In one of the most spectacular displays of Congressional malfeasance ever, House Republicans deliberately passed bills that they knew had no chance of passing in the Democratic-controlled Senate.  One focused on, essentially, militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border and the other pulled back on President Obama’s ability to reduce the deportation of undocumented minors at the same border. Both were widely dismissed as un-passable by Congressional Democrats and a president that refused to sign it.

But they did manage to pass a wildly creative lawsuit against the president, accusing him of a Constitutional breach by not enforcing a law – the Affordable Care Act – that they’ve spent the last five years bombing with every political kitchen sink they could.

And then, like that, they went on a five-week break.

It pretty much sucks that Congress can’t be measured in performance the same way we are.

If that were the case, perhaps elections – like the Congressional midterms coming up – would be based on tighter performance metrics like the number of bills passed rather than the much more amorphous “records.” It’s not like members of Congress are managers or executives beyond their own small staffs and budgets, which the House Committee on House Administration averaged at about $1.4 million (for Senate offices it ranges from $3 million to $4.7 million). So, if you’re an average citizen with little knowledge of the machinations of Congress it’s fair to ask: what record?

Record implies something tangible that you’ve worked on or developed or produced.  You could wager this is one major reason this particular Congress continues to get the worst public ratings of all time.

There’s a fair and reasonable logic when you align Congressional approval ratings, see, as an example, Gallup’s trend strip below …

… with the productivity of Congress gauged by numbers of bills passed, see this graph cited from Maddow Blog below:

RealClearPolitics averages Congressional approval at about 12.3 percent once it aggregates all recent polls, including the Gallup one above.

I’ve always been irritated by the pure numerical lack of real lawmaker productivity in recent years as much as I’ve been jaded by Congressional dysfunction caused by ideological splits and polarization.  I’d imagine the rest of the American public would be, too, so we can assume that part of the hate spit Capitol Hill’s way comes from a sense that legislators don’t get anything of substance done.  And maybe that’s a big part of the problem in encouraging voter turnout during elections: candidates spar over the illusory “record” rather than actual performance data.

It’s funny how elected officials, on any level, are quick to demand performance metrics on government employees or public servants like teachers – as one example – but, don’t let constituents ask for basic metrics on how they’ve performed. Let’s have big public hearings on that every quarter. This would constitute the basic stuff like (and why not list it below for good measure and reference):

• How many bills did you introduce?
• How many bills did you co-sponsor or sign on to?
• How many bills did you pass?
• How many bills that you co-sponsored actually passed?
• How many bills in each subject matter or area of focus did you introduce, co-sponsor or pass?
• How many ‘Ceremonial’ bills compared to how many “Substantive” bills did you introduce, co-sponsor or pass?
• How many constituents did you respond to?
• How many queries or requests did you send to government agencies?

Oh … and, can’t forget this one …

• How much money did your campaign raise and where did those contributions come from?

As a former Congressional staffer, I understand measuring Congressional performance, especially by Member, isn’t all that easy. It’s complicated, I get that. And, Congressional recesses aren’t necessarily walks in the park since members are still either plugged in, hitting a brutal campaign trail or refreshing ties with constituents back in home districts. But why not find a way to simplify performance measurement on Congress in a way that’s meaningful? Why wait till the next cycle to get bamboozled by clever Election Day messaging?  Why accept that members of Congress can get paid six-figure salaries to do exactly jack shit when the masses have to face quarterly performance reviews, warnings, lay-offs and firings if they fail to perform on the job?

Experts will argue that elections conduct this function of performance benchmarking.  Yet elections, especially these days, just don’t seem transparent and accountable enough.

Here’s a dope idea: build a graph with the answers to the questions above and provide it as a user-friendly button next to an incumbent candidate’s vote button that you can click into when navigating the touch screen on the standard electronic voting machine.  News organizations should team up with election boards to mail that information out or to require incumbent candidates to include it in their online content or as a key piece of their literature, whether direct mail brochures or leaflets.  Voila: not only do you get a real time capture of exactly what an incumbent produced, but they have incentive not to bullshit you (Voter X) with well spun tales of their legislative exploits. Obviously, you can’t do that for the challenger, but at least you have something simple to separate real legislators who hit rubber to road as opposed to deadbeats who just give good speeches.  D.C.-based Sunlight Foundation is one organization that does a solid job of collecting and consolidating this data for free open access – but, how many people outside the Beltway know what the Sunlight Foundation is?

The ‘ceremonial’ compared to ‘substantive’ is an important meat versus potatoes distinction, for example. Pew Research played around with it late last year when it compared the 113^th Congress’ productivity record against that of others before it:

That means bills passed to name post offices versus bills passed to finally revive long-term unemployment insurance that was cut off last Christmas as examples.

One reason expectations for Congress are so low is the perception of not only a “Do Nothing Congress” but also the people’s take that there are few effective mechanisms in place for lawmakers to answer to when doing nothing.  That’s not entirely the fault of Congress, however, especially when they skip out for five weeks after not resolving a border crisis, yet go for the easy lift of suing the president just because their base voters feel like it.  We have to, ultimately, fault ourselves for that because we should’ve been paying attention all along.  That’s what Republicans are banking on – and that’s exactly why they keep pulling stunts like this.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for Uptown Magazine.  He’s host of #Uptownhall, Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor to The Root.  He can be reached via Twitter @charlesdellison

The weekend was filled with outings, concerts, selfies, tournaments, and more. Here’s a glimpse of how celebs like Laz Alonso to Lil Scrappy, Kelly Rowland to Shemar Moore, and more spent their Saturday and Sunday.

-Raphael Greene

Laz Alonso stops to take a selfie while at a boat party.

Sage the Gemini and Mack Wilds on stage at the Under the Influence of Music Tour. Word around town is that it’s a show you don’t want to miss.

KeKe Palmer shows her wild side as she rocks gold bottoms.

Gorgeous mommy-to-be Kelly Rowland stops by IG to plug a contest.

Jamie Foxx and team take a picture while at the Dwayne Wade Fantasy Camp.

Shemar Moore and friends take a quick car selfie before heading to the On The Run show with Beyonce and Jay-Z but we don’t think they were anywhere near the Rose Bowl brawl that left one man without his finger.

Everyone’s favorite ballerina Misty Copeland.

The wait is over. Neyo is back on the scene with his new single “Money Can’t Buy” featuring Young Jeezy.

Ashanti plays peek a boo.

Lil Scrappy stops to take a minute to put the paws together and give a shout-out to the man upstairs.

Hawaii state officials prepare as two hurricanes: Iselle and Julio make way toward their sunny shores for the first time in 22 years. State officials told residents and tourists to prepare and not panic for the incoming weather expected Thursday evening.

The last hurricane to touch down on Hawaii in 1992 was Hurricane Iniki. If both Iselle and Julio reach the shores of Hawaii then the 22-year hurricane streak would be broken.

As of Thursday morning, weather officials predicted Hurricane Iselle is a category 1 on track toward the islands with Hurricane Julio, recently upgraded category 2, rapidly behind. The twin storms would mean that Hawaii will be directly hit twice in the same week – a new record for the state.

Hurricane Iselle was expected to weaken from a Category 3 but on Wednesday the hurricane’s winds increased to 90mph and maintained a speed of 20MPH. Both hurricanes are expected to weaken again as they make landfall.

Weather officials say the biggest threat will be heavy rainfall and winds to buildings, structures and crops on the islands. Tropical cyclones and flash flooding might be seen in areas where the hurricanes.

Many residents and tourists have started to prepare with bottles of water and dry supplies barely stocked on shelves. Hawaii residents were advised to prepare for at least seven days. Shoppers stood in lines for hours at the supermarket waiting to check out supplies.

Hawaii has announced school closures and airport delays possibly throughout next week. United, American, Hawaiian and Delta Airlines have agreed to waive fees and in some cases flight change fees. Travelers with incoming flights next week are advised to check with their airline carrier to determine if those fees can be waived.

[Source]

Lisa Kepler, the 18-year-old daughter of Tulsa police officers Shannon and Gina Kepler, turned her parents into authorities for their involvement in an alleged murder. The girl claimed her dad, Shannon, shot her boyfriend to death in the street and then turned his gun on her.

Lisa says she hid behind a bush while the situation unfolded. Her mother was in the passenger seat when her father got out of his car and began shooting.

Shannon and Gina are 24-year veterans of the Tulsa Police Department.  The pair were arrested Tuesday evening.  Lisa says she hopes her parents “rot in prison for a very long time.”

The body of Lisa’s boyfriend, 19-year-old Jeremy Lake, was found in the street in front of his home.  He and Lisa had been living together, according to police.

According to Lisa, her parents had kicked her out of their home and dropped her off in front of the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless a week prior to the incident. There, she met Lake and they began dating. He offered her a place to stay in the home he shared with his aunt.

Lisa says she and Lake were walking home when they encountered a black SUV.  Her father exited the vehicle, shouting at her.  “I walked away and Jeremy tried to introduce himself, and my dad shot him,” KJRH-TV reported.

Shannon Kepler is accused of first-degree murder and shooting with intent to kill and his wife is being accused of being an accessory to murder. The Keplers are being held without bail pending formal charges.

Apple enthusiasts mark your calendars because in the upcoming weeks, the newest iPhone 6 will be the focal point of Apple’s upcoming launch event. The newest addition to Apple’s next-generation iPhone family will be unveiled for the world to see on September 9, if rumors are to be believed.

The iPhone 6 is set to innovate the classic style iPhone most users have grown accustomed to. The 4-inch screen that came with the iPhone 5s will receive a slight boost to the display screen. Rumors are that the company plans on releasing the iPhone 6 in two sizes.

The first would be a slighter larger screen with a 4.7-inch display. Sources report that Apple may attempt to compete with competitor Samsung’s Galaxy series with a similar sized screen that would be about 5.5 inches or about the size of a Galaxy Note 3. That might be rolled out after the initial iPhone 6 launch to claim a stake in the emerging “phablet” market. On top of a larger screen, Apple plans on using a crystal sapphire screen to minimize the number of scratched and cracked screens. The crystal sapphire screen reportedly holds up even when jabbed with a knife.

Other additions to the phone will focus on improving the camera quality and speed, with a faster A8 processor for iOS8. Apple is consistent with their 8 megapixel camera but could possibly upgrade to 13 megapixels for crisper, clearer photos and videos.

A faster processor for the phone equals more access to photos and videos in the iCloud plus better connectivity between Apple devices. No talk about giving the iPhone a power boost with a battery life has surfaced. With all these additions, surely the iPhone user should keep those chargers close by.

While users wait for the official announcement of the iPhone 6, plans for a smartwatch has been announced. But who wants a phone on their wrist? Let’s just wait for the iPhone 6 to be unveiled in September.

[Source]

Yesterday, a Saudi man died in a hospital isolation ward, where he was being tested for Ebola. The 40-year-old man returned Sunday to Saudi Arabia following a business trip to Sierra Leone, a west African country affected by the Ebola virus.

He was admitted to a specialized hospital in Jeddah and being treated in intensive care after showing symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever. Medical officials have collected samples for testing in an international reference lab to determine if the man tests positive for Ebola infection. Earlier tests performed before his death confirmed that he was negative for dengue hemorrhagic fever, which has similar symptoms to Ebola.

Saudi Health Ministry said that there are no other reported cases of Ebola. The country stopped issuing visas to Muslim pilgrims from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea in April as a measure to avoid spread of the virus during the yearly religious pilgrimage in Mecca. Those countries have reported the largest numbers of death due to the virus.

The Saudi Arabian man’s death brings the death toll of those affected or suspected to be infected with the Ebola virus to over 900.

The CDC has issued a Level 1 alert in response to the Ebola crisis, the first time its highest level alert has been issued since a 2009 flu outbreak. CDC chief Tom Frieden tweeted Wednesday:

.@CDCEmergency Ops Center moved to Level 1 response to #EbolaOutbreak given the extension to Nigeria & potential to affect many lives.

— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrFriedenCDC) August 6, 2014

These latest cases continue the trend of travelers who have visited West African countries complaining of Ebola-like symptoms upon return to their home country. A Nigerian nurse who treated a man with Ebola reportedly died on Wednesday. A Spanish missionary priest tested positive for the virus after contracting the virus in Liberia. He is the first European patient to be affected by the outbreak. American doctor Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol were admitted to Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital this past week. A patient who was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York tested negative for the virus.

World Health Organization officials are on alert to determine the best solution to keep Ebola from spreading beyond Africa’s borders any further. The organization is moving quickly to determine if an experimental drug should be used to treat patients. “The product is still in an experimental stage, and the manufacturer reports that there is a very limited supply, so it cannot be purchased and is not available for general use,” the Centers for Disease Control said. Currently there is no vaccine or cure for the fatal virus.

Photo credits: Shutterstock, Getty

Rapper and mogul 50 Cent‘s bodyguard allegedly attacked a man and his son in a shopping mall.  The man was reportedly trying to film 50.  Cops have now launched a criminal investigation.

TMZ reports the man, Lazzeri Frazier, and his son (pictured on the next page) were at the Burbank Town Center Sunday when they spotted 50, who was with his son.

When the man tried to record 50 on his cell phone, 50′s security allegedly snatched the phone from his hands. Frazier verbally confronted the bodyguard and was then shoved.  When the pair began to fight, Frazier’s 16-year-old son stepped in.  The boy was punched in the face.

The bodyguard fled by the time the cops arrived on the scene.  Witnesses stated that Frazier’s story was true, and 50 refused to speak to police.

View more TMZ photos from the brawl here.

Russell Simmons is bringing WorldStarHipHop to the silver screen. Insurge, the Paramount Studios division which produces “micro-budget” movies, bought the pitch for a feature film about the site.

The movie will chronicle the site’s journey from its humble beginnings as a place to watch music videos to its notorious presence in pop culture for millions of hits generated from street fight videos. Oddly enough, the film is being described as similar to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in tone.

In even more good news for the mogul, All Def Digital, the multiplatform network from co-founder Simmons, has raised $5 million in funding.

The round was led by Greycroft Partners, one of the early investors in Maker Studios, with support also from Shari Redstone‘s Advancit Capital, Nu Horizons Investments (established by Simmons and ex-wife and business partner Kimora Lee Simmons-Leissner), and e.ventures.

Samuel L. Jackson is in talks to take over the title role in Screen Gems’ action comedy The Black Phantom, a role that Jamie Foxx was previously slated to play. Foxx reportedly exited the project due to scheduling conflicts, but comedian-actor Kevin Hart is still attached to the project.

The film is a comedy that will follow the odd partnership formed between a notorious hit man known as The Black Phantom who was hired to kill crime mob hit man played by Hart. Upon finding out that he has been double crossed, he hires The Black Phantom to assist him in getting revenge.

The Black Phantom will reunite top-grossing Black director Tim Story, the with box-office draw Hart. The pair previously worked together on Think Like A Man, sequel Think Like A Man Too and Ride Along, which grossed more than $100 million at the box office. Story’s frequent collaborator Will Packer will be producing along with Will Gluck. Dave Lease and Megan Hinds penned the script.

Both Hart and Jackson have other projects in the works before they start shooting. Hart is attached to star in a buddy cop comedy with fellow comedian Seth Rogen directed by Nicholas Stoller. Jackson and Quentin Tarantino will shoot The Hateful Eight, amid the controversy of the script being leaked. Hopefully Jackson and Hart will be the winning combination to get the movie made.

Within the next few weeks, a Laz Alonso takeover will be take shape on the small screen. Premiering this month, he will be the host on the new season for TV One and Lexus’ Versus and Flow.  Come September 17, Alonso will co-star with Debra Messing on a new NBC dramedy, The Mysteries of Laura.

When it comes to looks on-screen and off, Alonso “woke-up-like-dis.” He’s simply a classic and I know that I’m not the only one who shares those sentiments. Wouldn’t you agree, Alonso is among Black Hollywood’s flawless brothers? Furthermore, when a man who is easy on the eyes also happens to be dressed well, that just happens to put him in a different category. So fellas, dapper up and take a few style cues from this week’s Star Style, Laz Alonso.

A season-less suit is a must-have for any man making moves. Like Alonso, owning a gray suit will have you ready for any occasion from a nighttime event, to a casual dinner, to a day in the office.

For a day of business, choose a solid color tie that lets your clients and co-workers know you are dependable.

Be mindful of the vibe that your shirt and suit combination gives off. Alonso pairing this royal blue shirt with his khaki suit makes it perfect for a night on the town that’s festive yet classy.

Few men have embraced the white jean look for fear of looking as if they’ve stepped off the set of “Miami Vice.” But, guys, you should know that white jeans are the new blue jean and can complete any look you wish to accomplish.

As an example of the previous point, wearing a motorcyle-inspired jacket, like Alonso, can make white jeans less intimidating.

Consider opting for a laid-back ensemble during your down time. A classic pair of sneakers, jacket, and jeans is simple, but still manages to keep you looking pulled together.

If you are thinking about investing in a tuxedo, purchasing a single breasted style with a vest, will give you flexibility and options for different events.

Tan summer suits are a season-appropriate staple that can be paired with other fun accessories, such as straw hats, two-tone oxfords, gingham shirts, and so much more.

Gray jeans, like blue or black ones, have the ability to kick up your look a notch.

Wearing head-to-toe black is easy for any night out. But for men who want to stand out, adding a sharp contrast such as a white blazer into the mix will have eyes on you.

If you have been eying a few necklaces, but aren’t sure of how to pair them, then consider starting off with a long cord necklace with a crew neck Tee.

Not sure of how to rock that navy blue suit you purchased? The blazer and pants can be worn separately with other items in your closet. Like Alonso, you can easily pair the jacket with a stripped Tee and jeans.

During a highly emotional appearance on the advice show, The Daily Helpline Tisha Campbell-Martin dropped a bomb while giving advice to a woman who suffered from sexual assault.

“You can no longer be a victim. You have to be victorious at this point. You can’t play the victim because at this point, and I’m not saying this to put you down or anything. What I’m saying is that he is winning, and you are allowing him to win. You are making a conscious decision to harm yourself, to hurt yourself and allow this person to still have dominion over your life. You can’t do that anymore.”

She then revealed that she had also gone through similar struggles with sexual abuse.

“The reason why I can absolutely say this to you without judgment or anything else is, and this is the first time I have ever admitted this on camera in front of millions of people is that I too have been a victim of the same thing. When I was three I was raped, by an older person. Now, I knew as child I did nothing wrong and that this wasn’t my fault, but I have found forgiveness in the guilt that I might’ve had. I felt like, did I pull this in? Did I do something? At three years old? No. It’s a heinous crime.”

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, over 44% of sexual abused victims are under the age of 18 and 60% sexual assaults are not reported to the police. 

We applaud Tisha for being brave and sharing her story. Watch her appearance on The Daily Helpline below:

The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards will be a historic night for Beyoncé. Not only will she be performing songs from her self-titled album but she will also receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The announcement was made by MTV on Thursday morning and fans could not be more thrilled. 

“Bey is going to be all over the show,” a MTV source said. “MTV is still working everything out, but they want her to open the show with a big production.”

It is widely known that big production is Mrs. Carter’s middle name, especially following the power shortage at the 2013 Superbowl. In 2011, she topped off her performance with now two year old Blue Ivy. Maybe she has something up her sleeve for this year.

Queen Bey is receiving the “moonman inspired by the late King of Pop” award after Justin Timberlake. Madonna and Britney Spears also took home the award. To no surprise, the Drunk In Love singer has eight nominations including Video of the Year.

MTV is describing the upcoming show as “epic” and Beyoncé puts the cherry on top. The VMAs will air on Sunday, August 24th at 9pm.

Photo credit: Instagram/Beyonce; NY Daily News

While many cheered the guilty verdict in the Renisha McBride shooter case, it seems someone at the Associated Press had their own take on the case. Shortly after the shooter Ted Wafer was convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter, a tweet from the AP surfaced referencing the story.

Needless to say #Blacktwitter didn’t take to the AP’s reference of McBride’s alcohol and marijuana intake the night of her murder as a reason for Wafer to shoot her while she was on his porch asking for help. The Associated Press later reworded the tweet, but not before Black Twitter weighed in – because you know they never give up an opportunity to drag linguistically lazy offenders.

The hashtag #APHeadlines quickly surfaced, assuming the “voice” of headlines that might have been written if the AP had its way.  Here, some of the funniest.

NYPD officer’s arm unhurt, after aggressive black man commits suicide by strangling himself with it: say medics. #APHeadlines

— Josh Shahryar شهریار (@JShahryar) August 7, 2014

Unruly Bus Passenger Removed by Law Enforcement Officials #APHeadlines pic.twitter.com/kZueUDyigj — NIGris Elba (@hosienation) August 7, 2014

Black people in Detroit participate in collective water fast to curve rising cost of living expenses #APHeadlines

— Dr. Kortney Ziegler (@fakerapper) August 7, 2014

“Driver Unharmed After Headless Man in Jasper, Texas Attaches Himself to Bumper of Speeding Truck” #APHeadlines — Alexander Hardy (@chrisalexander_) August 7, 2014

“BREAKING: Police Officer Shoves Black Woman To The Ground; Ground Survives.” #APHeadlines

— PrestonMitchum (@PrestonMitchum) August 7, 2014

Aggressive Hood-Clad Teenager questioned to death By Longtime Neighborhood Watch Officer. #APheadlines — Elon James White (@elonjames) August 7, 2014

RT @AP: Eccentric Billionaire Donald Sterling discusses why minority outreach programs may not be best model for Clippers #APHeadlines

— Kriss Fett (@insanityreport) August 7, 2014

Uptown Studio teamed up with Colgate Optic White to bring you our latest installments of Uptown Studio. Join our host Ashlei Stevens as she talks with some folks who know a little something about fashion, beauty and style.  This week we’re featuring Miko Branch, Co-Founder of  Miss Jessie’s Hair Products and Fashion Designers Ayaan  & Idyl  Mohallim.  Be  sure  to  visit  Uptown  Unplugged  each  week  for  more  great  interviews  including  Beauty Entrepreneur Dana Hill, Celebrity Stylist June Ambrose,  Beauty Blogger Taren Guy  and  Reality TV star, Brie Bythewood.

A New York police officer was caught trying to bribe a female applicant in exchange for her panties, $1,000 and sex.

Delfin Lantigua, 34, contacted the woman through Facebook, promising to expedite her NYPD application during the hiring process in February. In addition to sex and money, the officer wanted a pair of her panties as a souvenir. The woman met with Lantigua at a Dunkin’ Donuts mid March, where he demanded sex from her.

The NYPD hopeful, whose name has not been released, contacted police. The victim then wore a wire to a scheduled meeting with Lantigua, where they were to meet at Brooklyn motel two days later.  Upon arrival, the officer was met by Internal Affair officers and arrested.

Lantigua, a nine year officer, is also charged with coercion and official misconduct and faces up to seven years in jail if convicted.

According to sources, Lantigua formerly worked in applicant processing, where he obtained the women’s personnel information. When officers searches his work locker, they found three pairs of women panties.

New basketball league, new name. Former Indiana Pacer basketball star Ron Artest, also known as Metta World Peace, has changed his name once again.

His new name is The Pandas Friend, no apostrophe either. His first name change occurred in September 2011, from his government name Ronald William Artest.

His name change, announced via Twitter, comes on the heels of his one year contract with the Chinese Basketball Association. According to ESPN, The Pandas Friend, 34, will play for the Sichuan Blue Whales. Great pandas live in China.

The Pandas Friend, who also played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, is best known for his on-court defensive skills and off court controversial comments and behavior. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. In November 2004, Pandas Friend was involved in the Pistons-Pacers on-court brawl, broadcasted live, that rocked the NBA. The Associated Press called it “the most infamous brawl in NBA history.”

Last weekend was the Caribana parade in Toronto, Canada, and I was able to attend with friends from all over the world thanks to our Nomadness travel tribe connections. On Saturday evening, after the parade, we sat down and discussed past and future travel plans. As the night began to wind down, we started to list our individual preferences between using resorts or living amongst the locals when we visit somewhere new. The consensus amongst those of us who stated they prefer local living was that we would require some assistance from a resident of the place we were visiting, just to help us avoid the “bad” neighborhoods. Little did we know that there is currently a phone app being built to do exactly that.

It’s called SketchFactor, and it’s the brainchild of Allison McGuire and Daniel Herrington. The app crowdsources user experiences while simultaneously collecting publicly available information in order to give that neighborhood a sketchiness rating. Although there have been similar apps in the past, this one is REALLY taking off. After being named a finalist in the NYC BigApps competition, the app will be finishing off their successful week by launching on iTunes today. Seems like everything was going great for the pair – until people started openly questioning whether or not the app was inherently racist.

Allison and Daniel are the perfect picture of a-typical whiteness. They are young, middle-class, able-bodied white folks with Colgate smiles, which is leading many to believe that their primary demographic will be others like them. So if they are the ones mainly responsible for judging if an area is “sketchy” or not, then there’s a high chance that neighborhoods that do NOT fit their middle-class or predominantly white tastes will be deemed as unsafe. Blocks of Black and brown folks who are just raising their families and living their lives without the creature comforts of gentrification will be demonized by this app. That is essentially the argument you are hearing by those disgusted by the SketchFactor concept.

But there’s another side to this – the side where this app could possibly be helpful. The friends who I sat around that table with after Caribana are all Black. We all have varying levels of education, different tax brackets and reside in all types of different neighborhoods, and we all recognize the need to identify unsafe places where we travel. And, as someone who lived in the hood and still has friends there, there simply are some places where it’s not safe to be as a stranger. But, as statistics show, areas depressed by crime and violence are not determined by RACE, they are determined by POVERTY.

But here’s the real problem with this app: It is predictable that the sketchiness of an area is going to be defined by strictly xenophobic fears, such as, “will I get mugged?” “do drive-by’s occur in this neighborhood?” and “how many gangs control this block?” But how many neighborhoods will be reviewed by the number of pedophiles and sex offenders living in that area? What about school-shootings? What about kidnappings? These problems mark many neighborhoods with no Black and brown faces. Well, since those don’t fit into the archetype of the ‘dangerous Black man’, there’s a chance those crimes won’t affect an area’s safety rating.

I’m not in the business of calling someone racist without real proof, and I definitely do not know the hearts of the creators of this app. I just genuinely hope that as their app takes off and they hire staff, they look to hiring a truly diverse group of men and women that can help this app be beneficial, instead of a proving ground for xenophobic jackasses.

LAB

Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

Angela Bassett is making 55 look easy in the recent Violet Grey Magazine spread. Wearing black lingerie, she shows us plenty of leg, proving that she still has one of the best bodies in Hollywood.

The shoot shows off her ageless beauty and celebrates her glamorous style with black and white photos.

When asked what she sees when she looks in the mirror she said, “a passionate woman who knows what she loves and has been blessed to be able to do it… and continue to do it.”

Known for her famous physique in What’s Love Got To Do With It, Bassett claims to cut out all sugar, alcohol, and bread before hitting the red carpet.

“Actresses make it look easy because that’s the way it should look—effortless,” she says after being asked about her acting ability. The American Horror Story actress is a veteran and the epitome of the phrase, “Black Don’t Crack”.

Click through for more pictures from Violet Grey Magazine.

[IMAGES: VIOLETGREY]

Each month Oprah graces the front of O Magazine with her versatility in fashion and beauty- but we’ve never seen her look this stunning. In her September issue, Oprah wears a black Capezio catsuit showing off her curves. With her head held high and arms raised, the photo captured the true essence of confidence. 

“I feel phenomenal on this cover,” Winfrey said to E! News. “I was a little apprehensive about doing this cover in a bodysuit because, as Maya Angelou says in her ‘Phenomenal Woman,’ ‘I’m not built to suit a fashion model size.’ But it’s like something I’ve never done. It’s really kinda exciting.”

The media-mogul is definitely channeling her inner Diana Ross on the cover and she executes it gracefully. “I like pretending I’m a movie star,” she said.

[IMAGES: O MAGAZINE/GETTY]

Making The Band alum Sara Stokes was arrested in the wee hours of July 21 for a brawl with husband, Tony. Stokes, who according to police was intoxicated, was charged with domestic violence.

This latest incident violates Stokes probation from a August 2009 domestic violence case, also with husband. Stokes stabbed her husband, in the presence of their three children in Moreno Valley, California. Her lawyer argued Stokes and husband was simply having fun when she tripped and hurt herself. Tony was ‘injured’ while helping her. She received three years probation in a plea deal. Stokes will now serve 93 days in jail for her latest offense.

Stokes is best known from the reality show music group Da Band, headed and hand picked by hip hop mogul Diddy. Joined by rappers Chopper, Ness, Fred Watson, Baps and reggae artist Dylan, the group, who auditioned in 2002, released one album, Too Hot For TV in 2003. After three seasons of the popular MTV series, the group, known for walking from Manhattan to Brooklyn to fetch cheesecake for boss Diddy, dismantled. Each member pursued solo careers.

Photo credits: TMZ; Twitter/Sara Stokes