discussion comment
4 years ago
Stats are just numbers. The real deal is the cause. A stat cannot explain that. What we are seeing are the devastating side-effects from a 400 year-old atrocity. During the ensuing years, some people benefited from this atrocity and other people were further denigrated. That's why the Mitch McConnell balk at reparations, (I'm paraphrasing)"I wasn't personally responsible so it makes no senses for me to pay." But the truth is Mitch, and those that echo that stupid sentiment, is you benefited from the results. Cut the excuses and deal with the real shit. Stop hiding behind distractions. It's annoying, exhausting, and insulting. True, whatever we do now will never make up 400 years of inhumanity but, it can help to build a future where our children won't have to inherit the trauma in the same way we have. To understand where I'm coming from, you must dare to step outside of "COLONIAL" mindset.
discussion comment
4 years ago
Agree. This article is interesting reading.
discussion comment
4 years ago
I'm not a conservative and I don't usually vote Republican. But some ideas I'm more liberal about and some ideas I'm more conservative about. I classify myself as a rational, thinking person aspiring to the highest level of humanity. I'm a work in progress. With that said, I don't think the if one party defeats the other that there will automatically be doom and gloom. I don't even think Trump is a real Republican. He's an ego-centric opportunist with the mindset of a severely education deprived child. Whatever politicians get into power must be held accountable by the people and adhere to the Constitution or seek to make amendments. If that structure is not followed than the hypocritical nature of things will lead to chaos. One of the things I hate the most is fear-mongering. There is a reason, that for years, more centrist thinking has kept us all somewhat in check. Nobody gets everything they want but everybody, though we may grumble and complain, is allowed to live another day. But now we're in a dire situation where "down the middle thinking" is all but gone. It's important to balance the scales so that opposing viewpoints can safely debate. We have to remove the fear.
discussion comment
4 years ago
@Yahtzee
I didn't say racism. But I will be clearer here. That situation coupled with many similar situations I and many other black folk, crossing all socio-economic lines, points to structural bias. It wasn't that I was driving too slow as other cars in front of me were driving at the same rate. They passed the officer and he chose me to pull over. Look at it for what it is. I'm not saying police don't pull over other people for different reasons. I'm just saying those reasons don't apply to me. Not when this kind of thing has with more regularity to me and similiar folk. It's a pattern. The first step in correcting a problem is identifying it. When you hear thousands of people say the same thing, pay attention. It's an issue! I work both in the entertainment industry and the field of public education. The majority of my colleagues of color have experienced the same thing. And a few of them have higher levels of contacts that I in the justice system.
discussion comment
4 years ago
Regarding the police---it's not always the big incidents that are disturbing. It's the little indecencies. In 2000 I was driving my brand new green some may say sports car through Beverly Hills late one night. I was going very much under the speed limit in a residential area. A police car pulled me over. I quickly hit speed dial on my cell and called my cousin who was an Assistant DA in Inglewood and told him quickly what was up as the cop approached my car. I put the cell on the dash board with the speaker on so my cousin could hear what was to follow. I put both hands on the steering wheel. The officer asked me what I was doing in the neighborhood and where I was going that late at night. I told him I had just come from San Diego and I was on my way home which was north east of Beverly Hills. He asked to see my license and I showed it to him. My cousin chimed in and asked to speak to the officer. This startled the man. I looked at him and explained that my cousin an ADA was on the line the entire time. My cousin repeated his request and asked for the officer's name and I said it. The officer gave my back my license, got in his car and left. Had I not been a man of color driving a sporty car late at night would I have been pulled over? Had I not been trained in how to deal with this kind of typical humiliation tactic and not had a significant legal person with some juice behind me, what could have happened? Fortunately, we'll never know. But there have been many attempted indignities like this thrown at me. I don't get violent or act a fool. But I don't take shit lying down either. It's not about me blaming the officer. It's about how I , and many others, have to be hyper-vigilant everyday.
discussion comment
4 years ago
We are the some total of our experiences. It's interesting to here non-black folks perspective on the issue of racism. Some really do listen and think. Others are so caught up in their own thing that can't venture beyond their own wall. Still others try to justify certain positions because of facts and figures presented in the media. I don't think blaming is the answer but it's frustrating when folk won't face the fact someone from another existence in this country has an experience different from yours. Blaming causes people to get defensive but it's necessary to get that frustration out because it didn't start yesterday. This issue is over 400 years old. Has there been progress. In certain areas but it isn't enough. With any hot-button issue stuff is going to come up that makes us uncomfortable but don't leave the table. Listen...even if you can't relate. Listen...even if it doesn't seem to make sense to you. Then analyze and study a broader spectrum of history. Not just the "edited for television" version. Check out ideas from those scholars that don't look like you. Keep the conversation going.
discussion comment
4 years ago
Why don't folk call it "white on white" crime like they do "black on black" crime? It's just crime. But the fundamental issue is why all of this is happening. It's systemic. It's not just a few bad apples. I have friends who are in Law Enforcement and they all have told me the pysch evaluation comes at the end. That should be at the beginning. But it's deeper than that. A policeman should not be asked to be a social worker and a shrink. That's not his job but his job is not indiscrimately harrassing folk either because of some faulty "profile." And all that is rooted in what we've been fed as a culture. If individual behavior is to change, we must first change the structure. That's what the protests are all about. The real protests.
discussion comment
4 years ago
After the 1st time Kap took a knee, he explained how he consulted a teammate who was an ex-military man. That man told him taking a knee was something that both honored what the flag represents and called attention to the fact we, as a nation, must work harder at living up to the promise of that symbol. Somehow after this man explained in clear cut term what it was all about, all of these reactions that seemed to dismiss what the man said started flying around. He made it clear what he was calling attention to. In terms of the larger issue of systemic racism, you can't diminish the issue by copping out the comfortable, soft slogan, "All lives matter," because Black lives are disregarded. It's hypocritical. Why do you think so many people are upset? The steps must take are reforming the inequality that exists by reforming attitudes and then taking action by redistributing/investing money into education, business, and law enforcement (including re-thinking the concept of public safety) and both local and federal levels. It's not really an indictment of individuals as it's an indictment of a system that's been in place since slavery. I'm a student of History and currently I'm reading DEACONS FOR DEFENSE by Lance Hill. It ties in with the policing issue and deals with how black communities starting in Louisana had armed black men defending their residences against the KKK. The KKK were firebombing houses and brothers had had enough. The police force was standing around and being ineffectual. That's just the beginning. The actual problem started long before. Check out these authors---Ivan Van Sertima, Lerone Bennett, Jr., John Hope Franklin to help give you another perspective on a history not taught in a majority of schools. You will understand how shallow and stupid people like Candace Owens and Stacey Dash are. Just the historical record alone betrays the ignorance and distructiveness of that thinking. Also check out Tim Weiss. Knowledge is out there to give under-exposed folk a fuller picture.
discussion comment
4 years ago
Yahtzee, Here's what happened with my mother. A white women was brought in to do the job my mother was doing. My mother was tasked with training her and then this woman would assume the supervisory position my mother had and my mother would then be her subordinate. When my mother asked why this was being done after she had done this job for months and had been praised by some superior officers, this new woman was brought in. This is is why I have a problem with that situation. There were many other instances along with this she encountered while serving this country that contradicted the "freedoms" she was supposedly fighting for. The bigger issue here is enlightenment. If someone is angry about something, before any of us jump to the conclusion that the person is just complaining because they are spoiled etc., inquire as to why they are upset. Really look at it from another POV. When we do that, we begin to grow.
discussion comment
4 years ago
Candace Owens is a FOX friendly conservative with opinions that are definitely counter to mine. She definitely re-inforces certain very narrow views of the situation. But that's her right as much as it's my right to disagree. But the real problems behind all of this aren't going away until everyone deals honestly with what's up. You can find a million excuses and try to dismantle the obvious disparities that divide us but that's counterproductive. Yes, the media does sensationalize events but being a black man, I've lived this bullshit and I'm sick of it. Don't worry, not going to burn down a business or loot a store and most folk that share my sensibilities are not about that nonsense either. But we do insist and will persist to excavate and bring to light all the challenges that stand it the way so we can elevate and really live up to the promise of what it all should be. Ask yourself why folk are really pissed. Look deeply and think!
discussion comment
4 years ago
Looting and criminal activities are, unfortunately, conflated with the actual protests and this is a big problem and another distraction folk want to emphasize while diminishing the real issue. It's not about handouts or folk crying "victim" because they had a bad day. It's about the destructive nature of systemic racism. I as a black man face it all the time. I fight it and move forward but it's a reality that needs to be dealt with. If my experience is not your experience, then actually listen and learn and then things have a chance to improve. True, you have the right to be narrow-minded and proudly wrap yourself in the veil "Everyone has the same oppurtunity, so why are they so upset," or you can have a more open attitude and understand there are lessons in basic humanity to be learned. I do my best to take responsibility for my shortcomings and try to understand where others without my unique experience of understanding both the macro and micro-cultures of today. I've lived in both worlds all my life and have met many who have open minds as well as those who can't see beyond 3 ft in front of them on a sunny day. I'm hoping there are more of the former.
discussion comment
4 years ago
The reason people jumped in his ass is because, like many people, when the original kneeling moment occurred, some chose to focus on that distraction of "disrespect for the flag" rather than deal with the reason for the event which is injustice by LE toward black folk and people of color. Brees is not a dumb man but is stuck on a distraction rather than the reason for the outrage. My mother, who served in the military, and I had this very discussion when the even first occurred. She said she could understand the feelings but respect for the flag was important. I pointed out to her that many black folk, like her and I, served in the military only to have the country they served discriminate against them when they returned. Pretty difficult to kiss the hand of your oppressor in those circumstances! I pointed out her battles with inequality in the military when she was a communication specialist in the Air Force dealing with top secret transmissions. She's very articulate, an incredible typist, and very strong in critical analysis which is what the job required. Still they tasked her with training a "white" replacement for her job! My mother had to pause and take all this in. She now understood where I was coming from. Bottom line---you must deal with the cause of the problem and ignore the distraction to effect change. A protest, by it's very nature, is supposed to be inconvenient and uncomfortable.
article comment
4 years ago
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EveWhere there's a hole, there's a way. [HIATUS]
I enjoy your stories. I'm an avid reader as well as a writer and peoples different POV's fascinate. You guys will probably hate this but I'd be more interested in a shot of her face than anything else. It's a character thing.
discussion comment
5 years ago
Supply and demand. There will always be clubs in one form or another. The key question is how long will it take for business to get rolling again. Some clubs may be gone for good but some stronger ones may buy some of the weaker one's real estate.
discussion comment
5 years ago
The show was called Stripper: The Naked Truth. And the older dancer's name was Avalon. This was a documentary before the "staged" docu-series G String Divas.
discussion comment
5 years ago
I remember a fascinating HBO special years ago---maybe in the early 2000's that detailed the stripper life. There was one scene where a veteran dancer who was curvy but aging was trying to convince a club owner to put her on the night shift and the guy told her she could work only dayshifts and he would start her on Mondays at first. She hated it but because she didn't have any other marketable skills, accepted it. The manager was not a cold-hearted guy but was portrayed as just a businessman. The effect was harsh and sobering. Does anyone remember the name of this special?
discussion comment
5 years ago
I am not a Trump fan and I just wish he would let the medical experts speak after giving a succinct intro and then maybe update factual information about logistics of making supplies available. However, many reporters seem to jump on the sensational aspects of the situation by asking leading questions. Fauci was on a morning show and said the President is a lay person and his focus is very different from the medical personnel. I find that to be very true. Trump needs to tone down the misinformation and reporters need to tone down pushing the "doom & gloom" scenario for entertainment value. We all just really want to hear facts.
discussion comment
5 years ago
I think the Census is one way they are calculating the stimulus. Or at least a factor.
discussion comment
5 years ago
Once saw a girl put an unlit bulb in her pussy and then it lit up. I was amazed. I asked her how she did it and she said, "I can also make things disappear in there too. Come with me to the back and I'll show you."
review comment
5 years ago
I know Queenie and Madison. Queenie is actually very pretty and very cool. Madison always cracks me up with her coquettish voice. It's a put-on but good-natured. She can be very...athletic and enthusiastic.
review comment
5 years ago
Kitty was away for a couple of years. But she is back. You can probably catch her on Friday day shift. That's when I saw her.
discussion comment
5 years ago
This is really nit-picky and kind of funny. Criminals don't call themselves, "Alternative Justice Citizens," white clubs aren't referred to as "Suburban Adult Entertainment Emporiums,_------we're talking about strip clubs! They either have a majority of Black, White, Latina, Asian, or some other ethnicity of dancer. So, in describing the club, you put the word for the majority in front of it. Or if it's truly a diverse club (which would mean an equal number of strippers from across the board---which I've rarely seen) then leading with the predominant ethnicity lets everyone know what it is. A strip club is hardly the place for PC stuff unless it's basic human respect but even that is influenced by the most prevalent color of all--GREEN!
discussion comment
5 years ago
The name selection has always intrigued me. Sure, we've all run into Angel, Sexy, Sky, Foxy, Kitty, Luscious, Winter, Summer---never Fall or Spring----Nicole, Judy, Sandra, Maria, and Sinnamon.
I always prefer when a girl takes time and thought to come up with a name that fits her. Sometimes it's between typical and unusual like Pheonix, Reva, Serene, or Leandra. And if it fits her personality, so much the better. But if it's too obtuse like---I kid you not---Girl#7, you might be hesitant unless she looks so hot she melts everything around her.
Bottom line, the name game is fun, but guys remember how the woman looked and if the look matched the experience---provided it was a great experience.
review comment
5 years ago
Depends on the night, vibe, etc. on the rate dances are bought. Some nights it seems a majority of girls are busy and then some nights it's only a few that seem to attract any takers. It's very fluid. Compare to other clubs they seem to do all right. But this club is known for the mileage and chocolate women. There's another club in COI that has this kind of mileage and is known for Latinas but the songs are cut way shorter and the pricing structure is different. They seem to be busy much of the time. Enhanced body parts dominate that place as opposed to KH which has less enhancements.
review comment
5 years ago
The songs are close to full length. In other words longer than those cut 2 min pieces @ Rhino or Deja Vu clubs.
There were 15 - 20 dancers on this visit. This is pretty good for a small club. After 10 pm. the club was very busy with a lot of people coming in.
The price now is $17 per dance which is actually really good compared to other clubs where the average cost is $20 and the mileage here can be off the charts.