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I tried to hold off, but I couldn't any longer. This time I was in the passenger seat when I snapped this picture (still moving of course hence the blurriness) of this nightmare sitting outside none other than a local Seattle Starbucks. Since you may not be able to see the fullness of the details, let me walk you through this one.

Here we have a perpetual James Brown "wannabe". I know what you're thinking, "this can't be a real person". So sorry to inform you dear reader that yes indeed, James' brother lives in Seattle. Since he seems destined for stardom, I'm sure he won't mind starring on my smallish website for a few fashion whacks. Let's just call him "James Jr."

First off, this outfit just offends on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin. But as I did with my last spotting of a fashion-nightmare, let's start with the boots. No, then again, as bad as his boots may be, there is something about this photo that's more intrusive than the boots; it's the hair.

1) The hair. Not perms, but PERMANENTS went out with another era. This hairstyle is just atrocious. If James Brown can't pull it off, just what makes "James Jr." think he can do it? Look above his forehead. Are those BANGS??? Why yes they are! In fact, it seems we're looking at the rock of Gibraltar. At any minute I expected to see little men running off the top of the cliff, parachuting into the air. Absolutely under no circumstances should anyone ever think to leave the house with their hair looking like this. The world can only take one James. And these days, it seems he can't even take himself. I am deeply disturbed by this hairstyle.

2) The shirt. Am I mistaken, or was that shirt made from my grandmother's drapes? Aside from the fact that it was an 88-degree day, and this shirt was 57 pounds heavy and long-sleeved, under no circumstances should paisley, flowers, or any sort of comforter-looking material be used a. in such abundance b. on a man.

3) The belt. This is harder to see in the pic, but it's that big reflecting thing you see on his waist. Actually, that is just the buckle. James Jr. seems to think he's some sort of superhero because as big as that gigantic Muhammad Ali starter-kit medallion around his waist is, it had better have some special powers. My best guess, he keeps his Aqua Net hairspray in there.

4) The pants. Again, not clear from the pic, but James Jr. here seems to have forgotten that it's not cool to wear tight pants. Not only are they tight, just where's the flood? When you sit down, your pants should not become capris. Oh but it gets worse. I'd be fine with James wearing tight capris, if they didn't reveal these 70's throwback boots. Which leads me to number five.

5) The boots. There are only certain people who are allowed to wear maroon lacquered cowboy boots. Those people are not black and they don't live in Seattle. I would have nothing against the boots if they didn't have 3-inch heels. The picture doesn't show this, but trust me they're there. This is completely unacceptable. No high-heels on men. Period.

Thus ends my fashion critique for the month. My camera will continue to be on the prowl. And as a last thought folks, really, we've just got to better.

[The author apologizes for the perceived frivolity of this post. Do understand that for her, fashion is a very serious matter and she feels a heavy burden to release the masses from fashion victimhood, however will get back to the regularly scheduled program of things of a more serious nature--like why the NAACP needs to retire.]

Posted in Culture, Fashion Faux Pas | Permanent Link

 

Maybe Jesus isn't your homeboy. Maybe you don't want to "Go Veg" or wear any of the over-played shirts out there. I'm not usually one for political t-shirts (they don't really go too well with heels and a purse), but I think I'm being driven. Right about now, I sooooooo would rock this t-shirt with pride.

I'm feeling a little strong on my anti-liberal establishment side today.

Posted in Culture, Politics | Permanent Link

 

Former Colorado state attorney general and crusader for common sense, Dave Kopel of the Independence Institute, released a fascinating report on the falsehoods in Michael Moore's latest concoction. A volunteer filmmaker reproduced the movie to include captions stating where Moore was deceiving. People these days sure do have a lot of time on their hands. Although, I understand the goal. I've already stated my issue with "Frump boy" aka Michael Moore.

But wow. Only 59? Seems rather low. Then again, just one falsehood would be just cause to expose the man. Apparently, people who want to get their hands on this new edited version must download it via Kazaa, an internet file sharing program (think Napster). So in order to view the shadiness of Michael Moore, people are supposed to illegally download an illegal bootleg of an illegally edited copy.

Sounds so virtuous...and ironic.

Posted in Culture, Politics | Permanent Link

 

While doing some research on Mary Kay Letourneau, I found an excellent Town Hall article about sexual misconduct in public schools. While the focus of the article is picking apart a recent report from the federal Department of Education on "sexual misconduct among educators", academic, Janice Shaw Crouse's discussion on mixed messages is what peaked my interest,

"We can illustrate the mixed messages with an exercise in visualization: a story, if you will, about today's schools.

Visualize two separate classrooms in the same school. In one classroom, "comprehensive sex education" is being taught. The students, (whose hormones, it is understood, dictate that they copulate like rabbits), are being taught how to deploy contraceptive devices. They are also urged to overcome their inhibitions (to what end is not clear) by saying out loud the correct terminology for male and female genitalia -- no giggles, this is serious business.

Meanwhile, in the classroom next door, the school's employees (except the sex Ed teacher, of course) are at a mandatory federally-funded seminar on avoiding sexual harassment. The curriculum carefully covers all of the social niceties these children of the sixties, seventies, and eighties missed under their mothers' tutelage: avoid discussing, touching, making eye contact with, or in any other way taking note of or mentioning genitalia. With traditional moral values having been swept away by the ACLU and Company, we now must erect legal barriers to constrain undesirable behavior. Pity.

These earnest reminders of appropriate behavior and legal boundaries will, no doubt, deter the pedophiles. And the hebephiles, which the new report dutifully identifies as the correct terminology for those who are attracted to seventeen-year-old teenagers, as opposed to those attracted to children.

Whatever.

Down the hallway in the principal's office, a new teacher is being hired. Unbeknownst to the leadership of the new school, this teacher has a history of sexual abuse with students. Unfortunately, this information was expunged from his record. Thanks to the efforts of his teachers' union, of which he is a member in good standing, identification of sexual predators is blocked.

What a kerfloogle.

Now this is good reading. This is a good preface to a discussion on sex education in schools--a subject I'm overdue to talk about but have been ruminating on a proper angle from which to write. Anyway, somewhat unrelated but today I feel like being militant about something other than the fact that the shirt I'm wearing and purse I'm carrying really do match, so I'd just like to say that I'm against condom distribution in schools. Period. No gray areas.

Posted in Culture, Education | Permanent Link

 

Once again, Mary K. Letourneau is making headlines as tomorrow marks her release from Washington Corrections Center for Women,

"Letourneau's friends, lawyers involved in the case and officials at the State Department of Corrections say they've been fielding daily telephone calls from the "Today" show, "Oprah," "Primetime," "Inside Edition" -- even a British magazine and television stations in France and Germany."

Maybe everyone doesn't recall, but this woman took student/teacher crushes to a whole new level when she made national headlines almost eight years ago for "having sexual relations" with her then 12-year old student, Vili Fualaau. At the time, Letourneau was his 34-year-old sixth grade teacher. The relationship even produced two children (now ages 5 and 7) who are currently being raised by Fualaau's mother (who by the way, pressed charges against the school district, suing for millions charging they didn't do enough to protect her son even though she once stood in support of the relationship). The smell of money sure changes opinions. Letourneau was eventually charged with child rape and sent to prison. She must now register as a level two sex offender (yes there are apparently now different levels at which you can violate a child).

The Letourneau case opened up a very interesting can of worms as it relates to the apparent finelines of pedophilia and child rape. To the two of them, it was "love". Is there such a thing as NAWBLA (North American Woman Boy Lovers Association)? If Mary Kay had been a man, and Fualau a girl, this case would have been open and shut. During her trial, Letourneau (now age 42) pleaded not guilty, and even today she still delusionally calls the relationship "beautiful". As it stands, once released from prison, she can't have contact with the now 21-year-old Fualaau due to a court restraining order, which Fualaau wants to have dropped immediately. A few years ago, the couple had talks of re-uniting upon her release and eloping in Paris. They're both consenting adults now so anything's possible.

Continue reading "Mary Kay "I'm a Ho" and the rest of her disgusting cohorts">>>

Posted in Culture, Education | Permanent Link

 

Answer: The wife of a very famous hip-hop titan who has a lisp he should have had fixed by now with his millions and all.

Question: Who is Kimora Lee Simmons?

Busted on possession of marijuana. She was pulled over after "careless driving" as reported by the police. Just because you're rich, doesn't mean you're smart.

That's right. She's the famed empress of Phat Farm off-shoot for women Baby Phat. Kimora Lee's been in the spotlight since she joined in holy matrimony with hip-hop's shortest, oldest, speech-impediment having millionaire Russell Simmons. Prior to that, she was a model for Karl Lagerfield (can't you tell by the fact that she's smiling in her mugshot?), and as of late, she's been making waves by scantily dressing teenage girls everywhere with she and her husband's latest hootchie-mama line of clothing.

What a great example she's setting for her daughters. Next!

Update: So yes, it's been reported that Russell is claiming this event transpired due to the fact that his wife is "African-Asian American", and a "member of the hip-hop community". Yeah. Because after all, we all know how indicitive Asian-Americans are of the hip-hop community.

(Cool points to: Michelle Malkin)

Posted in Culture | Permanent Link

 

At a recent college conference in South Carolina, Bill Cosby once again defended his remarks. The AP reports,

"'I'm going to keep on saying what I've been saying,' he[Cosby] said Wednesday, speaking to a group representing 118 historically black colleges and universities nationwide, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.

On Wednesday, he said the music industry glorifies music that demeans women, praises life in jail and uses profanity.

He said college educators should prepare students to help poor blacks from backgrounds of violence and single-mother households.

Instead of joining the Peace Corps and going to Africa, 'go across the street into the projects. These are people who need to see another picture, a brighter picture.'"

People have been saying this for years. That doesn't make it any less true today. Oppression is in our own back yard. In the case of Seattle, it's "their" backyard (the projects in Seattle actually have grass).

People still continue to pick apart Cosby's comments for the better and the worse. In "The Black World Today" (rolling eyes) Playthell Benjamin (if that's not a name!) wrote a lengthy open letter to Bill Cosby called Dear Brother Bill. I'm still sifting through it, trying to figure out just what exactly he's getting at. Then in the piece, Bill Cosby Was (Mostly) Right, Stan Guthrie of Christianity Today, cites the "redemptive role of the church" as being the one thing missing from Cosby's message. Agreed.

(Cool Points to: Mark Shea for the tip on this event)

Posted in Culture, Race | Permanent Link

 

Okay, this is known as genuine stalling.  I've got a couple of things lined up for today, however nykola.com headquarters has been majorly under the weather and a bit doped up this week.  Thankfully, no amount of vicotin could stop this tripe from running through my brain:

Conservative Eye for the Hippie Guy
This show takes a team of 5 young, smart Republicans and travels to the corners of the United States spreading good cheer, finding unsuspecting hippie guys who need their wardrobe spruced up a bit.  Hippie Liberals turn in their tie-dye for the staple navy blue suit and red power-tie.  On this week's episode, the latest subject of the Fab-Five breaks down crying when they tell him he has to throw out his "Impeach Bush" signs.

Who Wants to Be a Billionaire?
Theresa Heinz-Kerry agrees to give away part of her fortune if you agree to vote for her husband.

The Whore
Who wants to be the next Capitol Hill Whore?  Do you have what it takes to be a certified, Washington, brazen hussy?  Then you could be the next Capitol Hill Whore.  Join 15 other contestants competing for a spot as the next biggest whore!  Each week, via a number of challenges, contestants face off in the "whoreroom" where Bill Clinton also known as "The Bill" will be "firing" someone each week with the help of his staff which includes "Jessica "Washingtonienne" Cutler among others.  The goal is to narrow down the contestants to help further their careers.

Add your suggestions as you see fit....back in the groove later today.

Posted in Culture | Permanent Link

 

With the announcement this month that they'd be releasing the cheaper version of the iPod to the world, I am convinced Apple has plans to take over. I'm an avid Apple user myself, but admittedly, I initially bought my iMac and iBook because they were "pretty" and I didn't want a Dell hunk of ugliness in my house. Chicks. We're weird like that. The "Mac vs. PC" debate can get cut-throat and for the record, I use both. And for the record, I like Dell.

This Fall, Duke University is providing its entire freshman class with iPods. Now may be the time to reconsider this school as having more than just a kick-butt basketball team. The Durham Herald-Sun reports,

"The iPods, which can download and make use of both audio and text material, will come stocked with Duke-related downloads, including information for freshman orientation and the academic calendar. Duke also will create a special Web site modeled on the Apple iTunes site from which students will be able to download music and course content from faculty, including language lessons, recorded lectures and audio books.

Students in visiting assistant professor Lisa Merschel's elementary Spanish class will use the iPods to listen to audio examples of textbook exercises and hear Spanish songs.

And adjunct professor Sally Schauman's students will use their iPods to record lectures in class and interviews while out in the field for her freshman seminar about the ethics and science of urban water conservation."

Fear my generation. Fear them intensely. My younger siblings attend a private high school that has rolled-out the "lap-top program". The program requires all students to have a laptop as assignments are both given and submitted via the web. At my sister's graduation this Spring, one of her classmates parting words were,

"Don't ever take for granted a school that has its own server"

A six-year-old is hacking into your computer as we speak.

Hat tip (Joanne Jacobs)

Posted in Culture | Permanent Link

 

You don't even have to be half-way coherent to recognize that the folks at PETA are off their ever animal-loving rockers. No, seriously. I often wonder just what exactly they are smoking over there in Norfolk, VA (PETA's headquarters). Yesterday, they announced the winners of the annual "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" as Outkast's Andre (washed-up) 3000 and "actress" Alicia Silverstone. There goes that word "sexy" again! In an interview, Andre 3000 aka Andre Benjamin said he'd spend his last day on earth eating broccoli. That's right, eating BROCCOLI. Does anyone find something wrong with this?

I'm cool with vegetarians (as long as they don't subscribe to the religion of vegetarianism), but vegans tend to be militant converts. They have lost all common sense and cannot even think straight. Then I see PETA's list of the other celebrity vegans and vegetarians competing for the title of "sexy" and I am miffed. B.B. King? Are you joking me? Then again, he is diabetic so I guess it makes sense.

Here's my piece on vegetarianism. If you're going to stop eating meat, fine. That is your prerogative. While I am against the social movement, I do realize that many people "go veg" for many reasons including health and well-being. You can enjoy your vegetables and have a great big vegetable party for all I care.

But please don't infringe upon my right to a double bacon cheeseburger anytime I see fit. In college, the day before Thanksgiving break began, the campus militants put anti-turkey flyers in every student's mailbox, right along with a lovely picture of a turkey being murdered. I was not pleased. Right then I knew, if ever a fight was gonna go down at Wesleyan University, it would be between me and the vegetarians. Anybody bold enough to try to come between me and thanksgiving turkey and stuffing was looking for an old-fashioned beat-down.

And another thing. If you're going to be a vegetarian, BE a vegetarian. I'm sick of seeing you people talk out of both sides of your mouth, eating chicken, fish, the likes of which qualify as MEAT if you ask me. "I'm a vegetarian, but I also eat fish." No. In that case you're not a vegetarian. You're a person who eats fish.

And when someone calls you out on your phony vegetarian identity, please don't lie. Just admit that like the majority of North America, you like meat. As you should. After all, it's here for your consumption.

You veggies can do what you want, but as for me and my house, we will serve steak!

Side note: There was a funny scene in the film Notting Hill where a woman claims she a "Frutarian". Meaning, she only eats fruits that have "fallen" from the tree naturally. Just where do we draw the line?

Posted in Culture | Permanent Link