PURGE

ARE BLACK WOMEN SUPERSTAR ATHLETES ALLOWED TO BE TACKY? ASK VENUS WILLIAMS

cacy — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:33:06 +0000

FROM: Whataboutourdaughters.com, Our Black Bodies, Our Black Selves

"Racial and gender equality mean an equal opportunity to act a fool on the international stage. But that belies a larger question.. Do Black girls have the option of being “different.” Whimsical. Creative. Are our bodies only allowed to be shoved into some sexual context anytime they are displayed? To some people what Venus Williams wore on the first day of the French Open was obscene. I was ready to hop on the bandwagon with you. Until I actually looked at other pictures of the “outfit” and quite frankly its more odd than obscene in fact when viewed inlight of the apparel for both men and women across all sports, its rather boring. She needs to try harder to stretch the limits like playing tennis in dirty coveralls.

"Yes, Venus Williams looks ri-dayum- diculous playing in the hot blazing sun in a Black lace corset, but when you actually look at the photos of her playing at different angles, it doesn’t look any different than figure skating when they wear body stockings. The shorts aren’t actually the same color as her skin. And Venus actually has a history of wearing brown undergarments to give the illusion of skin. Much like women’s ( and men’s) figureskating. See, here she is rocking a “nude” undergarment at the Australian Open. Its brown that’s all."

Some comments in response to the above post.

#1 Political Season on 05.26.10 at 5:02 am

The outfit is ugly, does not flatter her and photographs really badly in tennis action shots. It doesn’t require more analysis than that.

#2 gem2001 on 05.26.10 at 5:05 am

@Political Season,
Heave you read the comments in response to the outfit? Its a hideous outfit, but no more hideous than what figure skaters wear. People referring to her as a man, calling her disgusting, obscene, if she was blond haired and blue eyed, I just don’t think this would have been the reaction. She would have been mocked, yes, but the extra stuff is clearly because she’s a Black woman.

#3 Tamiko on 05.26.10 at 7:01 am

Exactly! I reject the notion that, as a Black woman, I can’t be tacky, have poor taste or walk to the beat of my own drummer. I am a human being! I have the right to be quirky, funky, emo, goth, biker-chic or anything in between. I am sick to death of every single aspect of our personalities or bodies being analyzed through a sexualized lens. That’s the real issue. Venus dared to be different, well good on her! I can think her outfit is hideous and still defend to the death her right to wear it.

#4 Forwhatmy2centsisworth on 05.26.10 at 7:02 am

It’s just an ugly outfit. She’s not the first woman to wear something ugly and won’t be the last. Who knows maybe ugly tacky tennis outfits bring her good luck. It didn’t appear to hurt her game any so let her express herself.

#5 tusk91 on 05.26.10 at 7:08 am

I totally agree that there is a double standard because here in Florida a lot of young white woman are wearing a style of shorts that look just like “tight boxers shorts”.

Every time I see them and many times they are accompanied by there parents I cringe. I know for a fact that if that was a black female wearing the same there would be complete out rage.

There is a double standard, black girls and woman are being sexualized at every turn, even when not in a BET video.(i.e. ‘video vixen’ Barbie) It is a part of what I have to stress to my teen daughters who could never in a million years be allowed to wear anything close to those shorts.

#6 blkchik on 05.26.10 at 7:53 am

I don’t think this is about race but more about her height and bodytype and this unflattering outfit

#7 BLKSeaGoat on 05.26.10 at 8:42 am

Why won't we let Venus be great?

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

HAPPY HOUR WITH TASCHEN

cacy — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:13:17 +0000

Last night:

Had cocktails and pretzels at the Taschen bookstore over on Greene Street in SoHo. It was 90 degrees out and even tho the Cosmos were chilled, alcohol was not the smart way for me to cool down at this Meet & Greet. The good thing tho was that you got free pretzel and hot dog tickets from Taschen as soon as you checked in with the door-woman. That move was to manage your drinking and potential hangover; and to link two iconic New York City foods with a new New York book published by Taschen called New York: Portrait of a City by Reuel Golden, pictured above. Met him on the way to the hot-dog stand after my second Cosmo. Nice guy, kinda shy.

More photos on p.2

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, DANNY TREJO, MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, ROBERT DINERO + JESSICA ALBA GO TO ARIZONA

cacy — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:08:14 +0000

From Aint it Cool News

Always one for the spectacle of the occasion, Robert Rodriguez, with the help of Danny Trejo, released this special “illegal” Cinco de Mayo message/trailer for Arizona and its estimable legislature.

That's right. Machete is coming.

Original Video- More videos at TinyPic

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

MEET KOBE BRYANT THE MOOR IN LA TIMES MAGAZINE

cacy — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:29:15 +0000

Photographed by Ruven Afanador, styled by James Valeri

Ruven Afanador is a Colombian and is a well known and respected photographer. Is he also racist? His obsession appears to be contrasts as evidenced by his previous work which includes models painted darker than their normal appearance. I am clueless about his ideas about black folk as I have not spoken to the man but if you are look at his work certain conclusions may be drawn. I think the pictures of Kobe are interesting because he's photographed in a way we are unaccustomed to seeing him. He's not gripping a basketball with a primal scream nor is he posed on a white background in a tailored suit. I think the photographer may have been referencing his own demons as they pertain to Spain's colonization of Colombia and Spain's uncomfortable realization that at point in its history, it was ruled by Moors.

The black blogosphere is atwitter over Kobe Byrant's appearance in LA Times Magazine over the weekend. Typical homophobic comments on blogs like Necolebitchie.com include:

W….T…HELL….ALL HE NEED NOW IS SOME LIPSTICK AND EARRINGS…..LMAO

These pics look fruitier than my childhood breakfast cereal….except for the one that looks like a runaway slave.
REFUND please! I know he did not approve these pics? I keep looking back at them waiting on him to do a ‘2 snaps and a twist’ motion! O em gee!

& From Bossip.com

YUCK!!! He looks like he just stepped off of someones ship…..a gay cruise ship.I’ll bet his wife picked out these clothes.FAILLLL LOL

rain: THE FIFST PIC HE LOOKS LIKE A GAY PAUL MOONeY

OMG that was the first thing I thought when I saw that first pic. ROTFL

BTW did they use photoshop to darken him to make the contrast with the white clothes greater?

okay….so this is very slave looking????? very different and I’m guessing this is what the photographer was going for???? really am not a big fan of kobe but wonder ing if he was trying to make a statement with this shoot ( the industry treating him like a slave) cuz we all know with his ego, if he didn’t like it- it would not have been published!

More after the break.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

JANELLE MONAE'S NEW ALBUM COVER: THE ARCHANDROID

cacy — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:51:18 +0000

Last week JM let us have a sneak peek at the cover art of her new album. Vapors were caught.

Via Rodonline.typepad.com.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

MEET THE MAN WHO SURVIVED A VOLCANO ERUPTION IN MARTINIQUE 98 YEARS AGO

cacy — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:21:32 +0000

Speaking of volcanoes and the end of the world: meet Ludger Sylbaris, a man who loved drink. After going on a bender on his home island of Martique, still a French colony and protectorate, he was thrown in the clink, pictured below, and survived the Pelee Volcano eruption which killed 30, 000 pple. Love how the Barnum & Bailey poster above refers to Sylbaris as an "object", as if a spoon has lungs and can urinate on its clothes to survive being burned to death.

Writes Deckhard, a commenter on Gizmodo.com:

"I love the poster.

Found some more information on this guy:

On the day before the Pelee eruption, Sylbaris was locked in a single-cell, partially-under ground with stone walls, ventilated only through a narrow grating in the door which faced away from Pelee. His prison was the most sheltered building in the city, and it was this fact which saved his life.

On the day of the eruption, it grew very dark. Hot air mixed with fine ashes entered his cell through the door grating, despite his efforts in urinating on his clothing and stuffing it in the door. The heat lasted only a short moment, enough to cause deep burns on his hands, arms, legs, and back, but his clothes did not ignite, and he avoided breathing the searing-hot air.

Superheated steam and volcanic gases and dust, with temperatures reaching over 1000 °C. flattened the buildings in the city and the entire population burned or suffocated to death."

----

30.000 "objects" died in the event.

Two other Martinique residents survived also, a girl who sailed a boat into the ocean and a shoemaker who also lived to tell the tale, by falling into the ocean. Ludger Sylbaris, however, survived because of his fondness for drink. via Gizmodo.com

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

Gil Scott Heron " Me and the Devil"

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 05:52:09 +0000

Sick!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.

PRODUCT TEST: LOTUS SPIKE MAT

cacy — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:29:10 +0000

Over the weekend I road tested a Lotus Spike Mat, the accupressure mat that's designed to relieve stress, improve sleep, release endorphins and promote relaxation. I got lucky because new colors had just arrived and I chose to test the purple one over the green, orange and red you see in the photo above. In addition to sporting new colors, the mat also had a steep price reduction. Last week I posted a price of $65.00 plus shipping and handling. This week the folks over at LSM reduced the price of the mat to $35.95. The Spike Mat Pillow is now going for 24.95.

So how was it?

If you are sensitive to pain, you don't have much to worry about. The spikes on the mat offers only mild discomfort but you'll have to get used to it. If you wanna change your life or behavior you have to do whatever it takes to change including suffering pain or discomfort. Don't throw this in my face if you see me struggling at the gym. Jus sayin.

Anyway, The first day, Saturday, I placed the mat on my mattress and rested on my back for about 20 minutes. The spikes in my back were uncomfortable in the beginning but I'd prepared myself for whatever pain came my way. Just do it no matter what, I thought. .It wasn't bad, just strange. From my shoulders to just above my pelvic area, there was a moving throbbing sensation. Luckily, my friend was in the room timing me on his iphone and talking to me, so it wasn't so bad. After 20 minutes I got up off the mat. My head was clear, everything seemed brighter and I felt alert and energetic. Mind you, I decided to test the mat After I woke up around noon. Friday was a long and stressfull day. It involved jailbreaking iphones and recovering presumably lost data. I was beyond stressed. I thot the mat would help me relax.

It was now my friend's turn. I timed him for 20 minutes on the mat. At 14.45 he laughed and described feeling really happy and good all over, whatever that means. . He discribed an explosion of some sort in his head, the endorphins, we thought. He laughed for several seconds more and stayed on the mat until the iphone timer went off.

Day 2 was Sunday.

My friend and I fell out around 4am after watching Resident Evil on TBS. Sleep was calm and peaceful for me. I woke up with a clear head and felt really, really, really good and brave. I didn't even have to rub my eyes after I woke up. It was like I emerged from an ethereal slumber. Later that night I played God Of War 2 and as I was getting bored fighting the Barbarian King (I was stuck on the level since Friday morning) I decided to lay on the mat on the floor while fighting. 20 minutes later I felt alert, and awake and had about a half a life point in my game when I kicked the Barbarian King's ass. I continued playing the game until 3am while resting my back on the mat, which was now off the floor and on the couch.

Its now Monday and I can still feel the impressions of the spikes on my back. I'm not complaining. It seems it does what it claims. In Sweden these mats are as ordinary as blondes. In a country of 9 million, over a third of the population use one.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Original post blogged on Gizmodo.