Wayne Sutton examines how he and the fine folks at TriOut used social media tools to launch and manage location based services startup. #lbs

Steve Bruner showcases new aspects of customization available in the upcoming WordPress 3.0 release, including custom post types and the new menu management feature, using the new default Twenty Ten theme as an example. #blogging #video

The latest episode of the video podcast “Beer Diplomacy TV” attempts to solves the world’s problems (and decipher the season finale of Lost). Answers provided by Stuart Tracte, Baratunde, and Brian Brushwood, moderated by Owen JJ Stone, who I met at SXS10 via Twanna Hines and Adria Richards). #politics #video

Food Network’s new, 24-hour Cooking Channel, launches. But why isn’t it in HD? #food #tv

Thumbs Up

I have to give props to rapper Wale for turning around a PR fiasco. After news got out that the rapper was canceling his appearance at D.C’s. Black Gay Pride, the web was on fire with “homophobic” linked to his name.

Wale maintains he was unaware of the obligation (like most popular artists, he doesn’t book his own shows). After the dust settled, Wale made a special guest appearance at D.C. Black Pride Legacy Festival. For free. Now that’s gangsta. #black #hiphop #lgbt #video

Thumbs Down

Despite BP’s various cleanup attempts, the company and U.S. government warn that the oil could be leaking until August. Ugh. Houston Business Journal has continuous coverage. #news #environment #bitchlips

In case you missed it, CNN aired Black Men in the Age of President Obama this weekend. The special was hosted by Don Lemon who I’ve applauded in the past for his insightful coverage and inclusion of social media in his journalism.

Black Men showed how the interest in education and public service has grown in the black community, seemingly as a result of Barack Obama, despite broken homes and a downtrodden economy. Also, noted was the positive effect our society has received from viewing an intact, loving black family on an international stage.

But there were some negatives.

1. “Down Low” Men & HIV

Again, black men on “the down low” were blamed for the high HIV rates among black women. I had a fear the conversation would go that route despite evidence of the contrary. CDC Director Dr. Kevin Fenton recently stated HIV infection in black women “is being fueled by heterosexual Black men with multiple sex partners”.

But that’s a fact the black church and others who typically demonize black gay men don’t want to accept. It means the “blame game” should be re-focused on conversations about responsibility, self-esteem, acceptance and empowerment. Don Lemon missed a crucial opportunity of framing this conversation in a different manner.

2. No (out) black men

There wasn’t any gay representation on the panel.* This was ironic because the panel was held in Atlanta (which has a large, black gay population) at Morehouse College, of all places. The concentration of gay students at Morehouse is well-known and is partially why the the historic, black college created a new, controversial dress code.

Even worse, Bishop Eddie Long was among the panelist. His disrespect of non-heterosexuals is well-documented. Like the rest of the panel, his comments on black gay men included PC words like “respect” and”love” which failed to convince me of their acceptance.

3. Gay is not a lifestyle

I’m almost tired of having to repeat this because, at this point, anyone holding lofty discussions about homosexuality should know they shouldn’t use the phrase “gay lifestyle”. Granted, there are many within the gay community who have been taught to use the phrase as well. But we need to stop that.

During the brief discussion of  black, gay men, the panelists appeared to wear a mask of enlightenment as they talked about accepting those in the “gay lifestyle”. Before we pat them on the back for that lip service, I’d like to offer a reminder:

This phrase “gay lifestyle” is inaccurate and offensive. It implies people willfully choose to live a different way. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people do not choose their sexuality any more than straight folks. And sexual orientation is not a lifestyle.

4. Our sisters are still holding us up

The majority of statistics about black men were culled from Essence; a black women’s magazine. I have a deep respect for Essence and their work; so, this isn’t a criticism of them. However, I am troubled that black men do not have a major media outlet focusing solely on their issues. We have plenty of destinations to discuss sports and hip hop. Yet, when it comes to issues pertaining to our health, family and livelihood, we are still allowing our sisters to do the heavy lifting.

My overall thoughts?

I have to thank CNN for tackling topics in specials like Black in America, Black in America 2 and Latino in America. Barack Obama’s presidency has ignited suppressed conversations that need to happen in our country. But so far, most of the coverage feels a bit like Sociology 101. Then again, maybe that’s where we need to start for most of the country to catch up.

“1. the issue with the kanye deal is that when the president is getting miked up and there is chit chat going out over a fiber line, is it inappropriate for another network to broadcast (in a cyber way) the chit chat. I think it was inappropriate, and abc did too, which is why they took it down and apologized,” she said via e-mail.

“2. I do believe the issue of ‘off the record’ is different when the person you are talking about is the president. I don’t particularly care [if] the President swats a fly or calls Kanye an ass off the record. But maybe that’s just me. If he changes his health care stand off the record, that is unacceptable. . . . I would stop. I would object. If he insisted, I would ask him (and the press staff) if I could negotiate later to put the comments on the record.

“Keep in mind, no President I’ve covered ever really thinks he is completely off the record, or he would not be talking to a reporter.

“3. On the other hand, I have been involved in dozens of ‘off the record’ conversations you will never hear about, because i will not talk about them. That’s what ‘off the record’ means.

“Background conversations, like the meal with Secretary Rice, are far more useful, because you can use the information without attribution. For a television reporter, most of what happens without a camera present is de facto background anyway. If what a reporter is looking for [is] information that will help you better understand an issue, background is useful. Surely we know (or, as news professionals, ought to know) where to draw the line without cutting off our noses to spite our faces — and putting ourselves at a competitive disadvantage at the same time.”

via Richard Prince’s Journal-isms