CBC members are (for the most part) fasting for Darfur

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they want President Obama to make the crisis in Darfur a top priority, and to show that they mean business they are fasting for the cause.

Well, the fast will be limited. On a rotating basis, that is. Actually, each person will fast for up to a few days at a time. And just through Congress’ adjournment in August.

Way to be tough. Yep. That should do it.

If you want to fast for Darfur, and for longer than a few days, go to Darfur Fast For Life.

Stop wasting your damn money!

If I watch one more co-worker walk into this office with a $5 latte I am going to scream. I don’t care if they purchased the smaller size and it really cost $3.

We are in a recession. Don’t you think it’s time that we get wise about our money?

Consider these tips and keep some change in your pockets, please!

Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it with filtered water. Hell. Buy five reusable water bottles, fill them with filtered water and grab one each morning when you head to the office. While you’re at it, brew your own coffee and steep your own tea. You can use a travel mug. And you shouldn’t even be drinking carbonated soft drinks, so that takes care of the beverages.

Entertain yourself for free with your library card and the Internet. There are web sites that offer films, documentaries and television shows for free (get it while it lasts). There’s SnagFilms, Hulu, Joost (to name a few) and many of your favorite network shows will have full episodes on their web sites of all the shows that you missed while you were wasting your money on that latte. And since we’re heading into summer, look for (free) theater or concerts in the park.

Re-gift with pride. You can always give a book without ever feeling guilty that it's used because it's new to the recipient. Just make sure that the pages are not filled with highlighting, that every other word isn’t underlined and that the margins are not filled with your thoughts.

Skip the valet. Not only will you save money by actually parking your car yourself, you will also get some exercise.

Cook. Buy real food at a store or farmers market, bring it home and cook it. If you’re feeling really ambitious, plant some food.

What are your money-saving tips? Share them here.

Mama gets no paid leave

The Economic Policy Institute says that compared to countries with similar per capita income, the United States provides the fewest mandated maternity leave benefits in both length of leave and amount of paid time off.

What is wrong with us?

Anyway, have a Happy Mother’s Day.

Did they go easy on him?

This video is appalling

Miss California tells Miss USA judge Perez Hilton that she thinks marriage should be between a man and a woman. I am appalled!

No, not at her answer. I expected as much from a beauty contestant. I'm appalled because it's 2009 and there is still a beauty pageant on television.

The bitch is back

I know. I know. I've been gone for a while. But I was invited to blog over at a friend's site and figured it made sense for me to keep posting here as well. Tough decision too. Have a day job. You know how it goes.

Anyway, the new site is called Holler At Your Girls and it is a "creative outlet for women journalists, bloggers and writers."

So I'll be cross-posting on both sites. The bitch is back y'all!

Uh ... Hello? People Are Still Dying in Darfur.

You would think that the genocide just got started with the lack of media attention, resources and international assistance. But it's been five years with 300,000 people killed and 2.5 million people displaced.

Human Rights Watch released a statement this week saying that there have been fresh attacks, civilians are still at risk and UNAMID (United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur) can't stop the attacks and has itself come under fire.

The government recently detained a Darfur journalist, has neither allowed him to communicate with the outside world nor charged him with a crime.

And with an unenforceable ICC (International Criminal Court) arrest warrant issued for President Omar al-Bashir in July, Bashir recently announced a "people's initiative" for peace in Darfur. But with no involvement from rebel groups, the gesture was downright silly.

Both presidential candidates put together a joint statement on Darfur in May. So when one of them enters the White House in January, who will hold him accountable?