Another of those days - 8.29.2007.1

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?

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?

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?

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.

“…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...

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.

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?

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...

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.

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,

“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?

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?

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...

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?

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.