Apple New Toys

Apple has a special event scheduled for Sept.5 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Apple has stated that there will be a major announcement. This usually means a product announcement, and in the fall it usually means a new iPod. There is also a chance that the long awaited Beatles catalog will finally be available on iTunes. Apple ( computer company) settled with Apple Corps., ( the record company) in February. Apple Corp. sued Apple when Apple started iTunes, saying in part that Apple (computer company) was encroaching into Apple Corps. field. This little bit of news and speculation was enough to raise Apple stock by $5.72 to $131.13. Since apple does not discuss future product plans, this is all speculative. The Wall Street Journal  reports that there will almost certainly be a new family of iPods. The biggest change would be that the new iPods would use Mac OS, which is currently used in the Mac, iPhone and Apple TV. What this would do is turn the iPod into a gadget that Apple can develop a lot more software for. Analyst also believe that the iPod will get a cosmetic change. The design of the iPod has  basically remained the same. SInce the price of the iPhone went down , it is expected that the iPod will follow suit. Some analyst are predicting redesigned MacBook and MacBook Pros at lower prices. It should be noted that historically Apple has done one product unveiling at a time. This does not mean they would not change the practice, but with Christmas so soon after, I would think they would come out with the iPods now and the computers closer to the holidays. The long fabled touchscreen Mac is not expected to launch until 2010, but analyst believe that a smaller MacBook Air is likely for 2009.

Black Iraqis

Barack Obama's historic run for the presidency of the United States is being closely watched by people all over the world, and Iraq is no different. There is a group of Iraqis who are especially interested in Sen. Obama's success, Iraq's 2 million  Blacks.  Blacks were brought over from Africa as slaves over 1,000 years ago, by wealthy landowners in the Basra region of Iraq. Black Iraqis still reside mostly in Basra, and have been the target of both institutional racism and prejudice. Mr. Abdul  Hussein Abdul Razzaq

(pictured left), a journalist from Basra, formed The Movement of Free Iraqis. The Movement's goal is to press for equal rights and opportunities for Iraq's Black population. This  includes amending the Iraq Constitution to ban discrimination against Blacks.The group held a conference in July to demand that Black Iraqis be considered as an oppressed social group, and to demand that the Iraqi government legislate laws that confront racial discrimination. The Movements wants Black Iraqis to be allowed to participate in the political process,  and the appointment of Blacks Iraqis to cabinet positions. The Movement has had a hard time gaining support, since there are so many other pressing problems in Iraq. Voice of Iraq has highlighted the plight of Black Iraqis, as well as NPR. It is believed that t some wealthy sheiks continue to have Blacks as slaves in Iraq. Black Iraqis are often referred to as "Abd", which is slave in Arabic. There is a social acceptance of this centuries old tradition of discrimination against Blacks in Iraq. Mr.Razzaq  regrets not launching his political group five years ago, after the toppling of Sadam Hussein's regime. He says it was a time for nation building and since Black Iraqis have given so much to their nation, he thought they would be included in the new parliament. He thought wrong.

 

King Penguin receives Norwegian knighthood. I will have nothing to say about this, i just thought everyone in the world should know about this. If you want to know what the penguin did to receive all this then here you go . Penguin

TGIF

I have nothing to add this with the exception of the people ignoring the "elephant in the room" both figuratively and literally. I mean really. May I also add that this empowerment that team chunk(Fresh) is feeling must stop now.

The Spaniards Have Major Issues

First, there are the Spanish soccer fans who like throw bananas whenever a Black player has possession of the ball.

Then, the ever charming basketball team-which includes current NBA players- thought it was appropriate to pose while making slanted eyes gestures for an ad, yes I said ad ad in advertisement. They also failed to see what the problem was. 

Finally , the women tennis team, posted pictures taken at dinner making the same gesture. They affectionally labeled the picture- We are Getting Ready for China.  Where ma you find this picture? On the official Spanish Federation tennis Website. Classy. 

THe fact that the two photos were taken for publication on official sites and ads says something about all of Spain. The fact is that no one thought there was anything remotely wrong with this.Not the athletes, not the sport officials, not the photographers, not the coaches, not a soul. All of the hoopla, if you will, is coming from outside of Spain. If I were Spanish , I would be mortified.  It is not appropriate to make slanted eye gestures towards a nation of people, especially one that can kick your ass in 2 seconds flat.

I received a copy of Cocaine Cowboys 2- Hustlin' With The Godmother . This is a sequel to the popular Cocaine Cowboys 1 documentary that told the stroy of Miami and how cocaine built the city we know now. This documentary tells the story of Charles Crosby , a Bay area drug dealer, who had the bright idea to write Griselda Blanco a letter while she was serving a 20+year sentence in federal prison. Griselda Blanco, according to police reports, was the Madrina of the Colombia drug cartel. Although many  know the name of Pablo Escobar, he was actually a protege of Griselda. The Godmother ran a vicious crew of killers and while she supplied most of the cocaine that came through the US in the late 70s and early 80s, she also caused a lot of the gun play. In CC 1 the actual wars in Miami are detailed, which eventually lead Griselda to leave for California. When she is arrested in California  in 1985 it is not for any of the  numerous crimes she committed in Florida. She is brought in on the first federal indictment of a Colombian drug cartel, way back in 1975 in New York City. The documentary tells her story from what she supposedly told Crosby and her #1 hit-man. Crosby also tells of how he came up in Oakland and what writing and eventually meeting Griselda did for him. He went from a low level dealer to having a direct link to the Colombian cartel. Those of you that saw Cocaine Cowboys 1 will remember the extra footage at the end, which is what this documentary became. The story is incredible, improbable, but true. The DVD comes out July 29th and it is worth it. 

GOP Senator Posts Obama /Osama Poster

Wow, it is pretty late in the year but it seems that the GOP cannot be accused for lacking tenacity. heir latest and greatest effort to derail Obama is a poster  depicting Obama a Senator  and Osama with the caption The difference between Obama and Osama is  just a little B.S. South Carolina State Senator Kevin Bryant posted the picture on his website. He quickly removed it. He put it back on. I can't keep up. He told Nico Pitney from the Huffington Post that it was meant to be tongue in cheek. When asked what  does he think that Obama practices he said, "That's a good question. I don't know".  This is so blatant that I suppose I should not even bother to put it up, but then again exposing this type of  politician is always appropriate.