It is official. I am bored with this campaign.
Posted: July 31, 2008 Filed under: Campaign 2008, Clinton, Elitism, Obama 4 Comments »SO, Jake Tapper posts a celebrity elitist quiz like so…
Which presidential candidate hosted Saturday Night Live (hint — the musical guests were The White Stripes)?
Which one had cameos on “24” and “Wedding Crashers“?
Whose wife secretly got her pilot’s license and owns a jet?
Who is pals with Warren Beatty?
Whose daughter is friends with Heidi from MTV’s The Hills?
Whose wife once told Vogue, explaining the purchase of a 7th or 8th house, this one a beach house, “When I bought the first one, my husband, who is not a beach person, said, ‘Oh this is such a waste of money; the kids will never go. Then it got to the point where they used it so much I couldn’t get in the place. So I bought another one.”
Whose family credit cards have been known to ring up more than $500,000 in charges in one month?
and the comments go like THIS:
Trying to paint McCain with the celebrity brush is laughable – since it’s Obama and Michelle who put their two little daughters on Access Hollywood.
And since when is having legitimately earned money a crime in America? Some of Obama’s backers are so jealous with class-envy they can taste it. Wise up, people. Obama is a multi-millionaire too.
WORD? Was Obama on the block with Rick Ross getting his paper?
And from a commenter named “Still for Hil”
It is not the matter of money it is the matter of lack of experience and arrogance.
Is that a new flavor of haterade? Or is that still sour grapes?
To me it isn’t about money.
It is about a lack of humility–acting as if you are smarter, richer, better than other people. Sticking your nose in the air, acting smug, thinking you know it all, unwilling to admit mistakes.
I don’t see that in McCain or his wife even though they are rich.
This is how I see Obama. He has bought into all the worshipping. Fate has a way of taking care of pride and arrogance. I just hope our country doesn’t go down with Obama.
Ahhh the hate is just palpable, isn’t it.
Well, Now that everyone knows.
Posted: July 31, 2008 Filed under: Campaign 2008, Hip-Hop, Ludacris, Obama, Politics, Race 1 Comment »Can’t say I didn’t see THIS coming.
And for the record…I SOOOOOO wanted to post the song as soon as I downloaded it. (Monday Morning at 9:15 CT cause that’s how I roll) But I KNEW that as much as I liked the song, nothing good could come of it.
And JUUUUST like clock work, I stumble upon Ben Effing Stein talking about Ludacris 36 hours later.
Ahhh Shit.
I spend a day decorating my sons’ room and as soon as I put them in their new Superman adorned beds, I come downstairs to see Ben Effin Stein analyzing the lyrics of Chris Bridges.
For those of you not quite engaged in the process….THIS is how it works.
1. Someone “unacceptable” endorses Obama
2. Those who do not support Obama proceed to defecate Masonry.
3. Obama Apologizes for the delicate sensibilities of people who don’t know or care about the unacceptable person and proceeds to condemn that about the unacceptable person that Obama finds objectionable.
4. Those who support the unacceptable person take offense of some sort
5. Those who support Obama smack around the unacceptable person for putting Obama in a bad spot.
6. The unacceptable person apologizes as best they can muster and goes back to not really being relevant to the campaign at all.
7. Those who oppose Obama attempt to milk all the negativity they can by demonizing the unacceptable person and attempting to add him/her to the growing roster of nefarious creatures associated with the mysterious colored man.
8. The sun sets, the Dogs resume biting men and the bears continue to shit in the woods.
I mean, I could go into the whole thing about Ludacris speaking for Ludacris and not for the campaign…but everyone has already decided it is much more fun to play like this actually matters…so Ima go back to listening to the mixtape now that the kids are in the bed.
For those of you that care…luda still goes in with the best of them.
Day of Blogging for Justice – Don’t Tase the Bros to death or Dismemberment
Posted: July 30, 2008 Filed under: A Day of Blogging for Justice, Afrospear, Police Brutality, Race, Tasers 5 Comments »Once upon a time, I was involved in a childhood game where you mustered up all the static electricity you could (usually off of the carpet) and then you went and shocked another person.
Once, one of my older cousins succeeded in genuinely shocking me to the point that I was genuinely uncomfortable and rather skittish to play the game from that point forward.
I also have had unfortunate incidents involving jumper cables that have me rather slow on the draw to deal with electricity.
You can imagine, therefore that I am not a particularly big fan of Tasers.
I would be lying if I tried to pass myself off as some kind of anti-tasering activist though.
I am going to take this Day of Blogging for Justice to address a larger issue.
So much of the focus is based around the weapon, when the real focus should be based on the psychology of the user.
The reality is, before Tasers, Cops were just shooting folk…well mostly black folk.
When they weren’t Sodomizing..errr…Beating…err…turning the hose…err…loosing the dogs on…you get the picture.
Tasers were introduced as a means to minimize the use of firearms…a noble exercise to be sure.
But unless you work on the psyche of the user…the psyche that minimizes the value of the suspect to less than that of a test dummy…the user will find a way to abuse the weapon.
IN that spirit I will shut my ignorant ass up and point you to folk much more qualified than me to weigh in.
Check up on Electronic Villager to see more.
The MPAA can no longer be trusted.
Posted: July 29, 2008 Filed under: Movies, MPAA, The Dark Knight Leave a comment »So, Despite my VIP invite from the good folk at the Lone Star Film Society to see an advance screening of Pineapple Express, I ended up missing out. I ended up dragging Mrs. Ink to see the Dark Knight, which I had initially vowed to not see until after I returned the chirren to their mother (henceforth known as the Former Mrs. Ink(FMI)) because they wanted to see it (how would they not?)
I considered it, because they are reasonably well raised (shout out to the FMI) but any hope the kids had was dashed when the Good Rev. Keystroke dubbed The Dark Knight The Dark Knight of the Soul.
They had to settle with a trip to see Iron Man, a much kinder and gentler PG-13 superhero flick earlier today.
So, with that, me and Mrs. Ink settled in and Boy lemme tell ya.
That was the most violent and intense PG-13 movie I have EVER seen.
Keep.Your.Pre-pubescent.Children.Away.from.this.movie.
Trix may be for kids, The Dark Knight most definitely was not.
Now the pragmatist in me understands the whole Scarlet letter that the R Rating has turned into for movies that harbor dreams of attracting teenagers, but I KNOW R rated movies when I see them.
The Dark Knight is a legitimate R rated movie.
The MPAA should be ashamed.
Christopher Nolan et. al. did a heckuva job, but that was a movie for grown-ups.
Inkognegro Now Brandishes the Spear
Posted: July 29, 2008 Filed under: Afrospear 7 Comments »It is with great pride and humility that I announce my acceptance into the AfroSpear.
And WHAT might you ask, is the Afrospear?
Compliments of on the Black Hand Side
The AfroSpear Nation
The Afrosphere – the entire diaspora of black bloggers
What Is the AfroSpear?
by TheFreeSlave
The origins of “AfroSpear” started from a discussion a group of us had in regards to developing a community of African/Black progressive minded bloggers. From further discussions it developed into an idea to create a diasporic-wide think tank type blog comprising of 6 bloggers: 3 women and 3 men. The vision was that it would focus on discussing issues, exchanging ideas and creating strategies, with the objective of developing concrete and viable solutions to tackle the concerns relating to those of African descent worldwide. The origins of “AfroSpear” started from a discussion a group of us had in regards to developing a community of African/Black progressive minded bloggers. From further discussions it developed into an idea to create a diasporic-wide think tank type blog comprising of 6 bloggers: 3 women and 3 men. The vision was that it would focus on discussing issues, exchanging ideas and creating strategies, with the objective of developing concrete and viable solutions to tackle the concerns relating to those of African descent worldwide.
Continued…
The AfroSpear is “setting Black agendas and shaping public opinion.” — Los Angeles Times
A Brief Flicker
A Political Season
Abstractions of a Bohemian Hippie Chick
Acting White
Africabeat
African American Opinion and Social Networking
African American Political Opinion
African American Political Pundit
African-American Opinion
Afronerd
AfroNetizen
AfroSpear in the News (ASN)
AfroSpear Think Tank
AfroSphere Newspaper
All About Race
American Journal of Color Arousal
Ancestral Energies
Anderson@Large
Backyard Beacon
BDPA Foundation Blog
Black & Missing But Not Forgotten
Black Accountability Project
Black Agenda Report
Black Baby Boomers
Black Cinema At Large
Black in Business
Black Looks
Black Political Thought
Black Radio Is Back
Black Sapience…My .02
Black Smythe
Black Women in Europe
Blackgirl on Mars: Notes on a Life In Copenhagen
BlackPerspective.net
Bold As Love
Brown Sugar
Bygbaby’s Mind Spill
CapCity’s Musings
Charcoal Ink
Clement Nyirenda’s Blog World
Color Online
Community Checkup
Conversations
Daily Views, Pop Culture, Rants, and News
Dallas Progress
Dallas South Blog
Dark Parables
Democratic Afrosphere
Diary of a PhD Student
Discover Black Heritage
Eddie Griffin (BASG)
Electronic Village
Elle, Ph.D.
Ensayn Reality
Erie Thoughts … Eerie Realities
Exodus Mentality
Exquisitely Black
Fackin Truth: Two Cents of My Hot Air
Field Negro
Fige Bornu
Fort Wayne African American Independent Woman
Francis L. Holland Blog
From My Brown Eyed View
Funky Brown Chick
Having Read the Fine Print
Home of the Mandimories
HomelandColors: African American Cultural Revolution
Human Beams
HustleKnockin’
InkogNegro 1.75
Invisible But Not Silent
I’m Hip Hop
Jack and Jill Politics
James, Mos Def, My Brother & Me
Jikomboe
JonesPC | Ramblings of an Urban Geek
Kizzie
Kudzu, Mon Amour
Latimer Williams
Lies Before Breakfast
Living Life Abundantly
Maat’s Feather
Make It Plain
MartyBLOGs
Maybe It’s Just Me…
Microbrother
Mirror on America
Monroe Anderson
Mrs. Grapevine
My Urban Report
Nat Turner’s Revenge
Native Son
New Beginnings – It Takes Courage to Change
Nuvision for a Nu Day
Obyno
On The Black Hand Side
Once Upon a Man
Open Entrance
Over Analyze It
PACE: Daily Motivation for Entrepreneurs
Pam’s House Blend
Pastor Kyev Tatum
Pirate Satellite
plezWorld
Poefrica
Police Brutality
Problem Chylde
Prometheus 6
Race Wire
Raw Dawg Buffalo
Republic of T
Rev. Rose
Ripples of Hope
Ron Pettaway Justice Blog
RSSpect
SerenityLife
SES: Science, Education & Society
She’s So Fly
Shouldn’t Life Be More Than This?
Sincere Thoughts
Sistah Goddess
Slant Truth 2.0
Sojourner’s Place
Springer’s Journal
Tasered While Black
Temple 3
The American Journal of Color Arousal (AMJCA)
The Black Snob
The Free Slave
The Graduate
The Jose Vilson
The Marvalus View
The Punkin Patch
The SuperSpade
There… Already
This Week in SRI
TransGriot
Truth About Kos
UltravioletUnderground
Universal Blackness
Universal Blackness
Vanessa: Unplugged
Vibrant Life
What Tami Said
What Would Thembi Do?
Where The Hell Am I?
Wichita NAACP Blog
WriteBlack
Writing is Fighting
Ylizaville
Young Black Professional Guide
This is not an association I take lightly. The Black Blogosphere is the most dynamic and innovative force in Black Media (no…I am NOT exaggerating.) right now, and this membership is something I am extremely proud of.
Shout out to Electronic Villager and the rest of the members.
I will deal with this more thoroughly as time permits.
*puts on his daddy cape and launches into the stratosphere*
Permission to Revise and Extend my Remarks
Posted: July 25, 2008 Filed under: CNN Black in America, Education, Inkognegro, Real Talk, Roland Fryer 2 Comments »As a nod to the serialized nature of this particular topic.
Aside from that whole foolishness with Pastor Manning, Last night marked my most replied to thread.
In light of the intelligent answers and commentss I recieved, I thought a pulic response was in order.
As to the claim that we should clap for Dr. Fryer because he is trying hard:
If Dr. Fryer was 8, I might could roll with that.
Now while my wife is actively contemplating his death and dismemberment, I just said that the brother was off target. I am not even saying he should pack up his ish and bounce. I am merely offering criticism on his thesis.
As for this veiled notion that the whole community is sitting idly by watching Roland Fryer get his Don Quixote on is just nonsense.
There are MANY nameless and faceless academics out there trying to eliminate the achievement gap both privately and publicly.
One of them lives in my house.
This notion that pervades that all actions should be applauded is wackness of the most pure form.
All actions should be acknowledged and recognized.
Would it be better if I think Dr. Fryer is off track and I decide to wait until it doesn’t work and then rush in and say:
I knew it wouldn’t work all along.
(this here is typical negro behavior, btw.)
I merely chose to put out a letter to Dr. Fryer suggesting that he might be off track.
——–
Those of you who were less critical of Dr. Fryer said things such as the following:
Its no different than a kid getting a new book (like I did) or a special dinner when they bring home a great report card.
It is completely different.
New book = reinforcement of the value of education. a Chance to make reading a lifestyle.
Nice Dinner = Cultural experience that allows for MORE learning.
Giving a kid money = Giving a kid money
Or how about programs like Upward Bound or College STEP? As a STEP alum, I got a $5,000 stipend every year I was in the program and did what I was supposed to do. I don’t hear anyone hollering about that–and Upward Bound is probably one of the greatest experiences a teenager could have.
I agree wholeheartedly. Being a teenager is pricey and teenagers are fierce capitalists. You NEED to show them the money. But these ain’t teenagers, these are CHILDREN. Puberty ain’t the time for symbolism and lessons. THOSE children NEED money and have already developed some SENSE of the value of Education (or else THEY would be on the block somewhere making money). Comparing the plight of 16 year olds and 8 year olds is like comparing the needs of an ipod and the needs of a transistor radio. They are sponges and they WILL soak up whatever you give them. This is your ONE AND ONLY chance to give them a love for learning. You have to plant that seed before they get old enough to be influenced by other forces. Paying children of this age only reinforces the very negative forces they will be bombarded with as they grow up.
Let me close by focusing on an issue that I alluded to yesterday.
Dr. Fryer is trying to hot-wire the system. By paying children straight out, as opposed to giving incentives to teachers or parents he believes he is creating a neat synthesis.
inject money as a motivating factor and watch them fly. Ok. Fair enough. But what is REALLY being rewarded?
Acing a standardized test? woo hoo. Is THAT the goal here? Think VERY carefully before you answer that.
I cannot remember the last time my SAT Score was relevant to anything. Hell, I can barely remember my SAT Score.
It is one thing to deal with the Education Industry using their Standardized Test Fetishes as a guise for determining progress, it is quite another for those of us who have taken as our mission to deliver this newest generation to sip on that koolaid like that shit REALLY matters. THOSE folk oughta know better.
If you want to save THIS generation, You need to work them as hard as you love them and be the change you want them to become (Obama, 2008)
Making it rain on them will do little more than get them wet.
The Black Thursday Drank of the Week #1
Posted: July 24, 2008 Filed under: Drank of the Week 2 Comments »Since Tonight I am venturing on my weekly bar shift at the plantation for Black Thursday, I find it appropriate to advance the Black Thursday Drank of the Week for July 24, 2008.
Dos Puerto Rican Parrots
1 shot Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
1 Shot Parrot Bay Pineapple Rum
1/2 shot Banana Liqueur
Splash of Pina Colada Mix
3 oz Pineapple Juice
Shaken heavily in crushed Ice
Strained and Garnished with a Pineapple Wedge.
If you can find me and ask for this drink by mentioning this blog…I will buy it for you.
Now go get your happy hour on.
An Open letter to Roland Fryer
Posted: July 24, 2008 Filed under: CNN, CNN Black in America, Education, Mrs. Ink, Race, Racism, Reading, Roland Fryer 9 Comments »Dear Dr. Fryer,
I am writing this letter to you because my wife wants to kick your ass. I think you made an ass of yourself, but I am not inclined to come look for you. I will just say that you should count your blessings that her niece went to Boston University and not Harvard.
To say she is deeply troubled by your belief in paying children to encourage them to is just not accurate. I, sir, am deeply troubled by by your belief in paying children to learn.
She is enraged at you because you have chosen a short cut to success. A shortcut that is antithetical to the true purpose of Education.
Education is not a means to an end.
Sorry, Education is not merely a means to an end. It is the end.
And the beginning.
and all that stuff in between.
Education is not a road to success.
Education IS success.
Education is a way of life.
There are no shortcuts.
To act otherwise is to short circuit the circle of life. Whatever short term gains these children receive will come at the expense of what the larger goal SHOULD be.
My wife thinks you have lost your connection with your people. I disagree.
I respect your committment to closing the achievement gap but I am deeply troubled by you hanging your hat on such a hamfisted short circuiting of educational reform.
You sir, have managed to become the Atkins diet of Educational Reform. Paying for scores may benefit some children in the short term, but it is certainly not healthy won’t do anything to effect the long term health of the child’s educational prospects without fundamental change in the long term.
There are no Shortcuts, Dr. Fryer.
A full and thorough and unyielding thirst for education is the most valuable attribute a family can have. Traditionally it is instilled by parents and manifested in their lifestyle.
You cannot buy that. You can only build it.
To pretend there is a shortcut does a disservice to the children and our culture.
Please rethink this before my wife finds you, for your own safety.
Sincerely,
The InkogNegro
No, Katie. Yes. But No.
Posted: July 23, 2008 Filed under: Katie Couric, Racism, Sexism 1 Comment »
I see Katie Couric has taken the baton from Hillary Clinton.
Veteran newswoman Katie Couric says that she and Sen. Hillary Clinton have had their career trajectories stymied by sexism, which she claims is more tolerated than racism.
Positing that she, as the anchor of CBS Evening News, is competing “in the last bastion of male dominance,” Couric tells the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, “Sexism in American society is more common than racism, and certainly more acceptable or forgivable.”
Couric’s apparent comparison of sexism to racism has drawn some fire, prompting her spokesperson to clear up something that perhaps was “lost in translation” by the Israeli news outlet. “Katie wouldn’t, and didn’t, say that sexism is more prevalent than racism,” her rep tells the New York Daily News. “Her point was that sexism seems more tolerated.”
Even Couric’s sexism claim has been called into question, with experts noting that firefighting, the military and police work still present significant hurdles to women — and certainly not with the cushy pay of TV news anchoring. — Matt Mitovich
While I am the first to acknowledge how patriarchy sullies any hope this nation world has for full equality, It does no good to a) run around making copmparisons or b) not be above reproach yourself.
Katie…you are not the ideal vessel for this, trust us.
Home.
Posted: July 22, 2008 Filed under: Family, Fatherhood, Ink, Kanye West, Writing 1 Comment »One of Kanye’s best. What possessed him to redo and recycle it with that Coldplay cat, is beyond me.
I cannot tell you how glad I am to be home. Vacations are all well and good…but it is time to make the donuts
Got a whole lotta stuff going on I wanna write about and hopefully I can get to it before it goes stale. Nothing worse than writing a stale post.
The boys are sleeping on the couch until I can get the beds delivered and put together. They are excited to be here, but not nearly as much as I am excited to have them here, if only for a month.
