Annie Lennox SING's Woman of Peace

For those that may not have been paying attention, AIDS has not been cured. Nor has the number of people getting HIV stopped. It's not popular to talk about such things, but that may be part of why Annie Lennox has been doing just that.

Annie Lennox has been probably best known for her music career. She is a Scottish singer and acclaimed for her many albums and remarkable voice. It is that same voice that gathered 23 female singers to release their own versions of a song called SING. The proceeds of this went to help South Africans via the Treatment Action Campaign. So far SING has raised over $2,000,000.



In honor of her efforts, and her continuing work to fight AIDS and help women and children especially in South African, Annie Lennox has received the Woman of the Peace award for 2009. The award was presented to her at a summit of Nobel Peace laureates in Berlin (President Obama was not present).

I love to discuss and share the contributions made by entertainers and celebrities for people in need across the world. I share the concern of Lennox and others over the fight against AIDS and prevention of HIV. I just wish the rest of the media would do the same.

Tens of millions still contract AIDS and HIV every year. Even in the U.S. HIV and AIDS continues to be a threat. There is no cure. HIV/AIDS afflicts people of every walk of life. Rich and poor, Black, White, Latino, Asian, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, male and female - all alike. Anyone having unprotected sex is potentially capable of contracting HIV and AIDS.

I commend Anne Lennox on her devotion to saving lives and caring for the sick. I congratulate her on her well earned award.

I just wish that other, more political rockstars, one day earn the awards and praise they have received for doing absolutely nothing except smiling. And yes, that is a dig at President Obama.

Natasha Richardson dead at 45

It's always sad to hear of anyone dying. That becomes even worse when the person in question is young and/or from an accident. Such is what has happened to Natasha Richardson.

Sometimes even the most innocent of accidents turn out to be devastating. Richardson was learning to ski, and was on a beginner slope. Hardly the place one might have imagined her to have such a fatal outcome. I can only imagine the shock that has struck Liam Neeson and their entire family.

For the rest of us, we can remember the things that Richardson brought to us. Her dedication to fighting AIDS via Bailey House, God's Love We Deliver, Mothers' Voices, AIDS Crisis Trust and National AIDS Trust, the Tony Award she won, the fact she was a mother. Like any entertainer there was much more to Richardson, of which we only glimpsed.

My condolences to the Redgrave and Neeson families, as well as all the friends of Natasha Richardson.

The best, most popular, and different posts of 2008 on Black Entertainment USA

For my last post of 2008 I wanted to look back and see what were some of the most popular posts I had written, and what I consider some of favorites. I know I am highly critical of things that displease me, so I thought I'd turn that same critical eye towards myself for a change.

I must say that in looking over the hundreds of posts I wrote on Black Entertainment USA alone this year, some just don't belong here. Some of the comments are far more political than anything else. And I can't use the excuse I have no where else to have said these things - I do own a political blog as well.

And I admit to having a few posts where I was just far too tired. I should have gone to sleep. Or taken that vacation all my friends have heard me speak about over the last 15 years (I've had 2 vacations in my life, none exceeding a week or involving travel). But instead I must apologize because they were really sub-par, even for a bad day.

Still overall I will say that roughly 80% or more of my posts were relevant and interesting. Many are topical and focused on the events of the day. Looking back some are not as important as I first thought they were, and others far more than I would give credit. And several posts were popular that I would not have expected to be.

Some of the top Black Entertainment USA posts of 2008, as viewed and/or commented by you my readers were:

So there is a Black guy in an elevator...
Audi television commercial says we are all not the same
OJ Simpson convicted - kangaroo court closed
OJ Simpson trial - injustice unreported
The new 90210 - is it cancelled yet?
NASCAR, Mauricia Grant, and my opinion
Is Robert Downey Jr funny as an African American?
Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman to return to cable television
VH1’s Top 100 of rap music celebrates the positives of the genre

It's an interesting group of posts indeed. And I think that I got it right in those posts. Not that everyone agreed with my view, just that they felt something after reading it. And that ultimately is one of my goals.

But I looked over the entire year and I saw a couple of other posts that I thought were very important, and/or meant something to me directly. Not all of them were relevant, given, but they said something important. And I want to present them again. Again you may not agree with my view, but I hope my top 10 will motivate some reaction. [Oh since 3 of my top 10 are in the above list that you my readers have found of interest, I will substitute 3 others]

NJ considers apology for slavery (part 1, 2, 3, 4)
Tiger Woods comment impacts Dr. Martin Luther King birthday (part 1, 2)
President Bush and Darfur now - not the movie
R Kelly - next stop Neverland Ranch
Janet Jackson: Intelligence, success, and fame are not enough
Black Americans - commodity, criminals, or something much more
Do you know enough about the 2008 Presidential election?
1st Annual Memorial Pig Roast for Madden A. Cordero - please read and donate if you can
50 cent sells a new opiate to the masses
Movie Review Iron Man

I also found the time to champion a couple of other causes that aren't the most popular or widely held:
Boycott 33 variations - Hanoi Jane Fonda
Levi's 501 jeans - promoting HIV and AIDS?

Found a video on Youtube I really liked - Try This with an Xbox360 or PS3 - and one I though was an abysmal joke - Snoop Dogg in Country Music: a bad experiment

And I achieved a great step forward for my company as well:
M V Consulting, Inc and TV One Announce Collaboration - Press Release
Introducing the first 2009 model Ashley

And of course I found the time to pick a fight:
Viacom (and maybe Jon Stewart) doesn't like Black Entertainment USA. Maybe.

So I wasn't just speaking about entertainment this year. But considering all the things that were going on, all the changes, and the things I felt mattered, I think I covered a lot of what you wanted to read about.

In 2009 I will try to stay on point a bit more. But as always I will share with you my thoughts and views about the important topics affecting all our lives as well as our entertainment. And I always look forward to your comments [yes even the dissenting views that are thought out beyond just cursing me out] about what I present.

2008 has been a tough year, no matter what country race or whatever you may be. 2009 will be different, and I hope that all of my readers, and those that will become my readers, their families and friends will share in a prosperous and peaceful year.

Vernon Palmer, Apostle Shada Mishe, whacko snake oil peddler

I hate it when a whacko uses my site to try to gain fame, fortune or both. Let me be clear.

I previously posted a story about the Levi's 501 jeans commercial that I felt promoted unprotected sex among youth, and thus promoted STD's and HIV/AIDS.

Today a wacko named Vernon Palmer, who now likes to go by the name Apostle Shada Mishe, placed a comment to that post boasting about his 'Cure for HIV/AIDS' (which has since been deleted). This cure was given to Vernon by God via the angel Gabriel in 2002. After an unknown amount of delay, Palmer eventually used this cure on an unnamed AIDS victim who then was 'cured' though he remained HIV positive. Palmer has gone on to make several Youtube videos and claims to have presented his 'cure' to dozens of agencies, doctors, institutions, and governments. Yet none are advocating his claim nor using it.

Did I forget to mention that this "God given cure" also cures HPV, Lupus and several other maladies?

In all the mumbo quasi-religious quasi-scientific jumbo that Palmer spouts, and posts on every blog he can find, he never mentions the name of anyone cured. He never mentions a single institution that was given this 'cure'. And across the internet there is not a single post or article from any source that validates a single word of the garbage Palmer is spouting. There are multiple items found that dispute every word though - Jamaican claims that he can cure AIDS with gift given to him by God, AMBUSH (CURE FOR AIDS!!!).

Why am I discussing this then? Because I do not want anyone to be fooled or conned by this madman. HIV/AIDS is a serious disease, and research into a cure should not be sidelined by fanatical crap that will only give false hope to victims.

Second I despise anyone that would seek to gain anything off of the backs of the sick, impaired, or uneducated. This is akin to Nazi's who profited by pulling the gold out of the mouths of concentration camp victims. Or collected insurance payments from Jews that were never paid out to the families. Or the other sick bastards on the net that promise cures for various ailments that only wind up sucking the money out of the banks of terminally ill patients.

Third, were this to have any credibility scientists and doctors across the world would be trying it just in case it did save lives. If this cured anyone, I cannot see how they might hesitate to get on every blog, news program, newspaper and so on across the world proclaiming the results.

Fourth, Vernon Palmer states himself that he delayed using this 'gift from God' given to him by an 'angel'. If he truely believed such a miracle happened, why would he offend God by ignoring it for even a moment? That's like God giving Moses the ten commandmnets and then leaving them on the mountain for a few weeks as he went on about his life.

Such frauds deserve to be hung by the genitals with piano wire. I have no pity or remorse for these charlatans.

M V Consulting, Inc does not believe in such frauds. We do not advocate any such lies and profiteering. We will vociferously denounce any such fool and show them for the cheap snake oil salesman they are.

AMBUSH, Vernon Palmer, Apostle Shada Mishe and whatever new name he or his product take on deserve to be thrown in a jail and forgotten. Don't be fooled and never give such a cretin a dime.

Lane Brown bad mouths RED(WIRE)

If I mentioned HIV/AIDS to you, I would expect that you might say a horrible disease that needs to be stopped. If I said that your help, a donation of say $2.50, would provide medicine and research for a cure to HIV/AIDS most would say no problem. It’s a small amount of money and at worst you are losing a cup of coffee from Dunkin Doughnuts or an extra shot of espresso at a coffeehouse. If I suggested you make that same donation once a month I imagine that most would still say ok, again it’s not enough money to worry about the rent over.

Now here is the question. Does it matter if you actually made a donation of $5 and only $2.50 went to the research and medicine?

For VULTURE and Lane Brown it does. There is an article that takes on the RED(WIRE) charity which provides music from various bands to digital subscribers for a monthly fee of $5. It seems the problem Vulture has is that only half of the money gets to provide medicine for those afflicted with AIDS in Africa. A bit less than the other half the money goes to the artists, the rest to administration fees.

Musicians are getting paid for their effort on behalf of a charitable organization. The world is about to stop spinning. Seriously so what. At least the charity is getting 50% of the proceeds. Many organizations can’t boast that much. And it’s an extra $2.50 per subscriber per month that was not available before.

I understand that some might want to sit back and use the logic that 50% of a donation going to a great cause is not enough, justifying their refusal to make a donation. But I am not in favor of anything that uses such an argument to promote their own success and profit (note the 5 ads on the page). It’s a bit of a slap in the face.

How much I wonder of the advertising dollars is New York Media LLC (owner of the site) giving to AIDS research and medical aid in Africa or anywhere? If they are giving money to help end AIDS and help those in Africa, or anywhere, afflicted with this disease, how much is that organization actually providing after the fees of operation and whatever else. Are they just throwing stones from in their glass house?

Entertainers get paid to perform at charity events. Charities have administration costs. The bigger the venue, and/or entertainer, the higher the costs to operate. That’s the way of the world. Even charities can only run but so long without paying the bills.

If VULTURE or Lane Brown really are upset about the division of money being sent to fight AIDS I ask where their charity providing more than 50% of the donations exists? I want to see the entertainers and celebrities they have endorsing their events and services that help AIDS only. I want to see the media attention they give to AIDS and HIV prevention and cure.

In fact, searching the blog for AIDS provides 46 results going back to June of 2007. In that time, on this keyword, exactly 1 post comes up that deals with AIDS. And that is this post blasting U2’s Bono and RED(WIRE). I really think that with a record like this VULTURE and Lane Brown should shut the hell up when it comes to people actually doing something more than complaining about AIDS/HIV.

Beware of Dr. Horowitz - lies and mistreatments for profit

I ran across something that really had me wondering. A cure for AIDS, malaria, and infectious disease. This wasn’t something that hit the major news media, nor most of the minor media outlets. So I have my questions about it.

If there is a cure for AIDS and other diseases plaguing the world you would expect that it would be on every cable channel and across the internet. But it may be the nature of this “cure” that is the problem. It is essentially a natural cure and not some drug created in a major pharmaceutical think tank. And it is currently being tested in Africa.

Now the article that I learned of UPCOSH™, short for Uniform Picoscaler Concentrated Oligodynamic Silver Hydrosol, reads like an advertisement better suited for an infomercial than a scientific report. Still that does not mean it is false. But the video of this product reinforces the infomercial aspect and leaves me concerned for those that may look at this as some kind of super cure for their ailments.



So I looked up the man behind this product, Dr. Leonard Horowitz. And what I found was very interesting.

Dr. Horowitz is a dentist. Not a genetist or a doctor of any applied medicine. He writes books about conspiracy theories. And he makes money from websites selling hollistic medicine. His crediential are weak at best. Which does not help his current claims, as did his claim of having a cure for SARS.

Dr. Horowitz has had several of his websites close. Each of the defunct sites promoted a “cure” for various maladies in the world. Most were related to his cure for SARS which he continues to sell under various names and formulas today. None have been proven to be effective.

He also has an eye for being very promotional. He is noted for releasing a press release that highlights a book he wrote and it’s connection to the Will Smith film I AM LEGEND. The manner of the press release made it seem the film was at least in part based on his book, which is false. In fact, and noted carefully in the press release (made by Dr. Horowitz himself), his book was used in a scene in the film and that was all.

So overall I comne to this conclusion.

Dr. Horowitz is a modern day snake oil salesman. He is profiting off of the fears of the public, and the desire of many to use natural means to cure harsh and deadly ailments. He has no credibility, and any item he promotes should be viewed with high levels of doubt and incredulity.

There may well be many products that will provide natural cures to various ailments that beset people across the world. I believe that virtually ever ailment has a natural antidote, remedy, or prevention. And I believe there are many credible scientists and doctors that are investigating and presenting these cures to the benefit of millions or perhaps billions in the world. But Dr. Horowitz is not among them.

I would love to find that credible international agencies and institutions agree with a cure promoted by Dr. Horowitz or some other opportunist. Because even a broken clock is right twice a day. But at this point I cannot say this has happened. And I disapprove of con-artists profiting off of the hopes and needs of ill people.

Dr. Horowitz, in my opinion, hurts those seeking natural cures, and the industry that seeks to create those cures. He is of the lowest class of slime, as I understand him, because of what he is doing. I feel he has violated his oath to do no harm, for no reason beyond greed – and that is sickening.

In the past snake oil salesman would be tarred and feathered. Today, because of the internet and infomercials many make millions. So I can only say please be cautious and aware. If this post has saved anyone the heartache or pain a false cure can bring, I am glad.

And if this huckster and formenr dentist can provide authoritative proof of his cures I invite him to do so. Otherwise I hope that he slithers under a rock and is never heard from again. Until then I say to Dr. Horowitz, Ne Pizdie [it’s russian].

Can television commercials promote HIV and AIDS?

Mrs. H,

Thank you for commenting. My response is not only to your comments but for those reading this post for the first time.

Now it’s not me saying this Levi’s 501 jeans commercial is about sex. I didn’t make it. But to watch this and to say they think that sex will sell their jeans seems obvious to me. The question of morality should be asked of Levi’s.

Now you asked how I connect this to HIV and AIDS. Well I view it like this. Teenagers and 20-something’s experience huge hormonal changes. Their sex drives are massively amped up compared to most any other age group, as is their belief that they are invulnerable to any harm. As such they don’t always think in the most logical or complete manner once sex is on the horizon. That leads to risky acts and spontaneous action.

That is not to say every young adult is like this. But honestly most are.

This is why far too many young adults don’t carry or use condoms. Add to that the general cultural fear and/or embarrassment about asking questions relating to sex and you have an environment that is ripe for transmitting STD’s. The worst of those STD’s is HIV and AIDS.

If unprotected sex can cause pregnancy, transfer Chlamydia or Herpes, then it can absolutely spread HIV and/or AIDS. Unprotected sex often is connected to high risk sexual activity, multiple partners, and spontaneous sex acts. The failure to even hint at a question of the sexual heal status of a potential partner due to fear, embarrassment, and/or fear of thus being rejected increases the chance of unprotected sex.

This commercial emphasizes spontaneous sex. It never asks any question of sexual health status. The very environment of the act demands the high risk nature of the sex. So in consequence it directly promotes the chances of getting an STD which means the chance of HIV and/or AIDS is MASSIVELY more likely.

Mrs. H, I see it like this. If we, via the media, promote spontaneous, high risk sex we promote the chance of getting and spreading HIV and AIDS. If we maintain a cultural fear and taboo about speaking to a potential sex partner about their sexual health status, we promote HIV and AIDS.

Unprotected sex is high risk sex and promoting HIV and AIDS. Ignorance of a sex partner’s sexual health is promoting HIV and AIDS. And both of these are the reason that most of those with HIV and/or AIDS currently in the United States are 25 or younger.

Assuming that unprotected random sex acts with a person that looks healthy, is of the opposite sex, or part of a race that is of lower HIV risk does not make anyone immune or safe from contracting HIV and/or AIDS. It is virtually inviting the contracting and spreading of the disease. And the 501 jeans ad does just that.

Some might think that I am overreacting. Perhaps I am. But what if your kid gets HIV and/or AIDS? What if it is you? IS not asking a simple question, having documentation, and being protected worth less than your life?

Because unprotected sex is like playing Russian Roulette with the odds, and you will be shot – if not the first time, then eventually. No one can beat the odds forever. Even if a jeans commercial would like to make it seem like you can.

HIV and AIDS: the problem still exists

One of the things you really have not heard about of late is HIV and AIDS. Of the various diseases in the world, this is one of the most deadly and it is also one of the easiest to prevent. Yet it continues to grow in numbers, recently in NYC a report stated

“The report says in 2006, nearly 4,800 New Yorkers contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This means there were 72 new infections per 100,000 people. That number is three times higher than the national rate, in which the incidence of new infection is 23 per 100,000 people.”

Now some may want to focus on the words New York City, or 72 new infections. But what they are not focusing on is the equally important “the national rate, in which the incidence of new infection is 23 per 100,000 people.”

It’s been almost 30 years since the world became aware of HIV and AIDS. 25 million people worldwide have died, with roughly 33 million known infected people at the end of 2007. And while the numbers may have slowed they continue to grow. Half of those know infections are in people at or under age 25.

Don’t believe that because you aren’t seeing news stories, or hearing elected officials speak about HIV and AIDS that they have been cured or gone away like smallpox.

Now I reach roughly 115 or more countries each month. Not one of these nations is without AIDS or HIV. And this may not be scientific, or the most accurate statement, but I believe that the chance of getting HIV are better than getting Cholera, Malaria (in the U.S. – worldwide it is a larger problem), Measles, Mumps, combined in the U.S. Even in other nations, excluding Malaria, it leads most other chances of getting a disease.

If you live in London, or Dover, or Milan, or Barcelona, or Hong Kong, or Dayton Ohio or anywhere you can get HIV. Living in a small town or a major city will not protect you. Being White or Black or a woman will not protect you. Nor will your social class, education, age, religion, or any other classification you can name.

If you are having unprotected sex, especially with more than one partner in the past decade, you need to get checked. It’s just that simple.

I know some people are nervous or embarrassed about this subject. It’s probably why the major news media and the current Presidential candidates tend to shy away from this subject. But there really is no reason to be.

Getting tested is a simple blood test, done in your doctor’s office. It’s quick and private. You can get it done along with your annual physical. When I joined the Marines I was given my first HIV test, as is standard in the U.S. military. Since that time I get a test done as part of my annual check-up. It’s just part of the routine, along with my tests for diabetes, lung cancer, heart disease, cholesterol levels, and the normal check-up items.

It takes 30 seconds, isn’t your life worth that?

Racism in America

Recently some of my readers may have noticed a bit of a back and forth I had with Christy in Utah. Christy is a racist, which it only took 3 back and forth comments for her to admit. Christy initially responded to my post The most dangerous people in America - 11.4.2007.1, seen at Black & White Blog – where I am a co-author.

You can read the commentary there or look at my post Reader comment: Christy in Utah to see what was said.

I want to point out Christy for a reason. It’s not to embarrass her, or to point out her lack of reading skills, illogical thought, repressed thought processes, or her complete lack of knowledge on history and historical fact. At the same time my comments are not to claim that all Whites are equivalent to the pitiful life that Christy lives. But there are bigger issues to be seen.

Christy, and those like her, live in a small world. They avoid fact or events present around them. They feed off of negative stereotypes kept alive by the news and major media. They cling to half-truths and misconceived ideas like manna from heaven. Their insistence on anyone not like them being inferior and subordinated is cult-like.

I have read how many believe that racism does not exist anymore in America or the world. I recall how Nick, the son in Ice Cube’s groundbreaking television show Black.White., states that racism is a problem of the past – something he believes wholeheartedly. I can remember too many discussions with 20-somethings across America that share his view, and believe that the use of 1 hateful word can be changed because they have no understanding of the actual meaning of the word.

But the comments of the bile spewing Christy prove my case more than anything I can say. It is people like her who will not see the lack of existence of people of color on television programs, in movies. It is these people that strive to create problems or allow other problems to fester.

Christy believes that what one group of Americans does have no effect on her. Imagine that. Imagine if the 60% of the military that is non-White just stopped protecting the nation. Imagine if AIDS was never investigated because some thought it only killed gays or the non-religious. Imagine if the over 1/3 of the nation that is non-White just stopped working or buying goods – as racists like to believe. The effect on Christy, other racists, and every single person in America would be enough to destroy this nation in days.

Christy has issues, and I’m sure she would be loved by the KKK – except that she is Jewish and they believe her to be as vile and non-White as she believes Blacks to be. But what can be done about such stupidity? What can we do to help backwards individuals that think in the 17th Century but live in the 21st?

I touch on difficult topics in my blogs and posts. I address the realities in America that the media and daily social interaction try to shield some Americans from. Sometimes that means placing the sordid past of America in front of my readers so that we can see that the old wounds have never healed. Sometimes it means I take to task the Black community for glorifying base behavior. And more often it means that I will highlight the venom in the actions and inactions of the media, whether that is in movies, video games, music videos, books, television shows, the news, the internet and/or other blogs and blog posts.

Why am I mentioning this? Because I made a mistake. I allowed myself to succumb to the pestilence that Christy represents and delve into the slime she habitats. It’s one thing to correctly put a stupid petulant racist in their place, providing them knowledge and facts that they must either deal with or consciously avoid. It is another to devolve that conversation into a personal commentary that is anything but the purpose of this blog.

You my readers are accustomed to better. I strive to provide better, even in the face of racists – Black, White, American, international, religious or whatever.

I am not ashamed or repentant of what I said about Christy and any racist like her. I stand by my words and their meanings, even if those kinds of minds are incapable of comprehending them. But I’m not here to commit flame wars.

And there is a lesson to he had in all of this. Read the comments I wrote and the response by Christy. Note the lack of comprehension, the refusal to understand fact (actually the direct statement by Christy that she throws out facts that dispute her thoughts). See the real enemy of America, racism in its less obvious face. Because it is this kind of undercurrent of thought that permeates our society and poisons our future.

Christy is weak, like most racists. They hide themselves in shadows and corners, only brave in large numbers or when they are protected by the ambiguity of the internet. They cannot fathom a world shared with anyone but themselves and those that look like themselves. They are cowards, afraid of the world filled with people that aren’t like them at all.

Racists are not that far from radical fanatics. They too live in a world they cannot fathom. They to would destroy anything not akin to their beliefs. They too poison the very ground they stand on.

So if my comments and posts dealing with Christy say anything I hope it points out that. Racism, and all forms of irrational hate, not only exists in America it festers. It has not died but waits for a time when we are distracted, seeking to attack us like vultures and carrion feeders. Like a parasitic mold they hold onto society, weakening it, decaying its life essence.

Knowledge and patience are the keys to defeating such stupidity and fanaticism. Great men like Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi had both. I am merely a man and my reserves of both are far more limited. But I can hope that my blogs and posts can help. That is the intent.

But I want to ask you my readers, what do you think? What is the best way to deal with a racist and/or fanatic? What words would you choose what course of action? And how might we Americans use moments like this to unify in greatness, rather than the scum that is the breathe of Christy and her ilk?

Nelson Mandela is 90, and America still doesn't care

Excerpt from VASS

Back in the far reaches of time there was a prisoner that no one knew. Well at least in America. Back in 1962 a Black man was thrown in a jail (with the help of the CIA) because he wanted freedom. He wanted a say in his government, he wanted to be equal to those around him. He wanted an end to the poverty that was focused on ever other Black in the nation. He was a visionary, and that vision was enough to have him locked up for 27 years....

Throughout the 1980’s and afterwards America woke up to the fact that a modern day slavery existed in the world. It was something the nation stood up and rejected, though not without resistance in some parts. But eventually the nation refused to do business with South Africa, hitting them in their pockets hard. We protested and held rallies. We politically turned up the heat internationally. And in 1990, Nelson Mandela saw the light of day as a free man. In 1994 he became the leader of his nation and abolished all vestiges of Apartheid. He led his nation to democratic rule, and improve the lives of millions of Africans in the process....

And I have to wonder. America woke up to Africa in 1980. For a brief moment the nation paid attention to a land filled with Black people, and the injustice being wrought by the Whites in power their. And then we walked away...

“America has become a policeman of the world in my lifetime. We have entered multiple nations as a peacekeeping force and in wars. Yet, for some reason America has turned its back while the equivalent of Orlando, Florida (or possibly Cleveland, Ohio – the exact number is unknown) have been killed since 2003. Let me make this clear, that’s between 200,000 to 400,000 men women and children that have been killed and counting.”

...

Nelson Mandela is a great man. He has lead a life worthy of notice and remembrance. At 90 he continues to call out to the world to do the right thing. And America has gone back to the deaf ear it had the day the jail cell doors closed on Mr. Mandela....

Full post found here>

Fox News lied about Tuskegee Experiment

Considering the massive attention being given to Rev. Wright today after his comments to the National Press Club, I wanted to make a comment. But before I could get to that I saw on Fox News at 6:02pm a report where Rev. Wright’s response about the American government creating AIDS and inflicting it on the Black community was addressed. Rev. Wright mentioned

“As I said to my members, if you haven’t read things, then you can’t — based on this Tuskegee experiment and based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything.”

The Fox news reporter then goes on to mention that the Tuskegee Experiment was where “syphilis infected Black men were observed for years.”

LIE!

The Tuskegee Experiment was when the United States Government watched (purposefully?? It’s not clear) 400 infected African American men with syphilis, without their knowledge, and then watched what happened over the next 40 years without ever providing a bit of treatment to them. The Tuskegee Experiment ended in 1972, just long ago enough to have affected some of my readers fathers, uncles, brothers, and grand-fathers. That is what our Government did, and when you consider they were willing to do this you can understand why some would think they could create AIDS and infect the Black population again.

Fox News in wording the actions of the government in a softer, and less viscious manner than actually occurred not only lied to the American public, they have attempted to change history and influence the public perception of current events.

Look up the Tuskegee Experiment. Learn the facts. Understand why some have the views they have. Learn what our Government has done and is capable of doing.

It’s moments like this that I get inflamed and angered. The news media has an obligation to report the truth, and when that vow is broken, we must respond quickly and directly.

As for Rev. Wright, you can view VASS and see the full transcript of what he said, word for word. Then you can make up your own mind, just as you should with his full sermons and video.

Michael Vass annual medical exam - 3.11.2008.2

Once a year I take a moment to speak about health, particularly mine. That time has come again this year.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to be sure of your medical health. Often it’s because men, especially African American and Hispanic/Latino men, rarely go to the doctor when we are sick it’s normally a very bad situation. Far too common is the fact that a little prevention like an annual checkup is all that is needed to catch a cancer in its early stages.

This is even more important if you have family history that makes you at higher risk. In my family I have had a sister, who is younger than me, diagnosed with early stage cancer. That was found by luck during an exam. My father had cancer of the tongue, high blood pressure, and diabetes. My grand-mother died of a heart attack in her 60’s. None of these things are unusual in Black families. In fact I had my best friend lose his father to Prostate cancer that was not detected until late stage of the disease. And it killed him. He was only in his 50’s. As was my father.

So yes I take this serious. And so should you. I don’t like doctors any more than anyone else. And as a small business owner I don’t have health insurance so the cash coming out of my pocket is huge. Yet it’s money worth it.

• My total cholesterol was at 128. Which is highly desirable and means a lowered risk of heart disease.
  
• My blood pressure is 102/94 which is also good.
  
• My heart rate is about 78, which is ok.
  
• My AIDS test was negative. I get that checked every year, and have been since I was in the military at age 18. It’s always good to know.
  
• My PSA, a prostate cancer test, was .7, down from .97 the year before. This is an excellent report.
  
• But a potential negative is that my C-protein test was high, and up by 100%. While still in low range, it is a forward indicator of potential heart disease. Thus I need to stop (or at least cut back under the 1 pack a day I’m at) my smoking, eat vegetables (which I despise), work out, and learn how much fat I eat and cut it to 30%. Drinking is also a factor in this I’m told.
  

But I recently learned from my doctor that 15% of men that have normal results from the PSA test may still have prostate cancer. Thus at the ripe age of 39 years 11 months and 27 days to go I had my first prostate exam. It was not something I was looking forward to, but was long overdue.

Because of the prevalence of Black men getting and dying from prostate cancer it’s recommended that we start getting checked at 35. My best friend started at 33 because of his father. And if you think, like I did, that a normal PSA means you don’t need the exam, remember this. My doctor knows a man that had a normal test and upon the exam was found to have early stage cancer. Because it was found the cancer was removed and the guy is living a normal life. Had he not, the PSA may not have found anything until far too late.

And as men of color, who don’t like tests and doctors as is, do you really want to risk missing a cancer that we are in the highest risk group for? Especially since the exam does not cost anything extra?

Now I won’t tell you the exam was pleasant. It wasn’t. And as embarrassing as it was I will tell you this, it was not as bad as you imagine it to be. Maybe 30 seconds of feeling highly unpleasant, but not extreme pain. But it confirmed that I have no signs of this killer disease among people of color.

I rarely see any bloggers, especially blogs by men of color, which discuss this. It needs to be talked about a bit. It will save lives.

Get an annual physical. Check for diabetes, AIDS, prostate cancer. Check your cholesterol levels and other tests. Even if you don’t think you need it. Because like insurance, you only will be concerned after you find out that you need it.

Donate for breast implants or school books, NAACP, and Jerry's kids

Ok, it’s official. America is screwed up in a massive way. I can only come to that conclusion after finding out about a site that I just can’t believe exists. But it does, and it’s real. Not only that, it was a featured as a story on Fox News earlier today. What is the site? MyFreeImplants.com [No I will not link directly to the site – if you need to see it you can get there easily enough]

Only in America is it possible for such a site to not only exist, but to relatively flourish. The goal of this site is that flat-chested women (18 and over) place their pictures and bio on the site. Men (or women I suppose) who find a particular woman interesting, contact that woman and speak with them via email, as I understand. Based on the looks of the woman, and conversations – possibly with reward of “sexy photos” (at the discretion of the ladies involved) – the ‘benefactors’ donate money towards the ladies gaining cosmetic surgery that will augment their breasts.

That’s the basis of the site. Simple direct and legal. Based on the 4 successes listed on the homepage of the site right now this site has raised at least $23,345. Do the women look different? Yes. Better? That’s dependant on your personal opinions.

But the thing that I am amazed by is what I just mentioned. This site raises money for basically nothing. I won’t equate it with porn, nor an internet somewhat interactive version of Playboy, but I don’t think it’s far from it either.

I’m sure the women involved are quite happy with the results of the site. I’m sure that women that want the cosmetic surgery, without the means to afford it, and willing to undergo this process feel justified. I don’t question them at all. But I must say I’m annoyed by it.

Call it a bit of jealousy. I request donations of .50 cents to $1 (more if you want) for the virtually daily efforts I provide on my blogs and sites. I provide t-shirts, mugs, poetry and more, updated several times a year. I use those donations to help fund the cost of the various sites, and my give away contests (like the $1,100 I gave away for Christmas) and efforts to improve the quality of life – like the I Love America That’s Why I Vote! campaign. Effectively I give back a tangible something for the precious and generous donations that I receive from you my readers. And I thank each and every one of you that do this for me.

But this website seems to just receive money for nothing. I don’t get it. I don’t see the value in it. Hell, even going to a strip club has more value and return in it. And why do the male benefactors waste their money in such a manner? Forget my donations, the $23,000 mentioned above is discretionary money that could have gone to AIDS prevention and cure efforts. It could buy new school books for a local public elementary school, or help feed kids in those schools. It can give the homeless meals, clothing, and shelter. It could go to organizations that support the improvement of African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and other people of color in every aspect of our lives. Each of those things is far more worthy of a donation than me, and definitely the breast implant site.

So maybe I’m a bit jealous. Maybe I want to get .50 cents per reader so that I can do a huge campaign to help register votes so that the President elected in November realizes that they need to make substantive changes to improve America for Blacks and Hispanics/Latinos. Maybe I want $1 a reader to be able to give a high school student their first year in college free. Maybe I want to give multiple families across the nation money so they can enjoy a feast on the holiday, have gifts for the kids, and/or pay off a few bills. And yes, having a few extra dollars for myself if possible would be nice.

At least I’m honest. And I strive to give a somewhat tangible return for that, even if I don’t get anything. Hell, if the choice is between me and the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, give it to Jerry’s kids. But $5,000 to look at pictures of a woman with bigger boobs?

I suggest this to those that would spend their money so frivolously. Buy a DVD for $20, take the remaining $4,980 and split it among a few of the organizations I’ve just mentioned. And if you have .50 cents, or a $1 or 2 extra, I’m happy to receive that as well.

The point is you can do far better, for far more people, than an optional self-respect boost for a single person.

And if you think I’m wrong, I’d love to know why.

Preparing for the TV One Heartland Presidential

This is an excerpt about the TV One Heartland Presidential Forum webcast that will occur latter today.

As the TV One webcast of the Heartland Presidential Forum at 2:30 today approaches, I want to review some of the main issues that I think it will and will not cover. Overall I think that the candidates, of both parties, will seek to avoid a large number of issues most people really care about. Expect a good deal of deflection and moves to tangent issues rather than answering the actual questions posed. I doubt that it will be as obvious as the dramatic and highly covered yes, no, and maybe answer Senator Clinton offered on driver’s licenses for illegal aliens in New York State but I believe they will happen none the less.

First off there are the issues that the candidates will avoid speaking about. The issues are widespread and party specific. For the Democrats there is the fact that for 9 months of this year virtually every candidate vehemently stated that the surge in Iraq could not and would not work. They coupled the disbelief in the surge with they demands for immediate withdrawal of troops.

In the past couple of months, the most liberal pundits, reporters, and politicians have verified that the surge has in fact worked. Iraq is safer and more stable now than since Saddam Hussein was removed. Thus we have seen the debates and the public speeches of the candidates have moved from immediate withdrawal and failure, to a need to withdraw most troops (leaving an unspecified amount of troops for an unspecified amount of time) and failure, to not speaking about the subject at all as much as possible. Kind of funny how that went.

In addition Democratic candidates have moved into the subject of national healthcare as their primary talking point. Though all the plans are not fully explained, and the cost (upwards of 100 billion dollars at the least) has no explanation where it will receive funding from (extra taxes from the rich is the general answer. What is rich is a floating income number ranging from 200,000 at the top and 90,000 near the bottom).

For Republicans the key early issue was again Iraq and supporting the surge (and thus highlighting the Democrats willingness to retreat) and being against terrorism al la 9/11. After several months of each candidate mentioning how strong they are against terrorists they all have shied away from using the single greatest attack on American soil in past 60 years for their political gain (mostly).

The new line of discussion, now that the surge has been shown to be working and President Bush has mandated that surge troops will be slowly phased out of Iraq, has become illegal aliens. Each candidate has claimed they will resolve this issue, though there is no plan stated that will deal with the 12 million plus illegals that are in this nation right now, nor any that will be coming in the future. There are half thoughts of paths to citizenship, documentation, healthcare and deportation but no real plans. And lots of one-upmanship over who is tougher on the subject and who has the best past performance. Oh and there are arguments over who is more devoutly religious, and who can do more to prevent higher taxes. Again no real plans though.

So that is what they were all talking about, and what they want to discuss now. It’s a very short list. And yes I do realize they spoke about other things. But that was/is the focus.

Continued at Preparing for the TV One Heartland Presidential Forum Part 2 - 12.1.2007.1

Help prevent AIDS - 6.23.2007.1

I always enjoy speaking about celebrities and entertainers that are promoting a cause or helping to improve the lives of the general public. Too often the focus is on the negative aspects of these individuals, and the positives get glossed over by the general news media. Even rarer are reports on the positive actions of Black entertainers and celebrities.

Well here is something that needs more attention. While many may know that AIDS is a major epidemic in the world you may not know that there are more than 1 million people in America afflicted with the disease. It’s estimated that 40,000 people get infected with AIDS every year. It is also the leading cause of death among Black women between the ages of 25 – 34. That is unacceptable to me.

I’m happy to say that many others feel the same way. Several well known African American actors and actresses, as well as other celebrities, and institutions are helping raise awareness of this disease and to help motivate more people to get tested. The goal is to get 1 million African Americans to get an AIDS test between now and December 2008.


I think it’s a good cause. I’ve been tested every year since I was in the military back in 1986, my most recent test being this February when I got my annual physical. Knowing what is going on is critical to good health. One of my sisters caught a cancer in the initial stages because of a regular check-up. Checking is important.


On June 25th, Ms. Regina King, Mr. Henry Simmons, Mr. Hill Harper, Ms. Vanessa Williams, and many others will be getting public HIV screening tests to help promote awareness and prevention of this disease. Institutions involved in this event include the Screen Actors Guild, Black AIDS Institute, and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists among others.

Do your part in protecting yourself and those you love. Get screened and know your status. Celebrities, entertainers, and I have done it, you can too.

This is what I think, what do you think?