Kendalls View Has Moved...

I've changed the name. Since I just can't seem to bite my tongue, I've changed the name to http://cantbitemytongue.blogspot.com/

Same Stuff...Different Day

Diversity in business still eludes us.


As I said before, I have a quite a bit of knowledge about the lack of diversity in the construction industry. So, what was the purpose of the mayor appointing a Construction Diversity Commission? And, what was the outcome of his acceptance of their report.

The data on the percentage of minorities in the trade unions was incomplete. The Electricians local 98 simply did not comply at all with the request to submit their information as did many of the other trade unions.

Well, "I say and I say again, you been had, hoodwinked, bamboozled, runamuck." some things never change. Minorities are still not gonna get a piece of the big construction pie. The good ole boys are obviously not concerned with anything the politicians say, or even with any Executive Order that is put in place. Nobody's gonna touch these guys.

Now, with that being said, it has been brought to my attention that some people are "bothered" by some of the tings I've said on this issue. To them I say simply this: If you have evidence or even an opinion that disputes anything I've said on MY blog, then put it in the comments sections provided. My observations will not change because someone told me that "Driscoll is upset." Please. I am not easily intimidated and I believe L.F. Driscoll has alot more to be concerned about. But I will say this - Driscoll is one of the few construction companies that did reach out to minority contractors. OK, I'll also throw some kudos out to Shoemaker. The are SOME good guys in the "Good Ole Boy" network, but not enough. And, they don't run the trade unions. That's another animal entirely in and of itself.

Peace.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

The School District's plans to close William Penn High School is very disturbing to me. I too wonder what Ruth Wright Hare would say about that.

My thoughts are simply this - watch the money. The location is in the center of the city - prime real estate. Your new SRC Chairman - a real estate attorney. Look closely at whatever paperwork they are passing out, especially the numbers for supporting their decision to close the school. We've seen how they double-dip the numbers when they closed Ada Lewis. We also watched them put in numbers for structural engineering services with a footnote stating that no walk through was performed. They don't expect us to actually be able to understand or dig into the information they provide.

Follow the money.

Philadelphia stands to gain about 100 million from the stimulus plan. Where's it gonna go? Do we have any input into deciding how the money will be spent? More than likely, the pie has already been sliced, even before it got here, and a few crumbs may actually be sprinkled to benefit the students.

It looks like we're about to be hoodwinked... again, as business proceeds as usual. What are we gonna do about it? Are we gonna continue to be divided? Are those who are "in the know" gonna continue to look the other way once they get what they want out of the deal? Will those who we the people have given political powers continue to sell us out? And who suffers the most? The children and youth. I said it before and I'll say it again...I'm sick of it.

I hope I'm wrong...it wouldn't be the first time and I'm always quick to admit when I am wrong. I really hope I'm wrong. In the meantime open your eyes and FOLLOW THE MONEY AND THE REAL ESTATE.

Peace and Love

Grandmothers

Grandmothers are gifts from God.

Man, I sure miss mine. Every time I hear "Family Reunion" I still cry! That was the one and only album my grandmother had in her house! And she loved to plan our annual family reunions, along with her 5 brothers and sisters, also known as the Fisher Sunshine Club.

I lived with my grandmother from age 14 until 23 and some family members claim that I was her favorite. I don't think that I was her favorite - she loved all of her grands equally and I would hear her praying for each of us every night. Not just for us, but for her entire family. But I was really spoiled. I mean, all those years, I would wake up to breakfast, come home to a hot meal everyday and if I was late, my plate would be warming on the stove over a pot of hot water. She made my bed for me on most days, because I was always rushing out in the morning. I did wash my own clothes though.

My grandmother's birthday just passed (March 27th) and I celebrated with memories that I usually keep to myself, but this year when my youngest daughter said "Today is mom's birthday", i shared some stories with her. We laughed and we cried as we remembered Catherine Massey.

Our lives are parallel in some ways i.e.: She had three daughters and so do I. She left a bad marriage and never looked back and so did I; She got her college degree when she was in her 40's, and so will I; She was a hell of a lady and so am I!!

She never re-married because she believed that the bible told her that she could not re-marry until her husband died. I think she was wrong about that, but never the less, that is what she believed. Well by the time he died, she was in a nursing home, bed ridden from Lou Garret's disease and could no longer speak or even write anymore. She made her daughters video tape his funeral so that she could watch it! I thought that was hilarious! When I asked her if she was gonna get married now, she just laughed so hard she began choking.

She used to say stuff like "You'll understand it better by and by". I would be thinking "What the hell is she talking about? Can't she just answer my question?" Well, "By and By" is now, because I do understand a lot of things better.

Just sharing some memories today.

Peace and Love!

RUMORS ARE FOR THE PETTY AND WEAK MINDED

Today I learned that, although I stay to myself, minding my own business as I lick my wounds, (self-inflicted as well as wounds inflicted by others) I am STILL the object of unsubstantiated rumors. I'm tired this petty mess. I am quiet and as I said, keep to myself, but remember, still waters run deep.

If you are reading this and you are one of those low-lifes who need to get a life, understand your mindset as a rumor starter.

The type of people who start rumors are, for the most part, are

1. Insecure about themselves,
2. Trying to divert attention from their own mess by focusing people's attention on someone else; and are
3. Evil, diabolical and malicious

If you are one of those people who call yourself talking about me, understand this...YOU DON'T KNOW ME. You may think you know me because you may be a relative or friend of a relative, or so-called, self proclaimed friend of mine, or past fling or whatever, but you have no idea who I am. You don't know the old me or the new me. Very few people really know me, I mean maybe 3 people really know me for real and not one of them are a relative or family member.

For those of you who feed on rumors, carrying them like a dog carries a bone, understand that rumors are:

1. Outright, intentional lies.
2. A nugget of truth misunderstood or misrepresented to the point of falsity,
3. Half-truths purposely exaggerated,
4. Opinions represented as facts,
5. Unverified statements

If you are a weak minded rumor starter or a carrier, please stop it because in the long run, you are only hurting yourself. Life is a circle in which everything you do comes back to you. Be very careful about who you talk about and what you say.

If I had the type of character it takes to start rumors, best believe that I would have my information verified and backed up by numerous sources. And believe me, I could start a whole lot of conversation about a whole lot of people and all information would be based on verified facts and statements, but I don't have the need or desire to talk about or share other people's dirty laundry - I am way above that type of pettiness. The only motivation I would have to waste my time and energy on such nonsense would be to make some money from it.

Peace...

Randolph's Future Looks Bright

Randolph Career Academy has had some pretty prominent visitors in the last two weeks. Last Friday, Dr. Ackerman, Sandra Dungee-Glenn, Curtis Jones and a few other heavy hitters did a walk thru along with TV cameras. Yesterday, another entourage of visitors flowed through the hallways and classrooms. On Monday, April 6, 7 representative from China visited the Randolph Technical Academy. With the use translators, the dialog proved to be very interesting. span>

The most interesting thing to me was that in China, when their students complete High School and receive their certificate of completion, they are equipped and ready to go straight into their profession. Nursing students go straight to the hospitals and trade students go straight to work builing up China's infrastructure.

Now, I wonder, out of all the students who elect to take electrical shops in Philadelphia school system, how many go on to get a job in their field or their Electrician union card? Anybody got the stats on that?

I don't know what prompted these visits, but rumor has it that Randolph might be on the chopping block. Some ask, "Even with the school district's plans to open three new career and technical high schools?" Yeah, well, that could very well be why they are looking at Randolph so closely - take the model and move it somewhere else. That's nothing new for Pennsylvania or Philadelphia. There's a history of starting pilot programs in urban areas, documenting the success of the program and moving the program to sub-urban and rural areas. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if that happens.

Hope I'm wrong. And I think I am. Thank God!

Peace and Love

The More Things Change...

The more they stay the same. My mother used to say that all the time.

I have read and compared the current President's Executive Order for the Establishment of the White House Office of Urban Affairs, The Declaration of Independence and The Emancipation Proclamation.

I concur with that old adage.