Islamic Makeover

Who’s that gorgeous girl riding in a pink convertible with the long blond locks, blue eyes, and body measurements a model would die for? If you’re guessing, Barbie! Then your correct. Barbie has recently celebrated 50 years. To celebrate, Barbie has gotten a Muslim Makeover. Yes, you read correctly a Muslim Make Over. Barbie is in a burka and a hi-jab.  This doll among 500 other multi-cultural dolls was being auctioned off in Florence Italy to raise funds for Save the Children.

The original Barbie dolls were banned and confiscated in conservative parts of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has accused Barbie as being, “a symbol of decadence to the perverted West.”

The Burka Barbie has started major controversy. Many feel the doll is disgraceful seeing as how in some Muslim Countries women are forced to wear that attire, it’s a sign of oppression.

Others believe this doll is wonderful and brings awareness for girls to see all races and cultural backgrounds. Also its a doll young muslim girls can identify with.

I personally think the doll is great. It’s very much similar to the new Disney Princess Tiana, a princess blacks can identify with. Children are not well aware of politics, they only know how to be children and kids like to play. A doll represents so much. Being someone who played with iconic Barbies not too many years ago, I know a doll often reflects what one sees in him/herself. My neighbor and “Barbie buddy” was a latina her most used doll was Barbie’s Teresa the Latin doll with wavy brunette hair. My doll was African-American. A doll is precious and a child chooses a doll based on a beauty that she hopes to find in herself.

Honestly Barbie has always been controversial, and considered demeaning to women. Ultimately it’s up to the consumer whether or not the Burka Barbie will be bought.  

This is my last blog. Thank you to my friends for reading, and to my other friend whom I told to read my blog entries and never did, yeah you Heidi. I bet you read it now that your name is mentioned.

Peace, Love, and Happy Holidays

Renee Joi Simpson

Tiger or Cheetah

I’m guessing it wasn’t a very happy thanksgiving for the Woods Family. November 27, 2009 Eldrick Tont Woods (Tiger) ran his escalade into a hydrant and his neighbors tree. George Lopez joked on Lopez Tonight that “the black side of him picked out the rims on the escalade and asian side was driving.”His wife Elin Nordegren rescued Eldrick by breaking the windows of the car with a golf club and dragging Eldrick out of the vehicle. Just two days before the incident allegations came out that Eldrick was having an affair. Many believe the crash was a result of  Elin confronting her husband. And many believe the windows and his lip were busted before the crash. looks like Elidrick isn’t the only one in the family that can swing a club. ”Hell hath no fury like a women scorned”.

Days later several women have come forward claiming they had relationships with Tiger (Rachel Uchitel, Jaimee Grubbs, and Kalika Moquin) . Maybe Tiger should change his name to Cheetah or Dog Woods. Bow wow wow yippy yo yip ya. Lol, just had to add that.

I don’t understand why these celebrities are married and think they can cheat. Do the George Clooney thing , and date a chick for 12 months and  move on to the next. Women are kleenex to most men anyways. What you do in secret comes out to light. Maybe I should rephrase that; who you do in secret will expose all of your “transgressions” on national television unless you pay them off well. Eldrick is asking the media for “the right to some simple, human measure of privacy.” Sorry bud, but you gave up that right when you decided to become a pro-athlete.

Men cheat, but when you’re a celebrity it going to come out eventually. End your marriage or don’t enter one. Mainly for the sake of the children who in a few years will google their parents and lose much more respect for there father, than if he just divorced. Michael Jordan did it. But Woods is too late. His mistresses are getting more attention than Paris Hilton. Next we might see a new reality show titled, “Tigers other Women”.

The Woods are currently revising the pre-nuptial agreement. Lets face it, at the end of this, Tiger will be laughing all the way to the bank and if Elin had the guts to divorce his cheating “cablinasian” behind, so will she.

Smart Scandal

Brittney and Madonna did it, Katy Perry has sung about it, now Adam  has done the same on national television. Who is Adam Lambert you ask? He’s the American Idol runner-up who’s eyes are permanently rimmed in black liner. Lets see if I can name all the winners and runner-ups of American Idol. Kelly Clarkson and  Carrie Underwood were winners, oh and Clay Aiken lost to that big teddy bear, called Ruben and that gray haired dude won. Now you try? Yep I  thought so. Everyone knows the majority of American Idol contestants music careers is flushed down the drain. Lambert is getting more publicity than the winner of idol, who shall remain nameless at this time because  just don’t know his name. Ignore J.Lo’s combat performance and lack of better judgement ( Christian Louboutins + jumping off someones back = not good idea), and focus on Lambert’s kiss with his keyboard player during the American Music Awards (AMAs). Wow! That was me pretending to care for two seconds. This is the same guy who came out of the closet publicly in a Rolling Stones interview. He knows Rolling Stones would not give him the time of day based on his music alone. According to Lambert the kiss was spontaneous, it just happened. Spontaneity my a**. Lambert is attempting to land a spot on the celebrity A-list, and maybe Brokeback Mountain 2. Only four percent of the adult population are gay, but that number  will mostly likely triple with the upcoming  generation. My point, his onstage kiss is not a big deal. Move on people it’s almost 2010, PDA of homosexuals is alive and well and it’s not going anywhere soon. Adam Lambert’s performance has been mentioned in magazines, T.V shows (Lopez tonight, the View,etc), radio stations, now my blog. With the climate of society and how sensitive people  have become with homosexuality, Lambert saw an opportunity and ran with it. Adam you’re a smart kid, me and thousands of other people know your name now.

New Moon

Although the second instalment of the Twilight Saga: New Moon was a bestseller . The film was not a hit and this is coming from a major Twi-hard fan. That spark between characters Bella and Edward was no longer there as it was in Twilight, Key points of the book were left out, the digital effects could have been better, scenes were to choppy, the music score did not flow with the film. There was just so much wrong and i can’t mention it all but mainly the ending sucked.

I arrived at the Century City Mall at 8:30am to Catch the 9:15 showing. I’m extremely excited talking about the characters with the woman I came with, my dear ole mom. She faced me completely and said “I Don’t Care”. Way to throw salt on my parade, it wasn’t too late for her to catch the Blindside. I would’ve conversed with the middle-aged women sitting in the fourth row, but I was to busy staring at them conversing loudly about New Moon and how hot Rob (Edward Cullen) is . And I thought I loved it. I could not help but wonder, “Don’t these women have lives, I mean husbands they should be happy with and children who want to see the film”. With the exception of me there were maybe seven other people under the age of twenty-five. Everyone else averaged forty-seven. I thought the theater would turn into a cocktail party. The media typically shows teenage fanpires and the book is a teenage fictional romance. But I guess it really is a phenomenon if grandmothers, mothers, and daughters love the same thing.

The movie started, a yellow moon smacked right in the center of the screen  *kabam* fading from the right to reveal the title. Three minutes later Edward comes out of the bushes and stands next to Bella and I just don’t see or feel the love. That magnetic connection, that spark, that desire. I thought to myself, “ this is not going to get you down you waited too long to see this movie”. I realize as the movie continues Edward seems less like a Vampire and more like…like what’s the word, ‘Rob”. Robert Patterson seems like a great guy but come on, the millions of fans are in love with the character, not you! Get back into vampire mode!

Movies have to cut out a ton of information to make a film, but Dr. Cullen and Bella’s bonding moment was when he mentioned Edwards mom and the green eyes he had just like her. All of this was taken out. In addition Bella and Edward were suppose to watch Romeo and Juliet together not in a room of classmates, that part was actually a bit funny, but Edward was suppose to whisper the lines in her ear. I shiver just thinking about it.  Maybe a guy shouldn’t have directed this or maybe just not Chris Weitz. That romance Catherine Hardwicke  built up so well in Twilight was shattered. If Weitz actually read the book he would’ve known that was a golden opportunity to keep the passion alive not kill it.

The musical score was a drag, kind of like SMC’s cafeteria food. The music began and ended at awkward times. Also Anya Marina’s lovely song “Satellite Heart “shouldv’e been  pushed from the beginning to right after Edward departs Forks. It does not make sense to have a song about being far apart in a scene when Edward and Bella are sitting right next to each other. Common sense people!

Now about digital effects it wasn’t that bad. However, it was obvious it was a fake wolf. I mean come on, the Twilight saga franchise is huge, stop being cheap and build robotic wolves with synthetic fur or film real ones. 

Finally the ending was horrible they couldn’t find a better place to stop the movie. The last words spoken were “Marry me”. I can not continue to write about the ending because it makes me really up set.

Bella’s wolf man buddy Jacob Black was the highlight of the film. Taylor Lautner did a wonderful job getting into character physically but mostly emotionally. The audience saw that connection between them and might I add the audience (middle-aged woman) howled at his toplessness, which is disgusting. But this is California home of the fruits and nuts. Is ”toplessness” a word? Oh well I created it if it isn’t. Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is seventeen even I feel like a cougar thinking about  him possibly being hot, ew. Maybe when he grows some chest hair or hits the big 18. But the relationship Bella and Jacob built was beautiful and true to the book. He did not get his chance to smooch Bella but he will, in the next film.

New Moon did not deserve all the hype it got from the media. I will probably only see this film one more time (I saw Twilight in theater five times). The bad out weighed the good. The book was so great the director and producer couldn’t create the vision Stephanie Meyer wrote. And if an audience member did not read the book, they did not understand half of the film. I give the film 3.5 stars.

Commit a Crime Become Famous

Right before Martha Stewart was released from prison Joan Rivers stated “where do I go to commit a crime,” she was referring to the fifteen pounds Stewart lost along with a multi million dollar contract for a  new show, not because of her knitting and pastry decor. But because crime equals ratings.

Five months ago the coach for mens basketball team at the University of Southern California, Tim Floyd was investigated by the NCAA organization and was exposed for his recruiting methods. And by methods I do mean bribery. Floyd allegedly payed O.J. Mayo to play on the Trojans team for one season, which he did from 2006 to 2007 and was later drafted onto the Grizzlies NBA team. Floyd helped the Trojans win the Pac 10 tournament in 2008. Three of his players entered the draft, the one and done freshman Demar Derozan, Taj Gibson, and Daniel Hackett. But after being exposed Tim Floyd  resigned as coach and was replaced by Coach Kevin O’Neill.

After five months of keeping a low profile, Floyd makes headlines breaking up a cat-fight in Las Vegas. More importantly he has been given the coveted honor of being  assistant Coach for the New Orleans Hornets. Jeff Bower who just became the Hornets coach this past Thursday. This isn’t a step down but a step up from the NCAA. Floyd has Coached an NBA team before which was the Chicago Bulls. I find this extremely unacceptable it’s okay bribe and cheat if you have the right connections. If Floyd made a mistake and has a talent for coaching and is given an opportunity to redeem himself great! But he should have been on at least a year suspension from coaching any where.

He did a crime,spent some time in Vegas. Now he’s a NBA Coach

Also, to save face, USC hosted an open tryout for the men’s basketball team in September for any student with a desire to play.

In addition to the blog above I wanted to include another entry.

When is it okay to make a racist/stereotypical joke?

Thursday evening 45minutes before the Vampire Diaries aired on CW. I decided to stop making flashcards for Philos and watch some television flipping through the channels Comedy Central catches my eye because of the uproar of laughs from the audience. I usually avoid the channel because I think a lot of comedians are not FUNNY! I listen to Gabriel’s Iglesias segment for the rest of the hour, and stopped breathing twice I was laughing so hard because he was actually FUNNY! For example,

In order for a joke to not be offensive the

person delivering it must have the right intention. Not to offend but get laughs and entertain. In Iglesias joke he makes fun of blacks, but it’s not offensive because first he makes fun of himself by mentioning he did not want to buy a plane ticket for someone who wasn’t traveling with him. Second he tells the audience that his prank was a joke about stereotypical stuff blacks like (reassuring the audience that it’s only a joke). If you caught that part at the end about a “white girl”, he had already countered  that remark , by calling the black girl  a ”beautiful black woman”. Third instead of using the N-word he replaced it with ”mutha-f*ckers”. Finally he reverses the stereotypes on his own race. “If I had the maid bring you a pinata…and burritos…and a big ole’ blanket with a tequila sign on it.’ What would you say? Thank You.”

My point, although racist jokes are frowned upon, they can be funny with the right words and right intention.

Baby Boxed In

Five days were spent in Chipley, Fla searching for seven month old Shannon Dedick. She was not found in a dumpster, or in a stranger’s home but, in 2 foot by 3 foot cedar box, stashed deep under the babysitters bed. The Baby sitter was Susan Elizabeth Baker who has been in trouble with the law before.

When the officers found her, the baby was not crying. But had been in the box for twelve hours straight. After officers brought the baby to the hospital. Chief Haddok told reporters “…grown men were shedding tears…”. 

Both the mother of the child and the sitter were taken into custody.  The mother has had counseling for years.

This is a warning for parents to know who is caring for your children and if we see abuse, report it.

This is tragic.

Does Racism Still Exist? My Response…

http://camron46justiceforall.blogspot.com/2009/07/black-kids-kicked-out-of-philly-pool.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,567120,00.html?mep

Our Nation is wounded beyond a band-aid

Unable to rid the idea of a slave trade

The White House was built with the blood and sweat of people who are black

When the Obama’s moved in, How did the country react?

By calling the First Lady an “…escaped gorilla”

 Media says chocolate is only beautiful if merged with some vanilla

This is how a slave master made their selection

The honor of becoming a house-slave was given to a colored with the fairest complexion.

The word black is associated with nasty and mean

White is synonymous with pure and clean

Interracial couples are a dime a dozen and accepted in L.A.

This was not so much the case for Beth Humphrey and Terrance McKay.

A Louisiana  Justice of Peace denied a marriage license out of his concern

Of the result of the merge of her egg with his sperm

Black men are constantly under attack

Pulled over for the crime of driving while black

Stereotyped as trouble for the law

Only succesful if he can spit a verse or shoot a ball.

Black women are pressured with appearance and what they wear

You’d be amazed by money spent to get chemically straightened “white looking” hair.

We survived 400 years of enslavement with music, dance, and soul

Developing the sounds of  Jazz, Hip-hop, and Rock-n-roll

Black kids performing hip-hop is seen as overrated

Yet motion pictures change  the face of the moves that  ”blacks” created

Black kids were kicked out of a Philly pool for “Changing it’s Complexion”

This is a great way for black kids to be taught to despise their own reflection

Remember President Clinton revealed his best friend was a brother

I once heard that  Clinton was an “N” word lover.

Rarely reported racism happens everyday

Unless you are of color you will never know what it is like to be black in the U.S.A

I Forgive You

What do you think about Chris Brown now? I was asked this not long after the controversial photos of Robyn Fenty(Rihanna) were revealed. Lets get something straight, not every black teenage girl swoons over the tattooed, baggy pants wearing “Artists” , with those colorful sneakers that belong on a skittles commercial.

 ”taste the rainbow”

 Some of us are fully aware that the hits we hear on the radio are not written, composed or produced by the artist and their image is only an illusion. I think of Christopher Maurice Brown as this tall lanky kid that talks with a lisp from Tappahanncok, Virginia. Try saying that five times fast; “Tappahancok, Tappahanncok,  Tappanncok, Tappa…whatever”

 (I myself do not find guys near my age attractive, most have the mental capacity of a toddler). I am not God, and I do not have a right to judge him so I won’t. But sadly when your in the public eye people are constantly judging you. I believe Browns punishment was too harsh not the rulings of the court but the cold shoulder from the entertainment industry. His songs were taken off the radio, he was stopped from performing a Micheal Jackson Tribute at the BET Awards (of all current R&B  artist he does the best MJ impersonation). When stripping a person from all they’ve worked for, they go into a depression and God forbid commit suicide. If he did commit suicide every celebrity would plant there spray tanned botoxed faces in front of a camera expressing their grief and telling the world how they wished they reached out with a helping hand. The remorse doesn’t come until a person in six-feet under. Very few have reached out.

 

Honestly, if Brown had hit or beaten a non-celebrity he would still be a super star. How many times do we hear about Celebrities who are over thirty years old sleeping with underaged girls and abusing woman and we dismiss it, like it never happened. He witnessed domestic abuse in his home as a child, 19 years old is still childhood in my opinion. One in every four women (25%)are victims of domestic abuse. Celebs are people too,statistics apply to them as well they look great on the camera but we don’t see what occurs behind close doors  (unless you’re a personal assistant or nanny or house cleaner). Why was this boy so brutally attacked by the media? If every other celeb can go to therapy and be done with it, why can’t he?

Thursday afternoon I turned on a radio and one of Brown’s songs were playing. It’ about time! LMFAO and Lil’ Wayne are great, but if I hear their same songs played more than once in the same hour I’m going to scream. Brown is scheduled to start  another tour. He did a crime and is doing the crime. And I think it’s time to forgive him.

So…they want to know what I think of Christopher Maurice Brown ”I think he’s a talented young man.” End of Story

Now we get the truth

Does the name Elizabeth Smart ring a bell? Think back a few years. Of course it does because in 2003 everyone in America was familiar with her face, knew her name, and knew her story. I believe her kidnapping was the  most  nationally publicized kidnapping of the 21st century. On June 5, 2002 Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home by Brian David Mitchell she was held captive for nine months and reunited with her family on March 12, 2003. After her safe return the family continued to tell the press “She’s Fine”. As If! after all of that publicity we viewers wanted the juicy stuff, sad tales, nightmares, the hallucinations, something. But we did not get it. 

Seven years later Ms. Smart testified before a court with new surprising details. Apparently she was molested several times a day by that creep. He gave her drugs and alcohol as well. I’m sorry but there is no way a  young girl can be just “fine” after that. It’s one thing to be taken against your will and tied with cables to a tree. But losing her virginity to an old dirty psychopath…(speechless)

I must give it to them, they waited seven years to bring out the juicy stuff, after her lifetime movie and book were released and, when everyone is focused on Jaycee Dugard’s eighteen year abduction. I am surprised the media did not invade her privacy and reveal secret details on her therapy sessions or make up lies about her boyfriends. For some reason Smart was protected and not attacked by the media. After seven years the real news is released, when we forgot about..umm.. what’s her name? Smart. Elizabeth Smart.

We Need to know

As an SMC student and SM Local  it is extremely imperative that I am aware of the crime that take’s place in this community. Just Wednesday morning on my way to class and entire cop squad was leaving a house on 19th street off of Pico. I would post the address but I did not want to get caught starring at the house with a pen and writing pad in my hands . I doubt what happened in the house will make SMC Corsair headlines because the Oct, 23 stabbing that took place ON CAMPUS didn’t make headlines or at least I don’t think so. As an avid Santa Monica Daily reader I keep up with local criminal activity  and that is how I found out about the stabbing. 

It took place  on the SMC football field after Venice High defeated SAMOHI. The victim, was a 17-year-old Inglewood resident, the two young suspects ( 18 and 19 years of age) were taken into custody on Oct. 2 booked for attempted homicide.

These men were running around free for almost two weeks, which is plenty of time to get out of California or attack someone else. I’m sure faculty and staff were well aware of what happened. An e-mail, letter, even a verbal notice to students would have been nice. We are young we do stupid stuff everyday that puts us at risk of being harmed. Like not locking our doors when were sitting in a car or walking alone at night in secluded areas. We NEED warnings and reminders.

Santa Monica has a clean reputation, great surf, bike friendly…, blah blah blah. I LOVE this city. But a notice of criminal attacks would nice.

 

Oh yea, thumbs to  Pres. Obama and his Nobel Peace Prize