Commerce Subcommittee Meeting On Racial Sterotypes in the Media Targets Hip Hop Artists

On Tuesday, September 25th a commerce subcommittee meeting on consumer protection met on the topic of African American media stereotypes. The meeting was led by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL). Speakers included hip hop artists David Banner and Percy "Master P" Miller as well as Novelist and Georgetown Professor Michael Eric Dyson.

The specific question asked to the speakers that inspired my blog was this: "What is the responsibility of Hip Hop music?"

David Banner began his reply with, "I don't think Hip Hop music has ANY responsibility.." and went on to explain.

For me it is hard to believe hip hop artists can be held accountable for the way they run their business. What about pharma? They've got this entire country on meds, diagnosed with made up diseases. But more pertinent to the issue at hand here; what is the responsibility of POP music? Of Rock 'n Roll? Of Metal? etc.

Let's start with POP: Britney Spears set out as a role model for 11 year old girls. Then she danced half naked on stage about a million times, made out (sensually) with Madonna on stage and continues to make pop music. Just because 11 year olds are statistically very likely to purchase her albums, did it make her accountable for the image of a "role model" we claim she had become? Whether it did or it didn't NO ONE ever held her accountable.

So now I ask you; are we holding our black entertainers to an unfair standard? We're asking them to be role models to the children who buy their albums and watch their videos. But are we really asking them to inspire a hope that our legislation and law enforcement has been unable to? And moreover, aren't we being hypocritical by attempting to place limits on their industry specifically, while neglecting to look at other industries across the board?

Tupac's lyrics were some of the most violent and the most inspired. They were both poetic and honest, rhythmic and real. Looking at them helps to explain where gangsta rap is singing from:

"Now I was raised as a young black male,
In order to get paid forced to make crack sales.
Caught a n***** so they send me to this overpacked jail,
In the cell counting days in this living black hell - do you feel me?"

If the ghettos have become safer and the jails aren't predominantly black anymore, then I could imagine a time when gangsta rap became less angry and took on a new persona minus the 'gangsta.' But what I wonder is this: will it not simply anger someone more if they are not only subjected to a "cursed ass hopeless life" (Tupac) but are then prevented from getting any form of label to back the art they made to vent their frustrations?

Might we point the finger somewhere else? Or could we talk about how influential artists could help us inspire positive change rather than point the finger at them and talk about how to regulate what "they're" doing?

Casinos in Mass? Why not?

Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) has made the decision to allow 3 casino sites in Massachusetts as a way to drive revenue in the Bay State. This decision reverses previous regulations that have prevented the construction of casinos in the state before.

Though nothing has been etched in stone, it seems that the anticipated backlash from residents has made only but a quiet murmur. One site that voices the most opposition to this decision is casinofacts.org

This site claims that the expected revenues tallied up by Patrick's financiers is missing some major figures.

The side that seems to be missing in the equation is the fact that these casinos would ultimately be costing residents more money too. In taxes, that is.

My biggest question here is: how do some people get a positive revenue when they do the math while others are seeing a negative revenue? If math is math then which camp is taking the correct values into account?

My hopes are that before this deal is signed sealed and delivered, before dotted lines are signed and checks are cut = Patrick WILL consult outside (UNBIASED) financial advisers for their separate estimates. I am hoping they will tally up the expected revenue if the 3 casinos were type 1, type 2, type 3 and all permutations/combinations of the above keeping in mind the specific areas the casinos will be built in.

Cause we all know that the almighty dollar is the bottom line here and this is hardly the BIG plan I would expect out of a grassroots mover and shaker like Patrick to make wakes in job creation sector. This is hardly about making jobs. If anything, this will only make 3 small local webs of jobs unless recruiting and moving is done. The latter is only likely if these are built on Native American Territories. These kinds of casinos may just be our worst nightmare in terms of taxes since the casinos would not be bound to pay the state any. That would mean we pick up the tab on the taxes generated by this cash cow. The dollars these casino "resorts on a plantation" can bring in... well think of how well they dry your wallet out...

Now, if we do the casino thing on our own turf - this wonderfully blue state (and I mean that dammit! I love the shade of blue here!) WILL have to spend a chunk of change setting up this protective barrier and that protective barrier so this doesn't happen and that doesn't happen. I'm not being specific because we can all probably name a million things off the top of our heads. Remember, even though these are just regulations and rules, each one comes with it's very own price tag (to the tune of lawyers fees... anything legal costs a lot of money... Legal Sea Foods had it right using "Legal" in the name of their restaurant)

I had this funny icky feeling this casino thing was a little too good to be true. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to smoke cigarettes EVERYWHERE at foxwoods... (although I should be quitting, my love-hate relationship with Phillip Morris is another story... ::sigh::)

I just hope this casino thing is done right. If not, it'll be a disaster.

Red Sox Win The AL East!!!!

Woooooooooooh!!!!

Yankees Suck!!

Camel Marketing Campaigns for Cancer in Pink Camo

I thought I'd Jazz up the font a bit for this one...

This past weekend my little sister (hardly a week into her 18th year) came to my new studio for the first time. She came with her friend Michaela, who is still 17. They're seniors in high school. I'm 24. I smoke. Not camels... but that's irrelevant.

So Michaela and Marina come in and I'm hurrying to finish the straightening process that is my hair. I sit here, right here, at my computer/vanity when I pull the mini mirror out, plug in the appliances and strategically place my brushes. Whether this seat is a desk chair or a vanity stool, there is something that always stays... my butts, I have my ash tray, a bottle half filled with water, and usually nearly full with butts, This is where they go so they don't smell... again, irrelevant. But you get it, I'm hooked. They're part of my routine. All my routines. When I was a senior in high school, I was already a smoker. Albeit, a light one, but a smoker, nonetheless.

My generation marked the end of the "smoking is cool" marketing campaign targeted at young kids. It worked.... I guess.

Michaela had a pack of cigarettes on Saturday. I was surprised, I asked if she smokes; the answer was no. But these cigarettes were so cool. The pack was a trendy black and pink. Camel Number 9s. The cigarettes weren't pink, but, apparently, there are hot pink ones as well. I learned tonight there are also pink and green ones (menthol). My little sister and Michaela share a cigarette....

Now I was appalled (inside) and intrigued (visibly) and I wanted to try a drag too... briefly - Marina has always been an athlete and a gymnast, has never let me smoke in her car (so I don't ask) and she thinks it's gross... the way I smoke... like a... smelly, smelly smoker! But here she was, puffing the prettiest, girliest cig with Michaela, trying to blow smoke rings...

I did try this cig. It was so... fluffy, pink... good! I forgot to purchase a pack at the store when I went to get my ~2 day fix of 3 packs.

Tonight I was out listening to a favorite local band at a local bar. The location was somewhere I went often during my BC days. School is in session so I was not surprised to see those "free lighter" people come around and take down your drivers license info and give you a free lighter... I didn't want one, because of the way they fail me when they run out of fluid in 2 minutes... but I spoke with one of the two marketers... a couple of years ago these were always Marlboro reps. But I went with my gut and asked, "are you with Camel?"

Not surprisingly, she was!

I began to chat with her briefly about Camels new marketing campaign. I told her how I thought it was creative, and was surprised to even see a new marketing campaign at all with a cigarette company, the way things are these days with the lawsuits...

Then I asked her if it works. Her reply: an ultra enthusiastic, "it DOES work!"

She began to describe how sorority girls (who I guess don't usually smoke... no Greek life at BC, I wouldn't know...) were utterly AGOG about the pink cigarettes! I told her how my sister was smoking one - (and then explained why that was odd) and she said her sister too... and that her sister didn't smoke... but now she does, and she got her a pack.... and she trailed off in a way, after I had (so un-journalistically) blurted out, "but you think it's wrong, don't you?" ...seeing I'd made her uncomfortable, I normally would have apologized and let her know I smoke too, but instead I urged, "I mean, deep down..."

We spoke briefly about how I guess they went the legal route without using names that imply "light" this or "ultra light" that, because, as tobacco companies now know, this misrepresentation is illegal,,,

But I remember when targeting kids who were too young to smoke was illegal. I told her that within 10 years they would be slapped with a ton of lawsuits some creative lawyer would think up something illegal about their current marketing and this would all go down far down the road "when you're not marketing cigarettes anymore" I said to the girl before we said a friendly goodbye... well, sorta friendly, I guess.... because in a politely impolite way, I made her think about her job... and it's meaning... a little too much for a random Monday, I guess...

::spark, spark::

::inhales a comforting first drag of a Marlboro medium::

::contemplates dumping Phillip Morris for Joe Camel's hot daughter Jane Camel, cause she is just that scandalous and tempting::

::exhales::

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia... Iranian and American Cultures Collide

So we've all seen it, we've all heard it, Ahmadinejad came to Columbia University.

We all watched in horror as Ahmadinejad responded with fancy-foot responses to our blatant questions about Israel. We laughed at his response to our inquiries about homosexuals... and now America knows for sure: this man is not someone we're ever going to see eye to eye with. We all felt like we needed that since we've NEVER seen eye to eye with Bush or his administration...

So.. how come Ahmadinejad's popularity has soared in Iran in the aftermath of this visit?

I think this can be answered in a number of ways, none of which I could ever speak to fully so I will leave those out - but one huge way that it helped Ahmadinejad is this:

We were rude to our guest, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

So... [you ask] ...if he is such a bad person - why does it matter?!?

In Iran; it matters!

An ultimate no-no in Iran is to be rude to your guest. It is not just a whisper whisper trash talk that fades over time. It is a serious mar to your personal character to be known as someone who was rude to their guest. Imagine if a well known family man in your town was all of a sudden rumored to be a wife-beater or a child molester... instant social outcast! People don't throw rumors like that around frivolously!

It was a huge faux pas... on our own turf.

Being kind to him and objective in manner is a courtesy that an Iranian would expect from someone who has invited him or her as a guest.

I am happy he came here because I think we all need to wake up and this was a big wake up call. Before long Americans will have to understand this is why he had a small ratings boost and then we can also so Iranians as people who think differently. I also believe that this being shown on Iranian TV is good. Before long Iranians might be able to learn that in America this is how bluntly we speak. We are not always courteous to our guests, although our moms taught us to be. We are comfortable with being candid. That is what open means here in America...

And it's often surprising when we invite someone to our house who we don't generally get along with and they actually show up!

How can we leave Britney Alone When She Keeps Giving Us MORE MORE MORE??

Ok, so I don't exactly buy that her bodyguard isn't just doing this in revenge... in fact, I think it is revenge.

I saw the interview. They asked him directly what he saw. He claims he walked in on her in the bathroom (to "check on her" - I believe THAT right there would have made Brit fly off the handle.

He goes on to say, "...and I did see that kind of activity."

One significant sign that someone might be lying is when they use more words than they have to in order to confirm or deny an allegation:

"I did see" = "I saw"

"I am not Gay" = "I'm not Gay"

(Or you can just claim you have a wide bathroom stance - whatever works)

Anyway, I noticed he didn't get specific about "what" he saw... did he see needles? did he see straws? did he see pills? did he see pipes?

I imagine his story will expand... which will confirm (to me, anyway) that this is just a silly ploy to make some capital in revenge for getting terminated abruptly...

I mean, he had to have expected the unexpected... it's Brit. She's erratic. She's a few clowns short of a circus right now...

Ok, now I will leave her alone.

How do I dispose of Mercury in Boston, MA?

So energy efficient light bulbs are all the rage right now.

I switched, you switched,
Red fish, blue fish...

(had to)

We (hopefully) have all noticed the warning label about the mercury in the bulbs and how you can't just toss 'em in the trash. So I looked online to find out how to properly dispose of Hg...

What?!? It costs MONEY?!?

The good news is - it doesn't have to cost you. Although Mass hasn't sorted out a state-wide program yet - there are some volunteers. Surprisingly IKEA and many hardware stores offer disposal services, Wal-Mart had a light bulb disposal drive in July. There are also a number of Towns that voluntarily offer this service. There is one in Cambridge, one in Newton and one in Chelsea - to name a few. Specifically, this would be offered by a town/city's Public Works department.

I hope this was helpful.

I'm also hopeful that within the next 10 years Massachusetts will figure this out. FYI - 10 years is the (supposed) life expectancy of the bulb.

If you haven't switched yet, I would seriously consider it. A 100 watt bulb can be replaced by an energy efficient bulb (with the same luminescence) but only 13-23 watts.

What does this mean to you? Saving $

Check out this GREAT informational resource - put in layman's terms, and a quick read: How much does electricity Cost

Why should you care? Electricity in Mass is 18 cents per Kwh... if you don't know what that means it's not important (but you can learn w/ above link) If you don't like to learn - use the quick calculator on the page to see what your 60 W, 75 W and 100 W bulbs are costing you... oh yeah, MA electricity is currently the 2nd highest rate... 2nd only to Hawaii.

Which blows.

Oh yeah, and what are the benefits of your effort to go a little green? Electricity production burns fossil fuels. We've depleted half of our fossil fuel pool already... somethings gotta change.

And by the way... I believe in you.


Other resources to learn where to bring your bulbs:

Newmoa.org

City of Chelsea's Program

Who am I?

...Petey Pab Mother F*cker

Ok that wasn't classy enough for my passionate political view-ishness that will be a part of this blog... matters about world politics, domestic (US) issues and my local Boston-based opinions and ideas/local music scene/Red Sox... annnnd, I'll obviously be commenting on entertainment news. When I do blog about the entertainment industry's latest, it will, more often than not, be on "this just in" topics.

There's one more thing... I have a custom-built philosophy... It's a spirituality (with a dash of religion).... think Buddha meets Jesus and has coffee. Buddha appreciates the Jesus inspired communities that those "I need to talk things out so I can understand" kind of people who accept that they have to just "believe." Jesus understands that Buddha quietly inspires an internal Zen in those who just Know. But then there are the scientifically minded. The most difficult aspect of a blog on this topic would be developing the ability to describe in layman's terms and/or analogy the way multi-variable calculus, the laws of physics, and the properties of the Universe (ie-astronomy/proven space time properties) have helped me understand that there is unquestionably more to this world than we can conceive of with the current capacity of our minds. Maybe evolution will help change the limits of our understanding in the future.

Oh yeah, I'd also have to mention how an MD named Brian Weiss learned that past lives exist. Well, in objectivity, I should put it this way: try as he... err.. did, he could not find an instance to disprove the existence of past lives. So, I guess, in a way - he whole-heartedly 'knows' they exist. His deeply ingrained objectivity (scorpios rule) would prevent him from ever being able to truly assert that this is a fact. Nothing is a fact. Want more information? Read; "Many Lives, Many Masters"

I plan to write a blog or two about philosophy... once in a blue moon... I imagine it will correlate directly to psychedelic inspiration. Which is a rare but wonderful learning experience. Especially with my friend who gets the best stuff in the world. YAYYY!! ::claps in excitement::

Why the broad eclectic...ness?

It boils down to this: Variety is the spice of life.

Thanks for subjecting yourself to my blog talk... make it a conversation PLEASE.

What I can promise you is this: I will be objective. If you come across an opinion that needs a different point of view - Call Me Out On It!

I will appreciate learning. I am always a student. All I know is that I know nothing.

You: "Ok Plato...." ::eyeroll::

hehe