There's a few things I always wished I had gotten into when I was younger and graffiti is one of them. Sadly now it's a bit late for me mostly because I don't think I could out run the cops any more and prime graffiti time is way past my bedtime. So maybe that's why I really like the work of Graffiti Artist Banksy. Until recently no one except maybe a few close friends knew who Banksy was. Some people even think that it's a collective of graffiti artists and not one person. Well the other day in a London paper there was an article purporting to know who Banksy is and even printed a photo of him. Whether or not the article is true and the guy featured really is Banksy I hope it doesn't hinder his Graffiti art in any way.
Yes, you did read that right! I found out about this story over at Annie Atomic v2. A&P grocery store is sueing two former employees/college kids for $1 million dollars in damages due to a video they posted on YouTube. The video is a gangsta rap spoof incorporating vegetables as props and subject matter, since the duo, who go by the name of Fresh Beets, worked in the produce dept of the grocery store. The duo filmed the 4:15 minute video at their place of employment yet during hours when they weren't on the clock. After about a week of the video being on YouTube there was one complaint lodged to the corporate headquaters of A&P. The duo was suspended from their job and then a week after that were formally fired. Which in my opinion is a justified response by management due to the fact that it was filmed at their place of work, now whether if I would of fired them or just given them a stern warning and the silent treatment had I been their boss is debatable.
One would think that them getting fired would be enough of a punishment. Yet in someone's infinite wisdom over at A&P corporate headquaters, they have decided to file a $1 million dollar lawsuit against the recently fired rappin duo. Can someone explain to me why would a large corporation file such a claim against two college kids who have just been fired from their $10 an hour job(if that)? Do they plan on setting up a payment plan if they win the case? You would think that there would be someone smart enough at A&P to realize that if they just simply fired the two boys, ignored the video and left it at that that that would be the end of it. Yet by filing this lawsuit they are just giving the video more exposure and giving themselves some very bad press. What do they believe they will gain from this besides making themselves look like a big bad corporate entity?
Well the two upstart rappin filmmakers have a website/blog where they keep everyone updated on the goings on in regards to the video and lawsuit. There is also a link on the site where you can send comlaints to A&P. So far over 600 people have sent in complaints from the site, to A&P in regards to the outlandish lawsuit.
Here are links to their website: fakelaugh.com, myspace page and last but not least my I present the actual video that has caused such a response.
Ok so a week ago was Go Skateboarding Day(June 21), apparently no one told me about it because I would of dusted off my Mike Vallely everslick and popped some ollies, that is if my old man knees could of handled it.
So on Go Skateboarding Day, it seems that a group of skateboarders in Arkansas got a little more than they bargained for. They got hassled by a cop and a few of them got roughed up and arrested. Now when I say rough up I mean they got choked, thrown to the ground, and threatened with being maced. These boys and girls were only 13-16 and from my view didn't deserve the amount of force that was used, regardless of whether they gave the lone cop a hard time or not(which I'm sure they did give the cop a hard time). But really getting a 14 year old girl in a choke hold come on.
Now I'm the first to admit that a pack of skateboarders can be loud, obnoxious and have a f*ck you attitude when they are skateboarding. Growing up my friends and I have been hassled by cops/security guards while skateboarding, but we never gave them any lip. We just politely moved on, found another skate spot and would come back again when the cops/security guards where gone. See the thing is that yeah alot of cops out there are jerks and like to abuse their power but for the most part if your cool towards them they'll be cool back, sometimes it is really that simple.
So below is a video of the incident that took place in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Also below is the contact information for the Hot Springs Arkansas Police Department, just incase you want to let them know how you feel about this incident.
Hot Springs Arkansas Police Department Phone: (501) 321-6789 Fax: (501) 321-6708 Chief of Police, Bobby Southard Email: bsouthard@cityhs.net 641 Malvern Avenue Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901
Giving credit where credit is due: I originally came upon this story at annieatomicv2.blogspot.com. You can read more about this story here and also read some local resident comments regarding this incident here
There's a few things I always wished I had gotten into when I was younger and graffiti is one of them. Sadly now it's a bit late for me mostly because I don't think I could out run the cops any more and prime graffiti time is way past my bedtime. So maybe that's why I really like the work of Graffiti Artist Banksy. Until recently no one except maybe a few close friends knew who Banksy was. Some people even think that it's a collective of graffiti artists and not one person. Well the other day in a London paper there was an article purporting to know who Banksy is and even printed a photo of him. Whether or not the article is true and the guy featured really is Banksy I hope it doesn't hinder his Graffiti art in any way.
