Spent 4 days in Chicago

[French]

The show was drug tested, so everyone with the exception of Mike Christian were downsized.

Haney didn't dominate, but probably deserved to win.
Shawn Ray and Benfatto looked exceptionally good. Second for Shawn, third Benfatto.
Christian weak legs, full hard upper body. Had a very unnatural look, might have hurt his placing in a drug tested show.
Labrada next, looked good but small.
Gaspari was off.

Vince Taylor was wearing an eye patch, dropped out after prejudging. Rumor he took to much insulin and temporary went blind. he claimed lugged on the airplane hit him in the eye.
Berry Demey, Momo Benaziza failed drug test.

It was 1992 at Helsinki, isn't it ?

[mphgrove]

I honestly didn't get any vibe that it was a political town. You would have enjoyed our view from our hotel windows. The Trump Tower was immediately across from us.

Yes, Democratic City in general but LOTS of Trump supporters, especially Southwest sections of Chicago and Southwest suburbs. Good mix of people and viewpoints against a backdrop of Midwestern friendly vibes.

[US MUSL]

It was 1992 at Helsinki, isn't it ?

It was over 30 years ago, I could be wrong. But, for some reason Vince dropped out after the prejudging.

[Humble Narcissist]

It was over 30 years ago, I could be wrong. But, for some reason Vince dropped out after the prejudging.

Ninjas?

[Kwon]

Ninjas?

Wasn't it Flux Hover that had that altercation with Ninjas , or did they intercept Vince Taylor too?

[bhank]

When I lived in Manhattan 20 years ago I trained at the New York Sports club on 86th street. My buddy who worked there as a trainer actually lived in the Harlem public housing towers around 106th with his family. I used to ride my Vespa up there at night and we would smoke blunts in the public housing stairwell and tell jokes. I was definitely the only white guy hanging out there. But I never had any problems. I had a spinner rim on my Vespa dudes used to freak out when they saw it. Just because dudes are black and hang out late night on the corner doesn't make them bad dudes. They just can't afford to be hanging at the downtown clubs.

[mphgrove]

When I lived in Manhattan 20 years ago I trained at the New York Sports club on 86th street. My buddy who worked there as a trainer actually lived in the Harlem public housing towers around 106th with his family. I used to ride my Vespa up there at night and we would smoke blunts in the public housing stairwell and tell jokes. I was definitely the only white guy hanging out there. But I never had any problems. I had a spinner rim on my Vespa dudes used to freak out when they saw it. Just because dudes are black and hang out late night on the corner doesn't make them bad dudes. They just can't afford to be hanging at the downtown clubs.

Thousands of white women go into those neighborhoods in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. every day to teach school. Tough job but rarely are there incidents other than occasional car break-ins. The assaults/homicides are definitely “black on black” in the black neighborhoods. Not to minimize it.

[mphgrove]

I was working in East New Orleans for two years and I only saw one white woman driving the entire time.  I did see three different stolen cars burnt to the ground that took about three months to clear.  I've been to the New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and I don't fear for my life there because there are just too many people of all races around. 

A black co-worker of mine, who had grown up in New Orleans told me a story of how he drove trough the ninth ward.  He said blew through every light.  I asked aren't you worried about getting pulled over and he said he would just tell the cop he was afraid for his life.  Many nights I would eat dinner just a few blocks from the ninth ward, I had no idea how dangerous that area was, but there were some rough looking dudes at the gas stations there, but no bullet proof glass, so I thought I was safe.

One of my coworkers once talked me into eating Dinner at a Popeye's in East New Orleans one night.  There were about thirty customers and fifteen employees in the restaurant.  I was the only person who was not black, my coworker was Asian.

As far as Katrina goes, the criminal politicians of New Orleans brought all the problems on themselves.  And they took as much federal money as they could get their hands on after playing the racial victim card.  I drove across a beautiful brand new bridge paid for by the American people every day.  I only saw one burned out stolen car on that new bridge.  It really was a beautifully made bridge paid for by the American people.

You make an interesting point that maybe it is the smaller cities that present the most risk. I remember a cab driver in Newark, NJ who blew through red lights already 30 years ago out of fear. I know white (and black) women in Chicago and Los Angeles who go into the VERY WORST areas of those cities as school teachers every day and think nothing of it.

[Taffin]

The UK has it's problems, but I can't think of anywhere I'd be scared to walk around - not because I'm a toughie, it's just not that scary over here

And at the risk of sounding like an even bigger h0mo than usual, I really enjoy threads like these that give me places to 'tour' on Google streetview of clips on YouTube, etc.

And gun threads - love them too - because of this place, I've become a fan of channels like IraqVeteran888(sp?) and Vickers Tactical

USA! USA!   

[mphgrove]

There may be bad areas in NY, LA, and Chicago, but on the whole, these are safe cities. 

Most of the worst areas have an abandoned feel to them.  Abandoned buildings and low rent driven by the crime.

Why can't the left see beyond the coasts and the big cities?  All but one of the highest crime cities in America are run by Democrats, and for some reason they overlook these cities.

I am more Left than Right. But I agree with you. Crime needs to be recognized and talked about, it is reality and it is not about to be whitewashed and swept under the rug. The local news brings it front and center every day. I have heard leftist friends say, “well, that is a different conversation” when we are talking about BLM and black on black crime. No, it is all part of the same conversation, plus the fact I can have any conversation I want to have. You need to weed out blatant racism, but all of this needs to be discussed, because it is very real, actually way more real for blacks even than for whites.

[Thin Lizzy]

I am more Left than Right. But I agree with you. Crime needs to be recognized and talked about, it is reality and it is not about to be whitewashed and swept under the rug. The local news brings it front and center every day. I have heard leftist friends say, “well, that is a different conversation” when we are talking about BLM and black on black crime. No, it is all part of the same conversation, plus the fact I can have any conversation I want to have. You need to weed out blatant racism, but all of this needs to be discussed, because it is very real, actually way more real for blacks even than for whites.

This will never happen. The reality is these areas are failed states that are beyond hope. The Democratic Party needs to keep this dirty little secret kept under the rug.

The aforementioned Newark was a thriving city in the 1950s. I wonder what happened.

[mphgrove]

This will never happen. The reality is these areas are failed states that are beyond hope. The Democratic Party needs to keep this dirty little secret kept under the rug.

The aforementioned Newark was a thriving city in the 1950s. I wonder what happened.

Failed or not, they will not sweep. Chicago, for example is deadly concerned that crime from these areas will sweep to the tourist areas (like in Rio). That is a big problem when revenue, hotels, restaurants, businesses are involved. Those areas need teachers and cops whether failed or not failed, and many people still take those jobs. But recruitment for those jobs is an ongoing struggle. Not talking about the problems is just giving up, let alone there are huge numbers of decent people living in those areas that deserve services and protection.

[Thin Lizzy]

Failed or not, they will not sweep. Chicago, for example is deadly concerned that crime from these areas will sweep to the tourist areas (like in Rio). That is a big problem when revenue, hotels, restaurants, businesses are involved. Those areas need teachers and cops whether failed or not failed, and many people still take those jobs. But recruitment for those jobs is an ongoing struggle. Not talking about the problems is just giving up, let alone there are huge numbers of decent people living in those areas that deserve services and protection.

These problems have been going on for several generations. If there’s a solution why hasn’t it been implemented already. Barack Obama was President for eight years, yet during that time his home town, Chicago, was setting homocide records.

[wes]

One thing we can be certain of is that there will be 150-300 Black on Black shootings in the Windy City over this weekend.

[Thin Lizzy]

One thing we can be certain of is that there will be 150-300 Black on Black shootings in the Windy City over this weekend.

And there will be one police shooting in 2021 that will get more attention than all the others combined.

[wes]

And there will be one police shooting in 2021 that will get more attention than all the others combined.

BINGO

[JustPlaneJane]

And there will be one police shooting in 2021 that will get more attention than all the others combined.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/fatal-police-shooting-13-year-adam-toledo/story?id=77115626

We already have the first attempt to win the Ghetto Lottery back in March.

[Humble Narcissist]

Wasn't it Flux Hover that had that altercation with Ninjas , or did they intercept Vince Taylor too?

Yes, it was Flex Wheeler.  I thought that was a picture of Flex.   Samuel L. Jackson and Laurence Fishburne look the same to me too.

[Taffin]

Yes, it was Flex Wheeler.  I thought that was a picture of Flex.   Samuel L. Jackson and Laurence Fishburne look the same to me too.

Flex Taylor?  I'm a big fan - loved his cameo in Miami Vice

[Kwon]

Flex Taylor?  I'm a big fan - loved his cameo in Miami Vice

Denzel looking good there, must've been before filming Shawshank

[G_Thang]

Listen to this guy


SHIIIIET

Disgrace! My favorite mayor has to step down bc these negros won't get their shit together.

[Megalodon]

Crime plummeted when Ashton Baker was a fireman.

a

[JustPlaneJane]

Flex Taylor?  I'm a big fan - loved his cameo in Miami Vice

I think you need to take a closer look.

That is definitely Paul Jean Guillaume and his manager Apollo Creed behind him.

While Molly Ringworm looks on in feigned disgust.

[Humble Narcissist]

Flex Taylor?  I'm a big fan - loved his cameo in Miami Vice

That's Carl Weathers.

[Thin Lizzy]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/fatal-police-shooting-13-year-adam-toledo/story?id=77115626

We already have the first attempt to win the Ghetto Lottery back in March.

This is why cops are very slow to respond in these areas.