Flavor Flav for President

Name: William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.
Also known as: Flavor Flaaav
DOB: 3/16/1959
Party: All the time
Credentials: Member of the politically conscious hip-hop group Public Enemy.

I think he could definitely pull it off. Clock and all.

If you're also a super Flav fan, don't forget to check out Flavor of Love Season 3, which is still casting. Flav will once again narrow down 20 beautiful girls down to that "special one," el Bachelor style.

If you're a super SUPER Flav fan, VH1 is now accepting applications. You could be the one!

GEICO Gecko: Here nor there?

The reptilian mascot for GEICO, the GEICO Gecko (left), recently stirred up a debate at a recent get together with friends. “A controversy over a computer animated creature?” you may ask, but I ask you this: are his promises of “saving you money” spoken with an Australian or English accent?

Dead-set in personal opinions, the argument began. Those believing that the gecko must be an Aussie from “down under” felt that the words “ay mate” spoke for themselves. Also, the simple fact that geckos are known to roam the luscious island of Australia strengthened their statement. But their opposition was far from weak.

Those that maintained the gecko was British supported their claim with a deadly weapon: the voice for the GEICO Gecko is that of Jake Wood, English actor and comedian. Still, this wasn’t enough to prove either side “right.”

Referring to GEICO.com, we tracked down the GEICO Gecko’s blog. According to the gecko himself, “everybody has to sound like something,” and concludes that he is neither here nor there. “As for me, I'm not concerned with geography or nationality. I'll just continue to "accent" the savings with GEICO!”

Maybe GEICO doesn’t want to stereotype him as one or the other in fear of repercussion. Either way, I still think he’s an Aussie. Not to mention handsome.

To Satisfy My Sweet Tooth

Anyone familiar with the MTV reality show Run's House? You know, the ghetto-fabulous daily life of rapper and hip-hop music pioneer Joseph Simmons a.k.a. "Reverand Run?" If so, I'm sure you're familiar with his two lovely daughters, Vanessa and Angela Simmons.

Well, the beautiful and talented duo launched a delicious new sneaker line called "Pastry Footwear." And when I say delicious, I mean delicious.

The new line features a "Cake Collection" with tasty sounding names such as Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Mouse, Red Velvet and Sprinkles (above).

As if that's not yummy enough, each sneaker has a tube of lip-gloss that comes along with the purchase that corresponds with the shoe's "flavor." Plus it won't bust your bank, each pair is set at 65 bucks.

I will stop at nothing to get these bad-boys (or bad-girls?) into my custody.

If you've got a sweet tooth yourself, check them out at Dr Jays.

A Journalistic Duty: My thoughts on naming rape victims in media

Covering rape as a journalist is a sensitive, ethical issue. Many questions should be posed within the mind of a reporter, as there are a myriad of factors to take into consideration while making the decision of whether to print a rape victims name or not. The name is usually part of public record and thus not private, so a large amount of responsibility lies in hands of the reporters and editors. Those of us wanting to become reporters and journalists may be faced with this issue, thus it is an imperative subject to analyze.

Yet this dilemma is far from new. Violent crimes have been the meat and potatoes of daily American newspapers since the mid-1800s. It was then that the penny presses first produced their lurid accounts of violence and murder and it was then, in 1833, that the first crime beat was established by a newspaper, the New York Sun, according to James Shuman and Ed Galdrikian’s Historical Outline of American Journalism. To this day, the media still seems to be obsessed with exposing violent crimes, including rape.

It is known that the way some publications and television stations operate today; putting the name in the public press is equivalent to assaulting the victim again.

While the issue of stigmatization still exists, some journalists look toward the bigger picture of the effect naming could possibly have on society's overall view of rape victims. There is the suggestion that the shielding of accusers implies a need for "keeping them hidden, as though they are somehow damaged, which in turn opens the door for detractors to label their reluctance to step forward as an indication that the charge is false," argues Feminism.com. While keeping victims protected from the media is beneficial in some ways, the very act can cause harm, due to the fact that it possibly feeds into the cycle that there is something to be ashamed of.

Because of the intrinsically competitive nature of newspapers, when a “hot” story breaks, the papers must desperately try to outdo each other and their broadcast rivals in scoops and timing, where the moral of naming of victims falls by the wayside. This competition puts such pressure on editors and writers that we tend to take short cuts—without stopping to think about the subtle implications of what we write. In either lack or time or in order to have the “better” story they may unethically print the name.

Also, no reporter is an empty vessel. Everyone brings a set of opinions, morals, and prejudices to his or her work, and these often leak into a story.

As long as the press is still stereotyping sex crime victims as “virgins or vamps,” it will continue to do the public irreparable harm.

If I were to come across this predicament in my work or studies, I would say the choice lies in the hands of the victim. Would she feel as if she would be victimized again by the publication of her name? Would she fear the fact that society may judge her to be as guilty as the rapist? Would others not come forward due to fear of their names being publicized? Or would she feel that she should not be ashamed and give consent to use her name?

It her solely her choice if she wants to be named or not.

No one would know how they would answer to any of these questions until they have been victimized themselves. And I would like to make it clear—no choice a victim makes is better than another.

As journalists, we generally write a story and move on. Those we write about will be forever connected to that story. We have a duty to show great compassion and concern.

We, as journalists, need to read the research of psychologists, sociologists and criminologists who have purposefully studied sexual assault and its impact on victims. We need to listen to rape crisis counselors and law enforcement officers who deal with this issue in real time. And we certainly need to hear the voices of the women and men who are the victims of sexual assault.

With more knowledge and education, we will be better suited to make these life-changing decisions.

Organ Donation

Take out your driver’s license wherever that may be and give it a close look. Do you see the words “organ donor” in tiny letters on the bottom of your card? If so, I applaud you, you may very well one day be able to “give the gift of life.”

People of all ages are suffering from fatal diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and Cardiomyopathy, amongst many other deadly illnesses. They each hold a vital spot on the national transplant list, as for most it is their last hope. As of 4:21 today, September 4, 2007, there are 97,151 children and adults waiting on various organs here in the United States, according to http://www.organdonor.gov/.

Each organ and tissue donor saves or improves the lives of as many as 50 people. While the organ donor’s family is dealing with the tragic loss of their loved one, many say that knowing other lives have been saved helped them cope with the grief and sorrow.
Become an organ donor today. To get more information on how to register go to http://organdonor.gov/donor/registry.shtm.

I would give you mine.