Philly News: Young Entrepeneur Opens Waterview Lounge

Delaware Avenue is now home to a new entertainment venue.

Markeem Kendall, the owner of Madness Studios, has opened the new Waterview Lounge, a 1,900 square-foot complex that is geared toward special events.

The lounge boasts floor-to-ceiling windows which offer an expansive view of Delaware Avenue and the Philadelphia skyline. The venue has a New York-style loft motif and features design elements such as exposed brick walls and chandeliers.

Kendall wants the venue to serve as a location for birthday parties, listening parties, wedding receptions, bar mitzvahs, fashion shows, business meetings and product launches.

He’s gearing up for a grand opening soiree to be held June 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 1020 N. Delaware Ave. The event, which features Miss Jones “Jonesy” of Power 99 FM’s “Morning Show,” is geared toward showcasing the venue to event planners and publicists.

Kendall, a 34-year old South Philadelphia native, was drawn to Delaware Avenue due to the new building and development occurring on that stretch of the city. The Waterview Lounge is located right across from the Sugar House casino, which opened in 2010.

Kendall did not let the challenges of the depressed economy deter him from launching the new lounge. Kendall believes that his investment will pay off.

“It’s challenging, but its something that’s needed. I’m preparing for the future, more than the present,” said Kendall, who specializes in artist management.
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Bloomberg: Let's invest in young Latino and Black Men

Time to shine the light on the commendable effort by New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg on reaching out to his city's highly marginalized young Latino and African-American males.

To further underscore his commitment, Bloomberg is reaching into his own very deep pockets - to the tune of 30 million smackers - to help finance the project.

To be fair, his efforts represent a tiny drop in the bucket. As the chasm of disparity between this demographic and mainstream America grows, we need more programs like this to address the crisis. We all know preventive medicine is cheaper than treatment medicine; hence, investing in our youth is cheaper and pays more long-term dividends than just locking them up.

Hats off to Mr. Bloomberg:

The administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, in a blunt acknowledgment that thousands of young black and Latino men are cut off from New York’s civic, educational and economic life, plans to spend nearly $130 million on far-reaching measures to improve their circumstances.

The program, the most ambitious policy push of Mr. Bloomberg’s third term, would overhaul how the government interacts with a population of about 315,000 New Yorkers who are disproportionately undereducated, incarcerated and unemployed.

To pay for the endeavor in a time of fiscal austerity, the city is relying on an unusual source: Mr. Bloomberg himself, who intends to use his personal fortune to cover about a quarter of the cost, city officials said. A $30 million contribution from Mr. Bloomberg’s foundation would be matched by that of a fellow billionaire, George Soros, a hedge fund manager, with the remainder being paid for by the city.

Starting this fall, the administration said it would place job-recruitment centers in public-housing complexes where many young black and Latino men live, retrain probation officers in an effort to reduce recidivism, establish new fatherhood classes and assess schools on the academic progress of male black and Latino students.

Mr. Bloomberg plans to announce the three-year program in a speech on Thursday morning in Manhattan, in which he will declare that “blacks and Latinos are not fully sharing in the promise of American freedom.”

Even as crime has fallen and graduation rates have risen in New York over the past decade, city officials said that black and Latino men, especially those between ages 16 and 24, remained in crisis by nearly every measure, including rates of arrest, school suspension and poverty.

Although the populations of young white, black and Latino men in New York are roughly the same size, 84 percent of those in the city’s detention facilities and nearly all of those admitted to children’s and family services facilities are black and Latino youth, according to data from the Bloomberg administration. “The magnitude of the disparities is stunning,” said Linda I. Gibbs, the deputy mayor for health and human services. “It’s tragic.” read more

Go Get The Money And Run

Did bankers help homeowners and small businesses after they received a 700 hundred billion dollar bill out from taxpayers?

No. Home foreclosures continued to climb and small businesses were still frozen out of credit.

Did the uber wealthy individuals and corporations create a job bonanza - as the GOP promised - upon receiving their Bush tax-cut extension?

No, they received the loot and gave us the boot - unemployment is still very high.

And now this:

Airlines are tossing consumers aside and grabbing the benefit of lower federal taxes on travel tickets.

By Saturday night, nearly all the major U.S. airlines had raised fares to offset taxes that expired the night before.

That means instead of passing along the savings, the airlines are pocketing the money while customers pay the same amount as before.

American, United, Continental, Delta, US Airways, Southwest, AirTran and JetBlue all raised fares, although details sometimes differed. Most of the increases were around 7.5 percent.

For consumers who wanted to shop around, only a few airlines were still passing the tax break on to passengers Saturday night, including Virgin America, Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

The expiring taxes can total $25 or more on a typical $300 round-trip ticket. They died after midnight Friday night when Congress failed to pass legislation to keep the Federal Aviation Administration running.

That gave airlines a choice: They could do nothing — and pass the savings to customers — or grab some of the money themselves.

"We adjusted prices so the bottom-line price of a ticket remains the same as it was before ... expiration of federal excise taxes," said American spokesman Tim Smith. US Airways spokesman John McDonald said much the same thing — passengers will pay the same amount for a ticket as they did before the taxes expired. read more

This is not rocket science. This cock-and-bull scheme promoted by the GOP - give more tax breaks for the rich and our economy will grow on all levels - has no merit. Yes, put a fork in it because this con is so over and done.

The rich get the money and like Steve Miller sang:

Billy Mack is a detective down in Texas
You know he knows just exactly what the facts is
He ain't gonna let those two escape justice
He makes his livin' off of the people's taxes

Bobbie Sue, whoa, whoa, she slipped away
Billy Joe caught up to her the very next day
They got the money, hey
You know they got away
They headed down south and they're still running today
Singin' go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run
Go on take the money and run

The GOP And Tea Party Love Affair

LZ Granderson writes in the Washington Post:

I guess if John Boehner enjoyed his party's in-fighting and hints of mutiny during the debt ceiling talks, then the 15 months leading to the general election will be pure ecstasy because it's likely going to be more of the same.

But if Boehner doesn't like being taken hostage by elements of his own party, then I suggest he adheres to the same criticism he hurls President Barack Obama's way -- stop leading from behind.

Man up and do what he, Sen. John McCain and many other top-tier Republicans know needs to be done for the sake of the party: Kick those freeloading tea partiers out.

Vote to censure, campaign against them and deny them GOP resources. Do whatever needs to be done to force them to get in line or stand on their own two feet.

And:

Earlier this year, Donald Trump, who is essentially a reality TV star, was the Republican Party's potential leading candidate because he rang the birther movement's cowbell for a few weeks. Now it's the often fact-challenged Bachmann leading some polls. At this rate, Snooki might as well throw her name in. Why not?

If the GOP insists on claiming any one of their candidates would be a better president than Obama -- when most everyone can plainly see some of these folks are crazy -- then how can any rational independent voter continue to take the party seriously?

Boehner needs to step up and do some purging. Continuing to claim that the birthers, marriage pledge signers and all of the other radical elements of the tea party movement are among the best of the Republican Party is not a good look for him. read more

Finally, the Big Press appears to be taking off the gloves and calling a duck, a duck. With all these certifiable quacks in the Tea Party holding the GOP, American economy and the World economy hostage, it's about time the national press aggressively challenges the legitimacy of the so-called Tea Party movement.

The Tea Party is indeed a lunatic fringe of the extreme right that has bullied their way to dominate GOP thinking. They are a Birch Society/Rush Limbaugh/Koch Brothers/FOX News creation. Their leaders or aspiring leaders are a dream team cast for One Who Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, Herman Cain, and Donald Trump have all lead in GOP polling for presidential nomination at one time. The GOP Tea Party inmates are running the asylum and it is to the detriment of our country. It's about time more folks in the Big Press shine the light on the lunacy of this prospect.

Soulja Boy Buys A Private Jet For $55 Million?

If true, file this one under,

A fool and his money are soon parted.

And since I already blogged on this issue here is the link - wealthy v rich - check it out.

Soulja Boy has allegedly purchased a private jet for $35 million with an addition $20million in accessories to “pimp” out the aircraft. A member of Soulja Boy’s camp told TMZ.com he bought the G5 as a birthday gift this week. Soulja Boy plans to deck the jet out with a full bathroom and several flat screens. read more

Dr. Runoko Rashidi Presents: African Glory and Majesty

Where you can find me tonight:

Dr Runoko Rashidi will return to Banneker City DC on Saturday July 30th, 2011 for a Lecture and Slide Presentation on AFRICAN GLORY & MAJESTY:

The event is co-sponsored by Baye Services and the Garvey's Voice. It will be held at The Tree of Life Public Charter School 2315- 18th Place NE WDC. Between 4PM to 8PM. Runoko will be publicly sworn in as UNIA-ACL Traveling Ambassador by the UNIA-ACL President General Senghor Jawara Baye.

He will be just returning from Egypt. Runoko has now traveled to over 100 countries and continues to share vital information on our global African Presence the world over. While serving as an active member of the UNIA-ACL for many years and also serving as an Associate Editor for the Garvey's Voice, he has been an Garveyite for over 30 years.

The event will also feature PaPa Aziz the Master Drummer, an African Market Place and Food Sales. Donation is $10.00 and advance tickets can be purchase at Blue Nile Trading Company 2826 Georgia Ave NW WDC or by calling 202-256-2518 or 202-427-6116.

Bill O'Reilly The Voice Of Reason?

Jon Stewart famously stated that FIX News has become so extreme that O'Reilly is now the FIX's voice of reason, and this is like being the skinniest kid at a fat camp.

Well, the skinniest fat kid is now trying to calm down the lunatic right (tea baggers) from driving our economy - and the world economy - off the cliff. When you have O'Reilly calling them hateful and crazy, it is truly time we take off the gloves with these folks (are you listening Mr. President - with all due respect).

Billspeak:

Bill O'Reilly took some Republicans to task on his Thursday show, saying that they needed to stop their "craziness," tone down their "hateful rhetoric" and pass a debt ceiling increase.

"The only thing that can save Barack Obama at this point is craziness on the right," he said. "...It's not only going to hurt the Republican party, which has already been hurt, but it's going to save President Obama who they hate."

"Exactly," Ingraham said.

"The irony is, the people who dislike President Obama the most...are helping him the most," O'Reilly said. "You've got to stop this hateful rhetoric. Some of the rhetoric is so hateful...it'd spin your head around. You have to say, listen, we're at a point in the history when we have to save the country." read more

As one commentor rhetorically pondered: Did Hell Freeze Over?

Look, Tea Baggers are by-in-large a FIX created Frankenstein. FIX News planted the seeds and nourished the growth - and now the beast is (as even O'Reilly and the very conservative Laura Ingraham agree) out of control with their hate speech.

FIX News if you are upset and befuddled, you have no one to blame but yourself!

Is Obama a Wartime President?

My fellow Godfather film aficionados can appreciate the following question:

Is President Obama a good wartime leader?

Or, similar to Tom Hayden – Sonny Corleon’s wartime consigliere – does Obama lack the temperament required to be a good war-leader?

And by war, I am not referring to Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya.

No, I am referring to the Tea Party/GOP lead war against Middle- America. The Tea Party has high jacked the GOP platform and has declared war on the American government and people. They have manufactured a party-made crisis (debt ceiling) in order to impose their will.

Their war objective: Rob the poor and not so poor to give to the extremely rich!

We need a war-time leader.

In the Godfather, no one questioned Tom Hayden’s skill set, intelligence or loyalty. However, Hayden’s personality – not combative enough to wage war – was better suited for bringing people together.

Likewise, Obama has a one in a millennium skill set. His grasp of the political issues is without a peer (except Bill Clinton) and his stamina/work effort is indefatigable.

Obama aims to be a unifier not a divider. He relishes reconciling people with different politics, ideas, ethnic backgrounds and religions. He doesn’t see Red state or Blue state, he sees fellow Americans.

In times of peace, these qualities are admirable. These qualities are what attracted many Obama supporters.

Right now we need a leader for the time we live in; a leader that recognizes the true nature and ulterior agenda of the GOP. Now is the time to fight and not hold hands singing We Are The World with an adversary that is dedicated to sabotaging said world.

Is Obama the man of the hour? To be frank, I hope so but I am not sure. Only history will tell. The legendary Winston Churchill – seen as a great wartime leader – faced the reverse problem:

Although Churchill's role in the Second World War had generated much support for him amongst the British population, he was defeated in the 1945 election. Many reasons for this have been given, key among them being that a desire for post-war reform was widespread amongst the population and that the man who had led Britain in war was not seen as the man to lead the nation in peace. Wikipedia.

The People and our American Way is too big to fail.

I Have Survived Cell Phonelessness

I am without cell phone.

I am off-line and unable to reach out and touch somebody. I have not uttered,

can you hear me now

nor

you are breaking up

for some time. Neither have I texted a message in almost a week.

And how do I feel?

Strangely, I feel liberated. Being unburdened by the demanding beck and call of a phone vibrating or playing some annoying tune (it was catchy the first 200 calls) 24/7 is blissfully serene.

Don't get me wrong, my initial response was panic. I tried to chase down and yell down the rental car I exited - but to no avail, my car-pool mate left me in a dust not noticing my frantic arm waving gestures.

After 24 hours of cell phone withdraw, I became consumed with an eerie tranquility. And when via e-mail communication (I'm not 100% digital free), I confirmed that my phone was safe and secure, I decided that I am not in a rush to retrieve it.

Of course, my cell and I will be reunited sooner rather than later; yet in still, I feel empowered by the knowledge that I can live a quality life absent my ubiquitous companion. And I feel a sense of superiority to all those cell phone slaves I see yammering on this communication devise as if their life depends on it.

Radical Shrinking of The Middle-Class

Statistical data regarding the radical shrinking of the middle-class serve as a stubborn fact that can not be swept under the rug.

Neither fancy propaganda, political rhetoric nor diversionary tactics (in other words FOX News programing) can hide the fact that the GOP designed supply side economics - ushered in by Ronald Reagan - has been a catastrophic disaster for the middle class.

Thirty years of more and more income and capital gains tax cuts, corporate deregulation, estate tax reduction, social program cutting has bankrupted our economy. The rich got super rich, the middle-class got squeezed and the poor became a permanent under-class.

And guess what - after the middle-class economic tsunami - the GOP wants even more tax reduction for the uber rich and more reduction of the social safety net that keeps our society from falling into feudalism.

The best explanation of the importance of a viable and strong middle-class was written in a Nigerian news website called The Nation:

The middle class, it needs to be stressed, is the bedrock of national stability and democracy. The middle class is the buffer and safety net between the filthy rich and the filthy poor. As it so happens with the ever changing dynamics of human society, on their way down, the super rich can be contained without a precipitate fall into cantankerous penury. On their way up, the once poor can be accommodated before they threaten the entire system.

The middle class serves as the guarantor of peace and prosperity in the modern society. Without them, there can be no democracy or national stability. It is the armistice zone which prevents the underprivileged from openly colliding with the over-privileged. A nation which destroys its middle class has killed the capacity of the people to dream of a better tomorrow and has added a dispossessed intellectual class to its list of mortal and implacable enemies.