Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful

"Lately I've been hard to reach, I've been too long on my own

Everybody has a private world where they can be alone

Are you calling me? Are you trying to get through

Are you reaching out for me, like I'm reaching out for you?" 

Eminem - Beautiful

He wrote that song about his, and his hometown, Detroit, comeback.

In softball I have enjoyed some nice comeback moments this year, but a greater challenge awaits me as I've been trying to engineer my own comeback in my hometown of NYC recently, but the results so far have not been beautiful. Their have been some nibbles, some conversations, some phone calls, but for the most part dead ends.

I am hurt 
 http://softballinsider.blogspot.com/2011/10/return-of-bob-learning-how-to-recruit.html
I am angry 
http://softballinsider.blogspot.com/2011/06/idle-hands-are-devils-tool.html

But I am not alone.

The recent Occupy Wall Street Movement

shows that like me people are hurting and angry

The Movement began on September 17, with only a few hundred people speaking out about corporate greed and inequality, but has grown larger and more coordinated. Large labor unions, including the AFL-CIO and SEIU, have joined in. When new arrivals turn out, volunteers swiftly equip them with donated sleeping bags and food. Dozens of cities nationwide have launched their own "occupy" protests in solidarity. It reminds you that there's still humanity, and that people are inherently good.

You don’t have to live in New York to be fed up with Wall Street.  Now, the “Occupy Wall Street” movement has found its way to Jersey City. About 100 protesters gathered Thursday afternoon along the waterfront in the city’s financial sector outside Goldman Sachs offices. Employees who were outside the building before Thursday’s protest began said they had been told not to comment. The Man is still the Man I see, fucking cold hearted bastards. Meanwhile, an Occupy Philadelphia is slated to launch Thursday, joining protests in Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Denver and Chicago, among other cities. People are protesting corporation control of our government and it's getting ugly as hundreds of people have been arrested.

The latest protests come after Wednesday’s large-scale event in Lower Manhattan, which featured clashes between police and protesters. New video surfaced showing police clashing with protesters in a night of explosive emotions.  The scuffle started after police say demonstrators began spilling over barricades. With thousands of protesters chanting and yelling, police pressed up against barriers say they were forced to use pepper spray and batons to "calm" part of the frenzied crowds. The video is inflammatory but police point out they are allowed to use batons and pepper spray for crowd control purposes. Police arrested 28 people, mostly for disorderly conduct. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this is a city that values people’s right to say what they want to say, but he had a warning. “There just is a standard of conduct…a line you can’t cross,” said Bloomberg on Thursday. He said you can’t charge police officers. A reporter asked, “How concerned are you that the type of skirmishes that happened last night may escalate as this movement continues to grow?” Bloomberg answered, “I don’t think that it will escalate and I think our police department conducted themselves the way they should. Every cop? I don’t know. There will always be somebody that’s got some piece of footage.” As for if there is any way to resolve the protests, Bloomberg said, “There’s no leadership, one group that’s leading or whatever. What I can tell you is this is the place where you can protest.”

I have to say Bloomberg is consistent as he is always looking to beat up the little guy - Asshole. Big Time Asshole

The protest have drawn some criticism for its lack of concrete goals. But the fact that Occupy Wall Street is still going strong 19 days later means it's done what it set out to do: Draw focus to the concerns -- and anger -- many Americans have about the country's growing economic gap, plant the seed of an organized voice, and let the protest evolve naturally. I am embarrassed I haven't gone yet, next week I am gonna stop by and get some footage b/c these people are to be commended for having the balls and courage to stand up to the Man.

Don't Let them tell you your not Beautiful