Saturday, December 3, 2016

Three Very Important Things to me!

This is my first blog here. I pondered so much, on what to write. This, being my first time. I did go through almost all other blogs written by a mentor who is also my friend,  someone who inspires me and who kindly invited me to contribute blogs here.

I am a poet storyteller/ griot. In my culture, poems are used to tell stories as well as capture events. My culture only began writing in 1944. A week before leaving Uganda for good to come to USA via a short stay in Europe, I went to  the elders of our clan to have them place their hands on me (as well as spit in my face as a way of giving me blessings). A goat and chicken were rounded up by very fast running young boys who were charged with slaughter, roasting and serving us. It was a send off as well as an opportunity to have one from our clan "go on yonder to the world." That was also a ritual pact to never forget them! For they sacrificed two prize animals for me.

I was now joining a line of long dead ancestors who were skilled hunters, herbalist-botanists, itinerant harp players, cloth traders and metal workers said to have loved adventure and travel. Unlike them, I was travelling with a passport; I cannot smell the wind for water or a predatory animal; the biology skills I have are only good enough to join medical school; I can't even tell my direction by a star; the only hunting I had done was when I was looking for a misplaced shoe, socks, pen or pencil. In other words, I am the early 70's born new kind of black man whose way of life is between that of a Western culture and less of my own culture.

But, I digress. The purpose of my premiere short blog is to tell you about the three important things to me now: America; Blackness; and education. A poem first to that insignia that is distinctly American;

Star Spangled banner in spring

This balmy spring,
Once again,
 a welcome moment,
swans swimming in the pond,
the woodpecker,
 bang, bang, bang.

An occasional clear sky,
The sun,
 a fiery globe,
A puddle here and there,
The snow,
 grudgingly giving up its horde.

The banner,
 on a lofty perch,
Spread fully,
 by a blowing wind,
Dotted glimmering glint,
Of random stars and stripes.


Enjoy!

Thought For the Week (W-End Edition)

We hope all enjoy these selections of thoughts as December is before us....

Life is Unpredictable

Love may arrive when it’s least expected.
Laughter may occur at any moment
and tears may fall without warning.
Happiness may be around the corner
or sadness over the next hill.
Embrace every moment and every emotion.
Your life is unique
and it’s a journey that only you can travel.”
~ Susan Gale

Inline image 1




Thursday, December 1, 2016

An #Outsider Newsflash: New Malware Compromises More Than 1 Million Android Devices

Please note this for reference courtesy of Technilious as Checkpoint has created a nice little tool for all to check to see if devices has been hacked.

New Malware Compromises More Than 1 Million Android Devices: In the largest breach of Google accounts ever, Gooligan malware gains access to all of your data, including Gmail and Google Docs. Find out if you're infected.