Cops Killed & A Wild Manhunt Ensues While I'm On My Way To The Oakland Zoo!

Wow,Oakland is like a concrete jungle!While I was headed to the Oakland Zoo today,I saw police helicopters in the sky over East Oakland! I knew something major was up when I saw speeding undercover police cars & CHP zooming on both sides of the highway! Cops were everywhere because officers were down!My condolences go out to their families. Here's more on this from KTVU:

"Four police officers were severely wounded and a suspect killed in two separate shootings Saturday in East Oakland's troubled MacArthur Blvd. neighborhood, authorities said.

Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said all four officers were in critical condition at Highland Hospital. There was a chaotic scene outside Highland’s emergency department with a crowd of officers hugging and crying.

Authorities said the deadly spree began with a traffic stop at 74th Ave. and MacArthur Blvd. at about 1:15 p.m. Two officers were wounded at that location, according Oakland Fire Department spokesman David Brue.

A short time later, acting on a tip, police surrounded a building on Hillside St. and 74th Ave -- a block from the initial shooting scene. A SWAT team was sent in and shot it out with a suspect, who had barricaded himself inside. Two officers were wounded in the exchange of fire and the suspect killed."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.

As a Alameda resident,I had some apprehension about going to the Oakland Zoo.And being in the midst of a manhunt really makes me want to stay out of Oakland altogether!

Maxine Waters,I Think That You All Have Some Explaining To Do!

Those that we elect to serve the people are not always looking out for our interests.I don't like that Tim Geithner seems to be looking out for his buddies on Wall Street instead of the average taxpayer.But since Geithner seems to have an aversion to paying taxes,it's probably hard to relate to us.This whole AIG bonus scandal is absolutely outrageous!Maxine Waters was right when she said that President Obama had some explaining to do!But,she sure shouldn't point fingers because it would be hypocritical!Look at Maxine Water's involvement with minority-owned banks.Here's more from the LA Times:

"Waters, a senior member of the congressional committee that oversees banking, has come under scrutiny after OneUnited Bank received $12 million in bailout funds. Waters' husband, Sidney Williams, served on OneUnited's board and held stock in the bank. The bailout money was provided in December, three months after Waters helped arrange a meeting between officials from the bank and other minority-owned institutions and Treasury representatives.

Waters said the September meeting was requested by the National Bankers Assn., a trade group for woman- and minority-owned banks, to discuss the struggles of its members, not any one bank.

"I followed up on the association's request by asking Treasury Secretary [Henry M.] Paulson to schedule such a meeting, as did other members of Congress," she wrote, adding that she did not attend. She released National Bankers Assn. letters requesting the meeting and following up on it -- signed by the group's incoming chairman, Robert P. Cooper, a OneUnited officer.

Waters said the decision to give bailout funds to OneUnited was "based on the merits of the bank's request, not based on anything said at the September meeting and not based on political influence."

She said she had fully disclosed her husband's ties to the bank. Williams served on the bank board until early last year and held at least $500,000 in investments in the bank in 2007, the most recent year for which public financial disclosure statements are available.

She said in the statement that her husband "did not accept any director's compensation for his work on behalf of the bank and the community it serves" and "is proud to be invested in a minority-owned community bank that was given an 'outstanding' lending rating from its regulator for its lending activity in underserved communities in Los Angeles, where traditional banks have refused to lend."

Waters could not be reached for an interview Friday. OneUnited Chief Executive Kevin Cohee said he didn't have time to speak with a reporter.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said Waters' behavior was "inappropriate and certainly has the appearance of impropriety, even if it doesn't rise to the level of an actual conflict of interest under House rules."

Sloan said Waters' comments that the meeting focused on the general problems of minority-owned banks "don't seem credible" in light of Treasury officials' statements that the session became a discussion of one bank's troubles.

"At a minimum, Treasury officials should have been apprised of her interest in the bank before the meeting took place," Sloan said.

Waters' efforts, she said, raise the question: "How many members of Congress are having meetings with the Treasury Department pleading for funds for certain banks?"

Sloan said: "Treasury has said they're going to list the lobbying contacts. Does that include if members of Congress are lobbying? It certainly should."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.

We should know what members of Congress are acting as lobbyists for banks!It sure sounds like both Tim Geithner & Maxine Waters are fighting for the banks instead of the people.What about us?!! She claims that Congress is doing the best job that they can.Really?!!! If signing unread bills is the best that you can do,then you all should be fired!That is total BULL!!!

Transparency & accountability are two of President Obama's promises that have yet to be fulfilled.It's the usual cover-ups & lies!But,I'm giving our very new president time to affect change because 60 days is not quite enough.Unlike others,I will give him room for error.Just don't make too many!

It's Women Awareness Month Just In Case You Were Unaware!

This is the month where the issues that concern women are highlighted.It is a time to generate a public discussion on topics such as domestic violence,rape, breast cancer,AIDS/HIV,etc...

In the spirit of sharing a traumatic feminine issue,I will divulge something.I have been the victim of unwanted advances more than once.My experiences really fell more into the category of date rape,but it still left a mark on me just the same!No one wants to be violated & told that they really don't mean NO! When a woman tells you NO & STOP repeatedly,it's safe to assume that she definitely means it! NO MEANS NO!!

Women's issues is the focus of March.Here's more on how it all came to be from Nique.net:

"These words are read every day in newspapers and heard frequently on television. Women’s Awareness Month not only aims to inform the public about the statistics, it also supports and tributes those who have been through one of these traumatic experiences and informs women on how to prevent such events.

Women’s Awareness Month (WAM) began initially as Women’s Awareness Week in 1997. It was founded by Jennifer Orr, the president of Tech’s Women Student Union during the time.

With the intention of educating the public about women’s issues, Women’s Awareness Month brings female role models to talk about their experiences and advocates discussion about current women issues."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.

Check out that video with the smoking hot African safe sex commercial!