Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
KENTUCKY FRIED NEGROES
THE ATLANTA JOB FAIR WAS A HUGE WASTE OF TIME. By Wayne Hodges
ATLANTA – On Thursday (August 18), roughly 5,000 desperate, unemployed souls braved the unrelenting, Dirty-South heat by attending a job fair in Atlanta where an impressive ninety companies were reportedly present.
Coming up!
1) Bobbie chats with rapper Vigalantee
2) Amari shares her Opera experience
3) A pilot dies during air show crash
4) Big Nash talks the Miami scandal
5) Julee Jonez has the celebrity 411
6) Chiefs get hammered in Baltimore
And much, much more. Back to the story.
Most of crowd camped out overnight, wearing their best business suits and office heels, with resumes tucked neatly underneath their sweaty little armpits.
“You got children, you got kids, you got bills,” said Derric Clayton, a former security guard with three children whose been seeking work since May. “You’ve got to stay somewhere. You don’t want to be homeless.”
Atlanta temperatures were so excessive, authorities treated 20 people for heat exhaustion.
Oh yea, did I mention most (if not all) of the hopefuls waiting in line were African-Americans?
A nonplussed reaction is probably not warranted. Why? Because black unemployment is seemingly affixed at 16 percent, nearly double the national rate. The jobless number in Atlanta alone ballooned to 10.1 percent in July from 9.9 percent in June.
"The For the People Jobs Initiative," hosted by U.S. Representatives John Lewis and Hank Johnson, was sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus.
“The Congressional Black Caucus decided to take matters into their own hands,” said Mahen Gunaratna, a representative for Florida congresswoman Frederica Wilson.
“They are tired of Republicans’ inaction that prevents bills from moving forward. This is a real tangible opportunity for our constituents.”
Hmm... the Congressional Black Caucus.
Can somebody please explain why we have a Congressional Black Caucus?
I'm serious. Whatever the aforementioned committee is doing to bring about racial equity and fair business practice, it's not working. And hasn't worked for decades. Now, there's a war of dissenting words taking place in the black community.
A couple days ago, the wonderful Lora McDonald (pictured above) of the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission sent yours truly an inspirational email centered around all the bickering that's going on between community leaders.Lora's message, which came in response to my article about Mayor Sly James' new curfew law, preached the importance of working collaboratively versus going at each other's throats. See the email below:
Lora McDonald: "Hey- I like your take on this. Curfew, not bad. Is it a solution? Not really, but it is a start. I have been thinking for a few years about all of those who are in this public safety arena and your Alonzo Washington piece reinforced that.
"It seems like we, who do this work, should challenge and be critical of each other but stop all of the public venting/ feuding. Aren’t we just playing out the street wars in a more high brow way? I mean, if Alonzo Washington can call the concerned clergy like my friend Rev. Ray an “old negro,” as he did in your blog, isn’t he just modeling a more sophisticated version of what’s happening on the streets, turf, divisiveness, anger, etc.?
"Perhaps Mr. (Alvin) Brooks, the Concerned Clergy, Mr. Washington, Mark Porter, Aim4Peace, Ron McMillan, the Crime Commission, the KCPD and the sheriff should sign some sort of a peace treaty and be a better model for how people who don’t always agree should just get along and at least not so publicly disrespect each other."
Lora is 100% right.
As a community, as leaders, as citizens, as parents, our goal should involve working together in unison to bring about positive socioeconomic change; whether it be in reducing crime, preserving public education, increasing employment opportunities, etc.
*Quick Editor's Note: Friday night, a group of friends and I engaged in a fierce debate over Mayor James' 9 p.m. curfew law. Some said it was a "good start" while others, including yours truly, countered "bullcrap." See, a "start" is unnecessary in this circumstance. Mayor James and city council members can either implement a law (like they did with the Country Club Plaza) or choose not to. You don't need a "start." If Mayor James and company decided this morning to set a 9 p.m. curfew on 27th and Prospect, they could do so. Look, I'm not some moron popping off senseless twaddle. I worked in the Kansas Senate. And I know the process. The word "start" is a pacifying term used commonly among lazy people. It has little substance. Moving on...
I asked Lora should we consider setting up a forum with a distinguished panel comprised of Mayor Sly James, Rev. Ray, Alvin Brooks, Alonzo Washington and others?
She concurred with the suggestion.
Maybe it's time to set the wheels in motion?
Like I said, the content of Lora's email is completely true. However, after learning what transpired at the job fair in Atlanta on Thursday, I feel obligated to rant by saying:
Our leadership is hurting us.
It hurts because we refuse to put in the work necessary to bring about a peremptory, viable solution.
It hurts because 5,000 people had to wait in line at one job fair.
It hurts because disenchanted youth have deferred to joining 'Flash Mobs' and other gangs as a means of social support.
It hurts because President Barack Obama was busy vacationing in Martha's Vinyard while legions of unemployed hopefuls were reduced to KFC rotisserie-status in sweltering Atlanta temperatures. Under former president George W. Bush, African-American unemployment was 9 percent, which is still not great. But there's absolutely no way Bush would've survived a 16 percent black jobless rate. Racism claims would've shot through the roof.
It hurts because the programming at BET (Black Entertainment Television) is ran by Viacom, a predominantly-white corporation.
It hurts because 70 percent of black women are mired in the 'single' category.
It hurts because black males make up 35.4 percent of the jail and prison population even though we make up less than 10 percent of the overall U.S population.
It hurts because NFL player's union chief DeMaurice Smith and NBA player's union executive Billy Hunter, both African-Americans, failed to include the lack of black majority ownership as part of the labor talks during each organization's owner-imposed lockout.
It hurts because a prominent black pastor (reportedly homosexual) in Atlanta faced multiple charges of sexual misconduct, he admitted guilt by settling out of court for $25 million, then flipped us the bird by retaining the majority of his congregation afterward.
It hurts because a black superintendent in Kansas City deemed it financially necessary to close a U.S. record 26 public schools - most located within the urban core. Had a white superintendent closed those institutions, we'd all be hollaring "racism" on the White House front lawn.
The moral of the story is once an African-American takes over in a key role of leadership, blacks underneath should take caution and run for cover.
Please excuse me for singling out black leadership. Our nation as a whole is lacking in the guidance department. The issues plaguing Urban America are merely a microcosm of a bigger societal problem.
Enough ranting, back to Atlanta...
As people passed out from heat exhaustion, word on the street claims most of the companies in attendance didn't even provide job applications. Or, as one young man put it: "We just out here for no reason, no applications, nothing."
Instead, company representatives delivered brief pep talks coupled with condescending pats on the back, before instructing would-be applicants to go back home and visit their website.
Ok, you mean to tell me thousands of people camped out overnight, braved the massive Atlanta heat, waited hours in line, only to hear the phrase "please visit our website?"
Lord, please help me. It'll be hard. Oooohhh, it'll be hard. But I promise to abstain from the use of profanity while writing this piece.
Congressman Lewis (pictured left) of Georgia, the black man responsible for putting the job fair together, incensed me even further with his political babble. According to Lewis, the key to rectifying the job crisis is to "keep the faith.""You have to give people a sense of hope, a sense of optimism," said Lewis to Atlanta news reporters. "And tell them over and over again 'don't give up, don't give up, hang in there, and keep the faith.'"
Congressman Lewis, with all due respect sir, people don't need "hope." And they don't need to "hang in there." People simply need jobs.
Trust me, once they're gainfully employed, hope will soon follow.
Lewis' resolution is a textbook example of why our leadership bites. As African-Americans, it's imperative we rise above the obsolete "keep the faith" theory as a crutch that everything will be alright. Because it's not alright.
Thousands of businessmen, consisting of all races and colors, are sitting at home wealthy as a byproduct of this longstanding, flawed philosophy.
See, I believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And, yes, I believe he died for our sins.
However, I also believe the Lord assists those who assist themselves first. And black folks, let me tell you something, we ain't assisting ourselves.
Congressman Lewis' "keep the faith" nonsense and Rev. Jesse Jackson's famous "keep hope alive" slogan are no longer acceptable solutions to black despair.
Because while we're busy keeping 'the faith,' the rest of the world has sprinted on by at an alarming 'Roadrunner' rate. "Beep Beep."
The job fair in Atlanta serves as undeniable proof business owners are either unimpressed or completely fed up with certain aspects of black culture.
In giving reasons for non-hire, a Chicago-based employer let the cat out the bag recently by citing a plethora of racial stereotypes in describing blacks as “uneducated,” “unskilled,” “unstable,” “illiterate,” “dishonest,” “lack initiative,” “unmotivated,” “involved with gangs and drugs,” “don’t understand work,” “lack charm,” “have no family values,” and are “poor role models.”
And trust me, if this employer feels this way - the majority of them probably do too.
Please visit the 'War Zone' below to see what the people have to say. Pastor Jones, Super Joe and Nancy Peace offered some compelling responses.
Look, the good news as it pertains to inadequate leadership evolves around the optimistic notion 'there's nowhere to go but up.'
That said, my question for today's leaders is :
"Which way is up?"
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of “Mass Appeal News.” He also serves as a contributing writer to YourBlackWorld.com, he’s a Democrat reporter for the Examiner, and he’s a film critic with ILoveBlackMovies.com. Wayne welcomes your comments 24/7 at whodges@massappealnews.com
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Every Picture Tells A Story – And More
By Richard A. Lee
Forty years ago, Rod Stewart had a number one single and album named Every Picture Tells A Story. Last year at this time in New Jersey, we had a story that painted a picture – several of them in fact.
The story involved the state’s ill-fated application for federal Race to the Top education funds. New Jersey lost out on $400 million, essentially because the state made a clerical error on its application.
As for the pictures that story painted, they tell a lot about Governor Christie, the media and more.
For example, Christie demonstrated just how adept he can be at spinning a story. This was not a new revelation. As U.S. Attorney, he had displayed an ability to work the press to his advantage. For the most part, he continued this practice throughout his campaign for Governor and during his first few months as the state’s chief executive.
But the Race to the Top story was a real test. Christie’s Administration had lost out on $400 million in federal education funds because, in response to simple question requesting New Jersey budget information for 2008 and 2009, it provided budget information for 2010 and 2011 instead. As a result, the state lost 4.8 points on its application, enough to place it out of the running for the federal dollars. To make matters worse, it was common knowledge that the state had hurriedly rewritten its application over Memorial Day Weekend after Christie objected to the version that had been submitted to him by his Commissioner of Education.
In his first meeting with the press after the debacle, the Governor’s strategy was to change the focus of the story. He came out swinging and pinned the blame on the Obama Administration and the federal bureaucracy. “This is the stuff, candidly, that drives people crazy about government and crazy about Washington,” he told reporters, adding that the President should tell New Jerseyans “why he's depriving them of $400 million that this application earned them, because one of his bureaucrats in Washington couldn't pick up the phone and ask a question, couldn't go on the internet and find information.” He also said the state attempted to correct the error during an August 11 presentation in Washington, D.C., but federal officials refused to accept the correct numbers because the June 1 application deadline had passed.
In theory, the Governor’s strategy was a good one and it did work, but only briefly. One of the other points this episode underscored was the fact that politicians sometimes bend and embellish the truth. In this case, the U.S. Department of Education fired back at Christie by releasing a video recording of the state’s August 11 presentation refuting the Governor’s statement that federal officials had refused to accept the new numbers. In fact the tape showed that a federal reviewer at the session twice offered the state an opportunity to provide the correct numbers, but the state officials making the presentation were unable to find them.
In explaining the disparity, Christie claimed that he merely was relating information that had been provided to him by his Education Department. But Education Commissioner Bret Schundler had a different story, and when he continued to stand by his version of what transpired, he soon became Christie’s former Education Commissioner – a development that also told us something about the Governor. In case there was still was any lingering doubt, it now was clear: Don’t cross him or you’re likely to pay the price.
Not all of what emerged from the Race to the Top incident involved the Christie Administration. The story showed that the media – despite all of the cutbacks and changes that have hindered the industry in recent years – can still be a powerful and influential force. Had not the press reported the reason why New Jersey lost out on the federal funding, the story would have died within a day or two and Bret Schundler might still be a member of the Christie cabinet.
The incident also demonstrated something important about the Obama Administration and the President’s chances for re-election. Throughout most of his time in the Oval Office, Barack Obama has been a punching bag, absorbing hits from Republicans and occasionally from members of his own party. He doesn’t generally strike back with the speed and force that his Education Department used in refuting Christie’s comments. With Race to the Top, we saw that the Obama Administration is capable of fighting back. The Obama White House and 2012 campaign staff will have to do more of the same in order to win re-election.
One final and most important point: If you decide to redo a 1,000-page application over a holiday weekend, make sure to proofread it thoroughly. Otherwise, you could end up costing children some very badly needed money for their education.
# # #
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
AMERICA'S SHAKY CREDIT
CHINESE AGENCY DOWNGRADES U.S. CREDIT RATING. By Wayne Hodges
BEIJING – President Barack Obama can’t seem to catch a break. First, he’s referred to as a ‘tar baby’ by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R) of Colorado.
Now the unthinkable.
In the aftermath of Congress’ embarrassing debt ceiling negotiations, the U.S. just learned its borrowing power has been reduced to ‘Pay Day Loan’ status.
The Dagong Global Credit Rating Company, China’s leading credit rating agency founded in 1994, downgraded U.S. sovereign debt to an “A” grade amid heightened concerns over the White House’s long-term ability or inability to satisfy its debts.
Keep in mind, Dagong’s assessment score is considerably lower than the AAA ratings given to the U.S. by the so-called ‘Big Three’ Western credit agencies of Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor.
Hell, just last November, Dagong lowered the U.S. rating to an “A+” upon learning the Federal Reserve was operating too loosely with its monetary policy.
A few months prior to that (in July), the agency shocked the world by giving China a more favorable credit ranking than both the United States and Japan.
As of today, Dagong is responsible for rating 67 countries. However, the company expects to double that number by the end of the calendar year.
Deficits aside, the Chinese cited a lack of cohesion between Republicans and Democrats as the primary reason for doubt.
“The squabbling between the two political parties on raising the U.S. debt ceiling reflected an irreversible trend on the United States’ declining ability to repay its debts,” Dagong Chairman Guan Jianzhong told CNN.
“The two parties acted in a very irresponsible way and their actions greatly exposed the negative impact of the U.S. political system on its economic fundamentals.”
Ouch!
The credit rating hurts the U.S. No doubt about it. But China is indirectly affected too. After all, it’s the largest foreign owner of U.S. debt with holdings in excess of $1.1 trillion.
If the U.S. goes down, China could soon follow.
“Our downgrade simply reflects reality,” Guan said. “Our rating didn’t cause China to lose any money — it was the inappropriately high ratings for the U.S. by Western agencies that had led China to make risky investments in U.S. debt.”
In other words, the Chinese feel duped.
Tricked.
Bamboozled even.
Now, you get the sense China will never trust Western credit reporting agencies again.
“People are used to credit ratings issued by the ‘big three,’ but the financial crisis has clearly proved them wrong,” Guan said. “They can no longer shoulder the responsibility of rating the world. That’s the role we are striving to play.”
Hmm… maybe I should consider creating a consumer credit agency as a viable alternative to the ‘Big Three’ of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion?
Who knows?
Maybe China is on to something?
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of “Mass Appeal News.” He also serves as a contributing writer to YourBlackWorld.com, he’s a Democrat reporter for the Examiner, and he’s a film critic with ILoveBlackMovies.com. Wayne welcomes your comments 24/7 at whodges@massappealnews.com Jay-Z & Kanye West / Watch the Throne Tour @ Staples Center
While the duo won’t be stopping in the Inland Empire, they’ll also be skipping Orange County and San Diego. Your only chance to see them in a trip down the 10, 60 or 210 to Los Angeles.
On Monday, August 8 tickets will be available for their nationwide tour through LiveNation and the album will be available through iTunes, as Rolling Stone reports. With the pre-ale beginning on August 7, don’t expect to find many good tickets once the tickets begin their public on-sale.
The tour will kick off in Detroit on September 22nd. It will feature performances from the collaborative record as well as hits by both artists.
According to Billboard, fans that buy their tickets online will receive a free digital copy of the album.
The announcement comes just six days after leaking their new single Otis, reports the L.A. Times.
The full Watch the Throne tour dates are:
9/22/11 Detroit, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
9/24/11 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
9/25/11 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
9/27/11 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
9/28/11 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
9/29/11 Washington DC Verizon Center
10/4/11 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
10/6/11 Chicago, IL United Center
10/7/11 Chicago, IL United Center
10/8/11 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
10/10/11 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
10/13/11 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
10/14/11 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
10/16/11 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
10/17/11 Sacramento, CA Power Balance Pavilion
10/19/11 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
10/20/11 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
10/21/11 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
10/25/11 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
10/26/11 Houston, TX Toyota Center
10/29/11 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
10/30/11 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
11/1/11 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
11/3/11 Boston, MA TD Garden
Sydney police investigate possible bomb strapped around girl’s neck
SYDNEY (BNO NEWS) -- Police in the Australian city of Sydney are
investigating a possible explosive device which has been strapped around
the neck of an 18-year-old girl, officials said on Wednesday.
A police spokesperson said officers were called to a multi-million dollar house in Sydney's exclusive suburb of Mosman at around 2.30 p.m. local time after receiving a 000 call from an 18-year-old girl. It is believed the teenager lives at the property with her parents.
According to Australian media reports, it is believed that a balaclava-clad men had entered the home when the girl was home alone and placed a device around her neck. A note is attached to the device, reports said, although it was not immediately known what is on it.
"While the very delicate operation continues at the house with the bomb squad officers, highly-skilled investigators have been working behind the scenes since the incident was first reported," Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said during a news briefing. "Given the nature of the incident, I am sure you can all appreciate we need to keep the cards very close to our chest."
Murdoch said the teenager is being supported by specialist police who are inside the home while her parents are being kept up-to-date from outside the house. Because of the incident, a number of surrounding homes have been evacuated and roads have been blocked.
Police said it was not yet clear if the device is actually a bomb, but officers are treating it as a live explosive device until they have more information. "Bomb Squad officers remain inside the house where they are examining the device and supporting the woman," police said in a statement, adding that the incident is not being treated as self-harm. "The process demands a high-level of skill and must be meticulous."
Meanwhile, police have appealed for the public's help. "Investigators want to hear from anyone who noticed suspicious activity around the home or on Burrawong Avenue this afternoon to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000," the statement said.
(Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)
A police spokesperson said officers were called to a multi-million dollar house in Sydney's exclusive suburb of Mosman at around 2.30 p.m. local time after receiving a 000 call from an 18-year-old girl. It is believed the teenager lives at the property with her parents.
According to Australian media reports, it is believed that a balaclava-clad men had entered the home when the girl was home alone and placed a device around her neck. A note is attached to the device, reports said, although it was not immediately known what is on it.
"While the very delicate operation continues at the house with the bomb squad officers, highly-skilled investigators have been working behind the scenes since the incident was first reported," Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said during a news briefing. "Given the nature of the incident, I am sure you can all appreciate we need to keep the cards very close to our chest."
Murdoch said the teenager is being supported by specialist police who are inside the home while her parents are being kept up-to-date from outside the house. Because of the incident, a number of surrounding homes have been evacuated and roads have been blocked.
Police said it was not yet clear if the device is actually a bomb, but officers are treating it as a live explosive device until they have more information. "Bomb Squad officers remain inside the house where they are examining the device and supporting the woman," police said in a statement, adding that the incident is not being treated as self-harm. "The process demands a high-level of skill and must be meticulous."
Meanwhile, police have appealed for the public's help. "Investigators want to hear from anyone who noticed suspicious activity around the home or on Burrawong Avenue this afternoon to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000," the statement said.
(Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)
Egypt puts feeble Mubarak on trial
CAIRO – Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was shown wheeled in to a enclosure in
justice in Cairo upon Wednesday with his dual sons as well as
alternative defendants to mount hearing for his purpose in a murdering
of protesters, state radio images showed.
Desposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is due to crop up in justice upon Wednesday, a ultimate turn in what has incited out to be an increasingly violent domestic career.
By YAROSLAV TROFIMOV CAIRO—Egypt's deposed President Hosni Mubarak arrived in justice Wednesday to mount hearing upon charges of grouping a murdering of insubordinate protesters, in a charge which is but fashion in a Middle East's complicated history
By Sarah Mikhail as well as Dina Zayed CAIRO, August 3 (Reuters) – Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was wheeled in to a courtroom enclosure in a sanatorium bed upon Wednesday to face hearing for murdering protesters — an picture which anxious those who overthrew him as well as contingency have chilled.
by Eyder Peralta The story winning a sunrise is which 6 months after his ouster, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is station hearing upon charges of crime as well as complicity in a deaths of protesters. The bum 83-year-old was in a
Desposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is due to crop up in justice upon Wednesday, a ultimate turn in what has incited out to be an increasingly violent domestic career.
By YAROSLAV TROFIMOV CAIRO—Egypt's deposed President Hosni Mubarak arrived in justice Wednesday to mount hearing upon charges of grouping a murdering of insubordinate protesters, in a charge which is but fashion in a Middle East's complicated history
By Sarah Mikhail as well as Dina Zayed CAIRO, August 3 (Reuters) – Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was wheeled in to a courtroom enclosure in a sanatorium bed upon Wednesday to face hearing for murdering protesters — an picture which anxious those who overthrew him as well as contingency have chilled.
by Eyder Peralta The story winning a sunrise is which 6 months after his ouster, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is station hearing upon charges of crime as well as complicity in a deaths of protesters. The bum 83-year-old was in a
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)