Charles Easley

My roommate has died By Professor Locs – November 23, 2011

My roommate died last week. I am still in shock over this sudden loss. As roommates go, he was a good one. He kept to himself, never had company over and rarely ate my food. I have had some bad roommate situations, so I can appreciate a good one.

My roommate did have his quirks. He would harass our mailman, refused to use the bathroom when it was cold and preferred an intimate sniffing to licking you, unlike my other roommate, Trinity, who will all out French kiss you if you let her.

Yes, I am talking about the loss of our dear pet and friend, Draco.

If you are a pet owner, then you know that they are like roommates. They share not only your living space but your most intimate thoughts and emotions.

We are fond of the boxer breed and have been lucky enough to have several in our lives. When we lost our other boxer, Pugsley, it took us a year to successfully grieve. It is weird how they impact your life. My partner and I were watching television after a few months and realized we were sitting on opposite sides of the couch because we were so accustomed to Pugsly sprawled out in the middle…lol.

A year later we were finally ready for a new roommate. A friend suggested the boxer rescue; we were originally hoping for a puppy. We looked on the site and it was, well, love at first sight. There were two mature boxers whose prior roommates had been sent to Iraq. We thought only boxer lovers would want two big dogs, so we started the process of bringing Draco and Trinity into our lives.

I would recommend that, if you are looking for a roommate, to use the rescue organizations, but be prepared for the intensity of the screening process. We had to be interviewed, provide letters of recommendation and also pass both scheduled and non-scheduled home visits. I think we even had to submit a urine sample for drug testing. I swear Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie went through less trouble.

All the effort was worth it because Draco and Trinity came into our lives. It has been five wonderful years of great memories. Draco had an imposing stature, but he was really a gentle giant. But do not get it twisted; he was no punk. He would turn into a ferocious predator when there was a squirrel sighting.

Side note: Although I am a pet lover, I am a sworn enemy of the squirrel. I think they are just rats with great PR.

People are sometimes uncomfortable with how to support you in any loss, but especially when the loss involves a pet. My sister, who is always looking for a way to get me to go shopping with her, offered to take me to IKEA, “to get my mind off of my lost.” Yes, nothing helps with the grieving process more than negotiating hundreds of crazed holiday consumers on “Black Friday,” fighting over four-dollar woks or cow-print dinnerware. Nice try, Sis…lol.

You just have to be sensitive to how best to support someone in grieving the loss of a pet. Do not give them a DVD of “Sounder.” Hello, the dog dies in the film.

If you are a pet lover and have lost a roommate, then you know how deep the grieving process can be. Draco has left a permanent impression on our couch as well as in my heart…smile. We are going into the Thanksgiving holidays and I will indeed be grateful for the time, love and companionship this noble creature, Draco, shared with anyone lucky enough to have known him.

I hope where you are going, Draco, the couches are soft, your bowl is full and the squirrels are slow…smile. R.I.P., old friend. Please share your best “roommate” stories….smile.

Penalty for Penn State By Professor Locs – November 16, 2011

There are two groups of our society that, when they are taken advantage of, I really get irate — and that is the elderly and children. So, like many of you, I am outraged by the Penn State scandal. Unless you have been held hostage in a Basketball Wives LA marathon and not following the news, I am talking about former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who has been charged with sexually abusing several boys during his tenure with the university.  

I do not follow sports, but I do follow the media. Sandusky was initially arrested and charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year span, some on Penn State property. Recently The New York Times reports that at least 10 more additional suspected victims have come forward. It seems Sandusky has been as busy off the field as he has been at coaching folks on the field. 

Sandusky denies any allegations of sexual misconduct. "I am innocent of those charges," the 67-year-old Sandusky told Bob Costas in a telephone interview for NBC’s Rock Center on Monday night. "... I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them, and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact."

Is this man truly delusional? Did he graduate from the Michael Jackson School of Secondary Education? When is it appropriate for a grown man to shower with underage boys?

In that same NBC interview, Costas asked Sandusky if he's a pedophile and Sandusky responded, "No." If you hear the actual interview Sandusky answers “no” only after a very uncomfortable pause.  

Something unnerving has been at the back of my mind during this media circus and it was validated recently when I ran across an article written by Dr. Joyce Watkins. In the piece, Watkins says that we have to look at code phrases like “at-risk youth,” or “underprivileged kids.” Watkins believes that this is the media’s attempt at not dealing with race. Which begs the question: How many of these boys were Black?

It would be unimaginable for any child to have to endure such despicable acts, but in a society that has an unspoken hierarchy as it relates to race, class and gender, we have to ask were these factors in how this investigation was handled? We must also acknowledge that these victims, regardless of race, at least come from marginalized communities — communities that do not enjoy the same consideration (or in this case protection) as, say, youth from more privileged communities. 

Case in point: If we examine the timeline of Sandusky, we see that his graduate assistant Mike McQueary almost 10 years earlier enters the locker room and witnesses Sandusky sexually abusing a young boy. McQueary later reports this to the head coach and university authorities, but nothing comes from this report. The lack of protection from the institution and authorities on some level cosigns the deplorable behavior of this pedophile and others who knew of these acts. We have to ask, would the outcome be the same if the youth were from a well-to-do family? Would McQueary have just walked away if the boy being molested were from his son’s car pool?

I am not trying to play the race card but at least open a discussion of the disparity of power as it relates to certain communities.  

Sandusky with a history of questionable and inappropriate interactions with young boys was allowed to continue his work with the nonprofit organization The Second Mile. This gave Sandusky “American Idol interview”- like access to a continuous stream of vulnerable young boys. Hello? This is like allowing R Kelly to be a celebrity judge for Toddlers and Tiaras. The Second Mile describes its mission as being committed to underprivileged youth in Pennsylvania. Remember Dr. Watkins’ code words?

I have to put this into perspective: Organizations like The Second Mile exist because there are so many absent fathers. Predators who should be keeping children safe are using their institutions and authority to prey upon the weak. How you doing Bishop Eddie Long?

If anything comes of this scandal and others then it could be a wake-up call to a community to step up and take ownership of our youth. Do not get me wrong: I am not blaming the victims — but calling upon the men that are ultimately responsible for them being here.  

I am a dog owner and lover. I also remember how vehemently society and key organizations went after Michael Vick for his mistreatment of animals. I also do not condone Vicks actions. However, I do not want to believe that as a society, we rank our emotional investment in our youth based on ideals like race, class and gender or that we would not react as passionately in reaction to a pit bull being abused as we would to say an “at-risk” youth.  

But if the historical laissez faire approach to investigating Sandusky is any indication, then the said truth is that I would not treat a dog like some of these young victims have been treated.  

I am curious about your take on this scandal. Are the facts clearly black and white?

Halloween just ain't what it used to be By Professor Locs – October 27, 2011

Can we let kids be kids and celebrate a relatively harmless holiday?

Halloween used to be fun. Enough with the politically correct “fall festivals.” It sounds like kids should be running around in Renaissance costumes eating giant turkey legs.

I know some parents are concerned about some of the pagan symbols, but aren’t we overreacting just a bit?

I was recently guest host with my girl Ramona Holloway and the crew of “The Satisfied Life,” and one of the subjects we discussed was a movement by some religious groups to start “Jesusween.” Really people? How many disciple costumes can you wear without becoming redundant? Would you pass out grape juice boxes and crackers instead of candy? Also, Jesus already has a holiday; it’s called Christmas.

Things were so much simpler back in the day. You could actually go out unescorted without mace, cell phone, GPS or a poison kit. You knew you were close to Halloween when they aired “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

When I was growing up, you went to Kmart and picked from maybe three boxed costumes -- a ghost, and witch or wolf man. The costumes were made from flimsy material that had to kept away from open flames, and the plastic masks would impeded both your direct and peripheral vision while also blocking appropriate airflow to breathe. Now throw in a cheap pumpkin bucket. We were tossed out the door to scavenge the neighborhood for candy corn…sweating, visually impaired and gasping for air.

A few years ago I spent Halloween with my sister in Atlanta. She is like my Mom and went all out and had the porch done with festive and spooky decorations. We settled in our rocking chairs with candy bowls for what we thought would be a calm night. Not!

The evening started out somewhat subdued as the very young babies came around with their parents in adorable little cow, sheep and lion costumes. Then all of a sudden, guys were organized and focused like Halloween ninjas. They dispensed with any historic rituals or Halloween etiquette. There was no singsong “Trick or Treat.” They just bum rushed your house, trampling grass and plants and stuck out their bags like a gaggle of baby albatross waiting to be fed.

The groups would then flee, screaming to the other Halloween ninjas about what type of candy you were dishing out. Another group would then descend with the same disregard for holiday ritual. Every now and then you would get the “rooters.” These were kids who had the audacity to root around your candy bowl as if they were looking for a Cracker Jack prize. One kid even looked up at me with attitude and asked, “Is this all you got?” I told him there was a ham in the refrigerator and asked if he’d like to come in and make a sandwich? My sarcasm was lost as he fled our porch to offend some other home.

The next group was the older kids who did not dress up but came to your door with a pillowcase. I was like, are they trick or treating or casing the house for electronics? (Side note: If you shave, have a drivers license and pay into a 401K, then you might be too old to be out trick or treating.)

Then you had the drive-by trick or treaters. They would cruise the neighborhood, open the door and dozens of kids would empty out like they were in circus clown car. These were the people who were too lazy to park, get out and walk with their kids. This is why we have so many obese youth. Would it kill you to walk around a bit on a nice fall night with your child for some fun and exercise?

Atlanta is one of those cities where the neighborhoods can go from pricey homes where my sister lived to the hood in just a few blocks. My favorite visitors were the round-the-way moms who would come from the other neighborhood, talk on the phone the entire time, would not speak to you and were escorting their kids in homemade costumes. One poor kid had to suffer the embarrassment of being a ghost in a sheet with tulips on it. I know his pain; I had my share of pitiful costumes growing up…lol.

The night was a whirlwind of kids rushing up and down my sister’s porch and her babbling about a real spider in her hedges that she thought was incredible, but the novelty was lost on the bewildered kids who only looked at her like she was crazy…lol. The night was getting late and the crowds had thinned so we decided to close shop. It had really been one crazy evening. Thank goodness for my girl, Chardonnay, hanging out with us or I may not have gotten through the evening….lol.

We turned off the lights and retired to the den to watch some television and monster movies, but an hour later people were still ringing the doorbell. Why would you walk up to a dark house with no lights and ring the doorbell? It is 11:30 at night. These are no longer Trick or Treaters but most likely candidates for a home invasion.

My sister and I for the rest of the night reminisced about Halloween as kids and laughed at those cherished moments of pretend. So are we being too serious about Halloween? I would like for you to share your Halloween memories, opinions or pet peeves…smile.

Professor Locs in Registration

This is the latest in the Professor Locs "On the Yard" series.  I was stuck in registration hell so this was my way of coping....lol.   I am still searching for a character with actual locks...lol.  Enjoy!