were awesome! Our waitress was named "Happie" and certainly lived up to her name. She told us about the good-natured ribbing she gets from customers and co-workers alike.

After lunch, we went shopping at the Orlando Premium Outlets, browsed several shops including Ecko, Guess, Guess Accessories, etc. Certainly when you go to Orlando, comfortable walking shoes are a must!

The day was also memorable because last year on Shirre's birthday (2/2/08) we officially became engaged! (Although we had known since late October 2007 that we would get married, we kept moving forward the wedding date, and finally decided in the last week of January 2008 that we would get married on April 26.) That day started out with my coming over to have breakfast with Shirre and the children. The children always cook an early breakfast for her birthday. Later in the day we went to Tampa to shop for the rings. Shirre already had a gorgeous set in mind, so we went and bought exactly what we were looking for after the obligatory credit check. Later that evening, we had our engagement dinner at Bonefish Grille in Brandon to toast our good fortune at our life decision. Since then it's been a whirlwind, with married life seeming to go by so fast since the wedding. We plan to celebrate many more birthdays together, and our anniversary is also on my birthday (April 26).

For more on Shirre and Kéto's engagement and wedding, please read, "(Still) Crazy in Love! Shirre & Kéto Celebrate 1 Year! ".

Picture of the Day, 2/3/09

After celebrating Shirre's birthday in Orlando, we stopped by a Shell gas station to pick up a drink for the ride home. What I saw was truly deserving of a "Picture of the Day" recognition. We found the world's newest & cleanest bathroom at the Shell gas station in Orlando near Orlando Premium Outlets! Clean commode, new toilet tissue rolls on back of the toilet, clean mirrors, shiny chrome, no paper towels on the floor! I had to congratulate the clerk!

I think you'll agree, you have to go out of the way to keep a gas station bathroom this clean! (I'm so accustomed to going to gas station bathrooms--only in emergency situations--and finding some of the grossest, vilest, most disgusting sights, that when I find a good story, it's almost hard to believe that exceptions to the norm exist).