Lap dances are killing people now?! Not really, but close enough. Michael Ireland could not have imagined that a lap dance could be detrimental to his health. In 2008, Ireland went to the Cheetah Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., expecting to have a good time and be entertained by strippers.
Michael Ireland's life changed once he got too close to a stripper named Suki who danced on top of a bar. Apparently, Ireland got a little too friendly smacking Suki on her backside. The stripper instinctively kicked him. Suki's stiletto heel punctured Ireland's eye socket and broke bones around his eye and nose.
Ireland's attorney, Lake Lytal, claims that his client was severely injured and has permanent double vision. Instead of going to trial, which would have likely netted Ireland up to $1 million, the Cheetah Club decided to settle with him for $650,000.
Now don't get me wrong I don't think anyone deserves to have their eye punctured, but he definitely disrespected her. I know some people are thinking "Well she's a stripper, that's what guys do." In all actuality most strippers find it disrespectful to be gropped or touched in a sexual manner. If that was the case they might as well go and be prostitutes lol, but serious.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
NAACP - To Advance or Not Advance? - That's the question.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the United States; practically a household name. It was founded in 1909; A time when a black person was "free" but not truly free; a time when segregation was still considered the norm. A time of prominent leaders like W.E.B. DuBois and Mary McLeod Bethune.
Throughout their 101 tenure, they have supported issues like Media Diversity, Education, Civic Engagement, Health Programs, Social Justice and now the legalization of marijuana. Yes marijuana...
According to a CNN article that I read last night, the NAACP believes that legalizing marijuana is a civil rights issue. The California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, led by President Alice Huffman, recently announced its "unconditional endorsement" for Proposition 19, a legislative initiative on the November ballot that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. President Huffman's reasoning behind it is because African-Amercians are disproportiantely affected by marijuana being illegal which makes legalizing it a civil rights issue.
A California study concluded even though Blacks and Latinos make up less than 44% of the state's population, combined they account for 56% of the arrests that are made for the possession of marijuana. Therefore this study has concluded that arrests are "racially-based."
This started out as a facebook status for me, but I felt so strongly about it that I decided to blog. Facebook wasn't enough space for me. In my opinion the NAACP is selling the black community short, by support legislation like this; making people believe that its okay to do drugs. I understand that they want to bring civil justice and rights to under represented communities/ethnic groups, but legalizing marijuana is not the way to go.
Out of allllll of the civil rights issues facing our black community today, why this one? How about they support a better drug awareness program since so many blacks are getting arrested for possession of marijuana. The unemployment rate is so high; even higher for black people. How about they support a job placement program; something that will actually benefit the black community long-term. I mean don't get me wrong I'm judging anyone who smokes weed. Its your life, live it how you want to. But for the NAACP, an organization that I thought gave black people a voice, to openly support an issues like this really shocks me!
The NAACP is supposed to be working to "advance" black people not keep us down. How can you advance if you're losing brain cells? It sounds funny, but I'm so serious. How can you advance if you cant even pass a drug test? Since the NAACP wants to talk about studies lets talk about it. Studies prove that marijuana is a gateway drug which leads to more serious drug use. The only thing that it will do is bring more violence into black communities and kill our black people.
Other people argue that making marijuana legal will "bring tax dollars to the community." Let's be real. We all know that the black communities where people smoke the most weed will never see a dollar of that money. This is just another way to keep a race down and make money while doing so. I sound a little militant, but this is truly what I feel. Take it how you want to.
The decision on Proposition 19 will be made in California in November.
Throughout their 101 tenure, they have supported issues like Media Diversity, Education, Civic Engagement, Health Programs, Social Justice and now the legalization of marijuana. Yes marijuana...
According to a CNN article that I read last night, the NAACP believes that legalizing marijuana is a civil rights issue. The California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, led by President Alice Huffman, recently announced its "unconditional endorsement" for Proposition 19, a legislative initiative on the November ballot that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. President Huffman's reasoning behind it is because African-Amercians are disproportiantely affected by marijuana being illegal which makes legalizing it a civil rights issue.
A California study concluded even though Blacks and Latinos make up less than 44% of the state's population, combined they account for 56% of the arrests that are made for the possession of marijuana. Therefore this study has concluded that arrests are "racially-based."
This started out as a facebook status for me, but I felt so strongly about it that I decided to blog. Facebook wasn't enough space for me. In my opinion the NAACP is selling the black community short, by support legislation like this; making people believe that its okay to do drugs. I understand that they want to bring civil justice and rights to under represented communities/ethnic groups, but legalizing marijuana is not the way to go.
Out of allllll of the civil rights issues facing our black community today, why this one? How about they support a better drug awareness program since so many blacks are getting arrested for possession of marijuana. The unemployment rate is so high; even higher for black people. How about they support a job placement program; something that will actually benefit the black community long-term. I mean don't get me wrong I'm judging anyone who smokes weed. Its your life, live it how you want to. But for the NAACP, an organization that I thought gave black people a voice, to openly support an issues like this really shocks me!
The NAACP is supposed to be working to "advance" black people not keep us down. How can you advance if you're losing brain cells? It sounds funny, but I'm so serious. How can you advance if you cant even pass a drug test? Since the NAACP wants to talk about studies lets talk about it. Studies prove that marijuana is a gateway drug which leads to more serious drug use. The only thing that it will do is bring more violence into black communities and kill our black people.
Other people argue that making marijuana legal will "bring tax dollars to the community." Let's be real. We all know that the black communities where people smoke the most weed will never see a dollar of that money. This is just another way to keep a race down and make money while doing so. I sound a little militant, but this is truly what I feel. Take it how you want to.
The decision on Proposition 19 will be made in California in November.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Rose that Grew from Concrete
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Bag Lady
I've always been a big Erykah Badu fan. She makes the type of songs that allow you to groove to the beat, while delivering a message. Sometimes I have to listen to her songs over and over to actually understand what that message is lol, but once I get it, it makes it that much more special.
Bag Lady - the first release off her 2000 album 'Mama's Gun' - has recently become one of my favorites. It has taken me 10 years, but I've finally figured out what she's saying. Well I guess I kind of already got the jist of the song, but I've just recently personalized the message. I mean after all what's the point of listening to music if you cant relate to it?
The first line of the song says: "Bag lady, you gone hurt yo back; draggin all them bags like that" Now when I was younger I figured hmmm, maybe she's talking about a lady with a lot of purses...Dont judge me lol. I was a kid.
I now hear this song and realize that I can't continue to hold on to excess baggage and negative energy because all that it will do is hold me down and hold me back. Whether it be grudges, bad relationships, or other people's problems. "All you must hold on to is you, is you, is youuuuu." Its just time to live for me and do what makes me happy!
Bag Lady - the first release off her 2000 album 'Mama's Gun' - has recently become one of my favorites. It has taken me 10 years, but I've finally figured out what she's saying. Well I guess I kind of already got the jist of the song, but I've just recently personalized the message. I mean after all what's the point of listening to music if you cant relate to it?
The first line of the song says: "Bag lady, you gone hurt yo back; draggin all them bags like that" Now when I was younger I figured hmmm, maybe she's talking about a lady with a lot of purses...Dont judge me lol. I was a kid.
I now hear this song and realize that I can't continue to hold on to excess baggage and negative energy because all that it will do is hold me down and hold me back. Whether it be grudges, bad relationships, or other people's problems. "All you must hold on to is you, is you, is youuuuu." Its just time to live for me and do what makes me happy!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Nothin' Runs Like a Deere - My First Day
So I'm mid way through my summer internship with John Deere and I must say its been a great ride!
Going into this internship was crazy...any emotion that one could possibly feel was inside of me and slowly, but surely brewing over; nervous, excited, anxious, afraid. You name it, it was there. People are afraid of the unexpected...the path less travelled, and I was (past tense) one of those people. I mean who was I, a black girl from Kansas City, MO, and student of Wilberforce University to be walking into "Corporate America" like I knew what I was doing? I had no idea what to say, how to say it, what to wear or what not to for that matter...my hair...oh God not my hair! Would it be an issue? How would people respond? Could it possibly be an issue that would limit me at such a conservative place like John Deere?
Corporate America - this unknown place to me. Almost like being in a foreign country! I mean don't get me wrong I've interacted with important business people and I felt comfortable being in a room full of strangers...but not for 3 MONTHS!
First day jitters! Is this business casual? Is my hair neat enough? Am I speaking "proper" english? Lol it's funny looking back on it, but I seriously assessed my whole being. You know the saying, "First impressions are lasting ones." I HAD to make a good first impression. Paperwork. Met My Supervisor. Blah Blah. Tour of Building. Meet the rest of the team. Shake hands (God I pray they wash their hands). Department Lunch. Awwwwkward! So 4 of us get into the car on our way to Bandit Burrito and the driver changes the radio station. Usher comes on. Thinking in my head "this is my JAM!!!" Of course right. So now everyone is probably expecting me to sing a long right? WRONG
Bandit Burrito. Okay..this is my chance for my personality to show. I have to get involved with the conversation. Can't be anti-social. Casual conversation...shouldn't be too hard right? WRONG!! My co-workers talk about house renovations, marriage, kids, car insurance. I don't know too many people who own house...I don't know too many people that are married...I could name a couple with kids lol...and who really has car insurance?! I didn't have any type of input on any of these topics...#fail!! This was going to be a loooooong summer!
By the end of the first day I HATED Corporate America! I even contemplated switching majors. I had to put so much thought into just going to work. I didn't even feel like it was worth it. I kept saying "I feel like I'm conforming" or "I feel like I have to be something/somebody that I'm not." I didn't want to stress about hair, clothes, my speech...it was overwhelming to say the least. Honestly, I wanted to quit!
Going into this internship was crazy...any emotion that one could possibly feel was inside of me and slowly, but surely brewing over; nervous, excited, anxious, afraid. You name it, it was there. People are afraid of the unexpected...the path less travelled, and I was (past tense) one of those people. I mean who was I, a black girl from Kansas City, MO, and student of Wilberforce University to be walking into "Corporate America" like I knew what I was doing? I had no idea what to say, how to say it, what to wear or what not to for that matter...my hair...oh God not my hair! Would it be an issue? How would people respond? Could it possibly be an issue that would limit me at such a conservative place like John Deere?
Corporate America - this unknown place to me. Almost like being in a foreign country! I mean don't get me wrong I've interacted with important business people and I felt comfortable being in a room full of strangers...but not for 3 MONTHS!
First day jitters! Is this business casual? Is my hair neat enough? Am I speaking "proper" english? Lol it's funny looking back on it, but I seriously assessed my whole being. You know the saying, "First impressions are lasting ones." I HAD to make a good first impression. Paperwork. Met My Supervisor. Blah Blah. Tour of Building. Meet the rest of the team. Shake hands (God I pray they wash their hands). Department Lunch. Awwwwkward! So 4 of us get into the car on our way to Bandit Burrito and the driver changes the radio station. Usher comes on. Thinking in my head "this is my JAM!!!" Of course right. So now everyone is probably expecting me to sing a long right? WRONG
Bandit Burrito. Okay..this is my chance for my personality to show. I have to get involved with the conversation. Can't be anti-social. Casual conversation...shouldn't be too hard right? WRONG!! My co-workers talk about house renovations, marriage, kids, car insurance. I don't know too many people who own house...I don't know too many people that are married...I could name a couple with kids lol...and who really has car insurance?! I didn't have any type of input on any of these topics...#fail!! This was going to be a loooooong summer!
By the end of the first day I HATED Corporate America! I even contemplated switching majors. I had to put so much thought into just going to work. I didn't even feel like it was worth it. I kept saying "I feel like I'm conforming" or "I feel like I have to be something/somebody that I'm not." I didn't want to stress about hair, clothes, my speech...it was overwhelming to say the least. Honestly, I wanted to quit!
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