"Monster Mash" Legend Dies

'Monster Mash' Singer Pickett Dies at 69
By LARRY McSHANE

NEW YORK (AP) - He does the "Monster Mash" no more. Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose dead-on Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem to the top of the charts in 1962, making him one of pop music's most enduring one-hit wonders, has died of leukemia. He was 69.
Pickett, dubbed "The Guy Lombardo of Halloween," died Wednesday night at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital, said his longtime manager, Stuart Hersh. His daughter, Nancy, and his sister, Lynda, were at Pickett's bedside.

"Monster Mash" hit the Billboard chart three times: when it debuted in 1962, reaching No. 1 the week before Halloween; again in August 1970, and for a third time in May 1973. The resurrections were appropriate for a song where Pickett gravely intoned the forever-stuck-in-your-head chorus: "He did the monster mash. ... It was a graveyard smash."

The novelty hit's fans included Bob Dylan, who played the single on his XM Satellite Radio program last October. "Our next artist is considered a one-hit wonder, but his one hit comes back year after year," Dylan noted.

The hit single ensured Pickett's place in the pantheon of pop music obscurities, said syndicated radio host Dr. Demento, whose long-running program celebrates offbeat tunes.

"It's certainly the biggest Halloween song of all time," said Demento. The DJ, who interviewed Pickett last year, said he maintained a sense of humor about his singular success: "As he loved to say at oldies shows, 'And now I'm going to do a medley of my hit.'"

Pickett's impression of Karloff (who despite his name was an Englishman, born William Henry Pratt) was forged in Somerville, Mass., where the boy watched horror films in a theater managed by his father.

Pickett used the impersonation in a nightclub act and when performing with his band the Cordials. A bandmate convinced Pickett they needed to do a song to showcase the Karloff voice, and "Monster Mash" was born - "written in about a half-hour," said Dr. Demento.

The recording, done in a couple of hours, featured a then-unknown piano player named Leon Russell and a backing band christened The Crypt-Kickers. It was rejected by four major labels before Gary Paxton, lead singer on the Hollywood Argyles' novelty hit "Alley Oop," released "Monster Mash" on his own label.

The instant smash became a sort-of Christmas carol for the pumpkin and ghoul set. In a 1996 interview with People magazine, Pickett said he never grew tired of it: "When I hear it, I hear a cash register ringing."

While Pickett never re-created its success, his "Monster's Holiday," a Christmas follow-up, reached No. 30 in December 1962. And "Graduation Day" hit No. 80 in June 1963.

He continued performing through his final gig in November. He remained in demand for Halloween performances, including a memorable 1973 show where his bus broke down outside Frankenstein, Mo.

Beside his daughter and sister, Pickett is survived by two grandchildren.

Well, another legend leaves us for the other side. However, NOBODY will ever forget the "Monster Mash"! Brings back a lot of memories for a lot of people I'm sure. Show them how to do the "MM" in the soul plain Bobby! Boris Karloff would be proud of you.

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpe www.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Super 'Pot 2.0': Serious Marijuana

Potency of Pot Sold in U.S. Stronger Than Ever

Experts Warn 'Pot 2.0' Has More Harmful Effects

Reuters
WASHINGTON (April 26) - The marijuana being sold across the United States is stronger than ever, which could explain a growing number of medical emergencies that involve the drug, government drug experts on Wednesday.

Analysis of seized samples of marijuana and hashish showed that more of the cannabis on the market is of the strongest grade, the White House and National Institute for Drug Abuse said.

They cited data from the University of Mississippi's Marijuana Potency Project showing the average levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana , in the products rose from 7 percent in 2003 to 8.5 percent in 2006. The level had risen steadily from 3.5 percent in 1988.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow fears the problem is not being taken seriously because many adults remember the marijuana of their youth as harmless. "It's really not the same type of marijuana ," Volkow said in a telephone interview. "This could explain why there has been an increase in the number of medical emergencies involving marijuana ."

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Adminstration, marijuana was involved in 242,200 visits to hospital emergency rooms in 2005. This means that the patient mentioned using marijuana and does not mean the drug directly caused the accident or condition being treated, SAMHSA says. The number is up from 215,000 visits in 2004.

The pharmacy department at Mississippi has compiled data on 59,369 samples of cannabis, 1,225 hashish samples, and 443 hash oil samples confiscated since 1975. "The highest concentration of (THC) found in a cannabis ( marijuana ) sample is 33.12 percent from Oregon State Police," the report reads.

'THIS IS POT 2.0'

Hashish and hash oil concentrations are far higher, as they consist of processed plant product.

"Researchers and treatment experts have argued for some time that today's more powerful marijuana has more harmful effects on users. This report underscores that we are no longer talking about the drug of the 1960s and 1970s -- this is Pot 2.0," John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement.

Volkow said demand has driven growers to cultivate the stronger stuff. "It is the market," she said. "Like in the market you favor the best tomatoes. When people buy marijuana , they don't want a weak cigarette." Volkow's institute has been studying the effects of cannabis, whose active ingredients are very similar to important brain chemicals called endogenous cannabinoids. "It clearly is addictive," she said.

If children and adolescents use marijuana , it could affect their still-developing brains, she said.

The report said more than 60 percent of teens receiving treatment for drug abuse or dependence report marijuana as their primary drug of abuse. "Although the overall number of young people using marijuana has declined in recent years, there is still reason for great concern, particularly since roughly 60 percent of first-time marijuana users are under 18 years old," Volkow said.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 4.1 million Americans, or 1.7 percent of the population, report they use marijuana.

Alright, so, where do I start? Based on some of the "pale yellow"(uninformed, inexperienced, still learning)people that I have encountered lately, you would think POT 2.0 was an epidemic. Unfortunately, most of these people weren't smoking anything! THAT, is scary! Maybe we should take after some of our European bretheren and START hitting the old bong or pipe or whatever. Maybe we can get that 1.7% of the population up a few notches.

Well, anyway, "that's your call"! If it feels right, hey, "do what you gotta do"!

"What we think about and smoke about is what we bring about" ,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Back To Nature Wildlife Refuge

Mark This on YOUR calendar! Saturday May 5th, '07

Click on the picture/poster to enlarge if you cannot read the small print at the bottom. Thanx!

Here is a very worthy cause that some of you may feel compelled to participate in. One way or another. Help your fellow humans help your fellow creatures. It will even help YOU feel better about Yourself!

Peace & Soulz


Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

New Music & Artists

Please check out Your links to cool stuff!

Every now and then, I like to turn my friends and readers onto some new sounds to help you achieve the ultimate "eargasm"! By doing this, it also helps some of the new "un-discovered" talent that exists on this planet get some well deserved, and needed, exposure.

So, kick back and click some of these links. They will take you to their myspace profile pages where you can learn more about these people and check out some of their tunes. Give YOURSELF a treat and have some fun.

www.myspace.com/kidsister

www.myspace.com/achilleamusic

www.myspace.com/shydigress

www.myspace.com/pureambience

www.myspace.com/bluestonebreathe

www.myspace.com/nightmaresonwax

www.myspace.com/yulara6

www.myspace.com/anoushkashankar

www.myspace.com/mysticalsun

www.myspace.com/ericprydz

Enjoy the music and info!

Coming soon: "Dragon", The Book Of Black

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Dragons: Pt 6

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Dragon-like creatures





Basilisk
A basilisk is hatched by a cockerel from a serpent's egg. It is a lizard-like or snake-like creature that can supposedly kill by its gaze, its voice, or by touching its victim. Like Medusa, a basilisk may be destroyed by seeing itself in a mirror. It is also portayed in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as a large grey snake, with foot long fangs and yellow eyes. Anybody who looks into these eyes will be killed.

Leviathan
In Hebrew mythology, a leviathan was a large creature with fierce teeth. Contemporary translations identify the leviathan with the crocodile, but maintaining a strict Biblical perspective the leviathan can breathe fire (Job 41:18-21), can fly (Job 41:5), it cannot be pierced with spears or harpoons (Job 41:7), its scales are so closely fit that there is no room between them (Job 41:15-16), it walks upright (Job 41:12), its mouth is powerful and contains many formidable teeth (Job 41:14), its underbelly has sharp scales that could cut a person (Job 41:30), and, over all, it is a terrifying creature. Over time, the term came to mean any large sea monster; in modern Hebrew, "leviathan" simply means whale. A sea serpent is also closely related to the dragon, though it is more snakelike and lives in the water.

Wyvern
Much more similar to a dragon than the other creatures listed here, a wyvern is a winged serpent with either two or no legs. The term wyvern is used in heraldry to distinguish two-legged from four-legged dragons. Also sometimes noted as the largest species of dragon.

zmeu
Derived from the Slavic dragon, zmeu are humanoid figures that can fly and breathe fire.

cockatrice
A bird-like reptile sometimes confused with a basilisk. In Gerald Durrell's book "The Talking Parcel", they attempt genocide against dragons by stealing the last dragon eggs.

Quetzalcóatl
A Central-American or Mexican creature with both scales and feathers worshipped by the Toltecs and Aztecs.

Notable Dragons

In myth
List of dragons in mythology and folklore

Azhi Dahaka was a three-headed demon often characterized as dragon-like in Persian Zoroastrian mythology.

Similarly, Ugaritic myth describes a seven-headed sea serpent named Lotan.

The Hydra of Greek mythology is a water serpent with multiple heads with mystic powers. When one was chopped off, two would regrow in its place. This creature was vanquished by Heracles and his cousin.

Smok Wawelski was a Polish dragon who was supposed to have terrorized the hills around Kraków in the Middle Ages.

Y Ddraig Goch is now the symbol of Wales (see flag, above), originally appearing as the red dragon from the Mabinogion story Lludd and Llevelys.

Nidhogg, a dragon in Norse mythology, was said to live in the darkest part of the Underworld, awaiting Ragnarok. At that time he would be released to wreak destruction on the world.

Orochi, the eight-headed serpent slain by Susanoo in Japanese mythology.

In literature and fiction

List of fictional dragons
The Old English epic Beowulf ends with the hero battling a dragon.

Dragons remain fixtures in fantasy books, though portrayals of their nature differ. For example, Smaug, from The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, who is a classic, European-type dragon; deeply magical, he hoards treasure and burns innocent towns. Contrary to most old folklore and literature J. R. R. Tolkien's dragons are very intelligent and can cast spells over mortals.

A common theme in literature concerning dragons is the partnership between humans and dragons. This is evident in Dragon Rider and the Inheritance Trilogy. Most notably it is featured in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series.

Okay folks, that puts a wrap on our 6 part series on dragons. Hope you enjoyed it and learned something from it.

Starting in the very near future(sooner than later), I will start putting up excerpts from my book "Dragon". I do want everyone to know that the story is NOT for kids and immature teens. There is much graphically described violence and pretty horrific sequences. There is also strong sex/nudity scenes and descriptions that are a major part of the story line. There is also some strong profanity. Which is only fitting for the story line.

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Dragons: Pt 5

Check out some of my advertisers for some cool dragon stuff!

American Dragons

Meso-American dragon

Amphitere
Feathered serpent deity responsible for giving knowledge to mankind, and sometimes also a symbol of death and resurrection.

Inca dragon

Amaru
A dragon (sometimes called a snake) on the Inca culture. The last Inca emperor Tupak Amaru's name means "Lord Dragon".

Brazilian dragon

Boi-tata
A dragon-like animal (sometimes like a snake) of the Brazilian Indian cultures.

Chilean dragon

Caicaivilu and Tentenvilu
Snake-type dragons, Caicaivilu was the sea god and Tentenvilu was the earth god, both from the Chilean island Chiloé .

African Dragon

African dragon

Amphisbaena
Possibly originating in northern Africa (and later moving to Greece), this was a two-headed dragon (one at the front, and one on the end of its tail). The front head would hold the tail (or neck as the case may be) in its mouth, creating a circle that allowed it to roll.

Antharus, The Blue Dragon

Greetings, I am Antharus, the Blue Dragon. You and I have known each other for a very long time, and our former friendship has endured the test of time.

I have returned to Earth from the Pleiades about a year ago, to be closer to you and spend time at your side, once again, even though you are not yet able to see me with your present level of vision. Yes, I left your planet over 100,000 years ago when dragons became feared and hunted at a time a great number of the people on the planet lost their connection with their divine source. That era became the second phase of what you call “the fall” in consciousness, when humanity fell further into density and duality.

That takes care of part 5 of the "Dragon" series. Part 6, the final part, will follow shortly. It will cover "dragon like creatures" and "notable dragons". Excerpts from my book will follow part 6.

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Dragons: PT 4

European Dragons

Sardinian dragon

scultone
The dragon named "scultone" or "ascultone" belongs to the tradition of Sardinia, Italy from many millenniums. It had the power to kill the human beings by its gaze. It was a sort of basilisk, lived in the bush and was never killed.

Scandinavian & Germanic dragons

lindworm
Or the "Draco serpentalis" is a very large wingless serpent with two legs, the lindworm is really closer to a wyvern or to a knucker. They were believed to eat cattle and symbolized pestilence, but seeing one was considered good luck. The dragon Fafnir, killed by the legendary hero Sigurd, was called an ormr ('worm') in Old Norse and was in effect a giant snake; it neither flew nor breathed fire. The dragon killed by the Old English hero Beowulf, on the other hand, did fly and breathe fire and was actually a European dragon.

Welsh dragon

Y Ddraig Goch
The red dragon is the traditional symbol of Wales and appears on the Welsh national flag.

Hungarian dragons (Sárkányok)

zomok
A great snake living in a swamp, which regularly kills pigs or sheep. A group of shepherds can easily kill them.

sárkánykígyó
A giant winged snake, which in fact a full-grown zomok. It often serves as flying mount of the garabonciások (a kind of magician). The sárkánykígyó rules over storms and bad weather.

sárkány
A dragon in human form. Most of them are giants with multiple heads. Their strength is held in their heads. They become gradually weaker as they lose their heads.

Slavic dragons

zmey, zmiy, змей, or zmaj
Similar to the conventional European dragon, but multi-headed. They breathe fire and/or leave fiery wakes as they fly. In Slavic and related tradition, dragons symbolize evil. Specific dragons are often given Turkic names (see Zilant, below), symbolizing the long-standing conflict between the Slavs and Turks.

Romanian dragons

balaur
Balaur are very similar to the Slavic zmey: very large, with fins and multiple heads.

Asturian dragons

Cuélebre
In Asturian mythology the Cuélebres are giant winged serpents, which live in caves where they guard treasures and kidnapped xanas. They can live for centuries and, when they grow really old, they use their wings to fly. Their breath is poisonous and they often kill cattle to eat. Asturian term Cuelebre comes from Latin colŭbra, i.e. snake.

Turkish dragons

Ejderha or Evren
This creature is strikingly different from its fire breathing, flying European counterpart. The Turkish Dragon secretes flames from its tail, and there is no mention in any legends of its having wings, or even legs. In fact, most Turkish (and later, Islamic) sources describe dragons as gigantic snakes. The blood of the Turkish Dragon has its medical properties, becoming a panacea if drawn from the head and a lethal poison if drawn from the tail.

Basque dragons

Herensuge
Basque for "dragon". One legend has St. Michael descending from Heaven to kill it, but only when God agreed to accompany him, so fearful it was.

Sugaar
The male god of Basque mythology, also called Maju, was often associated to a serpent or snake, though he can adopt other forms.

This wraps up part 4 of the "Dragon" series. Part 5 is coming up next and will feature American and African dragons and dragon like creatures. Enjoy!

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Dragons: Pt 3

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Speculation on the origins of dragons

It has been suggested that legends of dragons are based upon ordinary creatures coupled with common psychological tendencies amongst disparate groups of humans.

Some believe that the dragon may have had a real-life counterpart from which the various legends arose — typically dinosaurs or other archosaurs are mentioned as a possibility — but there is no physical evidence to support this claim, only alleged sightings collected by cryptozoologists. In a common variation of this hypothesis, giant lizards such as Megalania are substituted for the living dinosaurs. Some believe dragons are mental manifestations representing an assembly of inherent human fears of reptiles, teeth, claws, size and fire in combination. All of these hypotheses are widely considered to be pseudoscience.

Dinosaur and mammalian fossils were occasionally mistaken as the bones of dragons and other mythological creatures — a discovery in 300 BC in Wucheng, Sichuan, China, was labeled as such by Chang Qu.[5] It is unlikely, however, that these finds alone prompted the legends of such monsters, but they may have served to reinforce them.

It has also been suggested by proponents of catastrophism that comets or meteor showers gave rise to legends about fiery serpents in the sky. In Old English, comets were sometimes called fyrene dracan or fiery dragons. Volcanic eruptions may have also been responsible for reinforcing the belief in dragons, although instances in Europe and Asian countries were rare.

Asian Dragons

Naga or Nogo: Indonesian Dragon

Naga is a mythical animal from Indonesian mythology, and the myth encompasses almost all of the islands of Indonesia, especially those who were influenced heavily by Hindu culture. Like its Indian counterpart, it is considered as divine in nature, benevolent, and often associated with sacred mountains, forests, or certain parts of the sea.

In some parts of Indonesia, Dragon or Naga is depicted as a gigantic serpent with a golden crown on its forehead, and there is a persistent belief among certain peoples that Nagas are still alive in uncharted mountains, lakes and active volcanoes. In Java and Bali, dragons represent goodness, and gods send dragons to the earth in order to maintain the force of good and gave people prosperity. Some natives claimed sightings of this fabled beast, and considered as a good omen if someone happen to glimpse one of these animals, but misfortune if the dragons talked to them.

Cambodian myth also involves nagas. Cambodian myth has it that the Cambodian nation began with offspring of a naga and royal human.


Lóng (or Lung)Chinese Dragon

Lóng have a long, scaled serpentine form combined with the attributes of other animals; most (but not all) are wingless, and has four claws on each foot (five for the imperial emblem). They are rulers of the weather and water, and a symbol of power. They also carried their eggs which were thought to have been huge pearls in their hands.


Ryū: Japanese Dragon
Similar to Chinese and Korean dragons, with three claws instead of four. They are benevolent (with exceptions), associated with water, and may grant wishes; rare in Japanese mythology.


Rồng or Long: Vietnamese Dragon

These dragons' bodies curve lithely, in sine shape, with 12 sections, symbolising 12 months in the year. They are able to change the weather, and are responsible for crops. On the dragon's back are little, uninterrupted, regular fins. The head has a long mane, beard, prominent eyes, crest on nose, but no horns. The jaw is large and opened, with a long, thin tongue; they always keep a châu (gem/jewel) in their mouths (a symbol of humanity, nobility and knowledge).


Yong: Korean Dragons
A sky dragon, essentially the same as the Chinese lóng. Like the lóng, yong and the other Korean dragons are associated with water and weather.
yo
A hornless ocean dragon, sometimes equated with a sea serpent.
kyo
A mountain dragon.


Vyalee and Naga: Indian Dragon

There is some debate as to whether or not Vyalee is considered a dragon. It is found in temples and is correlated with the goddess Parvati. Naga is the main dragon of Indian and Hindu mythology. Nagas are a race of magical serpents that live below water. Their king wears a golden crown atop his head. The Nagas are associated with Buddha and mainly with Lord Vishnu and his incarnations (Dasavataras). When Krishna was a child, he wrestled with a Naga that was obstructing a lake.

This wraps up part 3 of the "Dragons" series. Part 4 will follow shortly and cover European and American dragons. Enjoy!

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby SharpeBobbySharpe.blogspot.com www.myspace.com/akuasharpe

Interracial Marriages Increase: Pt 2

Interracial Marriages Surge Across the U.S.
By DAVID CRARY

Kim, a white woman raised on Cape Cod, met Al, who is black, in 1993 after she came to Jackson's Tougaloo College to study history. Together, they run Cool Al's - a popular hamburger restaurant - while raising a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter in the state with the nation's lowest percentage (0.7) of multiracial residents.

The children are homeschooled, Kim said, because Jackson's schools are largely divided along racial lines and might not be comfortable for biracial children. She said their family triggered a wave of "white flight" when they moved into a mostly white neighborhood four years ago - "People were saying to my kids, 'What are you doing here?"'

"Making friends here has been really, really tough," Kim said. "I'll go five years at a time with no white friends at all."

Yet some of the worst friction has been with her black in-laws. Kim said they accused her of scheming to take over the family business, and there's been virtually no contact for more than a year.

"Everything was race," Kim said. "I was called 'the white devil."

Her own parents in Massachusetts have been supportive, Kim said, but she credited her mother with foresight.

"She told me, 'Your life is going to be harder because of this road you've chosen - it's going to be harder for your kids,"' Kim said. "She was absolutely right."

Al Stamps said he is less sensitive to disapproval than his wife, and tries to be philosophical.

"I'm always cordial," he said. "I'll wait to see how people react to us. If I'm not wanted, I'll move on."

It's been easier, if not always smooth, for other couples.

Major Cox, a black Alabamian, and his white wife, Cincinnati-born Margaret Meier, have lived on the Cox family homestead in Smut Eye, Ala., for more than 20 years, building a large circle of black and white friends while encountering relatively few hassles.

"I don't feel it, I don't see it," said Cox, 66, when asked about racist hostility. "I live a wonderful life as a nonracial person."

Meier says she occasionally detects some expressions of disapproval of their marriage, "but flagrant, in-your-face racism is pretty rare now."

Cox - an Army veteran and former private detective who now joins his wife in raising quarter horses - longs for a day when racial lines in America break down.

"We are sitting on a powder keg of racism that's institutionalized in our attitudes, our churches and our culture," he said, "that's going to destroy us if we don't undo it."

In many cases, interracial families embody a mix of nationalities as well as races. Michelle Cadeau, born in Sweden, and her husband, James, born in Haiti, are raising their two sons as Americans in racially diverse West Orange, N.J., while teaching them about all three cultures.

"I think the children of families like ours will be able to make a difference in the world, and do things we weren't able to do," Michelle Cadeau said. "It's really important to put all their cultures together, to be aware of their roots, so they grow up not just as Swedish or Haitian or American, but as global citizens."

Meanwhile, though, there are frustrations - such as school forms for 5-year-old Justin that provide no option for him to be identified as multiracial.

"I'm aware there are going to be challenges," Michelle said. "There's stuff that's been working for a very long time in this country that is not going to work anymore."

The boom in interracial marriages forced the federal government to change its procedures for the 2000 census, allowing Americans for the first time to identify themselves by more than one racial category.

About 6.8 million described themselves as multiracial - 2.4 percent of the population - adding statistical fuel to the ongoing debate over what race really means.

Kerry Ann Rockquemore, professor of African-American studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, is the daughter of a black father and white mother, and says she is asked almost daily how she identifies herself.

The surge in interracial marriage comes at "a very awkward moment" in America's long struggle with racism, she says.

"We all want deeply and sincerely to be beyond race, to live in a world where race doesn't matter, but we continue to see deep racial disparities," Rockquemore said. "For interracial families, the great challenge is when the kids are going to leave home and face a world that is still very racialized."

The stresses on interracial couples can take a toll. The National Center for Health Statistics says their chances of a breakup within 10 years are 41 percent, compared to 31 percent for a couple of the same race.

In some categories of interracial marriage, there are distinct gender-related trends. More than twice as many black men marry white women as vice versa, and about three-fourths of white-Asian marriages involve white men and Asian women.

C.N. Le, a Vietnamese-American who teaches sociology at the University of Massachusetts, says the pattern has created some friction in Asian-American communities.

"Some of the men view the women marrying whites as sellouts, and a lot of Asian women say, 'Well, we would want to date you more, but a lot of you are sexist or patriarchal,"' said Le, who attributes the friction in part to gender stereotypes of Asians that have been perpetuated by American films and TV shows.

Kelley Kenney, a professor at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, is among those who have bucked the black-white gender trend. A black woman, she has been married since 1988 to a fellow academic of Irish-Italian descent, and they have jointly offered programs for the American Counseling Association about interracial couples.

Kenney recalled some tense moments in 1993 when, soon after they moved to Kutztown, a harasser shattered their car window and placed chocolate milk cartons on their lawn. "It was very powerful to see how the community rallied around us," she said.

Kenney is well aware that some blacks view interracial marriage as a potential threat to black identity, and she knows her two daughters, now 15 and 11, will face questions on how they identify themselves.

"For older folks in the black community," she said "it's a feeling of not wanting people to forget where they came from."

Yet some black intellectuals embrace the surge in interracial marriages and multiracial families; among them is Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy, who addressed the topic in his latest book, "Interracial Intimacies: Sex, Marriage, Identity, and Adoption."

"Malignant racial biases can and do reside in interracial liaisons," Kennedy wrote. "But against the tragic backdrop of American history, the flowering of multiracial intimacy is a profoundly moving and encouraging development."

That concludes our 2 part story on interracial marriage. In closing, I would just like to say, "it is time to move forward". Based on all the things I have "remembered" and learned over the last few months, "we are all the same". What difference does it make as to what race or color we are? Our souls are all incarneated here on this planet, in this dimension as "humans".

As one of my friends commented on part 1 of this story, "the great by-product of interracial marriage is the off spring of such unions, which are more open minded and experienced from more than one side of the proverbial coin". "Through them, we can start tearing down the barriers of race and prejudice". Amen to that! For all of you "lost" souls that cannot subscribe to this premise, "you need to OPYN Your Mindz"!

"What we think about and thank about is what we bring about"

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Interracial Marriages Increase In The U.S. PT 1

Take the poll in the yellow box please!

This is a subject that I can certainly relate to. Since I am the product of an interracial marriage and, in an interracial marriage happily for the last 20 plus years. So, to answer your question, "I am an authority on this topic". Bank it! This is a well written story that many folks should read and give some thought to.

Interracial Marriages Surge Across the U.S.
By DAVID CRARY

NEW YORK (April 14) - The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world's best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage .

More than 7 percent of America's 59 million married couples in 2005 were interracial, compared to less than 2 percent in 1970.

For most of U.S. history, in most communities, such unions were taboo.

It was only 40 years ago - on June 12, 1967 - that the U.S. Supreme Court knocked down a Virginia statute barring whites from marrying nonwhites. The decision also overturned similar bans in 15 other states.

Since that landmark Loving v. Virginia ruling, the number of interracial marriages has soared; for example, black-white marriages increased from 65,000 in 1970 to 422,000 in 2005, according to Census Bureau figures. Factoring in all racial combinations, Stanford University sociologist Michael Rosenfeld calculates that more than 7 percent of America's 59 million married couples in 2005 were interracial, compared to less than 2 percent in 1970.

Coupled with a steady flow of immigrants from all parts of the world, the surge of interracial marriages and multiracial children is producing a 21st century America more diverse than ever, with the potential to become less stratified by race.

"The racial divide in the U.S. is a fundamental divide. ... but when you have the 'other' in your own family, it's hard to think of them as 'other' anymore," Rosenfeld said. "We see a blurring of the old lines, and that has to be a good thing, because the lines were artificial in the first place."

The boundaries were still distinct in 1967, a year when the Sidney Poitier film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" - a comedy built around parents' acceptance of an interracial couple - was considered groundbreaking. The Supreme Court ruled that Virginia could not criminalize the marriage that Richard Loving, a white, and his black wife, Mildred, entered into nine years earlier in Washington, D.C.

But what once seemed so radical to many Americans is now commonplace.

Many prominent blacks - including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas , civil rights leader Julian Bond and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun - have married whites. Well-known whites who have married blacks include former Defense Secretary William Cohen and actor Robert DeNiro.

Last year, the Salvation Army installed Israel Gaither as the first black leader of its U.S. operations. He and his wife, Eva, who is white, wed in 1967 - the first interracial marriage between Salvation Army officers in the United States.

Opinion polls show overwhelming popular support, especially among younger people, for interracial marriage.

That's not to say acceptance has been universal. Interviews with interracial couples from around the country reveal varied challenges, and opposition has lingered in some quarters.

Bob Jones University in South Carolina only dropped its ban on interracial dating in 2000; a year later 40 percent of the voters objected when Alabama became the last state to remove a no-longer-enforceable ban on interracial marriages from its constitution.

Taunts and threats, including cross burnings, still occur sporadically. In Cleveland, two white men were sentenced to prison earlier this year for harassment of an interracial couple that included spreading liquid mercury around their house.

More often, though, the difficulties are more nuanced, such as those faced by Kim and Al Stamps during 13 years as an interracial couple in Jackson, Miss.

Their story will pick up on Part 2 of this article!

To be CONTINUED....

Peace & Soulz & Love,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Don Imus Firing

I have no idea where to start this posting. There are so many things going through my head, it feels like it will explode.

The main reasons I am doing this are: (1) I can! (2) I ALWAYS have an opinion! (3) Because many of my regular readers wanted to know where I weighed in on this subject. (4) Even though I have turned to and focused on my "spiritualism" and positive energy, sometimes you just have to get off and let it fly!

If you referred to the girls Asian volleyball team as "slant eyed ho's", is that racist? Sexist, maybe, racist, NO! Most Asians do have slanted eyes! If you referred to the Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic womens gymnastic teams as "blond blue eyed ho's", is that racist? Sexist maybe, racist, NO! If you referred to a Latino girls softball team as "beans and rice eating ho's", is that racist? Sexist maybe, racist NO!

The operative statement being made in the paragraph above is, "you are what you are"! Like it or not, a significant number of blacks DO have nappy hair! Most Asians do have slanted eyes as stated above! Most Swedish, Norwegian folks have blue eyes and blond hair! And, last but not least, most Latinos, consume beans and rice as part of their regular diet! Therefore, "you are what you are" and should not take offense when someone points it out! Hey, that's life. Play the hand you were dealt and deal with it. Stop the whining!

But, not black folks in this country. Every time someone other than a black person says something that is "percieved" to be anti black and racist, the poor black folk want to get their panties in a wad. Especially, Black America's want to be leaders, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Anything to get their names in the spotlight! Especially since they BOTH are has beens and yesterdays news! Mr. Obama is todays black voice, and, the other two can't stand it for a minute. Once again, "that's life". You both had your chances and failed miserably. Please, GO AWAY!

Black folks, "wake up and smell the roses". If you can sit around and let other black folk say the same thing and worse under the guise of being a "rapper" or "comedian", yet down anyone else other than black folks saying these things, "then YOU are mentally short sighted and the problem, NOT the victim"!

As far as Don Imus goes, he is an idiot! Not so much for what he said, but, the fact that he did not have enough sense to realize what an uproar this would cause. According to a national poll of well over 20,000 people, Imus should NOT have been

fired! By a margin of 60%! Reprimanded, YES! Myself, I would have fined and suspended him and various other forms of reprimands. Fired, NO!

And as for all you so called "advertisers" that pulled your support of his shows, you will PAY. The majority in this country still support "free speech". Since YOU don't, see how it feels to be boycotted for your "lack of stones". Yes, I will publish a list of all the sponsors who pulled their ads from Imus's show.

Only in America. That's why I said on previous postings about the "indigo children" and the "crystal children", "thank God they are here and will be our future, because all these "pale yellows and yellows we have running around now, are really screwing things up for mankind"!

Hey Bobby - great post, as I have already told you. The only thing missing is that you need to post who the companies are that pulled their advertising and supported the firing of Imus. According to CNN, they are: Staples, General Motors, Sprint Nextel, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, PetMed Express, American Express and Bigelow Tea." Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/13/imus.rutgers/index.html

Love ya!! Karen

Thanx for the info Karen

"What we think about and thank about is what we bring about"

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Dragons: Pt 2 Of Series

This is part 2 of my series on dragons. Hope you are enjoying the stuff here and learning something. Don't forget, take the poll on the right side of this page as you scroll down. It wont bite! As usual, please click on some of my advertisers, you might see something you like!

Symbolism

In medieval symbolism, dragons were often symbolic of apostasy and treachery, but also of anger and envy, and eventually symbolized great calamity. Several heads were symbolic of decadence and oppression, and also of heresy. They also served as symbols for independence, leadership and strength. Many dragons also represent wisdom; slaying a dragon not only gave access to its treasure hoard, but meant the hero had bested the most cunning of all creatures. In some cultures, especially Chinese, or around the Himalayas, dragons are considered to represent good luck.

Joseph Campbell in the The Power of Myth viewed the dragon as a symbol of divinity or transcendence because it represents the unity of Heaven and Earth by combining the serpent form (earthbound) with the bat/bird form (airborne).

Dragons embody both male and female traits, as in the example from Aboriginal myth that raises baby humans to adulthood, training them for survival in the world.[2] Another striking illustration of the way dragons are portrayed is their ability to breathe fire but live in the ocean. Dragons represent the joining of the opposing forces of the cosmos.

Yet another symbolic view of dragons is the Ouroborus, or the dragon encircling and eating its own tail. When shaped like this the dragon becomes a symbol of eternity, natural cycles, and completion.

In Christianity

The Latin word for a dragon, draco (genitive: draconis), actually means snake or serpent, emphasizing the European association of dragons with snakes, not lizards or dinosaurs as they are commonly associated with today. The Medieval Biblical interpretation of the Devil being associated with the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve, thus gave a snake-like dragon connotations of evil. Generally speaking, Biblical literature itself did not portray this association (save for the Book of Revelation, whose treatment of dragons is detailed below). The demonic opponents of God, Christ, or good Christians have commonly been portrayed as reptilian or chimeric.

In the Book of Job Chapter 41, there are references to a sea monster Leviathan, which has some dragon-like characteristics.

In Revelation 12:3, an enormous red beast with seven heads is described, whose tail sweeps one third of the stars from heaven down to earth (held to be symbolic of the fall of the angels, though not commonly held among biblical scholars). In most translations, the word "dragon" is used to describe the beast, since in the original Greek the word used is drakon (δράκον).

In iconography, some Catholic saints are depicted in the act of killing a dragon. This is one of the common aspects of Saint George in Egyptian Coptic iconography,[3] on the coat of arms of Moscow, and in English and Catalan legend. In Italy, Saint Mercurialis, first bishop of the city of Forlì, is also depicted slaying a dragon.[4] Saint Julian of Le Mans, Saint Veran, Saint Crescentinus, Saint Margaret of Antioch, Saint Martha, and Saint Leonard of Noblac were also venerated as dragon-slayers.

However, some say that dragons were good, before they fell from grace, as humans did from the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve's Original Sin was committed. Also contributing to the good dragon argument in Christianity is the fact that, if they did exist, they were created as were any other creature, as seen in Dragons In Our Midst, a contemporary Christian book series by author Bryan Davis.

Chinese zodiac

The years 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036, 2048, 2060 etc. (every 12 years — 8 AD) are considered the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.

The Chinese zodiac purports that people born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also supposedly honest, sensitive, brave, and inspire confidence and trust. The Chinese zodiac purports that people whose zodiac sign is the dragon are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They supposedly neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are purported to be compatible with people whose zodiac sign is of the rat, snake, monkey, and rooster.


In East Asia

Dragons are commonly symbols of good luck or health in some parts of Asia, and are also sometimes worshipped. Asian dragons are considered as mythical rulers of weather, specifically rain and water, and are usually depicted as the guardians of pearls.

In China, as well as in Japan and Korea, the Azure Dragon is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellation, representing spring, the element of Wood and the east. Chinese dragons are often shown with large pearls in their grasp, though some say that it is really the dragon's egg. The Chinese believed that the dragons lived underwater most of the time, and would sometimes offer rice as a gift to the dragons. The dragons were not shown with wings like the European dragons because it was believed they could fly using magic.

A Yellow dragon (Huang long) with five claws on each foot, on the other hand, represents the change of seasons, the element of Earth (the Chinese 'fifth element') and the center. Furthermore, it symbolizes imperial authority in China, and indirectly the Chinese people as well. Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity. The dragon is also the symbol of royalty in Bhutan (whose sovereign is known as Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King).


A naga guarding the Temple of Wat Sisaket in Viang Chan, LaosIn Vietnam, the dragon (Vietnamese: rồng) is the most important and sacred symbol. According to the ancient creation myth of the Kinh people, all Vietnamese people are descended from dragons through Lạc Long Quân, who married Âu Cơ, a fairy. The eldest of their 100 sons founded the first dynasty of Hùng Vương Emperors.

The Nāga - a minor deity taking the form of a serpent - is common within both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Technically, the naga is not a dragon, though it is often taken as such; the term is ambiguous, and refers both to a tribe of people known as 'Nāgas', as well as to elephants and ordinary snakes. Within a mythological context, it refers to a deity assuming the form of a serpent with either one or many heads.

Occasionally the Buddha is depicted as sitting upon the coils of a serpent, with a fan of several serpent heads extending over his body. This is in reference to Mucalinda, a Nāga that protected Śākyamuni Buddha from the elements during the time of his enlightenment. Separated from the contextualising effect of the Buddha story, people may see only the head and thus infer that Mucalinda is a dragon, rather than a deity in serpentine form. Stairway railings on Buddhist temples will occasionally be worked to resemble the body of a Nāga with the head at the base of the railing. In Thailand, the head of Nāga, in a more impressionistic form, can be seen at the corners of temple roofs, with Nāga’s body forming the ornamentation on roofline eves up to the gables.

Part 3 will be up in a day or so. Speculation on the origins of dragons, dragons in world wide mythology etc.

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Dragons: Pt1 Of Series

Please click on some of my advertisers. Might find something you like!

Since I am in the process of finishing my book/story "Dragon", and, posting up some excerps from the book, I thought it would be pretty cool to run a series on dragons. Trying to touch on as much informative stuff as I can find or come across.

Many people have varying thoughts on dragons. Whether they, in fact, existed, or, were just mythology. As I always say, "all I am doing is providing you with food for thought so that you can opyn your mindz and call your own shot". As a very good friend and teacher told me, "the dragons are here, we just can't see them right now". Enjoy this series.

"The dragon is a mythical creature typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile with magical or spiritual qualities. Mythological creatures possessing some or most of the characteristics typically associated with dragons are common throughout the world's cultures."

Overview

Dragons are commonly portrayed as serpentine or reptilian, hatching from eggs and possessing extremely large, typically scaly, bodies; they are sometimes portrayed as having large eyes, a feature that is the origin for the word for dragon in many cultures, and are often (but not always) portrayed with wings and a fiery breath. Some dragons do not have wings at all, but look more like long snakes. Dragons can have a variable number of legs: none, two, four, or more when it comes to early European literature. Modern depictions of dragons are very large in size, but some early European depictions of dragons were only the size of bears, or, in some cases, even smaller, around the size of a butterfly.

Although dragons (or dragon-like creatures) occur commonly in legends around the world, different cultures have perceived them differently. Chinese dragons (Simplified Chinese: 龙; Traditional Chinese: 龍; pinyin: lóng), and Eastern dragons generally, are usually seen as benevolent, whereas European dragons are usually malevolent (there are of course exceptions to these rules). Malevolent dragons also occur in Persian mythology (see Azhi Dahaka) and other cultures.

Dragons are particularly popular in China. Along with the phoenix, the dragon was a symbol of the Chinese emperors. Dragon costumes manipulated by several people are a common sight at Chinese festivals.

Dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. In many Eastern and Native American cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature and the universe. They are associated with wisdom—often said to be wiser than humans—and longevity. They are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernormal power, and are often associated with wells, rain, and rivers. In some cultures, they are said to be capable of human speech. They are also said to be able to talk to all animals and converse with humans.

Dragons are very popular characters in fantasy literature, role-playing games and video games today.

The term dragoon, for infantry that move around by horse yet still fight as foot soldiers, is derived from their early firearm, the "dragon", a wide-bore musket that spat flame when it fired, and was thus named for the mythical creature.

Part 2 of this dragon series will continue with SYMBOLISMS: Christianity, Chinese Zodiac, and, East Asia.

Peace & Soulz,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Nat'l Geographic Ch:'Wolfman' Documentary

'Wolf Man' Lives With Pack in the Wild
He Even Pretends to Eat From Animal Carcasses

(April 6) - When Shaun Ellis came upon three abandoned wolf pups, he decided to raise them to be wild in a most unconventional way -- by pretending to be a wolf himself.

Ellis has spent his entire life studying the behavior of wolves and their interaction with humans. The National Geographic Channel followed Ellis' fascinating pursuit, producing a documentary called "A Man Among Wolves" that airs April 16.

First becoming interested in wolves as a child, Ellis says he decided to live among a wolf pack to help bridge the gap between wolves and humans. Ellis readily admits that many people will find it crazy that he lives and behaves like a wolf, but he thinks the ultimate benefits of his experiment make his case.

In the documentary, Ellis describes how he eats and lives with the wolves. His food is placed in a plastic bag inside an animal carcass that the rest of the wolves eat from.

In some ways, Ellis almost stopped being human. He talked about putting his emotions on hold while he was with the animals, because wolves do not feel emotions. When he leaves the pack, he finds it difficult to interact with other human beings. He is a "true wolf man. You can't get closer to wolves than he has," the documentary's producer, Bernard Walton, said of Ellis.

Ellis warns those watching though that "it's very dangerous for people who haven't been trained, who think that they can just walk into a wolf pack and be accepted."

The documentary includes the opinions of experts -- such as Chris Darimont, a wolf biologist with the Raincoast Conservation Society's wolf project and an instructor at the University of Victoria in British Columbia -- who are both intrigued by and skeptical of Ellis' unorthodox methods.

"I find it difficult to resolve that as humans we can teach wolves something," Darimont says. "I think the best teachers for wolves are their parents and older siblings in their natural social environment."

He concedes, however, that "lots of progress that has been made in science over the last century and more comes from the mavericks, or people that think a little differently.

Biologist Doug Smith, leader of the Yellowstone Gray Wolf Project, said, "When you eat and sleep and interact with wolves -- that's something we can't replicate here, we won't do, we can't do."

Walton described the difficulties in filming, such as the camera crew having to wear protective gear and the use of a small camouflage tent to hide the camera. The wolves, he says, became jittery around strangers, so Ellis was in a unique position of being comfortable with the wolves.

According to Walton, Ellis truly sees "the world through the eyes of a wolf," offering a point of view that scientists so far have not been able to access.

Needless to say, you know where I will be April 16th! Watching the National Geographic Channel! As much as I love wolves, and feel a bond with them, I don't know if I could do what Mr. Ellis has done. I do support him 1000%!

Copyright 2007 ABCNEWS.com

"All that we are is a result of what we have thought",

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 Video Game

Review: 'Tiger Woods' Game Par for Wii
Apr 4, 7:27 PM (ET)By MATT SLAGLE

"Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07" is the closest thing to actual golf available on the Nintendo Wii. For indoor putters who've had enough of the rather simple golf game that comes with the console, this new E-rated, $49.99 title is a huge step forward for virtual golfers.

I'm not much of a golfer in real life. Never have been, never will be (other than a visit to the local putt-putt now and then).

But I have played plenty of video-game golf over the years, from my first swing at "Links" for the PC in the early 1990s to those Golden Tee Golf machines you see in bars all over the place.

The Wii, of course, is the first console with a wireless motion-sensitive remote. This gives it an inherent advantage over other game systems, where golfing skill is generally dependent on your ability to click a mouse button or push a track ball at just the right time.

The Wii makes for a much more realistic experience - and a much greater, often frustrating, challenge.

As with the real thing, striking a balance between power and accuracy is the trick. Patience will be required, too, as I spent days developing a consistent, straight shot that didn't sail out of bounds or into a pond.

A big windup was generally a bad idea because it led to overpowered hooks and slices. Plus, any companions in my living room would be ducking for cover to avoid my swinging arms.

Instead, I found that a quick flick of the wrist gave me the best results. Best of all, I could sit down and still play - a couch-potato athlete's dream.

Putting, however, gave me problems no matter how much I practiced. Despite a convenient grid that shows the slope and elevation of the green, I found it way too easy to accidentally move my putter and nudge the ball off track. I had more triple bogeys that I could count because of this.

Tiger and a few dozen other professional golfers are available to play, but you can also create your own custom duffer.

The Wii version's emphasis on controls seems to have come at the expense of the graphics. The visuals here were bad, with some of the on-screen text so blurry that I could barely read it on my high-definition television. The courses, too, generally lacked any visual punch, with bland colors and sparse scenery.

The sounds effects - the drone of passing jetliners, chirping birds, hooting spectators (I even heard a flushing toilet at one point) - do help make for a realistic outdoor setting.

It's not a hole in one, but "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07" is a solid debut for the franchise on the Wii. Golfing gurus now definitely have something to do on a rainy day. With some patience and practice, the rest of us just might have a good time, too.

Two-and-a-half stars out of four.

I have not seen or played this game yet. However, if it is this realistic, it beats walking around 18 holes here in Florida when it is 90 degrees. Besides, you pay the $49.99 once, and then there are NO greens fees etc. Sounds like a bargain to me!

Have fun,

Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe BobbySharpe.blogspot.com