Graphic Illustration by Dan Talsky, daniel.talsky@journalttimes.com, using artwork by Dee Hutch.
"The Origins of Hip Hop event will
return to Racine’s lakefront on Saturday, Aug. 20, and everyone is
welcome to come share this exploration of the culture of hip-hop, from 4
to 10 p.m. at Smoke’d on the Water, 3 Fifth St.
"In
its fifth year, Origins of Hip Hop aims to highlight the five primary
elements of hip-hop culture: DJ-ing, emceeing, graffiti art,
breakdancing/all-styles hip-hop dancing and knowledge, according to Nick
Ramsey, one of the event organizers. It will do so through a series of
performances, workshops and competitions, or 'battles,' which together
will not only celebrate the rich culture of this music genre, but raise
awareness about it.
"By learning
more about hip-hop culture, people will be better able to understand
it, said Ramsey, a local emcee, poet and self-described 'addict of
hip-hop culture.'
"Presenters
will include local performers and artists, as well as those from as far
away as Milwaukee and Louisville, Kentucky. And representatives of each
element will present mini workshops designed to showcase that aspect,
Ramsey said. His own presentation about the art of emceeing, for
example, will include information about its historical roots in ancient
storytelling, as well as practical tips about everything from meter and
line to mic-holding skills, he said.
"Attendees
will also have opportunities to get involved in the action. Anyone
interested in trying their hand at graffiti art can do so on special
panels provided at the event. And area hip-hop DJs, emcees, dancers and
more are invited to enter competitions in their categories, with a
chance to win cash prizes. Registration for competitions is available at
the event, but must be done prior to the start of each competition (See
event schedule below for details).
Cultural diversity
"'This
event is really about everybody — young, old, all races — getting
together and celebrating cultural diversity,” said Ramsey. “The thing I
am most proud of is the way the Origins of Hip Hop really represents
this city.'
"Since its
inception, Origins of Hip Hop has expanded its reach throughout the
community to include a variety of partnerships with businesses,
organizations and individuals including Black Hand Tattoo, Christi
Beerntsen, the College of Art & Humanities at the University of
Wisconsin-Parkside, Downtown Racine Corp., Family Power Music, the
Racine Public Library, Sweatshop Movement, Willy’s Sole Kitchen and
Smoke’d on the Water. In years past the event has drawn as many as 300
people, and Ramsey said organizers are expecting between 400 and 500
this time around.
"Caleb Robinson — owner of
Smoke’d on the Water, who has been involved with the event since its
start — said he, too, appreciates the diversity of Origins of Hip Hop.
"'What
I love most about this event, is that it has such a positive feel,'
Robinson said. 'It’s really about bringing people together and I wish
everyone would stop down and see what it is about. Everyone is welcome.'
"Admission
to the Origins of Hip Hop event is free (donations will be accepted),
including all performances, presentations and competitions. Food and
beverages will be available for sale at Smoke’d on the Water during the
event.
"Robinson said the
venue’s usual menu will be available, featuring specialities including
pulled pork sandwiches and chicken wings. Origins of Hip Hop 5 T-shirts
will also be available for sale, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Origins of Hip Hop 5 events
"(Schedule is subject to change)
4-5 p.m. — DJ spinning old-school Hip-Hop and graffiti artists beginning their pieces
5-5:15 p.m. — DJ workshop
5:15-5:45 p.m. — DJ battle (DJs must register by 4:30)
5:45-6 p.m. — Performance by ESCH, of Racine
6-6:15 p.m. — Graffiti workshop: Pre-made backdrops will be available for people to create their own graffiti art
6:15-6:30 p.m. — Performance by Sypher Lady X of Milwaukee
6:30-6:45 p.m. — Breakdance workshop
6:45-7 p.m. — Dancer warm-up and opportunity for attendees to try out their new knowledge
7-8 p.m. — Breakdance and All-Styles dance battles (dancers must register by 6 p.m.)
8-8:15 p.m. — Performance (performer TBA)
8:15 — 8:45 p.m. — Freestyle Emcee Competition (emcees must register by 7 p.m.)
8:45-10 p.m. — Performance by RMLLW2LLZ , of Louisville, Kentucky
"SANTA
MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Dick Van Dyke has treated diners at a Denny's
restaurant in California to a rendition of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.'
"A post accompanying a YouTube video
of the performance says the 90-year-old Van Dyke and the other three
members of his quartet, The Vantastix, had just finished an appearance
on a local television show before going out for breakfast. The video
shows the quartet seated with pancakes at the table and singing the
theme song to the 1968 British musical, which starred Van Dyke.
"Van Dyke said on Twitter that it was the grits that convinced him to break into song.
"Van Dyke and The Vantastix are promoting a show later this month in southern California."
"How low can Wisconsin Republicans go? The graft, corruption and lawlessness
which started in earnest under the leadership of former Republican Governor
Tommy Thompson was surprassed by former Democrat Governor Diamond Jim Doyle.
When the voters had enough of the graft, corruption and lawlessness of
the Democrat variety, they swung back to the Republicans, who promised to clean
up Wisconsin. It’s become
abundantely clear that not only did the Republicans lie, but the graft,
corruption and lawlessness under Republican Scott Walker has exceeded that of
Diamond Jim Doyle. While the Wisconsin State Journal headline read as follows: "Wisconsin attorney general asks US Supreme Court not to hear
John Doe appeal" "The headline should have read: Wisconsin AG Brad Schimel Asks For Halted John Doe Probe Into
Alleged Antecedent Illegal Activity by Wisconsin Republicans be Estopped
Because Republican Lawmakers Have Since Changed the Law to Retroactively
Render the Former Legal Activity Illegal "From Wisconsin State
Journal: "Attorney General Brad Schimel asked the U.S. Supreme Court Monday to reject
a review of a halted criminal investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s recall
campaign, marking the first time his office has argued the merits of the case
after his predecessor declined to lead the investigation more than three years
ago.
"Schimel’s filing argues the court should reject the appeal because Walker
and the Republican-controlled Legislature have since changed the law making the
alleged activity legal and prohibiting the use of secret 'John Doe' proceedings
in investigating campaign finance violations. "In June, the lawyers representing the various respondents in the case waived
their right to file a response to the request for review filed earlier this
year by three Democratic district attorneys. But on July 14, the U.S. Supreme
Court directed its clerk to request that responses be filed, according to a
letter provided by Schimel’s office. "Schimel filed the brief because of that request, Schimel spokeswoman Rebecca
Ballweg said. "Lisa Graves, executive director of the liberal Center for Media and
Democracy, which has filed a brief supporting the prosecutors, said the court 'has ample grounds for taking the case and reversing the state court’s
judgment.' "'The Wisconsin Supreme Court based its self-serving decision on an erroneous
misreading of the First Amendment, and its ruling flies in the face of several
U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding corruption,' Graves
said. "Scot Ross, executive director of liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now,
noted the political arm of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, one of the
conservative groups linked to the investigation, spent $1.5 million in 2014 to
help Schimel win election. "Before he was Attorney General, Brad Schimel said elected officials should
be able to help their campaign donors, and this latest action shows he wasn’t
kidding,” Ross said. "Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm began the John Doe II
investigation based on evidence collected in a prior John Doe investigation
into Walker’s Milwaukee
County office that resulted in six
convictions of Walker aides and
associates.
"It’s beyond disgusting. "It’s criminal. "It needs to be investigated and lead to more criminal prosecutions. "And AG Brad Schimel is just carrying on the tradition of former AG JB
Van Hollen; acting as Scott Walker’s personal defense attorney, while
continuing to ignore the all too numerous crimes being commited by Wisconsin’s
Elected Officials and Public Employees."
From Racine Community Media: "MACHINERY ROW IS OFFICIALLY DEAD! MORE THAN $20 MILLION DOLLARS IN
TAXPAYER LOANS AND GRANTS GO MISSING AS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT FAILS
BEFORE EVER STARTING, ALL AT RACINE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE."
"RACINE- As the failure of Machinery Row will soon be officially
announced, a few select aldermen and city officials are already aware
and discussing the next move in the failed development, while most
elected officials have no idea what’s going on or how much has been
spent to date. It’s being reported that the mayor is discussing
utilizing a federal DNR grant to pay for the back taxes on the buildings
purchased by the City Of Racine for the troubled millionaire developer
Rodney Blackwell. Blackwell has failed to repay on his original loan of
$4.5 million dollars given to him by The City Of Racine, while Racine
taxpayers continue to repay his principal loan payments and interest
payments for the second straight year! "It now
appears the Mayor and city officials will put the residents at continued
risk by approving even more loan extensions and freebies to the
millionaire developer, and It also means the scope of the $65 million
dollar taxpayer funded project will now be changing to a possible indoor
fishery and trout farm. "Stay tuned for more
updates as soon as elected officials feel the community should be
privileged enough to know where and how their taxpayer dollars are being
spent." http://journaltimes.com/business/local/no-action-on-machinery-row/article_bfaacc4e-3fe7-5dbc-8bfc-bb987ff9130a.html
Hello, my overheated men and women! How have you survived the last couple of weeks of warmth? I've just gone from air conditioned home to air conditioned car to air conditioned office, and back. Usually, when walking from or to car, I'd notice the oppressive heat! Sometimes, though, it was cooler outside than in the car. I try to deal with the weather one day at a time, without getting too invovled in the loop-the-loop that our weather has become. Ride 'em, cowboy!
Junior continues to show the same proficiency in driving that his father had: none. Señor Zanza should be condidered for sainthood for sticking with it this long. Junior has had two extensions on his probationary license, One more screw-up and back he goes to taking the written exam all over again. I wonder if Señor Zanza has some sort of angle on this. There haven't been any accidents involving other vehicles, but my car is getting pretty banged up. I don't want to mention the cost of this to Junior until he gets his license and can get a job to pay me off. I don't look forward to the day he can drive. I'll bet my insurance premiums will triple within a year. Again, Junior better reimburse me. I'm not helping him get a car, but if he does, all expenses are his. The cost of a vehicle plus insurance costs and gasoline costs and repair/maintenance items are all his. If he somehow miraculously gets his license and a car, I won't be able to sleep until he gets home. Mothers are forever. So don't forget to let them in on whatever you're doing.
So far, I have zero mosquito bites this season, but I don't go outside too much. I've asked eveeryone I know if they are aware of any bites. There are a few, but not any sort of epidemic. The wethermen and the M.D.'s conspired to work us up again, this time over the Zika virus and the mosquito that carries it. I'm sorry, but "ef" them. Always trying to work the public up over something or the other. I think the Centers for Disease Control is always looking for attention. Maybe they have to battle for money. Whatever, please give us your best guess for the next 48 hours. Actually, you're not even good enough for 2 days. National Weather Service is only reliable for 24 hours, and even then they screw up.
"Blue Cut Fire in Cajon Pass Explodes to 18,000 Acres, 0 Percent Contained; State of Emergency Declared" - http://ktla.com/2016/08/16/evacuations-issued-in-fast-moving-wild-fire-burning-in-devore/ You know, some people consider and consider, and they still end up picking out the wrong spot for a home. Fires are natural in forests. They help to renew the lanscape with new growth. If you live in a fire threatened area, don't be surprised if everything burns up. I know it's a terrible thing to lose everything. Pick your new house location more carefully. If you build on a fault line, don't be surprised if it's ripped in two by an earthquake.
Earthquakes are powerful, but none is more powerful than my love for you, my readers. Thank you so much for reading my blog. Thank you for taking the time. Thank you for being you.
Enjoy the weather. We're already halfway through August. Another summer almost over. We still have plenty of time with fall, but we all know what is ultimately coming: the s-word!
"Ascension–All Saints, formerly Wheaton Franciscan–All Saints,
has cut staff, restricted admission for its mental health unit, closed
the Psychiatric Intensive Care unit and kids partial hospital, and
slashed its inpatient bed counts in an effort to 'reset' the unit. "But they failed to communicate those changes to the community at a time when those services are desperately needed. "Last week I wrote two stories about Ascension-All Saints Behavioral Health Unit: one about the cutbacks Ascension has made and one about the violations they received before
Ascension took over Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. It took me six weeks
to write that story, mostly because I was waiting for Ascension to
confirm what I had learned from the state, an internal document, and
numerous internal sources. I wanted to give them a chance to respond
with more than a two or three sentence response, but that never
happened. I also requested an interview with Paul Mason, but was told
the company would not elaborate on the cuts any further."
"Everybody in Racine is familiar with former state Sen. George Petak , R-Racine, from Ballotpedia: "George Petak, a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate, was recalled from office in 1996.He had served since January 1991. "Petak’s recall resulted in the Wisconsin State Senate switching from a
chamber with a majority of Republicans to a chamber with a majority of
Democrats. "Those who sought Petak’s recall were angry because he switched his
vote from 'no' to 'yes' on a tax plan to build a new stadium for the
Milwaukee Brewers that levied a 1/10th of one cent sales tax. In June
1996, nine months after the vote, he was recalled from office. "Elizabeth Erven led the effort to collect the 11,577 signatures
necessary to schedule the election. She stated, 'He probably could have
gone on to be a lieutenant governor, but the mistake was egregious. And
you know, we may not be rich down here, we may not have a lot of great
opportunities to excel at a lot of things, but the people who live here
believe there are certain lines you just don’t cross. And that was one
of them.' "Petak opened a consulting firm in the Madison, Wisconsin area in 2009."