The World According to M.I.S.S.: Obama Visits the Middle East

This week US President Barack Obama made a trip overseas to discuss and strategize the relationship between the United States and the Middle East. In an effort to create open dialogue between the two parties, President Obama traveled first to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to speak with Saudi King Abdullah about a host of problems, from Arab - Israeli peace efforts to Iran’s nuclear program. Obama’s discussion with King Abdullah came one day before he was to give his highly anticipated and important speech in Egypt concerning the United States relationship with the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims.

President Obama has been promising this speech since his election last year. It was apart of one of his many platforms to discuss and mend the difficult relationship the US has with the worlds population of Muslims.

“You know, there are misapprehensions about the West, on the part of the Muslim world,” Obama said in a pre-trip interview with the BBC. “And, obviously, there are some big misapprehensions about the Muslim world when it comes to those of us in the West.”

The President delivered his address Thursday in Cairo that encouraged a strong and civil parternership between the US and those that follow Islam. He touched on several subjects including violent extremism, nuclear weapons in Iran, and his efforts to root out terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Obama also acknowledged the ongoing tension between Israel and Palestinian and voiced his views on what each side should do to end the standoff.

“The President really sees this as an opportunity to continue a dialogue he’s had since his inauguration — you saw that in his Al Arabiya interview, in his Nowruz message, in his speech in Turkey, among other things — to really start a new chapter of engagement between the United States and Muslim world.”

If you would like to read the speech President Obama gave in Cairo Egypt, you can check out The White House website.

The World According to M.I.S.S.: White House Correspondents Dinner

What do you get when you put the President of the United States, the First Lady, massive amounts of celebrities, designers and politicians, in the same room as the press? You get the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Gala, that’s what. This past Saturday, May 9th, news makers, and the people who report on them, gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. for the charity fundraiser dedicated to raise money for the fight against hunger and journalism scholarships for deserving students.

The White House Correspondents’ Association was founded in 1914, and is an organization of journalists who cover the President of the United States. The Gala which raises money for journalism scholarships, was first begun in 1920 and is considered one of  Washington’s most valued traditions.

At this years gala President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were in attendance, along with prominent names in media and politics including: Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Tyra Banks, Alicia Keys, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City, and Narciso Rodriguez. The evenings entertainment was actress/comedian Wanda Sykes who poked fun at former VP candidate Sarah Palin and Republican Rush Limbaugh.

But the real showstopper of the evening was indeed President Barack Obama who took jabs at his administration, the Republican rivals he often faces, and even himself and the first 100 days of his presidency.

“I believe that my next 100 days will be so successful, I will be able to complete them in 72 days —and on the 73rd day I will rest.”

Though the mood of the evening was lighthearted, President Obama took a somber tone when addressing the reporters in the room, speaking about the financial struggles the newspaper and magazine industries have been battling as of late.

“Across the country, there are extraordinary, hardworking journalists who have lost their jobs in recent days, recent weeks, recent months,” he said. “I know each newspaper and media outlet is wrestling with how to respond with these changes…Not every ending will be a happy one.”

Though the country is in financial turmoil, the White House Correspondents’ Association is still dedicated towards raising money to fuel the education of future political journalists. Many scholarships were given out that night to deserving journalism students from schools such as Columbia University in New York, and Howard University in Washington D.C. to name a few.

We believe that diversity and disadvantage should be no barrier to talent. And at a time of immense turmoil in our industry, we believe that the next generation of political journalists—wherever and however they work—should maintain the highest standards. These scholarships are our, and your, commitment to those goals.

To learn more about the scholarship fund and the annual gala, please visit The White House Correspondents’ Association website.

You bought all the “Yes We Can!” bumper stickers you could get your hands on, donated your life savings to his campaign, and cast the first ballot for him at your local polling place on Election Day.  But did you ever think to yourself, “If only I had a Barack Obama USB Drive to add to my collection of Obama themed pins, signs, and  cheap t-shirts?”  Well, your prayers have finally been answered.  It’s a little late to the (Democratic) party, but Active Media Products has launched their USB drive that commemorates President Obama’s historic rise to the White House.  Pretty fitting as he fancies himself the first Web 2.0 president.

Featuring a hologram of our 44th President’s face etched on the front, this otherwise unassuming, waterproof 2GB USB drive also contains 30 MB of preloaded bonus material, including his inaugural address and his famous race speech in MP3 format, PDF versions of several other significant speeches,  and his official White House photo (so you can gaze longingly and wish you were Michelle Obama).  The Barack Obama USB drive is available now for $10, with larger sized drives coming in the near future.

“If only one could be sure that every 50 years a voice and a soul like Odetta’s would come along, the centuries would pass so quickly and painlessly we would hardly recognize time.”
-Maya Angelou

Odetta had recently been hospitalized in New York City for kidney failure, and succumbed to heart failure on Tuesday at the age of 77.

Her blues and spirituals led directly to her work for the civil rights movement. They were two rivers running together, she said in her interview with The Times. The words and music captured “the fury and frustration that I had growing up.” She influenced such artists as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez and countless others.

She was slated to perform at Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20, 2009.

Read the full obituary from her label M.C. Records HERE.

More Odetta after the jump…

Read the full story

Yes, history has already been made, but that is no reason to quit displaying your support for our new President-elect. Show your pride and stock up on your favorite Obama gear. Digital Gravel’s got a gangload of fantastic designs from the artists in the Upper Playground stable, to brands like Hoodman, Ropeadope, Ludwig, Dopeboy, and Enstrumental. Men’s and women’s gear available, and flying out the door. Pride on with your bad self.

Never has there been an election in our lifetime where we’ve had so much at stake. We have the chance to make history and to give Barack Obama the chance to lead the U.S.A. to prosperity.  It’s been quite some time since the youth have found a political leader that they can relate to and believe in, and the mobilization has been amazing.  From t-shirts to prints, no other presidential candidate has had so many t-shirts made in his support.  Though I fully support wearing Obama tees, pins, hats, etc., anytime, PLEASE DO NOT WEAR THEM TO THE ELECTION POLLS ON TUESDAY, NOV 4TH.  Depending on the state you live in, this would be considered “campaigning” and campaigning within a certain distance of the polls is prohibited.  Wearing Obama gear will be grounds to have you turned away.  We know you are excited to show your support, but on Tuesday, Nov 4th, show your support where it counts - by voting, not by wearing an Obama tee.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD - TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.
For more info, visit TheGreatSchlep.

Last month, we suggested you mark you calendars for the Duality of Humanity exhibit by Shepard Fairey and the after party for the event, Party for Change San Francisco and now these events are just around the corner! Get the details below and do not miss these amazing events!

DUALITY OF HUMANITY
New Works by Shepard Fairey

Opening Reception - September 13th, 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates - September 13th - October 4th
White Walls Gallery
835 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 9410
415.931.1500

For Info please visit www.whitewallssf.com

Don’t forget to check out the afterparty at MILK featuring DJs Z-Trip, Shepard Fairey & Platurn.  Flyer and details after the jump!

Read the full story

Here’s another amazing event to put in your calendars:

DUALITY OF HUMANITY
New Works by Shepard Fairey

Opening Reception - September 13th, 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates - September 13th - October 4th
White Walls Gallery
835 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 9410
415.931.1500

Over 100 pieces will go on display at White Walls in a timely new show called “Duality in Humanity.� The show marks a bit of a departure for the artist, whose unique form of reverse propaganda emerged from the spirit of the punk movement. With this show, Shepard takes a step back from the ‘calls to action’ against mindless consumerism and war evidenced in previous shows like 1984ia, E Pluribus Venom and Imperfect Union. “The difference between this show and the previous ones is that now Obama is in the mix,� Shepard said. His recent work reflects his own personal shift towards a new optimism, a direct result of his involvement with, and inspiration by, the powerful political ideals of Barack Obama.

The title of the show, “Duality of Humanity,� is inspired by the peace-sign wearing US soldier in Vietnam, ‘Joker,’ in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. A central piece is a child with a gun in his hand and a flower in his hat. That theme of soldiers and weapons bearing peace signs, or peace signs comprised of military effects, runs through many pieces in the show. Environmental themes also appear in some pieces, illustrating the tenuous balance between our dangerously uncontrolled consumption of non-renewable resources, and our well-intentioned eco-concerns. Suffering and hope are seamlessly merged in a visual mash-up that defies expectations and easy answers.

“Duality of Humanity� includes larger mixed media pieces on paper that has been covered with carefully collaged Ephemera, self-printed patterns and found clippings from printed media. The backgrounds provide a seductive painterly texture and visual subtext, often allowing apropos words and images to bleed through the iconic images printed over them. The multiple layers create a sense of depth, but also bring in temporal elements through preserved newsclippings, historic images and vintage printing effects. It is the images in the foreground, however, that give the work its power. They are crisp and provocative, communicating in a way that is direct and clear.

For Info please visit www.whitewallssf.com

PARTY FOR CHANGE SAN FRANCISCO & AFTERPARTY FOR DUALITY OF HUMANITY EXHIBITION

Z-TRIP x SHEPARD FAIREY x DJ PLATURN

SEPT 13TH @ MILK BAR

Starts at 9pm / 21+ / $20 - Proceeds go to the OBAMA Campaign

THE MILK BAR
1840 HAIGHT STREET
SAN FRANCISCO
415.387.MILK (6455)
www.MILKSF.com

Fox News never ceases to amaze me with their racist rants. I have no idea where they find their correspondents - I just want to stay far, far away from wherever that scary place is. I just found out about this petition from Around The Way Girls that calls for Fox “News” (can they even really call it that?) to stop injecting racism and prejudice into their programs. They’ve managed to bring up lynching, the “terrorist” fist jab, the “angry black woman” stereotype and calling her Obama’s Baby Mama. ENOUGH!! Sign it here!

If you’re not convinced, check this out: