I sure hope so. I hope more of us come to understand what young black boys and men and their families have to go through - shit - sometimes even just to cross the street! The American system of justice supposedly dictates that one is innocent until proven guilty. That never seems to apply to blacks. I'm so tired of this awful "tradition" - another weeping mother. Another soft black face glistening and slicked down with tears. Another older black man with that stricken look on his face upon the news his son is gone.

It's sickening. It's just sickening. When is enough enough? Hell, even our President knows how it feels to be young and African-American and be treated like an automatic suspect - just because.

I'm a mom myself so it just nauseates me to see another mother grief-stricken like that. Hurts me too. Makes my heart ache.

It has to STOP.

So glad this Christmas has a happy ending for you, catnhatnh!

I've been feeding my birdies out front every year since last year - when we found this little nest tucked up under the roof overhang outside the front door. Late April noticed unusual activity, unusually close to the house. Birds flying across from the magnolia trees in toward the door.

Whaaaa? It was a pair of them taking turns feeding something up there in the - "OMG LOOK! There's a bird's nest!!!"coupla days later I heard little cheeping and chirping up there. One day later there was this little beak sticking up. Then the whole head with mouth wide open. Then next day two little heads! Then three!!!

By Mother's Day they were so big they were crowding each other out of the best and learning to perch on the rim of the nest. Then they started leaving.

But they hung around because I'd started leaving a little pile of seeds on the ground for the mama and daddy birds. It was fun to see the little ones come back because they too discovered the pile of seeds.

This past late April, sure enough, another of that same kind of bird came back and moved in on the nest and the cycle started all over again! When the nest emptied we had different sets of advice - should clear the nest away cuz they won't be back, and don't clear the nest away cuz they wil be back. Sure enough there soon was flapping and zooming across the front with parents bringing food, then one little head poking up, then two. Finally there wer FOUR this year! I named 'em after the boys in the band!

The boys liked it. When they'd come over to do band stuff they'd sit out front and watch and thought it was pretty cool! By then we had a couple of hungry squirrels that grew pretty bold and wouldn't scamper off so quickly when we'd come outside. And there were blue jays and mourning doves and the little birds of the nest. Don't know what kind of birds they are but they have little black hooded heads, black and gray backs and wings and tails, and creamy white tummies. I call 'em tuxedo birds.

I love feeding the birds and watching them. And the squirrels too. Hope we get another nesting next spring - cuz the nest is still up there!

We used to sing it that way - or rather mumble it that way - in Glee Club in Catholic school when I was a kid.
It was loaded, it exploded, following yonder star...
Merry Christmas brothers and sisters!!!
Love this thread!
Love you all!

My husband and I were talking about it yesterday and it suddenly dawned on my - what if it was Sony all along? That would be one of the most devious PR campaigns in motion picture history! Cuz it's probably gonna make a fortune, relatively speaking, of course, since it's only in - what - 300 theaters?

But I heard so much commentary about it saying it was a real so-so movie that'd probably do next to nothing in general release. But NOW it's a big controversial hot potato and everyone's gonna want to check it out to see what all the fuss was about.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Bullying tactics. So when officers overreact and some innocent gets shot to death or a penny-ante "crime" results in a death sentence, the police are still immune? They ALWAYS get a free pass, even when they're in the wrong?

I'm pro union. But this guy is just stirring up shit. He's causing even more of a rift with the community rather than trying to show some level-headed leadership (the way the mayor is doing).

Sad but true. Pretty grim times.

Sounds like this little boy will grow up to be a thinking, kind, and compassionate man.

Just think Supreme Court. You want one of theirs picking the next one(s)?