Sunday, December 20, 2009
RACIAL ROLE REVERSAL!
Walk in another man's shoes
You can try wearing his skin
Look through that man's eyes
You can start by looking in
When you get to know yourself
It will be like knowing him
-Noface
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Let It All Out!
I honestly feel about some people in the blogosphere, the same way Quagmire feels about Brian. I usually keep my thoughts to myself when it comes to my opinion of someones character on the internet, but sometimes you've got to let it all out and tell 'em how you really feel. So, instead of writing a long rant about my contempt for all the pretentious D-bags and their self important blogs, I'll let Quagmire tell it. LOL
-Noface
Disclaimer I am of course not talking about every blogger on the internet (especially those whom I follow or those who follow me), just those who are so wrapped up in their preeminence on the internet.
As Secure As The President Of The United States?
I see the above picture (after knowing the story behind it) and can't help but wonder how safe is the First Black President of the United States really is. I mean, come on! With all the threats on this mans life, these "uninvited guests" just walked in like they were supposed to be there and the secret service just let them do it. It is simply disgraceful. I just don't want there to be a day when people will look back on this incident and see it as a sign of a failure in security that ultimately led to our President being harmed (or worse). WHITE HOUSE SECURITY DETAIL...YOU NEED TO DO BETTER!
-Noface
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press
Monday, November 30, 2009
MULLIGANS?
First off, let me just say that I don't care. What happen with Tiger Woods, his wife, and his SUV is completely his business. If the police are OK with his unavailability to talk with him, then I have no problems either. Whether it was a genuine automobile collision or the end result of a domestic dispute, it still is and should be a private matter. I’m only writing about this to talk about the right and wrong ways to conduct damage control if one is a celebrity in the midst of controversy or scandal.
That said, if Tiger is going to make up a story about why he crashed his vehicle into a fire hydrant and then a tree at two in the AM (with out even a drop of alcohol or drugs in his system at the time) surely he could come up with a better one than the original one he offered the police. Tiger, you are a celebrity and that means that your privacy is not going to be respected 9 times out of 10 (especially if the MSM and the gossip blogs smell a good story). So, if something happens to you that would pique the interest of the masses, it is best to be truthful about what happened and politely ask that everyone respect your privacy (not saying that it well happen, but you may have a better chance). Being disingenuous at the outset will only invite more “flies to the guano” as it were. Just saying…
-Noface
P.S. If the domestic violence rumors are true, then Elin Woods is proof that no matter what race a woman is, it highly likely that she will go ape sh*# on you if she thinks you’re cheating on her.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Monday, September 28, 2009
Polanski: Fame And Justice
As I'm sure many of you already know, Roman Polanski was arrested this weekend in Switzerland and is to be extradited to the United States after being on the run abroad for over 30 years. For those of you who don't even know who Roman Polanski is, he is the famous director of films like "Rosemary's Baby" and "China Town" who plead guilty to unlawful sex with a minor (the details of which are much more disturbing than the euphemistic legal term implies) and then promptly fled the country to escape sentencing. He was living abroad for the past 30 years (still making movies and getting awards).
This goes to show that no matter how famous or talented one is, he/she is not above the universal truth that you reap what you sow. It may take a long time for you to catch that boomerang, but trust that it will happen (just ask Orenthal James). So folks like R. Kelly (you know it was you in that video) and Robert Blake shouldn't get to comfortable, because it will soon be harvest time.
Now there are some people in the media that are questioning whether the arrest of Polanski was fair, just, correct, or just plain nice (it’s not like he did something really bad like…dog fighting or something). My only response to Polanski supporters comes in the form of a question: What if it were your daughter that he drugged and raped over 30 years ago?
If and when Polanski get’s extradited to back to the United States to face the music, justice will have been finally served in my humble opinion.
-Noface
Thursday, July 23, 2009
I WAS...BOOOOOOOOORN IN THE U-S-AAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Some topics are just too ridiculous for me to even address directly. That's why it's good to know that a man like Jon Stewart is around to take on this type of tom foolery and the buffoons who endorse it.
I give you Jon Stewart on the Birther Movemnent:
"I don't want a nigger as my President!" is a statement that is less disingenuous and less stupid than "He's not a native born American citizen so he is not legally the President of the United States!" Just saying...
-Noface
I give you Jon Stewart on the Birther Movemnent:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| The Born Identity | ||||
| ||||
"I don't want a nigger as my President!" is a statement that is less disingenuous and less stupid than "He's not a native born American citizen so he is not legally the President of the United States!" Just saying...
-Noface
Monday, July 20, 2009
Black Is What The Cops Recognize As A Threat!
What does it mean to be black? Recently, the fellow UBJ sought to stir discussion on this very question on his blog. My response to this question was that black was not a color but a state of mind (or rather a state of being) that people of my “race” are constantly in (especially in America). I believe Dubois called it the double consciousness. This state of mind is a result of how one views himself combined with how others viewed him in a mixture which can seem like a poisonous tonic at times.
I have found that in America, how one is viewed tends to hold more weight than how that person views himself. This is especially true when we are talking about how those in the dominant culture are wont to classify those in the minority culture. A prime example of this is racial profiling perpetrated by the police against the black man. If you are ever wondering about your racial make up just run afoul of some cops with racist tendencies. You’ll be sure to find out definitively.
Case in point: This article shows that yet again in this “post-racial” America, it is the police that will let you know if you’re black or not. No matter what level of education and notoriety you have, if you are a black man in a well to do neighborhood or in a well to do car (or in both), you are likely to get harassed by authorities because you fit “the description”. If Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. can be seen and treated like a potential threat, Pookie from across the way has NO CHANCE!
This part really got me…
Friends of Gates said he was already in his home when police arrived. He showed his driver’s license and Harvard identification card, but was handcuffed and taken into police custody for several hours last Thursday, they said.
Maybe next time he’ll have a card showing his DNA admixture results, which detail that he actually has more European admixture than African admixture. I’m sure that will clear up any confusion. Pffffft
-Noface
Friday, June 26, 2009
Childhood, Icons, And Death!
Ed McMahon
03/06/1923-06/23/2009
Farrah Fawcett
02/02/1947-06/25/2009
...and this guy...
Michael Jackson
08/29/1958-06/25/2009
All we have now is the memories. Rest In Peace!
-Noface
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Iranian Dream Deferred: Looks Like It Exploded...
...And the fires it produced all over Iran (both politically and literally) will be difficult to put out for quite sometime.
Friday, June 19: Ayatollah Khamenei put his legitimacy on the line; by calling for an end to the wide spread protests in Iran, warning that failure to obey this order would result in dire consequences.
Saturday, June 20: The People of Iran called the "supreme" leader's bluff and the rest, as they say, is history (or soon will be). As I am typing this, the protests are still going on despite the government crackdown, the violence, and the deaths.
Things went the way of Tiananmen Square (as I new it would), but this is not the end. These protests (with all the violence involved) could be the seeds of a second Iranian Revolution 30 years after the first.
There are many images and videos being shared via social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (who says that it's just a stupid fad?!?), but one in particular that I want to leave with you is this...
*Disclaimer: This video is graphic and may be inappropriate for some viewers*
Her Name Was Neda (means "Voice" or "Call" in Farsi)!
She is quickly becoming to the movement in Iran, what Rosa Parks was for the Civil Right's Movement (perhaps it is even greater than that)! Her death is proof that all this unrest was never about the movemnent...it is about the people moving!
Rest In Peace Neda Agha-Soltan
-Noface
Friday, June 19: Ayatollah Khamenei put his legitimacy on the line; by calling for an end to the wide spread protests in Iran, warning that failure to obey this order would result in dire consequences.
Saturday, June 20: The People of Iran called the "supreme" leader's bluff and the rest, as they say, is history (or soon will be). As I am typing this, the protests are still going on despite the government crackdown, the violence, and the deaths.
Things went the way of Tiananmen Square (as I new it would), but this is not the end. These protests (with all the violence involved) could be the seeds of a second Iranian Revolution 30 years after the first.
There are many images and videos being shared via social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (who says that it's just a stupid fad?!?), but one in particular that I want to leave with you is this...
*Disclaimer: This video is graphic and may be inappropriate for some viewers*
Her Name Was Neda (means "Voice" or "Call" in Farsi)!
She is quickly becoming to the movement in Iran, what Rosa Parks was for the Civil Right's Movement (perhaps it is even greater than that)! Her death is proof that all this unrest was never about the movemnent...it is about the people moving!
Rest In Peace Neda Agha-Soltan
-Noface
Saturday, June 13, 2009
What A Difference An Election Day Makes
Days leading up to the presidential elections were held in Iran...
...and after the elections, with Ahmadinejad (apparently) winning with about 62% of the vote...
This election was supposed to be about change (mirroring the recent historic national elections held in one of Iran's great enemies. The result, however were just as I feared, more of the same. If reports ring true then many an Iranian feels cheated and dejected while many more (perhaps) feel outraged. This I assume, is not the same that many in America had when Bush won his second term defeating Kerry. Nor do I believe it is the same feeling that many of us would have felt if McCain had one the 2008 election. No, we would probably get close to the disillusionment with our government that I am sure quite a few Iranians feel, If Obama had ran his 2008 campaign against Bush in 2004, and lost by a wide margin. That's the level of funk that I believe many citizens of Iran are feeling right now, which is why many took to the streets protesting the elections as a sham. Perhaps I am overstating the popularity of opposition, but it does seem like many feel that they were wronged and the the elections were a complete sham.
This is akin to the Iranian people (especially moderates and women) having their dreams (of change and progress of course), perhaps not crushed, but definitely deferred. In light of that, I find myself echoing the query of the late poet Langston Hughes. What happens to a dream deferred? Will the hopes and aspirations of the people wither and day, leaving them to withdraw back to apathy and complacency…or will they explode?
Tehran is burning my friends (in more ways than one). I wonder if the Ayatollah is well versed in playing the fiddle (just saying…).
...and after the elections, with Ahmadinejad (apparently) winning with about 62% of the vote...
This election was supposed to be about change (mirroring the recent historic national elections held in one of Iran's great enemies. The result, however were just as I feared, more of the same. If reports ring true then many an Iranian feels cheated and dejected while many more (perhaps) feel outraged. This I assume, is not the same that many in America had when Bush won his second term defeating Kerry. Nor do I believe it is the same feeling that many of us would have felt if McCain had one the 2008 election. No, we would probably get close to the disillusionment with our government that I am sure quite a few Iranians feel, If Obama had ran his 2008 campaign against Bush in 2004, and lost by a wide margin. That's the level of funk that I believe many citizens of Iran are feeling right now, which is why many took to the streets protesting the elections as a sham. Perhaps I am overstating the popularity of opposition, but it does seem like many feel that they were wronged and the the elections were a complete sham.
This is akin to the Iranian people (especially moderates and women) having their dreams (of change and progress of course), perhaps not crushed, but definitely deferred. In light of that, I find myself echoing the query of the late poet Langston Hughes. What happens to a dream deferred? Will the hopes and aspirations of the people wither and day, leaving them to withdraw back to apathy and complacency…or will they explode?
Tehran is burning my friends (in more ways than one). I wonder if the Ayatollah is well versed in playing the fiddle (just saying…).
Thursday, June 4, 2009
West Meets Mid-East: Obama's Speech To The Muslim World
In case you missed it...
*Update:
In my opinion, this speech is a good first step in establishing a real dialogue between the Middle East (particularly the Muslims in that region) and the West. It is not a world changing speech in the sense that it will automatically make all Muslims love the US and her policies (but then, it was never meant to be). I saw it as an overt effort on the part of the Obama administration to not only speak to (as opposed to speak at) to Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, but to do so in an even handed and honest way. In that respect I believe that Obama succeeded in his speech.
This success is made clear in my mind, by the response that he's gotten from those representing the extremist thoughts in the Muslim spheres, the American political spheres, and Jewish spheres. the outrage that they express in response to certain parts of Obama's speech drives home the fact that he had praise and rebuke for everyone in his address.
Here's an example from some of the more extreme (if not drunkenly stupid) responses to Obama's speech to the Muslim world.
*
-Noface
* Hat tip to Siddity
*Update:
In my opinion, this speech is a good first step in establishing a real dialogue between the Middle East (particularly the Muslims in that region) and the West. It is not a world changing speech in the sense that it will automatically make all Muslims love the US and her policies (but then, it was never meant to be). I saw it as an overt effort on the part of the Obama administration to not only speak to (as opposed to speak at) to Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, but to do so in an even handed and honest way. In that respect I believe that Obama succeeded in his speech.
This success is made clear in my mind, by the response that he's gotten from those representing the extremist thoughts in the Muslim spheres, the American political spheres, and Jewish spheres. the outrage that they express in response to certain parts of Obama's speech drives home the fact that he had praise and rebuke for everyone in his address.
Here's an example from some of the more extreme (if not drunkenly stupid) responses to Obama's speech to the Muslim world.
*
-Noface
* Hat tip to Siddity
Monday, May 25, 2009
Have A Reflective Memorial Day!
This day is for all those who perform(ed) the role of an American Soldier. Those who give up something much more profound than just the security their lives, limbs, or sanity to work in a military capacity in service of this nation. That is to say that every soldier gives up who they once were in order to be better able to cope with working with each other under combat situations (those that are possibilities and those that are currently realities). To give that up and then to willing risk life and limb your country is epitome of bravery and service.
So for those veterans who served and serve in our military, those who were injured either/both physically and emotionally, those who gave their lives, and all who gave themselves for our country...I Remember (and will continue to do so)!
-Noface
So for those veterans who served and serve in our military, those who were injured either/both physically and emotionally, those who gave their lives, and all who gave themselves for our country...I Remember (and will continue to do so)!
-Noface
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Talk About Beating A Dead Horse Or Drowning A Live Conservative!
It's just a splash of water on the face...right?
Hannity, its your turn to make big on your tough talk. You're gonna have to man-up homey! Sit back (at let the water splash) or shut up.
-Noface
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Hannity, its your turn to make big on your tough talk. You're gonna have to man-up homey! Sit back (at let the water splash) or shut up.
-Noface
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Of Terrorists, Detainees, And Super Criminals!
*As an adolescent I loved reading comics (especially superhero comics). The stories pretty much went as follows: 1) Super criminal commits a "super" crime; 2) Superhero fights super criminal; 3) superhero beats super criminal; 4) Super criminal goes to jail (or dies); and 5) Super criminal busts out of jail (or comes back from the dead) to start the "fun" all over again. Super hero comics rarely deviated from that formula, but for me the fun wasn't about knowing what would happen in the end, but about the "journey". This particular post however is not so much about the stories found in super hero comics as it is about the particular aspect of superhero comics. That aspect is detention of super criminals in those comics and how it does not correlate to the detention of (possible) criminals in the real world.
In times past (golden age of comics), when a superhero like Superman caught a bad guy like Lex Luthor, he'd hand him over to the authorities to be hauled off to prison. A criminal like Lex Luthor would then break out of prison because those prisons were not able to properly handle said criminal. As time progressed, comic publishers began to realize that "Hey, these guys are super criminals and regular prisons! WTF!?” The thinking was that since these villains were so beyond the normal order of criminal that regular prisons couldn't possibly hold them for long. So then the concept of Super Prisons came into play. These prisons were often of shore and fitted with the latest futuristic comic book) technology capable of properly dealing with these villains and their powers/abilities.
**In comics these places are necessary because the world portrayed in those comics had villains who could fly, move cities with their minds, build dooms day weapons, etc. This is not the case in the real world. In the real world, there are no "super" criminals that can not be contained by normal (maximum security) prisons. In the real world, terrorist (or GITMO detainee) does not equal super criminal. Are terrorist deranged zealots with little regard for human life (even their own)? Yes! Are they super humans or super geniuses, just waiting for a chance to get sent to a normal prison only to bust out and wreak havoc on our fragile population? NO! Let me say that again...NOOOOOOO! Sending these guys to our prisons (after a proper display of due process of course), will do no more damage to our national security than say Charles Manson (serving a life term), John Gotti (died serving a life term), or even Zacarias Moussaoui (serving a life term). Knowing that, I am not worried about prisoners in GITMO being prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced within the boarders of the United States.
Am I supposed to be mortally afraid of this guy being in a supermax prison in my back yard? I mean he doesn't even have a mask seared onto his face or a purple helmet meant to thwart telepathic intrusions. What's so scary about this guy? Nothing!
I'd like to think that the majority of my fellow Americans are as discerning as I am on this issue, but it appears that this is not the case (if we go by what the Senate has done this week). I guess I shouldn't be surprised though, seeing as how people started walking around in surgical masks in PUBLIC, in response to the Swine Flu scare. A popular saying (via twitter and other soc-net-sites) during that time was "People will wear masks so they won't catch the flu, but won't wear condoms so they won't get AIDS!" I agree with the sentiment of that statement. We tend to favor jumping at shadows instead of concentrating on real threats. But that’s what fear does to us, it makes us incapable of putting things in perspective and sometimes as a result we say and do things that in hindsight would be regarded as foolish.
We have the tendency to get frightened into absurdity and the belief that among the detainees in GITMO, there is a villain of the caliber of Dr. Doom or Magneto is beyond ridiculous. If we really stop and think about what kind of prisons America has along with the type of prisoners housed in them, we will realize how ridiculous the "Not in my backyard!" argument is. The truth is that those detained in GITMO are no more dangerous than the rapists, murderers, pedophiles, gang members, and yes terrorists in our prisons within the boarders of this country.
-Noface
* via Marvel.com
** via Marvel.com
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
"My Favorite Blogs" List!
The Incomparable Ugly Black John (http://uglyblackjohn.blogspot.com/) has decided to award me with the blog honor Splash Award. Though I wouldn’t usually do this, I am compelled to pass the award on to other bloggers who I feel are worthy (in my estimation) of such an honor. The bloggers I choose must be those that I find amusing, alluring, bewitching, impressive or inspirational.
Note:
The one who receives the award must do the following:
1) Place the Splash Award logo on their post and site (blog).
2) Nominate up to nine blogs that inspire, bewitch, amuse, impress, or inspire.
3) Be sure to link to your nominations.
4) Let the recipient know of the award on their blog.
5) Mention and link to the person from whom the award was received.
So with out further ado, here is my divine nine(in no particular order of course)
1. Ugly Black John (of course); http://uglyblackjohn.blogspot.com/: This blogger is as prolific as his posts are thought provoking
2. Dalyn Montgomery (Brohammas); http://dalynart.blogspot.com/: This blogger is not your typical white anti-racist (plus he’s a writer/artist like me)
3. Field Negro; http://field-negro.blogspot.com/: This blogger is like the black Peter Jennings (or is it Chris Mathews?) of the afro-sphere. News that is important, though at times deemed not MSM worthy (erroneously so) can be found here.
4. Siddity; http://siditty.blogspot.com/: This blogger is her own woman with her own mind.
5. Danielle Belton (The Black Snob); http://blacksnob.com/: This blogger knows how to illicit the snob in all of us. Also, her cyber stalking of CNN news anchor T. J. Holmes is hilarious.
6. Legal Pub; http://legalpublication.blogspot.com/: This blogger is my pusher, the one I go to get my legal news fix.
7. Abagond; http://abagond.wordpress.com/: This blogger is will post about any and everything that tickles his fancy, yet he always manages to keep things interesting.
8. Big Man (Raving Black Lunatic); http://ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com/: This blogger shows that there is a method to the madness.
9. Macon D; http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/: This blogger is also another white anti-racist who explores some tendencies that he believes is common among white people. Whether or not you agree with him, his posts are usually a good read.
Check these blogs out. I promise you that you won't be disappointed.
-Noface
Note:
The one who receives the award must do the following:
1) Place the Splash Award logo on their post and site (blog).
2) Nominate up to nine blogs that inspire, bewitch, amuse, impress, or inspire.
3) Be sure to link to your nominations.
4) Let the recipient know of the award on their blog.
5) Mention and link to the person from whom the award was received.
So with out further ado, here is my divine nine(in no particular order of course)
1. Ugly Black John (of course); http://uglyblackjohn.blogspot.com/: This blogger is as prolific as his posts are thought provoking
2. Dalyn Montgomery (Brohammas); http://dalynart.blogspot.com/: This blogger is not your typical white anti-racist (plus he’s a writer/artist like me)
3. Field Negro; http://field-negro.blogspot.com/: This blogger is like the black Peter Jennings (or is it Chris Mathews?) of the afro-sphere. News that is important, though at times deemed not MSM worthy (erroneously so) can be found here.
4. Siddity; http://siditty.blogspot.com/: This blogger is her own woman with her own mind.
5. Danielle Belton (The Black Snob); http://blacksnob.com/: This blogger knows how to illicit the snob in all of us. Also, her cyber stalking of CNN news anchor T. J. Holmes is hilarious.
6. Legal Pub; http://legalpublication.blogspot.com/: This blogger is my pusher, the one I go to get my legal news fix.
7. Abagond; http://abagond.wordpress.com/: This blogger is will post about any and everything that tickles his fancy, yet he always manages to keep things interesting.
8. Big Man (Raving Black Lunatic); http://ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com/: This blogger shows that there is a method to the madness.
9. Macon D; http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/: This blogger is also another white anti-racist who explores some tendencies that he believes is common among white people. Whether or not you agree with him, his posts are usually a good read.
Check these blogs out. I promise you that you won't be disappointed.
-Noface
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
I'm Not Getting Paid For This!
Ok, now I feel that Elmo was to Seseme Street what Souljah Boy Tell 'Em is to Hip Hop. Things went downhill after these two arrived on their respective scenes. That being said, this clip is hilarious!
I enjoy things that make me unexpectedly LOL, don't you?
Update:
It seems that elmo is the "Keanu Reeves" of Sesme Street, surrounding himself with superior talent to bolster his popularity. Anyway here's the annoying red monster with Michelle Obama.
Michelle is as wonderful as ever and Elmo is his typical lame self (I kid, I kid...not really though).
-Noface
I enjoy things that make me unexpectedly LOL, don't you?
Update:
It seems that elmo is the "Keanu Reeves" of Sesme Street, surrounding himself with superior talent to bolster his popularity. Anyway here's the annoying red monster with Michelle Obama.
Michelle is as wonderful as ever and Elmo is his typical lame self (I kid, I kid...not really though).
-Noface
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Why Hip Hop Is Dying: Exhibit A
While listening to this, close your eyes and try to distinguish this spoof song from all of the regular "hip hop" (term used loosely) songs played on the radio these days. Hell, they even got T-Pain to sing the catchy hook to distract you from their nonsensical nursery rhymes. Sound familiar?
Naw, hip hop ain't dead, but she is on her way out and apparently she ain't got any kids to inherit her legacy.
-Noface
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Another Word On Torture!
Again, I must ask why Jon Stewart is seemingly the only voice of reason in a mass of hand wringing, euphemistic confusion that is the Main Stream Media.
Why torture is...um...TORTURE, really couldn't get any clearer.
-Noface
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Cliff May Unedited Interview Pt. 1 | ||||
| ||||
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Cliff May Unedited Interview Pt. 2 | ||||
| ||||
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Cliff May Unedited Interview Pt. 3 | ||||
| ||||
Why torture is...um...TORTURE, really couldn't get any clearer.
-Noface
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Torture By Any Other Name, Would Be Just As Wrong!
Torture*
Pronunciation: \ˈtȯr-chər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin tortura, from Latin tortus, past participle of torquēre to twist; probably akin to Old High German drāhsil turner, Greek atraktos spindle
Date: 1540
1 a: anguish of body or mind: AGONY
b: something that causes agony or pain
2: the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure
Water Boarding**
A technique that consists of immobilizing the victim on his/her back with the head inclined downwards, and then pouring water over the face and into the breathing passages. By forced suffocation and inhalation of water, the subject experiences drowning and is caused to believe they are about to die. As early as the Spanish Inquisition it was used for interrogation purposes, to punish and intimidate, and to force confessions.
In contrast to submerging the head face-forward in water, water boarding precipitates a gag reflex almost immediately. The technique does not inevitably cause lasting physical damage. It can cause extreme pain, dry drowning, damage to lungs, brain damage from oxygen deprivation, other physical injuries including broken bones due to struggling against restraints, lasting psychological damage or, ultimately, death. Adverse physical consequences can start manifesting months after the event; psychological effects can last for years.
Let’s be clear, water boarding is torture. It has always been torture and it will always be torture. It doesn’t matter who is doing it or why it’s being done. There is no debate (or at least there shouldn’t be) on this issue. It is a fact and facts are not subjective. Like humans need air to breathe, a technique where a person is not getting that air to breathe (i.e. drowning) causing that person pain and /or agony is by definition, torture. So stop asking if water boarding torture. We should be asking if America does (or has done) torture. Well, America does (or has done) water boarding. So…There goes that moral high ground on which we were so precariously perched.
-Noface
*via Merriam-Webster Online
** via Wikipedia
Monday, April 20, 2009
...Because No One Would Be Able To Take It!
For as long as there have been schools, there has been bullying. In the old days it would usually be one or two individuals terrorizing the rest of the smaller, weaker population (for fun, lunch money, and the like). As time went on, there would be individuals that were (some might say arbitrarily) designated the punching bag of an entire class (or in worse case scenarios, an entire school).
People rarely take the time to consider what a toll that kind of constant torment will do to the mental and emotional states of these kids. Man was not built for constant emotional trauma and when subjected to it, man will often times take extreme measures in an attempt to cope. Imagine have to go to your own personal hell everyday and feel like there is no way out, except for…
I am speaking on this from experience, but not the way that you might be thinking. I wasn’t bullied much when I was in elementary school and when I entered junior high (and eventually, senior high) I made friends (acquaintances/associates) easily. While I wasn’t among the most popular kids in my class, I certainly was not a social outcast. I was not the class punching bag, but I knew the ones who were and I must confess that I am guilty throwing a few jabs myself (actually, more than a few if memory serves me). See, I am speaking from the standpoint of a former bully.
Like most people (lets be honest here folks) I have participated in the mob harassment of the designated social outcast. There were a few occasions where I would be the ring leader of said torment. Hell, even a few of the teachers joined in on the act (the bully mentality doesn’t stop upon graduating high school). I remember when I was in 7th grade, things got so bad that the guidance counselor had to go class to class to discuss bullying and its effects with all the students. A zero-tolerance policy was implemented in regards to bullying.
What was the impetus for such a policy? It turns out that one my classes favorite victims, was on the verge of a mental break. Things had gotten to the point where this person simply couldn’t take it anymore. She would go to school but not attend any classes. Instead she would hide all or most of the day in the bathroom in order to escape her tormentors (us) and lamenting her situation. She began to see no reason for living, that’s when school officials stepped in and implemented the new (long overdue) policy.
The damage was already done, though. The girl that we arbitrarily decided would be the symbol of everything that we deemed to be undesirable. She still didn’t have many friends and though the bullying was not tolerated during school, the school officials could do little about the bullying outside of school. No, she did not commit suicide, but there was not a happy ending for her either (as far as I know). She instead opted to drop out of school a few years later, a move that she no doubt felt was better than sticking around and putting up with our childish nonsense. The last time I saw her, she was living a life common to high school drop outs (not a good one, I assure you). I don’t know what she is doing now, but I do wonder at times.
We often teach our kids how to not be bullied or how to deal with bullies. Maybe…no, we definitely need to start teaching our kids about how not to be bullies themselves. When I think about the torment that drove eleven year old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, to hang himself in his room, I think about that girl and how I didn’t have to be one of the A-holes in the crowd (in other words, a coward). I think about how I will teach my kids to be kinder and braver than I was.
Now I am by no means perfect. I can’t fool myself into thinking that I am completely reformed, but I’m not as bad as I used to be and events like the tragedy that occurred last week, remind me that I need to be better. I mean, I think I get it now. I believe I know why we as human beings (especially kids) shouldn’t dish out constant negative energy to those who don’t fit in. Because, if we were the outcasts, we wouldn’t be able to take it either.
-Noface
*Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover (April 17,1997-April 13, 2009). May Angels Lead You In.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tea Parties, Taxes, And Tea Bagging...Lots And Lots Of Tea Bagging!
Someone help me out. What is this tea-party stuff all about, really? I mean, I think I understand the theme. Back in the 1770's a bunch of well to do land owners from Boston, dressed up as Native Americans, and dumped a bunch of imported tea into the Boston harbor, because they were protesting "taxation without representation". So today's tea baggers are protesting taxation without representation? No, that doesn't sound right. It has to be something much more relevant, right?!
It turns out they are protesting tax increases (which is not happening for a majority of Americans), BIG Government, that huge bailout bill that was passed a couple of months ago, and (let's be honest) Obama himself. Where was the outrage over big government spending, failed economic policies, and (yes) huge bailouts (with little oversight I might add) under the Bush Administration? Maybe the difference was that it wasn't a black man doing all of this to (for) America (I'm just thinking out loud here). I'm going to call bovine excrement on this one, but I'll wait until the end of the day to see how successful this whole "thing" was.
A word to the wise, just because you tea baggers are supposedly protesting taxes doesn’t mean that you don’t have to pay them (unless you’re willing to take the protests to the level of civil disobedience and risk jail time for tax evasion).
-Noface
It turns out they are protesting tax increases (which is not happening for a majority of Americans), BIG Government, that huge bailout bill that was passed a couple of months ago, and (let's be honest) Obama himself. Where was the outrage over big government spending, failed economic policies, and (yes) huge bailouts (with little oversight I might add) under the Bush Administration? Maybe the difference was that it wasn't a black man doing all of this to (for) America (I'm just thinking out loud here). I'm going to call bovine excrement on this one, but I'll wait until the end of the day to see how successful this whole "thing" was.
A word to the wise, just because you tea baggers are supposedly protesting taxes doesn’t mean that you don’t have to pay them (unless you’re willing to take the protests to the level of civil disobedience and risk jail time for tax evasion).
-Noface
Poetry Session #4
Here's a haiku summing up my feelings in regards to current events these past couple of weeks:
I hate tea parties
News bigger than pirates is-
Obama's new dog
-Noface
I hate tea parties
News bigger than pirates is-
Obama's new dog
-Noface
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Checks, Balances, And All That Jazz!
Why can’t more Senators and Representatives (from both wings of political thought and the bird in between) present their arguments for or against something with the thoughtfulness and conviction of Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania)? I'm not saying that I agree with all of his views, but I admire how he expresses them and how he (claims) to listen to and debate the opposing views of his colleagues. If the House and Senate had more people along with that of political reasoning and independent thought, we'd still have vigorous debate, but we'd also have a lot less the foolishness (and phony outrage?) that we are treated with every day.
Here's Specter on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" showing his support for Obama's plan for the reduction of nuclear arms and the need to sometime buck the party line in the interest of the nation and his state:
It refreshing to know that there are still politicians out there who still try to maintain independent thought despite the leanings of their political party. I'm curious, what are the names of some other politicians that who stay true to themselves (politically) no matter what their friends and opponents say? (Obama is an obvious choice so he doesn't count)
-Noface
Here's Specter on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" showing his support for Obama's plan for the reduction of nuclear arms and the need to sometime buck the party line in the interest of the nation and his state:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
It refreshing to know that there are still politicians out there who still try to maintain independent thought despite the leanings of their political party. I'm curious, what are the names of some other politicians that who stay true to themselves (politically) no matter what their friends and opponents say? (Obama is an obvious choice so he doesn't count)
-Noface
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The April First Post
Its April 1st and in the spirit of this wonderful day I give you the video below, becuase it's got to be a joke....right?!
I mean, is it April 1st every day at Fox News. C'mon let a brother in on the joke!
My response to this was the following:
-Noface
I mean, is it April 1st every day at Fox News. C'mon let a brother in on the joke!
My response to this was the following:
-Noface
Friday, March 27, 2009
Cops That Give Police A Bad Name
After watching this video, I find that there are a lot of questions swirling around in my head. There is however one big query that dominates all the others. Was the Cop (Officer Powell) that stopped Ryan Moats a racist or was he just big jerk? I'm not sure which it is (perhaps he was both).
I'll say this though; Moats was pretty brave or foolhardy (which is understandable given the situation with his mother-in-law) for arguing with police officer given the hair triggers that some of these guys seem to have these days. Moats is lucky he didn't get 15 warning shots in his chest (we now know that Powell had his gun drawn). I’m just saying, two people could have died that night.
-Noface
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right!
White cop kills an unarmed black man in the subway:
Black man kills 4 police officers in a shootout:
What is the common factor between these two scenarios? The commonality is that they display the inherently evil actions of individuals. Another thing that they do is promote a negative stereotype of the group as a whole. Now that is a problem for everybody.
The thing about these incidents between the police (rather select members of the “police”) and minority communities(specifically the black community), is that they are actions taken by individuals that end up reflecting poorly on a whole institution or a whole racial group. The thing about the responses coming from certain voices in the groups to which these individuals belong is that they rarely address the problem with the situation at hand (i.e. individual culpability). Instead they choose to shift blame or make excuses for the incident or individual by pointing out the past faults of those in the other group (usually prefaced with “what so and so did was wrong, but …). Such knee jerk reactions are unproductive, to say the least.
If cops are not willing to call out the bad elements in the police departments throughout this nation, then they are promoting a climate where agents of the state are not protecting and serving all law abiding people. The message basically becomes, it’s ok if agents of the state brutalize and murder certain segments of society (no matter how nonthreatening or innocent they are) because, hey…they’re all criminals anyway. The same thing goes for minorities (African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc) who want to give dangerous criminals a pass (when it is clear that they are in the wrong), because they don’t want to help the police in any capacity. Never mind that it is those same criminals that make our communities unsafe and unpleasant places for good law abiding folk to live.
A cop murders an unarmed man (age doesn’t seem to matter these days) in cold blood, all police lose a little more credibility with the communities that they are supposed to protect. It is hard to protect a community that will not work with you because it fears you and sees you as a large part of the problem. A criminal (who happens to be black) decides he’s going to have a shoot out with police in broad day light (ending up killing 4 officers), reflects badly on all minorities (no matter what their station in life is). The whole community from which that criminal hails gets lumped into one big category labeled “Dangerous Threat”. That categorization (no matter how unfair) seems to be the natural response of many an individual in law enforcement, and that just ends up putting all of us non-white law abiding citizens (especially the male portion) at greater risk.
We have to weed out the bad elements among us. In order to do that we all have to be honest with ourselves and take a hard look at our communities and precincts, and create a climate wear their actions will no longer be tolerated. Its time we look at Oscar Grant and those four police officers, and declare what happened to them as simply wrong in the strongest possible terms with out any qualifiers or shifting of blame. That, I believe, is the way to progress and hopefully reconciliation between the community and the police.
-Noface
Black man kills 4 police officers in a shootout:
What is the common factor between these two scenarios? The commonality is that they display the inherently evil actions of individuals. Another thing that they do is promote a negative stereotype of the group as a whole. Now that is a problem for everybody.
The thing about these incidents between the police (rather select members of the “police”) and minority communities(specifically the black community), is that they are actions taken by individuals that end up reflecting poorly on a whole institution or a whole racial group. The thing about the responses coming from certain voices in the groups to which these individuals belong is that they rarely address the problem with the situation at hand (i.e. individual culpability). Instead they choose to shift blame or make excuses for the incident or individual by pointing out the past faults of those in the other group (usually prefaced with “what so and so did was wrong, but …). Such knee jerk reactions are unproductive, to say the least.
If cops are not willing to call out the bad elements in the police departments throughout this nation, then they are promoting a climate where agents of the state are not protecting and serving all law abiding people. The message basically becomes, it’s ok if agents of the state brutalize and murder certain segments of society (no matter how nonthreatening or innocent they are) because, hey…they’re all criminals anyway. The same thing goes for minorities (African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc) who want to give dangerous criminals a pass (when it is clear that they are in the wrong), because they don’t want to help the police in any capacity. Never mind that it is those same criminals that make our communities unsafe and unpleasant places for good law abiding folk to live.
A cop murders an unarmed man (age doesn’t seem to matter these days) in cold blood, all police lose a little more credibility with the communities that they are supposed to protect. It is hard to protect a community that will not work with you because it fears you and sees you as a large part of the problem. A criminal (who happens to be black) decides he’s going to have a shoot out with police in broad day light (ending up killing 4 officers), reflects badly on all minorities (no matter what their station in life is). The whole community from which that criminal hails gets lumped into one big category labeled “Dangerous Threat”. That categorization (no matter how unfair) seems to be the natural response of many an individual in law enforcement, and that just ends up putting all of us non-white law abiding citizens (especially the male portion) at greater risk.
We have to weed out the bad elements among us. In order to do that we all have to be honest with ourselves and take a hard look at our communities and precincts, and create a climate wear their actions will no longer be tolerated. Its time we look at Oscar Grant and those four police officers, and declare what happened to them as simply wrong in the strongest possible terms with out any qualifiers or shifting of blame. That, I believe, is the way to progress and hopefully reconciliation between the community and the police.
-Noface
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
That's Not The Kind Of Persistence I Was Talking About!
In case you missed it here is the video of tonight's press conference with the POTUS.
My favorite line of the night (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) was when the POTUS said in response to Ed Henry's question about why it took so long for the administration to speak out (in outrage I presume) about the bonuses at AIG, "I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." Talk about one line zingers. That was essentially a verbal backhand to the face of (with all do respect to CNN’s Ed Henry) a reporter who keeps asking a question to which he has gotten the answer. The best part is that he did it with a smile (albeit with a stern tone). He was essentially saying that he wasn't elected to be outraged, he was elected to be a leader in tough times and such leadership requires a cool head and all the information that can be obtained in the time allowed. I like that!
-Noface
My favorite line of the night (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) was when the POTUS said in response to Ed Henry's question about why it took so long for the administration to speak out (in outrage I presume) about the bonuses at AIG, "I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." Talk about one line zingers. That was essentially a verbal backhand to the face of (with all do respect to CNN’s Ed Henry) a reporter who keeps asking a question to which he has gotten the answer. The best part is that he did it with a smile (albeit with a stern tone). He was essentially saying that he wasn't elected to be outraged, he was elected to be a leader in tough times and such leadership requires a cool head and all the information that can be obtained in the time allowed. I like that!
-Noface
Friday, March 20, 2009
Don't You Forget Your Way Home!
A message to Rhianna and all the survivors of domestic abuse, from Ghost Face Killa...
I couldn't have said it any better myself.
-Noface
I couldn't have said it any better myself.
-Noface
Friday, March 13, 2009
See En Bee See Still Sucks!!
Ohhhhhh...So that's why you mad...
We all need to understand that those who engage in humor with bite (be it satirical, sardonic, political, etc), don't do it to make light of bad situations or bad people (though it may seem that way at first glance). They do it out of frustration, anger, worry, confusion, and that general sense of "WTF" that we all feel when our leaders (in politics, entertainment, business, etc) engage in douchebaggery. These late night talk shows and sketch comedy shows are really our last hope of getting information on what is going on and why we should be outraged. It works so well because often times the comedians on those shows are outraged.
It's why Letterman was on fire when he lit into John McCain for cancelling on him at the last minute to do an interview with CBS news (he was angered by the snub). Its why those skits with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin were such a hit (the possibility of her being our next VP was THAT frightening). Its John Stewart is able to kill it every night with his expose on the hypocrisy of certain institutions (i.e. political parties and members of the MSM), the most recent of which being CNBC (his expression of that general "WTF...Am I the only one seeing this for what it is?!?" type of feeling that we all get). The angrier the comedian is the more biting his/her jokes become and the louder we all laugh, because we are just as angry. Sounds paradoxical, but that's how this type of comedy has worked since the days of feudalism (and perhaps before that time).
And its not like those in power can scare these shows into being the sycophants that many in the MSM sometimes (well...most of the time) are. Danielle Belton explained the situation best on her blog. They don't have to kiss the butt cheeks of those people for fear of getting shut out from talking to those people again. If they do ever get Zero Access to any these stars, personalities, or politicians, they’ll just make fun of those people until those people have to come on their show in an attempt at damage control (McCain on Letterman, Cramer on the Daily Show, Palin on SNL). In the end its all done to give you what the news used to do back in the day (when it was on for one hour every day) give you the information about the world around you(only with lols attached).
So next time you watch one of these shows and your laughing your butt off, stop and think for a minute about why its all so funny. After you've done that, think about why perhaps you should be mad!
-Noface
We all need to understand that those who engage in humor with bite (be it satirical, sardonic, political, etc), don't do it to make light of bad situations or bad people (though it may seem that way at first glance). They do it out of frustration, anger, worry, confusion, and that general sense of "WTF" that we all feel when our leaders (in politics, entertainment, business, etc) engage in douchebaggery. These late night talk shows and sketch comedy shows are really our last hope of getting information on what is going on and why we should be outraged. It works so well because often times the comedians on those shows are outraged.
It's why Letterman was on fire when he lit into John McCain for cancelling on him at the last minute to do an interview with CBS news (he was angered by the snub). Its why those skits with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin were such a hit (the possibility of her being our next VP was THAT frightening). Its John Stewart is able to kill it every night with his expose on the hypocrisy of certain institutions (i.e. political parties and members of the MSM), the most recent of which being CNBC (his expression of that general "WTF...Am I the only one seeing this for what it is?!?" type of feeling that we all get). The angrier the comedian is the more biting his/her jokes become and the louder we all laugh, because we are just as angry. Sounds paradoxical, but that's how this type of comedy has worked since the days of feudalism (and perhaps before that time).
And its not like those in power can scare these shows into being the sycophants that many in the MSM sometimes (well...most of the time) are. Danielle Belton explained the situation best on her blog. They don't have to kiss the butt cheeks of those people for fear of getting shut out from talking to those people again. If they do ever get Zero Access to any these stars, personalities, or politicians, they’ll just make fun of those people until those people have to come on their show in an attempt at damage control (McCain on Letterman, Cramer on the Daily Show, Palin on SNL). In the end its all done to give you what the news used to do back in the day (when it was on for one hour every day) give you the information about the world around you(only with lols attached).
So next time you watch one of these shows and your laughing your butt off, stop and think for a minute about why its all so funny. After you've done that, think about why perhaps you should be mad!
-Noface
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Who's In Charge Here!?
I have one simple question. Who runs the Republican Party? Who runs it?
People could give me the full list of the usual suspects (Lott, McCain, Palin *snigger*, Romny, Huckaby, Joe the *insert occupation here*, etc) and I’d just be shaking my head. Those fine people, while still being heavy weights in the game, are just politicians who failed to bring home the championship belt. The Elephants suffered a crushing defeat the night of November 4th, 2008 and their generals have not really made any big news since.
So I ask again, who is in charge of the elephants?
Is it Michael Steele? No! It is certainly not Michael Steele. Steele is at best a figure head (a last ditch effort of a dying party desperately trying to stay relevant). He is essentially a Palin*. Yeah sure, they’ll let him drive the Cadillac around, but they won’t ever let him take home the keys. Here’s an example of my point...
Steele's Remarks:
Limbaugh's Retort:
Steele of course, promptly apologizes!
I am of the opinion that Steele is well aware of the game being played here (I’ll give you a hint, its not checkers) and what piece he represents. That is why he sent Darth Rush (kidding) that hasty apology for his comments on the D.L Hughly show.
The leader of the Republican Party is not Rush Limbaugh either. He is of course an immensely influential man and certainly Politicians are wary of going toe to toe with him, but he doesn’t lead the Republican Party (or the conservative movement for that matter). He can’t possibly be the leader of…well…anything, because he can’t lead. Rush is no more than a mouth piece, the voice of plebeians in the Red States of America in the form of a rich fat balding white man with drug issues. steele was right about Rush just being an entertainer with a gift of being able to move the masses with his rhetoric. A leader on the other hand is someone who not only moves the people, but has a vision/goal for those people and convinces them to follow him/her in order to accomplishing that vision/goal. I don't believe Rush has the ingredients to be such a person.
So who’s in charge of the GOP? Who is the man (or woman) behind the curtain? Someone please let me know!
-Noface
* A term that denotes a person who is the embodiment of the Republican’s version of a winning strategy successfully used by the Democrats, yet with moderate success (when compared to the Democratic success) or no success at all. Named after the governor of Alaska, who appears to have only been chosen as a running mate for John McCain in response to the nearly successful primary campaign of Hilary Clinton.
People could give me the full list of the usual suspects (Lott, McCain, Palin *snigger*, Romny, Huckaby, Joe the *insert occupation here*, etc) and I’d just be shaking my head. Those fine people, while still being heavy weights in the game, are just politicians who failed to bring home the championship belt. The Elephants suffered a crushing defeat the night of November 4th, 2008 and their generals have not really made any big news since.
So I ask again, who is in charge of the elephants?
Is it Michael Steele? No! It is certainly not Michael Steele. Steele is at best a figure head (a last ditch effort of a dying party desperately trying to stay relevant). He is essentially a Palin*. Yeah sure, they’ll let him drive the Cadillac around, but they won’t ever let him take home the keys. Here’s an example of my point...
Steele's Remarks:
Limbaugh's Retort:
Steele of course, promptly apologizes!
I am of the opinion that Steele is well aware of the game being played here (I’ll give you a hint, its not checkers) and what piece he represents. That is why he sent Darth Rush (kidding) that hasty apology for his comments on the D.L Hughly show.
The leader of the Republican Party is not Rush Limbaugh either. He is of course an immensely influential man and certainly Politicians are wary of going toe to toe with him, but he doesn’t lead the Republican Party (or the conservative movement for that matter). He can’t possibly be the leader of…well…anything, because he can’t lead. Rush is no more than a mouth piece, the voice of plebeians in the Red States of America in the form of a rich fat balding white man with drug issues. steele was right about Rush just being an entertainer with a gift of being able to move the masses with his rhetoric. A leader on the other hand is someone who not only moves the people, but has a vision/goal for those people and convinces them to follow him/her in order to accomplishing that vision/goal. I don't believe Rush has the ingredients to be such a person.
So who’s in charge of the GOP? Who is the man (or woman) behind the curtain? Someone please let me know!
-Noface
* A term that denotes a person who is the embodiment of the Republican’s version of a winning strategy successfully used by the Democrats, yet with moderate success (when compared to the Democratic success) or no success at all. Named after the governor of Alaska, who appears to have only been chosen as a running mate for John McCain in response to the nearly successful primary campaign of Hilary Clinton.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Stimulus Package: Stimulating Dissent
The stimulus package (stim-pack for short) was recently passed and signed by the President this week (no thanks to all of the republicans in the house and most of them from the senate). This is the first major bill passing into law under the new administration coming after the first (failed) attempt at bipartisanship on the part of the White House. I will be honest; I only have a general idea of how the stimulus package will be implemented. I do believe that this country's economy needs some kind of government spending to "stimulate" growth in our ailling economy (and attention to our infrastructure is long over due). This however is naught more than a shot in the arm to keep us going long enough for those in charge to devise long-term strategies to get us out of the recession. In that sense, the passage of the bill is good news and I am hopeful that this all will work on some level (hey, things can only get better from here right?). This post however is not about the package itself (we’ll have a chance to see and discuss the outcome of this package in the months to come). My focus is on all of the drama surrounding the passing of the stim-pack.
The republicans were a trip weren’t they? It is as if they did not get the memo about this being a new day and the old game of political posturing won’t cut it in these serious times. The Democrats were not any better. They already seem to be taking it for granted that they have a majority in both houses and that they can get almost any bill passed with little involvement from the other side. The only person that seemed to truly want bipartisanism in the passing of the stim-pack, was the new President. He seemed genuinely interested in ideas from the other side and making certain concessions just to get more elephants on board.
I applaud the President for extending a hand to the other side of the aisle, but like the saying goes, you can lead an elephant to water but you can’t make him drink. In fact it seems that, opposition to the bill was the Republican game plan from the start. Admittedly, the majority party in both houses of congress could have included the minority in the creation of the stimulus bill (that type of partisan exclusion will not help you in the future Speaker Pelosi), but I’m getting the impression that the GOP would not act much differently than the way they are acting now. They seemed too focused on what they felt was wrong with the bill instead of offering ideas (besides FREAKING tax cuts) on how to make the bill better. They knew that this thing would pass with or without them, so now they are hoping that it will fail so that they can say "I told you so!" This strategy does not seem to be working, as current approval ratings for congressional Republicans are pretty low while the congressional Democrat's approval ratings are getting a boost (whether deserved or not).
My advice to the GOP in the house and the senate is; next time the President offers an olive branch and starts talking about bipartisanship, you all should act more like legislators and less like politicians (yes there is a difference). Yes, you can and should stand by your principles, but you should not be too afraid of pissing off your own party to make compromises for the good of the nation (and its economy). Scoring political points (or missing political points if you will) at a time like this is akin to cutting off your nose despite your face (and to no avail).
Also, what the hell is this about?
*Cartoon courtesy of the New York Post
-Noface
P.S If you want to see for yourself where all of the stim-pack money is going click here.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
AT FIRST GLANCE...
Take a look at this video from that ever present den of madness (no pun intended [you'll understand later]) YouTube...
After seeing that video, what was your first impression? Were you dismayed, appalled, disgusted, and/or entertained? Is this another example of black folks acting like niggers (something that we definitely do not need in this exciting yet perilous era of a new America)?
How did you feel about the young lady verbally abusing the elderly woman? Did she seem like your average hood rat acting a fool in public? Was she on drugs? Was she just another part of the criminal element terrorizing an honest law abiding citizen?
Well, before you make any further judgments on this matter, I would like for you to take a look at two other videos that are related to the one embedded above.
After seeing these two videos, have your opinions changed on the matter?
You see, I had already formulated the title of this very blog post ("Niggers in 'Post-Racial' America" if you were wondering) when I went on YouTube to search for other videos and comments in response to the first one posted above. That is when I ran across the two other videos that forced me to change my whole program and take a hard look at myself.
I was all ready to label the woman who according to her family suffers from a very real and very serious mental disorder, as a representative of every thing that is ghetto. She was even singing the Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em’s one (and hopefully only) hit “Crank Dat Soulja Boy”. It was perfect! She was the poster child of what was wrong with our urban (i.e. black) youth. I did not even consider that there may have been something deeper going on with this young woman (maybe I didn’t even want to). In my mind, the young lady was either A) Ignorant or B) on drugs, there was no option C.
Now knowing that this you lady may be suffering from Bipolar disorder, I had to rematch the first video with a new perspective and thus had to change the title of my blog in order to reflect a judgment of myself rather than a complete stranger.
To be honest, I’m glad that I was shown to be wrong and “ignorant” of what was really going before I had actually published this post. I’m really thankful that this video (oddly enough) gave me some incite on myself and how I am not above prejudging others (like everyone else), convinced that the qualities that I project on to them are the correct ones (whether I’m wrong or not).
I don’t know about you, but this Noface still needs a lot of work. Thus, I should refrain from judging others while I search out and deal with my own faults and shortcomings.
-Noface
After seeing that video, what was your first impression? Were you dismayed, appalled, disgusted, and/or entertained? Is this another example of black folks acting like niggers (something that we definitely do not need in this exciting yet perilous era of a new America)?
How did you feel about the young lady verbally abusing the elderly woman? Did she seem like your average hood rat acting a fool in public? Was she on drugs? Was she just another part of the criminal element terrorizing an honest law abiding citizen?
Well, before you make any further judgments on this matter, I would like for you to take a look at two other videos that are related to the one embedded above.
After seeing these two videos, have your opinions changed on the matter?
You see, I had already formulated the title of this very blog post ("Niggers in 'Post-Racial' America" if you were wondering) when I went on YouTube to search for other videos and comments in response to the first one posted above. That is when I ran across the two other videos that forced me to change my whole program and take a hard look at myself.
I was all ready to label the woman who according to her family suffers from a very real and very serious mental disorder, as a representative of every thing that is ghetto. She was even singing the Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em’s one (and hopefully only) hit “Crank Dat Soulja Boy”. It was perfect! She was the poster child of what was wrong with our urban (i.e. black) youth. I did not even consider that there may have been something deeper going on with this young woman (maybe I didn’t even want to). In my mind, the young lady was either A) Ignorant or B) on drugs, there was no option C.
Now knowing that this you lady may be suffering from Bipolar disorder, I had to rematch the first video with a new perspective and thus had to change the title of my blog in order to reflect a judgment of myself rather than a complete stranger.
To be honest, I’m glad that I was shown to be wrong and “ignorant” of what was really going before I had actually published this post. I’m really thankful that this video (oddly enough) gave me some incite on myself and how I am not above prejudging others (like everyone else), convinced that the qualities that I project on to them are the correct ones (whether I’m wrong or not).
I don’t know about you, but this Noface still needs a lot of work. Thus, I should refrain from judging others while I search out and deal with my own faults and shortcomings.
-Noface
Monday, January 19, 2009
Poetry Session #3
View From The Mountain Top
We stand as a witness, man in all shades of American
Coming both male and female with belief that we can
Overcome and indeed overrun the dysfunction of the old ways
That sought to deny the causes of freedom rides in the old days
That corrupted the ballot when it could not use the bullet
When change came from the courthouse and the pulpit
When our lightning rods were struck and a movement got stuck
A social conscience deadening and threatening to self destruct
Turmoil that seems ages ago, but all true sages should know
That the story is not finished for we still have pages to go
This has been a long time coming, but it is here now
I will not say that we have arrived, but we’re near now
Closer than ever before because never before have we seen
A clearer representation of the incarnation of a King’s dream
A dream too long deferred but at this moment much preferred
Over a nightmare with but a single flare of hope, burning undeterred
Seen from the mountain top by a prophet and revolutionary King
As bells in the valley of the Promised Land sound with freedom’s ring
It’s a view from the mountain top that we can all now see
The visible truths infused with the palpable power of “we”
Swirling around Uncle Sam’s first black son
A view from the mountain top of a people as one
-Noface
Sunday, January 18, 2009
MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!
The following song has a refrain that we can all sing along to, come Tuesday...
Have fun celebrating folks and remember to be safe out there.
-Noface
Have fun celebrating folks and remember to be safe out there.
-Noface
Thursday, January 8, 2009
IT'S '09 AND WE STILL CAN'T TRUST THE POLICE!
Wow! What a way to ring in the New Year (with gunshots sending bullets into the back of another unarmed black man)!
The video speaks for itself (pffft...so did Rodney King video and look at how that turned out)!!
Sometimes I wonder if the boys in blue are using us as target practice. Now of course, I'm not saying that all cops are like that *insert expletive here* BART Cop in the video, but as a black man, one never knows which kind of officer he is going to encounter when the cops come by. From the video, the victim, Oscar Juliuss Grant, appeared to be doing everything he could to show that he was not resisting and not a threat to the police yet he was still pinned down and handcuffed. Even after that this *insert multiple expletives here* BART Cop just steps back and murders (yes, murders) him execution style. The saddest part is that a little girl lost her father on New Year’s Day because of the actions of those who are sworn to protect and serve. Be safe out there folks and watch your backs (literally).
-Noface
The video speaks for itself (pffft...so did Rodney King video and look at how that turned out)!!
Sometimes I wonder if the boys in blue are using us as target practice. Now of course, I'm not saying that all cops are like that *insert expletive here* BART Cop in the video, but as a black man, one never knows which kind of officer he is going to encounter when the cops come by. From the video, the victim, Oscar Juliuss Grant, appeared to be doing everything he could to show that he was not resisting and not a threat to the police yet he was still pinned down and handcuffed. Even after that this *insert multiple expletives here* BART Cop just steps back and murders (yes, murders) him execution style. The saddest part is that a little girl lost her father on New Year’s Day because of the actions of those who are sworn to protect and serve. Be safe out there folks and watch your backs (literally).
-Noface
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
BURRIS BURNED!!!
Well, it looks like Burris was not allowed on to the Senate floor to be sworn in with all the other senators. At least he didn't make a big scene (that's always a plus, right?). You can read the full story here.
I'm not going into a long tirade about ethics, proper conduct, the injection of race, or anything else that is seriously irrelevant to the Burris Situation at THIS moment (they certainly were important before today and will be relevant again tomorrow). At this moment, it’s all about the law. As it stands (as far as I know) the Senate has no legal basis or authority to deny Burris the seat formerly held by President-elect Barrack Obama. This move by the Senate was a bold one, but ultimately it may not work (because of a little thing called the law).
So what happens now? Well, I'm reminded of those old Looney Toons cartoons where Bugs Bunny manages to get Daffy Duck's bill blown to the back of his head. The little black duck rearranges his bill back to its proper position and declares, "Of course you know, this means War!" This does indeed mean war. If Burris had the moxy to accept an appointment from a Governor(whom by all accounts, he barely likes)under investigation for corruption concerning that very same appointment, travel all the way to D.C. from Illinois, walk up to the capitol building, and attempt to be sworn in; then I'm sure he's not finished with this issue just yet. Indeed, as I said before, this is a matter of law and this is going to the court (Supreme Court if all bets are sound).
Should Burris fight for his seat? I personally feel that Burris should have never even accepted the appointment and the fact that he did points to a flaw within himself that makes him unfit to take Obama's former Senate seat in this manner(a little extreme and judgmental I know, but that's how I feel and Burris has not done anything to change my disposition about him). Despite my feelings about what Burris should have done, I also want the law to be respected and authority (or lack thereof) to be recognized. Yes, Burris should fight for his seat and obtain a small victory in what I predict to be a long defeat (only so that a precedent will be set and that the boundaries for the Senate concerning this matter are clearly defined).
-Noface
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