tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99983272011-11-27T19:39:22.103-05:00Random thoughts and musings of a distracted mind.Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-50215109174404919122011-02-14T09:55:00.002-05:002011-02-14T10:54:38.326-05:00

It is that time of year when the commecial demand for consumerism captivates and overtakes the spiritual connection that occurs when the vibratory fequency of two beings harmonize.I have long attempted to differentiate the term "love" from its fraternal and its physical manifestations. We use the same word to describe the sexual experience and the filial experience. During a sermon on 'desire' a

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-24596924509085579092011-02-13T21:44:00.003-05:002011-02-14T09:54:17.287-05:00

It was very interesting to see the response to the Egyptian uprising among American politicians both in office, formerly in office and running for office. Also the American people jumped for joy for this demonstration of the power of the people exerting their influence.It is with a jaundiced eye that I listen to the American political establishment talk about how supported and proud they were of

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-46722617739573920912011-02-07T22:10:00.002-05:002011-02-07T22:14:07.992-05:00

Dang. It is hard to believe that it has been September since I last posted. Well, there have been several fun and interesting things going on since then. One such event was the 2010 Citywide Manchester, NH Kwanzaa Celebration. I don't know if I have pictures. I will have to check. But it was a lot of fun.I have been living in a pressure cooker. it is not a good thing that I haven't been able to

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-76128144577894810812010-09-16T22:07:00.004-04:002010-09-16T22:56:42.668-04:00

I participated in the 10 gathering of people of African descent and other residents of Manchester on August 7th. It has been a long road and hasn't really gotten any easier and in some ways present administrative challenges that become more ingrained each year. But it is a community treasure and personal delight to see people dancing, talking, smiling and hanging out in the park moving to the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-88654531656415222582010-09-08T10:14:00.002-04:002010-09-08T11:08:12.894-04:00

I guess it was about six to eight months ago that I claimed I was going to be good and post on a regular basis. Unfortunately and not unentirely unexpectedly I remain a "slogger" instead of a blogger. Some many things happen so fast that it seems almost a waste of time to take the time to document what is happening in my life and what I think about what is happening in the life of others.However,

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-6828582139174532902010-06-10T20:24:00.007-04:002010-09-08T11:26:00.785-04:00

"If inner-city blacks are experiencing the greatest problems of joblessness, it is a more extreme form of economic marginality that has affected most Americans since 1980. .... solutions to problems of economic marginality in this country including those that stem from changes in the global economy; can go a long way toward addressing the problems of inner-city joblessness, especially if the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-1960373869353074012010-05-12T22:33:00.006-04:002010-09-08T11:10:01.903-04:00

As the information regarding the Gulf Coast oil spill continues to leak out, it becomes increasingly likely that the U.S. energy policy is going to take a hit. With the ideas presented by the Obama administration regarding expansion of offshore drilling seeping into the progressive public's consciousness there was sure to be big-time support. Now it seems that the newly minted policy will be dead

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-43024390272799571562010-03-02T17:00:00.002-05:002010-03-02T18:08:12.063-05:00

In reading the Tuesday, March 2, 2010 edition of the USA Today on page 3A there was an article titled "Weedkiller alters frogs in research." This article chronicles the impact of a commonly used herbicide on the natural environment. The presence of this chemical, atrazine, is identified as the cause of sex/gender confusion and changes among frogs.The result of exposure to atrazine at levels

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-35546928020444210972009-12-09T22:31:00.004-05:002010-09-08T11:11:28.783-04:00

What was I thinking about when I wrote this last year? I didn't post it so I am pushing it out now for my and your edification.What is community economic development? It is a combination of community building, cooperative economic strategies and institution development.This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-14280094636309662009-11-15T19:51:00.002-05:002009-11-15T20:54:03.080-05:00

I was talking with my cousin from New York City recently. She said that she was incredulous that there seems to be a persistent desire and demand to return to a storied past where the USA was the world's political, economic and cultural super power. The promises currently being made by the Obama administration and the clamoring for even more from its detractors are all shades of a time past that

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-73493178257501483232009-09-23T07:25:00.002-04:002009-09-23T07:36:26.847-04:00

I engaged in a conversation with an associate who shared an community organization affiliation last week. He stated an opinion with which I did not agree. In informing him (and others since we were on a listserve) of where I disagreed with him and why he was offended and withdrew. This was a disappointment to me.The art and ability to engage in a discussion of differing opinions while remaining

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-38187913036321323722009-07-24T18:51:00.001-04:002009-09-07T17:29:15.564-04:00

I apparently wasn't able to get my comments about the Skip Gates episode out of my head and into my fingers before it dribbled out my mouth in conversations with young and old, friend and foe voicing my incredulity regarding Gates naivete.The incident in a nutshell was an example of individual ego meeting institutionalized authority. Skip was trippin' when he started flippin' about the refusal of

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-4136543037205834222009-05-10T10:56:00.003-04:002009-05-16T22:31:47.178-04:00

I was reading something the other day that had an Eskimo proverb "yesterday is ashes. Tomorrow is wood. The flame burns brightly only today."I found myself quoting this proverb several times over the weekend. I was attending the graduation of my niece from Dental School and this was an occasion for her parents, family and friends to reflect back on their and her life. This frequently resulted in

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-60060790326888967882009-04-02T22:22:00.010-04:002009-04-11T21:16:08.441-04:00

The direction this country is going in has a long trajectory with a long arc and it bends towards justice. The story of the impending collapse of the American capitalist historical project is one that is written with blood, sweat and tears. A look around the dustbin of the economy will reveal much that has been hidden and much that has been revealed yet not recognized. For starters there is the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-91702059560370165252009-03-16T08:08:00.003-04:002009-03-16T08:28:49.431-04:00

What's up world? I am announcing my arrival into consciousness this morning. We are alive and in color with a mission and a purpose. What next for me? What next for you? What next for the world?We are in a place that is uncharted. We are in today. We have yesterday as an indicator and tomorrow as a possibility. But we have not lived through the time or had the experiences that await us today.

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-6695420156794952672009-02-01T09:46:00.005-05:002009-02-03T20:21:23.712-05:00

I have been absent from the blogosphere for too long. Well, maybe not too long but a long time nonetheless. Since I last posted there have been a few things that have significance for me both physically and psychically. Of course, there is the communal electoral event that resulted in the rise to prominence (and some would say power) of President Obama. Other issues include the deepening crisis

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-68830303479930416672008-12-08T14:09:00.004-05:002008-12-10T10:32:00.565-05:00

I awoke in D.C. today. I arrived last night and fully expected to find myself here. But more importantly I awoke. I am happy about that. It appears that I may see an old friend tonight. When I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago I saw my old firend's son briefly.This guy (the son) was in the same class as my daughter from pre-school to about fourth grade. Also, his parents were part of the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-46077058683261539962008-12-01T16:53:00.005-05:002009-04-11T20:18:11.772-04:00

I was at the State of the Black World Conference in New Orleans November 19 - 22, 2008 and hosted by the Institute of the Black World. It was interestinhg. It was good to see old friends. Now that I am over 50 yrs. and many of these guys are older than me I can really say "old friend" and mean it (smile). This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-56368749017943183702008-12-01T16:39:00.003-05:002008-12-01T16:52:14.122-05:00

I was adrift in the political season of the Presidential election and my postings refelected as much. Now with the hullabaloo over and done with we can get down to business. The real business at hand is the healing that we need to advocate for and facilitate occurring in ourselves, our relationships, our families, communities, countrys and realities.There is so much denial, deception and

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-79044848879539347252008-11-07T09:29:00.003-05:002008-11-07T10:33:01.192-05:00

Well it is the morning after the morning after the morning after the 2008 Presidential election. Consistent with some hopes and expectations and in spite of many doubts and fears we hailed the election of a candidate thought improbable and fatally flawed by some while inspirational and inevitable by others. This time I feel on the side of the practical, the short-sighted blinded by the long view

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-19256840174789913682008-10-30T21:28:00.003-04:002008-10-30T22:36:58.294-04:00

I was listening to a couple of African-American political commentators when the first pundit said that the world would be disappointed if Obama was elected and did not push for social justice and equitable treatment or at least the liberals. The pundit-2 noted that no one expects Obama to be a Black Power advocate and champion the cause of Black people. The first pundit responded that social

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-39420580481637869172008-10-21T19:50:00.003-04:002008-10-21T20:10:34.481-04:00

 We look at a world where the assmuption is that the world variables that affect our material existence is understood well enough to manage it in a way that will allow us to head off catastrophes. But do we? I mean do we really?We have seen the narrow definitions of what is an what is not held by European societies prove themselves wrong and usher in a new orthodoxy. The latest shake up in the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-25079169076836136672008-10-19T12:05:00.002-04:002008-10-19T13:07:25.692-04:00

We are faced with a mirror that reflects our intent, interests and motivations when we look at the current financial situation in the U.S. and internationally. One point that many people point to (including me) is the role of the institutions and the business culture in promoting an attitude of exploitative entitlement. An example of an investigation into the depths and the breadth of this

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-24891149092313581242008-09-26T06:23:00.002-04:002008-09-26T08:03:36.751-04:00

As I write this the negotiations for the bailout of American financial institutions is in full swing. There are pressures on both sides of the negotiating table. The negotiators are the legislative and the executive branches of the U.S. government. This same debate is being played out on the streets and around the dinner tables (well maybe not the dinner table) of America. The debate is around

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-75485952010906235082008-09-17T06:16:00.003-04:002008-09-17T07:27:42.065-04:00

Next on list of things to do is to decide what world we want. After making this decision we must take action to manifest our intention and desires. As we stumble forward we find that there are signs which can inform our decisions and signals that can direct our actions. However, we must be receptive to the counsel that is provided.This time of year we are experiencing the change of the climatic

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-72798738465690349002008-09-07T11:54:00.004-04:002008-09-07T12:34:51.610-04:00

Unfortunately, with the new found appellation of "slogger," I feel pushed to peck out a message just to keep faith with my commitment to "blog" by establishing a blog. I don't plan to spend much time blogging about blogging. But I do want to pierce the psychic veil that covers my understanding and darkens the insight that flows from unobstructed reflection.i think that age changes how we think

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-21368532675391648192008-08-30T22:13:00.002-04:002008-08-30T22:44:33.788-04:00

I was reading something the other day (or maybe I was listening to the radio) when I came across a description of people who set up blogs and are not consceintious about posting regularly and frequently as "sloggers." I guess that means they do not meet the criteria for being considered a 'blogger' and through their slothful, irresponsible or cavalier attitude are giving the hard working blokes

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-10894916197707848562008-08-11T11:47:00.003-04:002008-08-11T12:16:09.431-04:00

While our fearless leader George Bush is settling in for his retirement as President of the United States he is going around lecturing people to do as he says and not as he has done. We hear this loudest as people talk about China and its sweatshop human rights abuses that include denying non-Han ethnicities the right to their cultural heritage and tradition. Imagine that!First, in terms of sweat

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-88496714752759562782008-07-10T21:42:00.002-04:002008-07-10T21:50:01.284-04:00

I imagine that you were as surprised as Rev. Jesse Jackson was with the story about his comments regarding Obama's pandering to the "white vote." It should be clear that that the Obama campaign is not embedded in the struggle of communities of African descent in the U.S. and around the world. It is not an issue of a generation gap because their are apologist for the dominant societal structure

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-5883492178730341912008-06-09T21:09:00.003-04:002008-06-09T21:17:15.750-04:00

There has been a long lull since my last post. The whirl wind romance with Barack Obama and the long fought challenge of Hillary Clinton and the impending clash with McCain. I have to admit that I was surprised with the outcome of the Democratic primary. Obama won. Hillary lost. There, I said it even if Hillary wouldn't. While there was some investment in my opinion, which was that Obama could

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-23596810304580469002008-02-10T23:21:00.000-05:002008-02-10T23:37:49.305-05:00

I am watching Obama at the gate. He is kicking it in. I can see myself in this case where I stated initially it wouldn't happen. It is happening. I said that it wouldn't.So, my fall back is "yeah, well the election ain't over. He probably won't win the Democratic primary. Hillary is the favorite and she is white too. Let's see him do something about that." But then the way things are going he

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-6138698063011891422008-02-08T19:47:00.000-05:002008-02-08T19:53:31.340-05:00

I talked with a cousin who lives in the old country, Alabama. I asked her who she had voted for in the Alabama Super Tuesday primary election. She surprised me when she said that she had voted for Hillary. I thought to inquire as to her reason."You are not on the Obama bandwagon?," I asked. She began to tell me that she was suspicious of Obama for reasons that appeared to be unclear to her. She

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-38476785908942239582008-02-03T06:09:00.000-05:002008-02-03T07:22:42.920-05:00

Super Bowl Sunday is upon us and Super Tuesday is only days away.Living in New England, in general, and New Hampshire, in particular, is an interesting especially during this time. The ongoing blood feud between Boston and New York makes the stakes higher and the sideshow even more interesting. The New York Giants and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl are almost a mirror image of the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-55041999428166046552008-01-27T10:32:00.000-05:002008-01-27T10:49:54.278-05:00

Politicos woke up a little hung over with the dregs of celebration from Obama's victory in South Carolina. The counter-intuitive outcome that punished Bill Clinton's racialized attack dog role in the Hillary campaign was fueled by recognition and response to the continuing significance of race in America.Obama has an embedded constituency that supports him because of what he is not where he

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-73893666607483989902008-01-19T11:33:00.000-05:002008-01-19T11:58:55.083-05:00

I spent the morning talking with a friend on strategies for economic empowerment that can lead to economic development. One of the issues in the conversation was the old canard of what comes first saving money or spending it. Now while it may sound obvious to you when stated that way it is not always as clearly identified or addressed in real life.We seemed to focus on the role of percevied

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-23046350859067674422008-01-16T23:24:00.000-05:002008-01-16T23:53:05.358-05:00

While engaging in a dialog with a friend whose political instincts and social world view I respect an interesting thing happened. Now, it turns out that we were communicating by email. We were talking about the implications of the Barack O'Bama campaign. My buddy invited a few other people that were friends of his to engage in the discussion.In response to my maybe cynical, definitely intended to

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-21649106735667514622008-01-16T23:15:00.000-05:002008-01-16T23:24:12.715-05:00

I am feeling the fuzziness of the lack of focus that comes with finding the future has become your present. Nice thoughts about doing something, anything, is marked off by the idea and the inaction that follows. It is part of understanding that our time on this plane is measured in memories and defined by our deeds. But the deeds that really matter are the ones that organically emerge from the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-79125487139818185502008-01-12T09:24:00.000-05:002008-01-12T09:46:40.394-05:00

I have stumbled upon a situation where there is what I can only describe as a spiritual intransigence. I recognize it because I have and do experience it in my own life. There are times when we feel a certain way, either happy or sad, and it is not based on material conditions or the terms of our circumstance and situation. We can be happy while surrounded by situations that others (and possibly

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-68168410147248813702008-01-09T21:23:00.000-05:002008-01-09T21:29:40.740-05:00

It is funny how so many of the New Hampshire residents of European descent are shocked, astounded, amazed and aghast at the Democratic primary outcome. The time for the new hope for hope has come. But what does that mean?It means that there are those who would have it be what they wish without taking into account how it is. I respect all the candidates for the effort they put forward. But the

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-6935099607801682412007-09-02T07:27:00.000-04:002007-09-02T07:39:19.330-04:00

The fate of the political animals in Washington, D.C. is becoming increasingly evident. As the ship, Bush II, sinks in the mucky mire of its own making, the rats, Rove, Gonzales, etc., are jumping overboard and swimming for shore. But what do they leave behind?The foreign and domestic policy of the Bush-Cheney-Rove-Rumsfield alliance was the neo-white supremacist realthink in the mold of Henry

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-1139056307095212792006-02-04T07:25:00.000-05:002006-02-04T07:31:47.110-05:00

I am not really moving on in my mind and putting memories once had aside. Neither am I taking action based on and through energy supplied by former thoughts or ideations of experiences once had and now only possessed in as much as I am possessed by them.I am in a space that allows me to dream of a tomorrow that is only that which today is not. I feel good about what is, what was and what may be.

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-1136431655822961562006-01-04T22:20:00.000-05:002006-01-04T22:27:35.833-05:00

I am faced with the face of someone that is becoming increasingly unknown to me. He wears my skin and speaks my mind but I am finding it harder and harder to recognize him. What he wants and what he does is not what is expected of him or what could be expected. He is moving my fingers across the keys of my computer keyboard right now and thinking thoughts that are at one salacious and sacred. His

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-1107093739390670552005-01-30T09:00:00.000-05:002005-01-30T09:02:19.390-05:00

I am working on controlling my mind. It has a tendency to wander and lollygag about. I sometimes want a piercing, focused, intense stream of ideas and association that build a reality of my own making. That used to happen in a time remembered and longed for. But now its presence is absence from my experience and I will seek it in my dreams.

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9998327.post-1105052702625193682005-01-06T21:04:00.000-05:002005-01-06T18:05:02.626-05:00

Today for the first time this winter it has snowed enough in New Hampshire to use my snowblower. The weather is creeping me out. It has been so warm as to render the term winter synonomous with late spring. If we don't get some severely cold and snowy days soon, it will confuse the animals and render the concept of spring irrelevant.

Woullard Letthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141436365351675359noreply@blogger.com0