It’s almost time! The Blogging While Brown Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia from July 25-27th. I was reading the list of attendees and there are a lot of bloggers there who I’d like to meet in person. As far as I know, Shawn Williams of the Dallas South Blog, JW Richards of Mandrake Society Radio and I are the only Dallas bloggers attending.

While there, I’ll be posting updates to the website via Twitter, Utterz and Flickr. We were told the 20th Anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival and the National Medical Association Convention will also be taking place that weekend, so hopefully I’ll have time to get you some photos from those events also. It’s definitely going to be a busy weekend and I can’t wait meet everyone. For more information visit the Blogging While Brown conference blog.

Conference Workshop Descriptions

In a 10-5 vote, Dallas City Council decided that uninsured motorists who are stopped for traffic violations will have their vehicles towed and sent to the city tow yard. There’s been a lot of debate over the issue because a lot of people feel the black and hispanic communities will be affected the most. There’s also concern that the poor will be forced to choose among food, shelter and auto insurance.

I have mixed feelings on the ordinance. In my younger days, I had to get a hardship license and there were times when I drove around without insurance. I was very careful and knew the consequences if I got pulled over, but we were placed in a financial place where insurance wasn’t the priority and the money was needed elsewhere. While I don’t think the city council is targeting blacks and hispanics, I can definitely see how their communities will be affected the most.

On the other hand, I’ve had a car totaled by an uninsured motorist. As I staggered out of the car the person said “no insurance” and drove away (I was able to get a license number). It sucked because the car totaled was paid for and we ended up having to purchase another one, which added an unexpected expense to our budget. We had insurance, but only received enough from them to put a down payment for the other car. You can bet I was pissed about the whole situation, so part of me agrees with the council on their position.

Just note the uninsured motorist ordinance won’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2009, so if you’re driving dirty you have time to get insured. Also note that while formal towing guidelines are being developed, the officer will have limited discretion on whether or not towing is necessary.

I’ve done this a couple of times on the podcast, but thought I’d bring it to the blog on a bi-weekly basis (or even more if the response is good). Last week I received an email from a friend of mine who’s company received a big contract deal from another local business. I was glad to hear it because they run a good business and are also a minority-owned business. Having your own business is no easy task, so I’m pleased when I hear of one that offers quality product and service to its customers.

So I’m in search for any minority-owned businesses that you’ve used before. If you are the owner, let me know and leave a way for people to contact your business. You can leave a link with a description in the comments area, email me at podcast @ theotalks.net or submit them via the Contact Form. Every other week, I’ll submit the ones I receive. It’s all about showing these businesses some love. I figure it’s the least I could do as a fellow entrepreneur.

Please note, while I understand good money can be made from multi-level marketing businesses, multiple submissions from different people will be ignored. If you’re the CEO of one, holla at me.

Who’s Johnny? He’s the man that just endorsed Barack Obama. The media is flooded with the news, but I wanted to throw in my two cents. I’ve been waiting to hear which way Edwards would go and this is a great boost for Obama. Listen to the speech he gave if you haven’t heard the whole thing. I’m inspired by it and him as he makes an effort to get Democrats on the right track. I don’t know if it will work, but the message is good. The battle for the White House is just beginning and it’s going to be a long hard fight to the end. Change is possible but it’s going to take a joint effort by all to make it happen.

I’d been meaning to do the post about the Tuskegee experiment for a while, but I had no idea this topic was being discussed on the Houston Chronicle website. On May 9th, syndicated columnist Jonah Goldberg wrote a viewpoints column titled “Let’s start with the truth about Tuskegee studies” which attempts to shed some light on what “really” happened at Tuskegee, the government and black paranoia and why we continue to vote for a party that wants a bigger governement.

While I like to explore both sides of an issue, I think the real issue is being overlooked and Rev. Wright is the distraction to get people’s focus away from the current problems Americans face. It’s a good way to build readership, get people to your website or watch your television show. And I can’t blame them at all. People need to eat and businesses need to make money in order to survive. It’s called capitalism.

I don’t know the assumed intentions of experiment, nor do I know if those involved were racist. What I do know is that the men involved were lied to and thought they were getting help from a government agency. It was only until “the truth” surfaced that something was done about it. The lie in my opinion is the reason behind the paranoia. The whole AIDS in the black community is nothing new and Jeremiah Wright is not saying anything that hasn’t been said before. It’s just he was associated with a potential presidential candidate, which made him a target.

Show Notes - Episode 39 - Happy Mother’s Day

What I’m Talkin’ About
Baby Announcement
Plans for Mother’s Day
How has your mom influenced your life?
Message to single moms
blackmomsclub.com
Recommend listening - “In Praise of Godly Women” series by Pastor Paul Sheppard
You can listen for free in the archive. Go now because it won’t be there long.

Black History Hero
Florence S. Price - Composer

Independent Music Showcase
None this episode. But if you know someone who’d like to be featured, let me know.

Announcements
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community

Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast

Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972.535.THEO (8436)

Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin

Show Notes - Episode 38 - Should Affirmative Action Be Banned?

What I’m Talkin’ About
Affirmative action ban heads for ballot in 5 states
Know Your Right-Wing Speakers: Ward Connerly
Ferraro: ‘They’re attacking me because I’m white’

Black History Hero
Thomas Stewart - Inventor of the Mop

Independent Music Showcase
“You’re A Man Now” by Akil aka Bay Brotha
Hip Hop
Sacramento, California
http://www.myspace.com/baybrothaakil

Announcements
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community
New Domain to Get to the Site - theotalks.net
I had to get a new voicemail phone number - 972.535.THEO (8436)

Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast

Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972.535.THEO (8436)

Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin

Show Notes - Episode 37 - Why I Like Barack Obama

What I’m Talkin’ About
Why I voted for Obama in the Texas Primaries
Barack’s Bio
Leap Year Kid

Black History Hero
John Hope Franklin - Historian

Independent Music Showcase
“Love Train” by Kimberly Holloway
CD: Kimberly Holloway
Soul/R&B/Jazz
Los Angeles by way of Atlanta
www.myspace.com/kimberlyholloway
Purchase the CD

Announcements
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community
New Domain to Get to the Site - theotalks.net
I had to get a new voicemail phone number - 972.535.THEO (8436)

Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast

Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972.535.THEO (8436)

Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin

Show Notes - Episode 36 - Help Me Lower My Cholesterol

What I’m Talkin’ About
Goals for this year
Cholesterol and How it Affects Us
Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol
AHA Cholesterol Statistics
Health Discovery Cholesterol Page
Low Cholesterol Diet
Delicious Decisions
Tax Rebate or Tax Advance?

Black Business Spotlight
TS Media

Black History Hero
Congressman Charles B. Rangel

Independent Music Showcase
“Hands Up“ by Preacha Boy
Holy Hip Hop
Representing Central Texas
www.preachaboyproductions.com

Announcements
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community
New Domain to Get to the Site - theotalks.net
I had to get a new voicemail phone number - 972.535.THEO (8436)

Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast

Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972.535.THEO (8436)

Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin

Show Notes - Episode 35 - What MLK Day Means to Me

What I’m Talkin’ About
What do you do on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? What does it mean to you?

Black History Hero
Queen Mother Audley Moore - Activist
From the book “Great Negroes Past And Present Vol. 2″
www.africanamericanimages.com

Independent Music Showcase
Eloise Wilson
“Don’t Let Me Be Wrong” (mp3)
from “Movement Soul Vol. 2″
(ESP Disk)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

Announcements
I’m a member of a new social networking site at www.cre8buzz.com. I need to build up the black population, so come join me. It’s open to the public. Come see me at cre8Buzz > People > African American community
New Domain to Get to the Site - theotalks.net
I had to get a new voicemail phone number - 972.535.THEO (8436)

Hear My Show on the Blubrry Network
Spread the word about this podcast

Contact Information
Feel free to leave comments on the website or call the voicemail line at 972.535.THEO (8436)

Intro & Background Music
The intro & closing music clip was written and performed by PsykoSoul Music
“Family Affair” by PsykoSoul Music featuring CB Harris and Calvin
“I Have a Dream Speech” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.