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Sunday, July 31, 2022

Bill Russell Passed Away!

Bill Russell, the iconic player of the Boston Celtics and civil rights activist passed away.

An iconic basketball star and activist passed at the age of 88.

Russell's wife, Jeannine, was by his side at the time of his death, the statement said. His family thanked fans for "keeping Bill in your prayers."

"Perhaps you'll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded," the statement said. "And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up in Bill's uncompromising, dignified, and always constructive commitment to principle."

Russell was married four times, to Rose Swisher, 1968 Miss USA Dorothy “Didi” Anstett, Marilyn Nault and Jeannine Russell.

Nault died in 2009, and Swisher died in 2014.

Russell and Swisher had three children, daughter Karen and sons William Jr. and Jacob. William Felton Russell Jr. was 58 when he died from cancer in 2016.

Bill Russell passed away. The tributes are pouring in from celebrities, politicians and the NBA. The 44th President of the United States had remarked on the passing.

Former president Barack Obama tweets that "Bill endured insults and vandalism, but never let it stop him from speaking up for what’s right. I learned so much from the way he played, the way he coached, and the way he lived his life."

Bill was born William Felton Russell in 1934. He was an American basketball player, activist and motivational speaker. He played as a center for the Boston Celtics. He played from 1956 to 1969.

He was a five time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time NBA All-Star. He has helped the Celtics win 11 NBA Championships during his 13 year career.

He also had a coaching gig at the University of San Francisco. He played for the Men's basketball team the Dons and helped them win championships in 1955 and 1956.

Bill with Kobe Bryant during his final game as a Los Angeles Laker.

He was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient in 2011. His jersey No. 6 is officially retired by the Celtics. He was coach for the Celtics from 1966 until 1969, the Seattle Supersonics from 1973 until 1977 and the Sacramento Kings from 1987 until 1988.

Russell was regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was a towering man standing at 6'10'' with a 7'4'' arm span. He was best for shot blocking and man-to-man defense. 

He is rivaled by Henri “Pocket Rocket” Richard, who hoisted the Stanley Cup 11 times with the Montreal Canadiens, and Yogi Berra, a member of 10 World Series-winning New York Yankees teams.

No modern players hold a candle to Russell’s accomplishments. The award for the most valuable player of the NBA Finals is named after him.

Bill played with the pioneers like Sweetwater Clifton, Earl Lloyd and Chuck Cooper.

Former president Barack Obama honored Bill with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Russell the "greatest champion in all of team sports" in a tribute recounting the player's career. Silver said that he cherished his personal friendship with Russell while offering condolences.

"Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league," Silver said. "At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith tweeted a tribute to Russell Sunday, saying that the center made the world "better for us all."

"My deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and the @NBA community on the loss of the greatest champion we’ve ever known: BILL RUSSELL," Smith wrote. "An activist, a pioneer, a humanitarian."

Retired player "Magic" Johnson, whose legal name is Earvin Johnson Jr., called Russell his idol.

"I looked up to him on the court and off," Johnson said. "His success on the court was undeniable; he was dominate and great, winning 11 NBA championships. Off the court, Bill Russell paved the way for guys like me."

Nichelle Nichols Passed Away!

Nichelle Nichols passed away at the age of 89.

A legendary actress who starred in the sci-fi drama Star Trek passed away at the age of 89.

Nichelle Nichols had died of natural causes. 

Her son, Kyle Johnson confirmed on social media that his mother had passed away after succumbing to natural causes. 

"I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years," he posted on Nichols official Facebook page.

Nichelle Nichols played Uhura on Star Trek.

Nichelle played Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek: The Original Series and it was groundbreaking for an African American woman to be on American television. An attractive Black woman in go go boots and mini skirt was instant attraction for male viewers. No doubt.

Born Grace Dell Nichols, Nichelle was the third of six children in 1932 in Robbins, Illinois. 

After graduating Englewood High School in 1951, Nichelle took an interest in acting. She had her break through the 1961 Kicks and Co., an Oscar Brown musical that didn't fare well but is remarkable.

She would end up doing a thinly satire of a Playboy model named Hazel Sharpe, a voluptuous campus queen who was tempted by the devil and Orgy Magazine to be the "Maiden of the Month."

Hugh Hefner saw interest in her and invited her to the Playboy Club Chicago. She also played in productions of Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess.

Her beauty and style graced the cover of Ebony Magazine in 1967 and it led to television roles and then of course, Star Trek.

At first, she found the series distasteful. She felt that she was reducing her Broadway role for a "damsel in distress" type of role. She was encouraged by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to stay on the show and continue. She felt that being a Trekkie was a good thing for Black children. It also inspired African Americans to get into space.

Mae Jemison said that Nichelle gave her inspiration to become a NASA astronaut.

Nichelle also had did the iconic kiss with William Shatner which broke ground in interracial relationships.

Nichelle also continued on acting throughout her time once Star Trek was cancelled. She appeared in the Isaac Hayes' movie Truck Turner in which she played Dorinda, a madam of a prostitution brothel rivaling against lethal large scale pimp Harvard Blue played by Yaphet Kotto.  

Former President Barack Obama gave the Vulcan salute with Nichelle.

She had reprised her role in Star Trek in the feature films opposite Shatner, George Takei and Leonard Nimoy. The sequels, The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, The Final Frontier and Undiscovered Country were also released with her playing her role as Uhura.

She also voiced on Disney's Gargoyles as Diana Maza, the mother of NYPD detective Elisa Maza. 

Nichelle was not the only voice on the show who had ties to Star Trek. Some of the voices were on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. There were Marina Sirtis (TNG), Jonathan Frakes (TNG), Michael Dorn (TNG), Kate Mulgrew (Voyager), Brent Spiner (TNG), Avery Brooks (DS9), Colm Meaney (TNG) and LeVar Burton (TNG).

She also had guest voice roles on The Simpsons, Futurama and Batman: The Animated Series.

She had a recurring role on the cult action drama Heroes. 

Nichelle also had a singing career. She released two albums. Down to Earth and Out of This World.

Nichelle was a honorary member of NASA. She was recruited as an influencer. She was part of the Women in Motion program which gave inspiration to Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair and Judith Resnick, the astronauts who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion.

Nichelle continued acting until 2020. She had suffered a mild stroke in 2015. 

Nichelle leaves behind her son, actor Kyle Johnson. She was married to Foster Johnson and Duke Mondy. She a relationship with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek during the show's run.

She broke it off with Roddenberry after she found out he was dating Majel Barrett, whom he later married.

Saturday, July 30, 2022

President Joe Biden Got The Coronavirus!

Biden got the coronavirus again.

Just when you thought it was over.

President Joe Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus again. The president is asymptomatic and has no symptoms. He was scheduled to return to his Wilmington, Delaware home for the weekend. That was postponed.

The president said that he will isolate again and continue working remotely.

Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Congress are aware.

Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the White House doctor confirmed the president's health and said that he previously tested negative on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The President tested positive on an antigen test, The Washington Post reported. O’Connor said the President tested negative on Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning, Thursday morning and Friday morning before his positive test on Saturday. He stopped isolating on Wednesday, CNN reported.

Physicians have warned that many people who receive Paxlovid can experience “rebound” infections days after first testing negative, according to the Post.

“This happens with a small minority of folks,” Biden tweeted. “I’ve got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me.

“I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.”

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Karen Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Karen Manchin (D-WV) have also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Just because the United States has eased up on the coronavirus mandates and regulations doesn't mean that the pandemic is over. We have lost over 1 million Americans to the coronavirus. If things were normal, this would have been less than 100 deaths if Washed Up 45 would have taken the threat seriously. 

Hell, he would have easily won his bid for a second term had he took the pandemic seriously.

Now it's tasked to President Joe Biden. He continues to push for vaccinations and following the CDC rules when testing positive for the coronavirus. We have lost over 1 million American lives to the coronavirus.

The funding for the coronavirus pandemic prevention is running out of funds. The Congress is not willing to push for more funding given that Republicans in the House and Senate as well as the two white nationalists in the Democratic caucus refusing to spend more money on preventions. They're willing to spend a lifetime to help Ukraine but never a dime for the needy here in the United States.

Biden thought Americans would take this shit seriously. Alas, they ain't willing to do it.

The pandemic is part of the culture wars. This war is costing lives. Thousands of Americans have tested positive each day of the week. Over 1,000 to 5,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus a day.

These folks not willing to get vaccinated, nor willing to take appropriate steps to prevent infection are the causalities of this culture war.

Folks like myself don't empathize with them. I refuse to. I am tired of dealing with people who think their only way to feel good about themselves is to "own the libs" or stop "wokism."

Of course, there's folks who are fully vaccinated but end up getting the coronavirus. As with vaccines, nothing is 100%. The vaccines are capable of preventing the coronavirus.

At best, it's a 94% prevention rate which means 1 out of 500 could be infected even if they're vaccinated.

Republicans so fucking eager to return to power will keep Americans fixated on the culture wars. Now vaccinations are part of this culture war.

We came so far only have a bunch of selfish idiots set it back. Just because they hate President Joe Biden.

The Republicans are so devoted to destroying Biden and the country for what....to regain power.

Pathetic.

The coronavirus doesn't care about your age, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, politics, economic or social standings. It doesn't care about your business, your performances, your personal finances and travel. It doesn't care about the funerals, the birthday parties, the weddings, the vacations, the events and your graduations. It doesn't care about anything. It's a living organism that causes mild symptoms that include: fever, sore throats, chills, respiratory issues, loss of taste or smell and other unknown symptoms. If you have a weak immune system or health issues, your risk increases.

Death does happen to at least 40% of those who are affected by COVID-19. 

If you're not vaccinated, your chances of death increases to 48%.

Healthy people can die from this. Take this seriously. You only have one life!

If you need more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov.

Kelis Feuds With Queen Bey And Pharrell!

Kelis fumed over Pharrell giving Beyonce a sample without her permission.

Pop singer Kelis is feuding with Beyonce and Pharrell Williams. The singer is fuming over Queen Bey using a sample and never credited her. It will certainly rile up the BeyHive.

Kelis is best known for her one-hit wonder single Milkshake.

The singer had some choice words for Bey and her former mentor.

Kelis went to social media on July 27 to voice her grievances after news surfaced that "Energy," a song off Beyoncé's seventh studio album Renaissance, featured a sample of her 2003 single "Milkshake." When a Kelis fan page shared a post about the sample on Instagram, the 42-year-old didn't hold back her thoughts in the comments section.

"My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all 3 parties involved is astounding," she wrote. "I heard about this the same way everyone else did. Nothing is ever as it seems, some of the people in this business have no soul or integrity and they have everyone fooled."

Not phased.

Kelis said that Beyoncé "should have at least reached out" to her about sampling her song. "It's not about me being jealous. Jealous of someone using my song? That's the dumbest, most ignorant thing I've ever heard," she said. "It has to do with the fact that, from one artist to another, you should have the decency and common sense and the courtesy to call."


She went on to say that she does not consider "Energy" to be a collab because "the definition of collaboration means that we are working together."

"There's no working together if you are not even checking to see if everything's cool," she added. "That's a problem."

The BeyHive is a relentless group of trolls highly supportive of Beyonce and will defend her aggressively.

My question to you: Does Kelis have a point when it comes to unlicensed sampling of music?

Will Smith Offers Second Apology! Chris Rock Ain't Accepting!

Will makes another apology to Chris Rock.

The slap will be one of the most memorable things about 2022. Media mogul Will Smith went on stage at the Academy Awards and literally slapped comedian Chris Rock after he told a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.

"Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth!" will be a meme that carries on forever.

The entertainer won an Oscar for his role as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. He tearfully said that he believes that family had to be defended no matter how tasteless it was from Rock.

The backlash cane swift. 

Smith resigned from the Board of Governors and the Academy Awards banned him from attending the ceremony for ten years. A handful of projects he was supposed to be participating in were pulled indefinitely. 

Smith entered into a therapy session and traveled overseas to get spiritual support from alleged Scientologists.

Rock, on the other hand had been very quiet about the slap. He did not press charges against Smith. But the comedian basically did not accept any apology from Will or Jada.

Jada suffers from alopecia. It is a condition where a person sustaining sudden baldness.

She had decided to shave her head and shared her thoughts on Red Table Talks on the Facebook Watch network.

Will has been very public about apologizing to Rock. He did another apology to Rock and his brother Tony. 

Tony Rock said that he is "done" with Will and Jada and dared them to come after him when he decides to joke. 

The world saw this moment in American history.

“I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that, he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk. I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”

Smith addressed whether his wife prompted his decision to run up to the stage from his front row seat, to strike a stunned Rock in the middle of his presentation of the Best Documentary award that was won by Questlove for Summer of Soul. Rock handled it in as stoic a fashion as could be imagined, carrying on after saying, ‘Will Smith just slapped the shit out of me,’ as the actor took his seat and yelled for Rock to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth. Smith answered the question as follows:

“No. I made a choice on my own, from my own experience, and my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe, and I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”

He also apologized to the nominees whose Oscars went unnoticed, because viewers were so stunned by the slap. That included Jessica Chastain, who won Best Actress, and the cast of CODA, which won Best Picture.  

“To all my fellow nominees, this is a community. I won because you voted for me and it really breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment. I can still see Questlove’s eyes – it happened on Questlove’s award – and I am sorry isn’t really sufficient.”

Chris ain't accepting apologies.

Finally, Smith finished with this:  

“Two things. One, disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down, so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to peoples’ image and impression of me. The work I am trying to do is, I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I’m human and I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit so I would say to those people, I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. If you hang on, I promise we will be able to be friends again.”

Rock only made this in regards to the apology..... “If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims,” Rock said. “Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith ... I went to work the next day, I got kids.”

Rock is not accepting apologies. It was a humiliating moment in American history. He will be forever seared with the infamy of being slapped by an actor after telling a joke.

Because of that, Dave Chappelle, Craig Robinson and others became victims of attacks.

Comedy clubs now are enforcing weapon bans, no personal contact and disclaimer warnings for those who are triggered to not attend.

Friday, July 29, 2022

Republicans Celebrate Obstructionism!

Jon Stewart angry with Republicans stalling veterans bill. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is vowing to get it passed.

We're fucked..... says famed comedian.

Comedian Jon Stewart is fuming over the Senate failing to pass legislation that funds veterans who suffered toxic illnesses from burn pits. The Senate also is stalling the computer chips bill and defense of marriage legislation.

Republicans have once again put their opposition of President Joe Biden to the test.

The Senate failed to pass a procedural vote Wednesday that would've cleared the way for a vote on legislation to expand benefits for the estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during America's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

The bill, known as the Honoring Our PACT Act, passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support in June, but due to a snag in the bill's language, it needed to go back and pass the House and Senate again. On Wednesday evening, 25 Republican senators reversed their support from June and voted no on a procedural vote to advance the legislation. 

Veterans have come home with a number of illnesses, including terminal cancers, but have been forced to argue to the Department of Veterans Affairs their illnesses were related to burn pit exposure. The legislation would have removed the burden of proof from veterans and their families by presuming a number of conditions could be related to exposure to toxic fumes from burn pits. 

They are also fuming over conservative Democrat, Sen. Karen Manchin (D-WV) working out a deal with Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to pass a slimmer budget deal which includes a climate change plan. The plan was worked behind the scenes and is hopeful that him and Sen. Karen Sinema (D-AZ) will finally get on board with the Democrats to pass President Joe Biden's agenda.

Biden praised the deal as a “godsend” for American families.

“This bill is far from perfect,” Biden said from the White House. “It’s a compromise. But that’s often how progress is made.”

He thanked Schumer and Manchin for the “extraordinary effort that it took to reach this result.”

The 725-page “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” would cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors to $2,000 a year, and help some 13 million families with subsidies to purchase their own health insurance policies. It invests $369 billion over the decade on tax incentives to fight climate change, including $4,000 for used electric vehicles and $7,500 for new ones.

The package is paid for largely by imposing a 15% minimum tax on corporations earning more than $1 billion a year and by allowing the federal government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies for lower costs. Leftover savings, some $300 billion, will go to pay down deficits.

With Republicans solidly opposed, Democrats will need every senator in their 50-50 majority to ensure passage, which is what gives Manchin — and every other senator, in fact — such a strong hand in negotiations.

Sen. Karen Collins (R-ME) suggested the surprise climate deal struck by Schumer and Manchin this week on a skinnier version of the president's economic agenda could tank bipartisan efforts to pass a bill protecting same-sex marriage.

"I just think the timing could not have been worse and it came totally out of the blue," Collins told HuffPost.

Democrats announced the deal on Thursday just hours after 17 Senate Republicans joined all 50 Democrats to approve a $52 billion bill to strengthen the U.S. industry responsible for computer chips that power smartphones, medical devices, and other high-tech items. Obstructionist Leader Sen. Karen McConnell (R-KY) had previously threatened to hold up the semiconductor legislation if Democrats tried advancing their health, climate, and tax bill.

Ignore the noise.

Vote.

Republicans continue to push culture wars and conspiracy theories to gin up their base to vote in the Midterms. They are devoted to keeping Americans angry with government gridlock.

They have no plans to fix the economy, stop two pandemics and protect democracy.

All they have is the Softball Hannity and Washed Up 45 playbook of starting fires with bullshit.

Renaissance!

Beyonce releases new album.

Long awaited album from Beyonce Knowles is officially out. The Queen of Pop, Queen Bey releases her album Renaissance on Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. It attracted a bit of controversy.

We'll explain it in the next posting.

The album is the first solo effort from Queen Bey in six years. The last album was Lemonade.

Now Beyonce is expected to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Music Top 200 albums.

The album has a upbeat, disco, dance and R&B style.

This is her seventh album. Bey spent a little over a year to record it. She stated that she had frustrations with social injustice, the pandemic, the political climate and social media. She felt that this album is to give people a feel to "escape, travel, love and laugh again." 

She titled it renaissance to give a feeling that she wants "to be a part of nurturing that escape in any way possible."

In June she started teasing a release and give the public her first single, "Break My Soul."

The album is executive produced by Beyonce, Terius Nash (The-Dream) and Tricky Stewart.

The album has production from Beyonce, The-Dream, Mike Dean, Symbolyc One, Duran, Stuart White, Honey Dijon, Luke Solomon, Chris Penny, Nova Wav, Rissi, Raphael Saadiq, Skrillex, Al Cres, Beam, Tricky Stewart, Jens Christian Isaken, No I.D. White, Kali, Syd, P2J, GuiltyBeatz, MeLo-X, Neenyo, Sevn Thomas, Boi-1da, Cadenza, Harry Edwards, Hit-Boy, LilJuMadeDaBeat, Ink, BAH, BloodPop, A.G. Cook, Aossey and Sol Was.

The album has features from Beam, Grace Jones and Tems. 

Beyonce dedicated the album to her husband, Shawn Corey Carter known as Jay-Z, her children and Uncle Jonny, a gay man who battled HIV, who she says was "the first person to expose [her] to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album."

Mary Alice Passed Away!

Actress Mary Alice passed away.

Veteran actress and stage performer Mary Alice passed away. She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 1987 production of August Wilson's Fences.

Mary Alice Smith was a main character in the first two seasons of A Different World as Leticia "Lettie" Bostic, as the resident director for Denise, Jeleesa, Whitley, Freddie and Kim. She had that role for 25 episodes.

Mary retired from acting in 2005. 

The actress had died of natural causes says the New York Police Department.

The date of her birth is disputed. They said she was born in 1936 or 1941.

Mary Alice was born in Indianola, Mississippi, the daughter of Ozelar and Sam Smith. She had an natural ability to act and began her stage career at local theatres in Indianola. Her family moved to Chicago where she would graduate from Chicago's Teacher School known now as Chicago State University. 

Mary Alice taught at a elementary school soon after. She began a formal acting gig in the late 1960s.

Mary Alice made her debut in a film The Education of Sonny Carson. Then she would have television roles on Sanford & Son, Good Times and Police Woman.

She also played Effie Williams, the mother of three daughters who form a Supreme-like singing group, in the musical drama Sparkle. 

Mary Alice also had played Oracle in The Matrix franchise. 

In the 1980s she played Ellie Grant Hubbard in the soap All My Children.

She also appeared in the films Malcolm X, The Inkwell, Down in the Delta, Beat Street, To Sleep with Anger, Awakenings, The Bonfire of the Vanities and Sunshine State.

Mary Alice was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame. 

Mary Alice was never married or had children. 

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Tony Dow Passed Away!

Tony Dow succumbs to cancer.

It is official, the legendary sitcom actor and sculptor Tony Dow has passed away in hospice.

Dow best known for portraying Wally Cleaver on the sitcom "Leave It to Beaver," died Wednesday morning, according to his manager Frank Bilotta, citing Dow's son Christopher. He was 77.

"Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero," Christopher Dow said, according to a statement that Bilotta shared on Tony Dow's official Facebook page.

News of the actor's passing comes one day after a premature announcement of his death. Dow revealed in May he had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving hospice care this week, according to his son.

Dow was thrust into stardom at age 12, when he was cast on the soon-to-be-smash sitcom "Leave It to Beaver." In the role, Dow helped create the archetype of a suburban nuclear family and became a household name to millions of viewers. The show ran from 1957 to 1963.

In a January interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Dow recalled learning over a hamburger and malt that he was offered the part after auditioning on a whim.

"There went my life," he said.

Wally Cleaver, the straight-arrow teenage son, star athlete and Boy Scout, became inextricably tied to Dow, who said he struggled to stand on his own.

"It's sad to be famous at 12 years old or something, and then you grow up and become a real person, and nothing's happened for you," he told CBS.

Leave It to Beaver was an American classic sitcom.

Dow, who said he experienced undiagnosed depression from age 20 to age 40, spoke out for decades about his mental health challenges, long before it was common for celebrities to disclose that information publicly. In 1993, he was an honorary speaker at a convention for the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association.

"I realize there's a perceived irony about this," he told the Baltimore Sun of his depression in 1993. "You know, the fact that I was in a TV program that epitomized the supposed ideal world of the '50s, and here I'm suffering from depression. But I'm just one of millions."

Dow told CBS that once he accepted his diagnosis and began treatment, he found hope. He channeled that hope into art, too, sculpting ornate pieces at his home studio.

"I think people should take the leap of faith that they can feel better," he said.

Dow continued to work in Hollywood, taking parts in TV series and even reprising his role in "The New Leave It to Beaver" in the 1980s. He also directed episodes of series like "Harry and the Hendersons," "Coach" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

Jerry Mathers, who starred opposite Dow as Beaver on their hit sitcom, told fans earlier this month that he'd been in contact with Dow, whose managers said had been "in and out of the hospital with various complications and treatments."

JayDaYoungan Passed Away!

JayDaYoungan was gunned down outside his parent's home.

Rapper ambushed in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He was shot and killed. His father was also inured. 

JayDaYoungan, 24 was shot and killed in his hometown. The rapper and his father were ambushed by terrorist. The Bogalusa Police and Washington Parish Sheriff's office confirm that JayDaYoungan (born Javorius Scott) and his father Kenyatta Scott, Sr. were shot.

Kenyatta is in stable condition. The police confirm that JayDaYoungan died from the injures.

The rapper was just out of the iron college for a gun possession charge. He was also arrested for second-degree murder and obstruction of justice as the result of a homicide that happened in May. The incident left one person dead and two others injured. He also allegedly got into a huge fight with the mother of her child.

The first shooting happened around 6 p.m. the 600 block of Superior Ave.

Bogalusa police say both JayDaYoungan and his father were shot at this crime scene.

Police say at 7 p.m. there was another shooting in the 800 block of Marshall Richardson Road.

A vehicle was shot and no one was hit, but they believe it was related to the first shooting, according to police.

Tributes are pouring in on social media.

The mayor of Bogalusa Wendy Perrette released this statement in response to the shooting.

"The senseless shooting in Bogalusa another tragic reminder of the pain that violent crime brings with it. First I ask that our residents remain calm while the police continue their investigation. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and friends. As your Mayor and as a Mother I plead on behalf of our community and for our children, today must mean enough is finally enough. Stop the violence! See something, say something. I demand that Louisiana State Police come in to aid BPD & WPSO."

Every community in the United States will eventually have a legacy. A legacy of tragedy. Gun violence, monkeypox and COVID-19 will affect your town, your family and your life. So I don't want to hear that bullshit about how gun reform is taking away your rights to own firearms. 

JayDaYoungan leave behind a son.

I don't want to hear that protesting against police killing people of color is hate on cops in general. I don't want to hear talk about the coronavirus being a myth.

When you hear folks say "gun rights," what they really mean is that its white privilege. This good guy with a gun nonsense has to end. The cops didn't do nothing when children were shot inside a school. A security guard was shot dead trying to protect shoppers. A cop accidentally shot his own. The good guy who tried to stop a bad guy is outgunned and a part of the rule #3. The "good guy with a gun" better be prepared to die if they want to stop a shooter.

I don't want to hear folks say masks and vaccine mandates impede their freedoms. It prevents a deadly outbreak from spreading. If you want to die from the coronavirus, that's on you. We lost over 1 million people from the coronavirus.

I don't want to hear the shit about guns saving lives. Cause a bullet does not have eyes and it's always likely gonna hit a target. These folks seem to not get it. These incidents are a tragic part of American history. Thoughts and prayers and your heart going out to the victims is not enough. It quite frankly is an insult. I am also tired of scapegoating Black on Black crime, Chicago, Baltimore and Democratic mayors for the nation's obsession to be numb to gun violence. You pretty much enable this nonsense by deflecting.

President Joe Biden is trying to curb gun violence. However, he has no support from Republicans. Most Democrats and America are for gun control measures. However the two Democrats in the Senate refuse to change the filibuster rules and its holding us back. 

The National Rifle Association is always pushing against it. They will not relinquish from the narrative that guns are not saving lives. The Republicans aided by a fickle junk food media are openly encouraging anarchy and disruption in a desperate attempt for the Republicans to win back Congress and the White House. These agitators are calling for Biden to curb crime but will not help him. They want more guns on the street. It makes no sense.

So in closing, expect more.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who don't get their names mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

The call number to the U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official phone number, 202-224-3121. Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES.