It started off with him simply sketching ideas on a napkin, which he then tweaked and eventually patented. As stated on the company’s website, “the linear and graphic representation of time with Nooka timepieces presents a more intuitive way to view time.”

The visual mass increases as time passes, giving weight to an ephemeral and abstract concept. Once you’re used to the new visual paradigm, you may never go back to standard analog and digital time displays for your wrist”. The brand was originally licensed to Seiko where it experienced tremendous success. Nooka Inc. is now going back to its roots, focusing on Matthew Waldman’s original vision for the innovative brand.

Nooka was founded by Matthew Waldman, after it struck him how few options there were for time display.

Kanye West in a Nooka watch

Lil Wayne

Snoop Dogg

Pussycat Dolls

Here are some of the new unisex styles we currently have on DrJays.com, and you can see more by clicking here.

Zen-V 20mm Watch by Nooka

Zen-H Glow in the Dark 20mm Watch by Nooka

Zen-H 20mm Watch by Nooka

Zoo 38mm Watch by Nooka

“So, ‘untitled’, it is/

I never change nothin’/

But people remember this: If Nas can’t say it, think about these talented kids/

With new ideas being told what they can and can’t spit/”

—Nas, “Hero,” Untitled, 2008.

“…  I’m hoping someday maybe/

They don’t obey their parents/

Maybe they will obey me/

Future for the babies /”

—Damian Marley ft. Stephen Marley, “For The Babies,” Welcome to Jamrock, 2007.

“Schools where I learned they should be burned, it is poison,” NaS once prescribed (“Poison,” Stillmatic, 2001), and I couldn’t agree more. In fact, if Mr. Jones is willing to pony-up some matches, I’m more than able to provide the gas and kerosene money. Nas understands that, as Dead Prez once put it (“They Schools,” Let’s Get Free, 2000), “They schools can’t teach us sh**.” They can’t, and they don’t intend to. For decades now, education activists have fought tooth and nail to demand quality pedagogical methodologies from the school system, and if the sky-high drop-out rates of Black/Brown students are any indicator, “they schools” could care less.

In this fire-for-fire exchange, Black/Brown students are caught in the crosshairs. And the only escape route might be through a radical overhaul of the school system, into a community-centered atmosphere where artists are the teachers, and students are taught to channel their creative spirits in attaining the highest degree of self-awareness.

Upon reading this many fail to see the logic in calling for a revamping of the school structure—as it stands today. As they see it, if only a few “bad” teachers were fired, more money was put into “urban” school districts, parents cut down the video-game-playing hours of their children, Black/Brown students spent more time reading for tests and doing their homework, and every involved party worked together in unison, the achievement gap between White students and Black/Brown students would be no more. Unfortunately, these arguments are as insolvent as the underperformance of our children on the standardized tests administered—erroneously—to determine competency. Proponents of such theories miss the mark.

First, Black/Brown students need not be compared with their White counterparts. The knee-jerk approach of measuring Black/Brown advancement by that of Whites is what Dr. King described as a “false and tragic notion that one particular group, one particular race is responsible for all of the progress, all of the insights in the total flow of history.” The future of Black/Brown children should function independent of any other paradigm. Secondly, the right-wing sensibility of personal-responsibility, promulgated with the Horatio Alger myth, was also assailed by King as “a cruel jest to say to a bootless man [or woman] that [s]he ought to lift himself [or herself] by his [or her] own bootstraps.” When White school districts are given twice the number of funds Black school districts are, it is eccentric to demand equal performance of both groups, under the same construct. Thirdly, Black/Brown single-parent households cannot be expected to provide the requisite amount of parental engagement schools requires of them. Poverty-stricken families, primarily headed by single-mothers, carry a burden many are incapable of imagining—let alone shouldering. Fourthly, the myth that Black/Brown children are nonchalant to the learning process couldn’t be more discredited. If the same “knuckleheads” who “refused” to participate adequately in their schoolwork can become avid readers in prison cells, as happens all the time, school officials ought to be more responsive to the truth.

Unfortunately, it is this truth that they fear most—the truth that complements my call for a “radical overhaul.”

President George W. Bush once declared: “Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?” In addition to whether or not they are learning, we must also begin interrogating what they are learning: What values are they taught to emulate in the school system? What paradigms are valued above others? What symbols and stratagems do White teachers employ to “relate to” their Black/Brown students? What is deemed significant, culturally, and what isn’t? What rules and regulations are they instructed to strictly adhere to? What is the content of the character of their curriculum?

Of all the others, the last question is most critical.

If Black/Brown kids are institutionalized with pedagogical methodologies that insist upon their inferiority, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when they seem disinterested in the classrooms. If they are taught, in the schools, to devalue the contributions their ancestors made in the blossoming of the continent they exist in, why is it hard to commend them for dropping-out of it. If the classrooms come to represent nothing but mere megaphones of propaganda, revisionism, distortion and ahistoricity, Black/Brown students have every right to flatly reject any engagement with a system that lies to them about who they were, who they are, and who they are likely to become.

“It starts with the young ones,” Guru once quipped (“Code of the Streets,” Hard to Earn, 1994), but it doesn’t stop there. All the way from Kindergarten to College, Black/Brown children are being assaulted by a —not so—subtle form of violence. Similar to verbal violence, this kind isn’t detectable by the average mind. As such, it is possible to be a victim of it, and not know it. It easily escapes the watchful eye of our children. To shake off this feeling of (unrealized) victimization, they take out their rage, like true victims, on each other. This is key to understanding how to unravel the mystery of iniquity the school system has Black/Brown children lost in. When we accept this violation of their human rights as criminal, we begin to perceive them as victims, rather than assailants. We also begin to find the school system as deliberate in its actions to hold them back, despite claiming otherwise.

This enlightenment should open the doors of acceptance to my theory that if certified teachers are incapable of performing acceptably, in the lives of Black/Black children, artists can’t do any worse.

Most Black and Brown children have a natural curiosity for The Arts. They spend a great deal of time engaged in creative thoughts and actions.. This is due to their “right-brained, subject-oriented learning style,” as described by Award-Winning educator, Dr. Janice Hale. The admiration our children have for artists, and the impressionability that—of course—comes with it, should be seen in light of this reality—not because parents are insufficient in raising right their children. Logically, Black and Brown children hold their favorite artists up as objects worthy of emulation—sometimes to their detriment. But if the right balance is struck between moral responsibility on the parts of the artists, and self-value on the part of the students, there’s absolutely no reason why parents should feel insecure in submitting their children to the tutorship of conscionable edutainers.

In fact, around the country, progressive Hip-Hop artists have already begun this mission of snatching victory from defeat’s jaws, through non-traditional educational forums, where Black/Brown kids are encouraged to explore their genius, with music, poetry, graphic designs, and other forms of artistic expression. 

A few of those efforts beg mentioning. Examples like Philadelphia Emcee/Hip-Hop Newscaster Jasiri X, who teaches media literacy at Paulson Rec Center in the Lincoln neighborhood of Pittsburgh; or Detroit-based Emcee Invincible, who holds activism-themed workshops in schools across the country, and also teaches media literacy with the non-profit group, Detroit Summer; or New York performance poet Caitlin Meissner, who teaches graphic art to students at Urban Word NYC and Urban Arts Partnership, show why the fusion of Hip-Hop and education can do far more than the current school structure is able—and willing—to.

Naysayers forget that it was none other than Talib Kweli and Mos Def (Black Star), who helped save Nkiru Center for Education and Culture, the oldest Black bookstore in Brooklyn, in 2000, and have since operated it as a nonprofit organization for literacy and cultural awareness. Detractors are too stupid to acknowledge the impeccable job an artist-educator like Asheru (of fame, The Boondocks’ theme song), has put forth, with his outstanding literacy initiative, Hip Hop Educational Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.). Those against the educational advancement of Black/Brown children would certainly cling to any excuse why the infusion of art and academy is setting a dangerous precedent, but Asheru isn’t amused.

“Artists are natural teachers,” he states, and Black/Brown students are “inherently-talented.” The key, then, is to pair “these naturally-talented teachers, with these inherently-talented students.” He explains: “If you’re a rapper and you teach English, you can give it from a whole different perspective that an English major can’t.” These artist-educators would have to “play on” their “strengths,” he adds. The problem is that, “as a people,” we “sell ourselves short.” Students and professionals alike. “We don’t believe we can naturally jump out [off] the box and be who we are.”

Asheru sees H.E.L..P. as furthering his plans of “recruiting, training, and creating this new breed of ‘special educators’.” Unlike many teachers in classrooms today, they would be “able to reach and connect” with Black/Brown students “in a unique way.” Regardless of the “cultural and racial makeup of the classroom,” this “breed” would have no problem “relating to them on a real and personal level.” Because artists are deeply engaged with their fans, they can effortlessly “put [curriculum] in plain view for [students] to learn and comprehend.” In his forthcoming book (work in progress), “The Urban Educator’s Manual: What Your Master’s Degree Program Didn’t Teach You,” he touches on how the classroom can be transformed into a “community,” rather than a dreaded environment, hostile to the needs of Black/Brown students.

Through H.E.L.P., and other likeminded programs, this dream, where artists become teachers and Black/Brown students are nurtured to cultivate the gift of self-awareness, would fulfill itself, struggle-free. 

Should artists replace teachers? YES!

To learn more about H.E.L.P., VISIT:

http://www.edlyrics.com/

http://www.asheru.com/

http://bloombars.com/

Tolu Olorunda is a Columnist for BlackCommentator.com.

Pacquiao Steamrolls Hatton in 2

Manny Pacquiao’s rampage through multiple weight classes continued last Saturday (May 2) with a thorough destruction of 140 champion Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao began round one circling the predictable Hatton, who rushed forward to crowd and maul the pound for pound #1 on the inside. But Manny immediately showed the huge disparity in handspeed by sharply countering the Hitman with jarring, looping right hooks. The counter proved reliable, as Pacquiao strafed Hatton with the punch three more times through the round as Hatton lingered his non-moving head perilously at mid-range.

At the 1:30 mark, Hatton’s attempt to strafe Pacquiao against the ropes was nullified by a blistering array of short hooks that forced the Manchester native to hold. With Hatton now reluctant to bull forward, Pacquaio began target practice at mid-range by punishing Hatton with his trademark straight left. Off a Hatton left hook attempt, Pacquiao delivered a pinpoint counter right hook that dropped the Hitman onto his knees.

Clearly buzzed, Hatton wisely took the 8 count before rising with a glassy look and 46 seconds remaining. Pacquaio went right back to work breaking Hatton down with right hooks, stiff jabs, and straight lefts. Hatton unwisely sought to trade, and received 4 and 5 punch combinations for his trouble. The final jab-straight left combination was too powerful for the Hitman, who was knocked flat on his back despite partially blocking the assault.

Luckily, the 2nd knockdown came with just 7 seconds left, allowing Hatton to survive the round. However, by this point the end was inevitable.

The second round saw Hatton bravely trying to jab his way in to work his patented left hook to the body. But Pacquiao refused to give much ground, making sure Hatton was greeted with stinging counter shots whenever he came into range. Pacquiao’s best punches, the right hook and straight left, were now landing flush on Hatton’s jaw. The latter punch not only jarred Hatton, put physically knocked him across the ring in the final minute of the round.

Getting desperate, Hatton reverted back to his earlier fighting habits of leaping into his attacks with his chin in the air. This proved fatal, and Pacquiao calmly landed a surgical left hook to separated Hatton from reality before the champion’s body touched the canvas.

The back of Hatton’s head crashed into the canvas, and referee Kenny Bayless didn’t bother counting after observing Hatton’s shallow breathing and rolling eyes.

The crushing TKO gives Manny Pacquiao the linear title at 140 pounds, and improves his record to 49-3-2, 37 KOs, while Hatton falls to 45-2, 32 KOs.

In the post-fight interview, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach was very blunt in his assessment of the fight, and why Hatton was dismantled so easily.

“Every time Ricky throws his left hand, he pulls it back and c#### it,” stated Roach, who predicted a 3rd round KO before the fight. “He’s wide open for a short right hook on the inside from a southpaw stance. We worked on that everyday in the gym, timing the shot. It just worked beautifully. I knew it was over because Ricky doesn’t have the ability to adjust. He fights the same way over and over again. I’ve watched tapes of him for the last 2 and a half months. I know him pretty well.”

Manny Pacquiao is the epitome of what the mythical pound for pound title is all about. The PacMan has wrecked champions and titleholders at 126, 130, 147, and now 140 pounds. In addition, Pacquiao has laid waste to the returning Floyd Mayweather’s last 2 opponents in more impressive and destructive fashion.

Pending Mayweather’s success in his July comeback fight against Juan Manual Marquez, boxing will see the most lucrative fight in history by the end of 2009 in Mayweather-Pacquiao. Until then, Floyd Mayweather must settle for Manny Pacquiao as being boxing’s pound for pound #1.

See the highlights here.

Mayweather-Marquez Set for July 18

The inevitable comeback on Floyd Mayweather was confirmed last Saturday (April 2) via a press conference with fellow elite fighter Juan Manuel Marquez.

Mayweather has made known his desire to face the winner of Hatton-Pacquiao. However, the multi-division champ must first get through a “tune-up” fight at 143 pounds with the smaller, but highly skilled and dangerous Juan Manuel Marquez.

“To be considered the best in the world, you have to fight the best, and I have made it clear even when Mayweather was away from the sport that he was the only man I really wanted to fight,” explained Marquez, who fought Manny Pacquiao in two close, controversial decisions. “I’m happy that he’s come out of retirement and accepted my challenge. Unfortunately for him he might be sorry he came back at all.”

Mayweather, who retired less than a year ago at 39-0 after a knockout win over Ricky Hatton, detailed that his July bout would be the first of several megafights to close out his career.

“I am not wasting any time with a tune-up fight,” Mayweather declared. “I’m going straight to the top. Marquez called me out immediately after his victory over Juan Diaz in February and now he gets his wish. What he is going to find out is that you should be very careful what you wish for. The rest of those fighters who called me out can get in line too because they are going to get their chance…one at a time and slowly but surely. It’s going to be a great return and a wonderful experience. Don’t blink… I’m back!”

After a near two year sabbatical away from the ring, it’ll be intriguing to see where Mayweather’s timing, speed, and stamina are at. Make no mistake; Marquez will present problems for “Money” Mayweather due to his fantastic combination punching and ability to adjust strategy multiple times during a fight. However, expect Mayweather’s larger size and great defense to see him through to a spectacular KO by the mid rounds.

Throwback Fighter of the Week: Greg Page (1958-2009)

Former titlist Greg Page was one of the more talented heavyweight contenders of the 1980s.

Page began his career in 1979, and quickly racked up 17 straight victories against such veterans as Alfredo Evangelista, Jimmy Young, and Scott LeDoux. His quickness and sparring with legend Muhammad Ali had the Greatest declaring that Page would be his worthy successor. But that vote of confidence was derailed when Page dropped a 10 round decision to tough contender Trevor Berbick in 1982.

Page appeared to rebound the following year, and posted wins over Top 10 contenders Renaldo Snipes and James “Quick” Tillis. This made Page the top challenger for Larry Holmes’ WBC title. But the champion chose to vacate the belt, and Page faced off against Tim Witherspoon in a 1984 title eliminator.

Unfortunately, Page fell short in his first title shot, losing a majority decision (111-117, 111-117, and 114-114). Later that year, Page dropped another decision to David Bey and seemed on the verge of falling out of the rankings.

However, Page rebounded by the end of 1984 with an upset 8th round KO over Gerrie Coetzee to win the WBA heavyweight title.

But again, Page’s streaky nature reared its ugly head, as he lost a 15 round decision in his first title defense against Tony Tubbs. From there, he dropped a decision to future Mike Tyson conqueror James “Buster” Douglas before falling out of the Top 10.

Page refused to give up, and fought for years of away from the limelight, having moderate success. Eventually in 1992, he was given an opportunity against dangerous puncher Donavan “Razor” Ruddock, who scored an 8th round TKO in a mostly one-sided bout.

In 1996, Page launched a comeback at 38. He won 14 consecutive fights against lowly competition, but would later take beatings against young contenders like Monte Barrett and Robert Davis.

In 2001, Page suffered brain damage in a 10th round KO loss to Dale Crowe. After recovering from a coma, Page remained confined to a wheelchair and suffered numerous health complications, including pneumonia, sepsis, hypothermia, seizures, and respiratory failure.

Because of these extensive medical issues, Page successfully won a $1.2 million settlement against the Kentucky boxing commission due to inadequate medical care during his final fight. This settlement also caused the state to align their laws with federal regulations and rename them “The Greg Page Boxing and Safety Initiative.”

Greg Page passed away in his sleep on April 27, 2009 at the age of 50. His final record stands at 58-17-1, 48 KOs.

Career Discussion