Who Wants To Be a Viral Rapist?: Controversial Game Causes Uproar

There is a video game that's on the viral sites that allows players to sexually assault young teenage girls, and even their mothers and female siblings and other relatives. It's called RapeLay, and- understandably- womens groups are up in arms over this. What kind of message does this bring to players- and those who are registered sex offenders, and even those who are suffering from sex addiction? Obviously, the manufacturers of this game didn't stop and think about the unintended consequences, otherwise, the thought would have never occurred to them to release it.

You can say that this game goes too far- and I think that it does. Unfortunately, however, the manufacturer is within its rights to create this-although Japan censors sexual content (genitalia is obscured), themes and ideas are left unregulated. Here in the U.S., I have to wonder if the gaming industry would allow such a game- such as RapeLay- to be released (even in adult media stores, such as Fantasy For Adults, a local adult novelty store chain here in Portland, Oregon, for example). Even if that's not the case, it can be found found online- one can just Google it, and find a list. It's pretty damn troubling to find that a game like this exists, but what more can feminist groups do? If they force the game manufacturer to stop release, these same womens groups could run the risk of getting sued by the game makers. On the other hand, stopping the game may help stem the tide of sexual assaults around the world. But as with everything, there is no easy answer, is there?

To see the CNN story, just click on the title.

(C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander.
All Rights Reserved.

Obama- Not Just a Target of White Supremacists, Chapter Two

Obama's Safety: Hate Groups Thrive Amidst Town Hall Health Care Debates - ABC News

You would think that we as Americans would care about our health. Here in Portland, Oregon, where I live, we're fucking health nuts (well, many of us, anyway). Everywhere I go, I can't walk one-quarter of a block- let alone a mile or two- without seeing someone jogging or riding a bike. Hell, you can even ride your bike on three of the four Interstate highways (5, 84, 205, 405) in town (the Stadium freeway- I-405- is the lone holdout, though who knows? Perhaps they'll find a way to build bike paths on that 3-mile stretch. Of course, they'd have to negotiate some engineering on the double decker Fremont Bridge...). Anyway, I'm straying from the subject at hand.

It appears that the passage in the House of the Health Bill has gotten a lot of groups riled up. Of course, this vitriol against the 44th president has went on long before he decided to work on health care. Our friends in the white supremacy movement think that having a "nigger" in the White House will cause the sky to collapse. What with their Second amendment rights seemingly under threat- at least, according to them, anyway- and the fact that he's running the country (in the ground, they think...), their racial existence is under threat. Then there is the tea party movement, which reportedly welcomes the neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan, and John Turner society types. They see the health care reform as something that come from Russian icons Lenin and Stalin. Hell, they even have the audacity to make Obama look like German chancellor Adolf Hitler- as if Barack is Adolf's long-lost brother (of course, Barack had hidden from the Aryan public for awhile- lest Dolfie-baby's message gets lost over the fact that he would have a black sibling born 16 years later...). Cue the Russian national anthem (Cold War-era version).

You'd think that in the 21st Century, we'd be long past the racial arguments, and that everyone would get along fine. Of course, that could only happen in the Andromeda galaxy, because it sure as hell isn't happening here in the Milky Way. I'm not one to play the race card, but I'm beginning to wonder if race relations have really evolved- or are some of these factions are making attempts to regress back to the 1950s America. Some folks are upset because blacks, Asians, Arabs, and Latinos- and in a large sense, women- are in position of power politically, industrially, and even financially. Some are upset that these aforementioned groups are doing well, mainly through hard work and persistence, while these complainers and haters aren't going anywhere. I don't know if the people who play the blame game have simply given up on their dreams, but perhaps if they would just stop their bitching, and start chasing their dreams and making them into reality, maybe we wouldn't have this conversation.

Of course, all of this is lost on the white power and tea party types. Let's find H.G. Wells, so we can send these folks back to the 1950s- just so they can leave the rest of us alone.

(C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander

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Obama- Not Just a Target of White Supremacists

I've wrote in a private entry this morning that white supremacists are reportedly jumping on the tea party bandwagon. After all, the change that President Barack Obama is working to bring is apparently too much to stomach.

But in an article on the website, News One- which deals with news and issue involving African-Americans- one man, Jay Martin- who (like this blogger) is African-American- thinks that Obama should be assassinated. I wonder if every white supremacist in America is reading this (I have the link to this story. Yeah, I'm running the risk of tipping those knuckleheads off, but the rest of the world deserves to see the story, too...). Martin apparently wants to shoot the president himself over accusations that Obama is part of a "new world order". Hmm...sounds like a term tea party types and white supremacists use quite obsessively. But Martin used Twitter to rant, and I looked at his page (thanks, News One), he mentions that he was frustrated. Aren't we all, sometimes? Yes, the president sometimes frustrates me, but I criticize him in a constructive and rational manner. Unlike the two aforementioned groups, I must say.

But I'm sure that a few tea party members are seeking to recruit Mr. Martin. After all, they do need to make the tea party movement a bit more "colorful", I suppose.

(C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Corey Haim 1971-2010

One of the stars of 1980s film and TV, Corey Haim, has died at 38. It's been widely reported that Haim had suffered from flu-like symptoms, and was rushed to Providence St. Joseph Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. There were reports stating that Haim may have accidentally overdosed on prescription medications, but until the LA County coroner's office confirms this, it's only speculation.

Haim came to fame in the film "The Lost Boys", where, alongside Corey Feldman, he fought off vampires (one played by Kiefer Sutherland), and "Lucas", where he played the title character. Haim suffered from chemical dependency issues over the years, and both his career, and his longtime friendship with frequent co-star Corey Feldman, were strained.

Haim was 38.

Updates can be found at CNN, and ET Online about Haim's untimely death.

(C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.

What Now, Senator Ashburn?

Last week, California state senator Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, was arrested on suspicion of DUI. He had reportedly left a Sacramento gay nightclub, Faces, in a state-owned vehicle, and had another man inside. The man was not a state employee.

Today, on Bakersfield's KERN radio, Ashburn came out as a gay man. This is interesting, given that he has consistently voted against gay rights over his 14 years in state politics- eight in the California senate, and six in the state assembly . Ashburn told KERN's Inga Barks that he voted the way his constituents wanted him to vote, and the votes never reflected his own views. Ashburn serves in the largely conservative 18th Senate district, which includes Kern and san Bernardino counties (just outside Los Angeles). He's term limited, and Ashburn himself has mentioned that he will not run for any further public office.






The large question is  this: will he embraced the very people he vilified- the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBTQ) community- or will he be shunned? Yes, he's slowly embracing his homosexuality, and to be sure on how I feel about this, he has my support in his efforts. His constituents, on the other hand, may not be so supportive. First off, he's a married man with four children, and i pretty much know how they're taking the news. He believes himself a devout Christian, which means that his fellow parishioners are either praying for him, or taking steps to excommunicate him. Either way, you have what is essentially a volatile situation. I'm very interested in how the intervening period will play out, but whichever way this goes, senator Ashburn will likely learn from this, and become a better person.

(C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander.
All Rights Reserved.

What More Can Be Done About the John Albert Gardners?

John Albert Gardener III has been charged with murder, with a special allegation of rape or attempted rape, and a count of assault with intent to commit rape, in connection with the disappearance of Chelsea King. She was last seen alive Thursday, and although a body had been found yesterday, there is no positive identification that it is indeed Chelsea. Gardner has pled "not guilty", and is due to return to court on March 9. There may be special circumstances where Gardner may face the death penalty.
I watched some footage on NBC San Diego, and several folks suggest that sex offenders be microchipped, and even do a "one-strike-and-you're-out" law. The microchipping idea sounds like it could work, except I have a bit of an issue with that, and other methods used to keep sex predators and other criminals in line. Oh, I believe that these will work, mind you. But here's my issue: no matter what method law enforcement uses- be it microchipping, ankle bracelets, GPS tracking, and what have you- some criminals are very clever. If they're hellbent on committing henious acts, no kind of method will stop them. Some of these cretins won't even give a rat's ass that they're being tracked, and even revel in being caught. In the case of microchipping- which, again, I find a noble idea- what's to say that those chips won't get damaged. Believe me, if a criminal can find a way to get rid of tracking devices, he/she will utilize that shortcut.
Then, there's the issue of privacy. The American Civil Liberties Union will say that it's an invasion of privacy. Which begs the question: how can we keep an eye on people like John Gardner? Must we listen to experts, such as the psychiatrist who suggested that Gardner be locked up for up to 30 years (when Gardner served time for raping a 13 year old girl ten years ago), and follow through with that? Perhaps videotape every move? Of course, these jackals do deserve some kind of privacy- after all, we don't want to look at them every second, 24/7/365.  There are no easy answers to this.




 (C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Emotions High In Chelsea King Case

Days ago, Chelsea King, 17, went out for a morning jog. John Albert Gardner, 30, a registered sex offender in the state of California, reportedly raped and subsequently murdered Chelsea- although, there is no confirmation as of yet that the body is that of Chelsea's.
Enter the community of Rancho Bernardo, where the suspect's parents live. A neighbor discovered a message, "Chelseas blood is on you, move out" on the parents' garage door. On the NBC San diego website, a video shows a confrontation between a man and the two men who painted over the message. Click here to: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/Neighbors_Confront_Men_Painting_Over_Vandal_s_Threat_San_Diego.html for the video.
No doubt emotions are high in this case, and I mourn with victim's family over this loss. Their young daughter's life has likely been taken, and if Mr. Gardner has indeed killed Chelsea, he must pay for his crime. But unfortunately, any kind of retaliation against the family of Gardner's will only make matters worse- the older man who confronted the two painters could have hurt himself in the end, by facing assault- and even murder, if so decided to commit that act- charges. I know that this is not a popular idea, given the high emotion of what has likely transpired, but everyone needs to take a step back, wait for the facts to surface. Yes, be angry- in fact, be extremely angry over this young woman's kidnapping and apparent death! I know I am. But rash reactions, and getting into altercations aren't the way to memorialize Chelsea.


(C) MMX, by Darren W. Alexander.
All Rights Reserved.