by Barbara White
Holla!

Forty-three thousand (43,000) down 202,000 to go, I-Witness touching Black people all over the city of Milwaukee, and the world one event at a time.

Black People are the First Wonders of the World

"Until the Lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."
--African proverb

Thought for the Day

Misery loves company and it will only feed you misery. Instead of joining the circle of misery, eat a Zinger and smile...

Holla-Outs

To: Trayon Singleton over at Academy of Learning and Leadership. Yeah I want to talk pimp talk to you ... Right now, you are in one of the best spots in your life. You have the option of deciding to be a contribution to society or a menace. I know, if only the girls would stop hanging all over you, you can began to do great things, you just cannot help it that you are handsome, Holla!

Well if you begin to focus on the things that is going to make you a better person like reading, writing and math your social life will only get better, Holla! Oh by the way tell the girls hangin’ all over you that you only want to talk with girls who can read, write and do math so the two of you can study together sometimes. The best is yet to come for you if you want it and begin to create the dream you want in life. Start advancing that next generation, and make me love it!

Congratulations

To: Latoya S. White who graduated in December from the UW-Whitewater and is now in a masters program at UW-Whitewater! Congratulations, keep advancing that next generation, I love it!

To: Diamond Johnson ... what am I going to do with you, you just keep making the honor roll over at 65th Street School, girl you got it going on, we are so proud of you. Keep advancing that next generation, I love the way you do the things you do.

Happy Anniversary to two of my favorite lawyers, Art and Sandy (Edhlund) Heitzer being married 28 years is a long time and Art you know Sandy is some kind of special, she understands that you are the "Bird of Freedom" and she knows how to let you fly, I love it! Congratulation, wishing you another 28 years of pure bliss!

Happy 10th Anniversary Andreas Delfs conductor and maestro of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. I know why they call you the maestro...

Birthday Holla-Outs
To: Lulu Allison, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,

To: Harold Gee, Hey thought I would wish you one of the biggest birthdays ever, Happy Birthday, Love Ya!

Thank You

Robert thank you for the wonderful gift, you know you keep making my day. I think you are wonderful as well, I loved it when you said if you were God, you would make all your angels just like me. You made me beam all week, again, thank you for being so kind and some kind of wonderful, I love it!

The Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD) held it is Area III 31st Anniversary Conference, theme "In Pursuit of Excellence through Distinctive Leadership, Scholarship, and Community Service" at the Four Point by Sheraton Milwaukee Airport.

The TLOD is an international professional and humanitarian organization of over 4,000 dedicated and concerned women representing a melange of talents, skills, and resources The organization was founded by Ozell Dean who was a major in the United states Air Force Nurses Corps. She attended a luncheon hosted by first Lady Mrs. Lyndon Baines Johnson convening women from all over the world with achievements in the area of finance, business, culture, arts and humanities, education and community service, which would be tapped for the purpose of improving society on all levels of the life cycle in all lands. It was with this foresight and visions that Major Ozell Dean in 1965 that TLOD was born making youth its focus.

In the words of the National President Lady Peggy Lewis LeCompte through the years, the membership of TLOD has shown in deed and action that those whose time, talent harmony, dedication, loyalty, cooperation, concern and caring have made an impact on the communities they serve. It has been demonstrated through planning, action and execution--individually and collectively--that each Lady, Lord and Teen-–is Mobilized to provide Global Service and 21st Century Leadership. Since its founding TLOD has expanded it is objectives to include not only a focus on youth, Top Teen of America, is a charter obligation of each TLOD chapters. Their membership is unique because it encompasses teenagers from all socioeconomic levels, while they also improve the status of women; provide service to seniors, community beautification and community partnerships. They have developed power to get actively involved in monitoring legislative, judicial and executive situations that may affect the welfare of those they service.

The four-day conference was filled with activities and information, workshops, seminars, receptions, luncheons, recognition banquets and other celebrant things to do.

I attended the Friday evening festivities where many were recognized not only in the TLOD organization but also through out our community as well for being the examples of leadership to our community. Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway, Senator Lena Taylor and Common Council President Willie Hines were among some of the guest there to congratulate the organization on its grand service with proclamations from all branches of government. Lady Drema Lee Woldman is the National Area III director presiding over the conference; Milwaukee Chapter President Lady Cheryl Buckhanan, Lady Deidra Y.A. Edwards and Lady Nesha Beamon were the conference co-chairs.

All of the TLOD Chapters support the NAACP, UNCF, NCNW, March of Dimes and awards Scholarships to graduating Top Teens. Many of those representatives were present at the event.

Teen DeAndrea Yowman National Top Teen of America, music selection by Miss Leah Anyanwu, National TTA Financial Secretary, presented the greetings.

TLOD presented its 2007 honorees with Community Service Awards: Reuben Harpole-Community Partnership, Commissioner Hattie Daniels-Rush-Status of Women, Cordelia Taylor-Beautification, and Henrietta Allen-service to Senior Citizens, Ronn Johnson-Service to Youth, Mrs. Louise (Mother) Hunter Milligan-the Humanitarian Award and Dorothy Buchanan-the Corporate Award.

There was the also the scholarship presentations as well.

Their Outreach Projects were the Bottomless Closet where they donated suits to the closet for low-income women entering the work force and money to the Ronald McDonald House, which easing the burden of families whose children are ill and requires them being away from home, over 1,200 families a year are assisted by the Ronald McDonald House from as close as Wisconsin to as far away as Russia.

After the program there was the Top Teen of America (TTA) Lady Sharon J. Beard National TT director-Dallas Chapter, Advisor Lady Vivian Mays, Area III TTA president Teen Dominicc Hardy and Teen DeAndrea Yowman National TTA president convened the Teen Idol Talent review, where over three hundred teens attended from all over Area III. The competition consisted of dancers, poets, musicians and vocalist. They had a good time. There was a four-day agenda of workshops as well for the teens including a Mr. and Ms. TTA Pageant.

The Milwaukee Chapter hosted an African World Festival Milwaukee Style Reception where all dressed in afrocentric attire and the women looked gorgeous. What I loved about this is that the Four Sheraton accommodated the group on their choice of food, African and soul food mix, there was a curried beef, black-eyed pea salad, corn bread muffins, sweet potatoes, greens and fritters with your choice of topping chocolate, caramel or fruity. I want to salute the Four Point Sheraton for stepping out their box and accommodating their guest, recognizing TLOD as Americans and the power of the Black dollar.

All of the TLOD dressed in their African grab took to the floor and did the electric slide; they showed out, I loved it.

Hey, TLOD you are a wonderful pillar in all communities and I congratulate you for the unconditional service your membership nationwide provide to our communities especially to the children. It takes special people to love and care about children as well as their community. I had a good time, keep advancing that next generation and doing the good things I love it!

Helpful Hints: Replace Household Items

Listed below is a timeline to replace items in your household to keep you healthier and safe.

Air Filters Replace after: Six months

Computers Replace after: Four years

Cosmetics Replace after: Three months to two years. Keep mascara for a maximum of three months; other liquids and creams (eyeliner, foundation) keep for no more than a year. Powders (eye shadow, blush) can be used safely for up to two years. Be careful about the kind of lip stick you are wearing, it is now being stated that many kind may contain cancer producing agents.

Fire Extinguisher Replace after: 10 to 12 years, Why: The pressurized contents of a fire extinguisher de-pressurize over time.

Mattresses: Replace after Seven years: Mattresses wear out over time.

Running or Walking Shoes: Replace after 300 to 500 miles run

Smoke Alarms: Replace after 10 years

Spices: Replace after one year. Dried herbs and spices lose their flavor over time.

Toothbrushes: Replace after three months.

It’s that time again: I-Witness at the movies!

Here we are my sister Shirley White and my niece Leonie Kieth "Hangin’ Out at the Movies" at Mayfair Mall for the special screening of the movie "Shooter," which was sponsored by AT&T U-Verse and hosted by Radio Station 1250 AM. We were also joined by none other than MCJ’s Weekend Edition Movie critic Judy Marker and Judy’s dad as we call him Jeff and her mother Beryl Marker.

Normally when I do the movie thing one of the Black radio station is the host but tonight it was different it was a mostly White audience. A bit different. We were all welcome by 1250 AM and instructed to turn our cell phones off and to enjoy the movie. Of course, y’all know I had to have my popcorn ... come on what’s the movies without popcorn, Leonie had pizza and Shirley had nachos--movies sure have changed since back in the day, Holla!

Paramount presents "Shooter"

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Shooter is an action packed film about an assassin, played by Mark Wahlberg, who retired as a paid killer after accidentally shooting an innocent person. He lives somewhere in the woods with his dog, who knows how to serve his master; the dog really knew how to take care of him. The dog could open the refrigerator and get Wahlberg a beer, Budweiser of course, and many other little things I loved the scene.

A special military commander, played by veteran actor Danny Glover, convinces Wahlberg to return for one more job, which is to detail how someone could kill the president, tracks him down. He accepts the job showing them the ways one could kill the president a mile away. However, during the president’s arrival to greet an African president, the African president is killed and Wahlberg is framed for attempting to assassinate the president of the United States. Now he must find the real shooter and clear his own name.

The opening scenes were a little tough to watch because I hate seeing Black people killed. On his last mission unbeknown to him, he assassinated freedom fighters, innocent people.

Danny Glover played a corrupt Colonel working for a crooked U.S. Senator. It surprised me a bit to see the talented actor play such a role in view of anti-war activism. However, the movie sublimely displayed the covert actions of our country in colonizing the world.

The special effects were awesome with the photography scenes breathe taking at times.

The supporting cast was good. Michael Pena played an FBI agent who had recently graduated from FBI school. He was good and able to put his skills to work right away to help Wahlberg, who had saved his life twice. Rhona Mitra, who played the wife of a deceased friend of Wahlberg, helped him after he was shot. She was a jock female I liked her.

The car chases were action packed and they made you feel like you were right in the chase, helping Wahlberg bring down the bad guys destroying our country, giving it all we have to reset our moral compass. The movie was so action packed I did not pay much attention to the music.... Sorry.

The movie is worth seeing; it will make you feel like a patriot wanting to restore the integrity of our country and stand for good things in the world without recognizing Wahlberg as a part of the problem as an assassin, who partakes in the slaughter of women, children and villages in the name of personal wealth disguised as democracy. I give the movie 5 Snaps and a Pop. (Rating 1 Snap being the lowest and 6 Snaps with a pop are the highest). Shooter opens March 21.

World renowned concert pianist Andre Watts stands in the midst of children and their mentors after his performance with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The children are a part of the Mentoring

Connection program, which connects adults with children of incarcerated parents. (photo by Barbara White)

Thurgood Marshall Scholarship officials with DeMarco Morgan (second from right) and Mark C. Hanson, executive director of MSO (far right) after presenting Verona Morgan (third from right) wit an award from the Thurgood Marshall Fund. (photo by Barbara White)

Children of the State Farm String Quartet program during the reception at the Performing Arts Center. The children are also students at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. (photo by Barbara White.

Celebrating a century with family

Hessie Hubbert (center) celebrated her birthday with six generations of her family at the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge located on 6th and Walnut streets. (poto by Barbara White)