Ralph Ellison…once a neighbour

I took a little break last week, which is why I haven’t posted in a while. I needed to recharge my batteries…

But the break was actually well worth it because on my walks through the neighbourhood I couldn’t believe when I found out that I’ve been living so close to where the African-American writer Ralph Ellison once lived.

Hamilton Heights, Spanish Harlem (People give it so many names I’m not sure where I live) – But anyway it’s rich in culture.

For those who don’t know, Ellison was best known for his novel Inivisible Man. But writing was not only his profession, he was also a photographer, musician and sculptor.

It’s pretty surreal to think that I’m probably walking the same streets that he walked on and seeing the same things that he did but through my own eyes…

Political sex scandals – What did I say?

It’s only been a minute that David Paterson became governor of New York and already political sex scandals have been filling the pages of New York newspapers.

I was supposed to write about this yesterday but due to my “free” internet time being cut I’ve had to resort back to spending time at the internet cafe. Anyway if you look at my old post: March, 3rd post

Towards the end I write “Let’s hope Paterson, if he becomes NY governor, keeps his closet clean…”

Not that I’m gloating (well maybe), but my prediction was right. Are we living in a day and age where everyone is having affairs?…well I’d like to think not. But politicians revelations of affairs and ménage a trois’ (ex New Jersey Gov Jim McGreevey, his wife and an aide) are not helping the picture.

The historic moment of Paterson becoming the first African American Governor of New York has been swept a side and instead his personal life is the number one topic of discussion in the city.  Read more: www.nydailynews.com

But I believe that as long as Paterson’s personal life isn’t affecting his job at hand his personal life should be kept private but as we all know well politics and personal lives always intertwine especially when the media is concerned.

The twist in this scandal is that apparently Paterson’s wife began having an affair first which is why Paterson decided to have an affair himself with numerous women – not the best excuse.

Anyway, we now know the identity of one of the women Paterson had an affair with and coincidental the women in question works in his office. Actually I suppose it’s not coincidental because most affairs happen with people who they encounter on a daily basis, when you think about it we spend more time with our work colleagues in a working day than we do with our own families.  But that of course is no excuse to go out and have an affair.

I can see why he decided to speak out about the affair before the media got their hands on it and I hope his pledge to his new role proves his worth otherwise pundits will enjoy devouring him.

A gambler’s paradise

Atlantic City in New Jersey is a gambler’s paradise and I can see why. There’s something about that adrenalin rush after winning a game or even losing one that lures you  to want to gamble again – it’s purely addictive.

Casinos in AC are cunning in how they operate, I guess they have to be if they want to make millions in cash. But saying that all the machines and tables in casinos scream money,  they give away free drinks while you gamble (they like to make you feel comfortable while you gamble away your money) and they entice you before you even get there. I bought a return coach ticket for 32 dollars – but the catch is with each purchase you make they give you a “free” bonus of 20 dollars to use at the casinos, so basically I paid 12 dollars for my ticket and had 20 dollars casino money to spend – the enticement.

There’s so many casinos in Atlantic City, some of the big ones are Trump and Caesars, each drawing thousands of people. In England people bar hop, here people casino hop – jumping from one casino to the next hoping their luck changes with each new casino.

People on holiday, people who actually try to make a living from gambling, drug dealers etc – everyone’s here but I’ve noticed there’s certainly a generational gap on who will tend to do what to gamble. Older people, like your grandmas, and grandpas, tend to stick to the fruit machines – or the 25 cent, 50 cent, one dollar cent machines as some people call them. I saw one elderly lady occupying one seat but playing two machines at the same time, probably spending her monthly entitlement.

Middle aged and younger people tend to be around the tables – ie poker tables, etc. People are watched like hawks, for example on each table you have to make hand movements in front of the camera. If you want another card, you can’t say that you want one you have to indicate you want one by tapping the table.  My favourite  table has to be Black Jack (Also known as 21). It’s like a 50/50 chance of winning but it’s also very much down to strategy.

The addiction is extremely euphoric, especially when you‘re winning. I won a couple games and then lost some but played again to win back my losses. I had 50 dollars and came away with 115 dollars. I know I could have made more if I stayed longer (gambler talk) but I think it’s better to leave winning than losing. But then again this could be a bad thing because now I want to go back to Atlantic City just for that rush.

Spitzer saga continues

News outlets can be so cheeky…CNN’s headline – “The governor’s gal”. Well I can’t argue because it is the truth anyway…Read more: www.cnn.com

Woman stuck on toilet for two years

Can you imagine sitting on a toilet seat for two years? And to see your skin grow on to the seat…

Read more: www.nydailynews.com

I feel sorry for the woman – for a phobia to control her entire life is unfortunate.

And the boyfriend is certainly at fault, he shouldn’t have let this go on for so long. To watch someone in that kind of state for a whole month should have given him warning signals to go and ask for help – actually not even a month a week even, he should have gone straight for help as soon as he saw her odd behaviour.

“He said they conversed and had an otherwise normal relationship – except that it all happened in the bathroom,”…he’s crazy if he thought that was normal.

Spitzer resigning today

Will politicians ever learn from others mistakes? No.

While the fact that Obama winning the Mississippi primary goes fairly unnoticed. Governor Eliot Spitzer is on the front page of nearly every newspaper. Apparently FBI investigators are now investigating whether he used state money to pay for his rendezvous amounting up to $80,000.

Read more: www.nytimes.com

Something tells me that he wanted to be found out – politics has a history of politicians being exposed for their illicit affairs… Look at Bill Clinton, Rudy Guiliani (he was open about his affair) and others around the world. So why knowing this does Spitzer still take the risk – because he wanted to be found out. Or perhaps he thought he was so clever he wasn’t going to be found out – who knows.

Anyway if he resigns today (which I’m sure will happen) there is a possibility that New York will have its first Black governor, David Paterson.

Paterson is actually blind, he reminds me of UK politician David Blunkett who is also blind – but that‘s where the similarities end. Blunkett in fact resigned from his position as Home Secretary after he was exposed as fast-tracking a visa for the nanny of his ex-lover – he was actually having an affair with a married woman.

Let’s hope Paterson, if he becomes NY governor, keeps his closet clean…

Subway talent

Travelling down the subways of New York I’ve noticed so many hustlers. Not the kind to be wary of but the most innovative, creative individuals you can think of – musicians, singers and dancers…there’s an amazing talent base down in the subway.

These dancers I saw on 34th Street station…to see more footage visit my YouTube: www.youtube.com/MissSW247

Something about this video

There’s something about this video, perhaps it’s because I’ve been in this kind of mental state (without being on drugs) – I don’t know it just has that draw to it. But I love this video and lyrically this is a reminder of just how good I know Jay-Z can be and, as always Pharrell gives it that added twist.

When will Dem battle end?

That’s the big question – apparently commentators say, and I guess they’re right, the race will wind up towards the Democratic Convention in June.

Was this Hillary’s intention from the outset? Perhaps. Bill Clinton turned things around when he won his nomination bid right up too the Covention when he was running.

Nevertheless, there was no surprise that she won in Ohio and Texas because the polls were leaning in that direction anyway. To me the issue to look at is by how much did she win. She maintained a slight lead over him in Ohio (Clinton 54, Obama 44), and in Texas (Clinton 51, Obama 48) these results were very close. Let’s not forget the Texas caucus’ (separate from the Texas primary) the results are still being tallied which at the moment Obama is ahead – I think we’ll know the outcome by tomorrow.

But you know what, the results in Texas and Ohio reflected the general consensus there in the sense that they want change but with no risk. In Obama they see change but at a risk because of his inexperience but with Hillary they see change with experience. So I believe the results in those two states reflected that.

Last night’s race: www.nytimes.com

Clinton’s wins will give her the added boost she was looking for but it will not upset Obama’s momentum. Obama still has the popularity vote hands down and still maintains a slight lead in the number of delegates needed to win this race. Of course Clinton has secured enough delegates from last night to keep her in this race – so we can pretty much assume that this nomination could go either way.

In the Republican camp Mike Huckabee finally called it quits – that was way overdue – and of course John McCain is now the Republican nominee. He certainly has the upper hand as he goes into the final leg of this presidential race while unfortunately Clinton and Obama continue to battle it out.

Could this be it?

Here it is – Super Tuesday round II! Will Obama deal the final knock out to Clinton or will Clinton take the title as the comeback kid? Who knows, but today Ohio and Texas decide…