End Of An Era In A New Century

General Motors, once the symbol of American dominance and a symbol of all the good, bad and ugly America had to offer will finally be laid to rest tomorrow. This soap opera had been brewing for as long as anyone can remember, with twists, turns and chaos all thrown in one big cauldron.

We Americans can be a very naive lot, thinking that good times are ever lasting and having a "we", then the rest of the world viewpoint. But what we haven't realized is that the rest of the world has caught up, and even surpassed us in some areas. Countries still look to us to be the standard bearer of all things good, but they're not fawning over us like in the past. We were seduced by "fake competition", competing against ourselves, with the smug feeling that others will not catch up to us.

In this century, prizes will be awarded to companies and countries who are swift at recognizing opportunity and being nimble enough to reinvent and change rapidly.

The company I used to work for are resting on the same laurels as GM, beating their chests claiming that their value since 1960 had increased more than 1100 per cent. Well, that was almost fifty years ago, times have changed and the world is plugged in just like we are. It is highly unlikely you will see dramatic growth rates like that again, the world moves too fast. 

What has happened to GM and the automotive is the beginning of a fundamental shift in what we call "work". This work will be more knowledge and data driven, with decisions being made quickly instead of the old "top down" method. Other companies living in the 20th century are in serious trouble. Take heed from General Motor's demise and become "jack be nimble, jack be quick" or be left behind.

RIP GM!

Photo

Me, Mom and Monica

White Point Gardens (The Battery) 1968

Parents 1967 Chevrolet Impala in background

Smarter Than The GOP

If there were any doubts about the intelligence, wisdom and vision of President Obama, it was quashed today with his Supreme Court pick, Sonia Sotomayor. The GOP was spoiling for a fight and our President said, "let's dance". With all their huffing and puffing, the right ended up taking a thud without a shot being fired. So what are they going to say to a female, Hispanic nominee who is an embodiment of what is great about our nation. Who and what are they going to fight at this point? Republicans are already taking heat for their shrill treatment of Latinos, so who are they fooling. 

This pick by our President took the hot air out of the fight the GOP wanted. Yet again they don't understand the dynamics of what is going on in our nation. Americans in the 21st century want problems solved, plain and simple. We are not interested in fighting, shouting or submitting to the right or left. Our economic environment has sucked that fight out of us, if we fight we do it to solve issues, not dictate who gets what.

The GOP has not understood this and are in the process being further marginalized to being a party of angry people, especially white males. It's time for these people to either get on the train or be left behind. 

The choice is theirs...

Slide Photo

Me

Great Smokey Mountains, TN

Summer 1969

His Time (A slight returrn)

I finally hooked up with Cambridge IV today and he had his father's CD's in tow. I told him to give one of the copies he gave me to a young woman eating lunch next to us. She was startled that she got something free, hope she enjoys it. 

This is one fantastic cd! The packaging, the music speaks volumes. I can now understand why my brother labored and suffered for so long, it took time for he and Jessica to meet, but when they did the magic followed. Frankly, his lyrics were made for her voice. Steven Nelson did a wonderful job also, but it's Jessica's singing and piano playing that really shines on this cd. My brother's lone vocal track tells of the pain, frustration and finally redemption he has achieved with his music. There is no doubt about Cambridge III's songwriting talent. He was the right person at the right time meeting these people. 

To hear this music that had been written on old envelopes and torn paper fiinally being put on recorded media is a testament to my brother's will and determination. If people give this work have a chance it will do very, very well.

My brother and the others involved in this project came of age and there's no going back.

Photo

Cambridge Jenkins III

Monica's Home

Charlotte NC

2008

Sunday Evening....

Nothing much to rant about tonight. President Obama gave his speech at ND today and while there were some heckling, overall it went very well. Being Catholic I can say that ND never fit in my scheme anyway so those never have or will speak for me or form my views and I suspect it's that way with most American Catholics. 

I'm not going into church doctrine because that information is saturated, but  I've always gone my own way and if the Vatican wants to excommunicate me then I say please do! What I do take offense at are frauds like Randall Terry and Alan Keyes acting like they are some saviors to whatever "movement" they claim to be a part of. These two "individuals" are skunks and should be treated as such. They deserve no media attention, but the conservative media will surly hold them as shining examples of what is morally right for our country.

To be quite honest, they're pond scum.

Photo:

Monica Jenkins

Colonial Lake

Charleston SC

1964

Background:

Parents 1958 Oldsmobile Delta 88

Friday Fare

Another weekend is upon us and I'm more than happy it's here. I decided to take a break from job searching for a few days to clear my head because next week will be one of the most important so far. The 'decision maker" letters went out yesterday, signaling a ramping up of things from the chp side. As much as you want to keep looking, you have to take some time to yourself to gather thoughts and map strategy for the next move. 

I might as well be working a 9 to 5 because I'm doing that now, but not making any money. Hopefully that will change soon.

Photo

Me

Battery

Charleston, SC

1964

Do It Again

Thursday afternoon with not much going on. My knee is much better, need to rest it more because I'm headed to the park this weekend. The weather has been crazy, even for this time of year. The alternating cool and hot days does nit give one inclination on dressing appropriately, but such is life.

There has been a rash of "smash and grab" robberies occurring in the trendy areas of Atlanta over the past several months. All these places have been "cased" before the actual robberies commenced, leaving one to believe that some of the "perps" have gone into these stores pretending to be customers.

Seems like they have a thing for high end jeans, especially women jeans. I guess they know that most men aren't going to pay that kind of money in order to have "plumbers pants"! But it is a great cause for concern. In a new century, there seems to be the same old problems.

Photo:

Cambridge Jenkins Jr. (Dad)

Lower Battery

Charleston, SC

1965

How Could This Happen?

In today's issue of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (www.ajc.com) there is an article of a lawsuit being filed by Proctor and Gamble against Georgia Pacific LLC concerning possible trademark infringement between the company's two flagship brands, Bounty and Brawny. 

P&G contends that the "dressing" and design of Brawny is to similar to their Bounty product. What my focus on however is the poll taken by the newspaper asking respondents which product they preferred, Bounty or Brawny.

While most people who responded answered "whatever product is cheapest", more than 2:1 of the responders who picked a product chose Bounty. 

Why is that shocking? Because Georgia Pacific's world headquarters is located here in Atlanta!

This would be tantamount to the majority here choosing Pepsi over Coke. If you can't defend your own back yard how are you going to fare elsewhere?

And there lies the crux of the problem GP has always had. In the past I asked people if they knew what Georgia Pacific made and most didn't have a clue. They didn't know that Brawny was our product, let alone anything else. 

There couldn't be a more clearer reason why we were let go back in March. In a nutshell, the company I worked for does not have an identity. Georgia Pacific is a brand in name only. Funny thing is that the people who are suppose to be in the branding game are still on the job, thriving. My question is...WHY??? 

Photo:

Me, Cambridge III, Robert and Monica

Great Uncle Nay's Farm

Mardella Springs, Maryland

1965

Monday Thing

Nothing much here today. My knee is still not 100 per cent, but it's getting there. That three mile walk I did last week really put a stress and strain on it. I learned so much from that walk from Duncan's Automotive to my condo. I still have the strength and desire to keep pressing when things are not in my favor. I'll find a challenge, something that people or my head says I can't do, then go out with the goal of beating it. Such was the case last week.

There are so many stores and shops you miss while driving and I sure saw a lot of shops I didn't know existed. Naturally, I filed those in the back of my head for another day. Walking through Ga Tech's campus was pretty cool. I live down the street, but this was the first time I had the cance to take it all in. I'll be heading back there soon.

Photo:

Me

Hampton Park

Charleston, SC

1963

Mother's day is a special day of the year for me. It is that week in May when everything is in full bloom, birds chirping and a day when mom doesn't have too cook!

I love my mom very much, and I also look at mother's day as a time of reflection, one where I look back on the times I have disappointed her so much. It is the things we men do growing up, trying to show our independence and desire to "fly out of the nest". But in doing so, we forget that mothers will always see us as their sons, no matter what. 

I have done things through the years that have disappointed mom and even today continue to do so directly or indirectly. What we a men have to do is stop doing that. We have to recognize that mothers carried us in their wombs for nine months and that turns out to be a lifetime bond. 

The older I become the more I'm determined not to disappoint my mother anymore. Out of all the gifts a mother can receive on her special day, that one gift is greatest of all.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL!

Photo:

Edna Jenkins

Easter Sunday

Hampton Park

Charleston, SC

ca. 1967

A Four Letter Word Called Time

Metric told me that Kari Fowler passed away this morning succumbing to her long bout with colorectal cancer. She was diagnosed several years ago and for he to last this long with this disease is a testament to her strength and will to live. Another co-worker, John Craft, told me that he had seen her less than two weeks ago in Wal-Mart riding in a cart with her husband. He freaked out when I called to tell him. You never know when it's someones time so all the drama and stuff you go through while on this rock is just that - drama. Tonight I think of her family and pray they can cope and move forward. Just when you think your problems are insurmountable something happens to remind you that your problems are none.

The above picture is another prime example of what I meant. This is my sister, Camilla, she's the oldest of us all, turning sixty years young in March. This was taken several years before I was born and because when I was in mothers womb, they placed her in a mental retardation facility. The fact that she is here today thriving, is a testament of her strength and will to live. 

I get so much inspiration from her, even know I can't feel sorry for myself, it would be foolish to. I always remind myself that I could have easily been in her place, so I rejoice everyday that I'm here and know that I have a big sister I love with all my heart and soul. 

People, whatever drama or situations you have in life, squash them and remember the time!

Photo:

Camilla Roe Jenkins

43 Line Street

Charleston SC

mid 1950s

His Time

This week was a bittersweet one. Still without a job, I don't despair, but all would have been one hundred per cent, but, it is not so I don't trouble my soul or fret about it. I continue to press the best way I know how. I sure wish mom hadn't found out, but she has and now it's time to move on.

The good thing that happened this week is that the CD Cambridge III had been working on with Jessica Minahan has finally dropped. Yes, Jessica is on the cover and she will be the "face" of the recorded effort as well she should, but the music and songs, six of ten to be exact are Cambridge's own works. 

It took a labor of love, tragedy, effort, sweat and tears to get get my brothers work out there and what we had all thought was a lost endeavor has come to pass. You see, if there are dreams to reach and you have those dreams, do all you can to make them come true, no matter the time effort or obstacles involved. That is what Cambridge III and his music has taught me and the rest of us in the family. 

These songs are more than thirty years old and now they are where they truly needed to be, exposed to the world to enjoy and appreciate. Years ago Cambridge III has aspirations to become a music star and while that will never come to fruition he still has accomplished his original goal - to get his music and voice "out there".

All of us have had our battles and situations with Cambridge III over the years, but this week is his validation, this week his time to prove himself. He passed with flying colors.

I'M VERY PROUD OF MY OLDEST BROTHER!!

Photo: 

Cambridge III

Hampton Park Gardens

Charleston SC

1968

In Order to Move Forward You Have To Go Back

Being unemployed has given me the opportunity to pursue projects that had been put off too long. Several months ago I asked mother if slides that dad had taken of us in our early years was still at home. She said yes, and mailed the box containing slides and old photos to me.

Photography was one of my father's passions, he had purchased several cameras with the Kodak Retina IIIc being his favorite. He took pictures of us growing up in all kinds of scenes and situations, but his favorite pictures were the one he took of us at The Battery, Colonial Lake or Hampton Park. The pictures and slides were catalogued and at least once a year he would bring the projector and screen out and we'd watch the slides. He was particularly fond of taking pictures on Easter Sunday, we'd all get dressed up, head out to the and take pictures all day, making it a major event.

Until yesterday, it has been at least 40 years since I had seen many of these slides. Some of them are faded while others are as vibrant as the day he took them.

The picture you see here is a slide of a picture taken by him of us in Hampton Park about 2 months after my youngest sister, Monica was born. It has fast become on of my favorites because of the subject matter.

Most people who never lived in the South during the turbulent segregation era never realized that there were pockets of "semi-tolerance" and ironically Charleston was one of those places. Yes there were flash points ans hot spots, but for the most part, things were not as violent as in other Southern cities. The white citizens wanted to act like they were being inclusive - to a degree and while racists like Strom Thurmond ruled the day, the politicians in Charleston were cognizant of the fact that the city contained a large federal presence with both the then Naval Base and Air Force base being there.

The picture in Hampton Park speaks volumes of the era at that time. The elderly white lady looking at us with curiosity and disgust and my brothers turn their heads, watching to see if anything will be made of it. This sums up what was happening then, change for the better.

This photo is also a testament to a lot of the myths surrounding the south in the fact that we were not living in a ramshackle shack or hovel, we were fairly well off, my father being a detective for the Charleston Police Department, he would soon be nominated for the post of US Marshal for the Eastern district of South Carolina by Sen. Ernest Hollings.

You see, my parents, like everyone else regardless of race, color or creed had dreams for their children and they did everything possible to ensure our success. They wanted us to be exposed to as much as possible to make us realize that dreams lie beyond the railroad tracks of 43 Line St.

Over the next several weeks I will be posting these slides on here and giving you as much insight and detail as I can remember.

Photo: Hampton Park Easter Sunday 1963

Been Away Too Long

Boy, time is flying and I feel like I have accomplished nothing! This has been the week from hell. First, my supposed friend, Vickie, threw me under a bus, telling my mother I was out of work and what she spilled was just the beginning. She went off the deep end and told all, like a mother hen trying to control my life. Well, she's history and I've moved on. No sense trying to cover up anything, its what it is. Nothing at this point can bring back our friendship, she crossed that line anf it wasn't like she didnd't get warned. 

My car finally died, after 302K miles she gave out, busted head gasket. Mechanic said "ditch her" and that is what I did. Bought a another used car and have to put some money into it but at least I'm riding. In Atlanta a car is a must, don't even think you're going to make it here on MARTA because that is just plain fantasy. 

The only "good news" is that I filed for unemployment insurance and it went surprisingly smooth. There were a ton of people there, but the state got the facility had their act together, getting people in and out of there as quickly as possible.

I sure hope next week is better!