Documenting the Binghamton massacre in photos and video
Written by Michael Vass
On the scene photos and video of the massacre at the Binghamton NY, American Civic Association
Michael Vass comments on the Obama budget
Written by Michael Vass
As found on Youtube, M V Consuting, Inc. President Michael Vass takes a moment to break down some of the key points of the Obama Administrations budget in terms any citizen can understand.
Oscar Grant murder - commentary by Michael Vass
Written by Michael Vass
I have listened to the news today and so far I have yet to hear of news about Oscar Grant. I have heard about Adam Herrman who has been missing for 10 years, the UN discussing Israel and Gaza, and Obama having lunch with all the living former Presidents. I have heard that the best way to lose weight is to eat less, and that Senator Harry Reid is backing down and accepting the appointment of Roland Burris. I even saw a bit on the fidelity of Brad Pitt.
I still have yet to hear about Oscar Grant. Which has my anger boiling, and reminds me why I made a video commentary last night. I went through a couple of versions before my emotions calmed a bit.
The news media is failing America. In not discussing the why of what happened we are failed. In not discussing the cold-blooded act itself we are failed. And I for one will not stand for it.
Here are my thoughts.
Introducing the 2009 calendar model for M V Consulting - Ashley France
Written by Michael Vass
Just wanted to take a moment to make my readers aware of our latest photo shoot which features Ms. Ashley France. The shoot covers most of the custom designed women’s clothing available at our online store including the Wanna Ride, Respect My Mind, You’ll do, and Nothing Sexier clothing lines among many others.
Every clothing item in the video, and 1500 more, are available. There are clothes for men and women, Black, White, Hispanic/Latino, virtually every person that is a reader of the sites of M V Consulting, Inc.
Watch the video then check out the calendar and clothes. Let us know what you think.
Hollywood movies: Remakes are king, or are they
Written by Michael Vass
There are a lot of remakes, or revisioned movies, coming out of Hollywood these days. And based on rumors and confirmed fact we can expect dozens more really soon. That says nothing of comic book, video game, and novel conversions to film.
So here are my thoughts on the bulk of these movies. Do you agree?
A trip from Kanye to Naruto with Beethoven and the Matrix
Written by Michael Vass
Ah sometimes I take strange trips when I follow a thought. Case in point, I was on Youtube and happened to find a mash-up of Beethoven and Kanye West. I have no great like of Kanye but it was the infusion of classical that made me watch it.
That lead me to wonder what other classical mixes might be out there. Were their others that found classical as great as I do, and see the ease and multiple formats that classical could be mixed with more modern music. Was there a bridge of the too forms of music?
So I found this video.
and I went from there to
Which lead me to
and then I ran into something really different and amusing. Mixing my love of classical music, anime, The Matrix and Naruto.
It’s an odd journey, but I must say I was pleased by it. How about you?
Real curves kick butt
Written by Michael Vass
While I think the woman in the video is a bit too big, the point is clear. Real women rule. Stick figures don’t work even in animation.
By the way APRES not only means after, as in the after image, but it also can mean bitter and harsh. Keeping that in mind the full meaning of the video really takes form.
So there’s a Black guy in an elevator…
Written by Michael Vass
Ok, hold the presses. I just saw this video - thanks to On A Whole New Level (which links to my site I found out) - that had me laughing out loud. This is the perfect video about the whole Black man in an elevator situation.
Warning, this contains a small bit of vulgar language that some might find offensive. Of course the subject matter it is dealing with is a whole lot more offensive if you ask me.
Now tell me that wasn’t perfect. I had to watch it twice. Thank you ThinkerGoneMad.
President Obama not American - Michael Vass responds
Written by Michael Vass
Allegations continue after the election by some bitter and small minds that President Obama is not an Americans. Michael Vass discusses one of the most offensive sites that promotes this falsehood.
Written by Michael Vass
This has been and continues to be a huge issue. Is implying the next President of the United States is an ‘Uncle Tom’ disrespectful to the Office of the President, racial, or just normal politics?
Speeches from President Obama and Senator McCain on election night
Written by Michael Vass
For those that missed it, here are the speeches made by Senator McCain and President Obama after the election results were announced.
Senator McCain Concedes
President Obama victory speech pt 1
President Obama victory speech pt 2
Both were very good speeches. I though Senator McCain was exceptionally gracious and supportive of President Obama.
President Obama set the bar high. Let’s hope that he can match or exceed it.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - don’t know the name? Listen to the music
Written by Michael Vass
Sometimes you just run across things on the net that you would never expect, and just as often you are enriched by the experience. This kind of unexpected find allows me to present Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu to my readers.
The name may seems strange to anyone not from Australia. Yunupingu is an Aborigine that taught himself how to play guitar, which is quite the accomplishment considering that he is blind, and plays with an upside down guitar. He is an acclaimed singer and counts among his fans Sting, Elton John, and Bjork besides tens of thousands, perhaps millions of fans worldwide. Which is also amazing when you consider that Yunupingu speaks almost no english, and sings in a native Aboriginal dialect.
Listening to him sing is a calming and unique experience. No flash, no forced emotion or tricks of music engineering. It’s just beautiful.
Yunupingu won best independent release at the annual Australian Record Industry Association Awards. Here is a sample of his songs live. Let me know what you think.
Full video of 3rd Presidential debate of 2008
Written by Michael Vass
As with all the prior debates of the candidates involved in the 2008 Presidential election, I present the complete video of the 3rd debate between Senators McCain and Obama.
This was the most interesting debate of all 3. Yet I must state that 3 debates are far too few. In addition I have to say that 2 minutes to discuss intricate issues like education or healthcare, with a 5 minute rebuttal period shared between the candidates, is far too short to make a real statement. Given these shortcomings there was a lot of non-stump speech information in this last debate.
No matter which candidate you chose to vote for, you need to be informed on where each candidate stands. To that end I suggest you review the debates, and all the comments and debates of the Primaries, that each candidate has been involved in.
We have a right to vote, it’s important and vital. And only in all Americans voting can we receive the best choice as President.
Mortgages and bailout: real answers with Gregg Cordero
Written by Michael Vass
I have been talking about the economy and the repercussions of the failures in the financial markets for some time now. Back in 2007 I was discussing the effect that oil would have on the economy, and I hinted at how the sub-prime loans would affect banks from New York to China.
But in all that is the fact that while I was an experienced stockbroker, I am not an expert in mortgages nor real estate. With the bailout plan being debated and now finalized I wanted to get a more accurate view of what to expect. So I went out and found a more credible source of information to ask questions of.
The result is my interview with Mr. Gregg Cordero, owner and primary broker of Remax in the Binghamton and Broome County of New York State. The interview has been transferred to video for you to view. The interview took place on Thursday, and the delay was resulting from the limitations on getting the video edited and made into a video clip.
I expect that the conversation will provide some insight and answers for the questions homeowners, real estate owners, and those interested in any aspect of real estate markets might have. And I expect that particularly shrewd minds will be able to see their own opportunities and forecasts on the economy.
Celebrate life and help the Ronald McDonald House
Written by Michael Vass
Please donate to help the Ronald McDonald House in Albany, New York and celebrate the life of Madden A. Cordero.
8-ball poolshot dilema
Written by Michael Vass
My choice was a reverse bank (or kick shot) to the corner which then leaves the cue perfectly positioned for the 8-ball. But the problem is that this would also leave the opponent in a prime position to run the table.
Now several of my teammates prefer a defensive stance, looking to get themselves into a prime position for the win. I am far more aggressive in my game play (perhaps the most aggressive on my team). Which do you think was the best choice?
BMX Pro-Am dirt jumping video
Written by Michael Vass
I present my video of the professional jumps from Brawlin’ at the Belmar BMX Pro-Am dirt jumping tournament.. There were some 15 or more professionals. Each had a dozen jumps by the end of the day. And I have put together some of the best ones, in my opinion.
When you critique the video, please be somewhat kind.
Full Senator Obama interview from O’Reilly Factor
Written by Michael Vass
The following is the full interview between Bill O’Reilly and Senator Obama as first seen on the O’Reilly Factor. For commentary on each part of the interview please check out Black Entertainment USA
Part 3 Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright
Part 4 Alternative Energy and Domestic Drilling
Halo on a rainy Friday
Written by Michael Vass
It’s a rainy Friday for me and I needed something to pick up my spirits. So I decided to go back to Youtube to see if there might be something that would do the job. I think the following did it.
Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek all from a different perspective
Written by Michael Vass
There’s been a huge hustle and bustle of news and events of late and the tone to many posts I’ve written has been a bit darker than usual. So today I decided to slow down a bit and look at things from a different perspective.
Perhaps the best way to get a different perspective is to view things from a new way of seeing an old idea. So I sought out Youtube and checked out some of the mashed up movies there. I present you a couple of great ideas that Hollywood will never think of, done quite well by people just like you and me (actually I admit I don’t have the knowledge and perhaps the talent to do the videos you see below).
The Universe is big, so what would happen if some of the galactic travelers of sci-fi met up?
What if the culture of the Spartans never died, or at least in a galaxy far away a long time ago? How could they not be the forefathers of the greatest forces in the galaxy?
And for something completely different – and one of my favorites – what if JRR Tolkein wasn’t always a stand up guy?
The Confederate Flag - The Colbert Word
Written by Michael Vass
Never let it be said that I do not pay attention to the tradidions and symbols of the South. Beyond my rememberance of Rosewood, The Tuskegee Experiments, Jim Crow laws and similar events and actions there are my multiple posts about slavery and reparations (found at Vass and here).
But there are other symbols of the old south that some want to remember with the same fondness and romanticism as found in stories about knights or Ancient Rome or movies about the wild west and indians. Key in that remastered, highly editied, fictional South is the flag - a symbol of a world built upon and sustained by a denial of humanity and a willful diregard for life. The Confederate Flag is everything that the South was, a corrupt ugly crude beastial repressed offense to the mind and soul.
But these are my thoughts.
Stephen Colbert has his own way of looking at the Confederate Flag and what it stands for. What do you think?
Bill O’Reilly and Senator Hillary Clinton
Written by Michael Vass
For those that missed the surprising, and highly politically motivated, appearance of Senator Hillary Clinton on The O’Reilly Factor I present the first of four videos of the interview.
Enjoy, and remeber to vote!
The new age of Camelot?
Written by Michael Vass
This is a powerful speech, and could be what helps to create history. Do you think it will usher in a new age of Camelot, a different better path for America? Ted Kennedy does.
It’s a flashback to 2006
Written by Michael Vass
I just realized something. Does any of this sound familiar?
Hint: it was 2006
