Sunday, April 29, 2012

Gloom Of Our Doom: Money, Power, And Wall Street

I just watched Part One of a PBS Frontline show on the financial crisis in America, and how it came to be.

I thought I was fully aware, yet I was amazed at the level of greed and incompetence of the financial community, willing to take us to the brink of another 1929 type of disaster. Alan Greenspan and his supporters are true idiots to have believed and behaved as though the bankers, and their markets, would regulate themselves. When bankers are allowed to prey upon the ignorant masses, without scrutiny or fear of reprisal from the authorities, our great society is destined for the scrap-heap - an so we are.

Sadly, no one has or will go to jail for the biggest heist in history. The taxpayers are left with the bill, while Long Island is up to its neck in estates, and the country has more million and billionaires than ever. Decline is our fate, regardless of the color of your state, party, or skin.

Go to "MONEY, POWER, AND WALL STREET", at PBS Frontline (here) - if you dare!

James C. Collier

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Friday, April 27, 2012

Justice Department Study Says Black Juveniles Victims Of Racism

Upon reading a summary of a just released justice department study (here), that revealed disparate treatment upon apprehension, I wondered if black kids are simply more dangerous, as Jesse Jackson spoke of (here). I will have to spend more time with the study, but I suspect that the question may not have been asked. This can often be the case in these studies when the answer is something that might wake the elephant in the living room.

In any case, the first two comments to the HuffPo article (here) set the context for my question, better than I ever could.

Comment One: (from Jamar Jahi),
"another reason why whites make themselves the enemy".

Comment Two: (from Truthseeker427),
"The truth is to[o] scary to print.
African "youths", will knock you out,
then blow your guts out,
and then group steal everything off your dead body,...
To prove it, take a walk in the hood tonight.

That is to[o] scary to comprehend, so let's be in denial,..."

James C. Collier

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Is Hockey Racist? Ask Joel Ward


Joel Ward is a professional hockey player for the Washington Capitals, who happens to be Canadian, like most professional players, but also black. Ward scored the winning goal against the Boston Bruins the other night, sending his team to the Stanley Cup quarter finals. So what if some of the Boston fans used Twitter to show their sour grapes at losing. Those fans hurt no one, but their own sorry asses, by throwing the n-word around at Ward, because the Bruins lost at the hands of a black player. Hockey is a great sport, but it attracts more than its share of neanderthals, so no big whup. Next.

James C. Collier

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Riot Within By Rodney King, With Lawrence Spagnola

I place Rodney King in a similar iconic category with actor/politician Ronald Reagan, with no intent to offend either. Their individual significance is not about who they are/were, but rather what they reflect about their fellow Americans, from their respective moments in the sun until now.

The emblazoned images of King being beaten with no mercy by the LAPD, and the acquittal of his captors by an all-white jury, galvanized how blacks felt and still largely feel about law enforcement and justice in America.

Even today, the Trayvon Martin killing and George Zimmerman trial have people wondering what will happen once a jury speaks. Will blacks riot? Will vigilantes re-double? 

As for the book itself, beyond its macro-relevance, I enjoyed the easy and honest read of how King, the man, came into infamy. I stopped to think of how the fifty-one person death toll of the riots hit him harder than the bone-breaking baton strikes of Officer Stacy Koon, and others that night. I realized how logical it was that the events of those days would only accelerate the litany of abuse he would continue to heap upon himself, as an alcoholic. It was also interesting to know just how little compensation he actually received ($1.8M of a $5.4 settlement and fees), and how his lawyers, black and white, beat the hell out of him financially, on top of it all.

The up-shot is that whether you loved or hated Rodney Glen King, he is forever a part of history that represents quite the tragic tale of race and the pursuit of justice in America.

James C. Collier

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Monday, April 23, 2012

Werdesheim Assault Of Black Teen Parallels Trayvon Martin

The assault and false imprisonment trial of two Jewish brothers kicked off today in Baltimore, MD (here). The case has resemblance to the Trayvon Martin killing, except the fifteen year old black male victim sustained a broken wrist and laceration, at the hands of Eliyahu (24) and Avi (23) Werdesheim. Eliyahu, a member of a neighborhood watch organization, and his brother confronted the teen as he walked through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood. Like Zimmerman, in Florida, the Werdesheims are claiming self-defense, but with neither the probable cause or authority to stop and confront the victim. The case includes the charge of racial profiling. The trial may be delayed, as the Werdesheim's counsel is expected to argue that the attention of the Trayvon Martin murder trial makes it difficult to mount a fair defense. Authorities and media across the nation are looking to the case to provide some clues as to how the drama of the Martin case will play out.

James C. Collier

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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Racist Jury Selection Rescues Death Row Inmate in N.C.

A N.Carolina judge recently ruled that prosecutors 'have intentionally discriminated' against murder defendants - such as Marcus Robinson - by using the peremptory challenge to eliminate black jurors at twice the rate of whites. (here)

The judge found no reason, other than race, for the exclusion of so many blacks from cases with black defendants. Robinson's death sentence was automatically commuted to life without parole.

A Michigan State professor, Barbara O'Brien studied 160 capital murder cases, including Robinson's, to build a convincing argument for the statewide racism. The professor studied selection outcomes for 7,400 capital jurors.

The peremptory challenge is a legal bastion of racism that poisons the judicial process in this country.  Only Kentucky and North Carolina have such laws available to capital inmates who may have been the recipients of racist conduct by prosecutors.

James C. Collier

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Friday, April 20, 2012

All-Non-Black Juries Harder On Black Defendants Than Whites

In a new study, referenced here, if there are no blacks on a jury, the chance of conviction of a black defendant increases by 16%, over a similar white defendant. The study also presents that having one black juror in the jury pool (not the actual jury) eliminates the disparity in verdicts. Okay - hmmmm? So, from the fairness standpoint, the question is what is at play in attaining that lone black juror in the pool to even up the chance at a fair verdict?

As a part-time trial consultant, I know that getting blacks into the jury process and onto actual juries is easier said than done. The first issue is one of jury pool selection, the greater starting group of people from which the petit jury (trial jury) is selected. Selection algorithms exclude blacks by virtue of the nature and quality of public records keeping upon which they depend. Second is attendance, whereby blacks who are selected will no-show at a rate often reaching 80%. Third and finally, there is the dastardly peremptory challenge, whereby attorneys get to exclude whatever blacks remain, without giving the judge any reason. It is here where racial stereotyping runs amok. For more on this go here (Race and Jury Selection).

The result - blacks are significantly absent, as jurors, from the judicial system, and more black defendants are convicted, than if they were white. My solution? It starts with requiring jury pools to be representative, including hitting no-shows in the pocketbook (tickets) along with driving restrictions. Tax rolls and refund check addresses are the most accurate and up-to-date point of contact. Also, juror compensation must take the economic penalty out of serving. Finally, we must eliminate the peremptory challenge, in the case where doing so would exclude a classification that was present in the initial jury pool (not just blacks). Challenge for cause would remain.

James C. Collier

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Dick Clark: 1929 - 2012


James C. Collier

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Secret Service Agents Buy Colombian Sex, Forfeit Careers For $800

I presume that Secret Service Agents buy sex for similar reasons to why all men buy sex - they want it. Of course, there is more to it than this. I went looking for data and this is what I found.

"A survey of 103 men in London, England (here), who frequently sought the services of prostitutes were questioned about their experiences, attitudes, awareness of the sex industry, and deterrents to seeking prostitutes. The study was a collaborative effort between Eaves, a feminist organization that works to curb demand for commercial sex; and Prostitution Research & Education, an educational nonprofit in San Francisco that researches and documents the dangers of prostitution and sex trafficking.

The survey conducted in London was part of a larger international research project that interviewed 700 men to discover why males buy sex. The project covered six countries. The men surveyed in England ranged in age from 18 to 70 and were primarily white, black, Asian, and eastern European. Most of them were employed and had continued their education past high school. More than half were either married or in a relationship with a women. Thirty-five percent reported no religious affiliation, 33 percent said they were Christian, 13 percent had an unspecified religious affiliation, and the remainder were Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, or Spiritualist.

When asked how many prostitutes they had ever paid for, 15 was the number most often mentioned, although the numbers ranged from 1 to 2,000. Twelve percent of the men had gone to more than 130 prostitutes, and 65 percent believed that “most men” go to prostitutes occasionally. Even though many of these men sought the services of prostitutes quite often, 71 percent of them said they experienced some degree of shame, guilt, or negative feelings about paying for sex.

Men seek prostitutes for a variety of reasons. The most common reason named was to satisfy an immediate sexual urge or for pleasure (32%), followed by a need for variety (21%), not having their needs met in their current relationship (20%), convenience (15%), the thrill (8%), and an addiction or compulsion (3%)..."


Of course, my pragmatic question to the agents involved is once you have 'stepped in it' (had compromising sex on a presidential detail), how much is your career/marriage/relationship worth to you? Whatever value you calculate - that's how much you should be willing to pay Ms. Colombia, before Air Force One lands - duh?

James C. Collier

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Acura Embarrassed By "Not Too Dark" Casting Revelation In Seinfeld Ad



While I think it is reasonable, in casting, to seek specific actor attributes, requesting an "African-American" that is "not too dark" should have seemed a bit over the line, I think. Darkness, as used here, would seem to connote a negative attribute working against the desired positive representation of Acura - at least in someone's view. The lame excuse of 'lighting issues' makes the screw-up worse.

The actual casting document is an interesting read, and unambiguous. So what do you think?


James C. Collier

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Swedish Culture Minister Celebrates With LIVE Genital Mutilation Cake

"STOCKHOLM (FRIA TIDER). A macabre scene with racist undertones took place on Saturday when Swedish minister of culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth attended a tax funded party for the Stockholm cultural elite. The self-proclaimed "anti-racist" Liljeroth declared the party officially started by slicing a piece of a cake depicting a stereotypical African woman.

(Minister) Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth was invited to open the festivities by performing a clitoridectomy on the cake, which she did by slicing off the part of the cake depicting female genitalia. She then proceeded to feed that part of the cake to a performance artist, done up in blackface, his head protruding through the table."
(here)

Sometimes you just have to see things with your own eyes to believe that someone with intelligence and authority actually thought it was a good idea. YouTube below: WARNING: VIDEO IS DISTURBING!!!



James C. Collier

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Monday, April 16, 2012

Does The Race Of My Real Estate Agent Matter?

I just read an article (here) that lumps the race of your agent, together with looks and gender, as a support/challenge to the price you get in a sale. Hmmmm??? While I can accept that attractiveness and gender matter (all other things held equal)(here), the race of the agent matters much less, if at all, when compared to greater demographic influence. The influence of the ethnic make-up and trends of the neighborhood should not fall upon the race of the agent.

Following the flawed conclusion of this article, I fear that some people will avoid non-white agents for the fear of not getting the most in their sale, while supporting continued professional segregation.

Selling prices are influenced by the combination of many factors beyond the agent, such as crime, schools, maintenance, etc., and yes, some of those factors correlate to the socio-economic attributes of race/ethnicity. Without getting into macro-influence and causes, identical houses in white and black neighborhoods will predictably sell for different amounts, having nothing to do with the ethnicity of the agent.

So, in contrast to the article, I would offer that choosing your agent by race, rather than individual merit, is financially unwise for both sellers/buyers, and unfair to real estate professionals of color.

James C. Collier

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Saturday, April 14, 2012

Newark Mayor Cory Booker Saves Woman From Fire

It is not too often that a mayor risk his life by running into a burning building, orders his security detail to "let me go!", and saves a women from serious injury/death. I have heard other good things about this mayor, mostly that he is hard working, honest and caring. He pretty much proved that. If only the rest of our leaders were so capable. Better be careful, Booker just might wind up Governor of NJ. Story (here).

James C. Collier

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Random Whiteness of the Two-Wheeled Variety, Danny MacAskill



Yes, ask LA Laker Pau Gasol if Clipper Blake Griffin is the 'dunkadelic' (here), but this dude MacAskill takes stunt cycling to the level of art form. Wow!

Take a breath, Happy Friday - the wheels of justice are again turning!

James C. Collier

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

What Is Second Degree Murder In Florida Per George Zimmerman

Murder with a Depraved Mind

Murder with a Depraved Mind occurs when a person is killed, without any premeditated design, by an act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind showing no regard for human life.

The primary distinction between Premeditated First Degree Murder and Second Degree Murder with a Depraved Mind is that First Degree Murder requires a specific and premeditated intent to kill.

Penalties for Second Degree Murder
The crime of Second Degree Murder is classified as a First Degree Felony and is assigned a Level 10 offense severity ranking under Florida's Criminal Punishment Code.

If convicted of Second Degree Murder, a judge is required to impose a minimum prison sentence of 16¾ years in prison and can impose any additional combination of the following penalties:

Up to Life in prison.
Up to Life on probation.
Up to $10,000 in fines.

Defenses to Second Degree Murder
In addition to the pretrial defenses and trial defenses that can be raised in any criminal case, specific defenses to the crime of Second Degree Murder are:

Excusable Homicide
The killing of a human being is excusable, and therefore lawful, under any one of the following three circumstances:

When the killing is committed by accident and misfortune in doing any lawful act by lawful means with usual ordinary caution and without any unlawful intent, or
When the killing occurs by accident and misfortune in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and sufficient provocation, or
When the killing is committed by accident and misfortune resulting from a sudden combat, if a dangerous weapon is not used and the killing is not done in a cruel or unusual manner.

Justifiable Homicide
The killing of a human being is justifiable homicide and lawful if done while resisting an attempt by someone to kill you or to commit a felony against you.

Self Defense
Also known as the justified use of deadly force, self defense is a defense to the crime of Second Degree Murder. Please view the Florida Self Defense section for more information.

Source: (here)

James C. Collier

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What John Derbyshire Should Have Said In His 'Talk' To White Kids About Blacks: Part II

This is Part II in response to conservative John Derbyshire's 'NonBlack' version of The Talk - for which he was fired from the National Review. I focus on point 10 of 15, where Derbyshire spouts his most racist of rhetoric on Whites engaging Blacks.

As in the first post (here), I say what Derbyshire might have said, if his goal was to provide something useful for his reader. I agree with him that people should learn how to use statistical common sense, but I believe it applies to everyone, not just Blacks.

Before I make my points, a set-up is required. Poor people, in general, are less educated, less law abiding, more aggressive, and more willing to take chances with their lives AND others. Black people are disproportionately poor, and, as stated in number #9 of the earlier post, many Blacks have 'attitudes' towards Whites that are minimally suspicious up to outright racist. Therefore:

10a. Avoidance. Avoid concentrations of any group of poor people, unless it is an event expressly to help them.
10b. More Avoidance. Stay out of poor neighborhoods, no matter the race, unless you are on a planned mission of renewal, led by experienced professionals.
10c. Large Groups. Stay away from large groups of any race, period, and definitely stay away from large groups of an ethnicity not your own, especially lawyers, clergy, and Mary Kay sales people.
10d. Events. Do not attend events likely to draw large groups of anyone, except farmer's markets - they cool.
10e. More Events. If you are at an event where the number of people swells, leave quickly. If it's Blacks, Latinos, Asians, or Whites, leave more quickly.
10f. Politicians. Be wary of ALL politicians.
10g. More Politicians. Scrutinize All politicians.
10h. Samaritans. A smart Good Samaritan is someone willing to dial 911 from a safe/secure distance. Be smart!
10i. Accosted. If accosted by a strange anyone on the street, don't smile, don't be polite, make an exit and take it agressively, with eyes on your antagonist, and with a loud voice.

Note: Look for Derbyshire on FOX News.

James C. Collier

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

What John Derbyshire Should Have Said In His 'Talk' To White Kids About Blacks: Part I

I recently read conservative John Derbyshire's 'NonBlack' version of The Talk - for which he was fired from the National Review. Derbyshire described his White parent-to-child version of what Black parents say to their children, mostly sons, on the perils they will face growing up in White America. The Trayvon Martin case brings this rite of passage front and center.

Derbyshire clearly wrote the article in Taki's Magazine (here) with racist intent, but the idea of White parents talking to their kids is nonetheless poignant. Derbyshire might have been more help if his instructions re: Black people went more like below:
1. Reference. Call them Black (capitalized), not African-American, unless they insist. It's easy and correct. Never, ever, use the N-word! The instant intoxicating effect the word has on Whites guarantees it will not be used in the .1% of situations where a White person could get away with it cleanly.
2. Admixture. Most Blacks have some White admixture. Avoid this subject, along with topics of fried chicken, watermelon, and hair extensions.
3. More Admixture. Provide your own admixture only if asked, and only as if you are being interrogated by an armed, North Korean, soldier - name, rank, and serial number. No smiling, and no hand gestures.
4. Engagement. Treat Blacks the same as non-Blacks, but never forfeit your personal safety to 'prove' you are not a racist - to or for anyone!
5. Presentation. Blacks come in all shapes and sizes. Forgetting this is a great source of stupidity.
6. Difference. You are not obligated to ignore the mean (statistical) difference between Blacks and Whites, especially the difference in adherence to the rule of law (ROL). The cultural lenses Blacks and Whites see through are not the same.
7. Disparities. The combination of disparity in adherence to the ROL and the across-the-board increase in societal violence is a bad mix. Pay attention. Always note the exits.
8. History. Cross-racial conflicts have the added influence of this country's sordid racial past. Avoid the phrase 'get over it'!
9. Attitude. Nearly all Blacks have some degree of 'attitude' about Whites, from suspicion to racist dislike. They feel this is justified, even if the White person is FOB (fresh off the boat). Expect only your closest Black friends to stick-up for you against other Blacks - social pressure is a bitch!
10. Avoidance. See Part II (this one deserves its own posting)(here)
11. Intelligence. Average Black intelligence (measured) is one standard deviation below Whites. This fact is explanatory, in certain discussions, but a distracting hindrance in the day-to-day. The same holds true for White comparisons with Asians and Ashkenazi Jews.
12. Affirmative Action. It did not/does not work and needs to be replaced with help based upon economic disadvantage, which would still help Blacks who really need it. Well-off Blacks, you can guess, do not support this change.
13. Friendship. You should seek friendship with Blacks holding common interest to your own, as this is the best way to confront ignorance, especially that of your parents.
14. More Friendship. When people say there aren't enough Blacks to make friends, know that they are really saying they don't care to be friends with anyone who might be Black.
15. Even More Friendship. Remember, while people may be attracted to you for how you look, they generally like you for who you are. This applies to everyone!

UP NEXT: Part II: Avoidance. Large groups, Blacks, and expected outcomes.

James C. Collier

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Sunday, April 08, 2012

Saturday, April 07, 2012

Why Do Whites See Trayvon Martin Case So Differently?

I read today how Whites and Blacks have such starkly different views on the Trayvon Martin case (here). I'm going to go out on a limb, for the sake of discussion - so bear with me.

White Americans live culturally under at least two evolved and competing, but nonetheless symbiotic, philosophies of the rule of law. The first is state law, the Constitution, describing what bad acts are allowable. The second is Judeo-Christian law, expressing how good we need to be, in the eyes of God (presumably to enter heaven). Blacks live with no greater or lesser discipline, but to the greater extent, under the cultural philosophy of Christianity.

In the Black view, Zimmerman acted against advice (as armed pursuer), showing bad intentions (faith), so he is guilty of what followed, plain and simple. In contrast and the White view, bad intentions are not enough. Zimmerman would also have to exceed a minimum standard of unacceptable behavior established, in part, by 'stand your ground' laws (statues). In other words, evidence must show, beyond reasonable doubt, that he was not defending himself.

So in the end, Whites may very well see George Zimmerman going to hell, but not to jail, for killing Trayvon Martin, while Blacks make no such distinction. And what looks like racism to many, in reality, is a blind spot(s) created by competing and evolving legal philosophies, attempting to govern our disparate and colliding societies (cultures).

Have at it.

James C. Collier

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Who Is A Black Jew? Really?

A while back, there was a bit of a French dust-up over an iPhone app, "Jew, Not a Jew?" (here). Seems there are laws against this sort of thing in France. I wonder if the French version of HuffPo ran this stateside HuffPo story? (here)?

James C. Collier

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Black White Twins Show Rare Genetic Possibilities

For those who do not believe genes can do outrageous things.

"While very rare, the phenomenon is not unknown, though it does entail a very particular combination of circumstances at the moment of conception. First, both parents must be of mixed race. Second, the twins must be fraternal (each conceived from a separate egg fertilized by separate sperm) as opposed to identical (both conceived from a single egg and sperm). Third, each sperm and egg must carry the genes for a particular skin color (i.e., black/black or white/white)."

In the case of the males pictured, the Caribbean father assuredly carried some European genes that recombined, in rare fashion, with the white mother.

For those interested, here is a technical genetic explanation of what is going on (here).

James C. Collier

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Monday, April 02, 2012

Seven Black Boys Arrested For Hate Crime In Beating Latino Boy



I hate it that the Huffington Post plays the very race games they accuse others of (playing). I found this story on the Latino Voices section, when it should have been on the front page, and Black Voices, too. Also, I resent that the HufPo fails to identify the race of the attackers in the headline, as black. They have no trouble identifying non-black people who attack blacks. I say no double standard. Hate is hate, Violence is violence. Anybody can be racist, and blacks need to take the full hit of seeing themselves portrayed as criminals, along with everybody else. Balanced reporting is the only way we are ever going to begin to make any headway.

James C. Collier

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