Uh, Lee? That’s Screwed Up
Posted: December 3, 2009 Filed under: People, Pitts Indeed, Soap Box | Tags: academy award, child abuse, crime, jon pitts-wiley, justice, lee daniels, new york magazine, oscars, Pitts Indeed, precious, sexual abuse 3 Comments »
"I'm artsy, so dumb quotes are 'eccentric'. "
Tiger Woods texted me that headline.
And Tiger’s right. Despite the recent revelations about his extramarital shenanigans, I have to say, Lee Daniels is catching my Come On Nigro Award.
If you haven’t heard, the Precious director, when asked what an Academy Award would mean to him, had this to say to New York magazine:
“It’s very scary, and I’m nervous”…In a bizarre way, though, Daniels says he’s already won. “Some guy came up to me at a screening that I was at recently and he told me that he, um, was sexually abusing his 14-year-old daughter,” said Daniels. “That’s what he told me. And he was crying. To me, that is the award. There is no award on this earth that can get a man to admit that. So to me, that is my award. My award is healing. You know what I mean? I want to be acknowledged or whatever, but I’m happy with people healing.”
Um…what, Lee?
I get that you feel the personal connection with the viewer has a lot of power, but someone telling you that they are abusing their 14-year-old daughter is not an award unless it’s the Roman Polanski Lifetime Fuckery Medal. Let’s not even talk about the fact that you find Oscar prospects scary and not a stranger admitting to you that they abuse their own kid.
And healing? Someone admitting abuse is only a healing/award if you help that person stop, which should include justice for the abused since this person admitted continually committing and illegal act.
If that conversation ended in you going to the local police precinct with this gentleman and starting that process, I can maybe then see the award factor.
Since you clearly are into yourself more than a little bit, I have to imagine you wouldn’t have let a responsible act like turning this man in and getting justice for his daughter slip your mind in an interview. So…I’m gonna go ahead and assume that just didn’t happen.
Your ego’s not supposed to be stroked by parents who admit abuse to you. Especially when you’re a parent yourself.
I’m a Due Process Fan, But…
Posted: December 1, 2009 Filed under: People, Pitts Indeed, Soap Box | Tags: anthony sowell, cleveland serial killer, cleveland serial rapist, crime, jon pitts-wiley, justice, Pitts Indeed Leave a comment »
Anthony Sowell, Cleveland rapist and serial killer who was discovered with the bodies of almost a dozen women in his house was indicted today. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer
A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Anthony Sowell today on multiple counts of aggravated murder and charges related to two other attacks on women, setting the stage for a trial that could lead to his execution.
Prosecutor Bill Mason and other law enforcement officials announced the charges at an afternoon news conference.
Sowell, 50, of Cleveland, faces 85 counts in total, including aggravated murder, attempted murder, gross abuse of a corpse, felonious assault, rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.
The charges carry the death penalty.
He was arrested Oct. 31, two days after police discovered two decomposing bodies at his house while investigating a rape complaint. After thoroughly searching the Imperial Avenue property, investigators recovered 11 decomposing corpses.
Ten of the victims have been identified: Tonia Carmichael, 52; Nancy Cobbs, 45; Tishana Culver, 31; Crystal Dozier, 38; Telacia Fortson, 31; Amelda Hunter, 47; Michelle Mason, 45; Kim Yvette Smith,44; Janice Webb, 49; and Leshanda Long, 25.
You already know where I’m at as far as Sowell’s discovery being a procedural boondoggle, but when I hear this guy is up on 85 charges–including eleven murders–I can’t help but get that creeping mob feeling.
As a Black person, I’m basically required to really, really, really believe in due process and rail against any attempts to deny a person that right, but eleven decaying bodies makes me feel as though you’ve waived your rights and wouldn’t want to be so disrespectful as to waste the court’s time and taxpayer dollars. Not saying it’s right; it’s just how body collecting serial rapist-murderers make me feel.
I can’t say I want to see Sowell die in a capitol fashion–I’m very much on the fence on that issue–but certain crimes make me wish we could skip the charade and throw people beneath the jail.
Baby Converts to Judaism, Sort Of
Posted: December 1, 2009 Filed under: People, Pitts Indeed, The Food Of Love | Tags: baby, birdman, birdman head tattoo, cash money, jon pitts-wiley, lil wayne, Pitts Indeed Leave a comment »
Baby is so devoted to fuckery that he drew a small star-shaped hat on himself to prove as much.
The paths we tread.
Conversations with The Feath: Boobs
Posted: December 1, 2009 Filed under: conversations with the feath | Tags: babies, beth israel medical center, jon pits-wiley, Pitts Indeed, sonograms, the feath, the franchise 4 Comments »
INT – DAY– THE APARTMENT
Jon sits on the couch working. The Feath is in the bathroom showering. The Feath calls to Jon from the bathroom.
The Feath: Babe?
Jon: Yeah?
The Feath: My boobs hurt.
CUT TO: BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER
Jon and The Feath stare at a computer screen in disbelief as the thoom thoom thoom of what sounds like an underwater bass drum fills the the room. They see:
They stare at The Franchise as music wafts in from the waiting room…
Conversations with The Feath: Hitchin’ Up
Posted: November 30, 2009 Filed under: Friends & People I Know, Pitts Indeed, Relationships | Tags: engagement, jon pitts-wiley, marriage, Pitts Indeed, the feath 2 Comments »"My jab is serious."
INT – NIGHT
THE BEDROOM
Jon and The Feath are napping in bed before having to go a play and work respectively. After considering her for a few moments, Jon nudges The Feath.
JON: Will you marry me? I’m really asking. I don’t have much but you’re my person.
The Feath claps her hands over her mouth in disbelief.
THE FEATH: Yes!
Jon and The Feath sit in silence, not really sure what happens the moment after such questions are asked.
THE FEATH: Dammit.
JON: What?
THE FEATH: I have to go to work.
JON: Alright. I gotta go to this play.
Fade to black
…I Don’t Get It
Posted: November 20, 2009 Filed under: People, Pitts Indeed, Thought Food | Tags: abortion, church bishops, crime, health care reform, jon pitts-wiley, men, Pitts Indeed, rape, sex, shniya davis, the public option, women, youth violence 4 Comments »Some things are beyond my ability to understand. Like, I get them…but I don’t.
1. I don’t get how the Church is holding the government hostage on abortion. If Church and State are supposed to be separated, how is the State getting its ass handed to it? Reform hangs in the balance because the Church doesn’t like something? Why is the discussion even going there? It’s not like the State would ever even consider telling the Church what to do with regard to church business.
1A. Since we’re supposed to be a secular nation and our laws are set up as such but we don’t really make a point of conducting ourselves like a secular nation, why don’t we just drop the charade and say that we’re a Christian nation and get it over with?
2. Some guys can pump and pump and pump and pump and not come. I’m sure there’s an explanation, but I don’t get it.
3. People get really mad at politicians for not doing the right thing–which is reasonable–but neglect to remember that politicians are people with power just trying to keep their jobs.*
4. Why people cry in court after being caught committing a crime. I’m especially puzzled by the gun-toting knuckleheads who swore they were nice before they got the cuffs slapped on them.
5. I don’t get how you could rape a five-year-old girl. Believe me, I’m not an advocate of raping any-year-old anybody, but a five year old girl, dude? Like, who are the people that are going to sit across from you and think, “You know what? I totally get it”?
6. I don’t get Beyonce’s life, namely, the way she inexplicably makes the same song and video with impunity for mysterious reasons. Jagged Edge never got such breaks. She’s super duper made it, why can’t she venture out just a little bit?
7. Women in R&B seem to all have traded pants for thigh-high boots. Maybe pants aren’t edgy?
*This probably answers #1 rather nicely.
The Detroit Blackfaces and San Francisco Chinamen
Posted: November 16, 2009 Filed under: People, Pitts Indeed, Soap Box, Sports | Tags: blackface, chinamen, fighting illini, fighting sioux, florida state seminoles, jon pitts-wiley, Pitts Indeed, supreme court, washington redskins 3 Comments »
"If I was on the Blackfaces, we'd be undefeated right now!"
Sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it?
The Supreme Court, not wanting to get involved in matters of right and wrong, opted not to hear the case of the Native American activists that find the name Washington Redskins offensive.
Maybe the justices are season ticket holders?
For the last decade or more, teams with questionable names have come under Native American scrutiny and names have been changed. St John’s, North Dakota and Illinois are just a few schools who have been chin-checked. The Seminoles and Florida State came to an understanding after tense negotiations.
Common theme: Maybe it’s not the coolest thing in the world to “honor” the traditions of people whose history you neither know nor actually respect by slapping their name and likeness on the side of a helmet, particularly when approximately zero people representative of that culture and history are in the mix. Read the rest of this entry »
So About This Jersey Thing, LeBron…
Posted: November 13, 2009 Filed under: People, Pitts Indeed, Soap Box, Sports, Thought Food | Tags: air jordans, jackie robinson, jon pitts-wiley, lebron james, michael jordan, nike, Pitts Indeed, retiring michael jordan's jersey, wayne gretsky Leave a comment »
“I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon,” James said. “There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn’t Michael Jordan first.
“He can’t get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette adorns the NBA's logo], and if he can’t, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I’m starting a petition, and I’ve got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I’m not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it.” — LeBron James
LeBron, I appreciate your initiative. You’re willing to change your jersey number to 6 because you think no one else should ever again wear the number 23 out respect for arguably the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of sneaks. I appreciate the homage you’re trying to pay to Michael Jordan’s career. I might like it a little more if you were vocal about things that actually matter, but basketball is your business and in business, no one wants to hurt their interests. In fact, that is perhaps the greatest lesson any pro hooper could have learned from MJ. Remember, Republicans buy sneakers too.
But this idea doesn’t hold up. Read the rest of this entry »
