Opinion & Commentary

Jacob Katel Two blocks east of Biscayne Boulevard between NE 23rd and 35th Streets along the seawall separating Biscayne Bay from Miami’s asphalt landscape, lie many forms of public art. The following images depict examples of scratching, tagging, drawing, bombing, stickering, propaganda, architecture, nature and industrial design. Words are stupid…

Thug Hate Mikey despises himself: I couldn’t help but see the hypocrisies in Michael Symonette’s argument as described in Gus Garcia-Roberts’s September 25 story “Black Against Obama.” However, my main question is: How can Symonette call for blacks to unite when the majority of his argument is based on the…

The Hot Chef of some anonymous New Timer’s dreams. Miami has been doing pretty good for itself in the Bravo TV reality show arena lately, with Kendall-ite Dee Adames being crowned Shear Genius. Though we don’t have a horse in the Project Runway race this season (which is fine. worst…

Hey ya’ll! Have you heard the news? Paris Hilton is looking for a new BFF — or at the very least a BFFN (best friend for now). But this begs the question, what kind of person has the burning desire to be best friends with famous-for-making-a-sex-tape Paris Hilton? Well let…

via NY Times MTV Reality show From G’s To Gents is thank the stars coming back for a second season. Created by Acadamy Award winner turned full time crotch cupper Jamie Foxx and hosted by Diddy’s former umbrella caddy, Fonzworth Bentley, the show aims to turn gangstas into 19th Centuary…

A Handy Debate Poor Mr. Cabrera: Tim Elfrink’s story “The Hand of Justice” (September 18) is really sad. At least Julio Cabrera is free to live in his home and talk to the media to express his concerns. Think about the thousands who are tossed in jail for the minutest…

Jacob Katel Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Johnny painted on a wall in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. Jack Nicholson, aka Jack Torrance, in The Shining appears with an assortment of other killers, psychos and sociopaths from recent film history…

It’s good news to know that the O’Jays are still touring. They were easily one of the best R&B groups of the ’70s and have a long list of hits that should make for a fun show tonight at the Hard Rock. But there’s also been a lot of tragedy…

via Imagechan (nsfw ads) “Yeah, mofo, I’ve got two pairs on. What you gonna do now? Kill me? I’m already dead. God, this show has amazing writing!” Hot on the heels of last night’s Emmys, the fall television season continues its kickoff tonight with two big premiers of shows with…

via MySpace So, we started this new category on Riptide called “Reality Bites” with the intent of generating tons of easy content about local boys and girl who get caught up in the dangerous world of Reality TeeVee. Then nothing happened. Sure, bimbotron pop group Las Caprice is still on…

The titilating scandal swirling around the man selected to lead Miami-Dade County Public Schools continues to make headlines. Yesterday, the School Board delayed its vote on ratifying Alberto Carvalho’s contract to be the new superintendent amid public outrage over his speedy selection and allegations he had an inappropriate romantic relationship…

Remember Lilly Forget the writer: Francisco Alvarado’s “Missing Peace” (September 11) was disturbing. It wasn’t about missing person Lilly Aramburo, but about drug abuse. That’s sad. It should have been about her vanishing and no one caring. I don’t care what she was into; she’s not disposable. No one has…

People spend ungodly amounts of cash on their bitches. Check out ILoveDogsDiamonds.com, for instance, where one can buy the “Amour Amour” dog collar. Made from crocodile leather, platinum, and 52 carats of diamonds, it goes for the bargain price of $3.2 million. And of course South Beach, the nation’s playground…

A proper rock frontman is a center-stage, singular figure of idolatry, not just your average lead singer or guitarist. He must possess certain qualities, including — and most important — that he’s hard to ignore. A rocky family life and the attendant lack of ambition helps. So does a fierce…

Jacob Katel The I.D. Art Gallery building on the west edge of Wynwood is canvassed all across its exterior. The east facing wall of the building forms an alley with the building next door and is bombed with an MSG (Miami Style Graffiti) Day of the Dead production. The 10…

So I just got off the phone with blues singer Shemekia Copeland, who’ll be performing at the Hollywood Clambake on September 26 and, as far as I could tell, she’s really looking forward to coming down to South Florida. She’s going to be working out some new songs off of…

It’s Throwback Tuesdays and with the release of Death Magnetic this past Friday, I’m sort of in an old-school Metallica mood. This song off the “Black Album” has always been one of my favorites because of the raw honesty and emotion behind it. I know some metal fans think it’s…

So now Alberto Carvalho is admitting that he had a “playful” relationship with the the Miami Herald’s former education reporter, Tania deLuzuriaga. At least that’s what CBS4’s Jim Defede is reporting. Carvalho has been on damage control since the Herald reported on a possible improper romantic relationship between Carvalho and…

Today the Miami Herald broke the news that Alberto Carvalho, the 44-year-old married man who’s been selected to helm Miami-Dade County Public Schools, may have had an improper romantic relationship with former education reporter Tania deLuzuriaga. The 27-year-old journalist, now with the Boston Globe, covered the nation’s fourth largest school…

via MySpaceThis picture could have also illustrated this post. Quick name two things the world needs more of. “Pre-packaged pop groups and reality television.” Bingo! MTV’s “Top Pop Group” is filling both those needs with a competition show searching for America’s best unknown pop group. Las Caprice, a Miami Beach-based…