Bear's Blog
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
American Gangster made me think...
Just went to the movies and saw my man DW in another well-made flick. But while I was watching I had to think about the whole story...
On the surface it was a story about the way a man came up in the hood, shared his success with his kinfolk and put money in the pockets of a few people along the way. But it was his peddling of destruction that made the story so tragic. People wrecked their lives and the lives of others for some "blue magic."
True - if it weren't Denzel's character selling it SOMEONE would have sold to the people who were very willing customers - or addicted customers as was truly the case. But then how was he really different from the head of a tobacco company? Or a burger company or a fried chicken company or a soft drink company?
We all know someone who has died from cancer after being hooked on nicotine for years. How many have died from heart disease because high-cholesterol fast foods blocked their arteries? How many have lost a foot after years of sodas and sweets led to diabetes? But execs from those companies manage to sleep at night a-ok and earn enormous bonuses for a job well done at getting Americans hooked on tasty, cheap, harmful foods and such. But I ask - what differentiates them from the drug dealers? One pays taxes and the other doesn't... but what else?
We all know someone who has died from cancer after being hooked on nicotine for years. How many have died from heart disease because high-cholesterol fast foods blocked their arteries? How many have lost a foot after years of sodas and sweets led to diabetes? But execs from those companies manage to sleep at night a-ok and earn enormous bonuses for a job well done at getting Americans hooked on tasty, cheap, harmful foods and such. But I ask - what differentiates them from the drug dealers? One pays taxes and the other doesn't... but what else?
And was Denzel's character really trying to look out for his kinfolk - or just trying to surround himself with cheap, trustworthy labor to protect his freedom, his drugs and his money? And giving away turkeys in the 'hood seemed like a great way to provide for the very people who kept his business booming. The front pew of the church - even pastor found a way to sanitize blood money!
As I watched the movie I found it entertaining - then as the film ended and I learned it was based on a true story I was troubled by the fact that "Frank Lucas" might now be getting paid as his true story is told - when it was his "entrepreneurship" that caused death and despair for hundreds if not thousands of people in Harlem for years.
Personally, I think I've seen enough of 'bad guy' Denzel. I would hate to see him try and top Training Day. I dig him the most when he is the smart guy like in Deja Vu or Out of Time, or the dad we all can relate to like in John Q or a figure out of history like Malcolm X.
Let me know what you think - post a comment!
As I watched the movie I found it entertaining - then as the film ended and I learned it was based on a true story I was troubled by the fact that "Frank Lucas" might now be getting paid as his true story is told - when it was his "entrepreneurship" that caused death and despair for hundreds if not thousands of people in Harlem for years.
Personally, I think I've seen enough of 'bad guy' Denzel. I would hate to see him try and top Training Day. I dig him the most when he is the smart guy like in Deja Vu or Out of Time, or the dad we all can relate to like in John Q or a figure out of history like Malcolm X.
Let me know what you think - post a comment!
TB!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Back on the block
I am pleased to announce that as of October 1st, Clear Channel Radio has made me Program Director and P.M. Drive deejay on KQOD in Stockton - Mega 100! Who woulda thought I would be back in the saddle on "Mega" - 800 miles from where it began!
Thanks to the people at Clear Channel for hearing and seeing my potential. Their station has been representing the old school and R&B in Stockton for many years, and I am proud to have been chosen to carry on the tradition.
The best part is - I'm back on the Web too. Please hit http://www.mega100online.com/ and click on "Listen Live!" anytime 24/7 if you want to tap the hottest old school station on the planet! And, I hope I can entertain you with good music and a little fun when I am in the studio and on-the-air live from 3p to 7p Pacific time weekdays and 10a to 3p Pacific time on Saturdays.
If not for your support of TonyBear.com I wouldn't have this opportunity, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you will go along for the ride.
TB!
Thanks to the people at Clear Channel for hearing and seeing my potential. Their station has been representing the old school and R&B in Stockton for many years, and I am proud to have been chosen to carry on the tradition.
The best part is - I'm back on the Web too. Please hit http://www.mega100online.com/ and click on "Listen Live!" anytime 24/7 if you want to tap the hottest old school station on the planet! And, I hope I can entertain you with good music and a little fun when I am in the studio and on-the-air live from 3p to 7p Pacific time weekdays and 10a to 3p Pacific time on Saturdays.
If not for your support of TonyBear.com I wouldn't have this opportunity, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you will go along for the ride.
TB!
Friday, March 16, 2007
TonyBear.com is off-the-air
I have decided to take my Internet radio station off the air until the issues surrounding the recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board are closer to being resolved.
Under the current ruling, the liability for increased royalties is tremendous and retroactive to 2006 - the responsibility for last year's royalites looms very large given my great success in growing listenership last year. Getting in the business of Internet radio was always an "unbalanced" business choice - continuing to invest time, money and energy in the business while only deepening my liability is just plain stupid given all the uncertainities at this time. There is a big difference between "investing" and "throwing good money after bad".
I, with the click of the "off" button, probably have the dubious distinction of being a leader; I think more and more Internet radio stations will begin to fall silent as the spectre of back payments on top of ballooning current money due grows larger.
I, with the click of the "off" button, probably have the dubious distinction of being a leader; I think more and more Internet radio stations will begin to fall silent as the spectre of back payments on top of ballooning current money due grows larger.
Maybe I'll regain some of my nerve in the coming days, but at this time I have chosen to err on the side of caution. Please make certain you are on my mail list to get the latest info about TonyBear.com, and please click here to find out how making your voice heard can have a huge impact in leveling the playing field for independent Internet broadcasters - The People's Radio Stations!
Thanks so much for your support! I have had the time of my life!
TB!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
If you love listening to music on the Internet, there is a SERIOUS THREAT to your entertainment choices.
When you hear music on the radio, generally the broadcaster is paying the artist and composers of a song a ROYALTY in order to legally play that music for you. Recently the big record labels succeeded in getting these royalty rates for Internet radio airplay JAKKED UP tremendously, so high that it will be impossible for the independant Internet broadcasters to keep playing music for you.
Even the big Internet radio companies like Live 365, AOL and Yahoo are going to get KILLED by the new rates, until they figure out a way to pass that cost on to you, the listener.
Eventually, Internet radio will be just like regular radio... everything you hear will be controlled by the big money companies lookin for "return on investment". The small record labels, new artists, and the people's radio stations will all be run in to the ground.
This is all going down NOW - and that means the only way you can stop it is to rise up. If you go to sleep on this issue it will not go away. And believe me - The Man is counting on you to go to sleep on it.
Click here and learn about some very real things you can do in just five or ten minutes of your time to keep the music playing online.
Don't wait - please do it now and keep the big money powers-that-be from locking down your choices.
Only you can save Internet radio.
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