Les Twins — Hip Hop Dance Straight Outta Sarcelles

  

At the beginning of the year, I was on Facebook when I noticed a post of young twin hip hop dancers. I was blown away by their talent as I watched the brothers  Larry and Laurent  start actually dancing. Fantastic doesn’t even begin to describe them!

There are many dancers out there and most of them are a dime a dozen. Any old movie star or football player can start dancing and do well enough. But these guys bring excitement back to dance! Watching them reminds me of my youth when my friends and I would go to dance competitions and shows around the neighborhood. What’s so exciting about Larry and Laurent is that they display some of the best in-sync and coordinated dance moves I’ve ever seen. Their dance movements are so fluid that one brother starts a movement and the other brother finishes it! Their moves flow in and out of each other! They are very well attuned to each other, probably because they got that twin power thing going on!

Not since the days of pop locking, thirty odd years ago when the youth of my generation did it well, have I seen anything so good! As my 9th grade french teacher would have declared, Formidable!!

Check out Les Twins and decide for yourself.

 



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Six step starts at :42.

 

Related Articles

• Les Twins, Hip-Hop Winners of the Juste Debout 2011 Worldwide Street Dance Festival (repeatingislands.com)
• Dance: Les Twins (repeatingislands.com)

Quote(s) of the Day

via Lonnie Plaxico:

 

John Henrik Clarke

“Powerful people cannot afford to educate the people that… they oppress, because once you are truly educated, you will not ask for power. You will take it.”

Krishnamurti/Freedom from the Known, p.11: DISORDER :”The primary cause of disorder in ourselves is the seeking of reality promised by another… It is a most extraordinary thing that although most of us are opposed to political tyranny and dictatorship, we inwardly accept the authority, the tyranny, of another to twist our minds and our way of life.”

J. Krishnamurti, The Book of Life/Relationship Is a Mirror

Surely, only in relationship the process of what I am unfolds, does it not? Relationship is a mirror in which I see myself as I am; but as most of us do not like what we are, we begin to discipline, either positively or negatively, what we perceive in the mirror of relationship. That is, I discover something in relationship, in the action of relationship, and I do not like it. So, I begin to modify what I do not like, what I perceive as being unpleasant. I want to change it;which means I already have a pattern of what I should be. The moment there is a pattern of what I should be, there is no comprehension of what I am. The moment I have a picture of what I want to be, or what I should be, or what I ought not to be, a standard according to which I want to change myself;then, surely, there is no comprehension of what I am at the moment of relationship.
I think it is really important to understand this, for I think this is where most of us go astray. We do not want to know what we actually are at a given moment in relationship. If we are concerned merely with self-improvement, there is no comprehension of ourselves, of what is.

Blackout of humanitarian crisis in Cote d’Ivoire

In the wake of the enormous media coverage of the uprisings and so-defined “revolutions” in North Africa and the Middle East, I am hard pressed to find any media coverage of the escalating atrocities and impending civil war in Cote d’Ivoire. The “blackout” of this media coverage I am referring to is not within the mainstream media… which is understandable… it’s within the AfroSphere itself. One can read more on Chris Brown… even on Charlie Sheen… on blogs, news sites and webzines within the Black/African blogosphere, than on Cote d’Ivoire. 

The sad thing about this is that in this age of the power of social media within the creation of communities of interest, the recent histories of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Kenya are being repeated today in Cote d’Ivoire (here)… and we don’t care. It’s an indictment on all of us, from President Obama… “a son of Africa”… to those of African descent within the continent, the Diaspora and the AfroSphere. We do nothing, then we get pissed and question the motives and sincerity of the Bono’s, George Clooney’s and Mia Farrow’s of the (white) world when they take up the causes of African people. 

In saying all this however, I must acknowledge and give props to Patrick-Bernard at Cry Me An Onion for his post “The Ivory Coast Saga” in December 2010. He is one of a handful within the AfroSphere with a global perspective and understanding on the importance and significance of these issues on those of African descent regardless of where we reside. 

Henceforth, the first step to do something… anything… about this is awareness. Below are some resources on Cote d’Ivoire that bring knowledge and perspective to what is happening there now:

1. Aljazeera: An Ivorian Miracle?
2. Crossed Crocodiles: Ivory Coast – What Happened? What Next? (excellent background and references on current situation)
3. The African Executive: The Ivory Coast: Unlocking the Impasse
4. Pambazuka News: Cote d’Ivoire: Forces behind the crisis and what’s at stake

Post something on your blog or webzine to bring attention to this crisis. Hundreds have been and thousands will be massacred. Atrocities such as mass murders and rapes, other crimes against humanity including genocide is forthcoming. Obama and the European allies argued that they had to intervene in Lybia to prevent a humanitarian crisis… what about Cote d’Ivoire?

Enlighten those during discussions about the so-called “Jasmine Revolutions” as well as debates surrounding military intervention in Lybia, about the fight for democracy and the current humanitarian crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. This should be our primary concern.  

The mainstream media may ignore the plight of the people in Cote d’Ivoire… that’s expected… our blackout of this event… is self-imposed. The guilt will be ours.

“What Can the Tea Party Do to Attract Minorities?” by Emery McClendon

Op-ed submission by Project 21

As a tea party organizer and black man, I am often asked how a movement with the critical mission of saving and restoring our republic can attract minorities currently weak in numbers in tea party ranks.

The mainstream media and civil rights lobbyists have perpetuated the myth that tea partiers have racist tendencies.  These untrue accusations must be countered.

Tea party activism is born out of concerns about the direction our leaders are taking this country.  Excessive spending, expanded government, ever-higher taxes and government-run health care are driving concerns that are common to every American.

So the tea party began with an open invitation to all, because its base issues concern all of us, regardless of race.

The allegation that the movement against the President’s agenda is based on his skin color is merely a “wedge” issue created to divide people from the tea party’s limited government, pro-Constitution agenda.  This racial allegation generates negative coverage for the tea party from news outlets hungry to establish controversy.

The tea parties are not picking on anyone because of color, ethnicity or race.  The tea party is motivated by a conflict with the President over principles, values and beliefs.  Barack Obama is viewed by tea partiers as at odds with traditional American values, our Constitution and the principles of our nation’s founders.

Tea partiers seek to restore and preserve the values that made America great.  They value liberty and individual freedom and assert their origin from our Creator.

Tea party opponents ignore the fact that conservative values and American principles are driving the movement.  They seem to ignore what Obama believes in and his past voting record regarding values.  They are the ones viewing things through the prism of race.  They are understandably proud of the historical moment that saw a black man elected to the most powerful position in our land, but when Americans disagree with him on policies, as is their right, they only see a black man picked on because of his skin color.  Their rush to defend him is based on emotion alone.
 
How can this false pretense of racial animosity be overcome so minorities might be more interested in the tea party movement?

First of all, it’s a two-way street.  Critics must have an open mind.  We cannot move forward and tear down barriers all by ourselves.
 
For instance, why do so many minorities hold to traditional Biblical values and high moral standards yet refuse to recognize they share these things with tea partiers?  Compare the values that have held the black community together to those espoused by Obama and his supporters. 
 
Look at the civil rights movement.  Analyze whether or not blacks have made the progress sought by its founders and whether we are still on the path they envisioned and for which they sacrificed.
 
It’s important to note that, despite profound changes since Dr. King’s time, today’s black leaders are still focused on many of the same issues as 50 years ago, even as they lead people into a state of government dependency.

Instead of preaching to people to leave the welfare state and pursue the American Dream, today’s leaders seem to advocate mainly for their own power and the advancement of their own political allies.

So how might the tea party provide an alternative?

One simple way is to make tea party information readily available in minority communities.  Organizers should also be more open and vocal with their simple message of individual freedom to educate those who may not now equate that message with their own core values.
 
Minority participants already involved must seek leadership positions and be seen as role models.
 
At the same time, those in the tea party leadership should make an effort to interact more with minority members.  This will show that a link between the movement and minority communities already exists.  At present, I personally find people in the upper echelons unreachable.
 
Pictures of local grassroots and high profile blacks in the tea party movement with leaders such as Sarah Palin and Dick Armey would provide an opportunity to show that these leaders are willing to interact with minorities.
  
The tea party movement is growing, but it shouldn’t overlook new ways to reach out to all Americans.

America is a great nation with an exceptional people.  If we are to restore, reclaim and take back our nation for future generations, we must reach out to all people who hold to traditional American values and our founding principles and love our Constitution.

Emery McClendon, a member of the Project 21 black leadership network, is a tea party organizer in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and the winner of Americans for Prosperity’s 2010 “Activist of the Year” award.

“How Much Do We Need Greenhouse Gas Regulations” by Nicholas Scott

Article submission from Nicholas Scott, a health, safety, and political advocate with a passion for environmental responsibility. He believes there should be a greater focus on the present risks of environmental toxins to urban communities with close proximity to dense areas of industry.

With the recent legislation proposed by the GOP that requests for the removal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, one has to wonder if such a move is in the best interest of the average American family. Carbon emissions, cigarette smoke, lead-based paint, asbestos, and house hold chemicals are environmental toxins are scientifically proven to be harmful, especially to children. Removing the authority of the EPA to regulate emissions will put many urban, inner city communities with high concentrations of industry at significant risk. 

After the recent release of the 2012 White House Budget plan, Energy Secretary Steven Chu has made a request for a multi-billion dollar increase to the EPA budget. Such an increase could be necessary given the rise of environmental toxins. This request, however, was not met without a fight.

The Hill Reported:

Energy Secretary Steven Chu will be three floors above in the Dirksen Senate office building. He’ll be defending the request for a multi-billion dollar increase before the Senate Budget Committee. The Energy Department budget plan focuses heavily on expanding renewable energy and efficiency R&D and science programs.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will appear in the afternoon before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The panel’s top Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), is among the leaders of GOP attempts to strip EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gases.

Obama has already proposed a 2012 budget cut of $1.6 billion dollars to the EPA, which was intended to reduce funding for states’ clean water and drinking projects. As if this wasn’t enough, it seems like the GOP will not stop until the EPA is left with nothing.

The only way to minimalize the risks of environmental hazards is to limit exposure to them. By removing the EPA’s authority to regulate emissions, we are putting ourselves at risk. This is particularly frustrating, because unlike certain health problems that we have no control over, environmental health hazards are issues we can prevent from happening. One thing to consider is that we are usually unable to see the effects of environmental toxins until children have grown into adults. For instance, mesothelioma symptoms, a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos, have a latency period of as long as twenty years.

Children are especially vulnerable to environmental toxins. When children are growing, their behavior puts them closer to the ground ultimately promoting closer proximity to potential toxins. Additionally, their organs are developing, their bodies are smaller, and they breathe faster and take in more substances than adults. An increased breathing rate raises an individual’s susceptibility to the fibrous asbestos material that can cause mesothelioma and other lung cancers. Furthermore, the risk is compounded for families that can’t afford to live in places that are environmentally safe.

The Greater Birmingham children’s Environmental Health Initiative (GBCEHI) did a study targeting 12 zip codes in the Birmingham area. Their focus of study involved mostly populations that were primarily African-American and low-income. They found that these communities had high population densities with even higher concentrations of heavy industry. They have since discovered that one of the most prominent environmental hazards is poor indoor air quality, citing it as a massive contributor to asthma. More frighteningly, asthma shares the basic symptoms of most lung diseases: coughing, shortness of breath, and chest heaviness. Because of the similarities, most lung disease is not diagnosed until it is far too late.  With the mesothelioma life expectancy being as short as fourteen months, the impact of environmental toxins can be devastating to a community.

Organizations such as the EPA and the GBCEHI are attacking the problem of environmental hazards on several fronts. To slash the EPA’s budget and remove their power over the regulation of carbon emissions seems to be counterproductive to the health and wellbeing of American citizens. We can only hope that our representatives examine this issue thoroughly and come to a conclusion that finds a favorable balance for both environmental safety and American industry.

West overzealous on Libya – Al Jazeera

West overzealous on Libya – Opinion – Al Jazeera English.

Now that the United Nations Security Council resolution for a no-fly zone has been passed, how will it be implemented?The UNSC Resolution 1973 has made it legal for the international community to protect the Libyan people from Muammar Gaddafi’s lethal and excessive force – by, among other things, imposing a no-fly zone and carrying out military strikes and other military action short of occupation. However, the overzealousness of certain Western powers like Britain, France and, as of late, the US, to interpret the resolution as an open-ended use of force, is worrisome. With their long history of interference and hegemony in the region, their political and strategic motivation remains dubious at best. Likewise, their rush to use air force individually or collectively could prove morally reprehensible – even if legally justified – if they further complicate the situation on the ground. This sounds like ‘damned if they do, damned if they don’t’? Well, the onus is on these Western powers to prove that their next move and actions are based on a strictly humanitarian basis and are not meant as a down payment for longer-term interference in Libyan and regional affairs. They need to demonstrate how their ‘change of heart’ from supporting the Gaddafi dictatorship over several years to condemning him as a war criminal and acting to topple him, is not motivated by more of the same narrow national and Western strategic interest. Unfortunately, the Libyan dictator’s statements and actions (and his recent cynical and contradictory threats and appeals) have played into Western hands, making it impossible for Libyans, like Tunisians and Egyptians before them, to take matters into their own hands. Those who abstained at the UN Security Council, including Germany, India and Brazil, wanted to co-operate in charting a brighter future for Libya, but are also suspicious of the overzealous French and British eagerness to jump into a Libyan quagmire with firepower. What then should Libyans, Arabs and other interested global powers do to help Libya avoid a terrible escalation to violence or a major humanitarian disaster? Now that the international community has given the Libyan revolutionaries a protective umbrella that includes a full range of military and humanitarian actions, it is incumbent upon the Libyan opposition to mobilise for mass action in every city and town both in the east and west and challenge the regime’s militias. As the Libyan regime loses its civilian, tribal and international legitimacy, so will his security base be shaken over the next few days and weeks. In fact, if the Libyan revolutionaries avoid complacency and exploit their newly gained legitimacy and protection in order to work more closely with their Arab neighbours and to demonstrate their political and popular weight in the country, the regime could very well implode from within. The most effective and constructive way to use the newly mandated use of force by the UN Security Council is to use as little of it, as accurately, as selectively as possible, and ideally not use it at all. It is still possible for the threat of the use of international force, coupled with domestic popular pressure, to bring down the weakened regime. An escalation to an all out war is in no one’s interest, especially Libya’s.

Source: Al Jazeera

Libya, Hypocrisy and Betrayal by the United Nations

By Felicity Arbuthnot

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – forever.”

George Orwell

The bombing of Libya will begin on or nearly to the day, of the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the destruction of Iraq, 19th March, in Europe. Libya too will be destroyed – its schools, education system, water, infrastructure, hospitals, municipal buildings. There will be numerous “tragic mistakes”, “collateral damage”, mothers, fathers, children, babies, grandparents, blind and deaf schools and on and on. And the wonders of the Roman remains and earlier, largely enduring and revered in all history’s turmoils as Iraq, the nation’s history – and humanity’s, again as Iraq and Afghanistan, will be gone, forever.

The infrastructure will be destroyed. The embargo will remain in place, thus rebuilding will be impossible. Britain, France and the US., will decide the country needs “stabilising”, “help with reconstruction.” They will move in, secure the oil installations and oil fields, the Libyan people will be an incidental inconvenience and quickly become “the enemy”, “insurgents”, be shot, imprisoned, tortured, abused – and a US friendly puppet “government” will be installed.

The invaders will award their companies rebuilding contracts, the money – likely taken from Libya’s frozen assets without accounting – will vanish and the country will remain largely in ruins.

And the loudest cheerleaders for this, as Iraq, will be running round TV and radio stations in London, Europe and the US, then returning to their safe apartments and their UK/US/Europe paid tenures, in the knowledge that no bombs will be dropping on them. Their children will not be shaking uncontrollably and soiling themselves with terror at the sound of approaching planes.

And this Libyan “Shock and Awe”?  Shame on France, shame on Britain and the US and a UN avowed: “… to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” Every shattered body, every child maimed or blown to bits, every widow, widower, orphan, will have their name of those countries, and the UN., written in their blood in their place of death.

And the public of these murderous, marauding Western ram raiders, will be told that we were bringing democracy, liberating Libya from a tyrant, from the “new Hitler”, the “Butcher of Bengazi.”

The countries who have ganged together these last days to overthrow a sovereign government have, again, arguably, conspired in Nuremberg’s: ” … supreme international crime, differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole”, and yet again, plotted to overthrow a sovereign government, with a fig leaf of “legality” from an arm twisted UN. We have seen it all before.

In time, it will emerge, who was stirring, bribing, de-stabilizing – and likely few will be surprised at the findings. But by then, Libya will be long broken and its people, fleeing, displaced, distraught.

When it comes to dealing with the usual “liberators”, be careful what you wish for. In six months or so, most Libyans, whatever the failings of the last forty years rule, will be ruing* the day.

* an old word, used in early poetry meaning a deep, haunting regret which remains embedded

USAgain Clothing Donation Bins in Da ‘Hood…Can We Trust It?

Here’s a sad commentary. I have noticed that there have been clothing donation bins appearing all over Oakland, overnight it seems. What’s sad is that they are appearing in all the ‘hood areas. The poorer areas in Oakland, and other cities, I’ve learned, and I’m suspicious about it. That is sad. Because it seems that this should be a good thing. For one thing, that the bins are strategically placed near businesses in our communities, which supposedly increases foot traffic near the business that “hosts” one of the bins. That it’s green for another thing. How many green companies do you see in the ‘hood? That it’s convenient for another thing. Now I can walk three blocks and be right at this bin.

  

 

bins brooklyn ny

But I have a suspicious mind when it comes to this kind of thing. For one thing, who ARE these invisible people, and what are they doing with my old clothes? So I decide I’m gonna find out who these folks are before I donate any more goodies to them. (I did drop off a couple of bags) After nearly two months of forgetting to do that research, I finally got to it. I went online using “USAgain” and found their website. But their website looked a bit too cheesy for me. Too unprofessional looking. I didn’t truss it. So I dug a little deeper to find out about these people, and hit the jackpot with this link: (Allegedly)

http://www.tvindalert.com/companies/usagain/

So I found the above link to the above group of “investigative journalists” that have been following this company owned by Chicago based Mattias Wallender, who is danish. There’s all kinds of international intrigue here! It appears that Mr. Wallender is part of a danish organization calling itself the Teachers Group, Tvind and it has been said that these people are not into works of charity. Instead, they collect the millions of pounds of clothing from this country and African and South American countries as well, and sell it all for profit, which they admit. But the lion’ share of the money goes back to them, not to charity, and it’s alleged that they live extremely lavish and high lifestyles. And they seem to be untouchable.

List of Teachers Group clothing bins

  

humana bins berlin germany

According to this website, they have a long list of other “companies” that they start and fold at will, staying steps ahead of the authorities! And used clothing is not the only business that they are in–they also have “colleges” here in the US and in other countries, that supposedly train missionary minded people how to help the people of Africa, India, and South America. Unfortunately the whole thing is a front to collect tuitions from good hearted young people. They started off in Europe–Germany, Denmark, and England and were shut down after being investigated. But they slithered over here to America and it seems to be too difficult to put the finger on them. So now they are in my community and others here in the San Francisco Bay Area, taking free clothing, reselling it to the tune of millions, all under a tax exempt status!

Tvind Teachers Group list of businesses

The following is an excerpt from the investigative website, Tvindalert concerning one of their “colleges”:

According to informants, CCTG college in Etna, Ca suddenly closed in December 2009 due to a severe flood. Would-be ‘development instructor’ students have since then been directed to other Teachers Group ’schools’ in the USA – IICD Michigan and IICD Massachusetts. In spring 2010, the building was put up for sale at $229,000 and it has now been sold.

In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the closure and sale of CCTG was planned. In October of 2009, CCTG submitted forms to the IRS informing it of a change of address from Etna to Richmond, California. Two months later came the ‘flood’ which forced the college to close. We can speculate that CCTG and the Teachers Group may have made a financial gain from the closure. The event certainly fits in with a pattern of other Teachers Group businesses abruptly closing or filing for bankruptcy (see for example the story of EC Trading).

Story link: MyFoxDC.com

This entire “cult” was built by the Danish man, Amdi Petersen, who started it all as a counter culture teaching commune back in the late 1960s. Back in the day, their mission was to change the world by travelling it and learning as they went. They bought a bus and did just that, being thrown out of country after country. Later on, the commune turned to a for profit business enterprise, taking the flea market sales model to a whole new international level back in 199o. Then the man and his group of teachers disappeared for 20 years, no doubt amassing his fortune and controlling his underling teachers in a cult like fashion according to Danish authorities. Read more at the following link.

http://www.tvindalert.com/featured/amdi-petersen/

There is so much more to this story that I simply can’t write it all here. For those who are interested, the website Tvindalert has many, many links, testimonials from people who have been burned, and news reports of this group and how they have operated over the past 40 years. Amazing!

 

For me, it’s all very fascinating, yet sad for those people of color who have been used, and all those used who just wanted to help others in developing countries. It never ceases to amaze me how so many people can find ways to become amazingly rich off of the backs of poor people of color, yet so many of us remain in back breaking poverty. It’s all so perplexing, to say the least.

 

All of this from the little clothing bin on my block. Well, I guess I won’t be donating anything more.

 

green world bin

 

Related Articles–listen as Mattias “teaches” about responsibility.

• Mattias Wallander: New Year’s Resolution to Declutter Your Closet? Great, Here’s How to Do It Responsibly (huffingtonpost.com)