Celebrity and the cause of a dirty mouth

Tracy Morgan, comedian, went off on a homophobic rant during a live show in Nashville.  According to audience reports, several people walked out after Morgan said, “Homosexuality was a choice because god don’t make no mistakes.”  Morgan also stated that if his son ever told him he was gay, he would stab him to death.  Brett Ratner, director, caused controversy during a question-and-answer session at a screening of his new comedy “Tower Heist,” which stars Murphy.  Mr. Ratner was asked about rehearsals for the actors and he replied: “Rehearsing is for fags.”  Kobe Bryant, NBA, player, was fined for calling the referee a fag during a basketball game.

 

I can go on and on with many unprofessional comments made by known celebrities and just regular people, but what will it bring?  America has either become politically correct or are we just sick of these dirty mouths? As a D.J, I struggle to find the “Clean mix” of a hit song, but I have come to realize that most artist are unable to main a hit song without using a derogatory word to get their point across.  Cee-loo’s hit song “Fuck you,” was performed on the hit show “Glee,” and America fell in love.

 

This verbal type of bullying for some is found to be entertaining, but to others such as the “Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation,” this is a reoccurring nightmare.  Parents have no idea of what their children are listening to on their Pods, because they are either too busy or the iPod has become the babysitter.  We want to know that we all have respect for one another, but how can we if we don’t listen, talk or just accept.

A slice of the Apple, on black Friday

SourceURL:file:///Users/sexydj/Documents/A%20slice%20of%20the%20Apple.doc

 

As reported by CNN, Apple has offered a “One-day shopping event” for the day after Thanksgiving.  A page on Apple’s site invites Black Friday shoppers to visit its online store, although it’s not clear whether the same deals will be offered at the company’s retail stores as well.  Although the iPhone 4S, which starts at $199 will probably not be discounted, the fever of saving money at Apple is still appealing…lol.

 

At 9to5Mac blogs, has posted some leaked details of modest discounts of $101 on Macs, $41-$61 on iPad (depending on storage capacity) and $21-$41 on iPod.  This all comes as no surprise, as Apple finally has some competition from smaller, less expensive tablets like Amazon’s Kindle Fire ($199) and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet ($249).  Blackberry also has slashed the price of its 7-inch Playbook tablet from $499 to about $200.

 

This is just a small step for “Black Friday” shoppers, but I am certain the lines for Apple stores will be long.  Apple is a great product, and most users praise the trademark for their innovative work.  However, with competition from other retailers, I would like to see Apple give greater discounts, because they over charge for anything they produce; For example, a 500gb.  Hard drive at Apple cost $159.99, but I found a 2 TB hard drive at Fry’s electronic for $80.00.  I’m a Mac and a P.C, and saving money has always been important for most Americans.

You Go, Benetton with your “UNHATE” campaign?

SourceURL:file:///Users/sexydj/Documents/You%20Go,%20Benetton%20%20

 

 

One of my favorite clothing stores, Benetton has gone on to be known for many years as a leader in urban fashion and controversial advertisements, but they have gotten the politicians, priest and heads of state in an uproar.  They have been forced to pull doctored ads of Pope Benedict XVI kissing a leading Muslim imam, and President Obama kissing China’s Hu Jintao.

 

Although, Benetton may have good intentions and a desire to represent the idea of kissing and making up, I am inclined to agree with some that this ad campaign has gone too far.  Controversy has always been known to get a conversation started, but they could have been more constructive with this campaign.  Benetton’s advertisement is an insult to artist who can create without photo shopping an image of men kissing and making up or anyone for that matter.

 

This is a wonderful idea gone wrong, because we have so much hate in the world, and why should Benetton add wood to the fire?  They were one of the first to use integrated models in their advertisements, which was appealing and innovative, but this mistake is cause for protest and disappointment.  Unhate is more important than the hate that this ad will cause.

How private is Facebook and do you really care?

When we click on to our Facebook pages, we do not expect our activity on the site to trigger advertisers or marketers to immediately target and track every keystroke we make, but they do and have always had the power to look into our private lives. We had no idea of this until someone else recognized this activity and informed us of what was going on.

Andrew Charlesworth of the University of Bristol is one of those people who is a watchdog for us, in his statement of “Users are not social networking sites’ primary customers, advertisers and marketers are”, “And we must be aware of everything every time we log into any site, that has sold us out to the marketers and advertisers”. However, Mark Zuckerberg owner of Facebook has refused to comment on what is happening. We know that Mr. Zuckerberg is earning money from every advertiser who is allowed access to our privacy.

Good cookie versus Bad cookies, and what do we really know about all of this. Well, cookies have always sounded and tasted good in our history, but some of these cookies are bad for us, both technologically and calorie, but what do we know? Privacy on the internet in most cases is impossible and as a user of Facebook for many years, I do my best to enjoy the site, but sometimes I fear “Big Brother” and it causes me to wonder, how can something so social make one feel so violated?

“Sexual Harassment, Old News Becomes New”

SourceURL:file:///Users/sexydj/Documents/Sexual%20Harassment.doc

 

 

Clarence Thomas, and Anita Hill, a secretary for Mr. Thomas are the first African Americans to be thrown into the spotlight because of sexual harassment in the politics of America.  The confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991, along with Ms. Anita Hill’s charges of the first mention of sexual harassment on the job and in Washington, D.C.  Fast forward twenty years later, Herman Cain, a republican in the GOP race for the white house, is charged with sexual harassment and Cain has strongly denied allegations of sexual harassment against him, but said a settlement was reached in the 1990s.  Politico.com reported that two female employees complained of sexually suggestive behavior from Mr. Cain.

 

Before the Hill hearings, people really didn’t know that sexual harassment was illegal and disruptive.  This was a defining moment in history for women, because men have always believed that a woman’s role on the job is to make coffee and take care of the mans needs.  The year after the Thomas hearings also saw an influx of sexual harassment lawsuits to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, giving a voice to some men and women who face sexual harassment while performing their duties at work. Moreover, since Ms. Hills charges were filed, Companies are held financially liable, and are forced to pay attention to any complaints from employees. Along with training employees and enforcing proper conduct, the work place has become a secure place for women.

 

This Is most notable to the media because Ms. Hill, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Cain are African Americans, but had it not been for a woman, Ms. Hill, who was sick of being disrespected, America may have never paid any attention to the complaints of women in the work force.  Politicians who are in powerful positions, feel they are privileged and above the law, but history tells us that some men, have no respect for women and their role in the work place, school, or in their own homes.  As a nation of equality, we still have a lot of work to do, and maybe one day we will all be equal.

It’s about damn time America!!!!

SourceURL:file:///Users/sexydj/Documents/It%D5s%20about%20damn%20time.doc

Honors for the first black Marines thousands of African Americans who joined the Marine Corps during World War II and then learned they would be shipped off to a separate boot camp for blacks and serve in segregated support units commanded by white officers.  Along the way they suffered indignities and limited to support assignments while on duty, and confronted with racism when they were home on leave.  After their service, they were not encouraged to stay in the military and nearly faded from history, because No one knew they even existed.

This week, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the “Montford Point Marines,” named because of the segregated boot camp they attended.  Although racism was eminent in 1942, these men believed that as American citizens they would be welcomed and respected as heroes of World War II.  An example of what they faced while serving occurred when a troop train stopped in Tupelo, Mississippi, a sign read “Welcome Servicemen” with a promise of hot coffee and food for the tired and hungry Marines.  When the locals saw that the train was carrying blacks, the Red Cross closed the food booth and the train pulled out of the station.

The news of America’s final recognition of these service men is long overdue and 90% of these men have passed away, but the ones who are still alive, were able to attend the event and were excited with the news of their being honored.  America’s history of racism and its efforts to do the right thing seem to be a constant effort and challenge.  There are so many reports of our country turning a blind eye to people of color and then realizing that maybe it was wrong, is always the case. One day, maybe soon, this will never be the case, and we are all judged by the content of our character.

Lindsay and her Cupcakes are serving time

 

 

 

 

Breaking News: Lindsay Lohan has begun serving her time for community service at the Los Angeles Coroners office.  She will be in charge of cleaning restrooms and whatever they can think of to keep her busy for the two whole days of her community service.  She made her entrance through the back door and was hounded by paparazzi as she made her entrance,

 

The incident caused traffic delays and frustration for other citizens who had to serve time for their community service, because they had to wait hours outside while Ms. Lohan was signed in or whatever they do.  I sound frustrated and I must admit that I am, because of all the hype that the celebrity treatment here in Los Angeles causes.  I mean I am fighting a cold and wanted to chill out and watch “The Andy Griffith Show,” and it was cut for this announcement.

 

The most upsetting of all of this was that a bakery in West Hollywood, sent a gift bag of cupcakes to the coroners office for Ms. Lohan, and the cupcakes just sat outside the door, because they could not be received.  Although the cupcakes did not do anything to deserve their treatment, they were still not allowed inside the building.  Such a pretty mess, I mean Lindsay, not the cupcakes.

Occupy Wall Street catches on in Los Angeles

We’re mad as hell and were not gonna take it anymore, a famous quote from the 1976 hit movie Network”, are the thoughts of everyone affected by the corruption that is occurring all over our nation. The people are organized and the media has finally decided to go and see what the big deal is. When the people of New York decided to occupy Wall Street, by marching and protesting, the city believed it would be a one-day event. The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg had no idea of the growth and the belief of the people, the American people, and the power that would reverberate all the way to Los Angeles protesting the bail-outs, while plain folks were overlooked and even evicted from their homes.

Now in Los Angeles for several weeks, the people have pitched their tents right in front of city hall to bring recognition to the occupy Wall Street move. The media have been invited to come and interview the protestors, but the media has been placed in a designated area to protect the rights of the protestors, and everyone appears to be getting along so far. However, This morning on good day L.A, one reporter was told to leave by an outraged protestor, who didn’t want the media there.

The interesting thing about all of this is that when this occupy Wall Street began in New York City a month ago, there was no media coverage, and in all actuality, the media didn’t care to go out and get the story. But they didn’t need to be there, because this group of Americans had already formed their own website, tweets, and Facebook pages to get the word out, along with live video streaming. This is a wonderful example of a movement that found success through creative and inventive media use.

Please check out the websites I have attached.

http://www.livestream.com/owslosangeles

http://occupylosangeles.org/

An apple falls from the tree and the world weeps

 

 

 

This week we are all saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Apple, Mr. Steve Jobs our American hero.  A man we had the opportunity of experiencing in our lifetime, on this earth.  Steve was considered by some to be a genius, and I for one would agree, but more than genius, he was a light in the darkness of what do we do next.  His inventions and innovations are so fascinating.  I mean think about this if you own a Mac, IPod, IPhone, iPod or even use I tunes for your music, you have to thank Steve Jobs.

 

This man set the bar for what would be copied, imitated, and even forged, because he made it so easy to desire any of his creations.  The Chinese have insulted our intelligence, and offended the works of Mr. Jobs by creating several fake apple stores in china, I mean come on man.  Some people say that imitation is the best form of flattery, but this is just sad.  I wondered what Mr. Jobs felt when he became aware of this occurring? I know how I would have reacted and I would probably be in jail for it.

 

I was watching the Stanford Commencement speech where, Mr. Jobs gave the most passionate and forthcoming speech and his words inspired me to get back to my homework.  Rest in peace Mr. Jobs you will be missed, and all of my prayers go to you and your family.

 

I have attached the speech and the site of that fake store.  Enjoy

 

 

Commencement speech:  http://youtu.be/D1R-jKKp3NA

 

Fake store: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14503724

Educating the Dalai Lama and Me

 

Oh my god, I am so tired and not just tired exhausted, I am a returning student and I had no idea of what to expect and so I just jumped right in. lord have mercy I must first apologize to all of my friends who would refuse to go out and dance and drink and party with me, because they had to study.  I thought they were so boring and how could they just sit at home and read or whatever they were doing to get their degrees in what ever was keeping them away from me.  I would say to my friends “Come on man, just take a break and put those damn books down, and let’s party.”  Although, those same friends are now doctors, professors, and business owners, they are proud of my becoming a student.

 

In retrospect, how egocentric I must have been to try and stand in the way of an education.  An education, that thing that know one can take away from you, that thing that will open doors and turn heads.  I was selfish and now today as a student, the shoe is on the other foot, and I am turning down invitations to party and hang out.  This education stuff is actually not that bad, it is tough and exhausting, but with exhaustion, comes satisfaction.  I say all of this because last night as I sat studying my English homework, I took a T.V break and turned to the UCTV channel and there, right there to my wonderful surprise was the Dalai Lama, yes the Dalai Lama.  He was lecturing at UC Irvine, and it was amazing.  The Dalai was taking questions from the audience and a student asked what could he do to make his studies more meaningful?

 

The Dalai Lama replied with a giggle.  (So cute), and then he said that his experiences of traveling and questioning other members of other religions helped him to become the man that he is, because it showed him that other views of the same interest can expand your mind and create a sense of a meditative mind.  Oh my goodness, that is what I needed to hear.  I struggle everyday to understand my lessons and what is this all about?  but just the reminder of seeking help or questioning a fellow student was brilliant.  And in That moment, I turned off the television and got back to work, but with a sense of accomplishment, because the only news I hear and see on the T.V is bad news and the one time I break from my study’s, UCTV was airing the Dalai Lama lecture, which was a great thing.  I would advise you to check out the UCTV network, because it is about and for us, the students.