I don’t know if this makes me want to use Foursquare more or immediately deactivate my account…

LOL at Ed Lover going in on the “We are the World Remix”. Damn, was it that bad?

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

Wow. The internet is mad popular, like for reals…

But seriously, 200 Billion spam emails a day? Do people respond to those or something? Because apparently it must be working for someone.

I’m so mad she kicked the tea table like that…classic.

Kevin Smith (director of Zach and Miri Make a Porno and the new movie Cop Out with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan — more commonly known to me as Silent Bob, so that’s what I’m going to call him) went ballistic today on Twitter then on his own podcast and blog over an incident that happened on a flight.  Silent Bob got asked to leave a Southwest Airline flight because he was too fat (not in those words, of course).  Silent Bob usually purchases two seats on flights because, according to him, “its just more comfortable” and he “can afford it” so he doesn’t usually run into this problem.  However, this time he got bumped to a different flight and only got one seat.  After he was already seated the flight attendant asked him to deplane because, to her judgement, the armrests could not easily go down all the way, a no-no for Southwest Airlines.

Silent Bob was, of course, enraged.  He admitted to the flight attendant that yes, he is fat, but that he isn’t so fat that he couldn’t fit comfortably in his seat.  After his social media outcries Southwest apologized twice (once as a Twitter response to Silent Bob).  Additionally, Silent Bob was able to get on a later Southwest flight, where he Twitpic-ed himself seated with both armrests down, so clearly the flight attendant judged incorrectly.

This is getting a lot of media buzz because Canada just passed a law (of course) that says if a passenger must get a second seat because they are overweight then the second seat is free.  Oh liberal Canada, that doesn’t even make sense.  Its another seat and it costs money.  If you bring a kid on a plane and they take up an extra seat it costs extra.  If you bring your large self on the plane it should cost extra, too.

Passenger advocacy groups (which I had no idea existed and who must not be doing that great of a job because we all have to pay that new extra fee for checked luggage… I’m just saying) are saying that this just goes to show that the airlines need more concrete guidelines so that flight attendants are not making subjective judgments on the fatness at which you can’t ride a plane.  They also say that with the rise of obesity in the U.S., the airlines should install special “obese” rows reserved for passengers that might need that extra room.  My thoughts… 1.) Its interesting that Silent Bob is not even so overweight that he really couldn’t get down the armrests, but he’s about to be the face for every obese advocacy cause.  2.) Tweeting something off the wall and making yourself the wronged victim right when you have a movie coming out is great PR.  Silent Bob got tons of Twitter followers off of this.  3.) Don’t fly Southwest if you’re fat, those seats are tight even if you can get the armrests down.  4.) Only fly first class if you’re fat because its more comfortable, you get better food anyways and its probably cheaper than buying the two seats you know you need to purchase so that your thigh won’t be touching me for the next 6 hours.

I should avoid saying the obvious about the U.S. really having a problem when people get to talking about obese rows on planes… but it really needs to be said.

Everyone is always going on and on about how the internet is changing the world.  Nobody believes in that change and potential for change more than Get Fresh Daily, and there are quite a few websites that really puts that into perspective.  One such website is Causecast.org

Causecast is a website that uses new media like webcasts, social media, and mobile technology to be a one-stop-shop for the caring, preachy, zealot, crunchy, socially conscious, tree hugger, social activists (you know, people like us).  Their official tagline is that they are an “interactive community that connects individuals, leaders, celebrities, and brands to make a positive impact in the world.”  I’m always excited about a cause, but Causecast can get you really engaged with your favorite cause, give you a resource to find out more about a cause or help you find new causes.  Other features include a weekly newsletter, interviews about social change with musicians, a How to Change the World guide that is updated every Wednesday, etc.  Also, the most popular causes have their own pages.   Its a lot of what I like to call philathro-tainment and its exactly how you would always like to see the internet being used.

There is a billboard on I-35 in Minnesota that is leaving people with quite a few questions all because it ask one simple question about former president George Bush:

My resounding answer:  Ummmm, hell to the naw!

Nobody seems to know who paid for the billboard or why they would pay for it.  Is it satire, is it a joke, or is somebody really serious about this?  I mean, obviously, they can’t possibly be serious about it, but you never know where people’s heads are at these days.

The questions this billboard raises for me are: Why would you even ask?  Do you miss being lied to ?  Do you miss mispronounced words and slightly incoherent sentences?  Do you miss nobody paying attention while Wall Street runs wild?  Do you miss randomly made up reasons for wars?  Do you miss enough funding to occupy Iraq, but not enough funding to provide emergency aid or to run FEMA?  Where were they going with that?  etc.

I hope this billboard doesn’t start popping up in other places.

There’s a great idea vying for the Pepsi Refresh Project $250k Grant this month. It’s called the Building Wealth Movement and it’s all about teaching financial education grass roots style. Building wealth in our community is imperative for our communities survival, and educating main street about financial empowerment is the key. Find out more about this movement at www.WSBuildingWealth.com.

Please support the movement by voting everyday throughout February at  http://www.refresheverything.com/wsbuildingwealth .

Follow on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/4buildingwealth

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/WS-Building-Wealth/474066540485?v=wall

I’d like you to meet someone. You might have met this little fella before, but just in case you haven’t, I feel obliged to introduce. His name is Curtis, and he loves bacon more than anyone I know (which is saying a lot). But that’s not all, he also stands firm in his beliefs, which is hard to find in most 10 year olds. Enjoy:

Isn’t he a gem? I. Love. Wife Swap.

Introducing Harlem’s first ever Restaurant Week! Well, actually, it’s a month long…but so is Harlem Week (Oh well *Kanye shrug*). Starting February 15 until March 15 you can enjoy 3 course meals for $20.10 at participating Harlem eateries and specialty items for $20.10 at Harlem retailers. If that didn’t sound intriguing enough, $1 of each purchase will go to UNICEF for Haitian earthquake relief efforts.

Check out the Harlem Restaurant Week Participants (Links to the actual websites, followed by links to their Yelp.com profiles):

67 Orange Street
(Yelp Profile)

Angelina
(Yelp Profile)

Cafe du Soleil
(Yelp Profile)

Chez Lucienne
(Yelp Profile)

Creole
(Yelp Profile)

Gospel Uptown
(Yelp Profile)

Grand Piatto D’Oro
(Yelp Profile)

Londel’s
(Yelp Profile)

Melba’s
(Yelp Profile)

Mobay
(Yelp Profile)

Moca
(Yelp Profile)

Mojo
(Yelp Profile)

Native
(Yelp Profile)

Nectar Wine Bar
(Yelp Profile)

Questan’s
(Yelp Profile)

Society Cafe
(Yelp Profile)

Sylvia’s
(Yelp Profile)

I’m definitely going to hit up 67 Orange Street, Mojo, Piatto D’Oro, Creole and Gospel Uptown. But then again at $20.10, all month long, I’ll probably make it to each restaurant…

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Week is brought to you by Harlem Park to Park and The Harlem Business Alliance. Find the complete list of restaurants and retailers at www.harlemrestaurantandretailweek.com

In case you missed it and don’t feel like watching the whole thing, watch this 5 minute version from NYMag:

Yo, my man O-Brizzy is a straight comedian. He kept it so real. I appreciate that, and the American people did too; about 80% of the people who watched had a positive reaction to the presidents speech. I guess they “almost forgot he was black.” *blank stare*…ehh thanks Chris Matthews:

Mariah feat Ne-yo “Angels Cry”

Mariah feat Nicki Minaj “Up Out My Face”

I love you Mariah, but you really GOTTA STOP DRESSING LIKE A 17 YEAR OLD. Okay thanks, I’m done. On a personal note, I definitely feel her on the “when I’m done, I’m done” tip, that chorus might get sung to many a knee-grow this year.

“If we were two Lego blocks, even the Harvard graduating class of 2010 couldn’t put us back together again…” LMAO

Tonight there is a wonderful event going on called “HEARTS FOR HAITI”. It is not another benefit, but rather a celebration of the Haitian spirit. Please come out if you can:

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 @ Arena
135 W 41st St
(Between Broadway & 6th Ave)

7pm-midnight
Open bar 7pm-8:30pm compliments of Hennessy

Music by DJs Clue, D-Nice, Jon Quick, Kiss, Mick Boogie, M.O.S., Ted Smooth, Tony Touch

Downstairs in the carnivale lounge DJ Franky of the Untouchables playing the best of Haitian Konpa & Zouk

Hearts for Haiti Host Committee:
Andrea Price, Angela Yee, Arlene Pitterson, Blacklight Ent., Calcie Cooper, Demetria Lucas, Derrin Woodhouse, DJ Big Des, DJ CEO, DJ Cosi, DJ Herbert Holler, Dr. Lee Gause, Ed Freiberg, Edgar Taveras, Eric Soler, Esther-Mireya Tejeda, Fabrice Armand, Fred Cool Out, Gardy Guerrier, Gary Grant, George Sepulveda, Enterprises, Hen Rock, J. Medina, James Cruz, Joseph Solis, Kevin Powell, Kwame Jackson, L. Boogs, Laura Stylez, Red Carpet Entertainment, Liris Crosse, L-Mani V, Lola and Tom Patrick-Odeen , Lord Sear, Mack Petion, Marc Smooth, Marlene Taveras, MIH Icons, N3P Media, Obinna Onyeagoro, Omar Hamilton, Paul Estevez, ParlourMagazine.com, Persaud Brothers, Pulse Greek Network, Roman, Sacajawea Hall, Shane & Shawn Ward, Shawn Pecas, Shon Miller, Stone Jackson, The Kid Daytona, Walker, Tiza Alejandro, Tony Martinez, Yardley Messeroux

Minimum donation: $20. All additional amounts, including checks are welcomed.

We also encourage all to bring one or more of the following items:
Blankets, Nutritional bars/granola bars, solar flash lights, clothes, feminine products, shoes, candles/matches, medicine, first aid kit, and purification tablets (to purify water for drinking)

100% OF ALL MONETARY PROCEEDS COLLECTED AT THE DOOR WILL BE DONATED TO DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS WITH A DESIGNATION TO THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT & ALL CLOTHING AND SUPPLY DONATIONS WILL BE DONATED TO YELE HAITI.

Attire in good taste. 21 and over. ID a must.

So clearly they had to make a remix to Larry Platt’s now infamous, original song “Pants on the Ground”…

Too bad I kinda like the song. SMH.

Anywho, if you haven’t seen the American Idol clip, here it is:

Because I love you, I give you Japanese breakdancing robots:

Ok, so in the last post I told you how you can help Haiti, but just in case that wasn’t enough and you need some convincing and some inspiration…
Our fellow bloggers (and recording artists… they’re multi-talented) Blogsworth and Prime Minis of ALLSMiLES made this track called Hold the World. It samples Lil’ Wayne and Eminem’s Drop the World. However, it puts a much more positive spin on the lyrics and is great inspiration not only for contributing to the Haiti relief effort, but also fitting for celebrating the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A great reminder of the responsibility each of us has to humanity.
Hold the World

Blogzworth & Prime Minis have a message for you

Whatever you’re views might be on Lady Gaga, her heart seems to be in the right place. She is selling a shirt on her website 100 percent of the proceeds of which will go towards the relief effort. Also, she has pledged to donate all proceeds from merchandise sales at her January 24th Radio City Music Hall show.

Lady Gaga Haiti T-Shirt

A number of actors, including Meryl Streep (love her!), Olivia Wilde, and Josh Brolin are auctioning off the clothes they wore to Sunday night’s Golden Globes and will donate the money raised by the auction to Haitian relief.

The gown Meryl Streep will be auctioning

On January 22nd there will be a telethon called Hope for Haiti in which artists will perform and speak to encourage proceeds for aid in Haiti. George Clooney, who will host the show along with Wyclef Jean and Anderson Cooper, says that over 40 artists will be in attendance (bet Kanye won’t be invited to this telethon, though). The show will be played on just about every station imaginable, including MTV, and will benefit Red Cross, Yele, UNICEF, Oxfam and Partners in Health. Additionally, many of the songs from Hope for Haiti artists will be available on iTunes with proceeds going to benefit the partner non-profits.

The devastation seen on TV in Haiti is overwhelming.  Up until now I have found it hard to even write about the situation. As the most empoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti simply was not prepared to handle disaster.  However, I know that help is on the way because so many people are mobilizing and doing what they can to support the relief effort.  It is bad enough that the infrastructure had gotten to the state that it had been in and it is truly unfortunate that it took a disaster to bring much needed attention to this small nation.  Now that they’ve got our attention it is not only kind to help, but it is imperative.  How appropriate that this is Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend, a time in which we recall that devoting ourselves to helping and showing empathy to those in need is true humanity.  Here are just a few ways you can help with Haiti:

The threeKings NYC MLK Weekend All Black Affair (mentioned in an earlier post) will now be granting free admission to anybody bringing a printout receipt for a donation of at least $10 to Yele Haiti or American Red Cross to Sunday night’s party at Crimson.  A portion of the event proceeds will also be donated.

Other events include:

I know I barely gave you enough notice for this one, but just in case…

If you are less into events and more into giving directly, here are some reputable organizations to donate to.  There are organizations that are focused on just getting much needed supplies to Haiti, while others are organizing and sending medical teams, or focusing on taking care of the children.

American Red Cross
Care
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
Direct Relief International
International Medial Corps
International Relief Teams
Better Future (Orphans) International
UNICEF
Yele Haiti

Time for the annual threeKings NYC MLK Weekend Party.  The attire, just like the president and the newest Disney Princess is black.  Don’t party too hard, though.  You gotta get up the next day and do something to better your community, even if that means working on your come-up plan.

I have to say that Brooklyn Museum of Art consistently has exhibits that I am interested in.  I don’t know if you guys remember when I was raving about the Murakami exhibit about a year and some change ago, which actually turned out to be about 10 steps past crazy, but still really good.

Well, I have a new exhibit to rave about.  Until January 31st Brooklyn Museum of Art will have the exhibit Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History 1955 to the Present on display.  Who Shot Rock & Roll takes a look at some amazing photography that documents the power of imagery in rock and roll and brings to light the photographers’ influence and collaboration in displaying the artist.  Although the exhibit focuses on rock and roll artists you’ll find hip hop and pop artists amongst the photographs, too.  The pictures range from fresh to raw and surreal, but none are regular and all are rare.

Visit BrooklynMuseum.org for more info.