In the spirit of the Afrospear's Freedom Technology Christmas , I wanted to share a free alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer.  Let me make it clear that his is not a paid advertisement. Last year, I saw my wife working on her laptop and noticed that her internet browser was different than the all too familiar Microsoft product. When I asked her about the new tool she was using to surf the web, she informed me that it was Firefox . I was probably the last human on Earth to stop using Netscape to navigate the web. I always support the underdog, and Microsoft was doing everything they could to ensure the success of its inferior browser. When my wife introduced me to Mozilla's Firefox , I was more than happy to give it a try. Forbes Magazine had an article in its October 29 issue (Web Warrior) about Mozilla and its CEO Winfred Mitchell Baker.  There are a few interesting notes in the article. Firefox (is) used by 120 million people in 50 languages. Its 13% share of world browser usage is startlingly high considering that to run Firefox you have to find the ...

Washington, DC (Wednesday, November 14, 2007) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today called on President Bush to make the enactment of the 2008 Transportation, HUD appropriations bill, a top priority before Congress adjourns this year. Congresswoman Johnson successfully secured $86,250,000 for Dallas Area Rapid Transit's new Green Line, currently under construction. Congresswoman Johnson also secured $250,000 for the Martin Luther King Family Center in Dallas. The Administration said today that the President intends to veto the bill. "The Transportation and Housing conference report addresses the important challenges of community development and keeping our transportation system safe and strong, and does so in a way that strengthens the economy and is environmentally responsible," stated Congresswoman Johnson. The Transportation and Housing Conference Report provides approximately $70 billion in federal funds for vital community development projects, highway, transit and other critical infrastructure programs throughout the country. "Contrary to President Bush’s stance, our country cannot continue to put an arbitrary cost ceiling on investment in our public works. Simply put, this legislation is about meeting our commitments to the nation on protecting lives and livelihoods through bolstering our crumbling infrastructure." Specifically, the conference report invests:   ·  Community Development Block Grants: $3.79 billion, ...

It's rare that an artist comes along and totally changes the music scene the way Erykah Badu did in the late 90's. Though Mary J. Blige remains my favorite female artist, her contributions to the Black Music experience are not as significant as those made by Dallas' own E. Badu. As my college days progressed, female R&B was dominated by groups like SWV, Total, and Xscape while the aforementioned M.J.B. was just beginning to gain her footing as the queen of hip hop soul. Many of the songs when revisited today have suspect vocals and cookie cutter beats but still jam, if for no other reason than taking you back to where you were when the songs were hot. If there was a precursor to Ms. Badu's brand of "Neo Soul" it would have to be Zhane. The duo's sultry vocals backed by live instruments were unique for the time, and their music still sounds good today. Enter 1997's Baduizm and its first single On and On. Videos were still a big deal back then, and the image of Badu on screen is still impressed upon my brain: her eyes, her hair, the ways she moved. It was apparent from ...

The following is from Teco Theater's own Teresa Coleman Wash regarding the group's 2008 new Play Competition. It's that time again - TeCo is accepting scripts for its annual New Play Competition. Six Dallas area playwrights will battle it out for a chance to win $1,000 and airline tickets. Audience members are given ballots to vote for their favorite production at each performance. On closing night, we tally the votes and award the winning playwright with $1,000 cash and two roundtrip Southwest Airline tickets.  Get your entry in before the deadline!   Remuneration: $1,000 stipend to the winning playwright and two (2) roundtrip tickets. Frequency: Annual Length: 15-20 minutes. Style: Dramedy. Author Must Be: Resident of metro Dallas. Production: Cast of 1 - 4, minimal costumes, set and light changes. Material Must Be: Unoptioned, unproduced, and unpublished. Application: Unsolicited material - full script returned with self- addressed stamped envelope. Deadline:  Postmarked by 12/31/2007. Response: 1-2 months. TeCo Theatrical Productions, Inc.  215 South Tyler Street Dallas, Texas 75208 (214) 948-0716 office (214) 948-3706 ...

The Boston Globe has picked up on a theme started by the Chicago Tribune, recognizing bloggers of color.  One of the bloggers highlighted is Baratunde Thurston of Jack and Jill Politics .  Some of the highlights from the Globe article Blog is Beautiful: "Ever since the assassination of [Martin Luther] King and Malcolm [X], there's been a hunt for the black guy who will speak for the other black guys and gals out there," says Baratunde Thurston, 30, who contributes under the pseudonym "Jack Turner" to Jack and Jill Politics, a site launched last year to explore political news from the perspective of black, middle-class people under the age of 50. "I think blogs can help disrupt the tendency to select a single individual as default leaders and default spokespeople." Jack and Jill Politics was among several blogs commenting on the story about Nobel Prize winner James Watson, who said in an interview with the London Times that blacks are intellectually inferior to whites. Writing about the incident under the title " 'Tis the Season to Claim Black Inferiority," Thurston noted that Watson based his supposedly scientific argument on the experiences of "people who have to deal ...

Dallas, TX, October 15, 2007 - Continuing its mission of strengthening the inner city community from within by providing community services, organizational support and educational scholarships for underserved youth and citizens in the Dallas Area, the Dallas Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Alpha Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and will be host the 1st Holiday Helping Hand Happy Hour and Toy Drive to benefit the Margaret H. Cone Head Start Center on Thursday, November 29, 2007 from 6pm until 8pm at the Bone Nightclub – 2724 Elm St. in Deep Ellum. Admission to this event will be a new unwrapped toy or cash donation (minimum $10). “This collaboration effort has long been a goal during my tenure as President and I am excited to partner with the members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to make this event a success” states Sherel Riley of the Alpha Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha “The Margaret H. Cone Center is a wonderful school that prepares our youth for their future and we are proud to support them with this event.” “Each year we have several events to give back to our communities in ...

Michael Baisden issued an apology to Color of Change regarding statements that were made on The Michael Baisden Show.  I couldn't find the information on his website, but the response is available at his Mingle City Forum. Below is Mr. Baisden's Response to Color of Change followed by comments that I left on the Mingle City site. The Michael Baisden show and staff were given inaccurate information regarding donations made by the public and David Bowie. We apologize to our listeners and to ColorofChange for not seeking more reliable sources. According to documentation provided by the organization through their web site, all the funds collected by ColorofChange have been distributed to the families as promised. We do, however, respect the right of four of the Jena 6 families who have insisted that ColorofChange discontinue collection of any monies on their behalf. But this should not reflect on the integrity of this organization which has collected and distributed over $200,000 to their legal defense. Any insinuations that were made about me wanting to be the sole fundraiser for legal defense is ridiculous. I am too tired after my radio gig to take on that responsibility, and furthermore, it ...

"I want that." It's a phrase I hear almost daily when my son sees some toy on television that he'd like to add to an already out of control collection.  Sometimes we respond, sometimes we ignore, but the ratio of toys purchased from that approach is about 1 in 50.  That one purchase was Aqua Dots. Since brining Aqua Dots into our home, I had been pretty well pleased.  The commercials were cheesy. So too was the toy and the designs that kids could make.  But my son was working with his hands, creating designs for which he could be proud. On Thursday afternoon the cable guy comes to check our internet service and his work took him to my desk. "Are those Aqua Dots?" he asked my wife when he saw a dog that my son had created and given me for a gift.  "Yeah" she said, sensing something strange in his tone.   The cable guy told her about the Aqua Dots recall and the effects that they have had on some children who ingested them.  She immediately went to the Channel 5 News website and found out children have suffered comas, seizure-like spasms and other strange symptoms ...

The following is a press release for Dr. Ian Smith's 50 million pound challenge.  I have been a fan of Dr. Ian since his days as a contributor to Men's Health magazine.  I continue to admire his work on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club.  New York City, Nov. 7, 2007 - Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge has reached the one million pound milestone.  Since its launch in Washington, DC on April 7, the historic campaign by the African-American community has encouraged people to save lives by getting fit and losing weight.  So far, more than 250,000 people have signed up at 50millionpounds.com and contributed to the early success of the initiative.   "We are so proud of the individual accomplishments that have resulted in us reaching this important early goal.  On November 15, I want us to celebrate taking off our first million pounds and all the participants who made it happen.  I hope people all across the country will join me in lighting a candle to celebrate the million and to signify our commitment and hope," said Dr. Ian Smith, best-selling author and diet expert on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club.  "I continue to challenge the ...

Not much for me to say here, but I would advise reading the Final Analysis of the Trinity Vote at Dallas Progress. The victory goes in the win column of Tom Leppert which makes him 3 for 3 in my book (election, runoff, Trinity).  Too bad the strong mayor initiative isn't coming up for a vote. Tom Leppert has substantial political capital with me right now.  I've seen Mr. Leppert talking to citizens and sharing with families in places where there were no cameras around.  That's a novel concept for a politician.  I'm gonna give him a shot. Another winner in my eyes is Angela Hunt.  She did what so many of us are afraid to do; sacrifice personal and political gain for what she felt was right. This was a close vote, and considering every other elected official in Dallas lined up against her, it went really well. Dallas comes out as a two fold winner.  First the Trinity Project will move forward.  Leppert had vowed to move the project forward and with all of the officials that supported "No", they should know we'll all be watching. Second, it caused the city to take a look at how ...