Odessa

I listen to all kinds of music, and I explore all kinds of music. I have recently come across a rapper named Lady Sovereign. Her fast staccato raps are well put together and many are funny as hell. She is so good, that Def Jam's Jay-Z (for you that don't know, a pretty big fish in the rapper world) wants to bring her into his house.

Here's her problem - she's white (sometimes dubbed the Fem-Emenem) and she is British. Much of her subject matter has to do with being British and poking fun of London. But just as much has to do with making fun of some of our pop-culture across "the pond". My self and some of my peers get her humor, but I am not the in best demographic for boosting rap record sales. The demographic she would be shooting for isn't interested in world politics. It is likely lucky if they can squeak by with a passing grade in social studies, world studies, whatever the education establishment wants to call it these days.

Unfortunately for very talented world artists, we are a myopic culture, us Americans. Much of the world gobbles up our culture. However, we completely ignore most of theirs. Even when an artists from around the world occasionally regurgitate some of our stuff (i.e. rap) back at us, with their own very worthwhile slant. And in this case, you can't even claim language as a barrier - the girl raps in English, with a British accent to our American ears, but English never the less.

I think collectively, we need to seriously get over ourselves.

The guy I am dating had his checking account cleaned out several months ago. It was evidently an off shore account that was quickly closed. "Sorry sir, nothing we can do about it". He accepted this line of bull until I urged him to challenge this, after presenting the scenario to MY credit union and hearing their answer.

After getting the run around for a bit, finally one manager agreed to look into it further asking "why didn't anyone investigate?" How the hell is HE supposed to know - It's YOUR bank! finally the conclusion, since it happened to long ago and so quickly, sorry bub.

OK, excuse me, IT IS A BANK! Its not going to the casino, its not playing the ponies, it's not under the mattress, ITS A BANK!!!!!!! Bank = safe. People's money is not supposed to be robbed from within the bank. And it is especially not supposed to be robbed without someone taking responsibility.

AND, ahem, what is that NCUA logo for anyway? Doesn't that mean it is insured? It was stolen on YOUR watch. You were obviously sleeping at the wheel. Doesn't off-shore activity for a local schmo warrant the tiniest little warning? I mean, for Christ's sake, this ain't the kind of guy that vacations in Bali!

I repeat - Sunmark, YOU SUCK!

AND - If you have an answer for why you treat your customers so poorly, please do respond. I would welcome an explanation.

Read. Discuss.

http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html

Imus is a jackass. He always has been a jackass. To make him even less relevant, he is a dried-up, has-been jackass who should consider retirement before he embarrasses himself even more. So he called the black members of a basketball team a few names. He thought he was funny. He wasn't. However, it is also hypocritical of the black community to nail him for something they embrace and find "cutting edge" if it were from a black entertainer. Al Sharptons and Jessie Jacksons of the world, call out some of the antics of black entertainers. For example, I find David Chappelle offensive. Grossly offensive. I'm not black. I can not profess to know exactly what it is like to be black. But ANY entertainer that picks out a race or culture and degrades it is offensive. I'm not talking about some good natured teasing - I make fun of my cultural heritage all the time. However, the nasty jabs I have seen black entertainers make at black culture are far, far worse then few very poorly chosen words by some has-been.

So, I don't want to hear anymore complaining from the black community until they at least criticize a few of their own for degrading the black community's image and making cheap pop-shots. Chappelle - skits about a black KKK member - not funny. Any number of male rappers calling women bitches and 'hos - not funny - these are your mothers, sisters and daughters. Female hip hop singers talking about being a good fuck as the only way to keep their man - not funny. The black people I know are hard working and conscientious - they deserve to be characterized better than how "pop-culture" characterizes them. As much as a group of young ladies on a college basketball team did not deserve to be called "nappy-headed 'hos".

Or at least that's what I would be saying if I were my co-worker.

Cubicles give a false sense of privacy . . . or perhaps some people just doesn't care. My co-worker sits over a half wall from a woman. Evidently he is privy to her obviously eventful dating and sex life. In his words: "She gives new meaning to the term open up and say ah." I have heard some of her banter, and although he may be embellishing a bit, he isn't to far off the mark. Furthermore, she would have no right to claim that he is eavesdropping - he wears headphones and anyone that can hear a conversation despite trying to drown it out is not eavesdropping. Besides, comments like: "Damn we were playing tonsil hockey and fogging up the windows for three hours", *giggle, giggle*, tend to draw attention to themselves. What makes it worse, is she feels the need to share with everyone of her friends, separately, and at her desk.

So if I were my co-worker, I'd be tempted to say: "Hey honey, I typically know the name of ladies I know as intimately as I know you, so care to introduce yourself?" or "Do they have condoms that fit over ears?"

So, sweet cheeks - I can call ya sweet cheeks since I know you so well, right? - Maybe you should go out to lunch with all your friends, together, say it once. Or move it to the ladies room or maybe the breakroom. Just a suggestion, 'cause frankly, its just a bit TMI.

A web-based "news" site asked me, as an "expert", for an interview. The site, www.VBS.TV - has something that appears to be an intro on the left hand side with no less than three fucks. I am not an uptight sort of individual, but when I see that liberal use of profanity on a self-proclaimed news-like site I immediately, wrong or right, think the site is not serious about how is portrays the news. After looking at a couple of the VBS.TV segments, they seem to have some good information to share, something worthwhile - but they seem to also have a bit of a image problem.

OK VBS.TV, here's the truth - It is hard enough for a web-based alternative news outlet to be taken seriously by the establishment. If that web-based news outlet comes across as crude, it is going to be near impossible for the establishment to take you seriously and no self-respecting "expert" is going to go near you (or be allowed to go near you) with a 10-foot pole. Even though I am a proponent of freedom of speech, I am afraid you will make mince-meat out of me if I let you interview me, if only because I can be considered part the establishment.

Three months ago, our office was busting at the seams. The two people I supervise and I got moved to another floor on the opposite end of the building to make room. Why were we chosen? Because we can be trusted to do our work and not need a lot of supervision. Aww, what a great reward! We get a bunch of extra exercise running back and forth and we get to figure out how to work the piece of shit printers near us. Plus, I lost my window seat, but who wants natural sunlight when the florescent lights give off such a nice harsh glow?

Now, I have to move. Why? The folks we are borrowing space from need my cubie for someone they are hiring and that person needs "privacy to do personnel stuff". So, you guessed it, the place they are moving me to has NO privacy. Has a four foot wall. They removed the two newer desks, and put in a was-going-to-be-surplussed desk. At least they left me a file cabinet (since the new cubie has NOTHING, and old cubie had cabinets). I get to sit next to an intern (typically interns get the crappy spots), but at least he is pretty cool. I get a crappier set up than most of the secretaries. At least I have a bookcase that I will be strategically placing for a semblance of privacy.

*bends over* Thank you Sir, may I have another. Harder this time, please.