Education in the Stimulus Bill

I sat on a conference call today with the new Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The conference call was supposed to give a little guidance on how education will benefit from the economic stimulus. Secretary Duncan said there are three areas of extreme importance to him and President Obama in terms of benefitting education. The first goal is to protect children, the second goal is to provide and protect jobs and the third goal is to push a reform agenda for education.

Here are a few numbers he spewed out and how this money will be allocated.

54 billion States stabilization and education fund

9 billion Capital needs

5 billion Race to the Top fund (overall drive to improve education)

32 billion College affordability

17 billion Pell grants

15 billion Tax Credits

12 billion IDA and Special Education

5 billion Early childhood education

200 million Pay for performance

And a few other things, I started zoning out after hearing millions. Secretary Duncan expressed their hope to get money to the states in order to help them finish the 2009 school year and include in their 2009-2010 school year budget. They expect to have the stimulus bill on President Obama's desk by Monday and you can see that looks realistic since the bill has breezed through the House and is moving through the Senate.

My only concern is the point where money goes to the states, this is when the ball of confusion starts spinning. Will the funds go to all schools in a blanket amount or to the schools with the most need? Will there be requirements for the money? Will pay for performance support teacher salaries along with union requirements? Does money for college affordability mean more scholarships, free books, free laptops??

There's still much unanswered at this point and Secretary Duncan didn't seem to have sufficient answers. When it comes to this stimulus the real question is, what happens when the rubber meets the road.

Move Slowly Folks, one @ a time

Last week National Public Radio (NPR) announced lay offs and financial cuts due to the economy recession. Included in the cuts was the cancellation of two programs produced out of NPR West, Day to Day and News and Notes. Day to Day was NPR's attempt to create a program that was quicker in pace and fresher in sound than there primary shows (Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation). Day to Day also included more pop culture content and stories originating from the West Coast. Day to Day was an excellent direction for NPR and integrated easily into the NPR line-up.

News and Notes which is currently hosted by journalist Farai Chideya was another attempt for NPR to reach out to their chronically under served minority listening audience. The show began with former BET host Ed Gordon who left the program allegedly due to lack of support from NPR. Chideya stepped in upon his departure and brought more West Coast flavor and pop-culture content to the program. I don't feel Farai is the greatest radio anchor but I appreciate NPR continuing to air the program after the departure of the original host.

The challenges of News & Notes are similar to the challenges Tavis Smiley faced while hosting his popular but short-lived NPR program "The Tavis Smiley Show". Smiley's show was produced from NPR West and brought a more critical analysis of news of the day from a minority perspective. The program also brought black celebrities and comedians to an audience who may not otherwise hear their thoughts on political, social and economic issues.

When Tavis left the airwaves, NPR attempted to fill the new void with News & Notes with Ed Gordon which was soon followed by Tell Me More with Michel Martin. Neither show completely fills the void left by Tavis Smiley and leaves the network with one lone African-American show.

Martin is a well-trained journalist and the show's content is enlightening without being brash, harsh, loud or timid on racial subjects.

Although NPR has received large donations in recent years, interest in information programming is growing and the network is moving into larger digs in Washington, DC the company is still hitting brick walls when it comes to serving their minority audience and a growing younger audience. If the programming is right the potential audience gain for NPR is huge with the numbers of Hispanic, African-Americans, Asian listeners interested in information content.

Hopefully, after the dust settles NPR will realize they have to diversity their content and give new programs the same support which is given to their flagship programs. Currently they are moving at a snail's pace and one is not enough.

Cupcake Captain Strikes Again

I whipped up a batch, well whipped is a serious understatement, I labored over a batch of cupcakes for my nephew's eighth birthday party. Not the stellar execution I'd prefer but for a first time try and an elementary birthday party--they were just fine. The bug cupcake recipe by Martha Stewart was the inspiration.

Mexican tonight??

Let me tell you about a hole in the wall I visited last night--literally. A girlfriend and I went out for a late night bite in Silver Spring, MD. We decided to visit Matamoros, which means Moor slayer in Spanish and is the name of a famous Mexican priest and rebel soldier, this place appeared seriously jumping at 11pm while everything else around was a complete dead zone. After walking in we learned that the place was full because Guatemala was playing Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup qualifying match. Anyway, the place was small and the main seating section was in front for those watching the football game. There was a small bar and a few tables for other folks who wanted to eat. When the guy asked where we wanted to sit he gave us two options--the table by the window with an intriguing view of the window unit fan or the table by the HOLE IN THE WALL. We picked the luxury window unit seat.

We ordered drinks and this was quite a delight, the menu listed Sangria for $5, Margaritas for $5.50 and Strawberry Daiquiris for $5.50. We ordered the strawberry daiquiris and although they looked a little more raspberry in color, I thought the drink was delicious. My friend thought it was too sweet and ordered a pina colada.


While we waited for our meal and continually discussed our country club view of the window fan and the hole in the wall I made another observation that is quite interesting. (Notice the hole in the wall to the left of me in my picture) The two tables next to us, which we're pushed together for a large party that had just left, have a clear identifying mark on them--Westfield Shoppingtown. Now for anyone familiar with the suburban mall scene has visited one of Westfield's shopping malls around the U.S. or even their global locations in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. If you've ever been in the mall and had a desire for bourbon chicken, Boardwalk Fries or a slice of pizza you've seen the Westfield Shoppingtown tables which have the mall logo on the corner of the tables in red and black. What makes this all the more funnier is that Wheaton Mall, a Westfield property, is no more than 2 traffic lights away from this restaurant. Somehow the owners of this restaurant hauled off two tables (we only saw two, there may have been more) from the nearby Wheaton Mall and set-up shop in their restaurant. I thought the sight of the two tables was just hilarious but my friend was in utter shock. It's similar to hotel towels. My mother would never give a guest of our home a towel that came from some hotel stay in the past but to me it's a wink and a smile kind of deal, I applaud people for being resourceful. A towel is a towel and in this case a table is a table.

Our food came to the table, my order of two chicken enchiladas with ranchero sauce and my friend's order of chicken enchiladas with two tacos. I enjoyed my food and actually thought it was delicious (the fact that I'm on a Slim Fast diet could be a major factor in that). My friend really believes she's a serious food critic and thought the chicken could have more flavor, the taco was better than the enchilada and the rice was good because it was not Spanish rice. They really cut corners on the rice, it wasn't Spanish or Mexican rice and really tasted like warmed up Minute Rice or Rice-A-Roni.

Overall, I'd say the place was fine for a late night bite considering the food and drinks were good enough and there was excitement from the patrons watching the game. The restaurant exploded when Guatemala made a goal. (A flag was called on the goal so the celebration was short-lived)

I'd say always take the time to try a new place and never underestimate a hole in the wall.

Real Housewives???

Man, she had me fooled. Watching the new season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo we met five new women with "glamorous" lives. Sherree Whitfield, former wife of NFL player Bob Whitfield; DeShaun Snow, wife of NBA player Eric Snow; Nene Leakes, wife of a real estate investor; Kim Zolciak, a budding country singer and Lisa Wu Hartwell, wife of NFL player Ed Hartwell. From watching the first show everyone makes their personal judgements on who's classy, who's new money, who's tacky, who's a golddigger, who's living in a bubble. Personally, I thought Mrs. Leakes, Mrs. Whitfield and Ms. Zolciak exhibited new money and golddiggeritis (if that's a word). Mrs. Snow appeared slightly more grounded with young children in the home and a husband who expressed a need to show financial restraint and management. Mrs. Hartwell gave the impression of a sweet, adorable and ambitious business woman who happened to meet an NFL player.

Wrong

Known on the Bravo TV series as Lisa Wu Hartwell, she is the former wife of R& B singer and producer Keith Sweat and mother of two children with him, ages 13 and 11. In the past Ms. Hartwell has also gone by the name Sharon Lisa Sweat, Lisa Wu Sweat and Sharon Millette Wu as specified in this legal document where Keith Sweat sued her in 2007 for misusing his name on a movie production he financed.

http://www.ganb.uscourts.gov/judges/opn/opn_view.php?Id=855

Man, she's old hat at this. She's probably in some of those videos from back in the day like Make it Last Forever or Don't Stop Your Love. Chatrooms also suggest that the Hartwell romance and marriage was very quick and what you see on television is not always what it seems.

Interesting!!

Obama Biden Rally in Fredericksburg, VA

Yesterday I attended an Obama/Biden rally in Fredericksburg, VA on the campus of the University of Mary Washington. I figured it wasn't that far and it would be my first time seeing the two candidates together; I also wanted to see how the crowds were reacting to vice presidential candidate Joe Biden.

On the main road that takes you into downtown Fredericksburg there's a huge sign that reads "McCain/Palin country"?!?!?!?!

Found a good space in a local business area and walked down to the rally area in Ball Circle. There were tons of people in line to get into the rally and right outside the campus on College Avenue was a house with a huge, wooden McCain/Palin sign. So back to the line, there were tons of people winding around the campus into the Ball Circle area. I thought the line would never end. It was quite chaotic finding the press check-in but once I got in I saw that there was hardly any press there. I'm wondering why they weren't trying to get more folks in.

So of course, they have the oh-so glorious tented section for the traveling press and everyone else is relegated to the elements. Any who, the section set-up for attendees was very small. There was an area around the primary viewing section for people who got in but there was a large amount of people who didn't get in but still had a great view of the stage.

The rally was supposed to begin around 6:30pm but around 6:00pm the rains came down. Serious rain. Lightening and everything. Nobody left, people looked for shelter if that was possible but nobody left. Rain was in the forecast and some people came prepared but most just didn't care. At this time they're telling us we have to leave from under the tented traveling press area repeating the lie that "they're on their way". After about 30 or 40 minutes the rain let up and everyone soaked up the few minutes of sun to get ready for the main event.
Around 7:00pm Joe Biden and Barack Obama appeared on stage, no opening acts, straight to the main event. Joe Biden stepped up to the podium and his first line of attack was John McCain's comments at the preceding night's debate. He attacked his foreign policy angles on Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia. He primarily questioned his judgment and attempted to prove that this characteristic is what defines Senator Obama's ability to be President not John McCain. The audience appeared very lukewarm to Senator Biden's comments, I'm not sure if it was the foreign policy topic or just the general response to Biden.

Obama then took the stage and immediately discussed the need to turn Virginia blue. He started with the economy and addressed some of McCain's comments from the debate at Ole Miss on September 26th. About 20 minutes into Obama's comments the rain starts up again and people started leaving.  I guess they figured they couldn't take any more rain and since they'd gotten a taste of Obama in person it was OK to leave.

The Senator continued to attack McCain as it relates to the financial bailout and commented that "American people should not pay for the bailout" and that these big money CEO's "shouldn't even think about cashing in" and that there will be "no welfare for Wall Street".

The biggest zinger of the night immediately followed when he alluded to the misperception that McCain is for regulation.  Obama said "if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you in Alaska" referring to Alaska's infamous government project "The Bridge to Nowhere". 

The rain kept coming down but all Obama did was take-off his jacket and roll-up his sleeves half-way (the signature look he wears now when trying to look casually dressed). Since this setting was a college campus he touched on financial aid problems and his proposed idea for absolving financial costs, he also took a hit at No Child Left Behind (NCLB) saying he will support teachers so they won't have to only teach to the test.

The crowd was completely riled up and Obama closed it down. The two men waved to the audience, shook hands while their usual campaign song played "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder.

Overall, it was another good campaign event; not great but good. The weather and predictions for rain definitely hurt the event. The space designated for people to get in was just way too small. There was no build up of local politicians and supporters to help get the audience ready. In late night television and comedy shows they always use people to warm-up the audience and this event could have definitely benefited from that. Biden and Obama did a great job of addressing McCain's points on the economy and foreign policy but these topics are hard for crowds to get a handle on and for politicians to get a strong crowd response. I've been to better campaign events indoors and outdoors and this was pretty much a six on the scale of one to ten.

I did however get some cool pics of the different Obama T-shirts. Check it out http://www.slide.com/r/QOmWBKK2oD8VseRQJesTaaCsBQt13xPY?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

R.I.P. Council Member Ken Harris

Amidst the craziness of last week, covering the Congressional Black Caucus and McCain deciding he was temporarily suspending his presidential campaign, came the funeral of a former co-worker and all-around great guy-- Baltimore City Council Member Kenneth Harris. Ken Harris served Baltimore City as Counci lMember for nearly 10 years and also hosted a show on WEAA-FM called "City Talk" which is how I came to know him. In the wee hours of Sunday morning on September 20th Ken was shot in a robbery attempt (in his own district where he lived and served) and was pronounced dead at 2am at John Hopkins Hospital.

Ken was 45 years old, married for years to his wife Annette, had two children and his daughter was recently married. He was a strong advocate for tougher crime laws and the irony of his death is all too surreal.

The funeral was held at the Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University where Ken was an alumni and soon-to-be employee as he was recently pegged to be a lobbyist for the historically black college. Murphy was filled with family and friends of Ken and his family and there was abounding love for him in the auditorium. In the service everyone could feel the magnitude of his absence from the Northeast Baltimore community and the city at-large.

It's a shame to lose such a great person in a city who truly needs "community organizers" (Sarah Palin) and I hope with the example of his life people will follow in his footsteps and spend time caring for and serving their communities.