News Brief from the Streets.

Week In Review: Sept. 1- 6

We started off the month of September right with a huge carnival in the streets of Brooklyn. We celebrated the 41st annual West Indian American Day Parade and millions of people were out in good spirits to enjoy the unique essence of the Caribbean culture. We were reminded and forewarned, however, of the powerful wrath of Hurricane Gustav lurking in the distance as it was predicted to wreak havoc on the Caribbean. Sadly, large numbers of people lost their lives to this force to be reckoned with and it didn't die out until after moving on to its next victim, New Orleans, causing just minor damage. The inhabitants of the still developing city, who experienced devastating losses three years prior during Hurricane Katrina, were told to evacuate the city as Gustav was estimated to do WAY more damage than Katrina. [Haven't these people gone through enough? Don't worry my people in New Orleans; there are better days coming. Keep ya heads up Louisiana!] Luckily, New Orleans barely made out with few scrapes and bruises- just lost power as a result of fallen trees and debris. Like a gang of misfits, Hurricanes Hanna, Ike, and Josephine quickly formed behind Gustav leaving us a bit on edge, but we will remain steadfast and hope that this hurricane season doesn't linger for too long.

We'll get thru it and hopefully so will unlikely VP nominee & McCain's GOP, Sen. Sarah Palin, who was a media favorite this week. It all began when an insider learned of their family "secret" and became consumed on the fact that Palin's seventeen year old daughter, Bristol Palin, got knocked up by high school sweetheart, eighteen year old Levi Johnston. Most politicians would use this juicy gossip as a way to attack their opponent, but not my Barack. That's why you gotta love him! He's a respectable father of two beautiful young girls who doesn't try to get ahead on others misfortunes, nor does he judge Palin on the teen pregnancy issue she is experiencing in her own family by humbly stating: "This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president." After encountering a week full of low blows from the media concerning her daughter's new baby bump and her lack of experience, she briefly reiterated to the world her resume of credentials, introduced her family to America proving despite her "small-town" background, she's "going to Washington to serve the people of this country." But, these promises wouldn't be complete without a low blow of her own against Barack during his time as a community organizer in Chicago, saying: "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities." I respect her gangsta y'all. She's IN IT to WIN IT kids!

Speaking of kids, millions of them headed back to school this week after a two month summer vacation. [I dunno about y'all, but I sure miss summer breaks, bathroom passes, half days, Brooklyn-Queens day, and all those sporadic Jewish holidays we used to get off throughout the school year. To think, I didn't even like going to school- well not for academic but more social purposes to say the least. What I would do to get those days back....] Unfortunately for 19 year old Kevin Pravia from Massachusetts, he will not live out his goals for this semester. Pravia, a Pace University student, was found dead in his Chelsea apartment on West 15th Street by his roommate. She stumbled on his lifeless body [after returning home from a weekend getaway] with a cord around his neck and plastic bag shoved down his throat. Jeromie Cancel, 22, confessed to killing Pravia "because I wanted to. You got a problem with that?" he yelled at reporters. The obviously deranged youngman watched the gory horror flick "Saw" after strangling Pravia and left his apartment with a cellphone, iPod, and laptop which he later sold on the street. On an even sadder academic note, reports have shown that 83% of high school graduates are forced to take remedial courses entering CUNY community colleges. That's a problem! Here's the solution: we need to raise the high school graduation standards because it's costing these kids, their parents, and our government wasted TIME & MONEY by re-teaching material in college that should have been mastered at the high school level. C'mon young people, Smart it Up! Your future depends on it.

"Read more. Learn more. Change the Globe." -Nas (excerpt from "I Can" from his album, God's Son)

...Ghost