Politics
President Obama Welcomes NBA Champion Miami Heat Back To The White House (Video)
January 15, 2014
“Welcome to the White House. Actually, for these guys, it’s welcome back to the White House.”
– President Barack Obama
Very cool. If anyone knows how to celebrate even in the midst of hate, it’s our U.S. President. Oh, haters… Even you gotta celebrate these guys. The Miami Heat visited the White House for 2nd consecutive year. A two-time winner in his own right, watch President Obama’s full speech welcoming the champion basketballers back above.
UPDATE: MICHELLE OBAMA DUNKS ON THE MIAMI HEAT (VIDEO)
Posted in Politics, Sports, Television, Videos | 
Tags: Barack Obama, Basketball, champion, ESPN, Miami Heat, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama Dunks, NBA, President Barack Obama, Pro Basketball, White House | 
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Animal Activist Kevin Richardson Gets Up Close & Personal With Several Wild Lions in South Africa (Video)
January 13, 2014
GoPro is some great tech that has captured some incredible feats. And we have put a few GoPro posts on here. But this. UNBELIEVABLE! Not even sure we should post this.
“They’re just so beautiful.”
– Kevin Richardson
Of course, the GoPro Productions team stayed in the vehicle. But Kevin (aka ‘The Lion Whisperer’) just had to go out and meet his friends. If you happen to live near the South African (or any) savannah… DO NOT TRY THIS!!
(But if you haven’t already…play this!)
Posted in Nature, Opinion, Politics, Travel, Videos | Tags: GoPro, GoPro Productions, Kevin Richardson, South Africa | No Comments »
A First Look At The New VICE News (Video)
January 10, 2014
VICE usually travels to spots around the world to report perspectives. Imagine their HQ with an expanded news desk… AND bureaus around the world! From magazine to online video to HBO… and here they grow again! Let founder Shane Smith give you the tour in the clip above.
VICE founder Shane Smith gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of the new VICE News headquarters, and offers a sneak peek of the VICE News site and the exciting new documentaries coming in 2014.
Posted in News, Politics, Series, Television, Videos | Tags: Shane Smith, VICE, VICE News | No Comments »
VICE: Kim Dotcom, Founder Of Megaupload, Speaks on Internet Freedom from His New Zealand Mansion While On House Arrest (Video)
January 9, 2014
On house arrest in the Dotcom Mansion, big-crazy-rich-guy-who-does-crazy-things Kim Dotcom (founder of Megaupload) is still, a year later, in the wake of the storm unleashed by enforcement agencies of the United States and Australia; waiting on possible extradition and trial. His case, from his point of view, is about Internet freedom (and fighting government infringement and takeover). Flash video, cell-phone video-conferencing… all to Kim’s credit. So, the pioneer/businessman is not lying down.
“I’m f*cking tired of this nonsense. Someone needs to stand up…”
– Kim Dotcom
Not lying down; but in the meantime, laying down some music at the mansion (in Auckland, New Zealand). Nice. Tim Pool (interviewing Kim for VICE) got to lay down some backup vocals for Kim’s upcoming EDM album – and ride his Segway cycle – while talking about online surveillance, file-sharing, gaming, Kim’s controversial case, and more.
Posted in Business, Gaming, Lifestyle, Politics, Series, Technology, Videos | Tags: Kim Dotcom, Megaupload, SOPA, STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT, The Man Behind Mega, VICE | No Comments »
Black & Latino Students In The U.S. Can Attend Medical School In Cuba For Free (Video)
December 20, 2013
Doctors come out of med school with huge debt to repay. Probably why we “understand” why a trip to the doctor can cost so much in the United States. But wouldn’t it be a boon to making healthcare affordable if doctors could graduate debt-free? Well… somebody’s already doing that… Cuba!
All too often though, we want to vilify those (like Cuba) we are told to treat as the enemy. Remember the uproar over Bey and Jigga’s trip to Cuba (y’all gone learn today…wrote a song ’bout it)? You’dve thought it was the missile crisis all over again. But fortunately, to balance bad-mouthing of some, we have folks who declare that there are at least some things we can appreciate about the neighbor 90 miles south of South Florida (USA). For instance, check out what the Black Left Unity blog hipped us to about another bright spot of Cuba’s medical outreach.
Currently there are two Detroit (Michigan, USA) students attending LASM on a full scholarship. Contact us at IFCO
418 W 145 Street
Harlem, NY 10031
www.ifconews.org
ifco@igc.org
(212) 926-5757
And if you don’t know, now you know. So, next time somebody spouts that ‘Communist Cuba the bad guys’ stuff … You hit ’em with the link to this story. Oh, and tell them the US is actually doing some ‘bad medicine’ down that way. Remember the Gitmo force-feeding? But we’ll keep this peace positive. Thanks for the good medicine, Cuba.
Check out more video after the jump, including a great piece from PBS Newshour.
Posted in Cover Story, Health and Wellness, Human Interest, Opinion, Politics, Television, Videos | Tags: Affordable Care, Affordable Care Act, black, Cuba, Debt-free doctors, Fidel Castro, Latin America, Latino, Medical School | No Comments »
Kids For Cash (Trailer)
December 16, 2013
Damn shame when we get proof corruption in the system like this. Pennsylvania judge Mark Ciavarella was convicted in 2011 on 12 counts of racketeering and fraud for accepting kickbacks in exchange for sentencing young people to a private, for-profit juvenile detention center… basically selling jailing “Kids for Cash.”; hence, the appropriateness of the documentary’s name. Watch the trailer above.
Politics: Iceland Overthrows It’s Government & Jails Bankers (Video)
December 14, 2013
The movie above – “Pots, Pans and Other Solutions” – documents power-to-the-people in action in real life. The PEOPLE, not their so-called representatives and institutions, have taken control of their government and collective destiny. Hell, the reps were in the way… and the bankers responsible for financial wrongdoing and damaging the economy… got put away!
Respect to Liberty Voice for breaking this news. Just think if Americans would have been told of this around the time ‘Occupy Wallstreet’ was at full steam…
LIVESTREAM: Nelson Mandela Memorial Service In Johannesburg, South Africa (Video)
December 10, 2013
Posted in Cover Story, History, News, Politics, Videos | Tags: Africa, Johannesburg, Madiba, Memorial Service, Nelson Mandela | No Comments »
Thank You Nelson Mandela (Video)
December 6, 2013
Former prisoner. Former President. Forever to be respected, admired, loved…Â now mourned by nations the world over. Pass now from us into eternity, Nelson Mandela. Quite literally, a man who was no myth; but who will remain a legend who lived a life of service to humanity died at his home yesterday. He was 95.
We don’t have the perfect words, Mr. President. But we sincerely offer the two that should certainly be heard forever in association with your name: Thank You! For your struggles, protests, imprisonment, iconification… for your work and triumphs freeing yourself and your people (of every color) from the bonds of man, from the oppression racist institutions, and the entanglements of in-fighting that kept us at war with ourselves… We say THANK YOU, President Mandela.
To be certain, the struggles continue. But it is now our turn to take up the causes we see fit and see them through to the end; to our own ends if necessary. And we cannot say we have not had folks to have shown us the way in our lifetime. Chief among them, Nelson Mandela showed us the way of the warrior suited for his lifelong battle against injustice and for peace on a national/global scale: Not perfect, but not waiting for someone or some perfect time to come along. Not looking for a fight, but willing to risk it all and fight with all he has for as long as he has. And as a result, though not seeking glory as an end, glory followed him to the end and will forevermore.
Rest in peace, Brother Mandela. We got it from here.
Video comments from U.S. President Barack Obama above. After the jump, a favorite clip of mine.
READ: NBC WORLDNEWS’ COVERAGE
– @ojones1
Posted in Cover Story, News, Politics, Videos | Tags: Dead at 95, Human Rights, Nelson Mandela, President, Rainbow Nation, South Africa | No Comments »
Politics/Economics: America Hates Its Poor (Video)
December 3, 2013
The hard truth about America: We are at war. All of us. It’s internal… and just barely civil. We have already seen an occupation of strategic grounds (Wall Street) and the battle lines have been drawn. But don’t think Democrat/Liberal vs. Republican/Conservative (there are battlefields within parties anyway)… and don’t think (as we have) of haves vs. have-nots… The truth is simple, but not because it is oversimplified. It is hard because it is harsh. It is hard, like difficult – not to understand, but to understand how citizens/humans/institutions could allow this and allow it to continue. And it is hard, because it will be difficult to end the war. To think, all this from reading an article (that you should read, too) at Salon.com…
So, that’s how we should view the sides in our modern civil war: The arrestable vs. the unarrestable… and you KNOW most of the sh!t the unarrestable (e.g. the 1% and those protected by them) gets away with would land most of us in prison. Now, no one is saying ‘be mad at the haves for having’ … no more so than you want anyone less fortunate being mad at you for walking/driving by when you have change/time to spare. Nah, be mad at how they do you… how they lie to you. You know, the stuff that you’d be mad about if someone did it right to your face… because they DO THAT SH!T… ev-er-y day! Watch the clip above (from a ‘have’ who has chosen to give a Ted Talk on the truth). Read the article we read… Hell, read the book it references (both linked below)… Then take time to think and decide for yourself, while you can; before that comes under attack!
NOAM CHOMSKY: AMERICA HATES ITS POOR (SALON)
OCCUPY: REFLECTIONS ON CLASS WAR, REBELLION AND SOLIDARITY (AMAZON)
Posted in Book, Opinion, Politics, Videos | Tags: #Occupy, AMERICA HATES ITS POOR, NOAM CHOMSKY, Occupy Wall Street, OCCUPY: REFLECTIONS ON CLASS WAR, REBELLION AND SOLIDARITY, SALON | No Comments »
History: Harry Belafonte On JFK (Video)
November 25, 2013
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Film and civil rights figure Harry Belafonte in an honest, reflective discussion about the late great U.S. President John F. Kennedy (JFK). Being a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Belafonte met JFK as he was campaigning to become U.S. President… who initially came to court the Black vote as a purely political maneuver; not because he truly understood or wanted to help Black folk overcome.
“When I met with John, I was quite taken by the fact that he knew so little about the black community. He knew the headlines of the day, but he wasn’t really anywhere nuanced or detailed on the depth of Black anguish or what our struggle’s really about.â€
– Harry Belafonte To NBC News Correspondent Tom Brokaw
As we reflect on the 50th Anniversary of his assassination, The Huffington Post did an insightful piece – putting JFK, his effect in [Black] history, and history’s effect on the President. The piece declared, among other things, that the Black struggle for Civil Rights would not have been successful had JFK not died like he did, how he did, when he did.
Politics: Matt Damon Says We Need To Stop Being So ‘Obedient’ (Video)
November 23, 2013
That’s it! Blockbuster movie star and humanitarian Jason Borne Matt Damon is sick and tired of putting up with this political bullsh!t… and he wants you to revolt, too. Actually, Matt has been walking his talk for a long while – tasking satellites to get eyes on tragedies in Darfur when nations (including the U.S.) would not… taking President Obama to task when he was dragging his feet… Of course, Matt isn’t the only one who has called for revolution…
“Our problem is not Civil Disobedience, it is Civil Obedience!â€
– Matt Damon, quoting Howard Zinn (November 1970)
Politics/Economics: The ‘Haves’ Have A Lot More Than The ‘Have Nots’… Way More Than You Think (Video)
November 23, 2013
This is INSANE! A short video with so much to say about how wealth is distributed in the U.S. – you know, the country that tells the world “give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses” … so we can ‘huddle’ them some more… and not give them sh!t but plenty of company. What we have a lot of in the U.S. – POOR PEOPLE. Surprisingly, we also have optimism (still) and a belief in fairness. What we don’t have is f**king ECONOMIC FAIRNESS man! Watch this clip; and try not to get mad. Instead get informed, get motivated, and get involved (to help yourself and your people)!
“The poorest Americans don’t even register. They’re down to pocket change. And the middle class is barely distinguishable from the poor.”
Keep checking here on the site. We keep the conversation going and the information flowing…
READ: MORE ON POLITICS/ECONOMICS
Posted in Opinion, Politics, Videos | Tags: Wealth distribution, Wealth Inequality, Wealth Inequality in America | 1 Comment »
Jon Stewart Calls Out Jay Z Over Maintaining Business Relations With Racist Retailer Barney’s (Video)
November 8, 2013
Over the controversy that some have called shop-and-frisk, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart points out and pokes at Jigga for selling out by standing by a major business partner of his – Barney’s. The high-end retailer has come under fire by the media and protest groups for apparently subjecting its Black patrons to racial profiling that went so far as to send undercover security into the street – holding up Black purchasers outside the store to verify that their debit cards were “authentic.” Jay Z has a merchandise line set to come out in the store chain… no way he’s going to let a little bad racial press stop him from cashing in on purchases made by Black folk who may get stopped after buying his stuff. Time for a little “perspective”…
“If I make snap judgements, no matter who it’s towards, aren’t I committing the same sin as who it’s towards.”
– Jay Z
Well, how about that. I guess you can talk yourself into anything when enough money is on the line. Get him, Jon!
Posted in Business, Hip-Hop, Opinion, Politics, Television, Videos | Tags: Barneys, Jay-Z, Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | No Comments »
Israel’s New Racism: The Persecution of African Migrants in the Holy Land (Video)
November 4, 2013
Racist? Well… um… noooo. Of course not. It’s just a “delicate situation”… just don’t want to lose our country to them… That’s basically what Israeli right-wingers are saying. Why does racist rhetoric always sound the same? Great investigative reporting by The Nation.
‘About 60,000 African migrants have arrived in Israel since 2006, fleeing unrest in their home countries. But upon arrival in the ostensibly democratic country, the migrants have faced intense persecution and have been branded as “infiltrators” by right-wing politicians and activists.’
– The Nation
And shout out to Mr. Davey D over at The Daily Beast for bringing this shameful aspect of Israeli life into clear view on our scope. We’re aware now. Best believe…
READ: ANTI-AFRICAN RALLIES EXPLODE IN ISRAEL (THE DAILY BEAST)
Posted in Human Interest, Politics, Videos | Tags: African, African Migrants, Holy Land, Israel, New Racism, Persecution, Racism | No Comments »
Politics: Saudi Artist & Activist ‘Hisham Fageeh’ Channels Bob Marley With His Viral Internet Hit “No Woman, No Drive” (Video)
October 30, 2013
Interesting. To be certain, this women’s rights issue-driven video could have been delivered with a more serious tone; but 26-year-old Saudi comedian/activist Hisham Fageeh likely ‘toned down’ his Bob Marley-inspired song “No Woman, No Drive” – as to be too fiery would put the performer, and any involved with the vid’s production/distribution, under fire.
I like that this points out injustice, then pokes a stick at it… in sort of a fun way, but even that is done with substantial socio-political risk. On another note, Fageeh’s pretty good for someone who “doesn’t really listen to music.” Dude definitely getting his Bobby McFerrin on (e.g. with the ‘body music’ with a message). Wonder if there will be any ‘response videos’ from pro-conservatives of Saudi?
By the way, you can buy the track (name your price)…
Posted in Comedy, Human Interest, Music, Politics, Reggae, Videos | Tags: Bob Marley, Hisham Fageeh, No Cry, No Drive, No Woman | No Comments »
Elementary Genocide (Documentary Trailer)
October 29, 2013
“They’ve done studies…If you are illiterate in 3rd or 4th grade, then it’s very likely you will be in prison… You mean to tell me that people who decided on where to build a prison, how to build a prison, or when to build a prison didn’t look at the research? They had to look at something…of course!”
– Supreme Understanding, Author/Activist
Executive produced by award winning journalist/filmmaker Rahiem Shabazz, “Elementary Genocide” addresses how the federal government allots money to each state to build prions based on the failure rate of 4th and 5th graders! In America, half of all 4th graders read below grade level, and more Black men are going to jail than are going to college. Compelling content, including interviews and voice-over narration from professors, teachers, best selling authors, celebrities, and more.
SUPPORT THE IMMERSIVE, INFORMATIONAL & CONTROVERSIAL DOCUMENTARY ELEMENTARY GENOCIDE
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Business, Film, Human Interest, Politics, Television, Travel | Tags: Elementary Genocide, Rahiem Shabazz | 1 Comment »
Politics: Former VP Al Gore Is Worried. The Survival Of Civilization Is At Risk (Video)
October 25, 2013
When asked, “What does the world look like in 100 years?” Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore declares:
The answer is in our hands….Our democracy has been hacked…Big Money has now perverted our democracy… to serve the purposes of special interests… Internet-based, democratic forms of communication can re-empower individuals to make their voices heard in numbers that can outweigh the special interests and lobbyists…It’s important to change light bulbs, but it’s way more important to change laws…What’s at risk is truly the survival of civilization…literally, that is the case.
Watch this conversation Motherboard’s Brian Merchant and Al Gore on VICE: Warnings of humanity on the brink, tempered with optimism that we can turn things around. Great clip. Watch!
Posted in Human Interest, Politics, Science, Technology, Videos | Tags: Al Gore, Al Gore Explains Why Civilization Might Not Survive the Next 100 Years, Al Gore: The Survival of Civilization is at Risk, Brian Merchant, Civilization, MOTHERBOARD, The Survival of Civilization is at Risk, VICE, Vice Motherboard | No Comments »
VICE: Racism At The University Of Alabama – Problem NOT Solved (Video)
October 21, 2013
It’s a shame that there are some societal ills, like racism, that we cannot seem to move beyond… even in this, the 21st century. Admittedly, The University of Alabama has much to be proud of – certainly its back-to-back NCAA football championships tops among them. But just as we had observed how far UA has come since its campus’ integration (see the R.I.P. James Hood post here), racism at The Capstone is exposed once again.
“In 1963, in the midst of the heated debate over the desegregation of American schools, The University of Alabama announced that it would for the first time allow African Americans to enroll. Fifty years later, in September 2013, two University of Alabama sororities rejected an African American student because of her race. As a result, an anti-racist student group called the Mallet Assembly and other members of the community took action to prevent segregation within the university’s Greek system.”
– VICE
So sad. An embarrassment on so many levels: A majority of UA students have likely moved on from notions in step with its segregated past; but a significant number of students (and more important, institutions and organizations they join) have not. UA sororities, students and alumni, all should find it harder to yell “Roll Tide” with pride. And if the shame was limited to the embarrassing actions of two sororities who wanted to stay ‘lily white’… that would be enough. BUT… as you see in the documentary short above, racial insensitivity is still very much a reality woven into the fabric of campus life at UA.
Damn… they’re still trying to keep black folk out of the swimming pool. Shameful. You MUST watch. Kudos to The Mallet Assembly and to VICE for bringing this to the forefront.
Posted in Human Interest, Politics, Videos | Tags: black, Greek, Mallet Assembly, Mallets, prejudice, Racism, segregation, Sororities, Sorority, Stand In The Schoolhouse Door, University of Alabama, White | No Comments »
Fresh Off The Boat With Eddie Huang: The Food, Festivals, & People Of Mongolia (Video)
October 17, 2013
Another Fresh Off The Boat with Eddie Huang. Hilarity and insight pepper over a culture and history lesson… you know how Eddie do. We certainly post enough of his videos on here. And we will continue to do so as long as he keeps hitting us with incredible travel content like this.
In this episode of Fresh Off the Boat, Eddie heads to Mongolia to take part in the Naadam festival, which celebrates the “three manly sports” — archery, horse racing, and Mongolian wrestling. Then he chats up some camel herders (politics) over a cup of home-brewed camel vodka. Eddie goes on to check out a meat market, an outdoor metal festival, and making some modern restaurant cuisine…and there will be sheep eyeballs (tasty). All this, and Eddie even makes an appearance on Mongol TV later.
Three parts… start above; and continue after the jump.
Posted in Lifestyle, Politics, Series, Videos | Tags: Eddie Huang, Fresh Off The Boat, Mongolia | No Comments »
