Okay, so one of my first posts on this blog was a story pretty much shunning French Vogue for deciding to publish a photo shoot of a white model painted black, ala blackface.

Well, since then, a lot of new developments have been happening in the area of covert racism, one of which is me analyzing my views on the matter.

Tyra Banks, super model and all around estrogenized drama queen, recently aired an episode of ANTM in which all of the remaining models on the show were featured in photo shoot in which they were made up to look like another race. While Tyra intelligently didn’t do any white to black transformations, a few of the models did have their skin darkened to appear to be a certain nationality; the transformations were more country based than on actual races denoted by skin tones. Let’s also not forget that she took great pains to explain the shoot. Giving us both context and content (Ahem, ahem… French Vogue).

Another more recent occurance is “black people” inspired costumes being worn to a Halloween party by white students at Northwestern University in Chicago. One student painted his skin black, donned dreadlocks, and a shirt with “Jamaica” scribed on it and became Bob Marley. The other student appeared as a black woman with a tennis racket, presumably as one of the Williams sisters.

This is the story that got me thinking.

I will admit one thing, some of French Vogue’s photos were nice, and it wasn’t just the idea of the model being in blackface that upset many people. It was that there seemed to be no apparent reason for it expressed in the issue, giving people room to make their own conjectures. Also, given the fact that the modeling industry has a long history of racial discrimination, it doesn’t help their cause in seeming very PC.

I did say that it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. With that, I will say that I’m not totally against people of other races dressing up as black people, especially on Halloween. FAMOUS BLACK PEOPLE. I will say that people of other races coming to parties dressed up as black Gangstas, Pimps, and Ho’s are not as easily acceptable especially since the people portrayed could be of any color (including your own), not just black. This is what makes some blackface escapades stereotypical and seemingly racist, it’s not the act itself, it’s the context.

Since there is only one Bob Marley of reggae fame, and two Williams sisters of tennis fame, (not to mention the proverbial army of Michael Jacksons there were this year; black, white and of course, the “Puerto Rican phase” ) who all happen to be black, the costumes must be much more specific, and a white person dressing as these people would probably not get the point across any other way.

So, I alter my feelings a little. It’s not what you do people, it’s how you do it and the context in which it is done. I know that no matter what you do, somebody will be offended. Hopefully however, when something is done, it’s done with decent intentions. Without knowing the conduct of those two students, I will say no harm, no foul; especially if they weren’t defaming  or stereotyping the people they were portraying along racial lines. For all we know they could have posters of these people on their walls and love them more than we do.

Read more on the Northwestern incident here.

“That’s all I have to say about that…” -Forrest Gump

Apparently so. According to a story on AOL.com, “sex is one of the major triggers for the baffling medical condition called transient global amnesia in which patients lose their ability to retain immediate memory.”

Sounds like something out of a soap opera right? Well, if that’s the case, then 59 year old Alice (she declined to give her last name) is the star.

One August morning last year, Alice and her husband Scott did what most married couples do on average of two to three times a week, they had sex. However afterwards, instead of asking, “Was it good for you”, when Scott turned on the tv and the Olympics were playing, Alice looked at him perplexed and asked, “Is there an olympics?”

Scott asked Alice a couple of questions, including, ”What day is it?” which Alice did not remember, and ”Who’s the president”, to which she answered, “Bill Clinton”, in 2008. Fearing that his wife was having a stroke, Scott immediately called 911 and rushed her to the hospital.

At the hospital, for some time Alice continually asked the same few questions over and over, not being able to remember the answers. When she found out the… ahem… circumstances of her condition, she’d crack the same joke to her husband, “Let me get this straight. We had sex. I wind up in the hospital and I can’t remember anything? You owe me a 30 carat diamond!” That may have been funny the first few times, but each time Alice went through the sequence, Scott became more and more worried for her.

Alice was tested extensively until doctors found the culprit causing her memory loss. Eventually her memory returned and the couple have been living happily ever after. Alice still doesn’t remember that morning, or what happened, only falling asleep with a slight headache the night before. Because of this, she now refuses to have sex when she has a headache (sound familar?). Sorry Scott, stock up on some asprin, I guess.

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It’s no surprise when I say there needs to be a change in the Big Easy - and no I’m not talking about the Saints (for once).

The New Orleans Hornets are struggling to the tune of a 1-3 start to the season, with their lone win against a horrible Sacramento King team and their most recent loss to the New York Knicks last night 117-111 despite solid double-doubles by both Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor.

The team as a whole stinks. David West is now the most overrated forward in the entire NBA (well maybe second most to Zach Randolph) and he may be the only salvageable trade bait without parting with Paul or Okafor. Byron Scott is holding true to his motto of not playing rookies, regardless of how bad his veterans are. The two PROMISING rookies for the Hornets have played a combined 3 MINUTES through the first four games with all of which going to Darren Collison against Spurs last week.

Instead, Scott is sticking with perhaps the worst player in the NBA, Morris Peterson. Mo Pete hasn’t played decent basketball in at least three years and has shown no signs of life averaging a measly 6.5 points per game with less than 1 assist and shooting 35% from the field and 25% from three. Granted this is coming from a guy that’s “supposed” to be an above average jump shooter. And let’s not forget he was the main guy that guarded Kobe Bryant on his remarkable 81 point game four years ago. So his defense is shit, too.

What should they do?

For starters, Peterson, Peja Stojakovic and West all have to go. Rumor is the Hornets are interested in the Warriors’ forward Stephen Jackson. With an abundance of talent at Jackson’s position, the one time NBA champion should be traded within the next couple of weeks. If the Hornets can trade two of three (or all, if we’re lucky) of the above mentioned guys for Jackson and maybe either Anthony Marrow or Acie Law, the Bees would be well improved.

Hornets management shouldn’t stop there, though.

Byron Scott has to go! He is too stubborn in his coaching and seems to have lost this team. Chris Paul of all people spoke out last night after their loss about how the team needs to find an identity. And he’s right. This team has no identity. Aside from Paul working his magic and Okafor collecting some boards and put backs, this team has nothing going for them. To fit Paul’s skill set, the team has to get longer, faster and meaner. None of which describes David West who is slow, short and a nightmare on defense.

Hire someone like Flip Saunders. Trade for a guy like Stephen Jackson. And play talented rookies like Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton. This team could be a fifth or sixth seed in the West. Changes have to be made soon, before they dig themselves into too big of a hole and lose yet another promising season with the most dominant point guard in the league.

You can check them out here or you can see a few of them in Wednesday’s issue.

Enjoy!

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel might have made the biggest mistake in World Series history by not starting ace Cliff Lee last night against the Yankees. The Yanks started game 1 starter CC Sabathia yet again on only 3 days rest because they knew the importance of game 4. Flash forward to a decent outing by Joe Blanton and another horrible outing by closer Brad Lidge and the Phillies now find themselves down 3-1 to the Yankees and are pitching Lee a day late in a game that they’ll likely win, but to much dismay.

Instead of going all out last night and tying the series 2-2 with Lee (their game 1 winner), they now find themselves in a hole and have to win 3 games in a row to win the Series, which isn’t going to happen. If Lee pitched last night then he would’ve been available for a game 7 showdown against Sabathia, now he’s not.

Charlie Manuel is an idiot….

….just listen to him talk. He really is.

The Saints are set to face their first divisional opponent tonight on MNF with an unbeaten record at stake. How will it end up?

In short, the Saints will rise to the occasion at home and show the world that they are for real.

Key Match ups:

Saints receivers versus a young Falcon secondary. Drew Brees will pick a part a cornerback duo of Chris Houston and Brent Grimes. Much apologies to former Tiger Chevis Jackson and co., but Colston and boys are too big, fast and physical to be slowed down.

On the other hand, the Saints will have a tough time defending a Falcons passing attach headlined by Roddy White and the aging Tony Gonzalez. The key will be can Vilma and Sharper hold their own, and make Gonzalez a non factor. White can get his touches as long as we shut down the other guys.

The biggest test for the Saints will be Michael Turner. Earlier today we learned that Saints’ D-lineman Sedrick Ellis will be out for 4-6 weeks. This hurts more than ever, playing one of the more talented backs in the league. Turner hasn’t shown his explosive running that he had last year when he rushed for close to 1,700 yards. Through six games Turner has only gained 403 yards, as opposed to 597 yards through six games last year.

The X Factor is the Saints playing at home with a winning team. The fans will be out and the Superdome will be electric tonight giving the Saints the overall advantage. Unless the Falcons can build an early lead on the back of Turner and are able to control the time of possession, the Saints shouldn’t have a problem improving to 7-0.

Prediction:

Saints 33  Falcons24

Enjoy

Frenchman Street

Rue Bourbon

Basketball is in the air. Let’s just take and minute and breath it all in.

……

..

There we go. The NBA season is just under a week old but its starting to shape up to be a good one. Teams like the Lakers, Celtics and Magic have looked flawless, while early favorites like the Spurs and Cavaliers have already slipped. I find it funny that the Spurs can beat the Hornets (very badly) despite Timmy Duncan only scoring nine points and hauling in 12 boards, but the Spurs lose the next night to the Bulls (of all teams) when Duncan explodes for 28 points, 16 boards and three blocks. What gives? One things for sure, Tony Parker is not as good as people think and Manu Ginobili is through. The Cavaliers on the other hand are just not a very athletic team (outside of Lebron of course). Shaq and Big Z stand no chance matching up with teams that run pick and rolls with their bigs, and Mo Williams has (seemingly) taken a step back from his stellar season a year ago.

The big dogs led by the defending Champ Lakers, are all out for blood. If the Lakers, Magic and Celts can stay healthy there’s a chance all three will have well over 55 wins, maybe 60+. The Lakers’ young center Andrew Bynum has looked spectacular and could push for most improved player of the year if he can stay healthy. The big question on everyone’s mind is Ron Artest and can he keep his head in check. I think he will. Kobe will see to that. Artest may very well be legally insane but he will play nice for at least one title. (After this year, not a chance)

My come back kids this year is gonna be the OK City Thunder. This team has a chance to be good for a long time with youngsters like Durant, Westbrook, Green and Harden locked in. Westbrook may have had one of the most under the radar rookie seasons ever last year as he averaged right at 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The kid does have an issue with turnovers but that will heal with experience. Throw in a veteran center with upside like Nenad Kristic and you have a team that could challenge  the West bottom feeders for the eighth playoff spot.

Game of the Night:

Mavericks @ Lakers tonight on ESPN

While most are out partying, be sure to find a TV at the bar or the apartment with this game on. Should be an entertaining one. Pau Gasol is supposed to make his season debut tonight and Kobe always enjoys playing against Jason Kidd.

Next week we’ll have a better picture of who is on the right track and who needs a fine tuned adjustment.

Photo by Zack Smith

 

Tigerweekly recently had the privilege to chop it up with DJ Soul Sister, the queen of the New Orleans underground DJ scene. A well-respected DJ artist specializing in “positive soulful vibrations,” she is a veteran radio programmer. Well known as a compulsive vinyl collector, habitual crate digger,  top party promoter and all around tastemaker not only in her native New Orleans, but worldwide.

 

TW: Describe yourself in three words or less.

 SS: Positive creative nuisance.

TW: How did you get started with DJ-ing?

 SS: I have no idea.  Seriously, I am a crate digger first, so I’ve been digging for crazy records since I was, like, 6, when my dad took me to the bargain bin at the old Sound Warehouse record chain back in the day.  Then there was that time when I was 5.  The legend has it that I asked my dad and his friends to buy me “Oops Upside Your Head” (a popular Gap Band song in 1979.)  During high school, I kept buying records - I’d hit up garage sales on the weekends and I’d dig wherever I could.  I started volunteering at WWOZ and doing my radio show straight into college, at around 18 or 19.  By the time I got to WWOZ, I already had about 1,000 records.  Around that time, a great friend of mine named Sarah Fritz really pushed me to try what I did live, in the club, so she promoted my first parties back in ‘97.  I’m a fan of the disco mix, so it was always important for me to blend and match beats back then, because I wanted to rock it as true as the disco pioneers did it.  It’s been on ever since, and I am still true to the music I love and to the mix.  And to throwing right on, free-spirited parties, the way Sarah inspired me to.    

TW: I understand you have a lot of influences. What or who are you really grooving to at the moment?

SS: I just bought a compilation of 1970s German funk & disco called G-Funk.  I’m forever listening to James Brown, my favorite artist of all times, so I’ve been wearing out his version of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and you know why.  And, as far as new music, nothing is better than West Coast funker Dam-Funk, who just dropped his first release on Stones Throw Records called Toeachizown.  It’s all about the funk. 

TW: You have quite a following both in New Orleans and around the country. What do you attribute to your success?

SS: Well, I’m thrilled and blessed to know that people dig the original musicians and underground music I feature, what I’m about and what soulful funky music is about.  I’m just having fun and I think people vibe off of positive, fun energy.  I’m not for everyone - I’m not a request DJ or anything like that.  I call myself a “dj artist,” because I’m doing my thing and if you come to enjoy “DJ Soul Sister” or one of my right on party situations, then what you see is what you get.  So maybe folks vibe off the individuality part of my parties.  Or they just like to see someone gettin’ on down and not caring what anyone else thinks.  As long as they join in too, I love it.   

TW: So what’s playing on your ipod or MP3 player right now?

SS: Don’t laugh, but I don’t have an Ipod or MP3.  I’m so analog it’s disgusting.  I have 3 turntables set up in my house, plus one CD player that’s on the fritz.  So right now I’ve been listening to tons of my P-Funk records, cause those are my roots too - Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Parlet, The Brides of Funkenstein.  Speaking of the Brides, I just found out that I was blood related to one of the original Brides of Funkenstein, Dawn Silva.  How wild is that? Funkin’s in the blood for real.  I’m listening to so much P-Funk right now because I’m gearing up for a P-Funk Marathon that I will be hosting live on WWOZ this Friday night/Saturday morning (Oct. 31) from 12-5am.  As soon as I leave Voodoo on Friday night, I’m headed to WWOZ where I will throw down 5 hours of P-Funk power all night long.   Everyone can listen in at wwoz.org.   

TW: Okay. Well, as a New Orleans native, how does it feel to be spinning at Voodoo?

SS: I’m happy to bring my energy anywhere that is about having big fun, bringing people together and, especially in the case of Voodoo, getting into the nonconfirmist & underground side of things.  So, many of the New Orleans artists you’ll see at Voodoo are not necessarily the big name jazz & blues acts, but they are the creative artists that are really making stuff happen under the radar - people like Ratty Scurvics, the TBC Brass Band or Katey Red, Big Freedia & Sissy Nobby. I love that Voodoo is a showcase for the real underground of New Orleans.

TW: What is a typical DJ Soul Sister Show like? Anything special planned for Voodoo?

SS: The DJ Soul Sister Show or, as I like to call it, “right on party situation,” guarantees big fun with your behind in mind.  The stars of the show are the audience members who do their own thing while I do mine.  I’ll have my Booty Patrol Dancers with me to help inspired the party, plus I invite all the girls who are down with the Booty Patrol to join us.  My sets typically feature anything from rare groove & deep funk to underground disco to Afro Beat, classic old school, true school hip hop, punk rock, electro, boogie, loud sounds to wake up the neighbors and make them dance, and anything else I feel like at that time.  Saturday night I’m going to do a special feature, thanks to the help of choreographers Trixie Minx & Cynthia Garza and legions of Camel Toe Lady Steppers, members of Fleur de Tease & other dancing zombie friends.  We’re going to stage a live “Thriller” Dance-Along.  And on Sunday - well, anyone who remembers last year on Sunday night knows what surprises to expect.  Let’s just say that last year, I decided to break out my estranged alter-ego, DJ 17th Ward Hot Girl, and take it back to my early 90s high school time with that classic New Orleans bounce.  These days, I only do that set at Voodoo, so get ready.

TW:  How does it feel to be one of the few true female DJ’s holding it down in the 504 and beyond?

SS: The number one rule for me is if there’s no one else around to do what you want, then do it yourself.  I keep throwing the parties I do and spinning the sets that I do because, when I started, I didn’t see anyone doing it.  I hope I inspire others to only do what they love, but I really want to inspire other women because the DJ community, especially in NOLA, is a man’s world.  How does it feel?  1% exhausting, 1% frustrating and, the rest of the time, completely rewarding because I’m sworn to fun and loyal to The One, that being the funk.  It can also feel kind of hilarious.  Most of the time, on these big shows, like the one I’m doing this Thursday (October 29) at Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans with The Knux, Biz Markie & Jay Electronica, I will be the only woman at sound check, trying to set up & take care of biz.  I love the confused looks from the fellas, checking me out setting up turntables & vinyl records!  Lots of cats don’t know what to think of me.  It’s very entertaining.      

TW: Do you feel that the DJ scene is easier to get into as a female now than it has been before?

SS: Well, it’s probably easier because lots of folks that call themselves DJs are just pushing a button on an Ipod player.  That’s human jukeboxing, that’s not DJing.  On the other hand, women who love the culture of DJing and have a real knowledge and love of music will have a very easy time to get in because people want quality and something different. 

TW: Any Advice to people out there new to the craft? Male, female, or both.

SS: Love music and know it inside out.  Learn DJ culture and history, not just of hip hop, but the origins of selectors in Jamaica, the disco and dance music DJs in the 1970s who pioneered most of the DJ technology we still use today.  Learn the history of the turntablists, but know where your strength is and what you want to contribute to the culture.  And do not settle to do anything you don’t want to do.  We need to return to a culture of dj artists who used music to uplift, motivate, inspire & energize.  The original underground hip hop & disco parties were built on that aesthetic.  There’s a crew of risky folks all around the world who are still doing it, but we need more in New Orleans and Louisiana.  There’s millions of DJs out here.  Be different from that and memorable and be a DJ artist, and let your individuality come through in your sets.     

TW: If people like what they hear at Voodoo, how can they get more? What’s next for DJ Soul Sister?

SS: I’m celebrating my 15th year of being at WWOZ 90.7 FM and wwoz.org in New Orleans.  I host the “Soul Power” show every Saturday from 8-10pm.  Also, every Saturday from 11pm-4am, I throw the “HUSTLE!” party, upstairs at Mimi’s in the Marigny (2601 Royal St.) in New Orleans, and that’s been going real strong for 5 years.  I’m throwing tons of additional, specially themed “right on party situations” at other locations, and folks can keep track of the jams at www.myspace.com/djsoulsis.  Other than that, I plan to keep having big fun on the one, hopefully for as long as the people dig the sounds and keep on getting down.

T-Shirt Design by New Orleans Company, Dirty Coast Press

 

Not that the play even mattered, but Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin was right when he criticized the SEC officials Sunday about not calling a penalty on Alabama tackle Terrance Cody after he removed his helmet in celebration following his game winning field goal block to secure the Tide’s victory.

Today the SEC announced that they have “reprimanded” Kiffin for his remarks, which is the equivalent of a warning.

This is bogus. There’s no reason the SEC should act so “snobby” about their remarks towards their refs, especially in light of the horrible calls that have taken place in the last few weeks. Sure Cody should have received a penalty. Would it have affected the outcome? Not Likely, but it would have been warranted.

The SEC is basically saying that you can’t as much as point towards the sky after a touchdown, but if you block a kick you can take your helmet off and run like a fat ass (which is what Cody is) all around the field in celebration. I call bullshit.

The refs need to get on their A-game fast because if they blow a big call in 2 weeks when LSU travels down to Tuscaloosa, the league can expect riots.