African AMerican Teen Literature

Ok, what's up with the lack in this area? Why is it that every book you find that could be placed in this category is about teen pregnancy, drugs or something equally bad. I'm not saying we don't need those books, but don't the African American children of the world need some literature that is more positive. Something where the characters look like them, but aren't worried about their "baby daddies" or how to stay off drugs and out of gangs, or whether or not they'll make it home or get killed in a drive by? While all of these are definitely valid issues faced by many of the teens in our society, whatever happened to the rest of those kids out there. The ones whose biggest problem may be that the boy next door doesn't know they exist, or what to wear to school the next day, or even what to say to that girl they've been crushing on for the last 6 months. Where are the books about the teen detectives and the teen geniuses and just the regular old teenagers who are more worried about hanging out with there friends than cleaning there rooms , "that look like us?" This is what I hear on a daily basis. Why is it that every African American Fiction book has to be about sex and relationships. With our teens reading titles like "Around the way girls" and Zane's "Afterburn". It's no wonder we can't get these kids to focus on anything else, better yet get them to something that might improve their mind. I'm not saying that those books might not be good books, but I just can't see a book called "Thug Matrimony "doing anything to increase the intelligence of teenagers. I'm going to stop here, I could probably go one for days, but I have better things to do.

Today's thought

Today's thought is that I have no thought. There is absolutely nothing floating around in my braing at this particular moment, except the fact that I couldn't think of anything else to write. It's so sad, because I'm actually full of very random things.

Why?

WHY????????

airplane restrictions

I was reading the Transportation Security Administrations guide to what is and isn't allowed on airplanes nowadays. Of course, you are not allowed to carry on or check guns. Duh, right? But, and I do repeat but, you are allowed to check, in your luggage, parts of guns and other firearms. Am I the only one that's ever heard of people who can assemble and dissasemble a gun from parts. SO you can't carry a functional firearm or check it in your luggage, but you can check all of the pieces and put them together when you get where you're going. How fucked up is that.

interesting quote

"I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when
there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it. "

Terry Pratchett






I think the quote says it all.

Grover Was Single Red Monsterd By Elmo

Before I get started I have to say this. So much for writing something in this five days a week. I'm suck a slacker. I've had this blog less than two weeks and I'm already screwing up my plan to write in it. So, so sad. I'm just a sad excuse for a blogger. Now on to Grover and Elmo.


Here goes..


Today's topic : Grover was single red monstered by Elmo

I remember when I was little and Grover was everywhere. He was the one of the most loved Sesame Street characters. I know you remember the "cute, furry, adorable monster" that Grover will always be to those of us who love him. He could do anything, have any job, be anywhere, he was Super Grover and could manage to be silly the whole time and make us laugh. To quote wikipedia "Grover does not use contractions when speaking, giving him a distinctive vocal pattern unlike other Sesame Street characters, all of which tend to be child-like. In addition to his distinctive vocal pattern, Grover displays a wide array of eloquent and erudite articulation, suggesting a high level of education and sophistication for a 'monster'. Furthermore, he occasionally breaks the 'monster fourth wall' and references something for his 'grown-up' viewers." He was smart, funny and cared about more than just himself.

And then one day in walks Elmo. Grover being who he is, let's in this deceptively cute little red monster with open arms. This selfish monster who always refers to himself in the 3rd person. When is that ever not annoying. And slowly over a period of tie Elmo fazes Grover out until one day we say what happened to that cute blue furry adorable monster that we could relate to and who understood us like no other Sesame Street creature could? He was gone, that's what. There one day, Single Red Monstered the next. They even went so far as to write a sequel to the beloved book "The monster at the end of this book" that included Elmo who had the nerve to call Grover "Mr.Grover". And now the children grow up with Elmo, possibly the most annoying creature in existence. This is who the children of the world learn from. No wonder most of them are selfish little brats who could care less about anyone else.

Well, while recently they've tried to insert Grover into a clip every now and then. I'm here to say that I along with many people from my generation miss Grover and no matter how they try to "Elmoize" (yes I know that's not really a word, bu I think it fits) the world, I will be true to Grover. My hero. He'll always be super to me.

tiredness and sleep

I'm trying to put something on my blog at least on days that I work. Today's topic is tiredness. Is that really a word? Not that that's important. How is it possible to sleep all night and still be tired. Lately my issue is not getting to sleep, or even the actual sleep process. The current issue in my sleep life is going to bed. Now that may not sound like much of a problem. I mean, I'm 28 right? I should be able to go to bed. the problem is that I'll be really really tired. I mean, blurry vision, eyes on the verge of shutting on their own no matter what you're doing tired. Do I go to bed? NO. I just sit there and think about how I should really go to bed and maybe I will in a couple of minutes. Hours pass, and am I in bed yet? I think not. I'm still sitting there, fight to be awake like a little kid who doesn't want to go take a nap. It's like I should go to sleep, I need to go to sleep, but I just don't want to go to sleep. Who knows, maybe I'm just nuts. What in the world could be wrong with someone when they can go to sleep and they just don't. I guess that's just one of those odd things that make you go "hmmmmm?".