Bill Cosby fights the good fight - 10.31.2006.1

Sometimes I get the joy of speaking about things that entertainers are doing, especially when those entertainers are African American or Hispanic/Latino. In particular I am glad that Mr. Bill Cosby continues his efforts to highlight areas of problems in the Black culture and community. Better yet, unlike many Mr. Cosby is taking an active role in correcting those problems. That may draw the ire of some, but like Mr. Malcolm X once said (as I recall) ‘It’s the squeaky door that gets the fix.’ The fix in this case is desperately needed as dropout rates hit highs unseen before and single parent families are predominant in the Black community.

Recently Mr. Cosby has gone to Los Angeles and took to task the educators and parents of young African American students. As well he should, because it is the responsibility of both these groups to do more than just provide the minimum to children. It is not enough to expect rote memorization to provide the knowledge needed to do well in life. It is not enough to promote a dream of athletic prowess, without any thought of a back-up plan. It is far too little to believe that stardom in a mostly talentless industry will be the cure to all ills. Worse yet, acceptance of underperforming and allowance of a lifestyle that involves drug-use and misogyny and lack of self-responsibility are a plague in my view.

While some feel the comments made by Mr. Cosby are controversial, the fact is they are not. The controversy is really that there is something so critical to speak about. The fact that African Americans are failing to do well is not completely a white or governmental thing. To lay the blame just on their lap is to excuse the failures that have nothing to do with either. Bringing this fact to life is a benefit, one that should not be dismissed. If what Mr. Cosby has said is so wrong, I must ask why the problems are so severe today. If everything is ok, why are there so many that are dying and in jail and uneducated? The time to whisper has past decades ago, and action is needed. Thus I’m glad to hear Mr. Bill Cosby make waves, and I hope to add a few as well.

Along similar lines is news about Oprah. Ms. Winfrey recently gave away debit cards with $1000 each on them; the catch was that they could not be used on the recipients. It’s a nice idea. Similar to the one in the movie Pass It On. The $300,000 give away was sponsored by a bank, not by Ms. Winfrey, and it would be nice to see if the audience really helps communities and not just themselves in an extended manner.

There is no question that Ms. Winfrey does a great deal to help many world-wide. While I may fault her for not more visibly helping people in the United States, there is no question that she does. Yet with the direct connection to corporate sponsors, high visibility and wealth that she commands I have to wonder why she doesn’t have several episodes where communities get the same kind of aid.

But that is nit-picking on my part. The efforts that Ms. Winfrey has shown are extraordinary and like Mr. Cosby make a statement. Sadly few seem to heed the call, and they should. Instead of waiting for someone to claim they are a leader and hand a path to salvation to the Black community should take what has already been given. I can’t help but think that the efforts of African American entertainers and celebrities of the past are being squandered today.

Yes, Mr. Nat King Cole, Mr. Flip Wilson, Mr. Freddie Pinze, Mr. Sidney Poitier, and many others created the opportunity found now. Without Jackie Robinson there is no Michael Jordan, without Ray Charles there is no Wu Tan Clan. And without Malcolm X and Martin Luther King there is no Condelezza Rice or Colin Powell. But why is there at the same time such a rush to be criminals – or ‘thugs’ by popular terms? Why are women in the black community objects to be paraded in music videos, African American men striving to be plagues on the system as drug dealers? Why is the pursuit of a mind worth less today than perhaps ever before?

Of the centuries that our ancestors struggled to gain the right to read and be treated as equals, is the only benefit our chance to compete in games for the selfish monetary return it provides? I cannot agree that the only benefit of the past efforts is our increased ability to entertain the masses. Dr. Martin Luther King did not dream of an equal chance to ‘shake dat ass’ on an iPod. Mr. Malcolm X did not want to defend his life and family “by any means” so that his children could sell drugs, or have ‘baby-mama drama.’ Mr. Jackie Robinson did not endure the stresses of proving his abilities to hostile crowds so that drop-outs would have the inability to read about his challenges; and Mr. Richard Pryor didn’t make us laugh and think about what was inadequate so that the youth could use a term that is the single most offensive term in the English language as a greeting because they haven’t learned enough to know the words meaning and history.

Perhaps I’m too sensitive. Or perhaps I paid attention and remember the old NAACP ad “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

This is what I think, what do you think?

Houdini still escaping death in our minds - 10.29.2006.1

Well It’s been a quiet weekend overall. But there was some interesting news about Mr. Harry Houdini that recently appeared. A new book, The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero, makes an interesting claim. That Houdini was not only a great escape artist, but also was a spy for England and the United States. Now that is an interesting thought. Considering all things I can surmise that it is quite possible that he was in fact a spy to some degree. It makes sense as he was allowed place and met people few others could at that time in the world.

It also makes me think of the movies that are out recently, displaying period magicians that seem to be reflections of the mythos of Houdini. As much as I enjoy Mr. David Blaine, Penn & Teller and other current magicians none capture my attention as much as Houdini. There is just something about him that is inspirational. Overcoming odds that seem insurmountable.

And it’s interesting how so few entertainers today can reach the levels that those of the past have touched. While Mr. Michael Jordan and Mr. Tiger Woods are world-renown they do not touch the impact of Mr. Muhammad Ali, Houdini, Babe Ruth, and a few others. One would think that celebrities like Jay-Z, 50 cent (I still think the name is dumb) and other ‘superstars’ would be more famous or at least one or two would be at a similar level as those of the past.

With the internet making stars more connected to people world-wide, in virtually no time, it would seem that fame would equate to levels of universal acceptance never before seen. Yet it hasn’t happened. Perhaps Mr. Jackie Chan, Mr. Woods and Mr. Jordan are the only ones that do apply to this ultimate category but I can’t think of anyone else that does. Of the recent truly world-wide celebrities I think Mr. Bruce Lee was the last. True fame seems only possible without the interconnectivity of the internet. When real interest creates the drive to know more about a celebrity. That is opposed to the media glut that is forced on us by the corporations profiting of the stars of today.

I mean how many of the stars of today are really talented? There is but a handful of the top A-list actors that can sing, play an instrument and/or have been successful on the stage. Few singers can actually compose music or play an instrument or even write their own songs. Far too many athletes today have little education and few outside career options. And so the names of true greats like Houdini continue to mesmerize the masses.

Perhaps the speed and near instant contact has been a bane as opposed to a boon. In propping up the most recent new thing, we have lost out on the best thing. Rather than getting the best entertainers we are coming to learn to accept just the most recent. Maybe that’s why so few stand out for more than a moment in the growing crowd of just better than average. And maybe that’s why the lowest common denominator seems to reach just a bit lower each year. Or so it seems to me.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Please take this survey - 10.27.2006.1

I have created a new survey for the site. I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

There are few things that are as important to me as being able to expand the reach of this site, sharing my thoughts and your comments with as many people as possible. As part of this growth I have created a way for you to contact me and let me know what you think. From time to time I will be changing the questions on the survey, fine tuning the things that you may want to let me know.

I am happy to provide you with ways to get more of what you want. Please take a moment to answer the survey. Thank you for your support, and tell your friends :)

Check here for the survey

Sexomniacs and Jesse Martin of Law&Order - 10.26.2006.4

Some things I just can’t make up. I’ve heard all kinds of stories used for defenses in court cases. From the odd to the downright bizarre there are all kinds. Anyone who has been to a bar has heard or made propositions. And I’m sure couples have heard the same or worse. Now imagine something that combines all 3. Are you ready for this… sexsomniacs.

Now I’m sure almost everyone has no clue what this is. Neither did I until I just read about it. It’s a rare condition that is similar to sleep walking. Except in this case ‘sufferers’ make advances, and follow through, while completely asleep. While first thought to be very rare, some researchers think its more common than that.

This condition generally affects couples it seems. The responses range from annoyance to coping to exhilaration. Yes, some think it’s the best thing they’ve ever done. My mind boggles. Of course there is at least one researcher looking into this as a defense for certain sexual assault cases. Again my mind boggles.

While I can accept that some people can, on occasion, have severe sleep walking that allows them to function seemingly normally I have trouble buying this one. On one hand it sounds like a convenient excuse to act in a manner without owning up to what is really wanted. “I never would ask you to do that! I had to be asleep.” On the other hand it give creeps an excuse for boorish or worse behavior. I’d love to hear from anyone ‘afflicted’ with this.

On a more ironic note, there is news that a cop needs a cop. Well I should say and actor who plays a cop needs a real police officer. This is what Mr. Jesse L. Martin, of Law & Order and Rent fame, happens to need. Now before anyone goes and says “well he works and lives in New York City, lots of people get robbed all the time,” it happened in his hometown of Albany.

Mr. Martin was back home to do some work on a new film, and took out some time to sign autographs, talk with folks and help out the local cook with entertainment industry advice. Now that’s a nice guy, and somewhat rare for popular entertainers these days. Part of why may be the fact that while he was doing this someone broke into his SUV and stole his clothes, iPod and other items. Now that’s just rude.

I finally get some decent news on an African American male entertainer that isn’t in trouble with the law, his significant other or anyone. In fact its news about them being open and courteous, a fans’ dream, and someone spoils the whole thing with negative feedback. Some days you just can’t win. I bet the crook didn’t even know who’s stuff they took.

Well Mr. Martin is back in NYC, where he has lived for 20 years without incident, sans his stuff. I hope this doesn’t jade him to being a courteous entertainer when in the public in the future. Hearing how much of a nice guy he can be I’d love to meet him and do an interview for the blog. Well I suppose I can still hope.

This is what I think, what do you think?

To be able to hear the Audio MP3 file of this post click the link.

What do you see - 10.26.2006.2

Here is something that sparked my mind. Before I go on let me ask a question. What color is God? Don’t look further, and don’t do anything else yet. Write down that answer for a second.

Now the next thing I will ask is for the Christians out there. I suppose it applies, in a manner, to those who are Jewish or Muslim as well. What color/race is Jesus? Again, before you go further write down your answer, please.

I am not a religious person, though I was raised in a religious background. This is not about religion, so don’t get fanatical on me. Now look at your answers and then at the back of your hand. Predominantly the color/race of the person reflects how they view God. This is true throughout the world, except in America for the most part. In America Jesus, in particular, is viewed as looking like Mr. James Cavievel more than anything else. I won’t get into the description found in the Bible [other than to say that the proper description is ‘a man of olive skin and hair of wool’ as I recall] but this is an interesting view found in America.

The reason I mention this is that a new film is coming out about the last 2 days of Jesus. The theatrical film is called Color of the Cross. The story is the same as that found in Passion of the Christ for the most part as I understand. The difference is that Jesus, and I would assume the apostles and others, is African. This will be the first American film that directly portrays Jesus as an African.

Personally I think it’s an obvious call as the region that this story is supposed to take place in is predominantly Negroid in background. Yet it’s hard to find any image in this nation that does not depict a singular view of a European image. Honestly the only Europeans should be the Romans, and they were the bad guys. So given this I have to wonder how this movie will do in theatres. Will it get the same support that Passion of the Christ received from the conservative Christians? Will there be the same kind of interest in the story? Will other religious groups be as upset?

The answer should be yes. There should be a similar response since the story, as I understand, has not been changed and perhaps more because the story is not in Aramaic. But somehow I doubt it. In discussing this with a friend yesterday, this caused a revelation. My friend had never considered the question. It was firmly understood that the answer to the second question I asked at the beginning was white; the answer to the first was more difficult as God is beyond color or human form.

This lead to the fact that television, like religion in America, presumse to tell the citizenry that the world is not what we see in our daily lives. What I mean is that of the 100 – 120 broadcast television programs on primetime during a given week (assuming 7pm to 10pm, with 3 hour long shows and 2 half-hour shows, for 4 networks, 5 days a week) my friend and I were able to name 10 leading or main characters that were Black African American, Hispanic or Asian out of 500 – 600 main characters on television (assuming 5 main characters per show). That’s 2% of the main broadcast television population.

The conclusion would seem to be that minorities don’t exist in this nation. That we are not involved. It’s subtle, and like with the visage of a European Jesus it implies that those Black, Latino, Asian Americans similar to me are invisible. Perhaps that’s why cable network television programs are more interesting to me. Shows like Blade, the Shield, Thief and others connect with the rest of this nation that broadcast television ignores. This is a hard thing to do since 1/3 of the nation is one minority or another. Perhaps it’s why I cannot connect to many programs, because it does not reflect the reality I see outside my door – even in a predominantly white town like Binghamton.

So considering the importance given to ignoring the diversity of the nation, I really wonder how this movie will be received. I have to think that some will complain and be uncomfortable with this vison, and not all of them will be white. And I have to wonder why the color of a persons’ skin matters in telling a story. I want to see this movie, Color of the Cross, and review it. If the acting or directing is horrible, that’s one thing. But if it isn’t, the reaction will make a strong statement about what America thinks when we aren’t actively thinking. That is important.

And if nothing is said about it at all, if it becomes invisible, that says something too.

This is what I think, what do you think?

You can find the audio for this post on this page Audio MP3 recording.

Ella Fitzgerald, James Stewart and Vampires - 10.26.2006.1

On the lighter side of things these days, there has been news that affects all the Goths out there. A physics professor has delved into the mystery of Vampires, and in a crushing blow that Blade wished he could do, removing their existence. Yes the vampire hunter in question is a professor at University of Central Florida, and he used an unknown weapon that vampires have a weakness to – Math. If only Van Helsing knew this.

It seems that the professor crunched the numbers and proved that if vampires existed since the 1600’s they would have over-run the planet long ago. Of course those with a conspiracy theory bent could always argue that the vampires are using this theorem to help hide their existence among us. Perhaps Anne Rice’s Lestat and professor Efthimiou could get together and debate the issue on Fox News. They say they are ‘fair and balanced’ so it should be the perfect forum. And since they are on 24/7 it can be done at night.

In news that’s easier to lick (yes a bad pun and only effective for the older among us) new stamps have been release. This series is dedicated to greats in entertainment. Mr. James Stewart, know for his roles in It’s a Wonderful Life and Harvey [great classic films that you should see if you haven’t yet] and his time in fighting WW II, now graces a stamp. Mr. Stewart is joined with the great Ms. Ella Fitzgerald, jazz vocalist supreme, 13 time Grammy Award winner, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor. Other items of interest to philatelist are the release of the Aladdin and Genie, Dumbo and Timothy Mouse, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell stamps. Not to be outdone, a mix of Marvel characters will be out including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Wolverine, Electra and Captain America. It’s a nice time to be a collector I think.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Expanding Black Entertainment USA - 10.25.2006.3

I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that I am still seeking out a few people to help me expand and develop various ideas for this site and www.mvass.com. I’ve mentioned in the past that I am looking for a couple of additional graphic designers to help with the different t-shirt, mug, mousepad, poster and other consumer goods I sell via my online store found at www.cafepress.com/nova68.

In addition I continue to seek out illustrators and pencilists that can bring to life the graphic novel I am developing. Samples of a scene from the portion of the storyline found in the comic section of this site will help me select what gets to be the final vision.

There is also my desire to find a musician or group that can bring to life my poetry. I am seeking new visions and interpretations of the words I’ve written. I think it would be inspiring and fun.

I have no fixed version of how these items can be expressed. I’m looking to see how others are motivated by my words and ideas. Send in your samples, with a way to contact you, and I will let you know my thoughts. (You can reach me via the contact information, just click the link in the menu) I must mention that any items submitted to me will be the property of my corporation M V Consulting, Inc. For those that are selected I will go into detail on how we can work best on expanding my thoughts.

I try to be a fair man, though I’m not rich today. Spread the word. I’ll present the new formats as soon as I can.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Michael J. Fox, Snoop Dogg - 10.25.2006.2

I’ve talked about Mr. Michael J. Fox and his support of candidates that support stem-cell research. While I have my own reservations on the ultimate uses of such research, I have no problem with his actions. I like when people of sincere conviction stand up and hold themselves accountable. Of course this is not how everyone feels. Some chose to counter the ads of Mr. Fox with celebrity and entertainer ads that oppose stem-cell research. That’s a fantastic idea. Being involved in the issues that affect us all, as Mr. Fox states “…all politics is local, but it's not always the case” , is a great thing. But when some criticize people and not the issue they are wrong, in my opinion.

I mean Mr. Rush Limbaugh. I’ve taken Mr. Limbaugh to task before, and sadly I may need to again it seems. I agree with many that when anyone puts their political views out to the public, actually any view, they are open to criticism. I myself disagree with Mr. Fox’s position. But to attack him personally, to question the severity of his illness is rude and disgusting. To say that anyone would fake an illness, without proof or supposition of proof, or the degree of an illness is to belittle those afflicted. Mr. Limbaugh offends those who suffer like Mr. Fox in saying he is acting. For a man who is called intelligent by some, his words seem unthinking and base in the manner of someone without intelligence. Especially when one considers that such comments are anything but uncommon for him to say as his history shows. Vote your opinion, debate the issues but can we please leave the personal attacks in the gutter where they belong.

Now speaking of repeat offenders, guess who is back up to his seemingly old tricks. I am speaking of Mr. Calvin Broadus, aka Snoop Dogg. Like many rappers of the last decade or more, Mr. Broadus appears to draw charges like a light bulb. A growing favorite of his looks like potential criminal actions in airports. In this case his entourage was not involved, but Snoop Dogg did cause a stir trying to bring a police baton onto a plane.

The claim of Mr. Broadus, that he was unaware that such a weapon was banned rings false in my ears. In this day and age of enhanced paranoia at airports, where liquids are banned from flights, how does a reasonably intelligent person think a weapon is not banned. Equally tin sounding is the claim that this was a needed prop for a music video shoot. As if there is no prop manager in New York that could provide such an item for a video shoot. This is merely the hollow efforts of an entertainer to shift the blame from their own actions and to avoid punishment, as I see it.

Yet this belies the true question I have asked before. Why do rappers generate so many conflicts, violence and death? In this year I am sure I have mentioned a dozen times that one or another rapper was arrested for one thing or another. There have been several involved with deaths of individuals, and virtually all have involved weapons and/or violence not to mention drugs. And these entertainers are seen, especially in the Black culture and specifically by young African American males, as figures to be looked up to. I can’t understand why. Why would anyone want their child to follow in the footsteps of criminals and near-criminals. Who would want their child to grow up disrespecting all women and men. To be uneducated, apathetic, addicts, with multiple children and no hope of supporting or properly raising any of them.

Some may dispute this. But the truth is that all public figures are role models. Of all public figures, entertainers are where there is the largest concentration of African Americans. When those individuals promote base actions, subjective youth learn and follow this lead. It’s little different than when babies watch those around them to learn how to speak, learning language and accent. I see no argument that disputes this, but I’ve heard many that excuse it. Perhaps its time to stop excusing the poor actions of various segments of the Black community, and re-enforcing better actions.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Click here for an audio MP3 of this post.

Is what Madonna did really that bad? - 10.25.2006.1

I’m back. Not much of real interest is going on right now. Though I did have an interesting conversation with my best friend about the Madonna situation. He brought up a good point. He mentioned that there isn’t much to be concerned with. The little boy is going to have a far better life with Madonna than without. With her he will have a good education, proper medical and dental treatment, and no worries on food. Another point was made about the rules that were broken. Does it matter since no matter the time it took the outcome is still better for the boy. To paraphrase my buddy “Would you prefer the Madonna didn’t spend the 3 million to ‘get’ the kid and his life was unchanged and miserable?” It’s hard to argue that point.

And of course the last thing he mentioned is that if the Black community is upset, which it doesn’t appear to be, then of course adopting kids is the answer. In truth the whole thing does give me an odd feeling, like the kid was bought. But I can’t argue the fact that his life will be far better. Still I wouldn’t want this to become a trend.

I am glad though if all of this attention turns to help the various African nations. There is some serious need there. When you consider that the average person at or below poverty in the U.S. is still living a better life than most in Africa, that is sad. Of course improving things here wouldn’t hurt either. While self-help is the primary means for help in America, the attention that entertainers and celebrities bring can be wonderful too.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Oprah at college, Stevie Wonder gets Award - 10.21.2006.1

Here is some nice news from earlier in the week. Mr. Stevie Wonder was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Civil Rights Museum. Mr. Wonder is a great example of the human spirit. He has overcome not only racism but also blindness. Mr. Wonder is someone I think of whenever I think that I am overcome with burdens. His career started as a young child playing the harmonica in various movies and grew from there. I can only imagine the hurdles he had to overcome, and the things that he may have been told throughout his life. Yet he has not only survived, he has excelled. Congratulations on this Award Mr. Wonder, you deserve it.

Also I want to send a cheer to Ms. Oprah Winfrey. She spoke at a fundraiser for Bennett College, a private college for Black women. Along with Ms. Winfrey were other notable attendees such as Ms. Maya Angelou and Ms. Shirley Caesar. It’s always a good thing to see entertainers and celebrities contributing to higher education, especially when it directly involves African Americans. Of course I would prefer to hear about Ms. Winfrey founding a leadership academy in the United States as opposed to South Africa, but that is me nit picking.

And I wonder why there aren’t more entertainers and celebrities stepping up and speaking about Black men going to and finishing college. I would love to see several rappers together promoting the need for black African American males staying in school and being responsible for their own actions. The initiatives that are in place to help Black women are needed, but I think we have forgotten about the men. Moreso, entertainers today seem to promote anything but self-responsibility and higher education for Black African American males. That really needs to change. I’m not saying this is the cause of drop-out rates in high school of between 50 and 70%, but it’s not helping to turn the tide.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Jay-Z goes for Beer - 10.20.2006.3

With it being Friday it seems timely to mention something about beer. In this case it’s rap and beer combined. I’m speaking of Mr. Shawn Carter, known commonly as Jay-Z, and Budweiser. It seems that Budweiser feels that Jay-z can be instrumental in marketing their new beer, Budweiser Select. Considering what was done for Cristal, they may be correct. Of course Cristal may have the price and popularity but I don’t think it’s a superior champagne. Based on that you can get a mixed message on how good this new beer may be. Still a celebrity that is followed so closely should boost sales.

The thing that I don’t like is that this will be promoting more alcohol to the Black community. As if that was needed. From malt liquor to gin-n-juice, the Black community is swamped with liquor ads. Its so common to see ads for liquor in a Black neighborhood that I don’t notice it when I go back to the Bronx. There are ads posted on billboards and on the trains and buses. Of course I barely see any when I’m in Manhattan, at least below 96th on the east side.

So hearing that a popular African American rapper, is promoting another drink, I’m not enthused. Rappers promote more alcohols than any other entertainer promoting anything else, I believe. And that promotion is directly targeted, disproportionately, to African Americans. The last thing young African American men need is another distraction, especially one of such a low cost and easy consumption, from gaining an education and taking control of their lives. It may not be the fault of Mr. Carter, nor Budweiser, that alcohol is so tightly interwoven with social activities in Black culture but they are not helping either. I’d enjoy seeing this man do more like his clean drinking water project than his promotion of potentially damaging items that already flood the Black community and culture.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Hello to Namibia and Wesley Snipes - 10.20.2006.2

So it seems that the various talking heads need to tone down their rhetoric. I’m speaking about comments that I have heard in regards to Mr. Wesley Snipes. While Mr. Snipes has been indited by the government, the hoopla that has been brewing seems to be misplaced. You may have seem comments like ‘where is Welsely Snipes’ or comments like ‘no one can find Mr. Snipes’ and each comment made no mention that perhaps Mr. Snipes was working out of the country.

In my post Where is Wesley Snipes? - 10.18.2006.1 I speculated that Mr. Snipes might just be out of the country. Like many entertainers in the movie acting industry, Mr. Snipes does travel out of the country to film projects on location. In many cases an on location shoot can take months, occasionally taking years, to film. Knowing this, without the help of a journalism degree or an entire news division, I guessed that Mr. Snipes could not be reached due to work. And now we know that this was just the case.

I wonder though why not one news agency that I saw, and not one article I read, mentioned this possibility. Rather they just inferred that Mr. Snipes was in hiding. Why? I’ve seen anchors defend and minimize actions of dozens of entertainers. I’ve heard them brush off gun charges and violence by rappers, barely mention potential criminal actions of actors, and breeze past arrests of musicians and singers on drug charges. Yet, there has been a direct implication of Mr. Snipes being guilty and hiding. Why the difference? What is so different about this one actor as opposed to these other entertainers? Tell me what you think it is, or if you disagree.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Quick comment on Stephen Hawking - 10.20.2006.1

Just a short thought here in passin.

I noticed that Mr. Stephen Hawking will not only be in a movie, but is also getting a divorce. I normally don’t discuss intimate matters such as this, but I must say that this did get me wondering. When I first saw this I thought that perhaps Mr. Hawking was deteriorating, but the film role seems to dispute that. Whatever the reason, I commend both of his wives in dealing with the emotional difficulty that the condition he has must cause. Mr. Hawking is a strong man and his wives strong women, all of them perhaps stronger than me were I in that situation. I hope that, whatever the reason, this new event passes quickly without difficulty.

Interactive video games and advertising - 10.19.2006.1

Now this sucks. I’m sure there are many other men like myself that have grown up with video games. At 38 I’ve seen quite a few games come along. Perhaps not all will remember Pong, Atari, Colecovision, Donkey Kong, and other early games. Still the interactive gaming industry generates 30 billion dollars a year, and teens aren’t getting all that from mom and dad.

While it’s nice to know that video games can appeal to a wide range of people, there have been changes over the years. The trend in creating open ended games was a good one (like Elder Scrolls), the greater graphics look fantastic, and real time strategy can be intense. On the other end there is the growth in violent games, violent without any cause like Maniac, or others that I find insulting, like Grand Theft Auto. Even so there is one trend that really irritates me. Ads.

The growth of advertising in video games has grown quite a bit in recent years. At this point you can find dozens of ads filling sports, racing and other games. It’s annoying, and not a reason I buy a game for. I don’t find the inclusion to be subtle or add to the atmosphere. I don’t know of anyone who thinks they do. And any game that features an ad prominent enough for me to notice is a distraction to what I am doing. Yet the money that an ad can provide is too lucrative for a video game company to pass by.

It’s similar to ads at the movie theatre. No one likes to arrive and watch an ad for anything in-between future movie clips and the show itself. Whoever thought that up was brilliant, in a sadistic kind of way. But there is too much money to turn them down, and now its just gone too far to stop.

The same applies to interactive gaming. If you thought it wasn’t too bad then you are unaware that Nielsen Media Research will start giving ratings on games. This is so advertisers can be charged more money to include ads, and to target the ads demographically. And in that one move the floodgates have been opened. Like to drive? Hope you like passing unlimited miles of Pepsi and Coke-a-Cola billboards. Basketball your passion? Expect to watch Adidas and Nike ads in that slow motion replay. Yeah, that sounds appealing.

Like advertisers think that this will get me, or anyone playing a game to stop, run out and get their product. More likely it will stop me from doing so. With potentially up to 3 billion dollars in ad revenue though, games will be built around the ads and not the other way around. Just like how ads are even in DVD’s especially the ones you can’t fast forward past.

I hate this idea. I don’t see it helping to get any innovation. It will probably go the other way if you think about it. Wait and see. One game will sell well, and advertisers will love how their ads did. They will pay enough money that there will be a cheap knock-off sequel made. Not to be outdone, competing companies will see how much money was ponied up by the advertising companies and make their own crappy knock-offs. Before you know it all the innovation and imagination of the industry will go the way of Hollywood movies and broadcast network television.
The future has rarely looked so dim.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Where is Wesley Snipes? - 10.18.2006.1

Ok, I’m tired of having to wonder about Madonna and her quest to seemingly buy children from Malawi. I’ve heard reports that she now intends to get a girl as well. It’s just too much for me.

But something that is gaining interest is news about Mr. Wesley Snipes. It seems that Mr. Snipes amended a claim to the IRS and got a return of 7 million dollars. On that same return he claimed 0 income, which is why the government gave him the money back. Now, 6 years later the government has issued a warrant for Mr. Snipes.

I have some issues with this whole thing. First is the fact that the government accepted an amended claim of 0 income and made a refund of $7,000,000 without a red flag popping up is not Mr. Snipes fault. I would think someone would have noticed before now. And to suddenly issue a warrant without contacting an individual that has international travel as a normal course of business seems extreme. So far as has been reported no attempt to contact Mr. Snipes has been done.

Second is the fact that the business preparing the taxes is considered a “tax protest organization” should have drawn some interest. It makes this less a question of deception and one of a political statement. This part of course is not being mentioned in the news, in any real degree.

A third though is that I agree with the zero income statement. It was claimed, as reports say so far, that the funds are not available for taxation as the funds were from overseas. I do not think that funds paid out in a foreign nation, for services in a foreign land, should be taxed by the government. I’ve lived overseas, where I worked, for an extended period of time. I cannot agree with paying taxes in the U.S. when I am not home for a year. If I live abroad, spend my income abroad, and work there why do I need to pay taxes back home? It seems harsh. Were I in-nation for part of the year, then I can see making a portion of that income available, but not all of it.

The last thing is why are the talking heads (in this case the ones at Fox News cable network) making such a fuss over the fact that no one is aware of where Mr. Wesley Snipes is. As a celebrity it would not be unusual for him to be on vacation, or on a trip, outside the country or in seclusion. It would not be strange for Mr. Snipes to be working on a film somewhere in the world, and not immediately aware of what is going on here in the United States. To hear the talking heads speak, it sounds as if Mr. Snipes is actively avoiding contact, which may well be inaccurate. I dislike when these television programs make assumptions or present news in a manner as to imply something that they have no idea about. But perhaps that’s just me.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Malawi Modanna, and sports announcers strike out - 10.17.2006.1

So more news has come out about Madonna and the adoption of a child from Malawi. And I find it more troubling as I hear about it. Madonna has a charity called raising Malawi by the way. Recently she donated $3 million, as I understand, to help the children of the country. These are great things. But she was granted this adoption immediately after that. Sounds bad right? Then you must understand that it’s also quite odd that she took the child out of the country. That’s odd because the law states that any child adopted cannot leave the country for 1 year. It is also a law, as stated by Fox news, that this child is not eligible for adoption. So given these facts, the sudden and publicized adoption of this child is even more troubling than I first though [in post Michael Fox and Madonna - 10.15.2006.1]. It feels like Madonna essentially bought herself a child. If that is the case it’s wrong on a dozen different levels.

In sports news there are 2 stories that are somewhat similar. One was brought to my attention by a colleague. The other I just ran into. The story I found was about an announcer, Lamar Thomas, who was fired by Comcast Sports SouthEast. Like in the case to follow it was his own fault. Mr. Thomas seemed to believe that cheering on a fight between Miami and FIU was appropriate. Not only that, but he suggested continued aggressions after the game, potentially inciting a riot. I would think a grown man would be more responsible. I would expect anyone who’s career involves sports would prefer to see sportsman like conduct rather than a free-for-all. Since this was not the case, I’m glad to see that Mr. Thomas was duly punished. For too long we see these incidents taking place and those that would promote or reinforce it have been given a pass.


In a separate incident, also containing an announcer, it seems that Steve Lyons was fired Friday by Fox Sports. What caused this sudden reaction? On its face it would seem that his comments to Lou Piniella were the cause. They were crude comments, base and insulting to anyone of Latino/Hispanic heritage. Comments like Mr. Lyons perpetuate a mistrust of Latinos, reveal Mr. Lyons dull wit, and his disrespect for the 2nd most popular language in the world.

Even with this affront, I would agree with my colleague that firing Mr. Lyons would be an overreaction. A fine or suspension along with Mr. Lyons publicly apologizing would be more proportionate. But it wasn’t the first thing that he has done. Just one month ago this crude individual took on a blind man, and in the past he has questioned the religion of baseball player Shawn Green. Given the intolerance that he has spewed on the airwaves for some time, this final act of disrespect to Latinos and Mr. Piniella was the straw that broke the camel’s back. And knowing that background information, I agree that he needed to be fired, hopefully to never be employed where his voice can reach no further than he can shout. At least that’s how I feel.

My conversation with my colleague will be discussed in a future post at Vass.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Michael Fox and Madonna - 10.15.2006.1

Sorry for the delay dear readers. The crazy weather gave me a cold I couldn’t get rid of. I haven’t been keeping up with the major news stories, but I have seen a few things that caught my attention. One of those items is about Mr. Michael J. Fox and his fundraising efforts. Mr. Fox is quite a man, I really respect his. He has been a spearhead for research for Parkinson’s disease, which he is afflicted with. Since his diagnosis Mr. Fox has investigated and funded development of treatment for the disease that affects tens of millions of Americans alone. I respect his conviction and his dedication. But I do disagree with one of his areas of interest. Stem cell research.

The advances of cloning, genetic manipulation and the potential of stem cells is a dangerous combination. While I am sure there can be many benefits to mankind the fact is anything so broad ranged would be used as a weapon. I’m not guessing, this is fact. The initial use of a stick was for hunting, not long afterwards it was a tool of wars. Fire was used to cook, and then used as a siege weapon. Computers were designed to do advanced calculations, now they predict life-spans of nuclear weapons and potential casualties. For every disease cured there are storehouses of biological and chemical weapons in every nation that were found while the cure was sought.

I cannot imagine the potential ramifications of a weaponized genetic, cloned, stem cell. Is it a reality of the future, one that only sci-fi has ever considered? Could the Khan of Star Trek be a reality? Or a disease worse than AIDS? Or things we can’t imagine. Already there have been attempts at human cloning, which has been denounced world wide. Once the genie is out the bottle there is no turning back, just like nuclear weapons. On that basis I disagree with the research. Still Mr. Fox should be commended on his convictions.

On a completely separate thought is Madonna. Actually I should say the current trend in celebrities going to third-world and African nations. Several celebrities have gone to these countries and adopted children. Why? In a way I feel like this is becoming the latest designer clothing line. That may be unfair I realize. Yet why is there such a need to adopt children from these countries. If Madonna is adopting a boy from Africa I have to wonder why.

Yes it will improve that boy’s life I think, but so what. Madonna has enough money that a donation could be made to improve thousands of lives. The donation could be money or goods that hundreds of children can use, improving their lives. And why a black child? What is her motivation. She already has children. If it’s an effort to make a statement then why not a child from Croatia or a similar area? It just feels disingenuous. Like there is an ulterior motive and the child is just a showcase.

I won’t say every celebrity has ulterior motives for adoption, but considering the number of children up for adoption in America alone (estimated at 114,000 in 2005) why do some seek kids outside of the U.S. There are plenty of poor children, African American, Latino/Hispanic, Asian and others that need a good home. Don’t they deserve a chance too? Shouldn’t awareness be raised about the American kids in foster care, or homeless on our streets?

I just don’t get it, and it doesn’t feel right. It’s not like I don’t know celebrities that have adopted children. I recall a couple from my days working for Music Plus in Canoga Park, California. There was neither big fanfare nor paparazzi. While these entertainers were not the A-list of Hollywood, they were known for sitcoms and movies that were popular. Of course those kids were American, and the families were not racially mixed. Even if they were I still don’t think it would have caught any attention. And it’s the attention that is being drawn that makes me have reservations.

So I am just left with this odd feeling. How about you?

This is what I think, what do you think?

Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bill Cosby - 10.11.2006.1

While there is news of significance out today [see my post Plane crash in Manhattan - 10.11.206.1] I wanted to discuss lighter, or at least different, thoughts here. The audio file for this post will have to wait until I recover from the cold I currently have.

The first thing I want to mention is about Mr. Jon Stewart and Mr. Stephen Colbert. It seems that here are t-shirts out that promote these men as candidates for the Presidential race in 2008. While both men deny any intention to run for political office, I understand why such thoughts may be in the public mind. While both are hosts of cable network programs that mock actual news, they are quite intelligent in how they do so. They bring the political news into an everyman aspect. And they question our politician actions and statements the same way that some of the average Americans do.

Honesty is rare in politics. Conviction has become more of a fluid item dependent on poll results more than constituent concerns. So when 2 individuals stand up and point out these flaws it is to be admired. Even though Mr. Jon Stewart is more liberal and Democrat in his program, an even approach to both parties is generally observed. And this is perhaps the prime example of what political comedy should be and do. I disagree that people are ashamed of the country by showing interest in Mr. Colbert and Stewart. I think that they are saying that they are happy someone can be honest and direct when it comes to politics. It’s the same reason I think one man was suggesting Oprah as a Presidential candidate. And that is worth electing into office. Politicians should take note.

Turning to more serious news, Mr. Bill Cosby has returned to the second poorest city in the nation. Detroit has nearly 1 million people and a majority of them are African American. This is why it is the perfect place for the comments Mr. Cosby has made in the past, and continues to make now. Mr. Cosby is continuing to promote a line of thinking that has been advocated by Mr. Booker T. Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Mr. Malcolm X.

That line of thinking [I spoke about this in my post Do you qualify to be black? - 10.01.2006.1] is one of self-responsibility and self-improvement. In a city where 31% of the population is in poverty there is no place where the impact of changing cultural attitudes can have better results. Some may wish to condemn Mr. Cosby for his direct and honest words. I for one am glad that someone with enough celebrity and international renown is willing to step up, get the media coverage needed, and say what needs to be said. It’s obvious, at least to me, that saying nothing isn’t working. Nor does blaming someone trying to point out the deficiencies.

Perhaps one of these days we will see more rappers and athletes speak along these same lines. I doubt it though. Self-empowerment doesn’t sell well. At least it hasn’t since Public Enemy and other rappers of the early 1990’s. Thugs, drug dealers and pimps need victims, and willing victims are not found in those trying to improve their lives.

This is what I think, what do you think?

A weekend of Trek, guns and women - 10.10.2006.1

A couple of items came up over the weekend I did not get a chance to speak about. I’ll run through a few of those thoughts. There is a huge range of items. It was a full moon so perhaps that had some influence on the items that happened. Or at least when they were reported.

First up was news on a rapper named Jason Phillips (aka Jadakiss) who was arrested for, wait for it… gun possession. Not a strange thing for a rapper to be arrested for, and in this case multiple times. This time there were no drugs reported found. I do try to be relatively fair in this blog site, but I notice that the number of times rappers are in the news for breaking the law is perhaps 3-1 vs. anything else. While gun possession isn’t violent in itself, it does lend itself well to the random gunfire, attacks and death that seems to walk hand-in-hand with rappers. I will never understand the attraction to these repeat offenders, spared significant prison terms only due to the lawyers employed by their record companies.

On a mixed bit of news Mrs. Jamie Lee Curtis has announced that she will no longer make films. Mrs. Curtis has had a solid mix of films, some good and others not quite so. A Fish Called Wanda is one of the best. This is not terrible news in that the reason for the career change is her increased work in creating children’s books (currently numbering 7) and being a mother to her 2 children. Unlike some women who have made the choice to be mothers over high-profile careers, no protests have been made – yet. I for one commend her for making such a choice as all the fame and money that Hollywood and other careers command mean nothing compared to a loving mother. At least that’s how my mother has made me feel, when I reflect on my youth. Congratulations Baroness.

Other news is the fact that Ms. Farrah Fawcett has been diagnosed with intestinal cancer. This now makes all 3 former stars of the television show Charlie’s Angels cancer fighters, with 2 having bested the disease. Ms. Fawcett is aware of how hard the battle can be, having lost a sister to lung cancer. This is a difficult ordeal, but I believe she will overcome the disease. I wish her only the best in this battle and I hope her eventual triumph will inspire others to battle and live.

As I mentioned earlier, there was an exceptionally large full moon this weekend, which may have helped the auction of Star Trek items at Christie’s. The historic 3-day sale had total sales of over 7 million dollars. Top selling items included a copy of the original chair of Captain Kirk, models of a Klingon Bird of Prey, the Enterprise-A and –D, and a uniform once worn by Mr. Forest DeKelly – known as Dr. McCoy. I wish I could have afforded to own a copy of one of the Klingon ships, but at over $100,000 each it’s out of my range. Trekkies may be much maligned but they aren’t poor.

Quite the weekend. Like they say, full moon’s bring it all out.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Audio of this post found at http://www.blackentertainmentblog.com/audio-post/audio.html

300 Spartans at Thermoplye - 10.07.2006.1

Have you noticed the movie trailers for the film 300. It catches the attention and is a very stylized trailer, which I expect the film to be as well. From these early clips I’m guessing that the battle scenes will be decent to good. The rest of the film I’m not so sure. Some may be thinking this is another comic book that has been converted to a movie. In part you would be correct.

While Mr. Frank Miller did create a graphic novel that was titled 300 in the 1990’s, the movie is not quite a translation from the book. To be more accurate it is a ‘revision’ of the original film called The 300 Spartans. That was a great film. Made in 1962, it tells the story of the Battle of Thermoplye. That was a classic battle and many strategists have studied it.

The battle was probably one of the best ever fought. It was the meeting of 300 Spartans, considered the greatest warriors in the world, and 250,000 Persians. Yes the numbers are accurate, the Persian army had that many men. Of course everyone expected them to be wiped out in a blink of the eye. To the massive surprise of the Persians the Spartans kept them at bay for 3 days and rallied all of Greece to defeat them. The fact is the Persians were defeated in fact by the 300 at Thermoplye. Their sprits were completely broken.

Mr. Miller saw that movie, as I have [in fact I own a copy], and it inspired him to make the graphic novel. I can only hope that this new film will do justice to the original. It may have been black & white, with few good effects but it carried the emotion one would have expected for those men. If this film is done with the same eye to detail as was Mr. Miller’s Sin City then it should be a wonderful film.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Audio of this post can be found on Audio Posts.

J.Lo, television axed, alien lawsuits, and Tamara Dobson - 10.06.2006.2

This is an odd day, possibly because the moon will be full and larger tonight than for most of the year. Depending on what study you read, or your beliefs, the effect of a full moon, especially a larger one, can lead to increased acts of violence and irrationality. Of course these days admitting to a crime committed on a full moon won’t get you a lighter sentence. Still in my experience a full moon is a time to be cautious. And when news that you wouldn’t expect occurs.

One such news item is from Germany. It seems that a lawyer there wants to increase his revenues, so his way to do so is addressing a new client base. His untapped market? Individuals kidnapped by aliens. I’m serious. It seems that there is a law in Germany that allows kidnap victims to gain compensation. So this lawyer presents these cases to the court to gain that compensation. So far he has yet to win a case, but it seems he still has no loss of clients due to that. While I may not be surprised by the lack of wins, I do wonder what happens if he does get one by.

In other news, it seems I was wrong. That has nothing to do with the full moon, but it does have to do with my guess at which broadcast television program would be the first to fail. In my post The new fall television season - 9.18.2006.1 I mentioned that I expected Men in Trees to be the first television show to fall this season. It seems that Smith got the ax first. This program wasn’t even on my list of the first 5 shows to go. I expected Mr. Ray Liotta to carry the program a bit later into the season. Well I guess it does prove that I’m no psychic. Of course to my benefit my number four choice has gone on indefinite hiatus. Give it a day or 2 and I think I’ll do a little better. Networks never like to mention where they screwed up when people are paying attention.

What full moon news would be complete without some star doing something unusual. Of course for some unusual is a norm. In this case I’m talking about Mrs. Jennifer Muniz (more commonly known as Jennifer Lopez). Now you have your choice of what may be odd. The fact that Mrs. Lopez, and husband Mr. Marc Anthony, have failed to pay for private charter jet trips. I know Mr. Muniz has the cash so I accept that the jet service screwed up and is looking for publicity. The other odd things for J.Lo (a silly nickname, almost as bad as bennifer et al.) are her Miami Beach Fashion Week presentation of Sweetface [never heard of the line, anyone know if it’s any good?], the fact that she has a Spanish album coming out in November and that she is in another movie later this year. The movie will also have Mr. Antonio Banderas, so Bordertown may be decent even though it has Mrs. Muniz in it.

Yes I have no appreciation of her lackluster performances in virtually ever movie she has ever done. Her abilities as a singer I find are about equal to her acting (Mr. Sean Combs did wonders for her I think) but there is hope that in Spanish she will sound better. More hopefully is that Mr. Marc Anthony may wind up on a few songs, and I’d predict that they will be the ones to sell.

When the moon is full odd things happen.

On a separate thought, unrelated to the full moon news, is a sad announcement. The statuesque star of Cleopatra Jones, Chained Heat and other movies, Ms. Tamara Dobson passed this week. A star of blaxploitation films Ms. Dobson stared out as a model and was known for her designer clothes. The clothes were designed by herself and had quite a following. Regardless of how you may feel about the blaxploitation films Ms. Dobson represented a strong African American woman at a time when many were just starting to get recognition and looking for role models. The chance to see a black and proud figure was rarely seen outside of a protest in those days, and to be on the silver screen with such an attitude was a refreshing change.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Audio of this post can be found on the audio post page.

Sin Tetas - 10.6.2006.1

Sometimes I wish that one of the benefits of the numerous cable channels available was the ability to get foreign programs. There are gems out there, whether the program is from England or Japan or wherever. On such program is Sin Tetas. The title alone catches the attention, if you understand Spanish.

The basis of this program isn’t as great though. It’s based on a true story, which is troubling. A young girl, poor and without hope derived from a good education, decides to take the only option she is aware of. Get a boyfriend from one of the drug cartels so she can live the ‘good life.’ That may not sound like a logical conclusion in America, but this television program is created and shown in Columbia. Sadly this is more real than The Shield or any ‘reality programming’.

Don’t think that this young woman has an easy task in front of her. Let me correct that, this is a young girl. And the largest obstacle to her achieving her dreams is the less than bountiful nature of her breasts. Thus surgery is required, as no self-respecting drug-runner would have a girlfriend without ample cleavage it seems. But that costs money, which she doesn’t have. The answer to that of course is prostitution. Considering her meager endowments though she again has a difficult time. And the problems roll on from there.

If some African Americans found Mr. Bill Cosby’s truthful remarks hard to deal with, imagine the town and people this television show is based on. Few things put into perspective the quality and benefits of living in the United States. And I think a lot of kids today should see this.

This is the true ‘thug life’ under a microscope. This isn’t the vanity of cosmetic surgery for the sheer benefit of self-indulgence. It’s not using her body as little more than meat for the ability to keep the high going, or for food. It’s not accepting violence and drug addiction because of how cool and popular it is. This is worse, and its real.

Any kid that thinks they have no choice, no hope, no reason to care should see this program. This is an opportunity to do what television was created for, to educate and entertain. We are Americans (regardless of background) and we live a good life. A life that others in the world are willing to do anything, endure anything, to attain even in part. To toss that benefit aside to look cool, or emulate a pseudo drug dealing pimp, is a waste.

It is sad that this program is based on reality. But at least the lead character has the excuse that there really isn’t much choice to improve her quality of life. What excuse does a music video girl have? Or a rapper, and the movie/music video/concert stage characters they portray have?

This is what I think, what do you think?

The audio of this post can be found at Sin Tetas.

Lightsabers ignite again - 10.05.2006.3

Peanut butter and jelly. Rum and coke. Pepsi and milk (hey everyone in my family loved it). All classic combinations. So how is this for a great combination, Star Wars and animation. For those that might be nay-sayers keep in mind that it has been done before, with style and success. Back when Star Wars chapter 3 was still not out Mr. George Lucas allowed the Clone Wars to be made. A series of 20 short animation skits, about 5 minutes in length each, that moved the story line forward. These were well thought and stylized shorts. Quite enjoyable if you saw them on Cartoon Network. Don’t let the choice of cable channel fool you, these were adult fare – at least in terms of content, the violence was similar to the movies. No kids were harmed by these short animations.

So with the success of the animation, and the final film, the question is what is left for Mr. Lucas to do? While many fans of the numerous books would love to see a film or a dozen, it’s just not going to happen. The next best thing though is expanding on the events that occurred in the Clone Wars. And that may well be what fans will get.

Yes, Mr. Lucas is working on furthering the spiral of Anakin Skywalker’s decent and the birth of Darth Vader. In addition we will get to see even more of the battles of Jedi and Sith hopefuls. Not to be left out is Jango Fett, with the new definition of legion that he brings.

Think about it, a young and potentially impulsive Chewbacca. More of the gyroscopic and youthful (sort of) Yoda. And a lot more of the powerful, wise and deadly Mace Windu [Mr. Samuel Jackson can also be ‘seen’ shortly as the voice of the lead in Afro Samurai]. Fans of both genres can ask for little more.

While there is no set network for this proposed show, I’d guess that you could hear more about it as a bidding war will likely erupt between Fox and Spike cable television networks. Considering that Fox already has Family Guy, the Simpsons and American Dad, my money is on them. Either way the reason to watch television is no longer a long, long time from now.

This is what I think, what do you think?

The audio post can be found at Lightsabers ignite again

German police and television programing - 10.05.2006.2

Have you ever thought of being a police officer? How about one in Germany? In this odd bit of news there may be a decent reason to become one, at least of the moment. It seems that currently there is an APB out, with photos, for a certain pair of breasts.

It seems that a woman, after receiving breast implants, stepped outside of air and has yet to be seen again. Though since the general reason for implants is to be seen I do find it ironic. But I’m sure the German police are happy, as the doctor only has photos of the breasts to identify the woman by (she gave a false name). Crime may not pay but it seems it can be titillating. [bad pun I know]

In other news, this month marks the growth of the nation to 300 million American citizens. Of that total, 14% are Hispanic [I think I will use Latino because I really just don’t like what the term Hispanic represents] and 13% are African American. That’s 27% of the nation. 1 in 4 people in America is a person of color, and yet the number of people of color on television and movies, or behind the scenes, is appalling.

What will it take to get Hollywood and television executives to understand that there are more qualified actors that are African American and Latino than is represented right now. That trying to keep television a fairytale of the nation some 40 years ago only makes it more apparent that they have no clue what people want. Fewer people watch broadcast television than ever, while cable subscriptions reach highs and there are more televisions than people in the average home (2.7 vs. 2.55). Perhaps if broadcast television reflected the reality people in this nation deal with everyday there might be more interest.

Take your choice of programs made by HBO, Showtime, FX, Spike or others. I’m speaking of The Shield, Thief, Blade the series, Eureka, and many others. In each program there is a diversity of race, sexuality and flaws that are just caricatured in broadcast show. There are actually characters that you can identify with as a person of color. And in several of these shows we see leads like Mr. Andre Braugher that show that African Americans, and other minorities, are easily capable of being leads and cores of their respective shows. There is more depth in their performances that the usual limitation to comedy shows and minor secondary characters broadcast television has tried to shove down our collective throats for decades.

Maybe if the execs gave us some credit, and took a moment to focus on more than the cheapest knockoff of a formulaic program, there would be more people watching their networks. If the world on TV seems a little more like what we see in real life maybe we’d care. And maybe pigs will fly.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Etiquette for high- and low-society 10.05.2006.1

How the world changes. In 1769 what would become the city of San Diego was formed, New Zealand was found and there was a solar eclipse. Also in that year the first edition of Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage was made. I can understand if most are not familiar with this book, generally royals and other high society in Europe read it and few others as I understand. Essentially it is the book on how a lady is to behave. It would have been the book used in My Fair Lady, and a real princess would have been taught its tenants throughout her life. [If I am misunderstanding I hope my British readers will correct me]

So why should we care? Because of what has changed. In an attempt to gain readers, and to modernize, this book of etiquette now contains information on how to commit adultery, being topless, having a disease-free one-night-stand and how to smoke a cigarette. If this were a movie I’d say they were ‘revisioning’ the storyline and long-term readers know what I think of that. To me it sounds as if this is the high-society version of ‘keeping it real’ or how to be a ‘playette.’ That being the case I can think of nothing sadder.

I’m no prude, and I have no illusion that anyone in high-society is any better than me. Yet having a book, that is a guideline on how to act, advocating base behavior shocks me and leaves me a terrifying image of the future. I don’t care that it’s speaking to how a lady should act. If a book were to be made detailing how a man should do the same exact things, there would be an uproar.

But the fact that it is now acceptable to commit adultery, that “elegance, composure and dignity are all important, whether you are dining with the Queen or cheating on your husband,” is even a concept is despicable. And this view is hardly an isolated one. The African American community is rife with this. The Hip-hop culture is based on this and other similar concepts. We see today the wholesale de-valuation of self-respect and disregard for the opposite sex.

How long before high-society accepts it’s version of a baby-daddy or –mamma. And considering how long it takes for changes to become acceptable in high society, what will the common man and woman be like at the time? What will be the next de-evolution for the Black community and Hip-hop or whatever replaces it. I do mean de-evolution because I can see no positive aspect for being called (or wanting to become) a baby-anything. There is no dignity or elegance in adultery. There is no way to see a pimp as a positive figure worthy of emulation or praise.

The world has changed indeed. Some things are far better. Far too many are not. Some of them get put in books, most are things that just happen. It’s paying attention to the details that makes the difference.

This is what I think, what do you think?


** Something new. I will be trying to add MP3 files of each post. In addition I will try to add retroactive MP3 files of previous posts. Let me know if you enjoy them. And bare with me while I get used to the new format. **

blkentusaoct0506.mp3

The math of black influence and success - 10.03.2006.1

I recently wrote Do you qualify to be black? - 10.01.2006.1 on my www.mvass.com site. This got me thinking. Who are the leading African Americans today. Who is creating the trends, leading the politics and making the most money.

When considering American leaders money is always a factor for many. Black Americans often focus on how much someone has, in my experience, equating it with prosperity and influence. Money is a focus of music and black culture today, moreso than at any time previous in my lifetime at least. So that is a factor I looked at though I don’t find it to be as significant as many others do.

Taking that into effect I have also tried to figure out the reach of influence of each individual. This is hardly scientific and based on my own calculations. Taking age, medium, wealth, and an assumption that the primary focus of African American celebrity influence is primarily focused in the U.S. where ~13% of the nation is African American and 14% are Hispanic (Latino) American. Based on these factors I have made an equation, which is as follows:

(Net worth/medium) * age /
percentage / world pop. = (the sum) squared = final value

Where medium is an approximate of the main reach of people (ie. Television viewership or my best estimate based on company sales) and world population is 6.6 billion, and percentage is 13%.

So in the case of Ms. Oprah Winfrey the final value is 9.18. As I said this isn’t scientific, but it’s something of interest. The final value equates to influence on the world. A comparison is that President Bush has a value of 91.97.

The ranking breaks down as such for several noted African Americans.

Mr. Robert Johnson – 2.66
Mr. Russell Simmons – 3.35
Mr. Tiger Woods – 12.18
Mr. Michael Jordan – 13.61
Mr. Colin Powell – 52.46

Now what these numbers are saying [based on the figures I could find which may not be accurate. If you are aware of better reliable numbers, please let me know.] is important. While apparel and music related sales do bring wealth and some influence it is very limited in the overall scale. Sports and athletic achievement is also limited though it does improve the numbers. But the real influence is held in the political realm. There is just no comparison.

With only 27 million in assets, Mr. Powell staggers over everyone else in my grouping. I would say that this group, while small is somewhat accurate in description. It comprises 2 billionaires, a broadcast television mega-star, 2 sports legends, 4 business giants, and one politician. The fact is that so much attention in black culture is focused on the wrong avenues.

Money may feel like a equal to power, but it is not. Sports may seem like a ticket to power, but it fails as well. The most important tool is direct involvement in what is going on. The richest woman, and most powerful television figure does not come close to the effect of Mr. Powell. The math may not be perfect, but you can see that the influence over 300 million people is more directly tied to power than entertaining smaller portions of the nation.

So I must ask, why is the current theme of the culture focused on entertainment and income? When did that become more important than influence and change? Why is the superficial and transient desired above the integral and stable?

This is what I think, what do you think?


Note some figures derived in part from or with reference to:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_16_100/ai_78966463
http://blogs.sohh.com/ya_heard/archives/2006/08/post_43.html
http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/BlacksM.htm
http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rphl10.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_billionaires
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051501638.html

From comic books to the silver screen - 10.01.2006.1

Here is something interesting. As Hollywood continues to wander, having lost the stomach to make truly unique movies and instead backing formulaic rehashes and ‘revisions’ of classic movies, more movies based on comic books are being done. With each success the number of movies increases and the lower the tier of character interest becomes. Of course the rush to get the latest hero brought to life can result in massively inferior interpretations.

While Batman, Spiderman, Blade and a few other movies have been quite good and have the monetary success to justify their sequels (and prequels) there is the other side as well. The Fantasic Four completely missed the mark. The Hulk was an abysmal glorification of CGI effects. The later Christopher Reeve Superman movies became pure camp, and the later Batman movies were about looks over anything else. The last X-Men movie was just an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the first 2 movies.

So what is left? The big hitters of DC comics and Marvel have been used with mixed results. Time to drop the character quality and get the lesser characters made. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Blade was a relatively minor character. The movies were mostly well done and good enough to have a series based on them made by the Spike cable network. Spawn on the other hand was far less interesting, though the potential was there.

This brings us to the next string of movies soon to appear at a theater near you. Ghost Rider has Mr. Nicholas Cage. It has CGI effects and lost of internal struggles, as characterized by the battle for maintaining control over a demon that shares the body of a man. Potentially good, or it can go the path of the Hulk – too many effect and the story line is muddled at best.

The Black Panther may be a real big winner. This is another pet project by Mr. Wesley Snipes. Its focus on a successful African nation and its leader can be a big draw and a positive image in an arena where Black African Americans, Hispanics and every other ‘minority’, is under represented. And now news of Iron Man has just come out.

I’d like to say this will be a good movie, but I have some doubts. First there will be a need for a lot of effects, from the suit to its weaponry. So believability could be an issue. Also the character is not just flawed, he’s a mess. An alcoholic and womanizer, Tony Stark is also the president of an arms making corporation. Not a great draw depending how the director plays it. The good parts are the director is Mr. Jon Favreau, who did Elf and Made, and Tony Stark will be Mr. Robert Downey Jr. Mr. Downey is perfect for the role as his own bouts with his inner demons make him uniquely in touch with the character.

So while the best characters may have been done, the best movies might be just down the road. Of course if the number crunchers push for a formula approach rather than the deep wealth of character development already done, you can wait for the DVD’s and have some neat Frisbees.

This is what I think, what do you think?