[reaffirm our enduring spirit]

"...people will judge you on what you can build and not what you destroy." - Barack Obama

[neighborhood ball]

[justice for Oscar Grant]

Please educate yourself on the murder of 22 year old Oscar Grant, who was shot by a police officer in Oakland, CA. Grant was shot as he lay face down on the ground, unarmed, and restrained. We cannot allow police brutality to perpetuate in our communities any longer. I am posting a few links- do your own research and make sure you speak on this senseless crime with your fam and friends: The Huffington Post, KTVU News, Color of Change, 5 Things You Can do Right Now about the Oscar Grant Shooting. I will actually be in the Bay area in 2 short weeks to visit a close friend. I will definitely be blogging about my trip and what I learn about Oscar Grant's murder while on the west coast. Demand justice!

[tundra zone]

If you are reading this blog from a location in upstate NY then you already know that winter has arrived and that the snow is serious. If you are nowhere near upstate NY you should know that once you live in a snowbelt area and survive some winters you are pretty well equipped to live anywhere. Right now in the ROC you can cross country ski (or snowshoe) anywhere- even downtown. Wind chills are approaching negative numbers and there's blizzard conditions when the wind kicks up. But believe me we are some tough tundra warriors up here- we might drive a little slower but the weather doesn't stop us.

[Bending the Arc of History]

"And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope," -Barack Obama.
WATCH OBAMA'S VICTORY SPEECH
READ OBAMA'S VICTORY SPEECH

[Election Day- Get to it!]

[T-shirt and Sneakers]

A t-shirt and sneakers has always been the unofficial uniform symbolizing a laid-back American street style. Everybody's got their favorite T- could be that simple white Hanes that cost you 2.99 or an exquisitely hand painted or airbrushed masterpiece that set you back $100. This being an election year, and given the state of the American economy, political tees are wildly popular and highly visible. The choice of most political T-shirt wearers is clear- Obama is the man. Obama's face and message of change is being screen-printed onto shirts all over the country and they are selling like hotcakes from internet sites, corner stores, and bodegas alike. Artists like Shepard Farey and Van Taylor have designed images to adorn clothing and shoes supporting Obama. Regular vendors have jumped on the bandwagon too- bootleg Obama shirts are available in most hoods. Whatever version you rock- official issue, bootleg, or even homemade- there's no better way to show your support for Obama- except voting! -CleverGypsy