America's Imam Passes on!

Al Imam Warith Deen Muhammed has passed on joining the ancestors waiting for the first resurrection on the last day. He was born, Wallace Muhammed, the seventh child of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammed.

According to the Autobiography of Malcolm X it was Wallace who first tutored Malcolm in Orthodox Islam. Wallace was sentenced to three years in prison for refusing the draft and in that time studied Al-Islam and his Islam as his father taught it. After comparing the two Wallace ceased teaching the official NOI doctrine and instead taught Al-Islam. Wallace was suspended many times from the nation for not teaching the doctrines and theology prescribed by the Nation of Islam.

He was reinstated as a Minister of the Nation of Islam and would succeed his father as leader upon Mr. Muhammed's passing in 1975. He changed the name of the Nation of Islam to the World Community of Al-Islam in the West opening the mosque to all races and adopting Al-Islam. He denounced the original NOI teachings, closed the restaurants and bakeries and began to concentrate on teaching and bringing the people to the light of Al-Islam.

Several ministers chafed under his leadership most notably Louis Farrakhan who broke with Warith in 1977 and reformed the Nation of Islam. It is the largest of all the dissident organizations.

Imam Warith Muhammed became the first Imam to offer prayers at the United States Senate. In his lifetime he often spoke of truth and reconciliation between all members of the human family. He and Louis Farrakhan embraced and reconciled publicly in 1997. Minister Farrakhan in recent years has moved the Nation of Islam closer to the orthodox teachings of Al-Islam.

I am personally saddened by his death. He passed on September 9th and in a way this is the closing of one of our greatest opportunities. Warith Deen knew what extremism was and wasn't. He was an orthodox Iman and could have explained Islam to Americans and he could have explained Westerners to the Islamic World but strangely enough we are still just as ignorant about Islam and other world religions and cultures as we always were. He did not immigrate here, he was from here. He was very well known and respected and he was a non immigrant. His people didn't immigrate here they were imported and he was from the homegrown stock. He could have battled the likes of the Osama Ben Ladens with the beauty of Al Islam that Americans are so unfamiliar with. Now he's gone, We've lost that chance. He will be missed.

Allah U Akbar Warith Deen, rest in peace see you on the last day. May the God (IAM) of Peace be with your family in their time of grief.

BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayer!
Jaycee

Main Library Saved!

The Long Beach City council and Mayor Bob Foster have come to an agreement on the city budget. Each city department will suffer budget cuts including some layoffs but the proposal to close the Main Library has been abandoned for now. The Library will close on Sundays and Mondays and some staff members will be layed off.

Mayor Foster still plans to eventually close the Main Library and build a new one at a different location. Thanks to local activists, educators and residents though the Main Library lives on.

BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!

Jaycee

Acres Of Books to close October 18th!

GENTRIFICATION: Noun: The process in which a neighborhood is transformed from low-value to high-value properties, Colonisation of an urban area by a higher socio-economic group, the displacement of lower income residents by higher income residents in a neighborhood.

According to the Long Beach Press Telegram the Acres of Books is will close its doors on October 18, 2008. The Karen Robes-Meeks penned article miffed me.

The Acres of Books is a Long Beach historical landmark that is being removed by eminent domain. It is not going out of business due to Amazon.com, the Internet or chain stores. The Acres of Books is being forced out of it's current location by the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) in conjunction with the City using eminent domain as the means. The RDA is planning to build on the site which extends from Broadway Ave. down Long Beach Blvd. to East 3rd Street and up Elm Ave. The RDA has accepted bids for contracts from private developers to build luxury condos and artist lofts and retail stores. They have also included the option to include California State University Long Beach. (CSULB) has not signed on to the project as of yet. The RDA has promoted this project as The Art center or some such name commiserate with the East Arts Village. There is however no explanation why the RDA would force the existing Art galleries, Photography and Bookstores out of business. Couldn't those businesses have been included in the layout of the new project? Why replace Art galleries with other art galleries if that is your true objective?

The Shades of Afrika operated at 352 East 3rd street for 15 years. It is an Afrikan American owned Bookstore and Art gallery. It also is a community center. NA AA meetings are held, Sistah Circle, a rite of passage program for young women, Poetry, Yoga and Afrikan history, CPR/First Aid classes and cinema nights. Why wouldn't you include that. They have since moved. The Acres of Books also hosted a weekly open mike. Al's Photography and Fingerprinting held several exhibitions of local art and photography. They have also moved further up 3rd Street. Why would they not be included? So I find it disingenuous of journalist Karen Robes-Meeks, of the Press Telegram to write that the Acres of Books is closing due to the changing literary landscape. I talked with Mrs. Meeks back in April when she first published a story about The Acres closing. I let her know that her story omitted several facts and it appears deceptive. Mrs. Meeks has continued to use the same quotes and deceptive omissions.

Nowhere do any of Miss Robes-Meeks articles mention gentrification nor is there any interviews with other local merchants affected by the RDA project. The Acres of Books has been advertised as an historical landmark. It's landmark status seemed to insulate it from the RDA but the city deftly explained that it was a city designated landmark status and that the city can choose to revoke that status. While I agree that this is a smarmy, snake move it is within the cities right but where is the Press Telegrams article on it?

Where is the article talking with local merchants about the city and the RDA's decision to gentrify the area? What about the merchants anger and feelings of betrayal? What about fairness?

What about the small business owners who have supported the area for years only to be discarded following another bout with the cities wanderlust? What about the residents? We're next!

Rents have gone ever higher each time the city gets a hard on to re-develop an area. Wages are stagnant! Where are the renters supposed to go?

Lastly, why is it alternative weeklies like LA Weekly, OC Weekly, The District, The Gazette and bloggers like myself are the only ones mentioning the failures of past and most recent redevelopment projects?

City place, the New Pike? Failures! Why??? Ask John Morris, you remember him? Owns Smooves, The Cohiba room, used to have Jack Roses and Mums, sued the city, won, then lost on appeal? Look at Pine Street right now. Morris complained years ago about the cities wanderlust when the Pike was being built. It killed Pine Street! Now, Z-Gallery is closing their store on Pine for this very reason.

Pine Street used to be the development that was gonna revitalize downtown. They built the new AMC theatre with retail shops and condos and restaurants then California went through a recession and a housing downturn. That was about 1992. Shop after shop has opened on Pine and they've closed most citing lack of foot traffic, the cities lack of support or high rents!

Remember Ben and Jerry's. The System M bar, New York Bryans, Education 2000+? The Afrikan American Gift Shop, Boogie Woogies? All Gone!

The City of Long Beach and The Redevelopment Agency to quote 562 Magazine have never met a developer they didn't like. Project after project has been built or is being built in hopes that the city will be infused with a higher income population. They have shown though that they are more than willing to sell Long Beach's collective soul in order to get it.

The Press Telegram is a decent local newspaper most of the time but good, fair, unbiased investigation is the only way to be a good journalist and continue to be a good paper. The PT is supposed to confront the RDA and The City officials on the failures of the old projects not just promote the new ones.

Don't let me be the only one who asks this question. Feel free to email Karen Robes.@presstelegram.com

BE Prayerful! BE Careful! BE Mindful!

Jaycee

Coup! League of Evil Monkeys Leader Deposed!

Serious Black, President of the League of Evil Monkeys, has been deposed in a coup involving Kenny G, Barney the Dinosaur, (Not a monkey) and Joe Lieberman (jury still out). The hideously evil monkey issued a statement advising that Serious Black has run afoul of members sympathetic to the far evil spectrum of the league after recently passing resolutions favorable to the hopelessly indifferent wing.

Readers of the blog began to suspect that something was amiss when Serious Black, the president and chief spokesman failed to issue a new post since August 24th! More on that later!
BE Mindful! BE Prayerful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Midnight Basketball Saved!

Well Alright! Midnight Basketball in Long Beach has been saved! Union Pacific Railroad sponsored the program with a $30,000 dollar grant. The Midnight basketball league originally cited as one of George Bush Senior's Thousand Points of Light, the Clinton Administration included it in its crime prevention bill highlighting evidence that it could prevent youth and other crimes that occur from Midnight to four am by providing youth and young adults with an activity decreasing incidents of vandalism and petty crime. It's always a point of contention if programs such as these work but I personally believe Midnight basketball, Police Athletic leagues and Art and Music programs in schools to be money well spent if it gives the opportunity for a kid to choose something else and keeps them out of trouble! Big up Union Pacific! Mayor Foster! and Dee Andrews!
I look forward to more programs like this at Ernest McBride park and all our local area parks and recreational facilities!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Welcome Home Marion Jones!

Marion

Long may you run. Run free from arrogance

Run Marion

to your family

Marion

Let no one call you a disgrace

Instead you be the face of forgiveness

for

the things they've done.

And when your last race is finally won

let your life be a testimony not a trajedy

let your life be weighed in the balance

not for the mistakes you once did

but for the victory you have become!

Welcome home Sista Marion!

Mista Jaycee the Poet!

Mccain, A Maverick! Surely you Jest?

Mav.er.ick (mavrik) Noun. 1. An unbranded animal 2. A Non conformist

Republican Presidential nominee John Old Kane Mccain spoke to the Grand Old Party faithful in St. Paul last night. Mccain trying his best to enjoy the spoils of victory following a hard fought primary season. He took his time speaking of his many years of public service, his military experience and his time as prisoner of war and trying to convince the party faithful and himself that he was the embodiment of change.

Delusion: (di'luzhen) Noun. 1. A False belief

There are alot of words that can be used to describe John Mccain but change is not one of them. Change for John Mccain may mean that he is now the president and not George Bush. No! John, the change Obama is speaking of and which so many others have sought for so long is the transformative meaning of the word. You are still interpreting the transistional meaning of the word Change! Last night you spent a large section of your speech talking about your POW experience. How you fought in the Vietnam war, how you were captured and mistreated but through it all you came through.

News Flash! You were never a Prisoner of War! Technically you were a prisoner of a police action but it don't have such a catchy ring huh? Congress never declared war remember? Oh yeah, you don't remember. Must be getting Old!

Vietnam is listed as a Police Action John! I also seemed to recall another John who claims to be a War Hero in his bio too. John Kerry! What about Max Clevland? I know Vietnam was terrible! It was! You went through a horrible ordeal. I do not envy you! But the hero card can only take you so far John.

In my opinion based on reading history The United States of America should never have gone to Vietnam. We got involved to help our ally the French keep Vietnam a part of its empire. They were still under the French as a colony. We stayed after the French bailed out! Remember John?

We fought to keep Vietnam from becoming communist. We mistaking thought that Vietnam would hook up with Red China. China and Vietnam had been mortal enimies for almost a thousand years by then but we didn't know that! We wanted to keep the USSR from having another ally. Don't forget that Ho Chi Mihn came to America first asking for help to rid his country of the French. We refused and Russia jumped right in. It was about Imperialism John. We got involved in another countries business! We didn't allow that country to choose it's own course even if that course was ultimately a bad one. We sacrificed our youth, spent more than a few fortunes propping up a Puppet in South Vietnam who was ultimately as corrupt and brutal as we believe Ho Chi Min to be. Hey Deja vu! Ain't that what we did in Iraq? Saddam was our puppet. The people didn't want him. We got oil and he kept the Shiites down. What about the Shah of Iran, Puppet who gave us oil and well kept the Shiites down. We used Saddam to fight the Iranians in the Iraq/Iran war where he suposedly gassed the Kurds and the Iranians. Remember that's the crime we executed him for? Wait, are we seeing a pattern here? Cuba! Puppet Baustista successor to a bunch of puppets who kept well you get the picture. We got Cigars, sugar, Rum and the best tropical Ho Ho Ho House the money could buy and the mob could regulate until well...you know...

So now that we got that out of the way and i've laid it out for you that we were the aggressors in that war. Vietnam would not have attacked America! Russia may have but not Vietnam! So we were aggressors. That's nothing to be proud of. I know men who brag about how they fought to keep the hood safe who suffer from the same Delusion as you! Keep the hood safe from who YOU and MEN LIKE YOU? Delusional! There have been countless wars and battles since Vietnam. Panama! Grenada! The First Gulf War! The Falklands! Somalia! and now Iraq! And just a few years before that Korea!

Now just being fair your patriotism is real! You did volunteer to serve! But that war was forty years ago. You've been in congress over 25 years! But now you telling stories about how you a war hero from some war that was unpopular, we didn't win and tore the Gosh Darn the Mittens Country apart!

It's sad like some of those old Confederates must've been. The South will rise again? I'm a war vet? I didn't betray the country! I fought for your right to kidnap human beings, rape em and make em work for free! Ain't I a hero? Sad!

You've had 25 years in congress! What have you done since then?

Now lets get to the real. During your first campaign against Bush when you got to South Carolina, two things happened to derail your campaign.

1. When they questioned you on the Confederate Flag You said it's a Southern Heritage flag! Not it's a RACIST, UNPATRIOTIC Symbol against America! No, under pressure you balked.

You later explained that you regretted not stating your TRUE feelings! That the Confederate Flag is a LOSER FLAG! A symbol of Sedition! Didn't you say that? Ya did John! Ya did! Ya punked out!

Then also in South Carolina leaflets were passed stating that you had a Black Daughter! Your adopted Daughter is from Bangladesh. She's very dark skinned. After you had lost South Carolina, you stated that W. Bush said it was just politics not personal in reference to the dirty tricks and the leaflets. You said to him some things are not politics George! That was personal!

Your own daughter when she saw you working hand in hand with George Bush she uttered Daddy How could you? No, John ya haven't been a leader. You've punked on every chance to be a leader though. See ya can't be the reformer after you get to be president. You either are a reformer or you are not! You are Not!

But then you turned around and supported Bush on 90% of his plan. Punked out again! At what time has John Mccain been a MAVERICK? Did he lead a revolt in the senate when Cheney held closed door energy summits, refusing to divulge the names of the players? No! Did he refuse to sign a budget plan or lead the opposition for a more fiscally responsible alternative? No!

Did he speak against Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales as they ruined the Justice Department? No!

Did You reach across the aisle to take the lead against Torture! Sure you spoke against but there is no legistration in your name is it? What about the FISA Law? What about the Illegal wire tapping? What about when Bush couldn't get John Bolton confirmed and he appointed him to the UN using a loophole did you object? NOOOOOOO! What about when he tried to get Harriett Myers on the Supreme court? NOOOOO! Ya did nothing! Ya played ball with George Bush and Dick Cheney! John crossed the line so far that you don't even know the difference anymore? What about Abu Gharib? What about Guantanamo? What about Walter Reed? What about the Patriot Act? What about the abuses of the Patriot Act! ???? What about the veterans? The VA is jacked! The Vets benefits are being cut and they're getting the shaft! Where is this MAVERICK you speak of?

You took an OATH to DEFEND the CONSTITUTION From ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN and DOMESTIC! Did you? NO! Bush, Delay, Ashcroft, Gonzales, Yoo, Meyers, Libby, Cheney all desecrated the constitution. You sat silent and played ball while they used The Bill of Rights as toilet paper. You love to tote that war record around but in the real war for America you sat idly by and played ball. That's not NON Conformity, that's the definition of Conformity!

Tell Me Maverick!

HEY so called Maverick! Guess what? You're BRANDED! You are a CONFORMIST!

Where are your fresh ideas? Where is your plan? It's Bushes plan! You certainly didn't lay it out last night. What are you gonna do John? Conjure up Ronald Reagan's Supply side economics? The Trickle down, Voodoo economics that didn't work the first time? What are you gonna do? Sell us another De-regulation plan and tell us lies about how it's gonna free up the entrepreneurs?

The Automotive industry is dead! The Airline industry is Dead! The Housing Industry is dead! The Banking Industry is Dead! De-Regulation let the wolves into the Hen house ad they've eaten everything John!

So what cha doing now John? Starting the culture war again? Abortion! The Evangelicals John? Appealing to peoples prejudices?

Barack Obama is the first! THE FIRST BLACK EDITOR OF THE HARVARD LAW JOURNAL! This ain't no Pansie hack! This dude went to HARVARD! THIS Dude came from a single parent home! This Dude! Married his GOSH DARN Boss! ALSO A LAWYER! He's a good father to two lovely girls! He's a Church man! So you can't claim that anymore than he can. You certainly ain't Barack Obama! Unfortunately You ain't ain't a Maverick! You ain't even YOU anymore!

BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!

Jaycee

Kongo Square Chat With Renee Salter Manning !

Welcome to the second instalment of Kongo Square Chat with Mista Jaycee. I humbly welcome Mrs. Renee Salter Manning to our cipher.

Jaycee: I happened upon the 1992 Ms. Olympia where Laura Cravelle and Lenda Murray went head to head. I thought that was amazing! Two beautiful sistas with all that muscle! And not to sound stereotypical but they were all Woman!

Pardon me but I digress! Okay I'm better now! (laughter)

I joined a gym the next day and have followed the sport of bodybuilding ever since. How did you become interested in bodybuilding?


Renee: It happened in the summer of 1994 when I attended my first bodybuilding show. I watched every competitor that walked across that stage intensely.

I was hooked! That experience was totally amazing to behold, it was just pure jaw dropping awe, I felt super energized and highly inspired. After coming from that show, I vowed, one-day that will be me!

Jaycee: Were you an athlete before? What sport or sports?

Renee: Yes, I ran track and played basketball in high school and some in college. I managed to stay active at the local gym before and after my children arrived.

Jaycee: Now, I’ve seen your body building photos and WOW!

Hey back off y'all! I know I'm married and so does my Wife! (Laughing)

Jaycee: I have never met or even heard about an active Seventh Day Adventist Christian competing before so this is amazing and really, really cool!

Jaycee: We are both Oakwood University Alumni, What did you major in?

Renee: My major went from Accounting (boring) to Computer Science (interesting).

But now if I could do it all over again, my college career would have been heavily concentrated in the areas of chemistry, nutrition, fitness and entrepreneurship.

Jaycee: Well if I could do it all over again, I'd probably do the same things as before but I'd make even more mistakes even faster! Whoever thought up late night pizza delivery with a butter crust was a genius! An evil genius but a genius! (laughing)

Jaycee: Did you begin bodybuilding haphazardly or was it a visualized goal?

Renee: Haphazard!...absolutely not!

Jaycee: Opps! Let me define haphazard…

Were you in the gym just keeping in shape and someone said “Hey your lats look great! Have you ever thought about bodybuilding? Or was it that you said Hey! I wanna try that!

I can do that?

Renee: Yes, I've always felt I could do it, the big question in my mind was, When? Lord, when can I do this?

It was a definite dream, a visualized goal deferred for 12 years.

I was okay with that, because it was my choice or in God's plan for me to wait. The time between when I fell in love with the sport until now, was time well spent being a proud wife, having at the time, a great career, and being a mother of two beautiful girls. I would not have changed my decision.

Jaycee: It may just be a matter of perception but it seems to me that we are living in a fast food, instant gratification culture that extends to our health but especially our physical appearance.

We want instant weight loss, instant beach body! Without exercise and diet!

Jaycee: What would you say is the biggest challenge to achieving a healthy championship physique?

Renee: There are many challenges. Finding the time to workout, finding time to do cardio, sticking to the eating plan without fail, achieving the daily water in-take goals, and getting plenty of rest.

The biggest is successfully ignoring your natural urges for salt and sugar (i.e. chips, cookies, candy, chocolate, etc.), and Thanksgiving dinner. (laughter)

Jaycee: What about in the off season what do you do to keep healthy period?

Renee: My first mistake was to take "off-season" literally. THERE IS NO OFF SEASON!

I use a new term, I call it the maintenance season !

That means continue eating the same way in general except that your portions don't have to be as precise when preparing for competition.
It's still eating clean, but not in such a restricted manner.

Jaycee: I know that the Seventh Day Adventist Church recommends proper rest, pure water, sunshine, mediatation and prayer, exercise, temperence, fresh air and proper nutrition. More and more people nowdays of all stripes are adopting a vegetartian diet.

So are you a vegan?

Renee: No, I'm a pesco-vegetarian. However, it is possible to be a vegan bodybuilder. There are a short list of folks out there that are having great success. It takes planning, orgainzation and committment to achieve success.

Jaycee: I'm sorry, a pes-co, what??????? What's Pesco mean?
(just kidding y'all I know what it means! Wink!)

Renee: I eat vegetables, fruits, grains as well as fish.

Jaycee: Oh! well, alright!

Jaycee: Are you a trainer and do you work with novices?

Renee: Becoming a master personal trainer with that expertise is high on my list and I am in the process of achieving that but no I don't train novices.

Jaycee: What's the most common thing or biggest misconception that you've encountered?

Renee: The biggest misconception that I have seen from people who want to get in shape is that they have to starve themselves. That's a huge myth!

When I first started following a meal plan (dieting) I was amazed at the amount of food my personal trainer had me eating. I was at the point where I was missing meals. I didn't understand why I had to eat so much. What happened over the next several weeks because of the amount of physical activity, my metabolism skyrocketed! So much so that my system was burning everything so efficiently (during the day and while I was sleep) that I would become hungry in between meals and sometimes my skin felt like it was crawling.

That was an indication of my need for a bit more starchy carbs. (That was so weird) It's like you go to hit something that you thought was crawling on you only to look and find nothing was there. (That was scary)

So I increased my water intake and that helped me to a degree but I was always looking for the next meal. I ate a meal every two and a half to three hours. I ate about five or six meals a day! You see the frequency of meals and the kinds of foods consumed, the exercise intensity, the water and rest all play vital roles in keeping the bodys' internal furnace burning those calories and fat, but most of building muscle .

Jaycee: How big a part does genetics play into determining how some one's body will look and feel?

Renee: Those that have great genetics still have to work hard, but not as hard as someone without the gift of great genetics. They will have to work harder!

A good example of this is, I've learned that I carry a lot of water and fat on my thighs and don't have the calf muscles that may come natural for other competitors.

I have to work much harder to get my body to reveal and not conceal those muscles during competition time.

There's a unique strategy for every person. It's a matter of discovering what that is and unleashing that potential.

Jaycee: OK, Free weights or Machines? Does it matter?

Renee: Free weights are best, but you should mix-in machines too. It gives your muscles a slightly different perspective. The idea is you want your muscles to expect the unexcepted, in order to avoid the plateau. Mixing up the workout will keep the body always guess and never have the chance to adapt to the same 'ol weight routine.I prefer Hammer strength and Cybex machines.

Jaycee: So, Renee, you've competed in the junior nationals and the IBFF(International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) right?

Renee: No! I haven't achieved that yet! It will take some time since I'm going to achieve this without the use of drugs and steroids.

Pray Church! (Laughter)

Renee, I want to thank you for the pleasure of interviewing you. Welcome to the family God bless you and your family.

Renee: And Thank you for interviewing me. It was a pleasure.

The views and opinions expressed in Kongo Square Chat and in A Choice of Weapons are solely the views of Mista Jaycee and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of anyone featured here!

I Miss The Wire!

Years ago I had to make an emergency trip to Texas, a state I didn't care to return to, because my Grandpa was ailing and in critical condition. I was up late, alone, scared and happened onto a marathon of HBO's The Wire!

Now I know where every Black actor is getting work! I hadn't seen these people before and a show about slangin dope wasn't something that I was gonna watch but I was in Texas and well, I was bored! But from the first scene, where Detective Jimmy Mcnulty is sitting in the cold Baltimore night, watching over a murder scene, I was in the car and along for the ride.

These were not cardboard cutouts of neighborhood thugs and noble police officers! No! All these fools were smart, driven, ambitious, loving, kind, generous, cruel, malicious, petty, funnie and complex! They were all things human! They were flawed and you couldn't put them in a box!
Take Mcnulty for instance! Smart detective, cares about the truth, wants to see that his life's work means something! He hates the bosses! They are politicians and forgot what being a cop means! Jimmy breaks the code! He breaks the chain of command and speaks to a judge about Avon Barksdale, the Top Drug Kingpin who rules West Baltimore and his second in command Stringer Bell. Avon, smart, ruthless, a military style gangsta! Baltimore drug dealing is the family business! His father, Grandfather and Great Grand all ran the trade!
Mcnulty especially gets in trouble because none and I mean NONE of the top brass even know who Avon Barksdale is. Worse up until then no one cared!

Russell Stringer Bell, Handsome, smart, college educated, is a Machiavellian theorist! A chess player, watching all the angles and counseling his friend and Brother Avon. Drug dealing is a means to an end. They own all the real Estate in downtown and are developing it into high rise luxury condos right under the nose of the city. He pays off State senators, city council members, cops! He runs the drug trade as a business. He eventually forms the New Day Co-op with every major player in Baltimore, one package, no violence! Money for everyone! Stringer is a killer, dispatching his friends and family when it gets in the way of business! The character is so well written though that he would be at home in any law firm or in any corporate board room. He's a sociopath but well that just goes to show what a sociopath can do in the right business! Donald Trump! When String finally got it! Finally got dealt with! OHHHHH! The best scene is with Mcnulty who cries over Strings body and then seeing his condo for the first time, observed it to be immaculate, with expensive first editions of books! Priceless art! Tasteful!
Mcnulty: Who the Eff have I been chasing all these years?

Omar Little, the stick up man! Omar is probably the most interesting character in television history bar none! A ruthless robber of dope dealers! He hit every stash house in the city robbing them of the money and dope! He never sold the dope! He never used the dope! He walked the streets of Baltimore with a shotgun under a duster! Awesome! His robberies were always well planned. He would have been the best detective Baltimore had ever seen if he went to the side of the law. Omar had a code! He didn't steal! He paid for his smokes even if he robbed a liquor store dope dealer of his stash he paid for the smokes! He didn't shoot anyone that wasn't connected to the game! Even if it meant going to jail or dying! Plus he was an unapologetic homosexual. He was honest, a man, no fairy stereotypes, he took Granny to church every Sunday! When he kissed Brandon in the mouth though! EWWWWWWWWWW!

The best thing about the wire was the stories and the progression of what happens to the characters in all aspects of the City! That's the true star of the show! The City!
1st season dealt with the drug trade and the murders in West Baltimore! The Cops, City hall and the Street!

The Second dealt with the docks and the working man and how union jobs were being fazed out by technology, cheap labor and greedy politicians!

The third showed Gentrification of West Baltimore as the Towers that Avon and Stringer had ruled was being torn down in order to redevelop it with luxury and the poor pushed further into the background! It dealt with the Legalization of drugs and how cops were able to perform real police work that affected the neighborhood instead of all the resources going to low level drug arrests!

The Fourth was the school system focusing on four eighth graders and how they would become the new Omar, The new Avon, The new Stringer. It shows the failure of the school system not just for the kids but for the teachers who are forced to teach nothing but the test! This was easily the hardest season for me to watch and my least favorite. To see what happens to Duke and not cry for that child!

The Fifth dealt with City Hall and a new mayor, the seduction of power, the deals! The Homeless! And the death of the newspaper business as more and more papers are being consolidated and fewer viewpoints are being explored in favor of the stock price!
A great show! I miss the writing and the honesty!


BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!
Jaycee