An American Dream Realized?

When I found out that the youngest sister one of my close college friends had tried out for American Idol, I cannot say I was surprised. I remember lil Jasmine at nine years old, and while I did not know American Idol could be her avenue to stardom, I knew eight years ago that if anyone from Mississippi was going to “make it big,” it would be lil Jasmine. The more I think about Jasmine, who performs tonight on American Idol, the more it dawns on me what this would actually mean.

I first meet ‘lil Jasmine Murray when she was nine and I knew that she was destined for stardom. She was in Wal-Mart with her older sister Andrea. She simply radiated with personality. Now seventeen, that personality has been coupled with a beautiful voice, the sweetest face, and a gifted intellect.

A student at the renowned Mississippi School for the Humanities, Jasmine has already defied odds through the effort of her hard work and determination. Reared by a loving, but dedicated mother, Jasmine is the youngest of five (three sisters, one brother, all college degreed honor graduates). She loves purple, Miley Cyrus, all kinds of music (including Gospel and Country), and thin crust cheese pizza.

In many ways, Jasmine is just like every good kid I teach- well-mannered, hard working, but passionate and hungry for more than what life has offered.

I cannot wait to see her on American Idol tonight and see if her American dream will come to fruition.

Until Gatsby rises again...

Your Favorite Teacher

Shame, Shame, Shame... And I promise I am not laughing!

This article was posted on wsbtv.com!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 – updated: 4:37 pm EST February 3, 2009

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Cobb County police said a teacher was arrested and resigned from the school district after she allegedly slapped a student’s arm for taking an extra piece of pizza.

Angela Franklin, a special education teacher at Fair Oaks Elementary School, was charged with simple battery after she allegedly slapped the 11-year-old special education student's arm and said, 'This ain't no Piccadilly.'

Franklin was previously investigated by the Memphis City Schools and suspended after she allegedly slapped a student across the face for not moving her desk when asked. Cobb County school officials said Franklin did not disclose the previous investigation or the fact she had received an unsatisfactory performance evaluation from that school system.
Franklin resigned her position Jan. 7 after the charges came to light. She had been employed by Fair Oaks since Aug. 2007.

Franklin was released on $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 13.

Tales from the Hood: The worst rental car company in the world... Triangle!

So what do you when a company you would rather not do business with has you by the cojones?

My friends and I went to D.C. in two extended Expeditions and we rented the vehicles from Triangle Rental Car.

My original reservation was for 4 p.m. and I planned to take a quarter day off from work and pick up the rental, but when I called the people, they told me not worry, I could make it in by 6:30 and everything would be great. So I finished a full day of work.

My friend Felicia, who rented the other SUV, picked her car up at 3:00 and also confirmed that it would be okay for the second rental to be picked by 6:30. So I leave work at 4:30, arrive at Triangle at 5:40 and wait in line until 6:20. When it finally gets to the lady in front of me, the rental counter guys asks her if she wants to upgrade her rental from a regular Ford Explorer to an Expedition, for no extra charge. Clearly flirting with the lady, the Ewokish man made me think, wow, they must have a lot of Expeditions. When I finally made it to the register, I was told they were out of Expeditions and that the last one had just been rented.

I went ballistic.

It was not 6:30 and they were out of Expeditions. They were out of Expedition because Ewok gave the last one away to some random woman who actually reserved an Explorer.

I went ballistic.

The manager came out and offered me a 15 passenger van at the same price as the Expedition.

I went ballistic again. I could not imagine driving ten hours, up mountains, in a fifteen passenger van.

I looked at the manager for ten minutes, said nothing, and finally thought of a solution. I ran outside, found the lady who got the last expedition and offered her $100 to let me get the expedition and take the Explorer. She did with no problem.

After the trip, I returned the rental and called the regional manager and filed a complaint. The offered me a free rental but I declined their offer. Triangle Rental Car is a gawd awful company and I will never use them again.

-Until Triangle Rental Car goes out of business,

Zack

At last...

I am proud to call myself an American. I believe each generation will only be granted a select few opportunities to witness history achieved and I was fortunate enough to witness a historic first for our nation. One day the election of a member of any minority group (Jewish, female, gay, and the list, like the beat, goes on…) will not merit aplomb or praise, but until that day comes, I have reason to celebrate the progress of my nation. I was fortunate enough to celebrate this progress with almost 2 million other Americans at the 56th Presidential Inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama (although only 43 presidents actually took office… ole comeback kid, Grover Cleveland). While it was hard for me to actually miss two days of work (yes, I know you already know what a workaholic I am), I would not have traded the experience for anything else in the world (well, maybe an undisclosed amount of money).

President Obama represents not only the American dream, but the American identity in the 21st century. James Truslow Adams, who coined the term the American dream, defined the concept as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Hawaiian born, biracial, with an eclectic religious belief system, Barack Obama embodies the idea that with hard work and vision, a better, richer, and fuller life is achievable.

This can be said for not only President Obama, but can be said for each us. President Obama is just like you. No, really. He really is like you.

Like you, his parents divorced and his mother remarried and neither of his parents did a great job of being parents. Like you, his grandparents were instrumental in his life, and like you, he experimented with drugs and alcohol. Like you, he did not originally go to one of America’s top colleges (or the top college in his state, for that matter) and after graduating from college, he did not go directly to graduate school. Instead, he made education and service a priority and found his voice as an advocate for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised.

President Obama proves that background and family history don’t determine your lot in life. He proves that you can come from very humble beginnings and not only aspire to greatness, but achieve it nonetheless.

Like many Americans, I am proud to call myself an American. And like many Americans, I have hope that American tomorrow will finally start being better than America today.

-Until Michelle is named as one of Vogue's Best Dressed,
I'm Just Zack