A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Internet

‎"When you cut facilities, slash jobs, abuse power, discriminate, drive people into deeper poverty and shoot people dead whilst refusing to provide answers or justice, the people will rise up and express their anger and frustration if you refuse to hear their cries. A riot is the language of the unheard."

~ Martin Luther King, Jr ~

Someone posted the above on their Facebook page, a 'copy n paste' not uncommon in social media. We see something we like (a cute kitten video, a political blog, or a sentiment we want to share) and so we click 'share' or repost it. But in this case the quote is not true - well, not all of it. Yes, MLK did say "A riot is the language of the unheard" but he did not say the words attrubted that proceed it. Someone has written something themselves, tacked a bit of MLK on the end, and then sent it out into the world wide web hoping (presumably) that some people will be be attracted by MLK's name to a message he didn't actually give.

What he actually said was:

"But at the same time, it is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots. I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard."

[source: http://edgeofthewest.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/remembering-martin-luther-king/] 

This (the original misquote) is not the first quote I've seen on Facebook that looked hinkey to me. There are plenty of 'quotes' that kinda sound like the person they're attributed to, but aren't actually. And even before 'social media' there were people writing lengthy missives about how quatrain x-y-z by Nostrodamus correctly predicted the collapse of the Twin Towers, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the rise of Hitler - all of which is then used as proof that his next quatrain is 'warning' us that the One World Government is upon us.

Anyway, I called out the erroneous poster on the fake MLK quote and got this in reply:

• Nick D'Angelo: where's your source for this 'quote'? it seems to have been rewritten, because here's the actual quote:
  "But at the same time, it is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that the... (full quote, as above)
•  [THEM]: Regardless of who read, copied, quoted it.....the words and message are spot on.
•  Nick D'Angelo: But the only part of your quote that MLK actually said was "a riot is the language of the unheard". The rest is made up. If someone wants to make sh!t up they should put their own name to it...
• [THEM]: Listen Nick you little wanker.....I copy and pasted this from someone elses status because I agree with the message. If you want to obsess about who wrote the fuckin thing....do it somewhere else or say something constructive. I am in no mood to debate with the likes of you your petty bullshit....I have no idea who wrote it....I just agree with it.

• [someone else] u tell em heehee if he so obsessed by it he should write a book
•  Nick D'Angelo: I'm stunned you think it's okay to attribute something to someone that didn't actually say what you say they said.
•  [THEM]: maybe a little strong...but this is a passion provoking subject and if you don't have passion then what do you become? My mother used to say quote: " We're not here to fuck spiders!"  · Like ·   1 person
•  [someone else] go mum
•  [THEM]: Nick.....copy and paste it into google and scour through the 318 hits of the same quote.

Hmmmm, that just means 318 other people have fallen for this BS quote, surely? And I think I am not alone in thinking this, so I must be right.

"Thou shalt not tell falsehoods in the public square"

~ Jesus Christ ~

Okay, I made that up. But this one is true - look it up on Google if you don't believe me.

"I have a dream! That one day man will not be judged by the color of his skin, but by the cut of his jib"

~ Nelson Mandela ~

Passport scammer Gerry Otimi 'preyed on vulnerable'

Since I've posted previously about my run ins with Gerry (Gerald) Otimi I thought it only fair I update you on his most recent court case. The following is via the NZ Herald website:

Passport scammer 'preyed on vulnerable'

By Edward Gay

5:30 AM Saturday Jul 30, 2011

Gerard Otimi (left) appears in court yesterday with supporter Akarana Rewi. Otimi charged overstayers $500 for a worthless certificate of residency. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The promise of jobs and an education for their children was used to lure overstayers into a passport scam that ended yesterday with the jailing of the man who took their money. Gerard Otimi was yesterday jailed for 18 months for leading 38 people on with the false hope they could stay in New Zealand - while taking $500 for a "stamp" on their passports. 

One victim, Metala Leaupepe, told the Manukau District Court she had paid thousands to immigration consultants but could not get residency. "I was exhausted in making my ... immigration application through agents and the answer was always declined." 

Otimi held meetings at marae in Mangere, Manurewa and Hamilton where he told overstayers they could avoid deportation if they paid him $500 to be adopted or "whangai'ed" into his hapu. The mostly Tongan and Samoan victims also had their passports stamped and signed by Otimi, and were given hapu certificates giving them "permission to remain in Aotearoa NZ as a hapu whangai". But the stamps and certificates were worthless. 

Judge Gus Andree Wiltens said the certificates "read impressively but have no real meaning". Statements on the certificate mentioned Queen Elizabeth II and used official language. "It was clearly designed to impress people with a limited level of English ability," the judge said. Otimi was found guilty of 38 counts of altering a document with intent to cause loss. He was acquitted of a further seven charges at his hearing in April where Mrs Leaupepe gave evidence. 

Judge Andree Wiltens said it was not only the 38 people he had heard from at the hearing - many more had been taken in by Otimi, who targeted some of the most vulnerable people in New Zealand society. "South Auckland has a large population from the Pacific Islands who have issues with Immigration because of the fact that they can't be in New Zealand." 

Crown prosecutor Chris Merrick said it was not the first time Otimi had been involved in operating a scam. He referred to his conviction on two charges in 2004 after he issued fake warrants of fitness and driver's licences. 

 Judge Andree Wiltens said he had been "pushing" Otimi towards home detention but because of his lack of co-operation with the Probation Service, he could not sentence him to anything but prison. He did give Otimi the chance to apply for home detention at a later date. Judge Andree Wiltens said each of the witnesses who came to court would be refunded their $500. Other claimants can apply for their share of the remaining $28,500 seized by police.

By Edward Gay

Copyright ©2011, APN Holdings NZ Limited

The Rock Steady Crew and The Megazoids

Roger Perry posted this clip on his Facebook page and it took me straight back to the early 80s when Hip Hop was all about B-Boys and B-Girls, and not Gangsta Bust-A-Cap In Yo Ass Biitch. The RSC were the most famous NYC rappers (internationally at least) and therefore role models for many in New Zealand.

Anyway, seeing this clip reminded me of the time I secured a deal whereby the #1 NZ breakdance crew (although I'm sure the Welli crews will still dispute that) The Megazoids would be the support for Rock Steady Crew's Australian tour. In the end itt never happened, which is why you never heard about it, but I suppose I can tell the story now.... (after the clip)

Shazam!

Shazam! was an 80s TV show that played pop music and screened midweek, in the afternoon... about 5pm from memory? It was a simple format: play some music videos and chat to which ever pop star was visiting that week. If there were no international artists in town they'd talk to a local, who invariably had a new single and video to push. For local musicians one midweek screening on Shazam! and Radio With Pictures on Sunday night was all you'd get, since your record wouldn't chart (we didn't buy our own music back then) and therefore wouldn't screen on the very very popular Saturday evening Ready To Roll show.

In the early 80s I managed a synth-pop band called Katango (taking the job over from Mark Phillips) who managed to break into the NZ Top 20 twice. Meaning we were on Shazam! twice. Well, I was only on once since I wasn't actually in the band - but I did manage to be in one clip. I played the manager - franticly trying to get the band out of the dressing room and onto the Shazam! stage.  I became infamous for clearly mouthing the word "Fuck!" on air as I looked at my watch, franticly. Truth be told I didn't actually say that at all, but if people thought I did... good, Katango were now edgy synth-pop.

Anyway, this was the early 80s and this was New Zealand so even at the tender age of 21 I had no problem wandering into the Shazam! office when I felt like pitching an idea. Usually I was trying to hustle my band. The show was hosted by the affable Phillip Schofield who stayed for about two years before going back to the UK with his TVNZ show reel and landing a job there. He went on to become a huge star in Britain, and I don't think he's ever been back.

In 1984 I pitched this idea to Shazam!...
I would run a nationwide breakdancing competition, and they would film the winning teams in each region, and viewers could vote and decide who was NZ's Next Top Breakdancing Crew! Or something like that. Schofield loved the idea, and so did Shazam! producer Peter Grattan. We had some meetings, exchanged a few letters, agreed to do it, and I got the whole she-bang underway.

Naturally it didn't go as smoothly as that, and I'll tell you what went wrong in Part Two...

Megazoid's - Shazam 1984

In this video: Jason Roe (videos), Claude Iusitini (videos) and Nick D'Angelo (videos

)http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=149405548455742&comments

No, I didn't really shag a sheep...

this is a column I wrote in the late 90s for Rip It Up (v2) - double click on the image to read it 

(double click again or use the magnifying glass icon to bring it to full size)

Don't mess with Dei Hamo!

I've long been a fan of Sonny Sagala, now performing under the name "Dei Hamo'. Like me he's been around NZ Hip Hop since the 80s, so it was only natural we would become Facebook friends a year or two back. Over that time with both cracked a few jokes on eachothers posts, but today I went too far. Result? He deleted me!

To be honest, I was little stunned by his (IMO) over-reaction; but at the same time more than a little in awe that he could be so resolute. He said on Facebook that if anyone said a bad thing about David Tua he'd delte them, so naturally I fell for it, took the bait, and he... deleted me. Dei Hamo is a man of his word!

Don't mess with Dei Hamo! Or do so at your peril:

"Dei Hamo (on Facebook)
To whom it may concern: If your on my Friends List and you have something negative to say about "DAVID TUA".... PLEASE let me know so I can DELETE you"

"Nick D'Angelo (commenting on DH's status)
Next time you see your mate David Tua tell him I think he's a big pussy. And if he's got a problem with that you can also give him my address and tell him to come over and we'll sort it out. With our fists (not by breakdancing)."

Two of DH's friends didn't get the joke, and said so. DH responded with:

"Dei Hamo
Not my mate!. Just DELETED him... No time for sarcasim or jokes on THIS Post."

And so he did! Wow!