If she needs a day covered, I'll try to do the same for her.
I need to note something from The Third Estate Sunday Review. It's from the book talk we had there. It's all worth reading but Gina & Krista asked us to talk about children's books and then asked that we spotlight our own picks on our own sites. That's because tomorrow, in their round-robin, they're taking a long look at children's books. So here was my choice again because Gina and Krista do a lot to help me so I want to give something back:
Cedric: My favorite growing up was a little book called The Harlem Globetrotters and Basketball's Funniest Game. A nephew has the book now and we pass it around because it's an easy book and because it features African-Americans. Also, a kid who might not read something else, if he or she likes sports, will usually pick it up. Growing up, we all fought over this book. I don't just mean when we were little. But my sister had it before me, okay? It was passed down to her and then it was my turn. When I was reading bigger books, she tried to claim it back and kept saying she had only "loaned it" to me. It's funny now, but there were some intense fights over this book. I called my brother to find out the credits for it and it's by Clare and Frank Gault and illustrated by Charles McGill. It's probably not a great book, I'm sure it isn't. But it's one that's held the interest in my family.
Jim: My favorite book was a sports book too and is far less weighty than your choice. But it's by the same authors and I didn't know that. Clare and Frank Gault. It was my dad's book so it was also passed on.
Cedric: Really?
Jim: Yeah. Dick Ericson did the illustrations though. It's called How to Be a Good Baseball Player. My dad got it when he was nine-years-old. I don't remember this, but my mom says he read it to me over and over even when I was in the crib. Baseball's real big with my dad. He coached my little league team. Ty, Jess and Ava tease me about moving in with Dona over at her place with Ava but if they see the book there, they'll know I've moved because I wouldn't live anywhere without that book. What I can remember is Dad going over this book with me all the time when I was in elementary school. As summer approached, he'd pull out the book and we'd read it and look at the pictures. It's really an instructional book and I'm probably choosing it more for memories than the book itself but here's a quote:
How do you throw a fast ball?
One way is to grip the baseball with two fingers across the seams.
Or you can grip the ball using two fingers along the seams.
And some pitchers like to use only one finger across the seams.
Another thing I'll point out is that Mike's got great stuff up at his site Mikey Likes It! all the time. But yesterday (and this is probably part of the non-great stuff), he posted his interview with me. So you can check that out if you're interested.
I was reading Rebecca's stuff at Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude today and I was playing catch up so I was reading what she wrote yesterday and Tuesday. I was honestly a little concerned about her because she's got a cold and she seemed pretty down. She assured me she was feeling better and I hope that's true. She said the whole John Roberts thing has depressed her and she doesn't feel like she can write about it because her ex-husband's parents had such a fit when she was going to write about her abortion. So it's been a not so great time for her.
Even with that, I think she wrote a really great thing on Tuesday about p.r. I know this is a hard time for her and she feels like her arms are tied behind her back. I told her she should just say "screw you" to her ex-in-laws but I know she won't. I will say if she needs something, she can holler.
Rebecca helped me a lot with my site and I've talked about that at the old site and I don't think I really talked about it in the interview yesterday. I don't think I made much sense on anything. But Rebecca, when she's well, is fiery and passionate and when I needed a pep talk, she would give it and make me feel like I could do anything. Her belief in me kept me blogging so I want to say that I don't just hope Rebecca is feeling better, but that I also couldn't have kept going without her. If she needs something, she better holler.
Johnny just saw C.I.'s editorial on the reporting from the Green Zone and wrote me to say how much he enjoyed it and asked if I could steer people to it again. So read this because it's laying it on the line while others tiptoe. And read Joseph C. Phillips "The Other Story of Katrina" from The Chicago Defender too. And don't miss this news from Democracy Now!:
State of Texas Executes Frances Newton
The state of Texas has executed Frances Newton. She was killed by lethal injection shortly after 6 o'clock last night despite widespread calls for a stay of her execution. She is the first African-American woman to be executed in Texas since Reconstruction. Her supporters included Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the Austin American Statesman and the head of the American Bar Association. Numerous questions were raised about whether Newton received a fair trial when she was convicted of killing her husband and two children 18 years ago. Her state-appointed attorney, Ron Mock, did not interview a single witness in preparation for her trial. He has since been barred from handling capital cases due to incompetence. Hours before her execution, the Supreme Court denied a petition to stop her execution.
Common Ills
No comments:
Post a Comment