When Keeping it Racist at the Hookah Bar Goes Wrong

I haven't been in a nightclub or bar in quite some time, but I'm sure things haven't changed that much from my clubbin' days. I'm sure the guy who looks like somebody's perverted but-I'm-still-cool uncle still shows up sporting a jheri curl; and, I'm sure that the one drunk dude bound to catch a bad one every week, hasn't learned his lesson from his last beat-down. The years may change, but the characters stay the same, folks.

Speaking of which, checkout what happened to Kevin Morris, of West Haven, Connecticut, while out at a Hookah Bar last week. No joke, this is one of those "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" skits straight out of Chappelle Show; only difference, this isn't some well written hilarious made up sketch for TV.

Last Thursday Morris swaggered into the Fire & Ice Hookah Lounge on Campbell Avenue in West Haven. Just what happened next isn't entirely clear since there appears to be only one press account of the incident -- and that one limited in detail. But after entering the Lounge, in the words of Amanda Pinto of the New Haven Register, Morris began "shout[ing] profanities and racial epithets at a group of black and Arabic people."

Pinto doesn't say what the epithets were. And it's not entirely clear what the clientele is or what kind of place the Fire & Ice Hookah Lounge is. But one thing's clear: it ain't a mosque. And while Middle East-themed and seemingly patronized by at least some people of Middle Eastern descent, the presence of the belly dancers, "Gina" and "Katie," who perform on Friday evenings, suggests that if it caters to Muslims, it's not for the particularly devout [..]

[...] In any case, Morris comes into the Lounge shouting his epithets, apparently really drunk and at some point tries to grab the bartender by the throat or strangle him or something. But things did not go well for Morris. The folks in the establishment were not interested in that kind of an evening and proceeded to administer Morris a serious beating. As Pinto put it, Morris "was punched in the face by at least one of the people he was shouting at" and when police finally arrived he was "bleeding profusely from the face."

Morris was treated at Yale-New Haven Hospital and charged with 3rd degree intimidation due to bias and 2nd degree breach of peace. He is still in police custody. (source)

 I'm not a violent person, nor do I condone acts of violence; but, I damn sure wish I could have been there to witness this. Seeing some drunk idiot get knocked the fuck out in a bar or club is way better than must see TV.

Sadly, I'm pretty sure this clown didn't learn anything, and it's good to know that he'll live to receive another asswhoopin, at another day and time. Oh well, you know what they say: punks jump up to get beatdown:

Orayne Williams: From Kingston, Jamaica; to a Homeless Shelter; Now to College

Anyone one who knows me will tell you that I have a soft spot for the homeless, and downtrodden. Often, I bring to light the everyday madness on this site; but today, here's some reality with an awesome ending.

So, check out the story of Orayne Williams (pictured above), and how he overcame serious odds to be granted a full ride college scholarship just about a month ago. Hopefully you'll find this inspirational:

Homeless high school grad Orayne Williams is getting the ride of his life - a full scholarship to a four-year college.

Abandoned by his family and living alone in a Brooklyn shelter, Williams, 18, excelled at school with a 91 average at Bedford Academy in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

The Daily News broke his story on June 15, and since then, he's received more than $15,000 in scholarship money from readers.

Now, Manhattanville College in Purchase, Westchester County, has offered Williams a slot and a promise to cover any expenses he can't pay.

"I was speechless," said Williams. "I didn't think it was going to happen, but it did."

Born into a poor family outside Kingston, Jamaica, Williams was sent to live in Florida alone at age 12. In 2007, he was reunited with his mother and half sister at a Brooklyn homeless shelter.

In November, his mother kicked him out, and city Education Department social worker Wayne Harris found him a spot at a shelter for young men in Williamsburg.

Williams still managed to do well, taking three Advanced Placement classes, earning an A average, and winning a spot at an upstate two-year community college on scholarship.

All that changed after Manhattanville College President Molly Easo Smith read Williams' story in The News. "His hunger for education really meant something to me," said Smith. "It touched a nerve."

Although Smith didn't know if Manhattanville would be able to pay Williams' way, she encouraged him to apply.

Last Tuesday, Smith learned that the school had enough scholarship money available to cover Williams' expenses, which will work out to about $47,000 a year.

She called Harris - and that night the social worker broke the news to Williams at a support meeting for homeless teens. The room erupted into thunderous applause.

"I felt like I hit a 3-point jump shot," said Harris. "I clenched my fist, like, 'Yes!'" (source)

Williams will be moving to Westchester this month to attend the college, where he plans to major in biology. "Of course I'll miss Brooklyn, but I'll be back," Williams said. "Life is just taking its course."

Having worked and volunteered in homeless shelters in recent years, this story really warms my heart. More than anything, what really bugs you when in the shelter environment, are the faces of the many kids you encounter. It's truly a hard-knock-life for many of them, and breaks such as this one doesn't come too often...

Especially for a kid from the Caribbean with similar circumstances.

To understand how poverty affects the education of children CLICK HERE!

The Friday Sex Blog [The Job Nobody Wanted]

A Brief History of the Vibrator

As far back as 1653, when physician Pieter van Foreest published a treatise on women’s diseases, women’s sexuality has been sorely misunderstood. To be sure, sexually frustrated women were viewed as suffering from “hysteria” (literally, “womb disease”). van Foreest prescribed what would become known as “vulvular massage” -- suggesting that a midwife or doctor could cure “hysterical” women through “the massaging of the genitalia with one finger inside,” using “oil of lilies, musk root, crocus, or [something] similar.”

This was nothing new. In the Western medical tradition, bringing women to orgasm via genital massage by a physician or midwife was a standard treatment for hysteria, an illness considered both chronic and common in women. Descriptions of this treatment appear as early as Hippocrates and in the first and second centuries, A.D. It’s interesting that very little attention has been paid to a medical treatment for a complaint that is no longer defined as a disease but that from at least the fourth century B.C. until the American Psychiatric Association dropped the term in 1952 was known mainly as hysteria.

The fact is that all the symptomology (<-- new word LOL!) described what is consistent with normal female sexuality, for which relief, not surprisingly, was gained through orgasm, either through intercourse, of by means of a massage on the physician’s table. That normal female sexual functioning was described as a disease can be laid at the feet of a society in which sexuality is seen almost exclusively through a male-dominated (androcentric) perspective. Androcentric (<-- new word!) views not only shaped the definition of sexuality, and their consequences for women, but also the instruments designed to cope with these so-called diseases.

So Was Discovery Channel Hostage Taker James Lee "Mentally Unstable" or Dedicated to his Ideals?

by Joanna (JuJuBe)

When an individual who feels so strongly about his ideals decides to take people hostage or resort to any other sort of violent action, we are quick to label them "mentally unstable" or "mentally ill". But is that just a convenient way to dismiss the sometimes legitimate concerns underlying their actions?

Now, I am NOT saying that I agree with the philosophy of Discovery channel hostage taker James Jay Lee regarding immigration and "anchor babies. Nor do I find his "extreme" ideas about population control acceptable. In fact, I find much of what he says pretty disgusting However, if you read his ENTIRE MANIFESTO, there are some areas in which he expresses LEGITIMATE concerns.

It was interesting to note that as the situation unfolded, immediately, the right wing was pointing to the "liberal agenda" as the cause of this man's actions, while the left wing is pointing out the more "conservative" elements of his manifesto and calling him right wing nut. In truth, he was neither. He was a man with a single minded goal.... that of reducing the human population in order to reduce its impact upon the earth.

But, was the media correct in immediately characterizing him as "mentally unbalanced"? It seems like the most convenient way to dismiss the ideals of someone who we do not agree with is to attack his state of mind instead of his ideas. Because it is often hard to dismiss someone's agenda outright. Lee may have had some views that many, if not most people consider absurd. The truth is, Lee had been evaluated in 2008 following his conviction for disorderly conduct stemming from a previous protest against the discovery channel, and was NOT found to have any mental illnesses. But, if he had NOT been dismissed in the media as "mentally ill", maybe people around the country would have been discussing the FACTS that led him to take such extreme actions.

We see this is every case where someone takes hostages or kills FOR A CAUSE. NO MATTER WHAT the cause is, the person is AUTOMATICALLY dismissed as mentally ill, in order to deflect attention away from any kernel of truth that resides within his ideology. As I said, I find much of Lee's manifesto deplorable. BUT, we DO need to take better care of the environment. We DO need to find an end to the constant wars and conflict. We DO need to change our economic system. But, no one will be paying any attention to THOSE parts of his "manifesto" if he is dismissed as "mentally unstable."

A few weeks ago, a young man name Omar Thornton killed several of his coworkers because he was a victim of their racism. As in this case, his LEGITIMATE concern was ERASED when the media gave him the label of "mentally unstable". The same thing happened in the case of Colin Ferguson (LIRR shooter). The label of "mentally ill" or "mentally unstable" is slapped on anyone who takes drastic action to make a point, in order to dilute the impact of their violent statement.

When a soldier is willing to kill and be killed for the values that his nation holds sacred, we call him a hero. But, when an individual is willing to kill or be killed for the values that HE personally holds near and dear to his heart, we call him misguided, and label him mentally ill. And no one pays attention to his message. Whether his reasoning is rational or not, he is dismissed as a loon. And no one pays attention to the point he was trying to make in the first place. Whether we agree with James Jay Lee or not, he had a message to convey to the world. Did anyone pay attention to his message, or were we all convinced by the "mentally unstable" label to dismiss everything he believed in?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I Think Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Smokes Crack

No seriously, I really think she does; or at least she did before her debate the other night. Nah man, c'mon, how you gonna say I'm full of shit? You cannot tell me that her behavior in the following clip isn't crackish:


OK, so maybe that was wrong of me to suggest that she was mentally impaired as a result of drug use. Maybe what we saw above was in fact her being her; and that would be, a Republican?

There's a common axiom that suggests that one should never debate or argue with a fool. Because when you do, they'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. With that said, I gotta ask: did she think her opponent was hip hop sensation 50 Tyson?

Speaking of which, checkout her reaction in true republican ideologue fashion when confronted with facts. Yeah, can someone call the Wonder Pets for Jan; obviously she's an animal in "twouble" in Arizona:


(H/T The Political Carnival)

If You Smile When You Say the Word "Nigger"... You Might be Racist

My man PunkJohnnyCash of Gonzo Times shared the following video with me a couple of days ago. Since then, I've watched it at least ten times, and I gotta admit, I'm still a bit confused about it.

Sorry, but when Papa Smurf dressed in a Harley Davidson t-shirt breaks it down and mentions, "my daddy always said nigger," I seriously gotta question the true intent of the message. No old-ass white guy from the south is gonna convince me that the word is not exclusively used to reference to black people.

The real irony here, is that this message was brought to you by the good Christian folks of doveworld.org. You know, the same people who on September 11th, 2010, will be sponsoring a "Burn A Koran Day," at their church in Gainesville, FL? Yeah I know, there's no double standard there at all; Jesus never said "Love thy neighbor's Qu'ran as you love your bible thyself," right?

I dunno, but maybe I'm buggin'; seeing white folks smile as they say the word was a bit uncomfortable. Well, maybe not uncomfortable, but rather telling that the "niggerization" in America has yet to be passe.

"The fundamental irony of American history is that we follow the better angels of our nature when we honestly and compassionately confront the devilish realities we would like to ignore or deny. The founding of this most American of periodicals was motivated, in part, by a courageous resistance against the American institution of white- supremacist slavery. We must never forget that when this grand intellectual forum was established, the precious U.S. Constitution was, in practice, a pro-slavery document. To put it clearly yet crudely, the deep democratization of America was pitted against the ugly niggerization in America.

Democratization is the best of the American idea—in principle and practice. The sublime notion that each and every ordinary person has a dignity that warrants his or her voice being heard in shaping the destiny of society remains a revolutionary force in the 21st century—in the face of the power of autocratic empires, plutocratic states, and xenophobic communities. Niggerization is neither simply the dishonoring and devaluing of black people nor solely the economic exploitation and political disenfranchisement of them. It is also the wholesale attempt to impede democratization—to turn potential citizens into intimidated, fearful, and helpless subjects.

Since the ugly events of 9/11, we have witnessed the attempt of the Bush administration—with elites in support and populists complacent—to promote the niggerization of the American people. Like the myopic white greed, fear, and hatred that fueled the niggerization of black people, right-wing greed, fear, and hatred have made all of us feel intimidated, fearful, and helpless in the face of the terrorist attacks. And, as in the 19th century, we’ve almost lost our democracy.

The future of the American idea—both then and now, here and abroad—depends on the vision, courage, and determination of decent and compassionate people to engage in Socratic questioning of the powers that be, to take the risk of prophetic witness, and to preserve a hope for democratization. Our nation and world now have the blues, so we must learn from our blues people—from the grand examples of Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, Myles Horton, and Muriel Rukeyser. The American practice of niggerization must die for the American idea of democratization to live—yet again." - Dr. Cornel West (source)

Which brings me to the Socratic question(s):

1) Why is it that "certain people" always reference black comedians, rappers, or black people period, and not the guy at the Klan rally when trying to make a point on the use of the word?

2) How come nobody ever says: "I think if the Klansman can say the word 'nigger' while speaking publicly at one of their rallies on Main St., then I should be able to use the word without fear of retribution or ridicule?" Wasn't the "standard" set by White Supremacists?

3) Can black people be "racist" when the longtime fostered cultural hegemony continues to leaves them collectively powerless relative to the non-minority group?

4) Does being a "nigger" require one to be, "looking like a fool wit yo' pants on the ground.."?

Talk to me people...

Barack Obama Wants Us to "Turn The Page," But...

Saw your speech last night, Barack; nice. Some of my progressive buddies are upset with you for giving props to George Bush like you did. Me? I'm not upset with you one bit; ain't like you let Bush off the hook for war crimes or nuthin...

As a matter of fact, I loved the way you praised him, and then turned around to remind us of just how he's screwed us after mentioning "his" trillion dollar war, and the fucked up economy you inherited.

“It's well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset, yet no one could doubt President Bush's support for our troops or his love of country and commitment to our security” - Barack Obama

Yeah Barry, you's a smooth brotha and I like that. But anyway, just wanted to take a quick moment to shout you out on your speech last night. Son, you was sounding madd presidential in that new-look office!

Yeah son, you done changed on us just a lil bit, son. But before we do like Jay-Z and move on to the next one; yeah Barry, Afghanistan (?). You know, the war you can't blame on George Bush? You know, that's why they call it your war, Barry (?). And unlike Bush, ain't like you lied about WMDs in Afghanistan...

Lemme remind you of the Barack you used to be when it came to being an anti-stupid-war kinda guy. So, here's Senator Obama vs. President Obama. I understand, bruh; them folks got you frontin' like that.

Random Thoughts of a Radical Progressive Puerto Rican

-=[ Ramblin’ Man]=-

I don’t mean to poke fun at such a serious topic, and I should add that I once seriously considered the same route, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that a NYC man yesterday jumped off his high rise building, plunged 40 stories, landed in the backseat area of a Dodge Charger after crashing through the windshield... and survived. Broken legs, critical condition.

When I made the commitment to jump, a strong wind from an early November Nor’easter knocked me on my skinny, seriously malnourished, drug addicted ass as I attempted to scale the Brooklyn Bridge’s pedestrian walkway (yes, a drama queen to the end, no regular rooftop for yours truly. I was going out in style, muthafuckas!). Some would say that the wind was a blessing or a gift from some God (who apparently had nothing better to do that day), but my state of mind was such that I considered the event the worst of insults: I was such a loser; I couldn’t even commit suicide successfully. I became convinced that with my luck, my suicide attempts would only manage to leave me crippled, so I stopped all thoughts of taking the short cut. I did try to get other people to do it for me, but that’s another story.

So today, as I reflect on this man's actions as well as my own, I wonder about his thoughts, his state of mind, and I have to wonder if he's regretting having survived his actions... I wish him some measure of serenity and clarity.

Oh yeah, President Obama... the speech last night is now being eviscerated for not being celebratory enough by the same chickenhawk pundits and politicians who cooked the evidence in creating that Mess in Mesopotamia in the first place. I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t watch the speech, but I getting some chuckles from people like Chuckles the Clown (Charles Krauthammer), and that Wolfowitz twit (the latter stating that we should stay in Iraq, like, forever).

Well, people? How the fuck do we celebrate the cluster fuck now known as the Iraq War? It was a mistake from the get-go; incompetent men who had never fought a war bungled it from the beginning. Moreover, let’s not forget that we shouldn’t have been there to begin with. And you know what? This ain’t over yet, you bloodthirsty imbeciles. Rachel Maddow does a great job of listing the lies that took us there:

Would You Be Proud if You Were Related to These People?

by  Folk



New Left Media’s Chase Whiteside interviews attendees at Glenn Beck’s non-political “Restoring Honor” rally in DC. Post up in the comments your thoughts and feelings. Suddenly I feel really really sad :(

Folk out. Holla.

Waterport, NY: Another Hate Crime at A Mosque After Ramadan Prayer Service

by Joanna (JuJuBe)

According to worshipers at the World Sufi Foundation, a mosque in Waterport, NY, they have been suffering from harassment for years, and the authorities have done little to nothing in reaction to their complaints. In recent weeks, the harassment has been escalating, with people shouting and shooting from vehicles. Worshipers at the mosque report that the police normally take over a half and hour to respond to their requests for assistance.

Now, five teens have been arrested after an SUV full of teens shouting obscenities struck and injured one of the mosque's members. Members also reported that gunshots were fired from the SUV. 17-year-old Mark Vendetti was arrested on felony charges of illegal possession of a weapon. He is being held on $10,000 bail and is also charged with disrupting a religious service (a hate crime).

Also charged in the incident were Anthony Ogden, Dylan Phillips, Jeff Donahue and Tim Weader.

Anti-Muslim hate crimes have been escalating, particularly this month of Ramadan, which is observed as sacred by Muslims, who fast from dawn to sunset, and often congregate in the evenings during this holy month to break their fast and pray together.

How many more people must be injured, or even killed before people begin to recognize that this level of hatred cannot, indeed MUST not be accepted and condoned any longer?