Sometimes I have to wonder how other groups deal with different situations. One case in point is something that happened recently to me while I was out on Saturday night. I had the chance to speak with a young black guy. The conversation was centered around the fact that I was dressed in a suit instead of a pair of $150 sneakers, a printed T-shirt, gold chains, and gold teeth. For some reason, since I wasn't wearing those clothes I had to be rich, born to middle-class parents, who had to be doctors or lawyers, a fan of Paris Hilton or Christina Aguilera, and had no idea of what a crackhead was. Basically, this gentleman, I use the term loosely, wanted me to know that I wasn't black by his definition. I'm sure his intention was to insult me.
I can never be insulted, because I am being me. There is no shame in being successful or enjoying dressing well. Success, or the lack of it, can never be seen from the clothes a person wears or any other outward appearance. And as I've said before, the fact I am black has nothing to do and does not change with the whims of a person regardless of color or race.
But my question is, do other races and ethnic groups encounter the same degree and type of ignorance that I described above. I have never heard of any white person being told that they were anything other than white because of the clothes they wear. Even those that choose to wear hip-hop clothing that I consider black culture on sale, are perceived as exactly what they are - White. Asians are Asian, Hispanics and Latinos are exactly that, but in America you can be black, and not be Black. A great example of this has to be Senator Barak Obama. For some he is not black enough, for others he is far too Black to be president. How this exists never ceases to annoy me.
On Saturday, I wasn't upset about what was being said about me. Rather, I was upset with why it was said. There is so much invested in being Black under the exact conditions and style dictated by segments of society that anything counter to that is seen as a attack. The Black guy wasn't trying to insult me. He was trying to justify his own lifestyle. The fact that I or anyone could be different was completely alien.
How sad and depressing things are today, when the Black community cannot accept individuals that have a style and mannerism separate of what can be found in a television commercial or magazine.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Major news media cowardly ignores the past - 8.24.2007.1
What an interesting day so far. There is a lot of news on the floods in the mid-West, Michael Vick’s admission of holding dogfighting at his property (though he won’t admit he gambled on the outcome or gruesomely killed dogs that lost), the 82 minutes that Nicole Ritchie spent in jail (real punishment there), and the minor charges placed against Lindsey Lohan (6 felony drug charges were dropped – you can bet neither you or I would get off that easy in the same position). A lot of news indeed, yet a rather large miscarriage of justice has gone unspoken.
Have you heard anything about James Ford Seale? No idea who he is? No idea what I’m alluding to? Perhaps you heard about a murder of 2 Black teenagers in Mississippi in 1964. The case went ‘unsolved’ for over 40 years, and I say ‘unsolved’ because local authorities knew exactly who did it as I understand.
In May 1964, the 2 men were abducted their bodies found 2 months later in the Mississippi River. James Seale was arrested for the murders and the charges were dropped. The case went cold and nothing was done about it for decades. Why? Because Seale was part of the Ku Klux Klan (allegdedly), and so were the local police and law enforcement officers. They just let him get away with murder.
Today, 43 years later, Seale has been convicted and sentenced to 3 life prison terms. Big deal. Wait for it. I say big deal because Seale is 72 years old, has cancer, bone spurs and other health issues. Basically this killer is about to kick the bucket and take his place in Hell next to Hitler and other self-glorified murdering scum, in my opinion. The few years or months that Seale will spend in prison will hardly impact him harshly enough to begin to account for what he did.
Seale kidnapped 2 men, in the prime of their lives, and drowned them in the Mississippi River. Because they were Black and wanted to be treated with the respect the Constitution and life provides. Such a crime and its motivation turns my stomach.
Even worse is the fact Seale will be receiving treatment for his ailments, and imprisoned, on my tax dollars. Were it up to me, Seale would receive a quick and public hanging. Nothing more, Seale would be lucky to get bread and water until that time.
James Seale has lived for 43 years, working, laughing, playing with every freedom we all hold dear without a thought for the lives he took. Seale earned a living, dated (I assume though I would hope that any woman would reject a person I can only think of as refuse), basically lived and now, at the end of his life he is expected to reflect on what he did. Had he been convicted and still in jail 40 years later, I would say he could reflect, but not now.
To say this is a miscarriage of justice is to say that Lindsey Lohan has a problem. It’s obvious and leaves a taste of bile in the mouth.
But, I have yet to see a single news brief on Fox News or CNN. Since 10 am, nothing has been said. There hasn’t been a whisper. Somehow I cannot see the justification that says this is not news. I think the 5 minutes used to discuss whether or not Camilla (the wife of Prince Charles) will show up at some event for Princess Diana, could have been used to discuss this case. This is far more relevant to most Americans. It makes a statement about where we were and where we may go. It highlights how screwed up the legal (not justice) system was, and continues to be. It shows how far irrational and illogical hate can go. It reminds us that as a nation we must always be aware that fear and fanatical beliefs are not just the property of terrorists and lunatics halfway around the world.
After 43 years of shadows, lies and looks the other way a semblance of justice has been enacted. This is not something that we as a nation need to avert our eyes from, but look towards. Like slavery (and reparations) we must address the fact that horrible crimes against humanity and these 2 men, Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, went unaddressed for decades with no reason better than law officers, the public, and the government in general did not want to think about it. How much further have we really come when justice finally is enacted and the major news media are too timid to shine a light on the dark corner of the recent past that is this nation’s history.
5 minutes. About as long as it takes to read this post. Yet even that is too much to honor the 2 lives lost one night 43 years ago. Perhaps the news isn’t that James Seale will die in prison, finally, but that the cowardice that allowed him to commit these crimes and remain free still pervades this nation.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Have you heard anything about James Ford Seale? No idea who he is? No idea what I’m alluding to? Perhaps you heard about a murder of 2 Black teenagers in Mississippi in 1964. The case went ‘unsolved’ for over 40 years, and I say ‘unsolved’ because local authorities knew exactly who did it as I understand.
In May 1964, the 2 men were abducted their bodies found 2 months later in the Mississippi River. James Seale was arrested for the murders and the charges were dropped. The case went cold and nothing was done about it for decades. Why? Because Seale was part of the Ku Klux Klan (allegdedly), and so were the local police and law enforcement officers. They just let him get away with murder.
Today, 43 years later, Seale has been convicted and sentenced to 3 life prison terms. Big deal. Wait for it. I say big deal because Seale is 72 years old, has cancer, bone spurs and other health issues. Basically this killer is about to kick the bucket and take his place in Hell next to Hitler and other self-glorified murdering scum, in my opinion. The few years or months that Seale will spend in prison will hardly impact him harshly enough to begin to account for what he did.
Seale kidnapped 2 men, in the prime of their lives, and drowned them in the Mississippi River. Because they were Black and wanted to be treated with the respect the Constitution and life provides. Such a crime and its motivation turns my stomach.
Even worse is the fact Seale will be receiving treatment for his ailments, and imprisoned, on my tax dollars. Were it up to me, Seale would receive a quick and public hanging. Nothing more, Seale would be lucky to get bread and water until that time.
James Seale has lived for 43 years, working, laughing, playing with every freedom we all hold dear without a thought for the lives he took. Seale earned a living, dated (I assume though I would hope that any woman would reject a person I can only think of as refuse), basically lived and now, at the end of his life he is expected to reflect on what he did. Had he been convicted and still in jail 40 years later, I would say he could reflect, but not now.
To say this is a miscarriage of justice is to say that Lindsey Lohan has a problem. It’s obvious and leaves a taste of bile in the mouth.
But, I have yet to see a single news brief on Fox News or CNN. Since 10 am, nothing has been said. There hasn’t been a whisper. Somehow I cannot see the justification that says this is not news. I think the 5 minutes used to discuss whether or not Camilla (the wife of Prince Charles) will show up at some event for Princess Diana, could have been used to discuss this case. This is far more relevant to most Americans. It makes a statement about where we were and where we may go. It highlights how screwed up the legal (not justice) system was, and continues to be. It shows how far irrational and illogical hate can go. It reminds us that as a nation we must always be aware that fear and fanatical beliefs are not just the property of terrorists and lunatics halfway around the world.
After 43 years of shadows, lies and looks the other way a semblance of justice has been enacted. This is not something that we as a nation need to avert our eyes from, but look towards. Like slavery (and reparations) we must address the fact that horrible crimes against humanity and these 2 men, Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, went unaddressed for decades with no reason better than law officers, the public, and the government in general did not want to think about it. How much further have we really come when justice finally is enacted and the major news media are too timid to shine a light on the dark corner of the recent past that is this nation’s history.
5 minutes. About as long as it takes to read this post. Yet even that is too much to honor the 2 lives lost one night 43 years ago. Perhaps the news isn’t that James Seale will die in prison, finally, but that the cowardice that allowed him to commit these crimes and remain free still pervades this nation.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Michael Vick gets jail, Lindsey Lohan gets away Part 3 - 8.22.2007.3
Continued from Michael Vick gets jail, Lindsey Lohan gets away Part 2...
Why are minorities upset with the legal (note that I did not use Justice) system in America? Can you see any reason why there could be any claims of imbalance in the execution of the law? I know some would say that it’s just because of the fame of these people, except fame seems not to always balance the scale. And that says nothing of the less famous cases, like the 2 teenage White girls that were videotaped as they robbed a bank. Caught 2 days later, after they were on a spending spree in the mall openly discussing the robbery, the felony charges were also dropped without more than a whisper from the media that had previously been interested (for a day) in this case. Amazing that others were arrested for conspiring on this bank robbery as well, and they were charged with felony crimes. Oh, did I forget to mention this was in Atlanta, this year, at least some of those given felony charges were Black, and that the Blonde White girls were 18 and 19 so capable of being charged as adults?
It’s not the law I am upset with in all these cases. It’s not the crimes that were committed, allegedly in some cases. It’s the treatment of these cases by both the media and the legal system. How dare they pick and chose what charges count and for who. I would never get these breaks or assumptions of innocence.
I would not have such lax media coverage. The media would be up my ass, discussing my high school grades and every girlfriend I ever had. They would ask every person I ever worked for, and guys I served with. They would seek out every secret or misstep I ever had and all the while discuss how horrible I was and that everyone should have seen it coming.
With the legal system I would probably be shot, or at least beaten, during the arrest. I’d get enough of a bail to equal the GDP of some nations for what the above were all charged with. The D.A. would try to portray me as a drug kingpin, and I’d be charged each drug count separately just so I could qualify for the 3 strike rule (mandating extreme lengths of prison confinement), not to mention the DUI charges. The prosecution would claim I’m a drunk and addict, using the system to try to avoid punishment. I’d get more years than I’ve been alive to date.
It’s this discrepancy, and lack of equal attention that pisses me off. The fact that I, and my family and friends, could not get this kind of treatment if I paid for it. This is insane. It’s maddening.
How dare the D.A. not follow-up the drug charges against Lindsey Lohan. How dare they minimize the flaunted abuse of the law. How dare the major media treat this like some kind of kids fluff piece. And some question why minorities distrust and avoid the legal system. What reason do we get to embrace it? What equality comes from it?
I do not condone breaking the law. I love my nation, and have served it. I believe in this nation, and even with all the glaring flaws find it to be the best in the world. That does not mean that I am happy with the slaps in the face I’ve lived my life experiencing. When the Sean Bell murder receives the same attention as Lohan getting 6 felony drug charges dropped, which is none, I am disgusted.
I don’t want to write more about this now.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Why are minorities upset with the legal (note that I did not use Justice) system in America? Can you see any reason why there could be any claims of imbalance in the execution of the law? I know some would say that it’s just because of the fame of these people, except fame seems not to always balance the scale. And that says nothing of the less famous cases, like the 2 teenage White girls that were videotaped as they robbed a bank. Caught 2 days later, after they were on a spending spree in the mall openly discussing the robbery, the felony charges were also dropped without more than a whisper from the media that had previously been interested (for a day) in this case. Amazing that others were arrested for conspiring on this bank robbery as well, and they were charged with felony crimes. Oh, did I forget to mention this was in Atlanta, this year, at least some of those given felony charges were Black, and that the Blonde White girls were 18 and 19 so capable of being charged as adults?
It’s not the law I am upset with in all these cases. It’s not the crimes that were committed, allegedly in some cases. It’s the treatment of these cases by both the media and the legal system. How dare they pick and chose what charges count and for who. I would never get these breaks or assumptions of innocence.
I would not have such lax media coverage. The media would be up my ass, discussing my high school grades and every girlfriend I ever had. They would ask every person I ever worked for, and guys I served with. They would seek out every secret or misstep I ever had and all the while discuss how horrible I was and that everyone should have seen it coming.
With the legal system I would probably be shot, or at least beaten, during the arrest. I’d get enough of a bail to equal the GDP of some nations for what the above were all charged with. The D.A. would try to portray me as a drug kingpin, and I’d be charged each drug count separately just so I could qualify for the 3 strike rule (mandating extreme lengths of prison confinement), not to mention the DUI charges. The prosecution would claim I’m a drunk and addict, using the system to try to avoid punishment. I’d get more years than I’ve been alive to date.
It’s this discrepancy, and lack of equal attention that pisses me off. The fact that I, and my family and friends, could not get this kind of treatment if I paid for it. This is insane. It’s maddening.
How dare the D.A. not follow-up the drug charges against Lindsey Lohan. How dare they minimize the flaunted abuse of the law. How dare the major media treat this like some kind of kids fluff piece. And some question why minorities distrust and avoid the legal system. What reason do we get to embrace it? What equality comes from it?
I do not condone breaking the law. I love my nation, and have served it. I believe in this nation, and even with all the glaring flaws find it to be the best in the world. That does not mean that I am happy with the slaps in the face I’ve lived my life experiencing. When the Sean Bell murder receives the same attention as Lohan getting 6 felony drug charges dropped, which is none, I am disgusted.
I don’t want to write more about this now.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Michael Vick gets jail, Lindsey Lohan gets away Part 2 - 8.22.2007.2
Continued from Michael Vick gets jail, Lindsey Lohan gets away Part 1...
You might expect that this would be serious. Felony charges, drugs, multiple DUI’s, injuring a passenger, reckless driving, a verbal altercation, and a history of negative issues and the use of rehab counseling as a façade to avoid legal punishment. Of course it seems you would be absolutely wrong.
But let’s reflect on what case might this be like. To be fair I will pick another White, skinny, often drunk and potentially drug-addled, woman of similar age. To go one step further I will find someone with a similar level of ability, and respect of the law. Let’s see. I guess I’m let with Paris Hilton.
Well what do we see? Paris was arrested, through an act of idiocy she did herself, a denial of responsibility (blamed her assistant for not telling her she could drive though she had the papers in the glove compartment of her car. Guess there was no Black men on staff or nearby.), jail time given (45 days) and an act of lopsided justice in that 3 days were served initially. I know, every minority gets to have this same type of reduced charges, and minimized jail time.
You might say but how is that like Lohan? Why could we be wrong that felony drug charges are serious and imply a long sentence? Because it seems that the Los Angeles D.A.
Isn’t that nice. All the drug charges from 2 arrests within 3 moths of each other apparently will not be pursued. They are just going away. I bet you have had that happen to you. I bet you’ve read about similar things happening to your brother/cousin/son/father. I bet the non-famous first-time offending college student with a DUI and a joint let in the car by another student got the same kind of leniency. I’m sure that hundreds of African Americans are treated with the same kid gloves.
Like Mr. Michael Vick. Even though he is famous, and at least as rich as Lohan, he is easily having several felony charges completely dropped in his case. I bet that the D.A. in his case is planning to completely ignore the federal charges he was initially arrested for, especially since no drugs were involved. Not that there is any media attention on this.
I mean it’s not like there has been continuous news on Mr. Vick (who I continue to see as guilty, and I stand by my initial thoughts on his case) since charges were rumored. Just the same as there has been continuous news on Lohan, and the massive coverage on the news that the D.A. will be dropping the drug charges from 2 different arrests (which would be 6 charges in all). It’s all over the web and the major news media.
Continued in Part 3...
You might expect that this would be serious. Felony charges, drugs, multiple DUI’s, injuring a passenger, reckless driving, a verbal altercation, and a history of negative issues and the use of rehab counseling as a façade to avoid legal punishment. Of course it seems you would be absolutely wrong.
But let’s reflect on what case might this be like. To be fair I will pick another White, skinny, often drunk and potentially drug-addled, woman of similar age. To go one step further I will find someone with a similar level of ability, and respect of the law. Let’s see. I guess I’m let with Paris Hilton.
Well what do we see? Paris was arrested, through an act of idiocy she did herself, a denial of responsibility (blamed her assistant for not telling her she could drive though she had the papers in the glove compartment of her car. Guess there was no Black men on staff or nearby.), jail time given (45 days) and an act of lopsided justice in that 3 days were served initially. I know, every minority gets to have this same type of reduced charges, and minimized jail time.
You might say but how is that like Lohan? Why could we be wrong that felony drug charges are serious and imply a long sentence? Because it seems that the Los Angeles D.A.
“…almost certainly will not file cocaine charges in connection with Lohan's DUI bust Memorial Day weekend in Beverly Hills, the site [TMZ] said.
…July 24 arrest … could charge Lohan with felony cocaine possession, and bringing cocaine into a correctional facility — also a felony. But the D.A. is inclined not to file those felony charges either, sources told TMZ. “
Isn’t that nice. All the drug charges from 2 arrests within 3 moths of each other apparently will not be pursued. They are just going away. I bet you have had that happen to you. I bet you’ve read about similar things happening to your brother/cousin/son/father. I bet the non-famous first-time offending college student with a DUI and a joint let in the car by another student got the same kind of leniency. I’m sure that hundreds of African Americans are treated with the same kid gloves.
Like Mr. Michael Vick. Even though he is famous, and at least as rich as Lohan, he is easily having several felony charges completely dropped in his case. I bet that the D.A. in his case is planning to completely ignore the federal charges he was initially arrested for, especially since no drugs were involved. Not that there is any media attention on this.
I mean it’s not like there has been continuous news on Mr. Vick (who I continue to see as guilty, and I stand by my initial thoughts on his case) since charges were rumored. Just the same as there has been continuous news on Lohan, and the massive coverage on the news that the D.A. will be dropping the drug charges from 2 different arrests (which would be 6 charges in all). It’s all over the web and the major news media.
Continued in Part 3...
Michael Vick gets jail, Lindsey Lohan gets away - 8.22.2007.1
There is a lot of news out today that is irritating me, but I’ll try to get to it all. The first item is Lindsey Lohan. I will start by mentioning I’ve never seen a movie with her in it, never seen her music videos or any of the Disney stuff she did when she was in her teens. Basically I know nothing about the young woman beyond what I have seen in news reports of her various drunken escapades, and crimes. If my opinion of her is beneath that of rappers, you can see why.
What I do know is that Lohan has often been in the company of equally drunken and insipid Paris Hilton. She had 3 car accidents in 2005, of which at least one was considered intentional yet she was not charged. [You try that and see if you aren’t arrested.] In this year Lohan has been to drug rehab 2x, in January and in May after being in another accident where she was charged with DUI; but there were no drug charges made even though she was found in possession of “useable” amounts of cocaine.
Let me pause. What in the world is a “useable” amount of cocaine? Isn’t that possession of an illegal substance? Would ‘useable’ also equate to distribution weight? Possession is enough to get a charge, and easily would be enough to get me, or any other Black man or woman, charged and in jail. I have never heard of ‘useable’ amounts of drugs referred to when any rapper, or Black celebrity, has been found in possession of drugs. Who is this skinny White girl doing to get off these charges, could be one thought some might have.
Back to the point. Shortly after getting out of rehab, on July 24th, Lohan gets into a drunken car chase. She is arrested for DUI again. At the jail her pockets are searched, cocaine is found and those charges are added. Throughout this time Lindsey Lohan claims that she was not driving the car (which she did not own) but that a Black guy in the car was the driver. She failed to mention that this same Black guy was injured by her when he tried to get her to stop driving. She also claimed the drugs were not hers, and I do recall that she mentioned that the also belonged to the Black guy.
Pause again. Has anyone besides me noticed the default answer to situations used by various criminals, that are non-African American, to blame a specific or ambiguous Black guy for a crime they committed to avoid penalty? Do you recall the mother, in the middle of a deserted highway that claimed a “big black guy” carjacked her with her kids in the backseat, and then drove the car into a body of water killing the kids? There was a national outrage, everyone searching for this mysterious black guy. Until they realized the mother did it herself. There have been many other cases but you get the point. Luckily this time, the Black guy was believed (probably since he was injured by Lohan). [He never got an apology for that accusation by the way]
Back to the case at hand. Lindsey Lohan was charged with DUI again (2nd time this year, and less than 3 months after her last arrest) and 3 felony drug charges. This time the term “useable” was not combined with her drug possession. Imagine that.
Continued in Part 2...
What I do know is that Lohan has often been in the company of equally drunken and insipid Paris Hilton. She had 3 car accidents in 2005, of which at least one was considered intentional yet she was not charged. [You try that and see if you aren’t arrested.] In this year Lohan has been to drug rehab 2x, in January and in May after being in another accident where she was charged with DUI; but there were no drug charges made even though she was found in possession of “useable” amounts of cocaine.
Let me pause. What in the world is a “useable” amount of cocaine? Isn’t that possession of an illegal substance? Would ‘useable’ also equate to distribution weight? Possession is enough to get a charge, and easily would be enough to get me, or any other Black man or woman, charged and in jail. I have never heard of ‘useable’ amounts of drugs referred to when any rapper, or Black celebrity, has been found in possession of drugs. Who is this skinny White girl doing to get off these charges, could be one thought some might have.
Back to the point. Shortly after getting out of rehab, on July 24th, Lohan gets into a drunken car chase. She is arrested for DUI again. At the jail her pockets are searched, cocaine is found and those charges are added. Throughout this time Lindsey Lohan claims that she was not driving the car (which she did not own) but that a Black guy in the car was the driver. She failed to mention that this same Black guy was injured by her when he tried to get her to stop driving. She also claimed the drugs were not hers, and I do recall that she mentioned that the also belonged to the Black guy.
Pause again. Has anyone besides me noticed the default answer to situations used by various criminals, that are non-African American, to blame a specific or ambiguous Black guy for a crime they committed to avoid penalty? Do you recall the mother, in the middle of a deserted highway that claimed a “big black guy” carjacked her with her kids in the backseat, and then drove the car into a body of water killing the kids? There was a national outrage, everyone searching for this mysterious black guy. Until they realized the mother did it herself. There have been many other cases but you get the point. Luckily this time, the Black guy was believed (probably since he was injured by Lohan). [He never got an apology for that accusation by the way]
Back to the case at hand. Lindsey Lohan was charged with DUI again (2nd time this year, and less than 3 months after her last arrest) and 3 felony drug charges. This time the term “useable” was not combined with her drug possession. Imagine that.
Continued in Part 2...
Comparing political candidates charts - repost
This was originally posted at Vass but I found it entrtaining and informative. So even though it's far more political I will repost it here.
Well here is something original. You may be very surprised at the following chart; it details the political position of the various Presidential candidates here in the United States. One thing you should note about this chart is the fact that it is based on a wide spectrum, and not just the American political universe. Thus Senator Clinton is left here, but a conservative moderate on a worldwide basis. No doubt that alone makes this list interesting.
One of the things about this list is the chance it allows each of us to see where we land. You might just be a bit surprised. I for one found out that, according to this, Ron Paul and Hillary Clinton are my closest contemporaries out of all the candidates. (I'm 5.75 Right and 1.59 Authoritarian - somehow I always thought I'd rate more authoritarian.)
If you are wondering where you might lad on this chart, take the test at The Political Compass.
Well here is something original. You may be very surprised at the following chart; it details the political position of the various Presidential candidates here in the United States. One thing you should note about this chart is the fact that it is based on a wide spectrum, and not just the American political universe. Thus Senator Clinton is left here, but a conservative moderate on a worldwide basis. No doubt that alone makes this list interesting.
One of the things about this list is the chance it allows each of us to see where we land. You might just be a bit surprised. I for one found out that, according to this, Ron Paul and Hillary Clinton are my closest contemporaries out of all the candidates. (I'm 5.75 Right and 1.59 Authoritarian - somehow I always thought I'd rate more authoritarian.)
If you are wondering where you might lad on this chart, take the test at The Political Compass.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Viacom just doesn't stop Part 3 - 8.21.2007.4
Concluded from Viacom just doesn't stop Part 2...
Many wish to target the parts of the Viacom machine. It is a good concept and effective to a degree. Change of one portion of their multiple arms does have an effect. Yet serious change to all the parts might only be possible in addressing the most important part of the corporation, its shareholders.
If you are tired of your mother, sister, girlfriend, wife and/or daughter being equated to a drug-addled, stupid, lump of flesh place on the earth for the mere pleasuring of any guy with money in his pocket, you might want to check your 401k and stock investments. If you are more than the potential subject of a police line-up, are only connected to Grand Theft Auto by the video game, can spell the word investment and know what it means, have meaningful relationships, all without the aid of a government handout you also might want to check with your stockbroker. Pull all of your shares and any mutual fund that owns Viacom except one share.
The reason to keep one share of Viacom, or a reason to buy one, is so you can go to the annual shareholder meeting and bring up a referendum on why the management has such disrespect for African Americans. Done with a letter signed by each shareholder that agrees with this question and a copy of this question and the signed letter of those asking going to each advertiser of VH-1, MTV, and BET. That can get Viacom to change regardless of the direction Redstone and Dauman seem to continue to take.
In the meantime, I see less and less of a reason to watch the programming of the Viacom company. It’s beyond insensitivity, as the post from Miss J states. This is active stereotyping and exploitation in my view. I cannot support such actions by lending my viewership. Can you?
This is what I think, what do you think?
Many wish to target the parts of the Viacom machine. It is a good concept and effective to a degree. Change of one portion of their multiple arms does have an effect. Yet serious change to all the parts might only be possible in addressing the most important part of the corporation, its shareholders.
If you are tired of your mother, sister, girlfriend, wife and/or daughter being equated to a drug-addled, stupid, lump of flesh place on the earth for the mere pleasuring of any guy with money in his pocket, you might want to check your 401k and stock investments. If you are more than the potential subject of a police line-up, are only connected to Grand Theft Auto by the video game, can spell the word investment and know what it means, have meaningful relationships, all without the aid of a government handout you also might want to check with your stockbroker. Pull all of your shares and any mutual fund that owns Viacom except one share.
The reason to keep one share of Viacom, or a reason to buy one, is so you can go to the annual shareholder meeting and bring up a referendum on why the management has such disrespect for African Americans. Done with a letter signed by each shareholder that agrees with this question and a copy of this question and the signed letter of those asking going to each advertiser of VH-1, MTV, and BET. That can get Viacom to change regardless of the direction Redstone and Dauman seem to continue to take.
In the meantime, I see less and less of a reason to watch the programming of the Viacom company. It’s beyond insensitivity, as the post from Miss J states. This is active stereotyping and exploitation in my view. I cannot support such actions by lending my viewership. Can you?
This is what I think, what do you think?
Viacom just doesn't stop Part 2 - 8.21.2007.3
Continued from Viacom just doesn't stop Part 1...
In looking at, and not watching, a rap video we see the violence, drugs and abuse of women that is being promoted. Many have mentioned that. And each of the channels that are abovementioned dedicate time to promote the most sexual and derogative videos, even if they claim that the programming places the worst of it after 10pm or it is focused on the one channel targeted solely to Black people. What is also being promoted is criminal activity (can you name all the rappers and hip hop artists that have not been arrested on drug, gun, or violence related charges? Are there any?) lack of education (name any current rapper that has graduated college? Gone to college? Graduated high school?) and base materialism (unless you can explain a need for spinning rims and platinum teeth beyond wasting money).
What about the ever so educational Flava of Love programs, and its spin-off. Can anyone name the benefit of that program? Is there any reason that this has to be the only presentation of Black people to millions internationally?
How about the movies on these channels? When was the last time you saw a movie that starred an A-list Black actor? When was the last time that a film, made for more than 15 million, that did well in the movie theaters was on? Have you ever seen a single film starring Mr. Denzel Washington, or Mr. Lawrence Fishburne, or Mr. Wesley Snipes? Have you seen a single film that did not feature primarily Black-on-Black violence?
It seems quite obvious that Viacom believes that African Americans are mindless, poverty-stricken, fools that will accept drinking sand because that is what they are offering. Why else would a public service announcement be featured that is as vulgar, crass, and crude as the subjects it is supposed to be combating. (It even creates questions of issues I have never heard used against Blacks)
Given this, can anyone be surprised that a program that might feature Black women, or men, that have intelligence and successful careers would be cancelled? I’m surprised the concept was allowed to progress far enough that news about it could be written.
If Nike were to have an ad, with a bunch of Black guys playing basketball, with rap music in the background, and a hoochie with a baby in her hands and a stroller walks up to a drug dealer asking for crack offering a pair of new Nike sneakers as payment; there would be outrage. Yet Viacom does this same thing, just in separate parts and sometimes using separate channels.
I have mentioned my contempt for Viacom head Philippe Dauman, and real power Sumner Redstone. These 2 men control the publicly traded company. It is their vision that shapes the programming on their cable network, and motion picture empire. They ultimately determine what images of African Americans are broadcast to the world via their media.
Concluded in Part 3...
In looking at, and not watching, a rap video we see the violence, drugs and abuse of women that is being promoted. Many have mentioned that. And each of the channels that are abovementioned dedicate time to promote the most sexual and derogative videos, even if they claim that the programming places the worst of it after 10pm or it is focused on the one channel targeted solely to Black people. What is also being promoted is criminal activity (can you name all the rappers and hip hop artists that have not been arrested on drug, gun, or violence related charges? Are there any?) lack of education (name any current rapper that has graduated college? Gone to college? Graduated high school?) and base materialism (unless you can explain a need for spinning rims and platinum teeth beyond wasting money).
What about the ever so educational Flava of Love programs, and its spin-off. Can anyone name the benefit of that program? Is there any reason that this has to be the only presentation of Black people to millions internationally?
How about the movies on these channels? When was the last time you saw a movie that starred an A-list Black actor? When was the last time that a film, made for more than 15 million, that did well in the movie theaters was on? Have you ever seen a single film starring Mr. Denzel Washington, or Mr. Lawrence Fishburne, or Mr. Wesley Snipes? Have you seen a single film that did not feature primarily Black-on-Black violence?
It seems quite obvious that Viacom believes that African Americans are mindless, poverty-stricken, fools that will accept drinking sand because that is what they are offering. Why else would a public service announcement be featured that is as vulgar, crass, and crude as the subjects it is supposed to be combating. (It even creates questions of issues I have never heard used against Blacks)
Given this, can anyone be surprised that a program that might feature Black women, or men, that have intelligence and successful careers would be cancelled? I’m surprised the concept was allowed to progress far enough that news about it could be written.
If Nike were to have an ad, with a bunch of Black guys playing basketball, with rap music in the background, and a hoochie with a baby in her hands and a stroller walks up to a drug dealer asking for crack offering a pair of new Nike sneakers as payment; there would be outrage. Yet Viacom does this same thing, just in separate parts and sometimes using separate channels.
I have mentioned my contempt for Viacom head Philippe Dauman, and real power Sumner Redstone. These 2 men control the publicly traded company. It is their vision that shapes the programming on their cable network, and motion picture empire. They ultimately determine what images of African Americans are broadcast to the world via their media.
Concluded in Part 3...
Viacom just doesn't stop - 8.21.2007.2
I noticed something today at one of the blogs of a fellow blogger I know, Miss J author of La Femme Américaine Noire. It was a post on VH-1 and the story was something I missed completely. At issue was the cancellation of a planned VH-1 program featuring interracial dating. A topical issue and one that raises the ire of quite a few Black women.
What I learned was both troubling and inflammatory, though not terribly surprising. Here are Miss J’s words on the subject.
I have always found Miss J to be a credible blogger, with insight and attention to detail. I have no doubt that the information on the VH-1 program is as reliable as is possible to determine. That is where I find a sadness and irritation. Not with Miss J, but VH-1 and Viacom it’s parent company.
Viacom seems to have the least understanding of and interest in African Americans, while at the same time a dedicated interest in profiting from this same target group. We are just a means of exploitation, as concluded by the actions of this public corporation. I don’t mean exploited like Nike targeting $150 sneakers to inner city teenagers with the concept that they will allow the kids to become professional basketball players or other athlete entertainers. I mean exploited as in the proliferation of gangsta rap music as the only option in the music genre, promoting drugs and violence.
Viacom owns VH-1 in addition to MTV and Black Entertainment Television (no connection to this blog). At each cable channel the main attempts to provide programming that directly attracts African Americans involves gansta rap, music video hoochies, drugs, violence, materialism, misogyny, lack of education, alcohol, and poverty. You might say where are those things happening? You didn’t see that, where did I?
Continued in Part 2...
What I learned was both troubling and inflammatory, though not terribly surprising. Here are Miss J’s words on the subject.
What I was NOT happy about was their reason behind doing it. Supposedly, the REAL reason was because they didn't feel a show with "educated" sounding black women would get ratings. Comments from the site that featured the story about this show being shelved included a few from black employees of VH-1.
Here is one quote: "I am the employee that leaked the information about the reason Vh1 turned down this reality show Interracial Love. It was told to the creators that this was not something Vh1 was looking to do right now and it did not fit with their network. The truth is that we was told to tell the creators this however that is not what was said behind closed doors. The truth is that this show does not fit the mold just as they said however they left out the part what also was said. This is word for word what was said, 'This is not a good fit for us here at Vh1 we are not interested in showing this family or black women in the positive light this show wants to. It is our thoughts that the viewers are more interested in seeing black people in a ghetto role. This show will not sell. Black women are looked at as being ghetto and not educated so we need to pass on this project.'”
I have always found Miss J to be a credible blogger, with insight and attention to detail. I have no doubt that the information on the VH-1 program is as reliable as is possible to determine. That is where I find a sadness and irritation. Not with Miss J, but VH-1 and Viacom it’s parent company.
Viacom seems to have the least understanding of and interest in African Americans, while at the same time a dedicated interest in profiting from this same target group. We are just a means of exploitation, as concluded by the actions of this public corporation. I don’t mean exploited like Nike targeting $150 sneakers to inner city teenagers with the concept that they will allow the kids to become professional basketball players or other athlete entertainers. I mean exploited as in the proliferation of gangsta rap music as the only option in the music genre, promoting drugs and violence.
Viacom owns VH-1 in addition to MTV and Black Entertainment Television (no connection to this blog). At each cable channel the main attempts to provide programming that directly attracts African Americans involves gansta rap, music video hoochies, drugs, violence, materialism, misogyny, lack of education, alcohol, and poverty. You might say where are those things happening? You didn’t see that, where did I?
Continued in Part 2...
Stephen Colbert and the Yellow Ribbon Fund - 8.21.2007.1
Leave it to Mr. Stephen Colbert to bring attention to a serious issue by promoting himself. As many readers have noted, I am a fan of the Colbert Report (the T in Colbert is silent). It is a satirical spin on political news that is refreshing and often more informative than regular news reports.
One of the more recent items has been the injury to Mr. Colbert’s wrist. This has lead to his promotion of the WristStrong bracelet. Similar to the various ribbon campaigns, his red wrist band,
Is a promotion of the wrist injuries in the nation. In a further step of shameless self-promotion, Mr. Colbert has made his wriststrong bracelet available for sale on his website (www.colbertnation.com).
But the reason I’m mentioning it is the serious part of this. For every band bought, the entire proceeds are going to the Yellow Ribbon Fund. That is for real and an issue that needs more attention.
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is dedicated to
While this only affects 2 military medical centers, serving some 940 of the roughly 24,000 injured American Armed Services members that have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is something. I am always happy to support any cause and organization that betters the lives of those that VOLUNTEERED to server this nation.
My reasons have been mentioned several times in this blog and at Vass, but I will say it again. My father, my sister, and I have all volunteered for military service. My father was a former Marine, who fought in Viet Nam. He suffered from Agent Orange, Post Traumatic Distress, and various wounds in the war. He returned from the war to protests, insults, and a VA medical treatment that I feel was piss poor at best. I would never wish this experience on anyone who has made the commitment to sacrifice everything for this nation and our freedom to do things like write this blog from the comfort of my office.
The Yellow Ribbon Fund may not be the largest organization, it may not reach every injured serviceman, but it is helping to improve the condition and lives of those that have served this nation and their families. I don’t need a better reason than that.
If you do, the WristStong bracelets are merely $5.
This is what I think, what do you think?
One of the more recent items has been the injury to Mr. Colbert’s wrist. This has lead to his promotion of the WristStrong bracelet. Similar to the various ribbon campaigns, his red wrist band,
“made of the best plastic, red.”
Is a promotion of the wrist injuries in the nation. In a further step of shameless self-promotion, Mr. Colbert has made his wriststrong bracelet available for sale on his website (www.colbertnation.com).
But the reason I’m mentioning it is the serious part of this. For every band bought, the entire proceeds are going to the Yellow Ribbon Fund. That is for real and an issue that needs more attention.
The Yellow Ribbon Fund is dedicated to
...assist our injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center.
While this only affects 2 military medical centers, serving some 940 of the roughly 24,000 injured American Armed Services members that have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is something. I am always happy to support any cause and organization that betters the lives of those that VOLUNTEERED to server this nation.
My reasons have been mentioned several times in this blog and at Vass, but I will say it again. My father, my sister, and I have all volunteered for military service. My father was a former Marine, who fought in Viet Nam. He suffered from Agent Orange, Post Traumatic Distress, and various wounds in the war. He returned from the war to protests, insults, and a VA medical treatment that I feel was piss poor at best. I would never wish this experience on anyone who has made the commitment to sacrifice everything for this nation and our freedom to do things like write this blog from the comfort of my office.
The Yellow Ribbon Fund may not be the largest organization, it may not reach every injured serviceman, but it is helping to improve the condition and lives of those that have served this nation and their families. I don’t need a better reason than that.
If you do, the WristStong bracelets are merely $5.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Monday, August 20, 2007
What a nightclub can tell you Part 2 - 8.20.2007.2
Continued from What a nightclub can tell you Part 1...
That‘s not to say that just because someone looks like a convict, excuse me a thug, that they are one. It just happens that most of the guys I spoke with, that had the more expensive items and buying $130 dollar bottles of liquor they drank without glasses, had all been convicted of offenses with drugs and/or assault. What can I say, if it looks like, sounds like, and acts like a duck then it’s a duck.
As for the other guys, I just wonder. If they make the average salary in America for Blacks then $2000 for clothes and at least another $2000 for rims are worth about 20% of their annual salary. That’s before taxes. Does that sound like a particularly good way to spend money?
So I just wonder, is it really worth looking like a thug? Is spending $130 on a $40 dollar bottle of liquor smart? Is a guy sexier to a woman if he lives in the projects, owns nothing but a bunch of clothes and spends a large portion of his weekly check on a bottle or 2? Is there some loss of blackness when you don’t go to jail at some point in your life?
I can’t help but laugh. Much like those that snickered at me for wearing a suit. Or those that had to say loud enough for me to hear, “who does he think he is? I bet he doesn’t have any money?” Or the best yet, “You’re not Black. Look at how you dress and speak. You think you are White.”
Yet for all the odd looks, laughs and snickers, I know nearly every owner of the restaurants, bars, and nightclubs I go to in several states. I’m a respected business owner. And I have enough money for my needs and more. I’m not sitting on Snoop Dogg’s money, and it doesn’t upset me that I don’t.
Perhaps the biggest questions are the worth of the cost of chasing the Jones’ and living up to the image of what is Black that corporations have decided. Maybe if I just wanted to be a drone, wasting my money and my life, I’d chase this same image and buy the same goods. But as a man with a mind and will of my own I have chosen a separate path.
This is what I think, what do you think?
That‘s not to say that just because someone looks like a convict, excuse me a thug, that they are one. It just happens that most of the guys I spoke with, that had the more expensive items and buying $130 dollar bottles of liquor they drank without glasses, had all been convicted of offenses with drugs and/or assault. What can I say, if it looks like, sounds like, and acts like a duck then it’s a duck.
As for the other guys, I just wonder. If they make the average salary in America for Blacks then $2000 for clothes and at least another $2000 for rims are worth about 20% of their annual salary. That’s before taxes. Does that sound like a particularly good way to spend money?
So I just wonder, is it really worth looking like a thug? Is spending $130 on a $40 dollar bottle of liquor smart? Is a guy sexier to a woman if he lives in the projects, owns nothing but a bunch of clothes and spends a large portion of his weekly check on a bottle or 2? Is there some loss of blackness when you don’t go to jail at some point in your life?
I can’t help but laugh. Much like those that snickered at me for wearing a suit. Or those that had to say loud enough for me to hear, “who does he think he is? I bet he doesn’t have any money?” Or the best yet, “You’re not Black. Look at how you dress and speak. You think you are White.”
Yet for all the odd looks, laughs and snickers, I know nearly every owner of the restaurants, bars, and nightclubs I go to in several states. I’m a respected business owner. And I have enough money for my needs and more. I’m not sitting on Snoop Dogg’s money, and it doesn’t upset me that I don’t.
Perhaps the biggest questions are the worth of the cost of chasing the Jones’ and living up to the image of what is Black that corporations have decided. Maybe if I just wanted to be a drone, wasting my money and my life, I’d chase this same image and buy the same goods. But as a man with a mind and will of my own I have chosen a separate path.
This is what I think, what do you think?
What a nightclub can tell you - 8.20.2007.1
I was out recently; at a club that has a huge hip hop following and I noticed a few things. Normally I tend to go to bars or more upscale places as they tend to have less of all the noise that I find gangsta rap to be, but I wanted to try something different. Different is hardly the word to describe what I noticed.
I realize that most would not go out in a suit to anywhere besides work, if it was required that they wear one. That is the general culture in America these days. Everyone wants to be as casual as possible. I am a bit old school, real old in style. I prefer to go out in a suit. I was raised that a man should stand out from a crowd. I was raised to take pride in my appearance. I have learned that most people make an assumption based on what you wear, and the first words out of your mouth regardless of the surroundings.
Given these facts, the particular club I was at, I was the only person in a suit. As I mentioned this is not a new experience for me. Every guy in the place, White, Black or Asian (yes they were all in the same place) was wearing sneakers or work boots, jeans, t-shirts and other accessories. You might have thought that there was some kind of music video going on.
Of course some were wearing their fake teeth. You may have seen this type of stuff before. Platinum, gold, diamonds and the rest in their mouths and earrings (usually just one) to match. It was quite the assortment of wannabe thugs, future rappers, convicts and soon-to-be convicts. When I say convicts, I mean just that as I was told by a few about the differences of county and state prisons. Joyous knowledge there.
But I started to wonder a few things. I tried to figure out how much money was being spent on this thug look, and comparing it to my own appearance. It was quite surprising.
Given the average thug there are sneakers that run about $150, jeans about $50, t-shirt (print on it) $45. Then there are the rings, gold with diamonds that can go from $325 to over $8000. A similar range can be found in gold teeth, ranging from a mere $30 to $7000. At a guess the top end of cost was not in this club, but some probably had the more mid-range of these items. Figure about $4000 at best, but more likely $2000.
For myself I had $200 shoes, a $1200 suit, and a $70 custom shirt. A mere $1500 for everything. I don’t wear rings, earrings or the like.
Before anyone might think me a pauper consider this. For all that money they are showing, they can’t wear most of it at work. Running around casually, they are targets to be robbed for the more expensive items. If they wanted to go to a fine dining restaurant, they wouldn’t be let in (well many of them). I don’t mean Red Lobster, or some other chain. That’s not fine dining; it’s just a fancier version of fast food.
Effectively they have a set of clothing that is useless for almost anything besides going out. Of course there are the more illegal occupations which it is perfect for. Yet again that also means that they are perfect targets for police to follow and arrest. The $2000 spinning rims don’t help either.
Continued in Part 2...
I realize that most would not go out in a suit to anywhere besides work, if it was required that they wear one. That is the general culture in America these days. Everyone wants to be as casual as possible. I am a bit old school, real old in style. I prefer to go out in a suit. I was raised that a man should stand out from a crowd. I was raised to take pride in my appearance. I have learned that most people make an assumption based on what you wear, and the first words out of your mouth regardless of the surroundings.
Given these facts, the particular club I was at, I was the only person in a suit. As I mentioned this is not a new experience for me. Every guy in the place, White, Black or Asian (yes they were all in the same place) was wearing sneakers or work boots, jeans, t-shirts and other accessories. You might have thought that there was some kind of music video going on.
Of course some were wearing their fake teeth. You may have seen this type of stuff before. Platinum, gold, diamonds and the rest in their mouths and earrings (usually just one) to match. It was quite the assortment of wannabe thugs, future rappers, convicts and soon-to-be convicts. When I say convicts, I mean just that as I was told by a few about the differences of county and state prisons. Joyous knowledge there.
But I started to wonder a few things. I tried to figure out how much money was being spent on this thug look, and comparing it to my own appearance. It was quite surprising.
Given the average thug there are sneakers that run about $150, jeans about $50, t-shirt (print on it) $45. Then there are the rings, gold with diamonds that can go from $325 to over $8000. A similar range can be found in gold teeth, ranging from a mere $30 to $7000. At a guess the top end of cost was not in this club, but some probably had the more mid-range of these items. Figure about $4000 at best, but more likely $2000.
For myself I had $200 shoes, a $1200 suit, and a $70 custom shirt. A mere $1500 for everything. I don’t wear rings, earrings or the like.
Before anyone might think me a pauper consider this. For all that money they are showing, they can’t wear most of it at work. Running around casually, they are targets to be robbed for the more expensive items. If they wanted to go to a fine dining restaurant, they wouldn’t be let in (well many of them). I don’t mean Red Lobster, or some other chain. That’s not fine dining; it’s just a fancier version of fast food.
Effectively they have a set of clothing that is useless for almost anything besides going out. Of course there are the more illegal occupations which it is perfect for. Yet again that also means that they are perfect targets for police to follow and arrest. The $2000 spinning rims don’t help either.
Continued in Part 2...
Sunday, August 19, 2007
What are dolls telling young girls - 8.19.2007.1
Ok, I saw something on the Cartoon Network and it upset me. I’m not talking about the Naruto marathon. I love anime, and Naruto is up there with Rurouni Kenshin, Cyborg 009, and Dragonball Z. Still there is a bit that isn’t as good as some of those others.
But let me not wax on about anime. Either you get it or not. The point is that there have been several commercials throughout the marathon. One particular commercial was far more disturbing to me than all the others. It’s not the endless Pokemon games, nor the super sugar bomb pop cereals. It’s a doll.
I want to specifically point out the Hi-Glam dolls. They are similar to the various, and idiotic, Bratz dolls. But these are worse. Basically they are a bunch of pipe cleaners with hair. I don’t know much about dolls, since my sisters out grew them decades ago. But I do notice the difference.
Barbie has had arguments about her proportions since the feminist movements in the 70’s. They finally changed her figure to more realistic proportions, on the basis that little girls would feel better about their own proportions. How the proportions on a doll can affect anyone I don’t know, but that is the argument. Then came the fact that there were no Black, Asian or Hispanic dolls.
After years, finally Barbie got some friends with color and other dolls were made featuring various cultures as well. That argument I can understand. I remember back when I was a child and my sister threw her doll she got for Christmas because it looked nothing like her and was of zero interest. So I can see that.
But these Hi-Glam dolls are different. Yes they have various races covered. No they don’t represent women as anything more important than objects to be looked at because of how they dress. Yes it’s good they are dressed more substantially than a music video hoochie. But they are all anorexic. Seriously, they are proportioned like twigs.
It has to be an obvious negative if I can see this. These dolls look like a female version of Jack Skeleton. The connection to reality on any level is abysmal. I wonder where are the calls from feminists to get these dolls changed. They just don’t look healthy.
While I think anyone who might be influenced by a doll has self-esteem issues, the fact is they do affect the young girls’ self-image. That coupled with the desire for Hollywood to promote women that are about as curvaceous as adolescent boys and it just can’t be good. Why is it so strange for doll makes to create a doll that looks like a real woman? Why must every doll be a size -2, and supermodels are a size 0. Where is the reality in that? What guy actually likes that?
We should promote dolls and women that look like our mothers, wives and girlfriends. I mean who is on the arm of Jay-Z, or Denzel Washington? Look at virtually all the successful marriages of entertainers, celebrities, politicians, heads of state, and business and you will not find a woman that is under a size 10. I don’t think it’s just me.
As everyone freaks out how heavy our kids are, is it any better to ignore things that emphasize an even less healthy life by being malnourished and barely more than a sack of bones? Can any man truly say they are interested in a woman without curves and barely enough skin to cover her bones? Can any woman say they really think that clothes look better when they drape on them like clothes on a hanger as opposed to a mannequin?
How long will it take before some doll manufacturer realizes the .0002 cents it costs to add a bit more plastic to make a realistic looking doll will be healthier and probably sell better. Or am I just not getting it since I’m a man and older at that?
This is what I think, what do you think?
But let me not wax on about anime. Either you get it or not. The point is that there have been several commercials throughout the marathon. One particular commercial was far more disturbing to me than all the others. It’s not the endless Pokemon games, nor the super sugar bomb pop cereals. It’s a doll.
I want to specifically point out the Hi-Glam dolls. They are similar to the various, and idiotic, Bratz dolls. But these are worse. Basically they are a bunch of pipe cleaners with hair. I don’t know much about dolls, since my sisters out grew them decades ago. But I do notice the difference.
Barbie has had arguments about her proportions since the feminist movements in the 70’s. They finally changed her figure to more realistic proportions, on the basis that little girls would feel better about their own proportions. How the proportions on a doll can affect anyone I don’t know, but that is the argument. Then came the fact that there were no Black, Asian or Hispanic dolls.
After years, finally Barbie got some friends with color and other dolls were made featuring various cultures as well. That argument I can understand. I remember back when I was a child and my sister threw her doll she got for Christmas because it looked nothing like her and was of zero interest. So I can see that.
But these Hi-Glam dolls are different. Yes they have various races covered. No they don’t represent women as anything more important than objects to be looked at because of how they dress. Yes it’s good they are dressed more substantially than a music video hoochie. But they are all anorexic. Seriously, they are proportioned like twigs.
It has to be an obvious negative if I can see this. These dolls look like a female version of Jack Skeleton. The connection to reality on any level is abysmal. I wonder where are the calls from feminists to get these dolls changed. They just don’t look healthy.
While I think anyone who might be influenced by a doll has self-esteem issues, the fact is they do affect the young girls’ self-image. That coupled with the desire for Hollywood to promote women that are about as curvaceous as adolescent boys and it just can’t be good. Why is it so strange for doll makes to create a doll that looks like a real woman? Why must every doll be a size -2, and supermodels are a size 0. Where is the reality in that? What guy actually likes that?
We should promote dolls and women that look like our mothers, wives and girlfriends. I mean who is on the arm of Jay-Z, or Denzel Washington? Look at virtually all the successful marriages of entertainers, celebrities, politicians, heads of state, and business and you will not find a woman that is under a size 10. I don’t think it’s just me.
As everyone freaks out how heavy our kids are, is it any better to ignore things that emphasize an even less healthy life by being malnourished and barely more than a sack of bones? Can any man truly say they are interested in a woman without curves and barely enough skin to cover her bones? Can any woman say they really think that clothes look better when they drape on them like clothes on a hanger as opposed to a mannequin?
How long will it take before some doll manufacturer realizes the .0002 cents it costs to add a bit more plastic to make a realistic looking doll will be healthier and probably sell better. Or am I just not getting it since I’m a man and older at that?
This is what I think, what do you think?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Review of the Instinct Resturant and Nightclub Part 2 - 8.16.2007.2
Continued from Review of the Instinct Resturant and Nightclub Part 1...
The salads were a bright display of colors and a tasty combination of lettuce, tomatoes and additional vegetables. Very crisp. Moving on to the main meal I had the Monaco Filet Mignon with roasted potatoes and my guest had the New York Strip with rice pilaf. The presentation was quite good.
While I enjoyed the Filet, I found the roasted potatoes to be slightly underdone, but that is because they are intended to be made that way. You can have them done in a more traditional manner by request as the waitperson takes your order. My guest equally found the meal satisfying. The merlot complimented the meat quite well. The portion size was easily filling, and my friend could not finish the New York Strip.
Other options that we could have had included Ahi Tuna, Jamaican Pork Chops, Rock Lobster Tail, Riviera Veal Chop (Thursday through Sunday) and Oven Roasted Duck to name a few. Throughout the menu, like the wines, Romania dishes are sprinkled along with other cuisine of a similar exotic nature.
In terms of pricing, Instinct is a bit more expensive than some of the other restaurants in the area. My meal with my guest and 1 bottle of wine worked out to about $35 per person, not including the tip. So it was far from exorbitant for locals, and a huge discount for those familiar with the prices found in say New York City.
Overall I found Instinct to be a lovely departure from the norm of most Binghamton area fare. It has a relaxing atmosphere and upscale look. The food is good, served in a timely manner, without the rush or crowding some posh fine dining restaurants seem to always include. The pricing is reasonable and far less than what could be expected for the quality that is provided. I can easily say that this is a place worth stopping at if you are driving through the area, or desirous of a trip to an out of the way, less fast-paced place.
If you would like to find out more about the hours, menu, specials, wine list, or other activities and events at Instinct you can check www.instinctnightclub.com or call 607-757-9977.
The salads were a bright display of colors and a tasty combination of lettuce, tomatoes and additional vegetables. Very crisp. Moving on to the main meal I had the Monaco Filet Mignon with roasted potatoes and my guest had the New York Strip with rice pilaf. The presentation was quite good.
While I enjoyed the Filet, I found the roasted potatoes to be slightly underdone, but that is because they are intended to be made that way. You can have them done in a more traditional manner by request as the waitperson takes your order. My guest equally found the meal satisfying. The merlot complimented the meat quite well. The portion size was easily filling, and my friend could not finish the New York Strip.
Other options that we could have had included Ahi Tuna, Jamaican Pork Chops, Rock Lobster Tail, Riviera Veal Chop (Thursday through Sunday) and Oven Roasted Duck to name a few. Throughout the menu, like the wines, Romania dishes are sprinkled along with other cuisine of a similar exotic nature.
In terms of pricing, Instinct is a bit more expensive than some of the other restaurants in the area. My meal with my guest and 1 bottle of wine worked out to about $35 per person, not including the tip. So it was far from exorbitant for locals, and a huge discount for those familiar with the prices found in say New York City.
Overall I found Instinct to be a lovely departure from the norm of most Binghamton area fare. It has a relaxing atmosphere and upscale look. The food is good, served in a timely manner, without the rush or crowding some posh fine dining restaurants seem to always include. The pricing is reasonable and far less than what could be expected for the quality that is provided. I can easily say that this is a place worth stopping at if you are driving through the area, or desirous of a trip to an out of the way, less fast-paced place.
If you would like to find out more about the hours, menu, specials, wine list, or other activities and events at Instinct you can check www.instinctnightclub.com or call 607-757-9977.
Review of the Instinct Resturant and Nightclub - 8.16.2007.1
For those that are traveling to Toronto, Syracuse, or New York City in the other direction, even those just traveling around and seeing different parts of New York State you might want to stop in the Binghamton area. The reason for the side trip is a relatively new fine dining restaurant called Instinct.
Instinct is a unique concept in the area in that it is an upscale fine dining restaurant during the day, and on Thursday through Saturday evenings it is also a nightclub. While many that live in cities such as New York, Chicago, Cleveland and others may find such a concept to be the norm Instinct is virtually the only option of this nature.
It is obvious that the owners, Romanians by descent, wanted to bring a touch of Manhattan nightlife to the area and they succeeded. Just looking at the style and arrangement within the restaurant and bar areas would lead one to think they might have been transported to SoHo or Midtown Manhattan. There is a comfortable modern feel that is not crowded or impersonal. The lighting, mirrors and color of the walls combine to set the warm tone, which is excellent for eating or dancing.
By the way, the restaurant opens up for dinner at 5pm and there is a dinner rush. But you can easily find yourself one of a few diners if you go just a bit later, say at 7:30 on a Wednesday night. And have no fear of being distracted by the bar crowd. That section is adjoining but separates enough to be of no consequence to having a great meal.
I will be speaking about the nightclub aspect of Instinct separately, but the dining is quite good. The staff is all quite friendly and knowledgeable. Several of the waiter/bartenders come from some of the top upscale restaurants in the area. All of them are friendly and informative, especially about the wine cellar and menu. In my meal there I found the waiter to be around enough to keep up with my needs and yet not even close to hovering.
Starting of with drinks the bar is fully stocked. Take particular notice that several top scotches and multiple popular brands of liquors are available. The variety of selection is one of the best in the entire area. This diversity is also found in the wine list. Wines from Sonoma Valley, local wineries and Romania can all be had here. Take note though that the selections are by the bottle and not the glass, except for the house wine, which is Turning Leaf.
I was looking forward to a Merlot called Vampire, which naturally comes from Romania. Sadly this was not available as they had just sold the last bottle earlier that night, but there was no delay in providing several comparable choices. We settled for a Ronald Strong 2002 Merlot, from Sonoma. This was a full bodied wine that was quite enjoyable.
Continued in Part 2...
Instinct is a unique concept in the area in that it is an upscale fine dining restaurant during the day, and on Thursday through Saturday evenings it is also a nightclub. While many that live in cities such as New York, Chicago, Cleveland and others may find such a concept to be the norm Instinct is virtually the only option of this nature.
It is obvious that the owners, Romanians by descent, wanted to bring a touch of Manhattan nightlife to the area and they succeeded. Just looking at the style and arrangement within the restaurant and bar areas would lead one to think they might have been transported to SoHo or Midtown Manhattan. There is a comfortable modern feel that is not crowded or impersonal. The lighting, mirrors and color of the walls combine to set the warm tone, which is excellent for eating or dancing.
By the way, the restaurant opens up for dinner at 5pm and there is a dinner rush. But you can easily find yourself one of a few diners if you go just a bit later, say at 7:30 on a Wednesday night. And have no fear of being distracted by the bar crowd. That section is adjoining but separates enough to be of no consequence to having a great meal.
I will be speaking about the nightclub aspect of Instinct separately, but the dining is quite good. The staff is all quite friendly and knowledgeable. Several of the waiter/bartenders come from some of the top upscale restaurants in the area. All of them are friendly and informative, especially about the wine cellar and menu. In my meal there I found the waiter to be around enough to keep up with my needs and yet not even close to hovering.
Starting of with drinks the bar is fully stocked. Take particular notice that several top scotches and multiple popular brands of liquors are available. The variety of selection is one of the best in the entire area. This diversity is also found in the wine list. Wines from Sonoma Valley, local wineries and Romania can all be had here. Take note though that the selections are by the bottle and not the glass, except for the house wine, which is Turning Leaf.
I was looking forward to a Merlot called Vampire, which naturally comes from Romania. Sadly this was not available as they had just sold the last bottle earlier that night, but there was no delay in providing several comparable choices. We settled for a Ronald Strong 2002 Merlot, from Sonoma. This was a full bodied wine that was quite enjoyable.
Continued in Part 2...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Will Don Imus pay his due? Part 2 - 8.15.2007.2
Continued from Will Don Imus pay his due? Part 1...
Some might say the team deserves the 20 million dollars that Imus just won. Some might say that Imus is a multi-millionaire and won’t miss the money. They would be right that he is rich, but they would be wrong in presuming that his contractually obligated pay is due these women. The pain and suffering they are currently undergoing will not follow them for the rest of their lives. The embarrassment while severe is not going to prevent them from becoming a successful lawyer or doctor or scientist or President of the United States. It will make life in college during the near term harder to get dates, or study or not be the butt of a joke by a drunken frat kid. So I do believe they deserve monetary reimbursement but not excessive amounts.
In America today money determines almost everything. It determines where you live, what job you get, the friends you can have or do keep and so much more. In this case money in the form of Imus’ job was the reason for an unprovoked attack. It should be money that sends the same message to Imus, CBS, and the media industry across the nation. Impacting the bottom line will stick in the memory of all those individuals far longer than comments from Reverend Al Sharpton, newspaper articles, and a huge number of angry bloggers. Take profits away from the shareholders and changes happen over night. Its one of the great things about the American economy and business environment.
I think that it would be a great slap in the face to Don Imus and his former employers that these women take their money and achieve certificates representing their attainment of prominence in various intellectual fields. CBS told Imus to insult people for a living, create controversy, and be mean. Imus decided to be mean and pushed the envelope many times in his career; finally creating enough of an uproar with this last act. Perhaps the best way to prove this corporation, this man, and those listeners and supporters wrong is the realization of success these women can do. But to just throw money at them and take away one of the motivations why they went to college serves them no good nor their communities nor America as a whole.
There is an Ancient saying:
These women should have every opportunity to be taught how to fish and not be given a boat full of fish.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Some might say the team deserves the 20 million dollars that Imus just won. Some might say that Imus is a multi-millionaire and won’t miss the money. They would be right that he is rich, but they would be wrong in presuming that his contractually obligated pay is due these women. The pain and suffering they are currently undergoing will not follow them for the rest of their lives. The embarrassment while severe is not going to prevent them from becoming a successful lawyer or doctor or scientist or President of the United States. It will make life in college during the near term harder to get dates, or study or not be the butt of a joke by a drunken frat kid. So I do believe they deserve monetary reimbursement but not excessive amounts.
In America today money determines almost everything. It determines where you live, what job you get, the friends you can have or do keep and so much more. In this case money in the form of Imus’ job was the reason for an unprovoked attack. It should be money that sends the same message to Imus, CBS, and the media industry across the nation. Impacting the bottom line will stick in the memory of all those individuals far longer than comments from Reverend Al Sharpton, newspaper articles, and a huge number of angry bloggers. Take profits away from the shareholders and changes happen over night. Its one of the great things about the American economy and business environment.
I think that it would be a great slap in the face to Don Imus and his former employers that these women take their money and achieve certificates representing their attainment of prominence in various intellectual fields. CBS told Imus to insult people for a living, create controversy, and be mean. Imus decided to be mean and pushed the envelope many times in his career; finally creating enough of an uproar with this last act. Perhaps the best way to prove this corporation, this man, and those listeners and supporters wrong is the realization of success these women can do. But to just throw money at them and take away one of the motivations why they went to college serves them no good nor their communities nor America as a whole.
There is an Ancient saying:
“You can feed a man a fish and he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish he will feed himself for a life time.”
These women should have every opportunity to be taught how to fish and not be given a boat full of fish.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Will Don Imus pay his due? - 8.15.2007.1
The sky is blue, earth is the third planet in the solar system, fire burns, and Don Imus is getting sued. Do you notice that in each and every one of those statements the facts are as obvious as they are true?
Finally what everyone should have expected is starting to happen Don Imus is getting sued for his actions in Aprill which I wrote about several times [Imus, Rutgers basketball, and Rev. Al Sharpton, Don Imus is a symptom]. I’m not amazed nor should anyone else be. I don’t think it needs to be said that Imus was wrong for his comments against the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team. Anyone with a basic brain should understand that (should does not mean everyone does).
So far there is only one player that is suing Imus, Ms. Kim Vaughn, but I don’t expect that she will be the only one to sue him. Shortly I expect to see several of the members of the Women’s basketball team to file similar suits. They will likely be combined into one class action suit. While some may want to defend Imus I have no doubt that Imus will lose on the basis of defamation of character and slander. So the only real question is what they win and how much the major media will defend Imus.
Already we are hearing various pundits step up and say that Imus has been punished too much or was punished too excessively for his comments. Already there is a rally cry going out to lessen the impact that this lawsuit is making. Likely because this lawsuit comes at a time right after Imus has won 20 million dollars in a contract dispute with CBS and his on going negotiations with ABC for a new radio job.
I don’t care that Imus is getting a new job, by that I mean that I stand by my initial calls for him to be fired. He needed to be punished and made an example of for what he said. That was done in part with his being fired. That does not mean that he can never work again. I would not deny anyone the ability to make a living in their career after they have paid a price for that offense. That said Don Imus has not finished paying for his actions. Let’s not forget these were actions that he made with out cause for the mere desire to inflict pain on innocent citizens.
So what would I like to see as the final part of his punishment for his wrong doing? I think that Imus should come out publicly and offer ALL the women of the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team their tuition paid until they have finished their bachelor degrees and half, at least, of their masters degree tuitions and a one thousand dollar per month stipend during that same period.
Now let me tell you why. There is no question that what he said inflicted pain. There is no question that what he said was an insult. There is no question that he has no defense against his own actions. So he’s wrong and therefore liable to these women. The women did not go to Rutgers to be defamed or denigrated. They went to Rutgers not to become basketball stars (I hope not, especially with the salaries of the WNBA), but to become educated successful women in what ever field of endeavor they chose. That should be acknowledged supported and publicly praised. In my view there is no better vindication of their ability, talent, and future than to stand up and provide them a head start in their life choices.
Continued in part 2...
Finally what everyone should have expected is starting to happen Don Imus is getting sued for his actions in Aprill which I wrote about several times [Imus, Rutgers basketball, and Rev. Al Sharpton, Don Imus is a symptom]. I’m not amazed nor should anyone else be. I don’t think it needs to be said that Imus was wrong for his comments against the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team. Anyone with a basic brain should understand that (should does not mean everyone does).
So far there is only one player that is suing Imus, Ms. Kim Vaughn, but I don’t expect that she will be the only one to sue him. Shortly I expect to see several of the members of the Women’s basketball team to file similar suits. They will likely be combined into one class action suit. While some may want to defend Imus I have no doubt that Imus will lose on the basis of defamation of character and slander. So the only real question is what they win and how much the major media will defend Imus.
Already we are hearing various pundits step up and say that Imus has been punished too much or was punished too excessively for his comments. Already there is a rally cry going out to lessen the impact that this lawsuit is making. Likely because this lawsuit comes at a time right after Imus has won 20 million dollars in a contract dispute with CBS and his on going negotiations with ABC for a new radio job.
I don’t care that Imus is getting a new job, by that I mean that I stand by my initial calls for him to be fired. He needed to be punished and made an example of for what he said. That was done in part with his being fired. That does not mean that he can never work again. I would not deny anyone the ability to make a living in their career after they have paid a price for that offense. That said Don Imus has not finished paying for his actions. Let’s not forget these were actions that he made with out cause for the mere desire to inflict pain on innocent citizens.
So what would I like to see as the final part of his punishment for his wrong doing? I think that Imus should come out publicly and offer ALL the women of the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team their tuition paid until they have finished their bachelor degrees and half, at least, of their masters degree tuitions and a one thousand dollar per month stipend during that same period.
Now let me tell you why. There is no question that what he said inflicted pain. There is no question that what he said was an insult. There is no question that he has no defense against his own actions. So he’s wrong and therefore liable to these women. The women did not go to Rutgers to be defamed or denigrated. They went to Rutgers not to become basketball stars (I hope not, especially with the salaries of the WNBA), but to become educated successful women in what ever field of endeavor they chose. That should be acknowledged supported and publicly praised. In my view there is no better vindication of their ability, talent, and future than to stand up and provide them a head start in their life choices.
Continued in part 2...
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The latest lawsuit against Michael Vick - 8.14.2007.1
Ok, this is too much. I’ve heard wild stories and the like over my nearly 40 years but this has gone too far.
It started after Michael Vick was arrested for running a dog fighting ring. A big deal and many were quite upset. Some though were upset because they somehow concluded that this was just an attack on a rich African American. While I will submit that Mr. Vick is rich, and Black, neither takes away from the crime he is alleged to have committed. Dogfighting is a vile crime, and ANYONE who is involved should face the legal penalties that are available. As much as some may wish, Mr. Vick is culpable on some level at the least and probably guilty as charged based on the facts known.
But the story does not end there. The latest news is not about his ongoing legal dilemma. It’s not about the fact that sponsor have fled from him like rats on a sinking ship. It isn’t even the debate on whether or not he should play football this season (come on, of course he won’t and should not). No, the latest news is that Mr. Vick has been accused of being an agent of Al Quida.
Yes, court papers have been filed stating that Mr. Vick swore an oath to Al Quaeda, ran the dog fighting ring as a means to generate income and used those proceeds to buy missiles off of eBay to be used against America. This has all come out of a lawsuit seeking $63 billion billion dollars in damages.
I’m not making this stuff up. It’s real. Notice I didn’t say credible or serious. All of this was found in the legal documents filed by Jonathan Lee Riches. Riches is a ‘guest’ of South Carolina penal facilities. He accuses Mr. Vick of violating multiple laws including:
It gets better. Mr. Vick is accused of stealing this convicts pit bulls, and after having them fight, sold them on eBay. The proceeds from these dogs were used to buy the missiles mentioned above from Iran. But Mr. Vick was not done with inmate Riches, the then stole his ID to buy dogfood and supplies under the assumed name. But this has been a long term fued with Mr. Vick as inmate Riches alleges that some of the crimes were from 2001.
Now I have to say the best one is that Mr. Vick is alleged to have used microwave testing on imate Riches. That is just the icing on the cake.
By the way, inmate Riches plead guilty to credit card fraud.[As best as I’ve been able to confirm his identity.]
Mr. Michael Vick has enough real problems to keep him quite busy. This fluff will obviously go nowhere. But perhaps it will give Mr. Vick, and you my readers, a moment of levity in your day. Beware the jailhouse lawyers, they are almost as bad as the real ones.[Had to pick on lawyers, it was just too easy.]
This is what I think, what do you think?
It started after Michael Vick was arrested for running a dog fighting ring. A big deal and many were quite upset. Some though were upset because they somehow concluded that this was just an attack on a rich African American. While I will submit that Mr. Vick is rich, and Black, neither takes away from the crime he is alleged to have committed. Dogfighting is a vile crime, and ANYONE who is involved should face the legal penalties that are available. As much as some may wish, Mr. Vick is culpable on some level at the least and probably guilty as charged based on the facts known.
But the story does not end there. The latest news is not about his ongoing legal dilemma. It’s not about the fact that sponsor have fled from him like rats on a sinking ship. It isn’t even the debate on whether or not he should play football this season (come on, of course he won’t and should not). No, the latest news is that Mr. Vick has been accused of being an agent of Al Quida.
Yes, court papers have been filed stating that Mr. Vick swore an oath to Al Quaeda, ran the dog fighting ring as a means to generate income and used those proceeds to buy missiles off of eBay to be used against America. This has all come out of a lawsuit seeking $63 billion billion dollars in damages.
I’m not making this stuff up. It’s real. Notice I didn’t say credible or serious. All of this was found in the legal documents filed by Jonathan Lee Riches. Riches is a ‘guest’ of South Carolina penal facilities. He accuses Mr. Vick of violating multiple laws including:
- Copyright infringement (what possible copyright does Riches own that Mr. Vick infringed on I really want to know)
- Violating the 14th Amendment – which determines national citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons – (how can Mr. Vick affect Riches 14th Amendment rights?)
- Violating the 8th Amendment – cruel and unusual punishment – (I’ve not heard of that being applied to animals before but I’ll almost give him that)
- The 6th – speedy and public trials – (when did Mr. Vick become a judge?)
- Not to forget the 5th, 4th, 2nd and 1st Amendments as well – I just don’t need to go on do I?
It gets better. Mr. Vick is accused of stealing this convicts pit bulls, and after having them fight, sold them on eBay. The proceeds from these dogs were used to buy the missiles mentioned above from Iran. But Mr. Vick was not done with inmate Riches, the then stole his ID to buy dogfood and supplies under the assumed name. But this has been a long term fued with Mr. Vick as inmate Riches alleges that some of the crimes were from 2001.
Now I have to say the best one is that Mr. Vick is alleged to have used microwave testing on imate Riches. That is just the icing on the cake.
By the way, inmate Riches plead guilty to credit card fraud.[As best as I’ve been able to confirm his identity.]
Mr. Michael Vick has enough real problems to keep him quite busy. This fluff will obviously go nowhere. But perhaps it will give Mr. Vick, and you my readers, a moment of levity in your day. Beware the jailhouse lawyers, they are almost as bad as the real ones.[Had to pick on lawyers, it was just too easy.]
This is what I think, what do you think?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 3 - 8.13.2007.4
Submitted from Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 2...
I want to mention something for Mr. Williams, it’s an old saying. A mind that must use a vulgarity to express something where words are common and available is a small mind. Words are merely the vocalization of thought, and those small words reflect a small closed mind.
I would also like to remind Mr. Williams something else. Being a bit older than I think he is I actually remember what rap music was when it first started, when it first got placed on albums (vinyl not a CD or cassette tape), and when MTV created the concept of a music video. I can say based on growing up and watching the phases rap music has gone through, that Mr. Williams seems to have no idea what rap music intended or was capable of.
If you want to know what rap music was about, listen to Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5. If you want to know what rap music is capable of being, listen to Public Enemy or KRS-One. To say that the mindless, money-grubbing, record company driven, commoditized, lateral sales targeted, repetitive, lyrical vomit that is gansta rap (originally a mere sub-genre of rap pre-1992) today is all that rap can attain is both narrow-minded and insulting.
But staying focused on my original point, this Public Service Announcement that Black Entertainment Television has on its cable network airwaves sickens me.
Now I know some may read this and say, ‘well you just don’t get it. You aren’t Black enough. You are too busy trying to be White.’
Time to wake up and stop hiding from the truth. I was born in the Bronx with a tan that never fades, summer or winter, in the sun or not. My color of skin is dark enough to have gotten me lynched in the 1600’s, the 1800’s, and in 1965. I have been called N-word too many times to count, and as recently as 2 weeks ago. That wasn’t the rose colored glasses view of a salutation some hope it is, but meant as the word is defined.
I’m Black enough to have been denied jobs, and have women held their purses tight in an elevator. I’m Black enough to have police draw guns on me for a simple traffic stop. I’m Black enough to watch some people smirk and deny that I own a business, just because they don’t.
If the fact that I earned my education instead of buying the latest overpriced sneaker offends, be offended. If the fact that I have never been to jail and prefer to wear suits as opposed to platinum teeth intimidates weaker minds, be intimidated. If I use a vocabulary that doesn’t include words found on a rap album, don’t feel bad because they are the same words that the executives that own the record company you are funding use everyday.
So perhaps someone who has been around long enough to know what things were like before the internet, and gangsta rap, can be Black. And that same person can see when a television network is using the people it claims to serve. It’s not a unique vision. But as long as some cow-tow and praise actions that degrade the people it supposedly represents, things won’t get better.
Here is perhaps the most obvious point on how “classic” or “ironically positive” this PSA may be. Every other network, especially the national broadcast television networks, will not play this PSA. Viacom, which owns BET, won’t play this PSA on any of its other channels. This isn’t quiet because it won’t be played; it isn’t being played because of the embarrassment and insult it is.
If that isn’t an example of exploitation and insult, I can’t wait to hear what is.
This is what I think; I want to hear what you think.
I want to mention something for Mr. Williams, it’s an old saying. A mind that must use a vulgarity to express something where words are common and available is a small mind. Words are merely the vocalization of thought, and those small words reflect a small closed mind.
I would also like to remind Mr. Williams something else. Being a bit older than I think he is I actually remember what rap music was when it first started, when it first got placed on albums (vinyl not a CD or cassette tape), and when MTV created the concept of a music video. I can say based on growing up and watching the phases rap music has gone through, that Mr. Williams seems to have no idea what rap music intended or was capable of.
If you want to know what rap music was about, listen to Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5. If you want to know what rap music is capable of being, listen to Public Enemy or KRS-One. To say that the mindless, money-grubbing, record company driven, commoditized, lateral sales targeted, repetitive, lyrical vomit that is gansta rap (originally a mere sub-genre of rap pre-1992) today is all that rap can attain is both narrow-minded and insulting.
But staying focused on my original point, this Public Service Announcement that Black Entertainment Television has on its cable network airwaves sickens me.
Now I know some may read this and say, ‘well you just don’t get it. You aren’t Black enough. You are too busy trying to be White.’
Time to wake up and stop hiding from the truth. I was born in the Bronx with a tan that never fades, summer or winter, in the sun or not. My color of skin is dark enough to have gotten me lynched in the 1600’s, the 1800’s, and in 1965. I have been called N-word too many times to count, and as recently as 2 weeks ago. That wasn’t the rose colored glasses view of a salutation some hope it is, but meant as the word is defined.
I’m Black enough to have been denied jobs, and have women held their purses tight in an elevator. I’m Black enough to have police draw guns on me for a simple traffic stop. I’m Black enough to watch some people smirk and deny that I own a business, just because they don’t.
If the fact that I earned my education instead of buying the latest overpriced sneaker offends, be offended. If the fact that I have never been to jail and prefer to wear suits as opposed to platinum teeth intimidates weaker minds, be intimidated. If I use a vocabulary that doesn’t include words found on a rap album, don’t feel bad because they are the same words that the executives that own the record company you are funding use everyday.
So perhaps someone who has been around long enough to know what things were like before the internet, and gangsta rap, can be Black. And that same person can see when a television network is using the people it claims to serve. It’s not a unique vision. But as long as some cow-tow and praise actions that degrade the people it supposedly represents, things won’t get better.
Here is perhaps the most obvious point on how “classic” or “ironically positive” this PSA may be. Every other network, especially the national broadcast television networks, will not play this PSA. Viacom, which owns BET, won’t play this PSA on any of its other channels. This isn’t quiet because it won’t be played; it isn’t being played because of the embarrassment and insult it is.
If that isn’t an example of exploitation and insult, I can’t wait to hear what is.
This is what I think; I want to hear what you think.
Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 2 - 8.13.2007.3
Continued from Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 1...
41 year old White male-
I think those responses say a lot about this PSA that BET has place on its cable network channel. Many see no upside. No one I know thinks there is a positive to this. But there are those that do think this is great.
CDBaby states –
A commenter states –
Reviewer: Eugene Williams, Jr.
I’m just too old to know, or want to know, what exactly ‘crunk’ is. I get the general impression though. So CDBaby seems to feel BET has made a classic. Yes that’s great, 50 years from now people will remember the day when the illiterate, dirty, alcoholic Black masses where shown the light to a better life when Viacom stepped in and helped them out of their miserable lives.
If you are wondering, that was exactly what was said by European explorers, and slavers, that went to Africa some 400 years ago. I’m so happy we have moved so far forward that some can quote those words today ands would like to have them said in the future.
As for Mr. Williams, I must presume that speaking to the youth of this nation – directly at only the African American youth – without using expletives is being “corny or preachy”. How time has changed, because I remember back when speaking to a person was about giving respect to get it. Maybe that is why there has been so much angst about the words of Dr. Bill Cosby, he just needs to curse out the youth and they will all get it.
Continued in Part 3...
I’m surprised it’s a PSA; it looked like a viral video people look up on the internet when they are bored. I’m not surprised it’s on BET, but it wouldn’t get on regular television. No network would clear it.
41 year old White male-
I’m outraged. It’s an insult to the Black culture. At first it starts and looks like it’s for kids and then BOOM! Holy cow.
You know if I said that… someone would shoot me.
They are taking the wrong direction. Saying all that vulgarity for kids is setting a bad example. This should be protested and BET should be banned.
It looks like it’s targeted to 11-14 year old mentality, but I’d never let my kids see it. There needs to be a broader reach, a wider span. I mean it can be done with more class.
I think those responses say a lot about this PSA that BET has place on its cable network channel. Many see no upside. No one I know thinks there is a positive to this. But there are those that do think this is great.
CDBaby states –
An instant crunk classic available exclusively on itunes. You’ve seen the video, make sure you request it on the radio. Taking southern hip-hop places you never thought it would go.
A commenter states –
Reviewer: Eugene Williams, Jr.
Mr. Armah has cleverly given black American youth the positive message they need without sounding corny or preachy. He is telling our young people what they need to hear. Quiet as it’s kept, Mr. Armah is simply telling us to do all the things that Bill Cosby is trying to tell us to do, only in a different more "hood-palatable" format. If our church and community leaders can get past the explicit language and take time to listen to the timely and ironically positive message, this song will do for the black community what rap was originally intended to do!!!!
I’m just too old to know, or want to know, what exactly ‘crunk’ is. I get the general impression though. So CDBaby seems to feel BET has made a classic. Yes that’s great, 50 years from now people will remember the day when the illiterate, dirty, alcoholic Black masses where shown the light to a better life when Viacom stepped in and helped them out of their miserable lives.
If you are wondering, that was exactly what was said by European explorers, and slavers, that went to Africa some 400 years ago. I’m so happy we have moved so far forward that some can quote those words today ands would like to have them said in the future.
As for Mr. Williams, I must presume that speaking to the youth of this nation – directly at only the African American youth – without using expletives is being “corny or preachy”. How time has changed, because I remember back when speaking to a person was about giving respect to get it. Maybe that is why there has been so much angst about the words of Dr. Bill Cosby, he just needs to curse out the youth and they will all get it.
Continued in Part 3...
Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA - 8.13.2007.2
‘You are an ignorant, smelly, toothless, drunk, Black person that is incapable of caring for your children. Thank you. – This has been a Public Service Announcement from Black Entertainment Television, because we care.’
That is not an actual PSA, and I will remind readers I have nothing to do with BET. Yet that is the feeling I think BET is trying to convey with its recent PSA Read A Book. I have already commented on the initial reactions I had from viewing the PSA, and time for reflection has not improved my outlook.
But I decided that perhaps I was too old to understand the PSA. I wondered if my friend who saw the PSA when I did was perhaps viewing the video with eyes of nearly my same age and also a mother of 3 children. So I have sought out a couple of different individuals of different ages and sex. I even made sure to ask non-Black people to see their thoughts. In each case I got the first thoughts right after viewing the supposed PSA.
In order of age:
16 year old Black male –
I was very insulted, and it sucks. I think that most regular people already do these things, and it was towards the negative. I don’t like rap anyway, it’s useless and annoying. It’s all about drugs or having sex.
19 year old Black male –
Before I knew it was a PSA I thought it was unique, but I thought it sucks. For anyone that’s ghettofabulous and not intelligent – it may mean something to them. You just can’t tell them [a person into ghettofabulous lifestyle] something. If you said ‘read a book’, they would say ‘Stop being so White’.
The PSA is targeting inner city Black people it looks like. I wouldn’t let my kid watch that, the language. But I know people with kids that have grown up listening to [gangsta] rap all the time, all day. I can see them letting their kid hear it.
19 year old White female –
I want to kill someone. It’s ridiculous and racist. It’s horrible. The swearing is the worst part, all the N-word. I would never let my son see this.
Continued in part 2...
The Black Entertainment Television PSA, insult or slap in the face - 8.13.2007.1
Some wondered why BET (Black Entertainment Television) caused so much animosity with the latest round of ‘original’ programming. Obviously the title of its headline program, Hot Ghetto Mess, was pretty bad. The content while less troubling than originally thought is no walk in sunshine either. But most expect nothing better from the executives, including Reginald Hudlin and Viacom head Philippe Dauman, as there is a consensus that they provide a program line-up that is less than positive towards African Americans.
Possibly proving this point is the recent addition to BET. It’s called a Public Service Announcement (PSA) though who it is serving, and how it’s a positive influence is beyond me. I will not say that this is a positive satire as I do not suffer from dementia. The concept is good on its surface, sadly the execution fails miserably. [I will not place this video on my site, but you can see it on YouTube.]
Of thee many things I could say about how insulting and wrong this supposed PSA is I will instead submit a conversation that I had with a friend on this subject. [Note that the conversation does include language that some will deem offensive. Curses are used occasionally, so children should not listen to this without a parent having first approved it. I am placing it here on the site because I feel that the language is not nearly as bad as most television programs or movies.]
I should also note that the video has one obvious omission. Did you notice that it says nothing about drugs? Was there no time left to say something about this? Was it more important to discuss hygiene (which I am unaware as being an issue) or to keep one more rousing chorus rendition?
I will add this. BET seems bent on providing programs that are as anti-African American as possible. The programs S.O.B. and We Got To Do Better are marginal in the quality and message they present. The caliber of movies found on this channel (such as Soul Plane – a bomb in the movie theaters and DVD markets) represent the best in bargain bin shopping, and virtually every other cable television network (not owned by Viacom) has numerous better quality films. The introduction of this PSA is not surprising, though it is sad.
We are not a mindless consumer that will accept anything thrown at us. Black culture is not a commodity up for sale to the highest bidder; no matter how sneaker, clothing, and who ever it is that creates the stupid money-wasting platinum teeth, companies try to make us believe we are for sale.
I don’t understand why any executive that has a concern about African Americans, beyond our available cashflow, would condone what this channel provides. Viacom does not understand its target audience, obviously. The degree to which it does not is amazing to me. I can’t wait until they pop up a PSA featuring a burning cross while a guy in a white hood raps about Blacks going to church and having a family with a mother and father.
BET, anything but black entertainment. And people say I’m a sellout because of the way I speak.
Oh, here are the lyrics (provided by Warner Todd Huston who also hated the PSA)
This is what I think, what do you think?
Possibly proving this point is the recent addition to BET. It’s called a Public Service Announcement (PSA) though who it is serving, and how it’s a positive influence is beyond me. I will not say that this is a positive satire as I do not suffer from dementia. The concept is good on its surface, sadly the execution fails miserably. [I will not place this video on my site, but you can see it on YouTube.]
Of thee many things I could say about how insulting and wrong this supposed PSA is I will instead submit a conversation that I had with a friend on this subject. [Note that the conversation does include language that some will deem offensive. Curses are used occasionally, so children should not listen to this without a parent having first approved it. I am placing it here on the site because I feel that the language is not nearly as bad as most television programs or movies.]
I should also note that the video has one obvious omission. Did you notice that it says nothing about drugs? Was there no time left to say something about this? Was it more important to discuss hygiene (which I am unaware as being an issue) or to keep one more rousing chorus rendition?
I will add this. BET seems bent on providing programs that are as anti-African American as possible. The programs S.O.B. and We Got To Do Better are marginal in the quality and message they present. The caliber of movies found on this channel (such as Soul Plane – a bomb in the movie theaters and DVD markets) represent the best in bargain bin shopping, and virtually every other cable television network (not owned by Viacom) has numerous better quality films. The introduction of this PSA is not surprising, though it is sad.
We are not a mindless consumer that will accept anything thrown at us. Black culture is not a commodity up for sale to the highest bidder; no matter how sneaker, clothing, and who ever it is that creates the stupid money-wasting platinum teeth, companies try to make us believe we are for sale.
I don’t understand why any executive that has a concern about African Americans, beyond our available cashflow, would condone what this channel provides. Viacom does not understand its target audience, obviously. The degree to which it does not is amazing to me. I can’t wait until they pop up a PSA featuring a burning cross while a guy in a white hood raps about Blacks going to church and having a family with a mother and father.
BET, anything but black entertainment. And people say I’m a sellout because of the way I speak.
Oh, here are the lyrics (provided by Warner Todd Huston who also hated the PSA)
Read a book, read a book, read a motherf**kin’ book (pronounced mah f**kin' book in street fashion)
r-e-a-d-a-b-o–o-k
Not a sports page, not a magazine, but a book n*****, a f**kin’ book n*****
Read a book, read a book, read a motherf**kin’ book
r-e-a-d-a-b-o-o-k
Raise yo kids, raise yo kids, raise yo goddamn kids
Yo body needs water, so drink that shit
Buy some land, buy some land, what, f**k spinning rims
Brush yo teeth, brush yo teeth, brush yo goddamn teeth
Wear deodorant n*****, wear deodorant n*****
It’s called Speedstick, it’s not expensive
Read a book, read a book, read a motherf**kin’ book
r-e-a-d-a-b-o–o-k
This is what I think, what do you think?
Friday, August 10, 2007
The news you haven't seen on news television - 8.10.2007.1
I find it interesting how much time was spent today on the various news media discussing the local vote to repeal a 40 year old ban on tattoo shops in Key West, Florida. Picking on Fox News, this story was on every hour today from roughly 11 til the writing of this post. Each time the story included a piece by a reporter on the scene, making it a total length of approximately 3 minutes. That may not sound like a lot, but for a 24/7 news channel it is substantial for such a fluff piece. Let just think of what might have been able to fill that time slot today.
There is the news that the Black Family Channel has been forced to leave cable television and will only be found online. Though the channel reached 16 million households, many cable and satellite providers refused to carry the channel. It seems they thought BET, and sometimes TV One as well, was more than enough African American programming. So much for the 500 channels of diversity that HD television was proclaimed to provide.
Looking at the Presidential race, a question posed to Senator Clinton that I would believe could catch anyone’s attention was
Wouldn’t you have loved to hear that answer?
Well maybe those 2 stories are too serious. Maybe something less important to the nation. How about being able to have virtual sex on Second Life? For those unfamiliar Second Life is a MMO similar to the popular and famous The Sims.
There’s a bit of sauce to start the weekend with.
Let’s get even less relevant. How about the fact that 50 cent has stated he will quit his solo rap career if his next album does not outsell artist Kayne West. Both have upcoming releases on the same day. [Just this once I'm hoping Kanye West does really well.]
Actually several of these stories could have each been presented in the time allotted to talking about the tattoo ban. Seriously. There are too many things that deserve more time. I particularly believe the first 2 deserve the national attention, but I have to believe even the bit about 50 cent (I really hate that name) is more of interest to the nation.
21 minutes is barely a lunch break in most lives, but in television it’s a hit prime time show, breaking news, a peace treaty or a war starting. It’s the time a family may gather; it’s where some gather their grasp of the world.
Maybe it’s me, but I’d still love to see Senator Clinton’s face as she tried to answer the above question. (oh, her response didn’t answer the question but rather deflected it to a totally different direction.)
This is what I think, what do you think?
There is the news that the Black Family Channel has been forced to leave cable television and will only be found online. Though the channel reached 16 million households, many cable and satellite providers refused to carry the channel. It seems they thought BET, and sometimes TV One as well, was more than enough African American programming. So much for the 500 channels of diversity that HD television was proclaimed to provide.
Looking at the Presidential race, a question posed to Senator Clinton that I would believe could catch anyone’s attention was
"Are you black enough?" asked Malveaux, echoing a question often asked of rival Democratic candidate Barack Obama, who is biracial. "What makes you a better candidate over a black man representing issues confronting African-Americans?"
Wouldn’t you have loved to hear that answer?
Well maybe those 2 stories are too serious. Maybe something less important to the nation. How about being able to have virtual sex on Second Life? For those unfamiliar Second Life is a MMO similar to the popular and famous The Sims.
"Eros LLC decided people would pay to equip their online selves — which start out with the smooth anatomy of a Barbie or Ken doll — with realistic genitalia and even more to add some sexy moves."
There’s a bit of sauce to start the weekend with.
Let’s get even less relevant. How about the fact that 50 cent has stated he will quit his solo rap career if his next album does not outsell artist Kayne West. Both have upcoming releases on the same day. [Just this once I'm hoping Kanye West does really well.]
Actually several of these stories could have each been presented in the time allotted to talking about the tattoo ban. Seriously. There are too many things that deserve more time. I particularly believe the first 2 deserve the national attention, but I have to believe even the bit about 50 cent (I really hate that name) is more of interest to the nation.
21 minutes is barely a lunch break in most lives, but in television it’s a hit prime time show, breaking news, a peace treaty or a war starting. It’s the time a family may gather; it’s where some gather their grasp of the world.
Maybe it’s me, but I’d still love to see Senator Clinton’s face as she tried to answer the above question. (oh, her response didn’t answer the question but rather deflected it to a totally different direction.)
This is what I think, what do you think?
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The Notorious B.I.G gets a movie - 8.9.2007.1
I’m sure there must be some hip-hop and rap fans that are dancing today. The good news for them is that the life story of Mr. Christopher Wallace is moving closer to the silver screen. If the name is not familiar, you may recognize his stage name, Notorious B.I.G. That’s right, a biopic film is about to be under way, once the titular lead character is found.
No, Mr. Whitaker is not going to be in the film, and he will definitely not be the title character. The ‘honor’ of portraying Mr. Wallace is going to be open to the public. Anyone can audition for the role, with or without acting experience. If this is of interest you can submit audition videos beginning 3 a.m. EDT Sunday to http://www.foxsearchlight.com/notorious or http://www.biggiecasting.com.
Those are the facts, and as I said, fans should be thrilled. Now for my opinion.
Why in the world is this being made? I’m not saying it can’t be, or that it shouldn’t. I just don’t think that Mr. Wallace was big enough to deserve a film of his life. The tragic end he came to was not deserved, as no murder is, but that does not warrant the adoration and almost cult status I have seen so many provide him since his death.
Perhaps it’s just me, but Mr. Wallace was a convicted crack dealer, had been arrested for drug and weapon charges after attaining fame (though I’m hard pressed to think of a gangsta rapper who hasn’t had the same sadly), and was convicted of at least beating (it was alleged he threatened to kill) 2 people looking for autographs. There is a hero.
He was deeply involved in tuning the gangster image that is now rampant in hip-hop and rap music. He was debatably deeply involved in the feud between east coast and west coast rappers, which I always found to be possibly one of the least intelligent squabbles among successful entertainers in music history. I may not have known the man, but his lifestyle and public persona indicate I would never want to, nor that he should be so revered.
What is it about dealing crack that is so much more interesting than New Jack City, or worthy of glamorizing? And a film about his exploits does glamorize what he did, in my eyes. I will give up the point that some found his lyric to be near gospel like in their quality. I don’t agree but that is one opinion. But so have dozens of other rappers, several far better than Mr. Wallace.
There may be something redemptive about his life, but I have not read a single word about that. The movie Ray was redemptive. Mr. Ray Charles had a life that was filled with real challenges that he had to overcome. Mr. Charles was not perfect, and he had flaws we all share, but he did strive to overcome them. His drug use was not a means of income, nor a tool to create his decades of musical entertainment. He did not glorify nor promote violence. His talent was universally understood and has lasted the test of time. What part of these things can honestly be said of Mr. Wallace.
I just don’t see the value or worthiness of a film for someone of the limited stature that is the actual Notorious B.I.G.
This is what I think, what do you think?
“In the typical Hollywood world, no one came to mind outside of Forest Whitaker who could capture that essence genuinely,” stated Mr. Wayne Barrow (a former manager of Mr. Wallace).
No, Mr. Whitaker is not going to be in the film, and he will definitely not be the title character. The ‘honor’ of portraying Mr. Wallace is going to be open to the public. Anyone can audition for the role, with or without acting experience. If this is of interest you can submit audition videos beginning 3 a.m. EDT Sunday to http://www.foxsearchlight.com/notorious or http://www.biggiecasting.com.
Those are the facts, and as I said, fans should be thrilled. Now for my opinion.
Why in the world is this being made? I’m not saying it can’t be, or that it shouldn’t. I just don’t think that Mr. Wallace was big enough to deserve a film of his life. The tragic end he came to was not deserved, as no murder is, but that does not warrant the adoration and almost cult status I have seen so many provide him since his death.
Perhaps it’s just me, but Mr. Wallace was a convicted crack dealer, had been arrested for drug and weapon charges after attaining fame (though I’m hard pressed to think of a gangsta rapper who hasn’t had the same sadly), and was convicted of at least beating (it was alleged he threatened to kill) 2 people looking for autographs. There is a hero.
He was deeply involved in tuning the gangster image that is now rampant in hip-hop and rap music. He was debatably deeply involved in the feud between east coast and west coast rappers, which I always found to be possibly one of the least intelligent squabbles among successful entertainers in music history. I may not have known the man, but his lifestyle and public persona indicate I would never want to, nor that he should be so revered.
What is it about dealing crack that is so much more interesting than New Jack City, or worthy of glamorizing? And a film about his exploits does glamorize what he did, in my eyes. I will give up the point that some found his lyric to be near gospel like in their quality. I don’t agree but that is one opinion. But so have dozens of other rappers, several far better than Mr. Wallace.
There may be something redemptive about his life, but I have not read a single word about that. The movie Ray was redemptive. Mr. Ray Charles had a life that was filled with real challenges that he had to overcome. Mr. Charles was not perfect, and he had flaws we all share, but he did strive to overcome them. His drug use was not a means of income, nor a tool to create his decades of musical entertainment. He did not glorify nor promote violence. His talent was universally understood and has lasted the test of time. What part of these things can honestly be said of Mr. Wallace.
I just don’t see the value or worthiness of a film for someone of the limited stature that is the actual Notorious B.I.G.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
State of the Black Union may be real black entertainment Part 2 - 8.8.2007.2
Continued from State of the Black Union may be real black entertainment Part 1...
I want to hear what this learned and respected gathering of minds will envision as an America without African Americans. Without the infrastructure that was built with the blood of our ancestors, without the agricultural dominance whipped backs provided. Without the segregated, discriminated, volunteers that fought in every war this nation has ever had that allowed the freedoms we hold dear to exist.
I want to see what we have given, collectively and continuously, to this nation that I love. And I want to hear men like Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Virginia delegate Frank Hargrove, and others who would deny us an apology or reparations deny these respected figures comments.
Perhaps I am not as learned as these commentators, and thus my desire for an apology and reparations are easier to dismiss. Yet, I cannot see how if such an esteemed group can make the claim it can be disregarded.
It’s a personal reason, of course. I have not seen a preview and it is still some time before it airs. I could be completely wrong in what will be said, but somehow I think not. And if I am right, I damn well would love to know why only one candidate would support, or even speak on the issue of reparations during a national debate, and still hold the opinion that Blacks are assured of voting for their parties’ candidate for President.
Just some food for though, and a reason to use the TIVO or VCR for a night. Or you could always just watch the other channel that claims and targets African Americans as its viewership base. You might get lucky and see some booty-shakin.
This is what I think, what do you think?
I want to hear what this learned and respected gathering of minds will envision as an America without African Americans. Without the infrastructure that was built with the blood of our ancestors, without the agricultural dominance whipped backs provided. Without the segregated, discriminated, volunteers that fought in every war this nation has ever had that allowed the freedoms we hold dear to exist.
I want to see what we have given, collectively and continuously, to this nation that I love. And I want to hear men like Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Virginia delegate Frank Hargrove, and others who would deny us an apology or reparations deny these respected figures comments.
Perhaps I am not as learned as these commentators, and thus my desire for an apology and reparations are easier to dismiss. Yet, I cannot see how if such an esteemed group can make the claim it can be disregarded.
It’s a personal reason, of course. I have not seen a preview and it is still some time before it airs. I could be completely wrong in what will be said, but somehow I think not. And if I am right, I damn well would love to know why only one candidate would support, or even speak on the issue of reparations during a national debate, and still hold the opinion that Blacks are assured of voting for their parties’ candidate for President.
Just some food for though, and a reason to use the TIVO or VCR for a night. Or you could always just watch the other channel that claims and targets African Americans as its viewership base. You might get lucky and see some booty-shakin.
This is what I think, what do you think?
State of the Black Union may be real black entertainment - 8.8.2007.1
Well here is something that sounds like television programming of worth. Viacom and all its properties should take note of what a program aimed at a target group can be like. Mr. Sumner Redstone, Mr. Philippe Dauman, and Mr. Reginald Hudlin should all be paying close attention.
In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, TV One will be presenting a 3 part symposium that deals with the state of African Americans then and now, what America would be like without us, and a recap with memorable moments (in time since the Jamestown landing I presume). The program is called State of the Black Union. That is an interesting subject. It delves into the past and the present day. It evaluates what is good and bad in this nation. It provides food for thought. That is what I consider Black entertainment.
This program, which will start on August 12th, and be repeated on the 15th, will involve Mr. Tavis Smiley as moderator of each segment. I notice that they are avoiding the comedic angle on social commentary another cable television network has taken. Perhaps because a serious subject is normally best handled by a serious credible host.
Beyond the participation of Mr. Smiley, speakers include:
Take a moment and review that list. It’s important. For all the images of poor Black people on the news every day, all the gangs, the rappers and music videos glorifying drugs, fatherless families, and degraded women, this list says something the media just does not.
The list includes entertainers that have lasted decades in an industry where most last a season. There are politicians of on the federal and state levels, national media makers and owners, religious leaders, a jurist, a teacher of the highest level of education in one of the most prestigious Universities, and an astronaut. And they even fit in a rapper, though unlike the current gansta sub-culture his entertainment was based in politics and self-improvement.
The list is diverse, covering so many careers and formats that are rarely acknowledged to have any African American influences. That alone should be a reason to check out the program. But to be honest I want to see it because of one reason.
Continued in Part 2...
In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, TV One will be presenting a 3 part symposium that deals with the state of African Americans then and now, what America would be like without us, and a recap with memorable moments (in time since the Jamestown landing I presume). The program is called State of the Black Union. That is an interesting subject. It delves into the past and the present day. It evaluates what is good and bad in this nation. It provides food for thought. That is what I consider Black entertainment.
This program, which will start on August 12th, and be repeated on the 15th, will involve Mr. Tavis Smiley as moderator of each segment. I notice that they are avoiding the comedic angle on social commentary another cable television network has taken. Perhaps because a serious subject is normally best handled by a serious credible host.
Beyond the participation of Mr. Smiley, speakers include:
“Rev. Al Sharpton, actor/producer Tim Reid, former ABC news correspondent and current NPR host Michel Martin, radio personality Tom Joyner, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder, Radio One founder and chairperson Catherine Hughes, Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy, astronaut Dr. Mae Jamison, Dr. Cornel West of Princeton University, along with former Ebony editor Lerone Bennett Jr., Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman, and Rep. Bobby Scott:”
Take a moment and review that list. It’s important. For all the images of poor Black people on the news every day, all the gangs, the rappers and music videos glorifying drugs, fatherless families, and degraded women, this list says something the media just does not.
The list includes entertainers that have lasted decades in an industry where most last a season. There are politicians of on the federal and state levels, national media makers and owners, religious leaders, a jurist, a teacher of the highest level of education in one of the most prestigious Universities, and an astronaut. And they even fit in a rapper, though unlike the current gansta sub-culture his entertainment was based in politics and self-improvement.
The list is diverse, covering so many careers and formats that are rarely acknowledged to have any African American influences. That alone should be a reason to check out the program. But to be honest I want to see it because of one reason.
Continued in Part 2...
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Ramblings of Michael Vass Part 2 - 8.7.2007.4
Continued from Ramblings of Michael Vass Part 1...
Some say it’s because of racism. While it exists, I know that first hand and recently as well, there is no comparison to what existed in the 50’s and earlier. There were no television channels featuring Blacks, nor African American characters of note. There were no African American political candidates, or mayors. Being in the wrong place or looking at the wrong person easily led to attacks and in many cases lynchings. Even with the far too common police or mob actions of today, there is no comparison.
Some of the more dim say it’s because that is ‘being real’. First reality is real, to have to say that is both redundant and an indication of the limits of the mind that spoke such a statement. Secondly the reality is not what various marketing systems portray on a daily basis. Music videos, songs, television programs and that ilk are merely means by which to separate a consumer from their income. They are exaggerations and excerpts of reality and no more accurate than the world of JRR Tolkein or Issac Asimov.
The media, in all its forms including entertainment, may state that EVERY African American uses drugs, has 5 kids that they don’t see, never graduated high school, and is involved in some form of criminal activity but even casual observation in the worst of neighborhoods prove this wrong. The overwhelming average of African Americans are people that work, raise families, have sought and gained basic and the highest levels of education, without a single criminal incident (many without even so much as a parking ticket). But that reality just seems to escape the major media, and often the blogosphere.
Where are the posts celebrating the contributions being made every day? Celebrity donations are always decent news, but how often do you hear about something being done by a Black or Hispanic entertainer/celebrity? There are many of them, and more than just Ms. Oprah Winfrey is out there doing things. How about the efforts of Mr. Don Cheadle, or the work of Mr. Montel Williams in providing 4 million people with free or nearly free medication. Doesn’t that deserve a bit more than just the mere soundbites they get now?
So yes, I get tired. It’s hard to write to all the blogs everyday. But I do, and I look out for the positives. I’m not perfect; I miss stuff I should write about. I get caught up in an issue and don’t have the time to get to other issues. It happens.
But there are positives out there. There are alternatives. Leadership is the act of leading, and I like other bloggers are trying to lead to a better path than what is out there now. I just felt like mentioning that. Thank you for reading and your patronage.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Some say it’s because of racism. While it exists, I know that first hand and recently as well, there is no comparison to what existed in the 50’s and earlier. There were no television channels featuring Blacks, nor African American characters of note. There were no African American political candidates, or mayors. Being in the wrong place or looking at the wrong person easily led to attacks and in many cases lynchings. Even with the far too common police or mob actions of today, there is no comparison.
Some of the more dim say it’s because that is ‘being real’. First reality is real, to have to say that is both redundant and an indication of the limits of the mind that spoke such a statement. Secondly the reality is not what various marketing systems portray on a daily basis. Music videos, songs, television programs and that ilk are merely means by which to separate a consumer from their income. They are exaggerations and excerpts of reality and no more accurate than the world of JRR Tolkein or Issac Asimov.
The media, in all its forms including entertainment, may state that EVERY African American uses drugs, has 5 kids that they don’t see, never graduated high school, and is involved in some form of criminal activity but even casual observation in the worst of neighborhoods prove this wrong. The overwhelming average of African Americans are people that work, raise families, have sought and gained basic and the highest levels of education, without a single criminal incident (many without even so much as a parking ticket). But that reality just seems to escape the major media, and often the blogosphere.
Where are the posts celebrating the contributions being made every day? Celebrity donations are always decent news, but how often do you hear about something being done by a Black or Hispanic entertainer/celebrity? There are many of them, and more than just Ms. Oprah Winfrey is out there doing things. How about the efforts of Mr. Don Cheadle, or the work of Mr. Montel Williams in providing 4 million people with free or nearly free medication. Doesn’t that deserve a bit more than just the mere soundbites they get now?
So yes, I get tired. It’s hard to write to all the blogs everyday. But I do, and I look out for the positives. I’m not perfect; I miss stuff I should write about. I get caught up in an issue and don’t have the time to get to other issues. It happens.
But there are positives out there. There are alternatives. Leadership is the act of leading, and I like other bloggers are trying to lead to a better path than what is out there now. I just felt like mentioning that. Thank you for reading and your patronage.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Ramblings of Michael Vass - 8.7.2007.3
Some days it’s just hard to write to a blog. I know, many of the bloggers out there are reading that and laughing. Of course it’s hard. Reading news, figuring out what story or concept gets you most motivated and then creating a fluid and expressive statement that others might want to glance over. Once you do get consistent readers the pressure to be consistent, topical and timely grows exponentially.
I’m not complaining. I currently write to 8 blogs, with varying degrees of consistency. I cover a diverse range of topics, from NASCAR, to Presidential candidates, to my thoughts and Black issues among others.
But I am annoyed. There is so much that should be written, and I don’t have the ability to cover the scope of it. Anger versus Islam, racism, stereotyping, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Presidential election, global warming and more. There are just so many topics.
But I notice something. The issues that often catch my attention deal with the negatives that affect African Americans and Latino/Hispanic Americans. Generally it is because my anger is invoked, or because I think a lot is being obscured but overall it is just negative. I wonder where the good news is.
I see constantly news on OJ Simpson, or this rapper committing another crime. I read about how Blacks aren’t making it to higher education, that the Black middle class is disappearing, that the segregation among African Americans is worse than from other sources. I see videos that showcase booty-shakin and drugs, or viral videos that promote violence in schools. I observe how the Black community is a commodity for sale from generally non-black corporations. All of this and I get tired.
Why is it that BET can’t provide programming that other cable networks seem to have little difficulty creating? Why is it this nation can’t stop being angry about OJ getting an innocent verdict? Why must 90% of all references about violent or drug related crime, or welfare and social assistance must have African American faces on it? What drives the media to place events featuring African American entertainers and celebrities of a negative aspect on the front page, but charities and positive actions get about 30 seconds of coverage?
Some say it’s because the Black leadership has focused the news this way. That’s crap. There are no African American leaders. When was the vote? How did anyone get registered for it? Who counted? It never happened.
Rev. Al Shaprton, Minister Farakan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and several other notables have been proclaimed leaders yet I know I have never been asked about it. They are just the guys that the media decided to follow and promote. That’s not leadership, it’s attention. The difference is vast.
Continued in Part 2...
I’m not complaining. I currently write to 8 blogs, with varying degrees of consistency. I cover a diverse range of topics, from NASCAR, to Presidential candidates, to my thoughts and Black issues among others.
But I am annoyed. There is so much that should be written, and I don’t have the ability to cover the scope of it. Anger versus Islam, racism, stereotyping, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Presidential election, global warming and more. There are just so many topics.
But I notice something. The issues that often catch my attention deal with the negatives that affect African Americans and Latino/Hispanic Americans. Generally it is because my anger is invoked, or because I think a lot is being obscured but overall it is just negative. I wonder where the good news is.
I see constantly news on OJ Simpson, or this rapper committing another crime. I read about how Blacks aren’t making it to higher education, that the Black middle class is disappearing, that the segregation among African Americans is worse than from other sources. I see videos that showcase booty-shakin and drugs, or viral videos that promote violence in schools. I observe how the Black community is a commodity for sale from generally non-black corporations. All of this and I get tired.
Why is it that BET can’t provide programming that other cable networks seem to have little difficulty creating? Why is it this nation can’t stop being angry about OJ getting an innocent verdict? Why must 90% of all references about violent or drug related crime, or welfare and social assistance must have African American faces on it? What drives the media to place events featuring African American entertainers and celebrities of a negative aspect on the front page, but charities and positive actions get about 30 seconds of coverage?
Some say it’s because the Black leadership has focused the news this way. That’s crap. There are no African American leaders. When was the vote? How did anyone get registered for it? Who counted? It never happened.
Rev. Al Shaprton, Minister Farakan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and several other notables have been proclaimed leaders yet I know I have never been asked about it. They are just the guys that the media decided to follow and promote. That’s not leadership, it’s attention. The difference is vast.
Continued in Part 2...
Money, OJ Simpson, and All-Pro Football 2K8 - 8.7.2007.1
So I made a post about the video game featuring OJ Simpson as one of the players back on the 25th (What happens when you mix a video game and OJ Simpson). I found the nature of the videoclip to be upsetting. The obssesion that the nation has with OJ Simpson is abnormal.
But even more has come out about this video game, All-Pro Football 2K8. It seems that a fee was paid to OJ for using his image. That is a standard for a celebrity or entertainer in any media. What is not standard is the fact that those fees are being taken by the Goldman family.
This is another case of the Goldman family going after the money, in my opinion. Much like the huge amount of press that was created when the book If I Did It was first mentioned, with the Goldman family denouncing the book and stating it should never be published, that then morphed into the Goldman’s taking the rights and now seeking to monetize that same book.
I find it odd that there was no denouncement of this video game profiting because it implied OJ was a killer. No mention that this game was a means that Take-Two Interactive Software, the publisher of this and GTA (Grand Theft Auto), was merely cashing in on the deaths of 2 people and the sensationalism that has surrounded those deaths. Was it because this game showed OJ in the light of a killer? Is it ok for any company to profit on those murdered as long as they support the Goldman’s beliefs?
I have never said OJ is innocent. The courts, and a jury of his peers said that. Yet, the media and the legal system have not stopped punishing him for getting the innocent verdict that he received. And the Goldman family, along with the Brown family, have not stopped in their attempt to cash in.
Perhaps the intention at first was to punish a man they saw as guilty. I can understand that. But I can’t help feel that as time has gone on, with most of a nation sharing the same belief, the motivation has gone from punishment to reward. Punishment is preventing the OJ Simpson book from being published. Punishment would be changing the nature of the game or denouncing it as money-grabbing sensationalism. Reward is changing the title of the book and making a profit, or allowing the game to exist and claim the liscencing fee for it.
This stopped being about guilt or innocence a long time ago. At least as I see it. Unlike the Robert Blake case, the current Phil Spector case, or the Von Bulow case, attention on every aspect of OJ Simpson is purely motivated by money at this point. I mentioned it before, OJ is the Jack the Ripper of modern America. The media and the Goldman’s are just profiting on the near-legend status they have created.
So I wonder, where does the greed stop? When does the public notice that every move being made by OJ, and the Goldman’s at this point are all about profiting off the death of 2 people? When does this case stop being the singular most discussed topic of media? When might the profit from this all end?
This is what I think, what do you think?
But even more has come out about this video game, All-Pro Football 2K8. It seems that a fee was paid to OJ for using his image. That is a standard for a celebrity or entertainer in any media. What is not standard is the fact that those fees are being taken by the Goldman family.
This is another case of the Goldman family going after the money, in my opinion. Much like the huge amount of press that was created when the book If I Did It was first mentioned, with the Goldman family denouncing the book and stating it should never be published, that then morphed into the Goldman’s taking the rights and now seeking to monetize that same book.
I find it odd that there was no denouncement of this video game profiting because it implied OJ was a killer. No mention that this game was a means that Take-Two Interactive Software, the publisher of this and GTA (Grand Theft Auto), was merely cashing in on the deaths of 2 people and the sensationalism that has surrounded those deaths. Was it because this game showed OJ in the light of a killer? Is it ok for any company to profit on those murdered as long as they support the Goldman’s beliefs?
I have never said OJ is innocent. The courts, and a jury of his peers said that. Yet, the media and the legal system have not stopped punishing him for getting the innocent verdict that he received. And the Goldman family, along with the Brown family, have not stopped in their attempt to cash in.
Perhaps the intention at first was to punish a man they saw as guilty. I can understand that. But I can’t help feel that as time has gone on, with most of a nation sharing the same belief, the motivation has gone from punishment to reward. Punishment is preventing the OJ Simpson book from being published. Punishment would be changing the nature of the game or denouncing it as money-grabbing sensationalism. Reward is changing the title of the book and making a profit, or allowing the game to exist and claim the liscencing fee for it.
This stopped being about guilt or innocence a long time ago. At least as I see it. Unlike the Robert Blake case, the current Phil Spector case, or the Von Bulow case, attention on every aspect of OJ Simpson is purely motivated by money at this point. I mentioned it before, OJ is the Jack the Ripper of modern America. The media and the Goldman’s are just profiting on the near-legend status they have created.
So I wonder, where does the greed stop? When does the public notice that every move being made by OJ, and the Goldman’s at this point are all about profiting off the death of 2 people? When does this case stop being the singular most discussed topic of media? When might the profit from this all end?
This is what I think, what do you think?
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Review - The Bourne Ultimatum - 8.4.2007.1
The Borne Ultimatum. It is almost enough to say that alone, and still explain with clarity the fact that it is a full-throttle adrenaline rush. The movie is about as non-stop as any movie can claim to be. And when you are on this ride you are bewildered, careening and intensely absorbed in everything around you. It’s about the best description for how the movie will make you feel.
Honestly the movie is a rush. From the first 5 minutes to the last 5 you are kept moving at a pace that is breathe-taking. The pace is moving at the speed of Bourne, and for once we get to glimpse the world from his eyes. To appreciate how quickly Bourne can evaluate and implement a plan based on his surroundings is astounding.
This film starts from just before the end of the 2nd movie, and continues in time from there. By late in the film we connect to the last scenes of the Supremacy. The context changes everything. And the trailers for the movie are not quite what you will get in the film.
The movie provides several scenes where we get to see exactly how Bourne makes his disappearances, and he even imparts this to another person. Effectively he takes a regular man and cloaks him in invisibility to the eyes of the operatives searching for him, in one of the most video surveillanced and agent filled places in England.
This lives up to the hype, and expectations. More fights, more locations, more secrets revealed. As Bourne unravels his past, the levels of deception and danger unfold at higher levels. The willingness of some to do whatever it takes to keep the shadows dark is equal to the grey of what is right and wrong in their world.
The quest of Bourne to understand who made him what he is takes us full circle through the entire movie series. We begin in water, and end there as well. We get questions and answers in a diner. We learn what is similar in all the women of Bourne’s life.
Mr. Matt Damon picks up his titular role and doesn’t miss a beat. He gives us exactly what we’ve come to love about Bourne. Taciturn, economical and lightning sharp. Quite a few of the stunts are done by Mr. Damon, adding to the connection and authenticity. Watching him take out various bad guys with nothing more deadly than a book or just bare handed is impressive.
Unlike most films, except the Ocean 11 series, all the major characters we’ve come to enjoy make an appearance at least. The one’s that have survived to this point at least. And more than in the other films we get a bit of politics infused as well. Both the pro and con of various issues, like tapping cell phones. To see the keyword program in action, with the ability to tap conversations, overseas shows the potential good and the ease of misuse of such a policy. Much like the various operatives and the shadow programs everything in this film details the fine line between the good of the nation and the evil power can bring.
Perhaps that is the real attraction of the series. Watching the battle, not of good and bad, but the struggle of being in the gray. Either way, the journey is worth the price.
Honestly the movie is a rush. From the first 5 minutes to the last 5 you are kept moving at a pace that is breathe-taking. The pace is moving at the speed of Bourne, and for once we get to glimpse the world from his eyes. To appreciate how quickly Bourne can evaluate and implement a plan based on his surroundings is astounding.
This film starts from just before the end of the 2nd movie, and continues in time from there. By late in the film we connect to the last scenes of the Supremacy. The context changes everything. And the trailers for the movie are not quite what you will get in the film.
The movie provides several scenes where we get to see exactly how Bourne makes his disappearances, and he even imparts this to another person. Effectively he takes a regular man and cloaks him in invisibility to the eyes of the operatives searching for him, in one of the most video surveillanced and agent filled places in England.
This lives up to the hype, and expectations. More fights, more locations, more secrets revealed. As Bourne unravels his past, the levels of deception and danger unfold at higher levels. The willingness of some to do whatever it takes to keep the shadows dark is equal to the grey of what is right and wrong in their world.
The quest of Bourne to understand who made him what he is takes us full circle through the entire movie series. We begin in water, and end there as well. We get questions and answers in a diner. We learn what is similar in all the women of Bourne’s life.
Mr. Matt Damon picks up his titular role and doesn’t miss a beat. He gives us exactly what we’ve come to love about Bourne. Taciturn, economical and lightning sharp. Quite a few of the stunts are done by Mr. Damon, adding to the connection and authenticity. Watching him take out various bad guys with nothing more deadly than a book or just bare handed is impressive.
Unlike most films, except the Ocean 11 series, all the major characters we’ve come to enjoy make an appearance at least. The one’s that have survived to this point at least. And more than in the other films we get a bit of politics infused as well. Both the pro and con of various issues, like tapping cell phones. To see the keyword program in action, with the ability to tap conversations, overseas shows the potential good and the ease of misuse of such a policy. Much like the various operatives and the shadow programs everything in this film details the fine line between the good of the nation and the evil power can bring.
Perhaps that is the real attraction of the series. Watching the battle, not of good and bad, but the struggle of being in the gray. Either way, the journey is worth the price.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Watchmen, Wil Wheaton, Comic-Con - 8.2.2007.1
Well I have to give it to Mr. Wil Wheaton. He definitely knows how to get a point across on a blog. In a featured post Mr. Wheaton spared no emotions in denouncing the corporate execs that went to the recent Comic-Con. Minus the expletives, he hit the nail on the head.
Mr. Wheaton is upset at all the crappy ‘revisioning’ and ‘updating’ of great stories and movies that is the recent craze in Hollywood. I’ve constantly mentioned my distaste for virtually anything ‘revisioned’, actually I don’t recall any movie that modified or updated a great old concept with new, hip, modern ideas [Batman Begins may count, but it’s not quite right as it deals with the origin of Batman and not the Mr. Michael Keaton/Mr. Tim Burton version, nor the Dark Knight graphic novel they were somewhat based on]. That goes for every genre and has no connection to where the source material comes from.
Madonna’s American Pie sucked the life out of the original. The Hitcher, Psycho, The Honeymooners, Mortal Kombat, Flash Gordon, Dukes of Hazzard, and Starsky and Hutch are all great examples of screw-ups created with the ‘revisioned’ concept in mind. And that’s not the worst of it. Hollywood executives are so without ideas that they are not only making a movie of EVERY comic book character ever made (it seems) they are completely ignoring the storylines that made them popular. And for those movie studios without a comic book deal (yes there is one or 2) they are re-making movies for the 3rd time or more.
I know someone is saying 3rd versions? You have got to be kidding. Nope. An upcoming example is the new Invasion movie starring Ms. Nicole Kidman. Original movie – Invasion of the Body Snatchers – first remake was in the 80’s (as I recall) which was redone to create a heroine, and a back-story that were neither needed nor added to the story. The “new” movie tries to trick everyone with a shorter title (like we are all too dumb to figure it out) another twist to the back-story, another heroine that is now motivated by maternal desires and I predict will utterly fail as they miss the point of the whole damn original concept that made it worth being remade.
All of this is not lost on Mr. Wheaton. His comments on the ruined storylines for Daredevil, Electra, Fantastic Four, Captain America (done at least 2x on television), The Hulk (I can accept the television series, but the movie failed both the comic book and the series), Ghost Rider, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and many others rings pinpoint true. Hollywood exec generally have no clue what the draw is for these films and substitute their own ideas of what might pull an audience, and fail miserably.
The increasingly rare exceptions continue to be where an actual fan is involved. The Spiderman series, the first 2 X-Men movies, The Fly remake, The Lord of the Rings dutiful transition, are all part of a handful of fans dedicated to getting it right.
Which brings up the Watchmen movie. If you have read the graphic novels you probably get what it’s about. It’s intense, powerful and direct without having to hit you over the head. The fact that it is planned for a movie is fantastic. My expectation for Hollywood to get it right is low. I hope they get it right. But I can’t see an exec understanding the joke that is the Joker, or the paranoia of Rorschach. I can hope, and if the director is a fan we might just get lucky. We shall see.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Mr. Wheaton is upset at all the crappy ‘revisioning’ and ‘updating’ of great stories and movies that is the recent craze in Hollywood. I’ve constantly mentioned my distaste for virtually anything ‘revisioned’, actually I don’t recall any movie that modified or updated a great old concept with new, hip, modern ideas [Batman Begins may count, but it’s not quite right as it deals with the origin of Batman and not the Mr. Michael Keaton/Mr. Tim Burton version, nor the Dark Knight graphic novel they were somewhat based on]. That goes for every genre and has no connection to where the source material comes from.
Madonna’s American Pie sucked the life out of the original. The Hitcher, Psycho, The Honeymooners, Mortal Kombat, Flash Gordon, Dukes of Hazzard, and Starsky and Hutch are all great examples of screw-ups created with the ‘revisioned’ concept in mind. And that’s not the worst of it. Hollywood executives are so without ideas that they are not only making a movie of EVERY comic book character ever made (it seems) they are completely ignoring the storylines that made them popular. And for those movie studios without a comic book deal (yes there is one or 2) they are re-making movies for the 3rd time or more.
I know someone is saying 3rd versions? You have got to be kidding. Nope. An upcoming example is the new Invasion movie starring Ms. Nicole Kidman. Original movie – Invasion of the Body Snatchers – first remake was in the 80’s (as I recall) which was redone to create a heroine, and a back-story that were neither needed nor added to the story. The “new” movie tries to trick everyone with a shorter title (like we are all too dumb to figure it out) another twist to the back-story, another heroine that is now motivated by maternal desires and I predict will utterly fail as they miss the point of the whole damn original concept that made it worth being remade.
All of this is not lost on Mr. Wheaton. His comments on the ruined storylines for Daredevil, Electra, Fantastic Four, Captain America (done at least 2x on television), The Hulk (I can accept the television series, but the movie failed both the comic book and the series), Ghost Rider, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and many others rings pinpoint true. Hollywood exec generally have no clue what the draw is for these films and substitute their own ideas of what might pull an audience, and fail miserably.
The increasingly rare exceptions continue to be where an actual fan is involved. The Spiderman series, the first 2 X-Men movies, The Fly remake, The Lord of the Rings dutiful transition, are all part of a handful of fans dedicated to getting it right.
Which brings up the Watchmen movie. If you have read the graphic novels you probably get what it’s about. It’s intense, powerful and direct without having to hit you over the head. The fact that it is planned for a movie is fantastic. My expectation for Hollywood to get it right is low. I hope they get it right. But I can’t see an exec understanding the joke that is the Joker, or the paranoia of Rorschach. I can hope, and if the director is a fan we might just get lucky. We shall see.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)