Hey, THAT Was in Bad Taste

The New York Post had this cartoon in its paper.



Can we agree that there are too many reasons why this is not a good idea to publish?!

Oh and the Post thinks they didn't do anything wrong. And they got mad because Al Sharpton protested this.

"The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."

Yeah, that's it. Cause, you know, we haven't been a racist country that enslaved people and referred to them as "porch monkeys" and other various racial epithets. Good point NY Post. Wait, what's that? Oh, we were that country. My bad.

Oh and what exactly was Sharpton's publicity stunt? A little thing called a history lesson.

"The cartoon in today's New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that "Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill."

"Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?"

High-five to the Post for showing: a) their true colors, or b) their true stupidity of not realizing the racial implications of publishing this cartoon. You guys are really awesome.

And then there are the employees trying to distance themselves from the whole ordeal

On Wednesday, an employee of the paper told the Huffington Post that the phone lines had been inundated with complaints over what was interpreted as a racially charged jab at Obama. "As they f--king should be," said the source.

Today, meanwhile, the Post's Associate Editor, Sandra Guzman, sent out an email to other reporters distancing herself from the paper's cartoon and acknowledging that she has talked to management about her disapproval.

In summation, the NY Post sucks. And they're racist.

Source: Straight Bangin, Huffington Post (NY Post Defending Article), Huffington Post (employees distancing themselves)

The Kind of Stories We Need

Sportsmanship is often lost on the game.

Then stories like these surface.

High School basketball teams faced off in Wisconsin. Only one player was missing its captain. His mother had passed away earlier that morning. He showed up late, looking to play ball as therapy. Problem was, he wasn't on the roster. So to get him in the game his team had to take a technical foul. Although the other team tried to fight the call, the refs said that by rule, they had to.

Solution? The team intentionally missed the two freebies. A player named McNeal, stepped in, volunteering to miss the free throws. This is what the game (and life) is about. Fairness, and supporting your peers in dire times.

source: high school rivals

And With That, We Quietly Say Goodbye

It has been so hard to vigorously keep up with the Kings. Particularly because they are awful. In fact, using the word "awful" to describe the Kings actually does a disservice to the word.

Well, we all knew this was coming, and they actually pulled off a decent trade, all things considered. This team has been shaken up so much in the last 4 years, it's scary.

And with that, we say goodbye to Brad Miller (and John Salmons, who wasn't really part of the winning-era). Rebuilding is going full-time now. Sam Amick has the coverage:

According to numerous league sources, a trade sending Kings players Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago in exchange for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin and Cedric Simmons has been agreed upon and is pending league approval.

In a separate deal with Portland, fourth-year forward Ike Diogu comes to the Kings for Ruffin. The Kings are also expected to receive approximately $1 million in the trade with Portland.

The Kings are not only a bad team, but an expensive bad team that had a payroll of $69 million before this deal. At a time when they desperately need to improve their salary cap situation for the future, the Chicago trade saves them approximately $10.2 million in salary cap room for next season. It could potentially make them more relevant in the free agent market this summer or allow the payroll flexibility to be more active on the trade front after this season. Beyond next season, though, Nocioni's contract will add $6.9 million to payroll in 2010-11 and $6.7 million in 2011-12. Gooden, Ruffin and Simmons all have expiring contracts worth $7.1 million, $1.1 million, and $1.7 million respectively.

Diogu's contract is worth $2.9 million this season, and he will be a restricted free agent this summer. He was drafted ninth overall in 2005 and will follow in the footsteps of Shelden Williams as the latest frontline prospect the Kings hope experiences a revival while on their roster.

This stings. I mean, it needed to happen, but I don't know...I guess I wasn't really ready to say goodbye. Then again, I never am. And that is that. The end of the era. Miller was the last remnant of when we even had a semblance of being a competitive team. Gone are Webber, Divac, Christie, Bibby, etc., etc. And Miller is the last to go. So, with that, I bid you adieu. Thank you so much for the memories Brad. It was fun. Hopefully returning where your career started will do you some good (and you're closer to your home in Indiana).

Peace.

Source: Sac Bee

Twenty Ways to Shuffle Your Feet

1) Hit or Miss - A New Found Glory
2) Have You Ever Loved a Woman? - Derek and the Dominoes
3) Transformer - Smashing Pumpkins
4) Find a Way - A Tribe Called Quest
5) Crosshairs - DangerDoom
6) Dirge - Death in Vegas
7) Rain Be for Rain Bo - Above the Law
8) Nicky Barnes AKA It's Alright - Camp Lo
9) Cocaine - UGK
10) Tracy - Sa-Ra
11) Just Like Honey - The Jesus and Mary Chain
12) Miss By a Mile - Aesop Rock, Eyedea, and Slug
13) Provider - N.E.R.D.
14) He Ma - Cam'ron
15) Gold and a Pager - The Cool Kids
16) Maintain - Organized Konfusion
17) Players Anthem - Junior Mafia and Notorious BIG
18) We're Famous - Aesop Rock
19) Bobby James - N.E.R.D.
20) Immigrant Punk - Gogol Bordello

This Gave Me the Chills

Somehow, I manage to play intramural basketball on Friday nights (so far). It's been fun. Although we lost a heart breaker on technical fouls. Also got my first and only bucket tonight. hahahahah. Nevertheless, I'm more of a fan than a player (that is an understatement requiring extreme emphasis on fan).

Saw this commercial while watching the Rookie Sophomore game tonight (recorded it). Pure awesome. The guys at Nike and Jordan definitely know how to make a commercial. Also, T-Mobile clearly hired a bunch of youngins to scream on every made basket. It's annoying.

This is Disturbing....

So, I don't know how this got past me, but Roberto Alomar has HIV (or AIDs).

Former MLB star Roberto Alomar had unprotected sex with his ex-girlfriend while he had full blown AIDS, a sensational lawsuit charges.
In the $15 million action filed in Brooklyn Federal court, Ilya Dall, of Queens, said the ballplayer tested positive for HIV in 2006 and a doctor later told him he had AIDS.Whoa.

When did this happen? Well this is where it get's disturbing.

Also in 2005, Alomar told Dall that when he once was raped by two Mexican men after playing a ballgame in New Mexico, according to the suit.

Yeah, you just threw up in your mouth a little bit, right? I don't blame you. Well, thankfully, the woman suing him says he didn't know he had AIDs at the time of the incident. I have no background in this area, but I think she'll have to prove that he was negligent in his actions in order to have any sort of merit in her claim. And I'm pretty sure that's going to be hard to do.

Dall said she tested negative for the disease — but is claiming punitive damages for emotional distress. She also claims her children were exposed to the virus.

Wait what?! Yea, she doesn't have the virus. So, ummmm, are you just trying to get him to settle with you so you'll go away? Either way....I think Alomar has gone through enough.

Source Foxsports

That Old Feeling

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." What does that mean? I dunno, but it always sounds cool to say that. Here's an old blog from my days on myspace. Thought it would be interesting to revisit it. Maybe more later if I feel like it.

2006:
Here's my top albums in my life right now. I encourage feedback, your top albums, etc.

In no particular order:

The Postal Service - Give Up
It's been out for a few years now, and it still remains in heavy rotation. I don't even think that there's really a throwaway track on the album. The combination of Ben Gibbard's vocals and Jimmy Tamborello was better than I could have imagined. A powerful album and it's good for a variety of moods.

Deep Puddle Dynamics - The Taste of Rain....Why Kneel?
This was one of the albums that sparked my interest in the indie rap scene. Anticon and Slug with some crazy beats. I remember I listened to this album end to end for a few weeks. It's still relevant to my life after 4 years. It was crazy good.

Aesop Rock - Labor Days
Another album that turned me on to indie rap. Aesop had some amazing lyrics and really dope beats to match it up. 5 years later rap cats are still just discoveing Ace Riggity Rock. Dude's ill. Hope he can match this album sometime soon as this is his most coheisve and best produced album to date. Worth a spin or two if you get the chance.

Arcade Fire - Funeral
I'm not going to lie, I hated this album the first time I heard it. In fact I hated it the second and third time I heard it. But I caught it in a soundtrack for some obscure video a year back and I kicked myself for being a jackass. It's not everyone's cup of tea but this is seriously one of my favorite albums of all time. Powerful music that drags various emotions out of me. I mean I absolutely get chills listening to some parts, it's that powerful. So good that I found myself picking it up on vinyl just to have it.

Various Artists - Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II
In my opinion the last good album that Rawkus put out before it's demise. This was the high school anthem album. You've got Mos Def, Talib Kweli, some old Eminem, Co Flow, Cocoa Brovaz, Common, the Beat Junkies, and a ton of other artists that just heated up the tracks. And let's not forget Pharoahe Monch and Shabaam Shadeeq with WWIII. A dope dope album. A must listen if you're into the late 90s underground sound.

Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
End to end burner. Dude had some serious narative ability. Paved the way for hip hop's flashy hustler era. So many crazy tracks and beats to match the lyrics.

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
For a while I used to think Smashing Pumpkins were the only band for a long period in high school. I was obsessed. But after I grew up a little bit I still look back at this album and think of how good it is. It had the soft songs, it had the hard songs. It had the highs and lows of life and I still love listening to it.

Common - Be
The Illmatic of the new millenium. Insanely short and concise but effective nonetheless. In an era filled with skits, the "hot" producer of the moment, Common stuck to two good ones: J Dilla and Kanye West. And it was nothing but fire. Just good lyrics and nice to see Common making some old boom bap. Despite the album of the moment feeling of our era, this one will stand the test of time. Minimal cameos (that's a good thing). And it's one of the very few albums I went to buy the day it came out.


Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
The sum surpassed the parts. El-P, Vast and Vordul....straight fire. Vast and Vordul aren't quite as good solo, but were definitive as a group. They painted a dark picture of NYC through some really off the wall metaphors. But dudes were serious lyricists. Probably one of the best indie rap albums of all time. And so many quotables to disect for days. "you was a stillborn baby/mother didn't want you/but you was still born." I only knew one other guy that had even listened to this album and for a week straight our conversations were all about the various lyrics on this album.

Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly
I remember trying to go to the God Loves Ugly tour the day of the release of this ablum. Unfortunately it was sold out, so I just went to Ameoba and copped the album instead. This remained in heavy rotation for a month easily. It was just good from front to back. Now everyone's in to Sluggo and I can't blame them. Dude is just that good. I've had the pleasure of seeing him more than a few times and the live show is definitely not to be missed. From large venue to small venue, dude rocks like it's his last show. And this album had some serious emo-rap going down. Check it if you get the chance. There's nothing wrong with emo-rap


Broken Social Scene - You Forget it In People / Self Titled

Not only is this one of my favorite bands, but they've easily put up the best live performance I've ever seen (better than Radiohead). Solid solid sound, good music to rock to. It's often border line instrumental music, but it's scattered with lyrics throughout. And the formula works to perfection. I urge you to pick up either one of these albums. You won't be disappointed. If there was one album to pick up, it'd be one of these or the Postal Service.

Bun B - Trill
"UGK is the Click" Dude spits mad lyrics. I couldn't believe how good this album was. Beats to back it up. He even gets really introspective and despite Pimp C (his partner in UGK) being in jail, he still sends out big ups to him and holds down fam tight. Probably not for the casual hip hop / rap head, but definitely something you shouldn't miss out on if you're looking for something a little bit different. You're gonna see a lot of Bun B, and more importantly UGK real soon. Watch out.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl
I was long turned off to them solely because of their name. I can't lie, it's extremely corny, but at first listen, I got sucked in. Solid live act to boot. But yeah, this album has a lot of heart to it and is good drinking, mellow out music.

Radiohead - OK Computer
Far and away their best album. I wasn't as much of a fan after they took to their electronic music path, but wow. This album has been a favorite of mine since I saw the Paranoid Android video. Such a good album from cover to cover. This sound has been often imitated but never replicated and solidified their already large following. I wish I had gotten to see them live during this tour. I definitely missed out. I have an imense love for this album because of how groundbreaking their sound was. The fact that they haven't come close to this perfect of an album since also kind of engrains this into my collection.




Honorable mention include: Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism, DJ Shadow - Endtroducing and The Outsider, RJD2 - Dead Ringer, Nas - God's Son and Stillmatic, Kanye West - the College Dropout, Interpol - Antics, Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell, Cream - the Best Of, and Led Zeppelin's I - V, Lil Wayne - The Carter II, Radiohead - The Bends, Bloc Party - Silent Alarm, Organized Konfusion, Victor Vaugh - Vadeville Villain, KMD - Black Bastards, Sole - Bottle of Humans, all 3 Dosh Albums.

#1

Stockton. My home. Always #1 where it's worst to be #1. And people ask why I left California. I'll attest that most people are pretty miserable overall. Although I love going home and I'm never miserable with my friends and family. But still....it's the most miserable city in the United States.

Stockton ranks in the bottom seven in four of the nine categories we looked at: commute times, income tax rates, unemployment and violent crime. Only New York City has a higher income tax rate than what Stockton, and all California residents, are forced to pay.

Stockton was ground zero for the housing boom and now the subsequent bust. Home prices more than tripled between 1998 and 2005 and then came crashing down last year. Stockton had the country's highest foreclosure rate last year at 9.5%, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed property. Things are not looking much brighter in 2009 as housing prices are expected to fall another 36% on the heels of a 39% drop in 2008. Also, unemployment is expected to jump to 13.3% from 10.4%, according to economic research firm Moody's Economy.com.

"We are engaging the entire community and encouraging everyone to get involved and help us find solutions that meet the needs of our community," says Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston. "Volunteerism is encouraged, looking out for your neighbor, and taking personal responsibility where individuals can make a difference. We are partnering with all community organizations--schools, churches, non-profits-- to provide support services and help individuals and families get through these difficult times."

We compiled our rankings by looking at the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S., which meant those with a population of at least 378,000. We ranked those metros on nine factors: commute times, corruption, pro sports teams, Superfund sites, taxes (both income and sales), unemployment, violent crime and weather.

For this year's ranking, we added the corruption component. We used the criminal conviction of government officials in each area over the past decade as compiled by the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice. This division of the Justice Department was created in 1976 to focus on "crimes involving abuses of the public trust by government officials."

Yup. It's where I'm from.

Source: Forbes

Guns

I'm all for protection of the right to bear arms....but there is a point where guns shouldn't be allowed. In my world, I say no guns on federal property (unless you're law enforcement or whatever), i.e. if your property receives federal funding, no gun permits are recognized. This is particularly an issue in Texas, since people can have a license to carry a firearm. Hey protect their rights, but with everything, there's a time and there's a place.

Recently, legislation has come down to allow college students to carry handguns to school. What?! Are you kidding me?

Well, here's the solution if the bill passes.

Professor’s plan

As a professor at the University of Houston, I would heartily endorse a bill of the Texas Legislature allowing students to carry pistols into class. I would amend my course syllabus to provide on the first day for both an introduction to the course and a lesson in shooting. If my students were to encounter a dangerous person charging into the classroom — a terrorist, bigamist, extortionist or plagiarist — I would have them form a circle around the miscreant, pull out their pistols, and shoot him. The only problem I foresee is that some of my students might be “C” or “D” students, and they would possibly miss the intended criminal, shooting, instead, their classmates across from them.

This, would, however, be classified as collateral damage, and my students would not be charged with a crime for the death of their classmates.

As an amendment to the bill, I would have the Legislature authorize the installation of artillery cannon at strategic sites on campus. These cannon would enable us to respond to mortar shells being shot into the campus from downtown Houston or other hostile venues. To ensure the accuracy of the artillery, I would ask the computer science department to provide a course of instruction for students in the newly designed GPS/INS (fire-and-forget global positioning systems and internal navigation systems) utilizing military satellites. No prerequisites for this course would be required. The ability to read and forget is an inborn trait.

Irving N. Rothman,

professor of English, University of Houston

via Houston Chronicle

What Happens When You Combine

Long john silvers and a taco bell? Fish shrimp and clams and a taco
supreme. Awesomely bad ideas.

Sent via mobile phone.