Human Interest
President Obama Takes A Walk (Video)
May 27, 2014
File this under Very Cool! When we talk a walk, it’s good for us. Good for the folks we meet, I suppose. But… watch how these folks light up when President Barack Obama switches it up. Just strolling amongst the citizenry. If this doesn’t make you smile a bit, got bad news for you… you have a case of haterism… terminal… kill yourself.
Nah, don’t. But you will have to deal with knowing that the U.S. President is this loved.
The President was heading over to the nearby Department of the Interior and decided to break with tradition and take a Springtime walk. On the way, he got a chance to meet with all sorts of folks, who weren’t expecting to meet the President of the United States of America.
– The White House
– @ojones1
Posted in Human Interest, Politics, Videos | 
Tags: Barack Obama, President Obama, The President Takes a Surprise Walk | 
No Comments »
New Documentary, ‘The Swirl’, Takes A Comedic Look at Interracial Relationships (Video)
May 15, 2014
“There was a time when interracial dating was a taboo practice that could lead to physical harm or even death. Today it seems to be of greater acceptance as with celebrity power couples Kanye West and Kim Kardashian or Ice-T and Coco. “The Swirl” takes a comedic look at this serious topic by digging into the cultural shift in attitudes around interracial relationships.” – Moguldomstudios
Posted in Comedy, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Romantic Comedy, Videos | Tags: Documentary, The Swirl, Trailer | No Comments »
Meet Tacko: The Tallest Basketball Player In The U.S. (Video)
May 14, 2014
Amazing. Seems like a great kid! Watch this…and remember young Elhadji Tacko Fall is still in prep school (with a 4.0 grade point average)… and he is still growing (already 4 inches taller than the NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal ever was)… and he just likes b-ball… he actually wants to be a bio-chemist!
– @ojones1
Posted in Human Interest, Sports, Television, Videos | Tags: Elhadji Tacko Fall, Tacko, The Tallest Basketball Player In The U.S. | No Comments »
Activism: Sad Truth…The Homeless Are Invisible, To All Of Us. This Proves It! (Video)
May 12, 2014
In America, the homeless are invisible to us. That’s a problem; because we cannot (or will not) address a problem we do not acknowledge. Like most problems, we (Americans) believe that homeless will have to hit closer to home before we find the will to truly do something about it. Well, New York City Rescue Mission has conducted a social experiment that showed me… that will show YOU… that even if the problem hit home we would would walk right by it.
In this social experiment, unsuspecting people walked by relatives pretending to be homeless. Would they notice their family members? Or have the homeless become invisible? http://MakeThemVisible.com
Wow. Just wow. You SAY you wouldn’t leave fam on the streets… but you (and I) probably wouldn’t even know them if we encountered them in that situation. POWERFUL commentary. I was convicted by this video. I will admit it. I also admit that change will be hard, but necessary. First step: Stop laying all the blame on the 1% (e.g. the uber-wealthy in the U.S.) and check myself… (at least) looking people in their eyes when I walk by. And before I move on, like it’s someone else’s problem, know that that person could very well be one of MY loved ones out here!
Compelling mini-documentary. A must watch! And to find out more about the New York City Rescue Mission visit http://nycrescue.org/
– @ojones1
Posted in Activism, Human Interest, Videos | Tags: APATHY, Have the Homeless Become Invisible, homeless, homelessness, New York City Rescue Mission | No Comments »
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater Keeps His ‘Promise To Rose’ (Documentary)
May 8, 2014
After the jump… couldn’t resist.
I’m buying moms a house. The mantra of every youngster man who makes it to the NFL. Suffice it to say that college football standout Teddy Bridgewater is among those ‘made men’ about to cash out and repay mom. But he promised mom a different gift as a kid: a pink Cadillac. Sure, being momma is enough to warrant a car, if you get to the NFL. Surviving cancer though; Teddy throws a pink caddy Escalade on the pile already…before the NFL draft! Jackpot, Momma Rose. Great story, documented visually by Spike Lee.
When Teddy Bridgewater was in the 3rd grade he promised his mother, Rose, he’d get her a Pink Cadillac Escalade when he became a professional football player. After a lot of tears and hard work, Teddy made good on his promise.
READ: BRIDGEWATER GIVES CANCER-SURVIVING MOM A PINK CADILLAC ESCALADE
Posted in Film, Human Interest, Sports, Videos | Tags: Escalade, Pink Cadillac, Pink Cadillac Escalade, Rose Murphy, Teddy Bridgewater | No Comments »
Common Tells CNN About His Nonprofit To Aid Chicago’s Youth (Video)
May 5, 2014
No secret that Common loves Chicago, the kids, and esp. Chicago’s kids. Even the city’s mayor knows (watch the clip above).
Grammy-winning rap artist Common tells CNN’s Brooke Baldwin about his non-profit foundation, benefiting Chicago’s youth.
Hmm… says he’s no politician… but a well-known figure, willing to serve and campaigning for a cause (see the links to earlier posts below) rather than for himself… we could do worse. Salute, Common!
‘WAR’ IN CHI-RAQ | CHI-RAQ (DOCUMENTARY ON VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO)
Posted in Celebrity, Hip-Hop, Human Interest, Videos | Tags: Chi Raq, Chicago, CNN, common, Rapper Common aims to empower Chicago's youth, Youth | No Comments »
Texans Will Soon Be Drinking Treated Waste Water. Who’s Thirsty? (Video)
May 2, 2014
How thirsty have you EVER been? Would you ever consider toilet water? What if it was guaranteed purified at a higher quality than the tap water you drink now? What if local authorities made it so that, very soon, treated waste water (including that reclaimed from sewer reservoirs) was pumped directly into your home’s water pipes? Businessweek reports that that is the deal in Wichita Falls (Texas, USA) now. The nightly news telecast clip above, from a while back, talks about another Texas town about to do the same thing. Okay, get all your ew’s out now… Done yet? Good. Drink up! It’ll be alright.
“You can take any water and turn it into drinking water. There is the technology out there to take out everything.â€
– Joseph Cotruvo, Washington water consultant
Now, I grew up drinking well water (still do, when I get home to Tuskegee) with a basic filter on the capture tank and another on the faucet… no treatment, chemicals or nothing… I have also had the “cleaner” bottled water. I suppose I could get used to something in between. I know I could if I lived in constant drought conditions and there was no other choice (especially once demand for bottled water drove its price higher than gas at the pump).
How about you?
READ: COOLING OFF WITH A GLASS OF TOILET WATER (BUSINESSWEEK)
– @ojones1
Chad Johnson On NiteCap: Opening Up About The NFL, His Past With Evelyn, ‘Possibility’ For A Monogamous Relationship And More With Peter Bailey (Video)
April 11, 2014
“This upcoming episode is probably one of my most entertaining and most provocative.”
– Peter Bailey
Was Chad at fault for playing the game the way he wanted to play it? Or was the NFL at fault for trying to rein him in? Hmmm. This purposeful juxtaposition of point-of-view by Peter Bailey is the type of stuff that wins him critical acclaim. His conversational series has him sharing a NiteCap on South Beach with former NFL star and reality TV personality Ocho Cinco / Chad Johnson. Chad opens up to Peter about his past including (of course) his ‘hard road taken’ NFL career, his ‘road’… with Evelyn Lozada, growing up in Liberty City and more.
“I been a weirdo, long time ago… Nothing about what I’m doing is a ‘role’…”
– Chad Johnson
Posted in Celebrity, Human Interest, Series, Sports, Television, Videos | Tags: CHAD JOHNSON, NBC, NBC Nite Cap, NBC Nitecap, Nite Cap, NiteCap, Ocho Cinco, Peter Bailey | No Comments »
Tech Training And A Real Chance Outside: San Quentin Inmates Find Hope In ‘The Last Mile’ (Video)
April 3, 2014
Incredible story. More than “feel good” this is “DO good”… by helping inmates at San Quentin prison in the last stretch of their sentences, The Last Mile program gives them what one out of every two ex-cons don’t currently get when they get out: a chance! The program teaches tech skills and allows the to develop and demo (e.g. present, on stage, to an audience) business proposals for investors. Now… there is NO promise of success for these prisoners-turned-pitchmen; but is anything in life ever “promised?”
Guaranteed though, no one in the clips above or below (after the jump) are down about their chances in life. A little nervous; sure, probably outright scared. But this is exciting, worthwhile stuff. Please watch and share!
Posted in Business, Human Interest, Videos | Tags: ex-con, Inmates, Prisoners, San Quentin, San Quentin Prison, The Last Mile | No Comments »
Meet 15-Year-Old Millionaire Jaylen Bledsoe (Video)
March 31, 2014
Jaylen Bledsoe (native of Hazelwood, Missouri, USA) started his own tech company (Bledsoe Technologies) when he was just 13. Specializing in web design and other IT services, Bledsoe (now 15) has grown the company into a global enterprise now worth around $3.5 million and employing 150 contractors.
What’s next? Well, the young CEO wants to go to college (Vanderbilt, then Harvard). In-f###’n-credible… the young brother got it going like this at 15. Wow.
Posted in Business, Human Interest, Television, Videos, Youth | Tags: Bledsoe Technologies, Jaylen Bledsoe | No Comments »
VICE: The Devil Tried To Divide Us (Documentary)
March 29, 2014
There are REASONS we have rules for wars… that nations declare war, seek coalitions before they do, and convene war crimes courts after. The ongoing tragedy in the Central African Republic though… Damn. There have been no rules, no understandings, and countless crimes against humanity… for DECADES… and it has just gotten worse! VICE News is taking us there. They have to, so we can try to understand. Watch above.
READ MORE: WAR IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (VICE)
Posted in Cover Story, Human Interest, Politics, Series, Videos | Tags: Anti-Balaka, Bangui, C.A.R., CAR, Central African Republic, Christian, ethnic cleansing, France, Muslim, Séléka, UN, United Nations, VICE, VICE News, WAR IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC | No Comments »
Michael Jordan’s Former ‘Dream Home’ Still Spruced Up For Sale (Video)
March 26, 2014
Michael Jordan is considered to be the greatest NBA player of all-time, but he also has the dubious reputation for not having the best sense of style. There are a dozens of news pieces, websites, facebook, instagram, & twitter pages with names like… “What The F*k is Michael Jordan Wearing.com?” poking fun at his fashion choices. Even GQ magazine took shots at his style & taste after he was kicked out of a country club for his allegedly horrible choice of golf gear. Some of the clothes he’s worn out in public have been so unintentionally ridiculous that I wouldn’t be surprised if his former Chicago dream home wasn’t any different. Michael Jordan has been desperately trying to sell this luxury home for years and had lowered his price in 2012 from $29 Million only to subsequently fail getting it sold at auction for a minimum of $16 million last December. If the interior of the home was anything like his personal fashion sense PRIOR to putting this home on the market & hiring some professional interior decorators, that could have been a huge reason why he hadn’t found a new owner sooner coupled with that still hefty asking price.
Posted in Celebrity, Fashion, Fasion, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Sports, Videos | Tags: Air Jordan, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Dream Home, Dream Home, Michael Jordan, MJ, NBA | No Comments »
The 1983 Los Angeles Raiders: A Run To Remember (Video)
March 19, 2014
You should know by now that I’m an Oakland Raiders fan to the fullest. Of course I still support & will always support my hometown Philadelphia Eagles & other Philadelphia sports teams because I’m a proud Philly native, but the Raiders have always personally resonated with me since I was a young kid. The last 10 years haven’t been great ones for my Oakland Raiders squad, but some of the good moves taking place during the current 2014 Free agency period has me feeling good & optimistic. I have a feeling it won’t be long until my Raiders return to greatness which inspired me to post this mini-documentary of arguably the greatest Raiders squad in the history of the organization. I’ll never forget cheering loudly as a kid watching the Raiders win the Super Bowl in my mother’s living room back in the day. It’s been 31 years since the last Super Bowl win back then, but you can relive those moments with me in the perspective based video above. Back in 1983, NFL Hall Of Fame running back Marcus Allen & the Los Angeles Raiders truly had a ‘Run To Remember’.
Posted in Cover Story, Human Interest, Sports, Videos | Tags: 1983 Los Angeles Raiders, A Run To Remember, LA Raiders, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders | No Comments »
Permanently Temporary: The Truth About Temp Labor (Documentary)
March 19, 2014
President Obama is on board with BIG retailers like Amazon, driving economic renewal AND employing more and more people with American jobs that cannot be outsourced.
Yay… right? No.
Temp labor is one of the fastest growing industries in the US. Increasingly, temp workers are part of a business strategy to keep costs down and profits high.
From mega-retailers to mom-and-pop shops, temps are hired to do some of the hardest and most dangerous jobs. While more and more of the American workforce is composed of temporary workers, they’re largely hidden from public view. Many of these workers stay silent, often having their livelihoods threatened if they speak out.
But that’s what VICE is best at doing: shedding light on shameful practices and telling the stories of people for whom it would be too dangerous to tell themselves. Damn shame that the largest corporations, time and again, ride the road to success on the backs of laborers with no regard to their interests or even their well-being… at all. Watch the documentary above. Learn.
Posted in Business, Human Interest, Politics, Series, Videos | Tags: Amazon, exploitation, labor, mega-retailers, Temp Agencies, Temp Labor, VICE, VICE News, Wal-Mart | No Comments »
On My Own (Documentary Trailer)
March 18, 2014
Family. It’s time for a serious discussion about the state of the family. Little Harriet Productions’ film “On My Own” provides an excellent start point – documenting the Black family institution pre-slavery (U.S.), the impact of slavery on our families, the impact of mother’s “going it alone” as single parents, the role of fathers… Coming from many sides of the debate, including the good D.A.D.’s who want to be the backbone for their families and children. This necessary documentary debuts on-screen April 12, 2014. Watch the trailer above.
VICE: Nest Of Giants (Video)
March 13, 2014
Iceland has a reputation in the World’s Strongest Man competition that stands higher than perhaps any other country’s. VICE went out there to investigate why this small, black rock in the middle of the ocean produces such strong people. Hanging out at Jakabol (translates to “Nest Of Giants”) — a gym run by ex-champion Magnus Ver Magnusson and meeting Hafthor “Thor” Bjornsson, the 6’9″ star of Game of Thrones.
Posted in Human Interest, Lifestyle, Series, Travel, Videos | Tags: Nest Of Giants, VICE | No Comments »
VICE: Kingdom Of The Little People (Video)
March 13, 2014
Annette Lamothe-Ramos of The VICE Guide to Travel takes us to and on tour of the controversial theme park, Kingdom of the Little People.
In a land far, far away, love flourishes in a kingdom quite unlike any other. In mushroom-shaped homes and old dormitories, a community of dwarfs—all less than 51 inches tall—can be found singing, dancing, and performing on a daily basis for visiting tourists.
Posted in Human Interest, Lifestyle, Series, Travel, Videos | Tags: Kingdom Of The Little People, VICE, VICE Guide to Travel | No Comments »
Cover Story: 15-Year-Old DJ Focus Built A Radio Station From Scraps And His Message Has Reached MIT And The World (Video)
March 11, 2014
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But in this youth’s hands, it’s an opportunity to create something incredible!
15-Year-Old Kelvin Doe is an engineering whiz living in Sierra Leone who scours the trash bins for spare parts, which he uses to build batteries, generators and transmitters. Completely self-taught, Kelvin has created his own radio station where he broadcasts news and plays music under the moniker, DJ Focus.
David Sengeh, an MIT student and fellow native of Sierra Leone, met Kelvin in a Summer Innovation Program he ran there. His heart and mind, Kelvin’s heart and mind… and this story… will touch and inspire you. Guaranteed!
Posted in Cover Story, Education, Human Interest, Radio, Science, Series, Technology, Travel, Videos, Youth | Tags: David Sengeh, DJ Focus, Kelvin Doe, MIT, SIERRA LEONE, Thinkr | No Comments »
Muscle & Fitness: The Compton Superman Vs. Da Hulk of Texas (Video)
March 10, 2014
Professional Cali bodybuilder CT Fletcher is known on the web for his profanity laced, yet humorous & deeply inspiring workout videos. In this new video our hero CT Fletcher a.k.a. the ‘Compton Superman’ is joined by Keven Washington a.k.a. ‘Da Hulk’ straight out of Texas for a powerful workout of epic proportions. Videos like these keep me inspired! Check out additional bonus footage after the jump below! COTDAYAAAAM!!!!
Posted in Health and Wellness, Human Interest, Sports, Videos | Tags: Compton Superman, CT Fletcher, Da Hulk, Fitness, Keven Washington, Muscle, Muscle & Fitness, Superman | No Comments »
9th Wonder At Harvard: “The Hip-Hop Fellow” (Trailer)
March 6, 2014
Slated for release next month, “The Hip-Hop Fellow” is a feature-length film documenting super-producer 9th Wonder’s time as a Harvard University professor, teaching “The Breaks†to a bunch of students of the Cambridge (Massachusetts) institution. 9th Wonder’s contribution is an awesome complement to Harvard’s Hip-Hop Archive (see our post on Nas being honored there). Each and together these are a blessing to the campus community and the world.
The trailer captures commentary and cosigns by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Young Guru, Pete Rock, DJ Premier and more. This documentary is going to be a “don’t miss” to be certain. Watch.
He has the love for it. He has the drive for it. It’s always been in him. He’s the genius behind it. You know, it’s only right.
– Kendrick Lamar
