tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22234799.post3594988908882427729..comments2024-01-13T23:32:12.331-06:00Comments on Slaves of Academe: Madonna: A CommentOso Rarohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345231159759787852noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22234799.post-9997259051185753122009-10-31T14:52:00.149-05:002009-10-31T14:52:00.149-05:00The charity 'Raising Malawi' (PR firm) fou...The charity 'Raising Malawi' (PR firm) founded by Madonna AND TWO OTHERS over three years ago held fund raisers for over two years before finally getting registered as a non-profit. In other words, Madonna and the others were free to squander the lion's share of that funding any way they saw fit for those first two years. In fact, they still havn't accounted for the 3.7 million raised from a single event in the fall of '07' (The opening of a Gucci flagship store in Manhattan.). She also pleaded with her fans worldwide for donations along the way. In the meantime, she toured the world to promote her latest CD and raked in another $280,000,000 gross in just over 12 months. To date, the basic financial info for 'Rasing Malawi' still hasn't been posted on the website or anywhere else. The 'progress' page only tells of the collective works by over 20 seperate charities. Each of which have their own sources of funding and may have recieved some sort of promotion or support from 'Raising Malawi' in order to be considered 'partners'. But no indication is made how much of their funding came from 'Raising Malawi' or how much of their progress if any could be directly attributed to 'Raising Malawi'. The fans/donors have no clue how many millions of dollars were raised in that first two years, no clue how much Madonna herself chipped in, and no clue how the money was spent before they finally registered as a non-profit. No clue what fraction of funding or works listed on that 'progress' page could be directly attributed to 'Raising Malawi'. Nothing to go on but the vague word of Madonna. The vague and very misleading word of Madonna. For example: She states in her latest promotional video that she will match any contributions made to her charity (PR firm) "dollar for dollar". However, there is a disclaimer posted on the website for 'Raising Malawi' that Madonna's total contribution will not exceed $100,000. Thats not per donation. Thats a maximum of $100,000 TOTAL. Less than a single days pay for Madonna. Also much less then she will surely rake in by promoting her own CDs, DVDs, and 'for profit' merchandise through this massive worldwide publicity stunt. So I called the office of 'Raising Malawi' in an attempt to verify some sort of efficient financial operation (310) 867-2881 or (888) 72-DONOR). These details are ALWAYS made available by legitimate charities to their potential donors. But not in this case. I got nothing but recorded messages and hangups. So I did some research on my own. 'Rasing Malawi' still hasn't been given any kind of rating by ANY independent charity watchdog like Charitywatch.org. The vast overwhelming majority of 'celebrity' foundations never are. In general, they are inneficient and riddled with corruption. Like the promotion of CDs, world tours, commercial websites, entire lines of jewelry (not just the single piece from which proceeds are donated), and high end fashion retail flagship stores. Celebrity foundations are also notorious for squandering much of their funding on private jet rides and super high end accomodations for their managers, PR crews, and celebrity figure heads. Its legal even for a nonprofit but not noble or efficient by any stretch of the imagination. In general, 'celebrity' foundations are a twisted inefficient mutant of charity, self-promotion, exotic travel, and PR crap. Still, they compete for funding with more efficient legitimate charities who do more work with less money. The celebrity figure heads often disregard the primary donors, co-founders, and managers, take personal credit for any collective work done, and seek maximum publicity shortly before or after the release of their own commercial projects. Its a sham. So if its not rated, then don't support it. Instead, support a top rated charity like any of those given high ratings at Charitywatch.org.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22234799.post-29941226876565585112008-06-23T12:16:00.000-05:002008-06-23T12:16:00.000-05:00I don't think Madonna's hair is matronly - she is ...I don't think Madonna's hair is matronly - she is imitating the current London drunk girl hairstyles of people like Amy Winehouse that harken back to the 60s and earlier.<BR/><BR/>And if you don't think Madonna is in control of every facet of her image and knows exactly what she's doing, you've got another think, blah blah blah.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22234799.post-60879684885219607892008-05-20T00:58:00.000-05:002008-05-20T00:58:00.000-05:00When the Madonna first broke out she had an edge -...When the Madonna first broke out she had an edge -- and was able to keep it in various apparitions. But the contortions and body make-overs that she goes through to attempt a replica of that edge on a sexual/sensual track (a youthful edge) is reflective of all those middle-aged people who try (or want to) look as if they were still in their 20s. I love the language where you describe the body -- distressing, wrong hair, unsexy performance. She is a refined and worked out version of a desperate augmented housewife longing for the days when she could still be fresh without also being gross. <BR/><BR/>As far as madonnas go, I think Guadalupe holds up much better over time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22234799.post-19348567194973509732008-05-19T21:02:00.000-05:002008-05-19T21:02:00.000-05:00if i knew you in real-life, it is at this point th...if i knew you in real-life, it is at this point that i would proclaim my undying love for you.<BR/><BR/>i'm woefully behind on blogs and i see i've missed a series of revolutionary statements...i'll be back.gwoertendykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00542058287462910446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22234799.post-66170064247956511852008-05-18T17:14:00.000-05:002008-05-18T17:14:00.000-05:00Like so many things that you write, I felt like I ...Like so many things that you write, I felt like I was *feeling* this, if only kind of vaguely and incoherently, and now you've gone and given my inchoate feelings beautiful words to go with them. So thank you.<BR/><BR/>Because like you, Madonna's music has been something of a soundtrack for my life (even when I wasn't that interested in her, she was always there). She was like this amazing and distant older sister figure in some ways to me and my friends.<BR/><BR/>But this latest album cover -- and all the paparazzi shots I see of her lately-- are just depressing to me. Arms chiseled within an inch of their lives. A consistent grey, unhappy, angularly be-cheekboned look. I wanted Madge at 50 to be joyful and wanton and a little soft. Instead she's... well, exactly as you describe her. And that's kind of sad.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03047700345491098393noreply@blogger.com