Daily Grind : news

NEWS: Don't Trust Them New Martians Over There

News — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:04:00 GMT

Can anyone tell me what's the facination with planet Mars? It seems like every other month, NASA is sending robotic pieces of metal out to mars. Yeah, it's fly and all that but what are they really doing up there? My sense of conspiracy theorism leads me to believe they either found some kind of gold, oil or life form that's just waiting to be enslaved.

From what I understand, Mars is either too hot or too cold for humans and the air there isn't right for breathing either. So what gives? Is there something on Mars that we don't know about? I'd think so. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on rich folks trying to high tail it out of here.

I can see it now--a feature story will run in The Robb Report talking about the peace and tranquility you can find only on Mars. The tanning is great, there's plenty of land that's waiting to be exploited and if you want, you can bring your Mexican housekeepers and landscapers. That is, if the Martians aren't willing to work for less. Plus, by the time the land is ready to occupy, British Airways would have announced non-stop flights to Mars.

In the interest of not trying to sound like a total downer, a new life on Mars would have it's good points. Jay-Z or Sean Combs will announce some sort of low level involvement with a Martian colony. Vegans will find some way to make Martian dirt edible and animal rights activists will have some other animal to whine over.

Somehow, the trade-off still doesn't seem worth it. Someone call up NASA and have them put the manager on the phone. They've got some answering to do.

-The Blackspot

NEWS: Me,You And Our Co-ed Dorm Room

News — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:09:00 GMT

Man, it must be great to be in college these days! Never mind sharing a co-ed floor, now you and your opposite sex BFF can even share a room together.

Sadly, I missed out on all that going to a women’s college (although you’ll find that there’s almost as many men there regularly as there would be in a coed school). The great thing about college is that it’s probably the only time you’ll have all your friends in one place, unless you live in one of those towns where no one goes to college (or anywhere else.)

I personally think it’s a great idea. If you’re someone who’s never shared a room with the opposite sex, it could be a preparation for living with someone down the line. Or for pairs who are truly platonic, it can keep unwanted members of the opposite sex from infringing on your space. And it’s certainly a boon for gay students, who might draw unnecessary speculation if they’re living with a same-sex roommate. Of course, on-campus couples are taking advantage of it, too, though apparently not in the numbers you’d expect. That just saves on the roommate who’d ordinarily have to conduct their schedule to give the lovey-dovey pair some time alone or who constantly feel like they’re interrupting something. But what happens to the on-campus couples who are committed to sharing for a whole year, only to break up ugly by the end of the first semester?

Some parents might balk at having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to enable their children’s sexual relationships, but hey, that’s going down whether they’re actually sharing a room or not. And if you’ve seen Jr. or Little Miss’ Facebook page, then you know co-ed room sharing is the least of your worries.

-Hellifiknow

NEWS: Going Green Ain't Cheap

News — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Rampant consumerism is just as much to blame for our oil crisis as global warming and high prices. In a story just out, the possibility that we are running out of oil is an issue raised. The USA is not the world’s most populous country, but it is the world’s largest consumer. It appears that our habitual sucking up of most of the world’s resources to live our privileged and spoiled lives might just be setting us up for a big downfall.

Think of how much the average person consumes in one day. There’s food, gas if you drive, or heating and cooking even if you don’t. There’s electricity, which with cell phones, Blackberrys, Sidekicks, digital cameras, TV’s, hair dryers, and on and on we certainly use more than anyone else. If there were a nationwide blackout, on the same order as the one that knocked out the East Coast a few years ago, would any of us be able to survive more than a few days?

No one’s saying we need to go back to the Stone Age, but we might want to look a little closer about how our consumption and consumerism are impacting not just the U.S., but the rest of the world. The green movement is trying, but at the moment is on some high-brow BS. It’s very convenient for rich folks to live in energy-efficient solar homes, and buy cleaning products that cost twice as much as basics like bleach, but if you live in the hood, for example, plastic bags and Styrofoam containers are a way of life. For most of the urban world, their main concern about their environment is to figure out how to get through it from day to day.

But if our natural resources are shrinking and we may one day not even have access to the things we take for granted like clean air, water and oil, we better start figuring something out. Our way of life overall is clearly at stake, and we may end up having to exchange our luxuries just to get the basics…that is, if there are any basics left. -Hellifiknow

NEWS: I Want A President Not A Prizzesident

News — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:59:00 GMT

Has it come to this? We are now going to base a President on whose more “down” and can come up with a passable bowling score?

It’s b******t like that that makes me seriously contemplate leaving the U.S. to go live somewhere else. When you consider that Americans are apparently more concerned about a bowling score than a real plan to do something about the mess that the war-happy, big-business enabling, subprime-lending Republicans have gotten us into, you realize that most voters really are idiots.

It’s hilarious, no, it’s ridiculous and sad that people actually think Hillary Clinton is more “down to earth” somehow or less elitist than Obama. Are we talking about the same woman whose address for eight years was 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Or are we talking about the one who lives in Chappaqua, N.Y. – hardly the hood? Or the one who, with her husband, made over $100 million dollars, which we only found out after she reluctantly released her taxes? And yeah, McCain, he’s really a regular dude – except when the he’s using his wife’s plane (and her beer company fortune) to help his campaign?

Puh-leeze, stop the madness! That Barack has to go on the defensive to prove he’s not some “elitist” while Hillary and McCain get some kind of pass is as racist as it comes. I guess if a black man is not wearing Roc-A-Wear and spouting street slang he’s not “down.” You see how things are stacked against a black man in America? If he has an education and carries himself with any kind of grace, that somehow means he’s “putting on airs” and if he dresses nicely “he’s too GQ” as one reporter said. WTF? Does John McCain get those kind of questions? Does Hillary? I sincerely doubt she’s getting her suits at Sears.

This kind of stupidity is just what the Repubs want. The politics of misinformation and distraction are their bread and butter, that’s why we got good ol’ boy Bush in the White House. If the American public wants four more years of the same, then by all means, vote for whoever you think is most “down.” But for voters who actually want to be able to feed their families and maybe get from place to place without spending 10 dollars a mile, I’d suggest they pay a little bit more attention to the real issues in the campaign, not the ridiculous battle over who’s more “down.” I don’t need a President to be my boy, or girl. I need them to get s**t done. -Hellifiknow

NEWS: The Police Still Don't Get It

News — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:52:00 GMT

Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you, or so the saying goes. It certainly applies to the Sean Bell shooting case, who’s verdict came in today. Bell is the 23-year-old from Queens, N.Y., who was killed outside a club where he and his friends went to celebrate his upcoming wedding. Despite dying in a hail of gunfire of over 50 shots by five policemen, the three who were tried were acquitted on all charges of manslaughter and reckless endangerment.

A quick reading of the information from the case, including witness testimony makes it seem that a series of tragic misunderstandings led to Bell’s death. But the question remains – shouldn’t police, who are supposedly trained to handle all kinds of situations involving deadly force – be held to a higher standard?

It appears that Bell’s friends hurt more than they helped as the judge who ultimately rendered the verdict said their statements were “inconsistent.” But so were police statements, which testify to the overall confusion the night of the shooting. But sadly, only Bell is dead, while the three police officers are free to go on with their lives and possibly their careers. To add insult to injury the same NYPD was quick to warn would-be rioters that they were “prepared” for any problems. Fortunately for them, unrest is unlikely as people seem resigned to these kind of verdicts and in this particular NYC police shooting, two of the three officers on trial were, like their victims, Black or Hispanic.

Even after Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo and now Sean Bell, the NYPD hasn’t learned any basic lessons. Obviously their training isn’t covering all bases if an unarmed black man can’t go out and enjoy a bachelor party with his friends without ending up dead. New York Mayor Bloomberg said in his post-verdict statement that “There are no winners here.” Well, he’s wrong. The NYPD wins again and continues to accept and support behavior from its police department that time and time again shows its willingness to do what they’ve always done, which is put a target on the backs of black men. Bell will become just another martyr whose name joins the sad roll call of black men and women killed by the police who ultimately receive no justice. And that’s a damn shame. -Hellifiknow

POLITRICKS: No Barack, Keep Going. Real Talk.

Politricks — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:01:00 GMT

"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of." --Confucious

The newest premature attack on Obama is "bitter-gate." I don't understand what the big deal is over the bitter comment. People are bitter, and I'm extatic they are feeling that way, it tells me they are finally coming to terms with what's happening to them. As bank's foreclose on their homes and they discover their government did nothing to control and watch-dog bad lending policies and high interest rates, people have grown bitter. Their government, that is supposed to represent the them, instead bails out the same bank that screwed them over with a $30 billion loan. Adding insult to injury, they then implement trade agreements that send american jobs over seas for cheaper labor as unemployment rates are at an all time high. The government already projects 28 million Americans will be on food stamps by years end.

Global Grinder Bigums76 points out that this new wave of food stamp collectors aren't your stereotypical trailer park or project living citizen. They are college grads and two income households. But, between competitive wages, higher gas and food prices, and insane interest rates on debts, everyone is applicable for food assistance. Not everyone in small towns are bitter, obviously since 23% of the country thinks Bush is doing a good job. What is wrong with voicing the opposite opinion of millions who do feel disenfranchised?
"...they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." There is nothing misspoken about that statement. I am tired of Obama defending and redefining what he says because this country is either to dumb, gullible to rhetoric, or in denial of the truth. Yes, some people cling to guns when times are hard. Whether it's to rob a bank, a convenience store, or go hunting to release their frustrations on wild life. A lot of them go on shooting rampages and kill random people, their loved ones, or themselves in a state of panic. Eight of the top ten murder cities in the world are in the U.S. and those rates are getting higher and higher.

But not everyone turns to guns, some "cling" onto religion. Hillary tried misconstruing what Obama said by stating: "The people of faith I know don't 'cling' to religion because they're bitter. People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich." That may be true for the people of faith that Hillary knows, but speaking for myself and many that I know, Jesus Christ tends to only hear from us when times are hard. Good people who are going through strife in their lives, won't turn to guns, but they might put all their eggs in the religious basket. They've lost their faith in the government and end up turning to religion for aid. That is clinging, by definition. To be overly dependent of something or someone is to be clinging. To be dependent solely on religion for things to happen in your life without taking action of your own is to be clinging.

Now, as for the elitist comment, I'm confused. Isn't the president supposed to be smarter then me? Isn't that why I'm putting him in charge of my well being? Is Obama elitist because he attended an Ivy League school? I would hope that that's a requirement when running for office, and that he didn't get his Law degree or diploma off some online course advertised in the back of Playboy or on the subway. Bush went to an Ivy League school and inherited the country from his father, but I guess since he can't read nor write, he's not elitist.

--Danielle Abreu

NEWS: The Clintons You Love To Hate

News — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:38:00 GMT

So it appears that Bill Clinton went ballistic on the superdelegates when one of them mentioned Gov. Bill Richardson, the now famous Judas of the Clinton campaign.

Described as “red-faced and finger-pointing,” Clinton went off on Richardson, and the media’s treatment of his wife. Joyous posted: “Damn. You'd think if anyone could, the Clintons could handle the pressure, but apparently Obama's momentum really has them both shook and losing their minds.” Niko says: “Bill is out of control!!!” while Cuban Chica opined: “He has gone crazy.” What interesting is that the once favored status of the Clintons, particularly among people of color, has virtually evaporated in the nomination race. (When Bill Clinton spoke at Coretta Scott King’s 2006 funeral in Atlanta, he was met with thunderous applause. Those same folks probably wouldn’t even invite him back for services now). Have the Clintons really been exposed as the shady a**es they always were or has the media put a spin on things that makes them look a lot worse than they are?

The media loves a good story and the good guy/bad guy story or, in this case, bad girl story always wins viewers. Demonize the Clintons and deify Obama and TV ratings jump. In a relatively slow news year thus far, the election is providing plenty of fodder for daily drama, conveniently ignoring the fact that Obama and Clinton differ only slightly in their overall platforms.

So…do you believe the hype or not? -Hellifiknow

NEWS: Can I Live?

News — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:06:00 GMT

So apparently Sean Hannity’s pastor is a crazy black man with who blamed the problems of Hurricane Katrina on black people who were too poor to leave and said if white folks were to leave the country to black folks, they’d turn it into a ghetto.

Sigh. We’ve heard this self-hating rhetoric before and somehow or another it still makes news. Global Grinders shook their heads collectively at this one, with Tanspot posting: “I'm not shocked. That's why the Uncle Ruckus Show will be on tv one day for real.” Joyous said “The folks at Fox News have a special knack for locating Sambos.” True dat.

Here’s my thing. The only reason this Peterson idiot got any mainstream coverage at all was his connection to Hannity and that being relevant to the ongoing Rev. Wright controversy. Are white folks really that scared of Barack Obama actually having any racial identity that they think he’ll somehow leave them behind in the Black White House? Puhleeze. Don’t blame Barack Obama for that one, people. Put that on the multinational corporations that have outsourced jobs, given the clear advantage to corporations over their employees and charged average working folks up the ass in fees for things like taking their own money out of the bank.

The only issue that should be front and center of this campaign is not Bosnia or Rev. Wright or when-the-hell-is-the-Clinton-machine-gonna-give-it-up, it’s the economy. When you have folks with expensive educations busting their asses just trying to survive, that’s a problem. When we’re pouring billions into a war we’ll never win and kids are going hungry and homeless when their parents are working, that’s a problem. Families losing their homes because big business profited off their desire to buy into the American dream is a problem.

When even four more minutes of Republican rule is a sickening thought, never mind four more years, we don’t need to get caught up in the petty ish. We need to be figuring how to get our mommas, baby mommas, nieces, nephews, sisters, cousins, next-door neighbors and cabdrivers to put their energy behind voting for somebody who’s not out to help keep the rich richer off the backs of the poor and middle-class. Are you feeling me out there? What do you think the campaigns should focus on from this point on? -Hellifiknow

NEWS: You Dogs Already Have Your Bones

News — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:28:00 GMT

Black Woman Helps Fight Against Cancer

Global Grinders must love dogs. Many were disgusted by the already incarcerated Michael Vick’s state trial being delayed until June. (Hey, whatever happened to double jeopardy…that’s rough that the feds and the states can charge you for the same crime.) Champion83 would like a crack at Vick personally, saying “I’d like to punch him in the face.” Dayum, son! CubanChica has no sympathy either. She posts: “My only hope is that when he finally goes to trial he gets even more time. I don't want to hear how he is to be pitied because of this reason or that reason. There is no reason/justification for what he did to those dogs.” (And mind you, her avatar is a cat…guess she loves all animals.) But Grinder gabrewster has a little compassion asking: “Now what? What else can they do to this poor knucklehead?

In the grand scheme that's all he is... another knucklehead. But shouldn't the punishment fit the crime? How much time & punishment do y'all want to give this guy? But gabrewster also wants to make sure you know, just in case, that “Yes, I'm a dog-lover.”

Okay, but let’s put things in perspective. Rapper T.I., already a convicted felon, pleads guilty to illegally purchasing an arsenal that he could have blown away all of the ATL with, when he shouldn’t even have had guns in the first place. After pleading guilty, he gets one year and one day, plus community service. Remy Ma is convicted of shooting her homegirl in a money dispute and is facing up to 25 years. (Keep in mind, the victim did live.) Michael Vick finances a dogfighting ring, is part of a group of men who violently kills some of the dogs, and he gets five years of Fed time, faces a new state trial on the same charges, loses his career, his endorsements, years of his salary, his reputation, his Thanksgiving dinner, and his ability to walk into any PetSmart store in the near and distant future. I’m just sayin’….does this all add up to you?

-hellifiknow

NEWS: Hormones Outta Control

News — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:35:00 GMT

Who needs rappers these days with politicians providing all the controversy? Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former lover/chief aide Catherine Beatty get indicted, the current New York governor David Paterson likes women he’s not married to and cocaine. Then we have Kwame06's post on Hillary Clinton who gets caught in a lie by Sinbad, of all people. Thankfully, the Detroit Free Press was able to put the KK scandal together piece by piece in a sweet little interactive timeline that gives a blow by blow accounting of the entire scandal from start to finish. Blow by blow, get it?

For real, what is up with these grown women going after their students? Are 14 and 17-year-olds really that hot? Not in my hood, that’s for sure. I’ve definitely seen some 19-year-old basketball players that look pretty good, but dayum, at least they’re in college.

Speaking of basketball, some Grinders thought that the controversy over the Lebron/Gisele Bundchen Vogue cover was ridiculous.

But not Sportaphile, who says “Like I've said before on this issue, I don't think Vogue or the photographer collaborated to create a malicious, racist image with Lebron and Giselle. But the same time, I don't think anyone can deny that this is just *another* instance of the black male playing the oversexed out of control man-beast. Next to the innocent light haired white woman for contrast of course.”

Time out, didn’t Andre Leon Talley--the only black person anyone’s ever heard of that works for “Vogue” think to point out the controversy such a cover might generate? Maybe he was too busy picking out the next wack look for Jennifer Hudson.

-hellifiknow

NEWS: Bin Laden Drops More Tapes Than Lil' Wanye

News — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:55:00 GMT

You gotta give it to Osama Bin Laden. He put out his latest release before Usher could get a video done for his new hit “Love in This Club.” But Global Grinders seem a little skeptical about the U.S.’s attempts to find the most wanted man in the universe. NiambiHill said “Bin’ Laden’s chilling….and America knows where he is!”

I mean, you do have to wonder about a guy who has more tapes out than Li’l Wayne. Tanspot wonders if Bin Laden and Fat Joe or 50 shouldn’t just do a collabo. Kdollaz1 says the search for Bin Laden is “b.s” “This is the best movie created by America. We will read about all of this bull in history books.” Spizzle doesn’t believe the hype either. He thinks one day Bin Laden will just break out with a Boston accent. My thing is…..how is this dude making tapes from a cave? Most of us can’t even get cell phone reception if we’re in the wrong spot, yet somehow dude’s got a major communications center in a cave, where there’s probably no electricity or running water, but a camera crew is always at the ready. How does that work?

Since lately, his communications have been audio, how do we even know its him and not some random Arabic guy with Jamie Foxx-like mimicry skills? If the U.S. has satellites that track your body heat from the sky, (and mind you, “Enemy of the State” was a while back, I’m sure the technology has improved since then) you tell me why they can’t find this dude in the middle of nowhere. Holla, my peoples. -Hellifiknow

NEWS: Pimpin' Ain't Easy

News — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:53:00 GMT

Pimpin' ain't easy but apparently if Ray Charles and newly sworn in New York State governor David Paterson are to be believed, limited vision does not hurt your chances with hot chicks. In a twist on the usual stand by your man story, Paterson, the legally blind married governor says that he and his wife both had affairs and that he was just retaliating after his wife cheated first. Who knew that governors had such entertaining sex lives? However, in what might be viewed as scandal overload, GG readers yawned at the news.

Grinder Danielle Abreu said "Let's not bring anymore attention to this story. It no way deserves mention. it's nobodies business." Similarly uninterested was the sweetly named Sugarbread, who said: "This qualifies as "T.M.I." I don't wanna know about his personal affairs." And Hip Hop Hustler was hoping there wouldn't be a sex tape. Now when was the last time you've seen that happen? -Hellifiknow

NEWS: Before You Eat That Corned Beef For St. Patty's Day

News — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:53:00 GMT

For St. Patrick's Day, member YaYa posted a hilarious video from a news broadcast in Mobile, Alabama. It's about the leprechaun who hangs out in trees. It's a pretty old video but good to see again.

While it's always hard to watch, sometimes we need a jolt to remind us of the unnecessary cruelty happening across the world. Realerthanlife gives us that jolt with the graphic video posted of dogs being brutally killed in South Korea. This one will really make you think about the process that puts the steak on your plate. Even if you're not into eating dogs. -The Blackspot

NEWS: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

News — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:17:00 GMT

Has anyone seen the piece Youngsizzla posted on the two little kids making out on the street? there seems to be a split in opinion on whether it's a sign of bad parenting or the next candidate of "To Catch A Predator" wilding with a camera. GG member delicatecadin called foul on both saying, "looks to me like children do what they see in home...and shame on the pervert that shot this." If that wasn't enough, groovewitu took it a step further saying, "This looks like staged kiddy porn" and Stryker referred to it as "borderline dangerous." I'm curious to hear what more of you have to say about this. Is this the product of a sick photographer's mind or is this a snapshot of a reality we're not ready to accept?

Racism is still an issue here in the U.S. and if you think just leaving is the solution, think again. Illwaukeerepresent pointed out an throw to an interesting but disturbing documentary on the growing neo-nazi movement in Russia. Judging by the reasons given by the skinheads in the film for attacking immigrants, Sara Jo nailed it when she said, "What a miserable life to have so much hate." Those guys oozed misery especially since they couldn't even give a solid reason for why they felt the way they did. You've got to check it out. -The Blackspot

NEWS: Scare Whitey, Your Water's On Drugs And Comcast Cheats

Music — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:04:00 GMT

Sportaphile posted one of the most interesting images I've ever seen in a long time. It's a picture of Barack Obama with paranoid words of potential white slavery slapped on it. Would it really be ridiculous to think if Obama became president, he would allow black people to turn white people into slaves? I think it's a bad joke but hey, people can believe some crazy things.

As if our drinking water wasn't scary enough, selacs found a story that reports a list of drugs found in the water supply of at least 41 million American homes. It looks like there's a lot more work to do besides changing presidents.

If you're one of the millions of Comcast cable subscribers you might want to check out pashoncoop's post on the company's dirty trick at a F.C.C. hearing at Harvard. The cable giant paid people off the street to fill seats so consumer advocates couldn't get in. Now that's G-r-i-m-e-y. The worst part is that Comcast doesn't even care they got caught. Pashoncoop really found a gem with this one. -The Blackspot