A Lot About Nothing – Wordpress

Category: News

  • DJ Cancels Party for ‘Light-Skinned’ Black Women

    DJ Lish Light Skin Libra Birthday Bash FlyerI seriously thought this flyer was a joke when I saw it posted on a message board several days ago. “Light Skinned Women & All Libra’s Free Entry All Night”, states the (badly designed) flyer.

    Detroit promoter Ulysses “DJ Lish” Barnes apparently cancelled the event that was supposed to occur last night at Club APT after getting a furor of angry calls and emails when word of the party spread to the net.

    Barnes, 27, said that he “didn’t think there would be a backlash”. Really? He didn’t think that Black women of ‘darker’ shades would have felt ostrasized by an event that stated that only light-skinned women (and Libras!) got in to the party with no cover charge? According to a Detroit News story Barnes said:

    I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I had planned a party for other shades (of black women). We were going to take a shade of color each week. Next week was going to be a party for ‘Sexy Chocolate’ and the week after that ‘Sexy Caramel.

    That seems like a bold-face lie. He probably just said that to try and save face. Regardless of how many ‘shaded’ parties he planned on throwing, he’s still being ignorant.

    How could he have believed that he wouldn’t offend anyone with an event titled as such? What was he gonna do? Stand at the doors of the club and verify that the light-skinned women who wanted to get in free were actually light-skinned and take out a brown paper bag to make sure?  I could just picture it now: “I’m sorry.  You’re too dark-skinned.  You have to pay the cover charge.”  What if two “light-skinned” women were to show up, one being a bit darker than the other–where do you draw the line?

    It’s probably not surprising to some that Barnes happens to be a “dark skinned” black man. I bet if there was a party being thrown for free entry for all the light-skinned brothas out there, he’d understand why there was such a backlash. It’s sad to think that as a ‘Black’ community there’s so much prejudice within our own race.

    Well I guess something good came out of this situation: On DJ Lish’s MySpace page he’s now presenting “Controversy” as next Friday’s themed event. Everybody free entry all night.

    DJ Lish Controversy Flyer

  • ‘Honest Ed’ Mirvish Dies At 92

    Ed Mirvish - photo from mirvish.comTorontonians have lost a legend in their city. ‘Honest Ed’ Mirvish died early this morning, just a few weeks shy of celebrating his 93rd birthday. Here is a press release from Mirvish Productions.

    The Mirvish Family regrets to announce the passing of Edwin Mirvish on July 11, 2007 in the early hours of the morning at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. Born July 24, 1914, he was only a few weeks away from reaching his 93rd birthday.

    An entrepreneur, theatrical impresario and producer, Mr. Mirvish was known as “Honest Ed,” also the name of his world-famous discount emporium at Bloor and Bathurst in Toronto. He entered the theatrical community when he purchased and saved from demolition the stately Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto in 1963. Lavishly restoring the legendary venue, he began producing shows and soon became a major force in the theatre. He also bought and restored the Old Vic in London, England, and with his son, David Mirvish, built the award-winning Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in 1993.

    Mr. Mirvish was a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a Member of the Order of Canada and the recipient of more than 250 awards.

    Ed Mirvish truly left his mark on Toronto. He’s best known for his discount store Honest Ed’s (at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst), his charitable work (such as his legendary turkey & fruitcake giveaway each Christmas), his famous July birthday celebrations which were attended by thousands of people, and bringing profitable theatre shows such as Miss Saigon, The Lion King, Mamma Mia! to Toronto.

    My condolences go out to the Mirvish family. The city has truly lost an icon, but I hope that people won’t forget his generosity, vivacity for life and economic and cultural influence towards not only Toronto, but Canada.

  • Apple’s iPhone Release: The Time Is Near

    iPhone - Photo Credit: Apple.com

    Ever since Steve Jobs’ Macworld Keynote back in January, tech-savvy (and band-wagoners) have been itching to get their hands on the much-awaited iPhone: Apple’s device that’s an iPod, a phone, an Internet mobile communicator in one. This sure is one sexy phone.

    Now, unless you have been living under a rock, there is a feeding frenzy that will occur in less than 24 hours. A mass techsteria like the world has never seen. Starting tomorrow at 6pm, Americans who have been camping outside Apple and AT&T stores since the beginning of the week will be able to purchase the iPhone. I can’t even image the hysteria that will ensue. And I thought Boxing Day was bad. I’ll be on the lookout for ‘brawls break out in iPhone lineup’ stories in the news tomorrow. Check out this listing on Craigslist for a “line-waiter” position. And another one asking for help. Wow… this is just a few of many similar listings. People are willing to ask for and even willing to pay up to the price of an iPhone ($500) just for a spot in line.

    Will I purchase one when it comes to Canada through Rogers Wireless? Probably not at first. I just bought a Nokia 6265i from Telus last week (they offered me an amazing monthly plan, and all I had to do was sign 2 years of my life away to get the phone for $49.99), so the iPhone would probably have to wait until after that (or until I find an extra $500 lying around). Hell… I don’t even have an iPod yet.

    The iPhone does look amazing though. I think it will live up to the hype (unless escalating complaints about AT&T’s network arise). The most intriguing feature I’m looking forward to though is the multi-touch display (I hope they’ll give away free screen wipes). For a quick rundown on those still wondering what the iPhone is, here’s a quick rundown from apple.com:

    iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a revolutionary multi-touch display and pioneering new software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers. iPhone combines three products into one small and lightweight handheld device—a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod®, and the Internet in your pocket with best-ever applications on a mobile phone for email, web browsing and maps. iPhone ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones.

    If you want more in depth coverage on the features of the iPhone, check out the Apple site. I also really like that “slide to unlock” feature. You don’t know how many times my old cell phone took pictures of the inside of my bag…

    Personally, I think the iPhone is going to transform the mobile telephone industry, the same way the iPod affected the record industry. It sucks that now I probably can’t watch an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation without critiquing a technological device and saying “the iPhone is so much better than that”. ;)

    To cheer up all the people who cannot purchase an iPhone because they don’t live in the U.S., or would rather use the $500 for more constructive means, here’s a funny sketch from MadTV that pokes fun at Steve Jobs’ Apple technology (along with obvious U.S. political satire):

    [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=xcjLEwZqcQI[/youtube]

  • The Case of the $54 Million Pants Rejected

    Well it seems as though Roy L. Pearson is the new poster-child for legal abuse. I’m sure most of you have heard this ridiculous story in the news recently. Pearson, an administrative law judge (yes… a judge making a frivolous claim such as this), had his lawsuit rejected Monday after claiming a “satisfaction guaranteed” sign in Custom Cleaners (owned Soo Chung), broke promises.

    Pearson had originally asked the cleaners to pay $1150US after they misplaced a pair of pants he brought in for a simple alteration back in 2005. Funny enough, a few days later he refused to accept that the pair of pants from the Chung family when they found them, claiming they weren’t his.

    So, being the smart person that he is, he charged about $1500 for every day the “satisfaction guaranteed” sign was displayed at Custom Cleaners. Multiply that by four years and each defendant you get… well, a lot of money. Let’s not forget the $15,000 he needed to use to rent a car in order to take his clothes to another cleaners.

    Now originally, Pearson sought about $67 million from the Chung family, but he reduced it to $54 million (how thoughtful of him). Now he probably has to fork over thousands to pay the Chung’s legal fees… I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to go for an appeal (or loses his job).

    This is worse than when those people were suing McDonald’s for making them ‘fat’. It really disgusts me to see how many people are abusing the legal system. Money makes the world go ’round…