For Many Anti-Semites, Ponzi-Schemer Validates Jewish Stereotype
I’ve written numerous articles over the last three years about hate groups in America. I focused on the fact that they're beginning to express their hatred of blacks, Jews and immigrants on a frequent basis. I also noted the level of violence and number of death threats by members was rapidly increasing. This was confirmed recently in a news report on Daily Kos that indicated President Barack Obama receives at least 30 death threats a day, which is in stark contrast to his predecessors.
In my interviews with Pastor Thomas Robb, National Director of the Knights Party, U.S.A., an offshoot of the Ku Klux Klan, and radio talk show host/white supremacist Hal Turner, who is now in federal custody for allegedly calling for the killing of three federal judges, both men were quick to imply that minorities, blacks in particular, were inferior in every way to whites. While appearing on the CNN network, Turner actually stated that the country needed to “return to the days of lynching niggers” in order to deter crime. While Robb and Turner showed the utmost contempt for blacks and immigrants, no one was despised more than the “filthy Jew-bastard”.
Aldof Hitler is undoubtedly the greatest symbol of anti-Semitism and hate in the world. His view that every Jew should be beaten, gassed, raped, skinned-alive and killed is shared by many of his contemporaries, such as the Aryan Nation, the Skinheads and the Neo-Nazis. Moreover, just as Hitler did, members of these extremist groups believe the Jews are responsible for the world’s economic problems; citing their unparalleled influence, power and representation in every area of society. Having said that, I believe the arrest and conviction of former Wall Street tycoon Bernie Madoff, as well as the recent arrest of several prominent rabbis by federal agents for alleged money-laundering in New Jersey, could fuel an even greater sense of distrust and intense hatred for the Jewish people among radical groups and those who have no real understanding of the Jewish culture.
Hitler came to power by being able to convince the German people, who were also in the midst of an economic crisis, that Jews were gluttonous pigs, the root of all evil and positioning themselves to dominate both the financial markets and the world. After Madoff's dramatic and earth-shattering fall from grace, the Pastor Robbs and Hal Turners of the world were quick to point out the similarities between what was going in Germany during Hitler’s rise and the current economic crisis in the United States. For many within these fringe groups, the arrests of Madoff and the New Jersey rabbis confirmed not only everything they believed or were taught about Jews, but that the Jew's need for access and excess is the major cause of the country's economic turmoil. If you find this hard to believe, just visit “Stormfront”, the Aryan Nation or the Knights Party, U.S.A. website. What they're saying about all this will shock the hell out of you.
I've been saying for years that people must take these groups more seriously. The only time the national media or we take them seriously is when a white supremacist guns down three Pittsburgh police officers or a security guard at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. More people will lose cars, homes, jobs and damn near everything before the economy gets better. The President of the United States has said this repeatedly. But what will also happen is anger, hatred and violence will escalate among those with a deep-seated hatred for Jews, especially Jews at the head of industry. Do you have any idea what you've done, Bernie? I wonder if you even care about the wrath you've brought upon the country, particularly those of the Jewish faith. Someone once said “Jewish blood isn't cheap.” Well, Bernie, your inexcusable actions have galvanized dangerous groups that have the potential to gun down one “Jew-bastard” after another.... and line the streets with Jewish blood. When you consider your heritage, the holocaust and the fact that there are people who want Jews boiled in oil to this day, how could you be so goddamn stupid, Bernie?
I'm sure you’ve never heard of me, but that’s okay. I’m best known for news reporting and issuing literary ass-kickings to those who deserve them. However, fear not. This latest installment of “From The G-Man” will not be targeting the woman I've longed considered to be “the voice” of the music industry for the last 20 years. The sole purpose of this article is to show my unwavering support for you and your valiant effort to reclaim your rightful place among music's elite.
Much has been said about you and your alleged battle with drug addiction. “Mad TV” and some of the greatest comedians in the world have made you the butt of jokes. The G-Man never thought the jokes were funny and often wondered if these dicks would have the nerve to humiliate their drug-addicted grandparents, mothers, fathers, sisters or brothers in a public forum. I seriously doubt it. Tabloids like the Enquirer, the Globe and the Star, which would be better suited for ass wiping, had a field day plastering photos of you that, shall we say, showed you tore up from the floor up. It wasn’t the Whitney Houston we grew accustomed to, and it shocked the hell out of us.
Now, as you fight to regain respect and recognition among your peers and fans, the demons and doubters will be lying in wait. They’ll be foaming at the mouth and waiting to attack you like the rabid, nasty and vicious hell dwellers that they are. You know who they are, and they will not stop once they suspect you have failed in your bid. I may get into trouble for what I’m about to say, but that’s the norm for me. I’m going to put it out there anyway. There are people out there predicting that you will become the next Billie Holiday or Janis Joplin! It’s sad to say that, but based on the numerous public and twisted conversations I’ve heard, it’s the truth!
There is a great deal riding on the release of your new CD, and the demons and doubters know it. They’re laughing as the clock ticks down to the release date. If you ever were under the influence of controlled substances, you may have heard their ghoulish wails radiating from the depths of hell many times before, Miss Houston. “We own your soul, bitch! You have nothing! You are a slave to us! Kneel and proclaim us your true master!” Well, The G-Man worries that if CD sales are not brisk or off the charts, disappointment and the fear of failure may seize control of your, heart, mind, body and soul.
The minute “I Look To You” shows signs of slumping on the charts, demons and doubters will say you don’t have it anymore. The demons and doubters will say you’re a crackhead. The demons and doubters will say you aren’t worth a bucket of piss as an artist. The demons and doubters will say your marriage was a major reason for your downfall. Please, pay them no mind! Just take a deep breath, look deeply into Bobbi Christina's eyes and hold her tightly. The G-Man will be rooting for you the entire time. I’m sure millions of other fans will be, too.
No matter what the sales numbers reflect, I beg of you, do not let the demons and doubters have the victory. Fight not just for yourself, but also for your daughter's sake. That's all that matters. Everything else is bullshit. You’ve taken a monumental step toward solidifying your diva status in an industry that has chosen to pit you against a perennially, half-naked songbird - yes, I'm calling you out Mariah Carey - and twat-twisting, teenage singers that make Ashley Simpson look like Barbara Streisand.
We need you to remind the masses what real, God-given, musical talent really is. Bring the diva back to us. Stay strong in the face of potential ridicule and prove all the evil bastards wrong. If you can manage to do these things, The G-Man guarantees…. we'll look to you. By the way, if you need a date for the Grammys this year, I'm available.
Homeless Journalist Rips Bloomberg Over Abuse, Drugs & Rape in NYC Shelters
This article will shock and perhaps anger you. I truly hope that it does. I hope people will be so angry that they’ll finally wake up and realize that Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in his attempt to display New York City as “Emerald City”, is not only supporting the idea of one-way tickets for the homeless to get rid of them, he is blatantly ignoring dangerous situations and extremely unhealthy conditions within the city's shelter system. This is not hyperbole. This is a fact based on my decent into homelessness!
When explaining the Beatles classic song 'Helter Skelter', Sir Paul McCartney said he was using the symbol of a helter skelter to restructure the rock and roll sound. “It could be described as a ride from the top to the bottom—the rise and fall of the Roman Empire," said McCartney. Well, my fall began back in March of 2009. I was working a Staff Writer for “Felony Magazine” and as an account manager for a Brooklyn-based marketing and sales company called “Max Advance”. One day, completely out of the blue, both companies shut down without any warning, and I was left absolutely destitute. I didn’t even have time to look for another job before the axes fell. I couldn’t even file for unemployment because I hadn’t worked for either company long enough.
I scrambled to pick up gigs in and outside of journalism just to keep a roof over my head and food on the table, but the economic climate prevented that from ever happening. My family lives in different parts of the country and is having a tough time, too. Thus, living with them, even temporarily, was not an option. Dejected and embarrassed, I was forced onto the streets June 10 with no job prospects, no money and no hope.
I spent most nights walking from one end of uptown Manhattan to the other or riding the “A” or “E” train back and forth. Staying in one location for too long when you’re on the streets is dangerous, so I had to keep moving. I heard stories in the past about the city shelters, so I was a little reluctant to seek them out for assistance. Thus, I attempted to spend a few nights huddled in little, dark corners of buildings, particularly around 34th Street and Penn Station. This is where the hell ride began.... and where I saw the worst in humanity.
In one example, a Port Authority (P.A.) police officer, who was of Asian decent, was cursing and threatening a frail, black woman who was clearly mentally ill and no more than 100 pounds soaking wet. “Get the fuck out of here before I put my foot in your ass”, said the officer, as the woman paced back and forth mumbling incoherently. The woman offered no resistance and continued to mumble as she made her way toward an exit. The officer, apparently not satisfied that she was moving fast enough, began to literally stalk her. The most alarming aspect was the fact that he put on his gloves and punched his palms as he followed her into a secluded section on the station. I have no idea what happened after that.
Another incident involved officers standing over sleeping vagrants and kicking them to wake them up. Some were grabbed, shoved and pushed into walls and told to exit the station. I would repeatedly pass groups of P.A. officers, who probably pegged me for homeless because of my knapsack and travel bags, and they’d glare at me as though I was a piece of shit. No “How are you, sir?” or anything in the way of a cordial response. One of them asked, “What are you looking at, asshole? Keep moving!” I just laughed and walked away. Now, I understand the Port Authority police have a job to do, but I couldn’t understand why people lacking their full mental capacity, or those like myself who were simply minding their own business, were treated so harshly or as though they were less than human.
After several days, I finally decided to go to a shelter because fatigue and hunger began to take a serious toll. I wearily made my way to 41st Street and Ninth Avenue. The facility was called “The Open Door”, and the line of disheveled and displaced people, which consisted of military veterans, very young mothers and people recently released from prison or drug rehabilitation programs, seemed infinite. I was informed that all were waiting to be served dinner and that everyone would have to come back outside to line up and get a bed for the night. There was no guarantee you'd get a bed. The only guarantee was that the “bed line” would be three to four-times longer than the dinner line. That's what most of the veterans told me.
I sat on the ground watching young mothers nurse their children. Old men were nodding off as if in a drug-induced state, while others sold “loosie” cigarettes for fifty cents each. Tattooed gang-bangers brazenly stood in line making drug sales with police cars in close proximity. Watching them sell a myriad of drugs was one thing, but when the dealers and customers started “weeding up” in front of young children, that was more than I could take. I covered my nose, and one of the gang members took offense. “What? You got a problem, bitch? You got a fuckin' problem,” he yelled. “Yeah, I do. You need to smoke that somewhere away from these kids,” I proclaimed.” His homeboy walked over and said “My bad, son!” and they walked away.
There was no security to be found. I asked a man seated next to me about it, who happened to be wearing a U.S. Navy veteran cap, and he indicated there was never any security in front of the building. “They’re always inside. If you want to know the truth about it, they don’t and can’t protect anybody here,” he said. “You see that pregnant woman over there? Someone in the shelter raped her. That kind of thing happens all the time in these damn places. I’ve seen it, and it sickens me. All these young girls getting pregnant because they get raped,” the veteran continued. A 38-year-old woman seated a few feet away from us, who only wanted to be identified as “Cheena”, exhaled cigarette smoke and nodded in disgust and agreement.
“You got some crazy-ass, out of control people here, man. You got convicted murderers, gang members, mental patients, rapists and pedophiles mixed with members of the general population. That is a recipe for disaster,” said the man I dubbed “Old Navy”. “The shelters are the worst place for children because of what they see and what can happen to them. This is why people don’t want to go and would rather take their chances on the streets or subways,” he continued. It was at this point that the gang member returned and began to stare at me. Old Navy whispered in my ear. “Be careful, young man. Someone cut him in the food line two weeks ago, and he picked up one of those metal trashcans and hit the person in the head. Busted him wide open! The man needed 40 stitches to close the wound. I’m telling you, man. The shelters are a dangerous place. People have no idea.” The gang member walked over and deliberately brushed up against me. With 34 years of experience in Chinese martial arts, I confidently stated, “You touch me again and you’re going to the morgue.” He pulled out his cell phone and someone in line said, “Oh shit! It’s on now!” It was then that I realized horrid, tasteless, processed food the size of a “Lean Cuisine” meal wasn’t worth risking my life for, let alone a bed. I left The Open Door and never returned.
I spent several more nights on the trains before I ended up at the 30th Street Men's Shelter on 29th Street and First Avenue. Not surprisingly, the facility once served as Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital. Everything from the registration process to the administrators was in total disarray, and people would often spend 10 to 12 hours, usually crammed into a small room filled with the stench of bad hygiene and urine, just waiting to be processed or to receive what's known as an “overnight bed”. This is where I met “Eric”, a 21-year-old Caucasian and exceptionally gifted sketch artist from upstate New York struggling with substance abuse. “I came from a good family, man. My parents are wealthy as hell and gave me a lot of love. How I ended up on drugs and in a shit-hole like this is beyond me,” he said. In effort to clean himself up, he was making plans to regularly attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.
“Joey”, 43, was an Italian construction worker and respected leader within one of the largest unions in the state. His manner of speaking made him seem as though he was straight out of “The Sopranos”. His wife, whom he always referred to as “the cunt”, had him arrested and banished him from their home after he drank a bottle of vodka and tried to attack her lover, a 23-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, with a machete. “That fuckin' cunt! She and that motherfucker are eating food I bought and having sex in my bed.... in a house that I'm still paying the fuckin' mortgage on. The cunt won't even let me talk to my 16-year-old daughter! It's fuckin' Father's Day, for Christ's sake,” he yelled. He, too, was making plans to go into rehab because he wanted to be able to spend quality time with his daughter and acquire work on a frequent basis.
“Black”, 28, was an electrician transplanted from the island of Jamaica. He was doing amateur porn films on the side to earn extra money after work dried up in his field. “I've made enough money to pay my way into the electrician's union. I did about five films, at $500 to $600 a pop, with some of the hottest female stars in the biz. I didn't fuck those bitches raw, though. I love to fuck, but I'm not stupid,” he said. “I'll be called for electrician's gigs in the coming weeks and I'll leave the porn biz. I just did it to make money to get into the union. Now, I'm out!” Several men inquired as to how they could take advantage of the offer, and Black provided them with an address and contact name for immediate work.
“Jim”, 51, was a former broker who lost everything in the Wall Street meltdown of AIG, Merrill Lynch and Bear-Sterns. Clinging tightly to his bags, he nervously looked around the room repeatedly, which was filled with black and Latino men. Someone broke into his locker during an overnight stay and stole his wallet. His clean-cut, Khaki pant, Bob Costas appearance completely jolted me because he didn't fit the description of those typically associated with homelessness. Then again, neither did I. The director of security indicated that they would do all they could to locate his property. Jim, apparently frustrated beyond words, wheeled his three suitcases through the front entrance and disappeared, while the director and members of his security team repeatedly joked about the situation and made fun of him.
“T-Rex”, 25, was a former member of the “The Bloods”. You could say he was born into it, since his father was a high-profile member and his mother swore allegiance to “The Latin Kings”. He was desperately trying to turn his life around by enrolling in the Doe Fund Inc's “Ready, Willing and Able” training and employment program. The shelter caseworkers provided referrals for the program, if they felt like it. T-Rex left the gang after fathering an infant daughter. He is expecting his second child soon. Thus, he plans to reunite with the mother of his children and provide a loving, safe and stable environment for his family.
I ultimately formed a unique bond with some of the men at the shelter, and it was from them, as well as frustrated and tenured shelter administrators, that I discovered many of the New York City shelters were just as appalling as the 30th Street Men's Shelter: from the moldy, feces-smeared shower curtains and slimy, bacteria-filled shower floors....to the callous, rude and judgmental security personnel. To be honest, the security guards were in no position to judge anyone; not when they were openly using the word nigger and having sex with fellow guards and shelter residents! I literally saw male guards touching the breast, ass and vagina of the female guards. Now, let me stress that some of the guards understood that they were only one paycheck away from being in our position and had sympathy for us, but most of the wannabe cops acted like they were superior in every way to each homeless person they encountered, including me. I suspect they'll regret how they treated me and the others after this article goes public. Fuck'em!
Through it all, I constantly battled to keep my sanity. The countless restrictions that were enforced, such as not being able to use electrical outlets or appliances – even small radios or televisions - and 10 pm curfew created a prison-like atmosphere. Hardened criminals, murderers, gang-bangers and the mentally unstable were quick to confront you if you so much as looked at them the wrong way. This combustible cocktail was bad enough, but what made the situation worse was when the inner demons began ripping and devouring pieces of my self-esteem and faith in God. They often appeared at night to torment me. “You’re a sorry, worthless bastard! So what if you’ve helped hundreds of people with your news stories and features! So what if you've received commendations for journalism and community service from some of the most prominent government officials in the country! Look at you now! You’re a fuckin’ loser! Some of your closest friends have abandoned you because they’re embarrassed and ashamed of you. No woman will have your homeless, pathetic, broke ass!” These are some of the things the demons would say, but what kept me focused was the fact that I was going to have a major story to tell that thousands, if not millions, would want to hear once I left Bellevue, or, as I affectionately referred to it, “Hellview”. As I post this article, I pray that will still be the case.
After much procrastination and resistance, I filed for public assistance. They indicated they could find me decent housing through the New York City Housing Authority, but it wasn't guaranteed. There's an exceedingly long waiting list and single, “undomicled” men are not considered priority. I doubt they'll be in a hurry to find me anything after this article hits the Internet. I'll take my chances. I hated filing because I prefer to work, and I pray that I will be given an opportunity to expand my career in the field of journalism or scriptwriting. I don't want to be on public assistance or get caught up in its hellish system. I've been gainfully employed most of my adult life and feel as though I've taking a major step back for a man in his late 40’s. One of the employees at the Jamaica (Queens) Social Services office put everything in perspective for me after discovering I was a journalist and writer.
“This is only temporary, young man. I think God wants you to go through this. Who better to write about all this than a journalist? You’ve gone through the shelter and welfare system and have a mountain of evidence to prove it. The public needs to know these things are happening, and it's happening at facilities that provide these services nationwide. In New York, the Department of Social Services has reached a crisis point and we, as employees, have our hands tied,” she said. “We want to do so much more to help these people, but the system won't allow us to. Abuse is running rampant throughout the shelter system. I hear horror stories every single day. People are not safe! Bloomberg acts like everything is okay, but the fact is he and his people need to step up, stop doing so much for the wealthy and help those in need. Buying homeless people one-way tickets is not the answer,” she strongly proclaimed. “I don't expect him to fix everything in the shelter system, but I expect him to find ways to improve the system so people and families can feel safe and seek them out when they have no place else to go. Just imagine how many young, single mothers with babies are on the street right now because they fear the shelters! God willing, your story will force the mayor to open his damn eyes, set things in motion and implement some serious changes.”
I'm entering my seventh week of this ordeal, and I have no idea what fate awaits me in the coming days, weeks and months. I'm no longer at Hellview, but I'm still in a New York City shelter. The restrictions, as well as the asinine programs you're required to attend in order to qualify and maintain benefits through the Department of Social Services, are greatly affecting my ability to write and meet with people that could help me and my career. All I know is that I'm fighting a lonely battle to regain employment in or outside the profession I love, a place to call my own and a sense of peace. With that said, I would like to direct my closing statement to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the members of his callous, oblivious and well-heeled administration.
Mr. Mayor, in many respects, you have been good for New York City. You now seek a third term, and while you have managed to gain quite a following in the city and abroad, now is the time to step up your ass up and prove that you are a mayor for all people and not just the wealthy. You cannot claim to be doing great things for the city of New York and all New Yorkers when people – particularly mothers with infant children – are forced to live among crack or heroin addicts....or raped and impregnated in your shelters. Cut the bullshit! You're a tough man, Mr. Mayor, but I seriously doubt you would be able to tolerate the streets, a city shelter or the E train for several nights. In fact, I'm issuing a public challenge for you to try living in a city shelter for three days, without any special treatment or assistance from your staffers, in order to have a complete understanding of what desperation and homelessness are all about. Do you have the billion-dollar balls to do it? It's hell, and it's no damn joke, Mr. Mayor. Take it from someone who has become the latest addition to the homeless population in “Bloom-Town”.
Evangelist Lynette Jennings, 56, has used her powerful voice to preach the word of God for many years at Mount Olive Word of Life Church, and she has developed a loving and loyal following in the process. Raised in Daytona, Florida, she spent a great deal of time daydreaming about the nursing profession. “As a child, I always wanted to become a nurse,” said Jennings. “Helping people to feel better is what I've always wanted to do, and I eventually focused all my time and effort on pursuing a career in the nursing field.”
Jennings enrolled in Portsmouth Nursing Technical School in Virginia, where she has resided since the age of 15. Several years later, she married and gave birth to four children; three sons and a daughter. After the birth of her youngest son, and while Jennings was still attending nursing school, the company her husband worked for shut down. He opted to become a merchant seaman and was transferred out of the state for six months. “I ended up having to raise my family on my own. I had no one to help me, and I was forced to take all types of odd jobs just to pay bills and feed my family,” stated Jennings. “After I helped my children with their homework, I had to do mine. It was an extremely difficult time, but I had to make sure my children were taken care of. Keeping my home in order, while pursuing my dream, involved a tremendous amount of work. Still, I was able to prevail because of my faith in God and my family.”
Despite her hardships, the proud mother and devout Christian forged ahead and received numerous awards and acknowledgments for her work in nursing and the church. Her accomplishments in the area of religion offered her the opportunity to work with the renowned Bishop Alfred Owens and his wife, Susie, among others. “It was a happy time in my life. Things were going well, and my home and children were intact. Then, I started experiencing health problems in 1995. I had severe stomach pains and would pass out at a moment's notice,” stated Jennings. “After a series of tests, doctors told me I needed a Small Bowel transplant. I'm still waiting for a donor. If I'm not able to have it, I will die.”
When describing how the illness dramatically changed her lifestyle, Jennings did not mince words. “It was extremely difficult for me to eat or socialize, and I suffered through many sleepless nights because I was constantly in pain. The worst part of it all was the fact that I was not able to take care of my children because I was taking so many medications. The side-effects made the situation even worse.”
Now that her health is rapidly declining, Jennings hopes that people in and outside of the Christian community will offer prayers and emotional support for her and her children. “My children still have a hard time dealing with my illness. They have suffered emotional withdrawal, and it hurts me so much to see them in pain,” she tearfully exclaimed. “Every time I go into the hospital, they don't know if it'll be the last time they'll see their mother. It hurts me so. I love my children so much. I want to be there for them, so I ask that people pray for me and for a miracle. The situation is dire, but if this experience has taught me anything, it’s that I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be because I chose to live, love God…and forgive.
A fund has been set up by family and friends of Evangelist Jennings, through the National Transplant Assistance Fund & Catastrophic Injury Program, to help pay for uninsured medical expenses. For more information on how you can contribute, please visit the following link:
How Newsman's Integrity & "You Are There" Quelled a Black Boy's Rage
When I first learned of Mr. Cronkite's illness a few weeks ago, I was deeply saddened. I prayed for his full recovery, but I guess God needed him in heaven to work closely with Edward R.. Murrow, Tim Russert and Peter Jennings on an uncorrupted version of “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. No one would be able to piece the story together better than a man that came to be known as “the most trusted man in America”.
I consider Mr. Cronkite my journalism mentor because of a 1970's Saturday morning program I watched called “You Are There”, which premiered on CBS. It was a series that brilliantly reenacted some of the most pivotal moments in American history, and it would behoove “the suits” over at CBS to revive the show for today's youth. He served as both host and tour guide for what became a mega-hit for the network. In my honest opinion, the show was a smash because Cronkite was at the helm. It probably would've sucked if they tried to do it with anyone else. The suits weren't stupid. They knew Mr. Cronkite wasn't just, as former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw described, “The Gold Standard” for news, he was a symbol of excellence and integrity in and out of the newsroom.
I also considered Mr. Cronkite my father. I know that may sound strange coming from someone of African-American decent, but when you contemplate the fact that a father is someone that encourages, enhances and enlightens you, which Mr. Cronkite had done for generations, he more than fit the description. Now, initially, I dreaded Saturday mornings. I did so because it was during those times I would often hear my mother being emotionally, mentally and physically abused by my father. At the tender age of 8-years-old, there was little I could do to stop the madness. All I could do was go into my mother's room and hug her after the assaults.
Whenever I watched You Are There, Mr. Cronkite's authoritative voice and presence helped me deal with the intense rage building within me. He was a much-needed distraction from all the turmoil, and he helped me learn fascinating aspects of American history and culture every week. Looking back, I now realize that I eagerly awaited my father's weekly arrival because he was confirmation that great men did exist and that they were capable of sharing themselves with those thirsting for not just knowledge, but love on some level. I connected with Mr. Cronkite, as did millions of viewers over the years, and the connection was immediate, long-term and life changing.
My father and mentor is gone, and the Mr. Cronkite's of today are virtually non-existent because we live in the age of “jackass journalism” and tabloid news. News outlets and their directors have been exposed as complete assholes after publishing bogus information posted by aspiring journalists or impostors on Wikipedia and other “source” websites. To make matters worse, members of the jackass journalism brigade, like conservative kiss-ass Armstrong Williams, continue to trade journalistic integrity for money, recognition and annual White House correspondent dinner invitations.
Unlike the days of Mr. Cronkite, integrity in news reporting today has taken a back seat to advertisers, control by major corporate entities and the quest for high ratings. The news icon often shared this fact with young journalism students. He informed them that integrity matters. He informed them that the story matters. In the process, he was attacked by some of today's most noted conservatives, but the fact is none of them will ever be fit to carry Mr. Cronkite's classic typewriter, let alone question anything he may have said. It's no secret that many of the arrogant and prissy “new jacks” in media viewed Mr. Cronkite as an old-school liberal or a dinosaur. Well, I'll say this to all those disrespectful morons. I would rather walk with a T-Rex instead of a jackass any day of the week!
Finally, I expect the liberal attacks against Mr. Cronkite to start once he's been laid to rest. I'm serving notice. If they do, “The G-Man” will be taking aim at everyone involved and using this blog to kick ass and take names. As a matter of fact, I'm throwing the first punch to let you know what you can expect if you attack my “father”.
You no-good, Brooks Brother suit-wearing, Colgate-smiling, corporate-controlled, 15-cans of hair spray-doused, weasel anchors of today are nothing more than whores that cannot be trusted to give the correct time of day, and public opinion polls have proved me right for the last 10 years. The greedy network owners and station managers aren't much better, and they'd probably steal the quarters off a dead man's eyes....and kick him if the quarters are rusted!
The days of Mr. Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow are gone. This is why there is such an outpouring of love in the wake of Mr. Cronkite's death. The country realizes that we've lost someone who was probably the greatest, most honest and compassionate journalist that ever lived. His finest moment was when he broke down on the air after President John F. Kennedy was killed. America needed to see that, and it is exactly what is missing from the current state of journalism: realism. Given who and what we're left with to represent mainstream news and media, which amounts to a bunch of whores and soulless drones, including Rupert Murdock and his ilk, Mr. Cronkite will be greatly and sincerely missed.
What do South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (pictured left), former Senator John Ensign, Reverend Jimmy Swaggert, Kobe Bryant, A-Rod, Jude Law, Governor Elliot Spitzer and former President Bill Clinton all have in common? If you said they all fell victim to “the curse”, you’re absolutely correct. The curse dates back to the biblical period, when Eve told Adam, “C’mon baby. How much harm can one, teeny-weeny, little bite do?” The moral floodgates have pretty much opened up ever since then, and men continue to fuck themselves up to this very day in their quest to obtain “the three pees”: power, prestige and pussy.
Celebrated men like Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant have been able to salvage their careers and offset the curse by doing things like buying “Wifey” a ridiculously expensive ring and humbling themselves in front of the national and international media. These are the guys who, for whatever reason, have refused to let the curse take complete hold of them. They allowed themselves to be subjected to the trappings often associated with success, but they also acted quickly to correct the situation and seek redemption. Others, like Baker, Swaggert, Spitzer and Clinton, had their legacies destroyed and were severely rebuked by the masses because of their incessant desire for the three pees.
Spitzer and Clinton, and others of their ilk, seemed to believe obtaining the first two pees automatically entitled you to the third; which is what ultimately led to their downfall. Their egos went into overdrive and they began to function on primal urges, as opposed to their moral compass. Ladies, here’s the bad news. In some cases, men only need obtain a smidgen of success in order to become a statistic. You want proof? Just ask yourself these two questions. How many women do you know, yourself included, whose husbands or long-term boyfriends “changed” after receiving a job promotion, notoriety or some type of award? How many of them ended up, or are now in the process of, filing for divorce or leaving their boyfriend because their significant other fell victim to the curse and cheated? If any of you can name at least two women, I’ve proved my point.
Now, some women may respond to this piece by saying, “All men cheat! It doesn’t matter if he has power or prestige. If he has a chance to nail someone, he will. All men are dogs!” The G-Man would counter by asking one simple question. If all men are dogs, what does that make the women who choose to lie down with them, especially if they know the man is involved in some type of relationship? The argument could indeed be made that cheating is part of the male condition, but that isn’t the focus of this article. The point I’m making is that when men achieve a level of success that presents extreme wealth, recognition and an assortment of gorgeous women, they are likely to fall victim. The only thing that will save them is having the foresight and moral center to understand what is actually happening. If they’re somehow able to uphold these attributes, it becomes much easier to understand why the wives and girlfriends of disgraced men are often present during those humiliating press conferences.
New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez was also "cursed". His wife Cynthia stated that he kept company with many women during the course of their marriage, which ended in divorce. Music icon Madonna was one of the women the slugger kept very late hours with. Rodriguez gave a whole new meaning to the name "A-Rod".
I can hear all the men out there throwing beer cans, shot glasses and blow-up dolls at their computer and yelling, “What the hell is The G-Man doing? He’s breaking the ‘Man Law’ codes and selling us out!” If guys are mad, then they’re probably in a relationship and doing something they shouldn’t be doing. So don’t shoot the messenger. If they’re pissed now, they’ll probably go into convulsions over the next little ditty I’m about to drop on you lovely ladies out there. Some men totally operate in reverse regarding the curse. The fact that they’re able to fuck a multitude of women, at any given time, gives them an enormous sense of power and prestige. This applies to both married and single men, and if anyone wants to challenge me on this I’ll refer them to the latest divorce stats, which cites cheating by a spouse, usually the male, as the number one reason for the dramatic increase in over the last 10 years.
The power, in this regard, comes from devising and successfully executing a plan to get the panties, which ultimately boils down to the manipulation, domination and conquest of the female species. Prestige is acquired as a result of where the woman ranks in the social order. In other words, the conquest is likely to have far greater sexual impact and meaning if he has an opportunity to spend the night with a celebrity, a stripper or a “Victoria’s Secret” model/salesperson, as opposed to an average housewife with three kids or a local librarian. Sorry, no disrespect intended to housewives or librarians. So, sometimes the curse works in the reverse. However, any way you look at it, the three pees will always have the capacity to destroy men regardless of their place in society.
AmericanVice.com & ViceList.com Drawing Millions with Unique Style
Ezra Miller and his partner, Reg Berkeley, are the forces behind AmericanVice.com and ViceList.com,two unique adult websites that are literally transforming and shaking up the porn industry. People are logging on to ViceList.combecause of its vast catalogue of films and an impressive roster of talented writers that are willing to tackle anything from politics to sports. In addition to being a partner in the business, Miller contributes brutally honest, insightful, funny and sometimes-acerbic critiques of the more than 2,000 porn films he’s watched, and the reviews have earned him a global following. Both sites were launched in 2006 and continue to expand at a rapid pace.
According to Berkeley, “What we offer is a constant weaving of intellectual thoughts, pop culture references and sex . . .all within one cogent paragraph. Our writing is of the highest quality, with a bent towards crass, vulgar humor like Kevin Smith, Dennis Miller, Bill Maher, National Lampoon, etc.” People are definitely interested in what Miller and Berkeley are offering, as IAFD(the adult equivalent of IMDB which tracks numbers of reviews) has listedViceList.com as #5.
Miller allowed me to conduct an exclusive interview and ask some tough questions about the websites, the dark side of porn and the duo’s mission to revolutionize the industry.
G-Man: What is your professional background and how did it lead to this endeavor?
Miller: I graduated from Cornell University with a BA in English and a Creative Writing concentration. Obviously, a degree like that usually lends itself useful to two things: A lifetime of academia or the starving artist waiting for his big break, ala J.K. Rowling. Thankfully, I was never forced to live out of my car, though I came close. I bounced around between several jobs after college, everything from selling office furniture to the military to parking cars and waiting tables. None of those positions provided me with any sort of satisfaction, so I packed up my life and headed west to seek my fortune. That’s where I hooked up with Reg Berkeley.
G-Man: What makes your website(s) so different from the thousands of porn sites showcased on the Internet?
Miller: We care. I know that sounds like a ridiculous notion, given the nature of our business, but we sincerely believe that quality is important even in the realm of Internet pornography. Reg spends countless hours agonizing over the tiniest details of the sites in order to make them better, faster, stronger for our customers. In terms of my role, I give our patrons an honest perspective on the content we offer.
G-Man: The economy has even forced online businesses to shut down, but your website recently catapulted to the number five site in the world! How would you explain this amazing accomplishment, given the state of the economy?
Miller: Persistence. The number of people who will either pay for porn or who have the inclination to read our reviews is extremely overblown. The media bandies about figures like $12 billion in annual revenue. The reality is that an actual porn consumer is more akin to a Star Trek devotee. The challenge for us has been finding our niche audience.
G-Man: You’ve watched more than 2,000 porn films. When critiquing them, what are some of the things you look for?
Miller: It depends on the genre. There are basically three or four different types of adult movies out there: feature, gonzo, reality and fetish. I strive to put myself in the shoes of the person who would want to watch a particular kind of porno and write about the things they’re looking for. So when it comes to a feature, I’m hammering on the points of storyline, acting, pace of the movie, etc. Gonzo, I’m talking more about energy, gratuitous close-ups and quality lighting. Reality and fetish are a little tougher because they tend to be so unique. But there is one all-encompassing and paramount quality in my mind and that’s chemistry. It can make or break a scene before the clothes come off.
G-Man: How do you keep the subject matter “fresh” when you’re writing porn reviews?
Miller: It’s really hard and a cross I bear constantly. You reach a certain point where you’ve seen so many similar scenes over and over again that coming up with new things to talk about becomes a struggle. That’s where I have to be especially creative with my references. I try to bridge the gap between mainstream popular culture and adult entertainment whenever possible. If I can make the content seem more familiar, then hopefully it gives the reader a better sense of what they’re getting.
G-Man:You also tend to attack established porn stars, directors and producers on a regular basis in your reviews. Why do you have such disdain for them?
Miller: The kiss of death for me is unoriginality. If someone continues to pump the shelves full of the same predictable garbage every month, they’re bringing the entire industry down. It’s my job as a critic to call that out, whether it is the responsibility of the director, studio or performer. Thankfully, the format of our websites allows me to be brutally honest in my reviews, even if it’s not always gracious to those who should have failed years ago.
G-Man: Some critics still regard Bob Guccione’s 1979 classic “Caligula” as a landmark porn film because of its stellar cast, production and societal impact. What did you think of the movie and why haven’t more porn films been made on this scale?
Miller: That’s simply not the market anymore. You don’t have people running across the tracks to take in the latest adult feature film on its opening weekend. The industry has become so saturated through Internet and DVD consumption that the revenue potential is incredibly limited. Hence, studios are unwilling to pump a bunch of money into epic masterpieces of adult cinema.
G-Man: Do you think we’ll ever see a global, critically acclaimed film, which happens to have real sex scenes, considered for major award consideration in Hollywood?
Miller: Probably not. There are too many factors to overcome. Aside from the fact that most mainstream Hollywood actors would not cross that line, it’s simply unnecessary. What’s not shown in a major studio production is oftentimes just as important as what the director allows us to see. You can create far more heat through imagination and artistic camera angles than by actually displaying hardcore.
G-Man:What shocking and/or painful realities have you discovered about the industry?
Miller: Beneath the thin, glossy veneer of the Adult Video News (AVN) Awards, Jenna Jameson’s mainstream success and celebrity sex tapes, there is a harsh reality to face. I won’t say “all” because that’s never the case when you’re talking about any group of people, but a lot of these performers are hopeless. You can rant all day about the drug use, STD’s and torture they put their bodies through. That’s the obvious stuff. What gets me is the acceptability of psychosis. These people are fucking nuts.
G-Man: What do you think of the following men: Hugh Hefner (Playboy Magazine) and Larry Flynt (Hustler Magazine)?
Miller: I admire Hugh Hefner a lot for revolutionizing the print industry with an original idea. He wasn’t afraid to try something new and juxtapose class with sex. His legacy and success are well deserved. As for Larry Flynt, he’s fought the good fight for free speech and been the loudest voice in the room.
G-Man: Do you or your business partner ever feel that you’re “feeding the beast” or contributing to the problems plaguing the industry by promoting these films?
Miller: Are you asking me how I can sleep at night doing what I do? The fact of the matter is that these films already exist and have existed long before American Vice was even an idea. If anything, our voice is a step in the right direction for the industry. We’re holding them accountable to a higher standard of quality.
G-Man: Clinical studies have indicated there is a link between people who watch porn and those who commit sex crimes. Do you believe Internet porn, including your sites, should face strict regulations in order to deal with the rising number of sex crimes being committed against women and children across the nation?
Miller: I don’t claim to be an expert on this, but that doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to an opinion. From what I’ve seen, the bulk of the research done on the subject has been with confirmed sex offenders. These are people predisposed to such behavior, and they’ve already acted on it. Human nature requires them to justify their existence, so naturally a majority of their first inclinations are to say, “Porn made me do it.” I’m all for reducing crime, which most studies would indicate is more correlated to the strength of the economy than anything else. But I still believe that 99% of people who watch porn do it purely to masturbate. Some psychopath is more likely to get crazy ideas from watching “Saw” or “Hostel.” Those movies graphically depict horrendous violence with the benefit of massive special effects budgets and a two-hour attention span. Even the most outrageous or aggressive porn that I’ve seen can only be guilty of bad taste. It’s so low budget, sophomoric and fleeting, that you’d have to be truly deranged to take it seriously.
G-Man: How do you respond to critics, particularly those in the Christian community, who say you’re simply peddling smut and immorality to obtain wealth?
Miller: Judge not lest ye be judged. As far as wealth, I’ll let you know when it happens.
G-Man: You’ve openly discussed many of the evils associated with the porn industry. What positive thing can you say about it that would justify your involvement and continued support?
Miller: Porn is a very polarizing topic. Just mention it in a crowded room of people and ears perk up. For better or for worse, it is a true reflection of humanity in its most raw and vivid form. Some people love it, and others are repulsed by it. I find that intriguing. When the chemistry between the performers clicks and the scene is right, there is nothing like it. That’s why I watch.
In recent weeks, North Korea has launched short-range missiles and detonated a nuclear device underground. These acts have caused tensions to mount between the United States and a country that President George W. Bush claimed was part of the “Axis of Evil”. World leaders, military officials and the general public observe the situation with great interest and concern, and many are wondering if North Korea’s defiance will lead to all-out war.
Charles K. Armstrong is the Korea Foundation Associate Professor of Korean Studies - in the Social Sciences in the Department of History - and Director of the Center for Korean Research at Columbia University. A specialist in the modern history of Korea and East Asia, Professor Armstrong has authored several critically acclaimed books and appeared on numerous cable news networks as a commentator. He graciously consented to an interview to discuss the crisis and what can be done to prevent it from escalating.
G-Man:The situation with North Korea has intensified, and they’ve vowed to use military force against the U.S. and South Korea if threatened. North Korea has “flexed” on the U.S. and its allies in the past, but they seem to be taking it to another level entirely this time. Why do they continue to brazenly challenge the world and what should be done to prevent them from flexing in the future?
Professor Armstrong: We’ve seen this movie before at least twice: first in 1993-4, when for the first time suspicions about North Korea’s nuclear program brought the US and North Korea to the brink of war. This was followed by an agreement that froze their plutonium-reprocessing program (which is what they’ve used to make bombs) for about eight years, until the agreement fell apart during the first Bush administration in 2002-3. Then, North Korea’s missile launches and first nuclear test in 2006 led to UN sanctions, which North Korea attacked as a virtual declaration of war. But war didn’t break out, and soon the US, North Korea and the other members of the Six-Party Talks (South Korea, Russia and Japan) returned to negotiations and made considerable progress on a new denuclearization deal. Now the Six-Party process itself has all but collapsed, and North Korea is once again talking about war. But the speed and extent of this flexing is unprecedented: a second nuclear test, followed by a half-dozen short-range missile tests, and threats of a long-range test.
North Korea is good at these attention-getting provocations and unfortunately the lesson of the last fifteen years that they seem to have learned, is that launching missiles and testing nuclear weapons are the only ways to get the US to take them seriously. The Obama administration, which of course has other crises to deal with, hadn’t paid much attention to North Korea. Now, thanks to Kim Jong Il, they have to pay attention. I don’t think North Korea really wants war; they’re not suicidal. They see the US as a mortal threat and nuclear weapons as a good way of defending themselves until they reach an agreement with the US that guarantees them some sort of security. Reaching such an agreement will be very difficult now, but we came close in the past and maybe, when the missiles have stopped flying and everyone has calmed down, we can return to negotiations that will end the state of conflict between the US and North Korea – a conflict which, by the way, has continued for almost 60 years, since the Korean War broke out in 1950. Diplomacy may not sound very appealing right now, but the alternatives are either ineffective or unthinkable. There is really is no military option because of the catastrophic consequences that would result, especially now that North Korea has nuclear weapons. Nor have sanctions been very successful in the past, both because North Korea is already about as isolated as a country can get and because China is unlikely to agree to truly punitive sanctions. So sitting down and talking with Pyongyang, at the highest levels possible, is the best way out the current crisis.
G-Man: For those who may not be familiar with the tensions that exist between North and South Korea, could you briefly explain why North Korea continues to act as an aggressor to its neighbor?
Professor Armstrong: North Korea doesn’t see itself as an aggressor. It acted with unequivocal aggression against South Korea just once, when North Korea invaded the South in June 1950, triggering the Korean War. The war brought in the US (leading a United Nations force) which in turn evoked the intervention of “People’s Volunteer” soldiers of the newly communist China. But this invasion came after a very tumultuous period following the end of World War II, when Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule only to find itself divided into Soviet and American occupation zones. By September 1948, there were two states on the Korean peninsula, one in the North and one in the South, and each refused to recognize the other as legitimate. The war ended in 1953 with Korea still divided, and Seoul and Pyongyang have been fighting a localized “cold war” ever since, with the US as South Korea’s main supporter.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and other communist states in 1989-91, North Korea found itself almost completely isolated with only China remaining as an ally. On top of that, its economy went into a tailspin, culminating in a famine in the late 1990s that killed hundreds of thousands of people. But the leadership dug in its heels and refused to give in to outside pressure to change, although North Korea embarked on some limited economic reforms in the early 2000s. We must not forget that North Korea is a country on a constant war footing. It feels virtually surrounded by hostile powers: the US, South Korea (especially under the current more hard-line President), and Japan are all sworn enemies as far as North Korea is concerned. Russia is not much of friend, and North Korea doesn’t trust China either. To some extent this is self-reinforcing paranoia, but that’s the way the regime sees the world. Remember, the Korean War fighting ended in an armistice, a cease-fire. Technically the war never ended, and the US and North Korea remain at war to this day. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 gave North Korea even more reason to distrust the US and develop its own nuclear deterrent. So, what looks like aggression to the outside world, North Koreans justify as self-defense. Getting them out of such a mindset will not be easy.
G-Man: At this point, who is primarily responsible for creating this dire situation: Kim Jong-il, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or others within the government who want to chart a different course for North Korea?
Professor Armstrong: As far as we know Kim Jong-il is still in charge. One theory is that he’s flexing his military might in order to prove his toughness to his own military, as he prepares for a new leader to follow him. Kim apparently had a stroke last summer and has been looking frail since he re-emerged in public a few months ago. It has recently been reported that he is preparing his youngest son (aged 25) to succeed him, just as Kim’s father starting grooming him for leadership when he was in his late 20s and 30s. It may also be that different groups and individuals within the leadership are trying to impress Kim Jong Il with their militant patriotism. What’s clear is that any trends toward openness and reform that we saw in past years have been sidelined by a newly robust military-first politics.
G-Man: Is Kim Jong-il a maverick, a madman or both?
Professor Armstrong: I wouldn’t call Kim mad, although his way of thinking is not like that of most other leaders in the world. His whole country might be viewed as maverick, given the current world system. When Kim first started running the country under his father’s tutelage in the 1980s and 1990s, some people thought he might be a reformer, others that he was an unstable lunatic. He turned out be neither: his problem was that, as a good filial son, he carried on his father’s legacy and led the country as if nothing had changed. But the world has changed a lot since the elder Kim died in 1994, and the more North Korea stays the same, the stranger and more out-of-step it looks.
G-Man: Would sanctions actually work, or are they useless at this point?
Professor Armstrong: As I briefly noted earlier, sanctions are not likely to have much effect, unless they were extreme enough to lead the regime to collapse, but China would be unlikely to support such strong sanctions. The last thing China wants is a destabilized or collapse North Korea. Some people have called for “smart sanctions” that would target members of the North Korean elite, but I doubt freezing Swiss bank accounts or denying Kim his shipments of cognac will change North Korea’s behavior. Finally there’s the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) that South Korea recently signed onto. This would allow foreign authorities to interdict and board North Korean ships on the high seas, which North Korea says would be considered acts of war. It probably isn’t smart to test them on this.
G-Man: Russia has indicated it will not support sanctions against North Korea. With North Korea threatening to launch nuclear attacks, why would Russia be reluctant to join the growing list of countries calling for strict sanctions?
Professor Armstrong: It’s very unlikely Russia would be a target of such attacks. Russia’s position is similar to China’s: they still have some leverage over the North, which is also useful for their relations with the US. So long as all-out war can be avoided, the status quo is preferable to destabilizing pressure on the Pyongyang.
G-Man: News reports indicate that Kim Jong-il is gravely ill. If he were to die in the next six months, would the situation change for the better or get worse with his successor?
Professor Armstrong: Bad as things are, they could be worse: an anarchic North Korea with loose nukes, a truly crazy man at the helm, or any of a number of nightmare scenarios. But I don’t think North Korea will fall apart even if Kim were to die tomorrow. In the near term a post-Kim North Korea will probably be much like the one we have today, perhaps run by a collective leadership rather than one Dear Leader.
G-Man: As previously stated, North Korea has ‘shown their ass’ in the past, but when they were dealing with President George W. Bush or President Clinton, they always managed to come to their senses and the situation was defused. This time, they’re not only showing their ass, they’re practically giving the U.S. and its allies ‘the finger’. The situation has gotten so bad that the U.S and South Korean military have been placed on high alert. Most journalists won’t ask this question, but The G-Man will. Give it to me straight, Professor Armstrong. Do you think the North Korean government’s belligerence, particularly toward the U.S., has anything to do with the fact that a black man is seated in the Oval Office?
Professor Armstrong: Racism should never be underestimated, but North Korea’s official media is equally vicious toward American presidents whatever their color. They probably hoped to get a better deal with Obama after Bush (more like they had at the end of the Clinton years), but as their own media said, “change” didn’t happen. North Koreans have shown themselves to be equal opportunity America-bashers.
G-Man: Do you think North Korea will blink, so to speak, or are we on the verge of World War III?
Professor Armstrong: I hope, and believe, that cooler heads will prevail. Korean War II wouldn’t be World War III, but it would be devastating for Northeast Asia. And the last thing the US needs is another regional war.
To review footage of Professor Armstrong explaining the crisis and the impact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could have on it, please visit the link below.
