From our Terrace...

We know that Tiger is in trouble…It’s not like he boned Serena Williams! Because that would’ve been a funny story to write about, Serena Williams booty and Tiger?  We all know how funny that would be, but it’s not! In this case it’s the same ol’ bullshit. (Steve McNair got killed for this kind of activity) It’s his “Swiss Miss” wife sharing center stage, which we all know was bound to happen once Tiger Wood was put on a pedal stool. Now they knock him off and reclassify him as the “black golfer”, oh yeah he’s black now!

To all the Funny Source News readers, forgive me for I have been busy. Still funny, just busy with developing projects and expanding my life. I’ve been in New York City for the last month then working in Miami. This has prohibited me to stay current on our blog here.  One of our readers once told me there was so much material on FSNToday you can stay busy catching up and laughing for years. (she smokes a lot of weed).  So I figured and always knew the day would come that I would have to take a break to do some acting or writing for television or film. That time has come, so please forgive me. FSNToday is still an excellent resource to exercise laughter and find material. Old or new it’s all still funny, which has been the only priority at FSNToday is to bring funny to you.

I would like to take the time to thank all of you who support FSNToday, which prompted this editor note to you all. I run into many of  you, so you already know that I’ve been missing in action. Hopefully, y’all are still finding laughs on our site. I wanted to let you all know we’re down but not out. I will be back as soon as time allows.   Be happy for me, if I can’t do this then it means I’m preparing to come to you nationally on t.v. or some shit. lol.

Only Editor in Chief and Blogga!

Yul “Spencer”

“That’s a Wrap for Real”

It's his thinking...

We had to share this with all of my readers and all who fall upon NBNToday.com.  Where you get to laugh ’bout the truth. This man is sharing an amazing message with you…Enjoy..

“4real”

VERA ENQUIST gets her hair touched up by Jo Ann Covey

For 28 years, Jo Ann Covey of Long Beach’s Sharrion James Hair Design has enjoyed being the hairdresser of a woman she describes as “funky” and “absolutely remarkable.” On September 30th, when Vera Enquist sees Jo Ann for her Wednesday morning appointment, Vera will be celebrating her 100th birthday.

“If you talked to her, you wouldn’t even know she was turning one hundred,” says Covey. “Her mind is sharp.”

The Department of Motored Vehicles agreed when they recently approved the renewal of Vera’s driver’s license, permitting her to legally drive for five more years. Her approval is more than a mere luxury, being that it will allow her to continue her ever active lifestyle.

Vera fondly speaks of how she spent her youth raised by her parents, Oscar and Elma Enquist, on their farm in her hometown of Holdrege, Nebraska. When asked about her childhood, she chuckles and simply says, “It was just life on a farm.”

In her early adult years, Vera put all focus into training to become a nurse, and, upon completion of her nurse’s training in 1934, Vera moved to Los Angeles.

By her 33rd birthday, Vera’s background in nursing qualified her to enter the Army as a Second Lieutenant. During her 19-year tenure in the U.S. Military, Vera served her country proudly and cared for soldiers in regions of Japan and Germany as well as stateside.

Vera returned to California and worked at the San Francisco Letterman Hospital in 1959. A year later, she retired from the Army as a Major, an accomplishment she carries proudly to this day.

In 1962, Vera moved to Lakewood and worked in a local doctor’s office before retiring from work in 1967. Even without work, Vera maintained an energetic way of life that has allowed her to still be healthy and, above all, lively as her 100th birthday approaches.
“I’ve always been active,” Vera tells. “I used to enjoy a lot of bowling and golfing.”

These days, Vera’s activities have been limited due to issues she’s had with her hips. And yet she still starts her mornings off early, and later makes the drive to the Hawaiian Gardens Senior Center for lunch.

When she isn’t at the Senior Center, Vera enjoys reading newspapers and magazines and doing a lot of crossword puzzles. She also attends monthly dinner meetings of the Retired Officers Association and two monthly luncheon meetings of the Officer’s Wives Club.

Vera also makes time to maintain close contact with her nephew in Fullerton.

And of course, on Wednesday mornings, she makes the drive from Lakewood to Sharrion James Hair Design in Long Beach to get her hair done with Jo Ann.

The great portion of Vera’s life dedicated to taking care of others has left her as a deeply loving woman today. “She loves people, and being around people,” explains Jo Ann. With an immaculate bill of health, Vera can look forward to more time around the people she loves, and the many who love her back.

“That’s a Wrap 4 Real”

Contributing Writer: Aaron Ladesma

Maybe his coupon was about to expire? You can look for yours in NBNToday's.newsletter coming soon.

Roger “Baby Slapper” Stevens, is the man who slapped the shit out of a baby, maybe this guys bitch slapping coupon was itching in his pocket, you know we all have ‘em it’s just a matter  of when you gonna’ use it !  You know it’s in your purse or back pocket right now, right next to your RACE card.

It’s a trip to hear that a weird old white man, if he was black, the press would’ve said it, so I’m saying it, he was white. Any way the crazy dude walked up to this crying 2-year-old girl in a Walmart store and bitch slapped her four times. He hit the child repeatedly across the face oh my God! I would’ve freaked the phuck out to witness this. I’m not sure how I would’ve reacted unless it was my child. My children when they were children were terrific twos not terrible ones.

Is it possible the kid had the slap coming?

So I know I would’ve took every product in Wal Mart including the smiley face and beat the shiiiiiiit out of ‘em in any numbered aisle I landed in.  The brooms, candy shelf, the register, I would’ve tore that Wal -Mart up with his body. Am I alone here?  The mother of this child must of felt so powerless and stupid.

YOU CAN THINK SLAP...YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT PEOPLE

This old dude is 61 years old, Roger Stevens, he  told the mama of the child or threatened whichever wording you prefer. He told the mama that if she didn’t shut up her loud ass crying baby that he would do it for her. He then proceeded to bitch slap the child and I do mean child a phucking toddler across the face 4 times. The “Nuts” the “Huevos” on this guy, they must be as big ass the moon.

These eggs represent "balls" in this story

He's obviously a fan of this man "Bush" another fool with big "Nuts" he's out there roaming free too.

So what happened was, another Walmart shopper snatched Stevens and held him until the police came

and got his ass and put the hand cuffs on. It’s on the way to lock up stupid ol’ dude. Now your about to meet some REAL slappers in the jail house. And some of these guys who are daddy’s will LOVE to slap you around for awhile. Digg that. He did get charged with cruelty to a child. “See I told you  that I would shut him up” Stevens’ said later. Well maybe karma will have it’s pleasure when Stevens’ bunks with his new cell mate tonight. Maybe the “toss the salad man” will arrive and slap some Stevens ass. That sure will shut him up won’t it?

“A Funny Source for News”

“That’s a Wrap 4 Real”

"Smooth Criminals"Bank ATMs converted to steal bank customer IDs. Can you believe this shit? The thieves don't stop they're like the "Terminator" they keep on c'mon.

…watch your back, from side to side, you don’t know what team is going to ride tonight. A team of organized criminals is installing equipment on legitimate bank ATMs in at least two regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. These two regions are obviously sleepin’. Let’s keep your heads up people and eyes open. See, the team sits nearby in a whip (a car) receiving the 411 transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings dang they’re just clocking dollars from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos below).

Now my fellow Americans, If you see an attachment like this, BACK AWAY FROM THE MACHINE, please do not be in such a hurry or so needy of money you use the ATM machine anyway. And then have the nerve to go up in the bank later after your account has been hit talking ’bout…I had a million dollars in my account!

STOP, and report it immediately to the bank using the 800 number or phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN is cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment so you can be fooled to think it’s normal equipment.  That’s why this writer is emphasizing WAKE UP PEOPLE.  We, don’t want to see anymore Americans losing money to criminals. Bad enough the government got us for the last eight years.

Now, a “skimmer” is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car(whip)(on dubs?). You have to admit this is too cool. It just ain’t right, not because you don’t own one,(a skimmer) it’s just not right because it’s not. But it’s cool technology.

At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries. Say What?

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM. DON’T LET IT BE AN ATM NEAR YOU.

Equipment being installed on front of existing bank card slot. WOW, where’s the bank security?

The equipment as it appears installed over the normal ATM bank slot. See, that shit look like it belongs. What do we know?

The PIN reading camera being installed on the ATM is housed in an innocent looking leaflet enclosure. SMILE!

The camera shown installed and ready to capture PINs by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN. That’s why

I act like I’m putting in a PIN the first three times, on the fourth I put in my real one. I look like I’m playing a piano when I

go to an ATM machine.

Well, I hope this helps our readers NBNToday.com is just lookin’ out for us all the best a funniest way we know how. Keep your eyes open out there.

“That’s a Wrap 4 Real”

She's Fictional the letter is Real!

One of our Boi’s sent this to us,(We’re aware this has been passed around) but NbNtoday.com has decided to post this for two reasons, 1. the young girl is on point with her observations.(especially if she’s real?) 2. We are so impressed with this fifteen year old vocabulary it’s off the chains.(She writes like she’s sleeping with a college professor)

I’ve never met a fifteen year old except for my own daughter Lauren that had a vocabulary this good. I remember asking my daughter about her friends. And she told me she didn’t have many friends they were few, but she had many associates she communicated with. I was thinking at the time while she was talking. Is this my smart-ass child? I loved it. And NBNToday will post any intelligent conversation even out of the mouths of babes. So read on and enjoy this young womans perceptions.

(If it’s really a young girl or not a point is being made in this letter.)

note:It’s not above NBNToday.com… For a laugh, to post an un-intelligent conversation as well. As long as it’s funny.

Dear Debra Lee,

I’m Janita Patrick, a 15-year-old African-American female from Cincinnati. Recently, I watched the 2009 BET Awards and felt the strongest urge to reach out to the program. My family is of the typical middle-class variety; both parents and four brothers. See, I’m a junior in high school (got skipped), so naturally EVERYBODY in my age group watches BET. I’m used to seeing the sagging pants, tattoos, lack of emphasis on reading and respecting women that makes up your videos. People in my class live this out everyday, while teachers tell us that we’re acting just like the people in your shows.

I'm doing it on national t.v.!!!

In your shows. That struck me as odd, because I would think that with your show being the primary outlet for black entertainers and musicians, and considering the context of blacks in this country, there’s a social responsibility factor to consider. I would never blame BET alone for the way a great deal of my classmates act and talk and dress. Everybody makes their own choices. However, if anybody is aware the power of television on impressionable minds, it’s the people running the television operations. If you are not aware, then perhaps you shouldn’t be running the operations.

Guess who watches your network the most? Not those who are intelligent enough to discern foolishness from substance, but those who are barely teenagers, impressionable and believing. It’s awfully cruel to plant seeds of ignorance in fertile minds. You know it’s really bad when the co-founder of BET, Sheila Johnson, said that she “really doesn’t watch it” anymore.

Me and the X' are into Basketball now.

I am constantly fighting against the images and messages put forth on your program. What made you think that it’s okay to bring my classmates on stage to dance behind Lil Wayne and Drake to a song talking about boffing “every girl in the world”? Why does reality train wrecks have to thrown in our faces? Are you aware of the achievement gap going in inner-city African-American communities? A report from America’s Promise Alliance, a non-profit group started by Colin Powell, recently stated that 47 percent of high school students in the nation’s top 50 cities don’t graduate. (Fifty-four percent of males of color in Ingham County graduated from high school, compared to 74 percent of white males). This isn’t because of BET per se, but I don’t see any episodes on your show doing anything to counteract this disturbing trend. In fact, your show is a part of this cycle of media depicting us at our worst.

We will do nothing!!!

My older brother told me something about profit being the number one goal for every business. I’m not sure I understand what that means, but I do know that your shows have to be entertaining enough to generate viewers, which is how you make your money. But surely our culture is rich enough to entertain without anything extra to “boost” ratings; why the over-the-top foolery? I listen to classmates talk about Baldwin Hills like it’s the Manhattan Project. It doesn’t take much effort to produce a throng of degenerative reality shows, nor does it take much to eliminate socially conscious shows off the air. MTV isn’t much better, but since when does two wrongs ever make a right? It’s one thing for white television shows to depict us in a particular way, but for black television shows to do it is baffling.

Yes it is 'bout dollars and cents and cents you ain't got! We're not reading your letter lil' gurl. Don't be baffled at our bank account get your own.

Why do you hate us?
All of the values that my parents seek to instill in me and my brothers seems to be contradicted by a more powerful force from the media, and your show is at the forefront. Your network is the only network that features rap videos and shows exclusively to children of my color. I know that you have no control over the music that the artists put out, but you do have influence as to how you air these videos. I’m sure if a stand was taken to use the talent in your organization to actually crank out thought-provoking entertaining shows and videos, then artists will follow suit. Being that they need you as much as you need them.

I do... I need you as much as you need me.

There was one awkward segment in the BET Awards when Jamie Foxx singled out three black doctors-turned-authors, but the introduction was so powerless that many of the viewers had no idea who they were. Had they been introduced as Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, three brothers who overcame major obstacles to become a success without the use of lyrics that berate women, the sell of substance that destroy communities or through raps about loose gunplay, then maybe my classmates would have come to school talking about more than Beyonce, T-Pain’s BIG ASS CHAIN and Soulja Boy Tell Em’s hopping out the bed.

But they weren’t introduced like that. It seemed like a throwaway obligatory tribute to appease some irritated fans. It missed the mark. Big time. Ask Michelle Obama if she watches BET or encourages Sasha and Malia to do so. Ask President Obama. It’s a reason he is the leader of the free world, and it isn’t because of Buffoonery Exists Today.

You’d be surprised how smart young black children can be with the absence of Blacks Embarrassing Themselves. If your goal is to deter engaged, forward-thinking articulate black minds, then consider your goal fulfilled. It’s hard-pressed to think that your shows are working to promote cultural betterment. However, it’s quite easy to conclude that the destruction of black children through the glorification of immoral behavior and rushed production is by design. Poison is being swallowed by every viewer who adores your network, and the worse thing is, these viewers – my classmates – are not even aware what they’re swallowing.

There is nothing edifying for black women on your show. I don’t judge people who do throng to your programs though; I mean, if a jet crashes in right in front of me, I’ll watch it too. That’s why I don’t flip by your channel…I don’t even want to be sucked in.

I have aspirations of acquiring a law degree and possibly entering the public sphere, so I can counteract conditions in my community perpetuated by the images on your channel. So I should thank you, because in a weird sense, your shoddy programming is the wind behind my back. And it is my hope that I can accomplish my dreams despite BET’s pictorial messages, because Lord knows it won’t be because of them.

Sincerely,

Janita Patrick

Peace & Progress;
Stogie Amir Kenyatta
www.PaulRobesonOneManShow.com

“That’s a Wrap 4 Real”

Count down, 09, 10, 11, 12!

Is December, 2012 the end of all the bullshit? Or the beginning of the same ol’ shit? Well, I don’t know about you but I’ve noticed it keeps getting hotter and hotter. Each year the sun gets closer to burning our asses up, I can’t keep an ice cube in a glass. I want to start blogging this subject for the next two years. Document how it all goes down. See, how the universe and the people in it act.  NBNToday will follow Americans to see if they act like they’re aware of the world making a transition or do they live with no expectation of a better day for the world. Or will the masses act like they always act like there is no end to all of this we call life. It just keeps evolving. I agree with the evolution of us all. But what are we evolving to? It has to be something better or worse.

We all no nothing remains the same when actually it all seems to. So what the fluck? Are we coming out alive in this world? “I don’t think so” . So how will we live it? If the predictions for 2012 hold out, become real what will you do for the next two to three years. Seek light? Or continue to fumble in darkness and confusion? Whoa. That’s helluva a question.

“That’s a Wrap 4 Real”

What do you think? Leave us comments about this…your end.

[youtube]XAtgPaggeTM[/youtube]

IT'S GETTIN' HOT OUT THERE!

Our girl is there. This is a live shot, entering the experience

For real "THIS IS IT"

This writer could’ve went to the memorial today, but my dearest friend who I adore and am so proud of her. She’s a powerful producer and has some incredible writing skills, she was dying to go. And plus my sista’ Shuntel, really, really, seemed to want to go bad to. So I let loose of my hold on this 30,000.oo ticket and arm band.(for some sucka’s) and let them go together.

Our dear friends out in Santa Clarita Ca. passed them onto us. (there names will remain secret for obvious reasons) But we have nothing but mad love for our fam. in Santa Clarita Ca. Thank you ever so much for allowing the two dearest people in my life to enjoy this memorial. I also didn’t want to go there because I hate taking the chance that I might be seen at an event like this to progress my career. Even though I report a lot of news. My intent is to keep it funny and I didn’t think there would be anything funny about todays activities.

Okay I’m lying when Al Sharpton called him a cute kid(when obviously he was no kid by then he was in his late thirties) and the cute had gone away after all those surgeries you all know I ain’t lying. As soon as Al, made that comment they started flashing pictures of the both of them. Al Sharpton always looking angry or confused and Michael looking like a white woman. Keeping it real and funny just how Michael liked it. Oh, lot’s of you don’t know he was a big fan of comedy he used to sneak in the “Comedy Store” wearing all kinds of different disguise’s. I remember the old white woman one. 

Any how my dear friend and writer will be bringing me details and pics from the memorial.(if she can get any) They’re on tight watch out there but she will do all she can to bring the experience back to us for our blog. Stay logged in.

UPDATED 7-30-09

It’s the second day after the Michael Jackson memorial and I finally feel functional. I’m amazed at the intensity of emotions that overwhelmed me from the experience.  I just took off my band last night. Mind you, I love Michael Jackson’s music, but I was never caught up in the man like many others, especially like my best friend, April. She was always all about Michael Jackson and I was always all about Prince. Even though of course, I had my share of Michael Jackson buttons. But who didn’t?

My first clear experience of Michael was seeing “The Wiz” at the State and Lake or Chicago theater. I have to check with my aunt which one it was, but I do know it was on State Street.  I was six or seven and thinking “Aw, he’s a cute Scarecrow. I like him better than the one from The Wizard of Oz. But that freaky sweat shop scene scared the shit out of me.” I probably didn’t say shit, but you get the picture. My aunt who is only thirteen years older than me and actually Michael’s age would always talk about going to see the Jackson 5 when she was a teen.  I don’t believe she missed one concert that came through the Chicago area.  So needless to say, I know most words to all Jackson 5 songs because I heard her playing them over and over again. My love of the music truly began when I was able to get my own album, “Off The Wall”.  I’m surprised it didn’t warp between the both of us playing them over and over and let’s not forget “Thriller.” We really should have had two copies. One was not enough for the both of us. But at the same time I was being transformed and beliefs formed by the music of Prince. “Controversy” made me think beyond what I considered limited thinking. And he was different than Michael. And I loved different. Anything different. He was different. Some would even say strange. But I loved that and at that time I wasn’t familiar with Jimi Hendrix, so I was amazed at what he was doing with that guitar and that he played so many instruments. So, I ate up everything that I could possibly read about Prince. I studied his lyrics. I bought every piece of music. And had my imaginary conversations about music as Prince sat in my kitchen telling me about who was the inspiration for “Lady Cab Driver”. So, I  can relate to the Michael Jackson fans around the world because they had that certain connection for him and embraced him. And I had no idea two that after my experience two days ago, I would fully embrace him, too.

It really didn’t hit me how excited I was going to feel until I found out I had the possibility of going to the Michael Jackson Memorial. I didn’t win the tickets. A friend of mines did and was unable to attend. When they told me I could try to register the voucher under my name, I jumped at the chance. Nervously entering the password and meticuosly following every instruction line, because the instructions said you weren’t going to be able to reenter the password if you made a mistake. It will become null and void.

So after successfully entering every line and beating the time clock on every page which also had me at a nervous wreck to get it right, I made it to the final page and was able to print out the voucher.  The friend that was to go with me was standing right there and we both couldn’t believe that we were one step closer to going to the memorial. We couldn’t take joy in it at first because we didn’t have the tickets in hand and wanted to make sure there weren’t going to be any problems when claiming the tickets. See, we came up with all kinds of scenarios of what could go wrong. “Once they scan the voucher, the real name of the person who won would come up.” “Should I bring a blonde wig and a fake i.d. to pass for the real winner?” “Would my friend have to be there to get her wristband and ticket, too?” “Or will they just turn me around? And say so sad, too bad.”

I chose to go early to Dodgers Stadium. Though I couldn’t get there as early as I had hoped. Having been up since 1ish and beaming with anxious excitement at the chance of being a part of history.

Monday morning came and I got my partner in crime out of bed to drive down to the stadium with me. He wasn’t too thrilled about that especially since he wasn’t feeling well. But since I’ve never been to the stadium before and this was way too important to get turned around and lost in a neighborhood that I’ve never been to.  So, I drove happily. And apparently, I was on an adrenaline rush because it was chilly that morning and I’m mostly always cold, but not this morning. I had on short sleeves and my partner was bundled up confused always asking aren’t you cold? Me? No. I actually need the window down.

Traffic was a breeze on the 101 to the 134 and to the 5, but when I get to the exit my yahoo maps indicated Stadium Way it was closed.  And because of the closer, we are now in bumper to bumper traffic. I had a slight panic.  Okay, maybe a little more than slight because the air conditioner had to be turned on. But with the bumper to bumper, I was able to look at my Google maps on my blackberry and see the 110 south could possibly get me to my destination.  The 110 traffic nightmare. Could all of these people have won tickets? Oh, God, I’m going to be in the nosebleed section at the Nokia, I thought. Just because 30 minutes late.  Damn that snooze button!!!

But to my surprise, I exit the stadium exit and it was only me and a couple of cars. We followed each other. Got turned around with each other and helped by a really nice traffic cop that guided us the way.

Turn right on Exposition.  There were hardly any cars there. Thank God! It’s almost like a ghost town except with cones and police and staff members. The next cop said, “your voucher?” I sheepishly showed my voucher. He smiled and let me through. Next check stop. Show your voucher again. Sure. There you go. Next stop. Your voucher? This time I got to hand my voucher. The nice young lady scanned it. Please let my name come up. She marked the voucher and didn’t even ask me for my id. She told me to place my voucher in the windshield and drive forward to get my wristband. Next stop the golden sparkly band. It all happed so fast. Someone took my picture and all I saw was a flash of light. My partner in crime. Sick as can be looking so not interested. The lady asked if he was going. I said no. She told me to drive forward to the next stop and get my tickets. There was one more person.  And older lady to guide us to where to pick up the tickets. She looked so happy for me. She told me congratulations and to pull forward. So, caught up in feel good feeling of I’m going to the memorial,  I didn’t notice there were numerous lanes open for me to pull in. I just pulled behind the first car I saw and the cones were so tight to maneuver to get to another lane. The ticket giver of the other lane tried to get me to come over. It was like he had been getting neglected all morning. But since there was only one car ahead of me, I decided to stay. I wonder if I made the right decision. Could the other lane have better seats. What have I done? But I get the tickets and they say premiere seating. I thought that can’t be too bad. My partner comes out of his fog long enough to chime in. Is it Staples Center? The guy said yes. And I was like, Yes!!! Next thing, he said drive forward to the exit. I’m like that’s it? He said that’s it. I’m like you’re sure, that’s it. He said that’s it. I’m like really, really it?  And it was it. So, I got out of there and got lost on the way home, but hey, I now possess the tickets and my right arm is wrapped with the wristband. I texted my friend immediately and told her “Got ‘em”.

The Day of …

Got up at 4:45am. Ready to leave at 6:15am, but not before me and my friend could take some pictures in our MJ t-shirts, holding our tickets and wearing our wristbands. Thank God, my friend’s mom is a media junkie because on our drive there she would give us news reports of where the Jacksons were and other media worthy elements. Her guidance helped us traffic wise to avoid the 101 closure and we made it down to the Staples Center area in no time. Even found a great parking space on Figueroa and 21^st.  I debated on taking my phone which has a camera since the tickets said no recording. But I thought how are they going to make everyone turn in their phone or take it back to the car. So, I decided to take a chance and bring my phone but leave my digital camera behind.

We walked up to the Staples Center and it’s around 7:15 now and there’s no sense of frenzy and at first we don’t even see a lot of people. It was very calm and the air of the policemen were open and friendly. Very different from what I’m used to except for of course, yesterday, they were open and friendly there, too.

As we’re waiting to cross the street, we see people lined up. Could this be our line? We make it across the street and yup it’s our line. We keep walking and walking, not knowing where’s the end? These people must have been out here at 6am at least, I’m thinking. And look everyone’s got a cell phone with a camera, but wait some have digital cameras, too. Man, I should have brought mine, too?

As we’re walking down this long line, my friend calls a friend that she knows has tickets, too. Yes, they are in line already and we can join them. They were at Cherry. I still don’t know how far that line extended past Cherry. My friend’s friend had tickets for Nokia. So as soon as the line started moving when we got to a certain point they split to go to the Nokia side.

We enter the Staples Center, cell phones admitted and some cameras. What I heard was some cameras were admitted if they were small. Damn it, I should have brought mine. Oh, well.

We started getting calls that they were going to be bringing the body to the service.  We couldn’t believe that was true. But another friend told me that they were doing that so the service would be treated as a funeral. We wondered what the reaction was going to be like from the thousands of people there. I was anxious to get to my seat, but since we were there so early, we hung around the lobby area. When it was almost 10am, we began to head toward our seats.

On our way to our seats, I noticed a celebrity entrance. We stood upstairs above it. There were only a few looky-loos including myself partaking in this private viewing. So, security didn’t bother us at first. But there’s always someone that’s got to ruin it. Someone pulled out their camera and started taking pictures. I hadn’t even thought of it at that time, though, I wasn’t opposed to doing it myself. But I was caught up in watching Jesse Jackson enter and not so much him, because being from Chicago, you see him every where. It’s like seeing Mayor Daley. It’s like hey, what up, Jess? But behind him, comes Louis Farrakhan and his crew. Again, I’m from Chicago, so it’s not a strange sight, but I wasn’t expecting him to be at the Michael Jackson Memorial. And I’ve never seen him in person. I was caught up in the stride of their step as they approached security. The uniformity was quite impressive. The beauty of black men working together despite all of the Nation of Islam’s controversy. And I started having flashbacks of the days when black men greeted me with, “My Sista”. “No, I’m sorry, I’m not into bean pies, but can you call me ‘my sista’ one more time?” (Sigh)

Sorry, I digress. And even though, I’ve seen the Nation of Islam plenty of times growing up (sans Farrakhan), there was something majestic happening in that moment as Jesse Jackson was being cleared through security and right behind him Minister Farrakhan. This truly is a historical moment.

The people taking pictures quickly snapped me out of my black man fantasy because the security told us all to move on. He had given the people taking pictures enough warnings. And he said, “This is a memorial!” And the look in his eyes when he said that, it really hit me, it is.

We walked to our seats located in the Premier section. It’s not as great as it sounds. Not nose bleed and yes it’s below the box seats, but we were so far back from the stage that my camera phone wouldn’t be able to zoom in tight enough to make anyone out on stage.

I took a moment to take in the amount of people present here.  Though, I was surprised to see some sections were still empty. As different celebs walked in there were moments of applause. Nothing raucous. Just acknowledgment.

Then Smokey Robinson came on stage and he read a statement from Diana Ross and  Nelson Mandela. And all I could think about is why isn’t Diana here? At first I was judgmental about it, but I realize everyone handles grief differently.

After Smokey left the stage, there was a long delay. I don’t recall if it was five minutes or ten. It was probably only five, but the entire stadium was quiet. Silent. Being in a room with over 15,000 people and there’s silence. I don’t even know what to say about that, but just take it in and imagine.

The services begin and the casket is wheeled in. I nervously wanted to crack jokes saying that’s the Bentley of caskets. Especially having been to three funerals/memorial services this year, I’ve examined and seen my share of caskets. But with the casket and the family coming in, it quickly changed my humor and set in to the brevity of this situation. Because of my own losses this year, it really hit me, this family albeit a very public family is sharing such an incredibly private moment with all of us. The world. I couldn’t imagine grieving my loved ones in public.  How generous their hearts are to do such a thing. They could have easily said screw them, screw the media. After all, the media is part of reason of why he’s gone so soon, I believe. But they knew it was important to show that their son, their brother, their father was loved so incredibly by the world and maybe finally the naysayers could see why he was loved so. I believe they accomplished that and more yesterday.

Needless to say, my tears began to fall early in the process. I connected immediately and how could you not when you have a collective grief of thousands surrounding you. Men and women. Oh, and when Paris spoke, the girls behind me began sobbing. There was a father and daughter sitting next to me. He was about fifty and she about twenty and to see both their eyes red from tears and many others as we walked out at the end, made me feel that we all were shedding tears for all of the pain he felt emotionally and physically for all of these years.

I was thrilled to hear from Brooke Shields. Al Sharpton’s line, “I want his children to know, there was nothing strange about your Daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with” got me out of my seat. Mind you, until that moment, I never liked Al Sharpton. As a matter fact, couldn’t stand him. But when he said that, I wanted not only for his children to hear that but for everyone that has added weight to the foot on Michael’s neck. Can you imagine that pressure? Literally? I’m not discounting the fact, yes, clearly Mr. Jackson was extremely eccentric to say the least. The plastic surgery went too far. But there are many people doing that everyday. I see them in Beverly Hills all the time!!!

But when the pedophile accusations came, where were the people to support him publicly?! I listened to Donald Trump the other day on CNN discussing how Michael played with his kids all the time and nothing happened. He was a great guy he said. I’m so grateful that one of the boys stepped up and said Michael did nothing to me. The other kid is still under gag order. So he can’t say anything. I know Emmanuel Lewis and he has nothing but great things to say about Michael and always have. He would say, “Michael would just want to play all the time and I would be like Michael, I’ve got to get to work.”

But more people needed to support him publically. I swear we are a nation of cowards. Myself included. I know I’m a big chicken. I understand why people don’t take a stand on what they believe to be true and fight for it, but I hope that that’s starting to change. I hope that everyone that attended the service and everyone that watched it walked away with something that they want to do differently in the world. Whether it’s from how they want to be in the world or who they want to be. I loved that they closed the memorial with two songs that really summed up what Michael Jackson was about… “We are the World” and “Heal the World”. We are it and we need to take responsibility for it.

It took me two days to take the band and I didn’t want to take it off then. It reminded me to strive to be a better person for everyone else around me. I don’t know about you, but I need a constant reminder because error occurrences can knock me off the banister in a millisecond. And I’m right back to thinking about me, me, and more me. But at least I have the program sitting on my desk with Michael’s arms stretched out. It says to me to reach out for the world, no holds barred and go for it.

Danita Jones

Contributing Writer to NBNtoday.com

“This is it”

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For the 2 serious fans

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He played with my kids!

I heard Donald Trump last night on a CNN interview last night with Larry King. He told Larry that Michael Jackson was not a child molester. In no way was this man was a child molester he played with the Trump kids when they were youngsters.

This writer believes the same thing but I always have, but my word means nothing to the courts that tried Michael Jackson. And it leaves me this erie feeling that some of these huge so called famous character witness’s could’ve stepped up and said this in court about Michael. But fluck that they could’ve just shared it with the public so we would have better confidence and information about the  person we(the fans)believed was innocent. Last night I see Kobe, telling us all what a generous and caring man Michael was but I never seen anyone step up and say that about him we he needed you to. But now all of you want to jump on the He was loved wagon with the majority of the public. All of you ought to  be ashamed of yourselves. And Keep your flucking mouths shut it’s not going to help Michael now.  And it’s pissing the real fans off.

“This is It!” Michael Jackson…4real “This is it”

“Thats a Wrap 4 Real”