By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

Last week rapper Kid Cudi came to the fork in the road and went straight, deciding to put the kibosh on both his Twitter feed and blog. Despite the recent celebrity stampede to social networking, Cudi told Rap-Up.com, “I hate the fact that you can have on one device about eight different ways for someone to contact you. If you think about it, it’s kinda creepy.” Read the rest of this entry »

Verizon should be ashamed of “TechNigga” blog, critics say
Some people aren’t too happy with Verizon Wireless who has given a distribution deal to White guy who’s running a video blog called “TechNigga,” EUR reports. Loren Feldman, of 1938 Media, has drawn the ire of such critics as Najee Ali, of Project Islamic Hope, and Paul Porter, of Industry Ears, among other activists. They want Lowell C. McAdam, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless, to stop giving Feldman a forum for what they say is blatant racism. “Feldman has a history of using the internet to promote racism and demeaning and negative racial stereotypes against African Americans on his internet site. He is responsible for and appears in what he calls ‘TechNigga,’” Ali told EUR in a statement. “Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam needs to demonstrate that Verizon understands they should demonstrate corporate responsibility and will not tolerate racism, or bigotry. The Verizon distribution deal with Feldman sends a horrible message that Verizon seeks to partner with racists like Feldman and that Verizon and CEO McAdam find nothing offensive with ‘TechNigga.’ Our community nationwide should.” Ali is urging everyone to call Lowell C. McAdam and let him know that you will boycott Verizon unless this distribution with Feldman is severed. There are plans for an upcoming national day of protest against Verizon stores nationwide if our calls for a meeting and our demands are not met.”

New York man is charged with a hate crime

Buffalo, N.Y., Police say that the thought of Whites and Hispanics living in the same household was too much for 40-year-old Donald Napierala to take, so he took a seven-foot cross, wrapped it in gasoline-soaked rags and lit it on their front lawn. The fire caused about $250 in damage, but it could have been worse, says Officer James T. Reese and Fire Marshals Edwin Ortiz and Harold Emerson, noting that his actions could very well have killed the four people who slept inside during his 1:30 a.m. escapade. His charges include arson, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief. He is also charged with perpetrating a hate crime.