Can't Miss

There are a couple of filmmakers out there that I'll go see whatever they do. One in that category is Woody Allen. I have always loved his comedies (Small Time Crooks, Everyone Says I Love You, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Mighty Aphrodite, Celebrity. There's always a somewhat similar plot, well, not so much that as that there are recurring themes. Smart, attratictive neurotic people that have problems in their love lives. That's a bit of an oversimplicaton, but that descriptor does characterizes many of his films, like Annie Hall, which won the Best Picture Oscar the year I was born.

No one will likely ever call Larry David attractive(pictured left with director Allen), but he does anchor Allen's newest movie, Whatever Works. In it, David portrays a hateful, spiteful man who falls in love with a girl from Mississippi. I really don't know all the plot details because I want to be suprised when I see the film. The film has not garnered stellar reviews, but I'm expecting a lot. Maybe not laugh out loud funny but merely amusing will do. This is ever all Woody Allen teamed up with Larry David, one of the creators of Seinfeld and star of the current HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiam

Also on the horizon is Sascha Baron Cohen's Bruno.

I'm mos def looking forward to this film, though I wasn't so crazy about Borat, Cohen's 2006 smash comedy about a Kazhakstani journalist looking for love in America.

But Bruno, as he explains in the clip below from The Today Show, is about a gay, in-your-face, Austrian fashionista on a quest to become "uber-famous"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

(My only critique of this interview is that Matt Lauer, serious journalist, is conducting an interview with a character, Bruno, which is essentially promoting the film. I saw an earlier interview conducted with Bruno on The Tonight Show, which made a little more sense. That show's host is a comic, not a journalist.)

Remembering Michael

There was a moment a few years ago--I believe it was the summer of 1993--when I was a young driver, and I had done the unthinkable. I was parking one of my family's cars when I accidentally hit my mom's new car with the one I was driving.

When I got out and surveyed the damage, all I could think was You done did it now. there was our new car with what turned out to be a $500 hit on the right, back seat door while the car I had been driving, an older car made in 1975, had been left without a scratch.

For a few moments I was pleading with God: let me go back in time just a few seconds and undo whatever damage I had done. That way the accident would have never happened, and life could resume as normal.

It seemed like a simple request.

I was thinking the same thing yesterday when I found out that Michael Jackson had died.

So came another simple request: Would it be possible to go back in time to prevent his death?

Of course the news was a total shocker. Michael, 50, had been in the news lately, and it seems that things were looking up. A concert engagement in London had sold out, and there was talk that he might do shows in the US in the coming year.

As a kid, I might not have known who the president or vice president was, but I always knew who Michael Jackson was.

It had all started back in 1984 when I was in the first grade. One of my best friends, Robert Threadgill, had a collection of records. One of them was "Rockin Robin," a song from Jackson's first solo album. I was hooked.

I don't exactly know if I wanted to be Michael Jackson, but I certainly wanted to be like Michael Jackson. I'm still striving to be as good at something as he was at being an entertainer.

Now whether he knew it or not, Jackson was someone that had been with me "in the beginning." I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't know who he was. The memories of him color my childhood. His image towered from a poster in my bedroom wall (see image above). He was simply the most famous man that had ever lived.

I had cherished him for his music and his celebrity. Who else was that dynamic? Who else was that popular? Who else could sell out stadiums in Asia? The fainting girls, all the histronics. And all for Michael.

He was amazing.

The Return

So, what've I been up to in the two months since I Last posted?

Nothing, much really. The same old same old with a few twists and turns tossed in. In May, I took an eight-day class that threw me off my usual schedule. I saw a great movie--Star Trek--and came up for a great headline for a post--Sci Curious. the movie was great, which astounded me because I'm not one of those sci-fi geeks. I'm just a regular geek.

At the end of May, I flew to Phoenix for three days of rest and relaxation, which was more like three days of 100-degree heat, boredom and Burger King. But at least I got the chance to walk around in flip flops and shorts. This was followed by buckets of ice cream, a loss of inspiration, and a return to the comeback trail.

The most suprising thing of all is that the world kept on spinning without me posting. But I must say the world had been a little less interesting.

But now I'm back, so here we go.

Island Letter

This is one of the most romantic songs, and at first might seem like an unlikely candidate for such a title because of the words it doesn't use.

Love isn't uttered a single time.

But "Island Letter," does evoke a particular feeling.

This is another song from Shuggie Otis' overlooked masterpiece "Inspiration Information."

An Other Anniversary

A few months ago, when I told a lady I'd been living in Maryland almost two years, she offered as reassurance, "You're one of us now."

That I am not.

I was remembering those words yesterday as I marked the second anniversary of my move from New York.

When I was speaking with a friend on the phone, he'd remarked, "Has it been two years already?"

The answer is: unfortunately yes. Two years of the surreal life, which is often more like imitation of life.

It's not even about NY anymore, but something more that my niece Keel would simply describe as "comfort."

Anyway, it was a good day for me. I didn't dwell on darkness, but was wide awake because I have a plan of action of how to ease out of Maryland. And by ease out, I mean this entire area. This plan is called, simply but accurately, Get the Hell Out of Maryland.

And because every revolution needs an anthem, I've included a clip of Van Hunt's "Down Here in Hell (With You)." The lyrics are pointed and appropriate.

Rallying!

The stock market has been rallying lately, but no one seems to really know why. It can't be because the economy has turned around. Things have just been inexplicably better.

Ditto my mood. Last week began like a disaster. But by the middle of the week, I had recovered. I don't know why. Nothing had really changed in my life. Things just seemed better.

In fact, today's Thursday and I'm still flying high.

I'm trying to tell myself that it had nothing to do with my weekend trip to New York. But I really think it did. Like always, it was a mix of the good with the bad. And toward the end it was a race against the clock.

But it definitely was memorable, and I'm just not saying that because I heard a song called "Big Ups to Jesus" in church on Sunday.

Then most jarring occurrence happened as my trip was coming to a close: My phone died on Monday morning. This was doubly upsetting because i had planned this to be a photo blog with pics taken on my cam phone.

...Okay, It's gonna be a photo blog anyway. Just use your imagination:

The Troubadour: This is me strumming an acoustic guitar at a friend's apartment in Astoria, Queens. I walked in and there was a guitar in the living room. I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be singing a nonsensical song.

The Bride: I did make it to the Queens Museum of Art as I wrote about in "Queens for a Day." It was a really lovely area, next to the Unisphere. There was a park with people riding bikes, playing soccer and just generally relaxing. As I got closer to the museum, there was a bride having her picture taken. It's relatively common to see brides being photographed in New York. I used to see wedding parties all the time along Museum Mile and near Grand Army Plaza. But this was a touching scene, so I snapped a picture with my camera.

The Crowd: After I finished with the museum, I got swept up in the crowd from a Mets baseball game (the museum and the Mets' new home, Citifield, share the same subway stop). But I must say, New York knows how to handle a crowd. There were tens of thousands of people, but there were ample cops and subway personnel on hand to handle the situation. One subway employee had her script down in a rap:

"Express down stairs/Local to the right. Express down stairs/Local to the right."

I couldn't help but think about DC and the fiasco that was the transportation for the inauguration. It really wasn't well coordinated. The L'Enfant Incident will live in infamy!

The College: This is a photo of the main administrative building on the campus of Medgar Evers College. I just happened upon the school while walking in Brooklyn. The school is named for Medger Evers, a fellow Mississippian and civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1963.

Waiting for Lauryn

Lauryn Hill is set to take the stage at two European jazz festivals this summer, and I hope this is an indication that she's not only returning to the concert stage, but the recording booth as well.

According to Billboard.com, Hill will play the Stockholm Jazz Festival and Montreaux Jazz Festival. She's set to play a total of 10 European dates in all.

Though she has no appearances scheduled stateside, one can only hope!

She rose to fame as a member of the Fugees, but achieved solo stardom with her sole solo album, 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It won five Grammy Awards, topped year-end best of lists, and established for Hill a place in the pantheon of great artists.

Then it was pretty much lights out, as she started a family and had five children.

It must be a testament to her prodigious gifts that people are still interested. After all, when someone releases an album, there's never a promise that they'll release another. But there is an expectation. And with Hill, expectations had been great. Miseducation had become a cultural hallmark, like Carole King's Tapestry a generation before. With its mix of love songs ("Nothing Even Matters") to heartbreak ("I Used to Love Him") to testimony ("To Zion"), I was captured by the first note and hooked until the last second of the bonus songs.

I'm ready for an encore.

Photo: The cover of Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Queens for a Day

When I lived in Queens back in 2004, it was nothing that I really appreciated.

It was my first stint in New York. I was there alone, and didn't know anyone in the city.

The guy next door, a Panamanian, must've been the neighborhood godfather. One night as I was arriving home, he told me if I ever needed anything to let him know.

I was in Jamaica back then in a small room with no air conditioning. It was summer, and even opening the window didn't help. It was a jail cell.

Someone had made a joke that the only thing in Queens were old people and cemeteries.I saw it as my duty to break out-- It was just a speed bump on my way to 23rd St.

Now, I'm trying to break back in.

What I saw then: Queens is industrial, and not necessarily what you'd call a hot spot.

What I see now: The borough is the most diverse place in the country (almost half of Queens' 2.2 million residents are foreign-born), and, to top it off, you don't have to fight for a parking spot. Just look around.

And I have found that it has some really nice neighborhoods, the most fascinating of which offer a huge mash-up of culture. In Rego Park, there are Russians and Hispanics. In Elmhurst, there are Hispanics and Asians. In Astoria, there were Brazilians and Greeks and everyone else who wants to join the party.

For me, a kid from Mississippi, it's like walking through a global wonderland.

Since I'll be in the city this weekend, I'm going to spend at least one day in Queens. There is a wonderful museum there, PS.1, that I visited in 2006 that I'm going to check out, and another, the Queens Museum of Art, that a friend had raved about.

Then there's Jackson Heights for night. More about that later.

Photo: Five Points near PS.1

50 Flags

When I was a kid, I briefly had a thing for memorizing state mottoes. Some of my favorite's were New Hampshire's Live Free or Die, Michigan's If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you, California's Eureka (I Have Found It), and New York's Excelsior (Ever Upward).

Not so much with state flags. You've seen one, you've seen 'em all.

But I was at a workshop recently where there were representatives from all 50 states. Before each one spoke, their state flag was displayed on a large screen.

I don't remember anything those reps said, but I did gain a new appreciation for a few of those flags. These are some of my favorites, in no particular order:

1. South Carolina. A palm and the moon. Simple and nice.




2. Virginia might be for lovers, but given the bare-breasted chick (Isn't this the original wardrobe malfunction?) on the seal, it ain't nothing to play with. Is she actually stomping the departed?



3. Califonia's flag is bold, and dates back to its territorial days. Just don't wave it around Wall St. Bears are not in season.



4. New Mexico. Enchanting.



And there was also one OMG-what-were-they-thinking-when-they-settled-on-this-design flag:

Ohio: Irregular shape, extraordinary ugliness.

NBC Watch--Parks and Recreation

Watching NBC was a huge part of my life for more than a decade.

Beginning with the premiere of "The Cosby Show" in Fall 1984 on through the "Seinfeld" finale in 1998, I'd be glued to my tube every Thursday. I've watched many comedies, like "Will and Grace" and "Friends," but its been years since I've regularly watched NBC.

Maybe that's all changed with the new comedy "Parks and Recreation." The series is a starring vehicle for Amy Poehler, a familiar face for me because she starred on the network's "Saturday Night Live" for eight seasons (and before that she had recurring skits as Andy Richter's annoying little sister on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien.")

Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, deputy director of the Parks and Recreaction Department of Pawnee, Indiana. The only thing is that Poehlere isn't your typical government slacker. She plots ways to establish subcommittes and attacks mundane duties with gusto. She's the type that thanks you for taking the time to meet with her, even though you're just in the adjoining office.

Most importantly, she build parks. There's nothing a park can't cure! Got a big whole in the ground near your house? Call Knope. She and her crack staff will fill it in, and put a park on top of it. It's no surprise that she sees herself in the same vein as Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.

"Parks" is in the same style as "The Office," a faux documentary. I never really much liked "The Office" (or is it just Steve Carell's character?). But "Parks" seems like a funny show. Powered by Poehler and a supporting cast, I think I'll be checking it out again.
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Speaking of SNL, there was one crazy/hillarious skit from last weekend's Seth Rogen hosted episode that has been gaining heat on the web. It's titled "The Fast and the Bi-Curious," an obvious take-off on "The Fast and the Furious."

And Andy Sandberg deserves a special mention for delivering a line like, "Why am I shaking?" with a straight face.



Photo: Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

When We Get By

I heard last year that D'Angelo was working on new music, and that's always good news.

He's only released two studio albums, but they have left an indelible mark on the musical landscape.

This song, "When We Get By," is one of my favorites from my senior year in high school. It's on D'Angelo's 1995 debut album, Brown Sugar.

A, or In the Beginning

(From Aug. 2008)

"Someone had said, It's gonna rain tomorrow, but I hadn't paid attention.

I didn't really worry. Besides, I don't like being saddled with umbrellas or rain coats. And tomorrow was tomorrow. This was Friday night, my first Friday night in New York in more than four months. So I just went off skipping into an endless night.

The next day I was pinned under a huge awning outside of the Kmart on 34th Street with dozens of other people who, like me, either hadn't listened or just didn't care. The rain was coming down hard, but after a few minutes I made a run for it (my NYC time is precious). As I dashed down the sidewalk, it was like an obstacle course as I dodged people and big puddles of water. And it seemed that the faster I ran, the faster the rain came down.

Repeat the scene two weeks later, except this time I'm standing alone with Alif under an awning on Christopher Street. I had passed him twice while walking and each time he had given me this smile that said I'm the happiest guy on earth. It looked so genuine that it impressed me.

In learning about Alif, I'd have to say the thing that most impressed me, besides the dazzling smile, is the name Alif itself. I looked it up, and its the first letter in the Arabic alphabet. So it's basically like naming your kid A, or alpha or something to that effect."

Author's note: Me and Alif bit the dust a few weeks later. Oh well.


Photo: me and Alif in the Village, 7.13.08

"You Got Insurance?"

When I recently called a doctor's office to make an appointment, the first question out of the receptionist's mouth was, "You got insurance?"

I'm one of the lucky ones in that I can answer yeah. For those that answer no, things are more complicated than ever.

With no end in sight for this recession, things are tighter than ever for state budgets, including medical assistance programs for the uninsured. For the most part, those without coverage are being left to fend for themselves.

Witness what's happening in Nevada. This piece, entitled "Closing the Clinic," aired on "60 Minutes" on Sunday, April 5, 2009:

A California Convert

While I was in Sacramento recently, all of my happy memories began to run together.

Was it here that I'd seen the band Kudu performing? No, that was in Queens at PS.1. Was it in Sacramento where all my friends lived? No again, that's the East Coast.

But for whatever reason, I associated good things with the city. It's like for only the fourth time in my life, I had fallen in love.

Truth be told, perhaps it was because I had such low expectations. When one thinks of California, 20 other places before Sacramento come to mind. There's Los Angeles and San Francisco and Oakland and Berkeley and San Jose and Burbank and on and on.

Then there's Sacramento, the capital.

I walked around the downtown area as if I'd lived there my whole life. I became a local. At The Beat, the city's best-known music store, I picked up a few used cd's, most notably Linda Rondstadt's greatest hits. This was my nod to California, as she had ruled the charts in the '70s and '80's as the personification of California Cool.

At Beers Books, I bought a few used books, including The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan and Jubilee by Margaret Walker, who had taught for decades at my alma mater, Jackson State University.

By the end of my trip, I was all "I don't want to watch no movie; lets go watch the stars put on a show."

There were mountains in the distance. And for the first time in a long time I felt a profound peace in my life.

The idea of going to San Francisco, which is only 80 miles away, had been floated. But it didn't happen.

No biggie. I have a feeling I'll be back in that part of the country sooner, rather than later, living my life in the sunshine.



"I don't want to..." from the India Arie song, "Nature"

Happy Birthday, Miss Ross!!

She was always my favorite, and today she's one year older.

Diana Ross turns 65 today.

There was always something about Ross that I liked. I could never pinpoint just one thing. It just seems that she eclipsed being a singer, but was more of an entertainer.

I got hooked on her a long time ago, circa "Upside Down."

Below are two of my favorite Ross clips. The first combines my two favorites, Ross and New York City, as she opens her Central Park Concert on July 21, 1983. She's radiating energy:



and in 1997 along with the new Supremes, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras



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I met Ross on January 16, 2007 in New York. I could go on and on about the encounter, but I would be typing forever.

Just take a look: She touched me in the morning, and it made the sign of the cross!


And here she is vamping by the piano

Happy Birthday, Aretha

Along with one of my favorite nephews, JD, who's turning four today, March 25 is the birthday of Aretha Franklin.

Franklin, 67, is still the best thing to come out of Detroit outside of the auto industry.

I'm a longtime fan, at least since my years in college. I discovered her back catalog of great albums like "Live at Filmore West," "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," and "Young Gifted and Black"

Below are two of my favorite performances: her version of "Nessun Dorma," which is the performance that turned me on to her artistry:



and another classic:

Isn't That Special

Watch below as the ladies of "The View" discuss Barack Obama's comment made on "The Tonight Show" last week, where he said his bowling score is like something from the Special Olympics.

The histrionics become downright frightening, as resident conservative nut job Elisabeth Hasselbeck goes for Obama's jugular.

Far be it from me to defend Obama, but this is an instance where a stupid joke gets taken to another level of stupidity. I can understand people being offended, but it's indefensible to try to score political points from an inane comment.

Who is Lady Gaga? And Why is she Famous?

Lady Gaga has scored a number one song , "Let's Dance," and has another, "Poker Face," in the Top 10 on the Billboard chart.

Her first album, The Fame, is in the Top 10 on the album chart.

Maybe I'm just getting behind in my older age, but I've never heard any of her music.

But seriously, who is this young lady? Who exactly is this soon-to-be 23 year-old pantsless phenom?

The biggest mystery is who their right mind would pick "Gaga" as a stage name.

I'm stumped. I'm perplexed. I just don't know what to say.

Anywho, here's Gaga strutting her stuff performing "Let's Dance." I've never heard the song before, but it's always a good time to listen to crap trendy music.

Gents and ladies, brace yourselves for the vocal stylings of Lady Gaga.

The New Ground Zero

The numbers are in, and they read like something from the Eighties.

Figures released this week by the District's HIV/AIDS Administration show that Washington, DC's rate of HIV/AIDS infection numbers around 3%, which is considered a severe epidemic.

Washington's infection rate far surpasses that of other large American cities, including New York, Baltimore, Detroit. Actually it surpasses every American city, and even the perennially down-and-out Port-au-Prince Haiti.

DC's rate ranks alongside Uganda, a Sub-Saharan African nation that was decimated by the disease in the 1990s.

And according to the numbers, it's not just gay folks (but they are well represented). But I must point out that nearly 7% of black men in DC are infected.

Even crazier, the current rate represents an increase of 20% over the figures just two years ago.

Given the news, I'm just wondering how long it will be until the image of DC morphs from



to one that resembles this Time Magazine cover from a few years ago:

Out of my head

This is one of my favorite songs by Shuggie Otis, who pre-dated Prince but never achieved the same level of stardom.

Otis is best known as the writer of "Strawberry Letter 23," but the song below reveals his other talents.

If you don't have his outstanding 1970s album Inspiration Information, I suggest you pick it up.

Twenty

There was a male couple holding hands at the corner of 22nd and 7th. I really wasn't staring, but I couldn't help but notice. As I crossed the street, I noticed a man and woman kissing one another goodbye, followed by another male pair kissing one another goodbye. A few yards down the street were an older couple eating dinner.

The scene made for a wonderful welcome back to New York. If I'd had a camera with an extreme wide-angle lens, I would have documented the moment for posterity.

This was a Sunday night, on my first trip back to the city in months. There was a range of feelings, but none more outstanding than WHY HAVE YOU BEEN AWAY SO LONG?

It was a great night because I was doing one of my patented long walks. I wound up stumbling upon a friend. He was on the opposite sidewalk when I looked up and noticed him. I think he was listening to music, but I screamed out his name anyway:

"DAAAAAVID!"

In New York, it seems you never know what you will see or what to expect. I hadn't seen David since 2005. We had worked together at H&M in Soho the year before and laughed over that experience.

The next day when I was in the crowded 42 St. subway station, there was something else staring at me: a $20 bill.

There is was, right there in plain view. I thought it must've been a practical joke or something, but apparently all those people had missed seeing the money.

If I'd asked if someone had lost $20, it probably would have set off a frenzy. I think I did the right thing by pocketing the money. It must be some kind of running occurrence in my life. I found $20 two years ago while walking around downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

Here's looking at you, 2011.

Nancy meets Brad

So given the economic meltdown, foreclosure concerns, and the new health care reform initiative proposed by President Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was still able to clear a block in her schedule to meet with Brad Pitt.

The meeting was about about reconstruction efforts in New Orleans, but As far as I know it, Brad Pitt is not an elected official. He’s not even from New Orleans, but apparently fell in love with the city while filming a movie.

So is that all it take to warrant an invite to the Capitol?

Not to say that he’s an average, ordinary American. He’s a two-time Academy Award nominated actor (12 Monkeys, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). He's a star. He’s a beautiful, beautiful man.

But still, at the end of the day, Brad Pitt is still just an average ordinary American.

I have a lot in common with Pitt. I too am a beautiful, beautiful man. And I’m a star, it's just that my greatness hasn’t yet been recognized by myself or others.

So when do I get to schedule a face to face with Nancy? I’ve got a few things I’d like to talk about.

photo: via yahoo.com

West

If it's March, it means I'm planning domestic travel.

I've got my heart set on one location: the West.

Well, in truth, that might just be several locations.

Wyoming. New Mexico. Arizona. Nevada. Even Texas will do. You name it, and I'll go.

I don't know where this inclination to go west stems from. Maybe it's just a desire to see something different. I've seen enough cities for a while. After a certain point, they all tend to be the same.

When my family and I decided to go on a big vacation last year, I'd offered up the West. I was immediately shot down. We went to DisneyWorld instead.

I'm seeking a slower pace. I'm seeking the desert.

photo from www.atpm.com

No Virgins in NYC

Here's one more thing to chalk up to the recession.

My favorite record store in the whole world, the Virgin Megastore in Times Square is closing in April. Additionally, the Virgin Megastore in Union Square is closing in June.

This gives new meaning to something a friend once told me: There are no virgins in New York City.

I have so many fond memories of both stores.

When I was on the fence about Amy Winehouse in early 2007, Virgin Mega came in handy. I went in one day and listened to "Back to Black" at one of the listening stations. The rest is history.

And in 2006, I checked out a live performance by Sandra Bernhard. She was promoting her one-woman show Everything Bad & Beautiful.

In a city where everything is squeezed in, the stores were noteworthy for being so spacious.It was like being in a Macy's dedicated to music. And because they had tons of listening stations, you could listen to entire albums if you had the time.

I will miss the stores, as they were staples on my visits to New York. I would always go late at night, and the inside would be like a club. The music would be pumping and it would be crazy fun.

That leaves me looking for another cool record store. I never liked Tower Records, but all of its locations in NYC had already closed anywhere.

I fear that the Virgin Megastores are simply irreplaceable.

Introducing Bobby J.

Everyone, meet Bobby Jindal.

He's a boy wonder, Rhodes scholar, and Louisiana's 37-year-old governor.

He's been tagged as the future of the Republican party. Jindal has a good shot at becoming president one day, and has gained much attention of late for vowing to refure a portion of the stimulus funds due his state.

But right now he's the Republican whipping boy for his dismal response to President Obama's address to Congress on Tuesday night.

I was cringing as I listened to Jindal on C-Span radio. His speech was the equivalent of a poorly-written bedtime story. He spoke in short sentences about the spirit of America: "Americans can do anything. When we pull together, there is no challenge we can't overcome."

Rah rah rah!! Lets go get 'em. I'm so inspired now.

Jindal didn't have much to offer besides the usual Repub staples--opposition to government-run health care, lower taxes, no earmarks, etc.

Here's Bobby J. remixed, along with a critique by some of his Repub buddies.

Waiting for Amy

One of the first pieces I ever wrote for the blog, "Waiting for Lauryn," has never actually appeared anywhere.

It was in 2007, the ninth anniversary of her landmark album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." It went something like, "...until she decides to release something new, we'll all just be waiting for Lauryn."

I ain't waiting no more.

That's why it was so cool when I first heard about Amy Winehouse in early 2007. I liked the style and I liked her sound, particularly her use of live instruments in her band. I even thought she sounded a little like Lauryn back then.

I would be walking around New York, listening to "Tears Dry on Their Own" on my cd walkman (I've never been cool enough for an ipod) with a big smile plastered across my big face.

Then Amy became a tabloid figure. Her issues are well-known, but I'm optimistic that she will pull it together and release new music soon.

Here she is doing what she does best:

Oscar Sunday

In 2000, I was pulling for "American Beauty," and in 2006, I was hoping for a "Brokeback Mountain" sweep.

But when the 2009 Academy Awards are broadcast Sunday on ABC, there's not one particular film I'll be rooting for.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is expected to win big, but I really don't see what all the fuss is about. It's convoluted and not that entertaining. And "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?" I'll pass on you as well. I couldn't bring myself to see two other films nominated for best picture: "The Reader" and "Frost/Nixon." That leaves "Milk," the biopic of slain politician Harvey Milk as my choice. There were some great performance in this film, especially Josh Brolin and Sean Penn.

The film that should have been nominated was Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino," but maybe it was a bit simplistic for the Academy's tastes. I only saw this movie because I had a couple of hours of free time and a few dollars in my pocket. "Torino," largely a story of redemption, turned out to be one of the best films I'd seen in a long time.

The one sure lock (which might not be so sure after all) is Penelope Cruz as Best Supporting Actress for her turn in "Vicki Christina Barcelona." She leaps off the screen and gave the most brilliant performance I saw the whole year. If you haven't seen "Vicki," check it out. It's worth renting for Cruz alone.

This sets up a head-to-head face-off with Viola Davis. Her character in "Doubt," Mrs. Mueller, has the unforgettable tag line, "It's just till June."

I'm just wondering who will win. At least I don't have to wait until June.

It's just till Sunday.

Condoms for Mississippi--An Update

Mississippi has finally seen the light.

A bill has passed the Mississippi House which would allow the state to allow sex education programs in two Mississippi school districts.

House bill 234, in response to the state's abysmal teen pregnancy statistics, would create a pilot program that for the first time allow sex education to be taught in Mississippi classrooms.

Now all that needs to happen is for a similar bill to work its way through the Senate and ultimately be signed by the governor.

And surely the program need to be expanded beyond just two hand-picked school districts. In a state with more than 100 school districts, too many will students will be left out.

But, you have to start somewhere.

At present, Mississippi does not provide state funds for school-related HIV, STD, or pregnancy prevention activities.¹

Further, Mississippi does not require students to receive instruction in HIV, STD, or pregnancy prevention, although the grade 9-12 portion of the Comprehensive Health Framework (2006) addresses prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases if schools choose to offer sex education. Code §37-13-171 (1998) states, "abstinence education shall be the state standard for any sex-related education taught in the public schools" and "any course containing sex education offered in the public schools shall include instruction in abstinence education.²
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Bristol Palin commanded considerable press when it was discovered that she and her teenage boyfriend, Levi Johnston, were expecting their first child.

She's back in the news again. In an interview with Greta van Susteren of Fox News, Palin, 18, balked at abstinence education, saying it wasn't "realistic."

In doing so, she slammed her mother, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who had been the vice-presidential running mate of John McCain in Election 2008. Gov. Palin was well known for opposing sex education in favor of abstinence education programs.

While there is no indication that Gov. Palin has softened her stance, Bristol seems firmly on the anti-teen pregnancy bandwagon.

"I'd love to [be] an advocate to prevent teen pregnancy because it's not, like, a situation that you would want to strive for, I guess," Bristol Palin said in her Fox interview.

Notes: 1 and 2 from healthyschoolsms.org; photo from google images

For Your Consideration--marlboro shand for Commerce

Dear Mr. President Obama,

It seems that you're having a bit of trouble filling the cabinet vacancy at commerce.

Your most recent pick to fill the post, Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), announced his decision to rescind his nomination yesterday, eloquently stating that it would have been very difficult "day in and day out to serve in this cabinet."

Well, sir, look no further.

I've found the perfect candidate to fill the void: ME.

I love both America and Commerce!

For one thing, I'd never pull a stunt like the one Gregg just pulled.

Plus, I'm a local.

I might not have any all of the necessary skills at present, but everyone knows that on each job there's a steep learning curve. I'm sure being Secretary of Commerce is no different.

Feel free to reach me at your earliest convience at marlshand77@gmail.com.

Pic: via nytimes.com

The Lady Still Sings

She has been described as possibly the greatest jazz vocalist, but for a long time when I saw the name Billie Holiday, all I could think of was the character Diana Ross had played in "Lady Sings the Blues."

Now I knew she was a real person, but the film had colored my perception of her. Though the film has very little to do with the life Billie Holiday actually led, the image of Holiday as a hard-living, heroin-addicted jazz singer is the one that remains.

But last year I got to know the "real" Holiday when I read her autobiography of the same name. The only problem is, as many musical historians have noted, that the book is highly fictionalized. In fact, it wasn't even written by Holiday, but by William Dufty, a journalist.

What most agree on is that she lived from 1915 from 1959 and had a crippling drug addiction that marred most of her adult life. Much like the character in the film, she was a hard-living, heroin-addicted jazz singer. And yes, she was a victim--of herself, the system, men, you name it. But she was an artist, and her talent is still undeniable.

Mother Dear is coming to save us; Bulletproof gear required

10 whole days until our favorite man in drag returns... Start buying your tickets now. I have a feeling this one is going to sell out opening weekend.

How many of y'all are planning on checking this out? What's your favorite Tyler Perry flick?

The Grammy's

There's nothing like great live music. That's why I'm so excited that the Grammy Awards will air on Sunday on CBS at 8 pm.

Lil Wayne leads the pack with eight nominations, followed by Coldplay with seven noms, and Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, and Kayne West with six nominations.

A personal favorite, Al Green's "Lay It Down" was nominated for multiple awards in the R&B categories.

The Grammy's, the music industry's top prize, bestows awards in 114 categories, recognizing every genre--from reggae to classical to pop. But there are two categories I'll be watching extremely close:

Category 8 Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. The nominees are:

"Lesson Learned" Alicia Keys, John Mayer
"4 Minutes" Madonna, Justin Timberlake
"Rich Woman" Allison Krauss, Robert Plant
"If I Never See Your Face" Rihanna, Maroon 5
"No Air" Jordan Sparks, Chris Brown

"No Air" by Jordan and Chris is a very nice song, but may be a little too pop for this pop category. Madonna's "4 Minutes" is nice and booming, but how is it different from other Timbaland productions? Rihanna and Maroon 5. Probably not. It'll come down to "Rich Woman" and "Lesson Learned." Allison Krauss has already won more competitive Grammys than any other woman in history; she and partner Robert Plant will likely win in other categories.

My pick is "Lesson Learned." Alicia Keys and John Mayer have both become Grammy favorites and critical darlings. I don't think the academy will overlook them for this wonderful song. It's a minor tour de force with a wonderful lyric about redemption. When Alicia sings: "It's called the past/ Cause I'm getting past/ I ain't nothing like I was before/ You ought to see me now," it's truly an AMEN moment.




Category 4 . Best New Artist (For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.) The nominees are:

Adele
Duffy
The Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

No doubt about it, The Jonas Brothers have this locked up... if the award were for winning the hearts of tween girls. But a Grammy, I think not. And even though I fear that she might bust the windows in my car, I don't think this is Jazmine Sullivan's year. Sorry,baby girl. Lady Antebellum. Who are you? That leaves us with the two Brits. An Adele-Duffy showdown similar to the Christina Aguilera-Britney Spears showdown at the 2000 awards. Duffy, from Wales, scored with her huge hit "Mercy."

But my personal pick to win is Adele. Although only 20, she showcases ability well beyond her years. Her vocals soar in "Hometown Glory," a song she wrote at 16. She performs it as if she were an old pro.

The New Black Anthem

Might take a little flack for this, but it's time for a new "black national anthem"

Thanks to James Weldon Johnson for giving us "Lift Ev'Ry Voice and Sing." The song is a Black History Month staple, and every February it gets a good working over.

"Voice," I love ya so much, but you've served your purpose.

First, you're too difficult to sing. With up-and-down phrasing--"Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us"-- it reminds me of a car repetitively going over steep hills.

Second, the concepts we've been singing about all these years--justice, liberty, victory--are too abstract.

For your consideration, I'm offering "Crack Music," an exceptional song from Kanye West's sophomore disc, Late Registration.

West offers "real black music." The song, a warts-and-all description of contemporary black America, serves up the greatest history lesson since "Eyes on the Prize."

Crack Music (Feat. The Game) - Kanye West

Theater Review--Fabulation

Undine Barnes-Callas isn't exactly the poster girl for "keeping it real."

As the central character in Lynn Nottage's comic "Fabulation or, The Re-education of Undine," she's a prep-school and Dartmouth- educated dynamic diva who was left all alone in the world when her family perished in a house fire.

She's blunt, sarcastic, speaks with authority and calls it like she sees it.

"Send the pussy in," Undine says introducing her accountant, who is, indeed, a pussy.

So even when she receives her eventual comeuppance, it's hard to muster schadenfreude when Undine takes her steep tumble from being an utterly fabulous public relations entrepreneur living on the Upper East Side to living with her family in the Brooklyn projects.

Yep, the same family she told a reporter from Black Enterprise had perished in a fire yet lives. It turns out they just didn't fit the narrative of what her family should be.

That hints at the central theme of Undine's re-education--where does one fit, what should be? Undine's greatest journey is figuring out who she is--stripped of the designer duds andthe lust-at-first-sight husband who diappeared with all her money.

Sure, her comments are withering, but Undine is still immensely likeable. As she struggles with a life turned upside down, you still wish she would succeed because she is finally confronted with truths that were always lies, a past that can never be left behind, a void still waiting to be filled.

The cast, particularly Natalie Venetia Belcon as Undine, are all superb. "Fabulation or, The Re-education of Undine" runs at Baltimore's Center Stage thru March 8.

Great Grammy Performances, Volume 3

From "Purple Rain:" "...It's such a shame our friendship had to end."

It just doesn't get any better than this, Prince and Beyonce's medly opening the 2004 Grammy Awards. I could go on and on, but the video speaks for itself.

(Sorry, guys. Due to Prince's ongoing tyrannical guarding and copyright of his image, the video is not available. In its place, here's an empty box where the video should be. Enjoy!)

Update: I was able to secure an audio clip via Imeem.com. Still not quite the same, but that's what imaginations are for:


Purple Rain Medley - Prince & Beyonce

The Class

"The Class," about a teacher in an inner city French high school, has been on my list of must-see films since I saw a preview last month.

The film opens in New York and Los Angeles today, before going nationwide (I'm hoping that means at least one screen in the DC area).

There have been plenty of movies about educators in troubled schools, but I see this film as more than a French "To Sir, With Love" (or "Stand and Deliver," or "Lean on Me," or "Dangerous Minds") for a new generation. It offers a sneak peak into the lives of black, French teenagers. I'm curious to see if there is any resemblance witht the experience of their American countrerparts.

Growing up, I always had a romanticized view of France as a place where American blacks could escape racism and reach their true artistic potential. There were three very prominent examples: entertainer Josephine Baker and writers Richard Wright and James Baldwin. From another era, comes another black man who made it big in Paris, designer Patrick Kelly.

Now I'm certain France isn't the place of those old notions, but the eagerness for "The Class" is no less intense. The film was awarded the Palm d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at this year's Academy Awards.

Can't wait to see it!

Shoulda Been a Contender

Black actresses have clocked many Academy Award nominations of late, especially in supporting roles. With the announcement last week of the 2008 nominations, two more actress were added to that list: Taraji Henson for her role as Benjamin Button's mother-figure in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and Viola Davis as the mother of an abused boy in "Doubt."

Maybe all the attention of late is to make up for years of being ignored by the academy, as black actresses have historically notched few nominations and only four wins (Butterfly McQueen, Whoopi Goldberg, Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson) in 81 years.

Now I'm not saying its a black thing, but here are four noteworthy performances that should have merited these actresses consideration for the top prize:
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Ruby Dee received her first nomination last year for her work in "American Gangster," but she was woefully overlooked for her supporting role in 1991's "Jungle Fever."

Perhaps it was the Academy's hate-hate love affair with the film's director, the brash Spike Lee, that did her in. Whatever. The scene where her junkie son Gator (Samuel L. Jackson) dies is one of the most powerful I've ever seen. This is something you should only watch once.

1991 Best Supporting Actress Winner: Mercedes Reuhl, "The Fisher King"
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Angela Basset had clocked her first nomination for a leading performance two years earlier for her portrayal of Tina Turner in the biopic "What's Love Got to Do With It?" But in "Waiting to Exhale," (1995) she brings to the screen a fictional character, Bernadine, one of the heroines from Terry McMillan's novel of the same name.

Directed by future Oscar winner Forrest Whittaker, Bassett brings depth to the role of the woman scored. She hurts, she fumes, she gets even. The scene where she rounds up her philandering husband's clothes and turns them into a bonfire is priceless.

1995 Best Actress Winner: Susan Sarandon, "Dead Man Walking"
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Regina King has come a long way since playing Brenda on the NBC sitcom "227," and has showcased her growth as an actress in films like "Boyz N the Hood" and "Poetic Justice."

By the time "Ray" came out in 2004, she emerged as a full-blown artist. Her performance as Margie, Ray Charles' background singer and spurned lover, is a sight to behold. King shows us Margie's humanity, including her hopes to marry the already-married Ray. They channel the friction between them into great performances, but Margie can't hold on at the end.

2004 Best Supporting Actress Winner: Cate Blanchett, "The Aviator"
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"Antwone Fisher" is a love story on many levels, thanks in large part to Joy Bryant's performance. She helps thaw Antwone, coming to terms with being given up by his birth mother and years of abuse at the hands of his foster mother. Guided by first-time director Denzel Washington, her rapport with co-star Derek Luke seems so genuine that it appears she isn't acting at all.

2002 Best Supporting Actress Winner: Catherine Zeta-Jones, "Chicago"

Great Grammy Performances, Part 2

So what happens when country music's biggest supergroup makes a statement critical of the commander in chief?

The Dixie Chicks found out in 2003 when lead singer Natalie Maines said she was ashamed George W. Bush was from their home state, Texas, while performing in London.

The fallout was swift, as the Chicks quickly fell off country radio playlists, saw their albums burned, and were branded unpatriotic.

At the 2007 Grammy Awards, their comeback album, Taking the Long Way, won five awards.

The lead single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," a defiant song about unrepentance, won Record of the Year and is shown below.

It is a passionate, heartfelt performance. When Maines sings "I paid a price/ and I'll keep paying," she send a clear message.

Sometimes you don't have to apologize.

Condoms for Mississippi--An Update

When prayers go up, condoms come raining down
This is an update on an earlier post, Condoms for Mississippi.

There was an overwhelming response, which I received in the form of two huge boxes of condoms that I am in the process of sending to Mississippi's governor, Haley Barbour.

Never in all my days have I seen so many 'doms. Latex is truly a beautiful thing.

Again, I am most grateful for all those who realized the importance of the situation. As Mississippi will likely still lead the nation in teenage pregnancy, and the state remains virtually silent on the issue, it's up to everyday, ordinary citizens to make a difference.

For Mississippi's struggling teens, just hold on a little bit longer.

Assistance is coming to help you achieve those Big O's in peace. Because it's no fun juggling a term paper in one hand and a baby in the other.

Inauguration Notes, Volume 2

My grandfather (pictured left) had fought in World War II, but that didn’t necessarily mean I’d follow suit.

This man had been born in 1911 in Mississippi, and had fought in a war to ensure freedom and that the dignity of all life would be respected.

The only problem is that he didn't receive the same treatment at home. That is what I call "patriotism in spite of."

Somehow, somewhere along the way, those same feelings within me flagged. The Fourth of July had been a day for a cook out, not necessarily one where my heart swelled with pride.

Veterans Day might just be another day off work. Ditto Memorial Day, which in my life simply marked the advent of the summer movie season.
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The most important thing for me was that the inauguration of Barack Obama has caused in me a sense of ownership.

I had always categorized myself as one of the "least free." Not to say that things have magically changed overnight, but I do feel that I can finally say: This is my country.

For the first time it feels like there are no longer limitations, boundaries, places we cant go, things we can’t say, things we can’t do, or any other prohibited actions of any sort.
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In speaking with my father in January 2008 after Obama’s decisive victory in the Iowa Caucus there was an expectation and a joy that I had never heard before.

“Is it possible?” he asked.

This question was coming from a man from Mississippi, the same state that gave us the deaths of Emmet Till, Medgar Evers, and Cheney-Schwerner-Goodman.

“Well, this is America,” I had responded, hoping for once that America would be like the nation Dr. King dreamed of, not the harsher reality so many of us had faced.
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We are now permitted to imagine what was once impossible.

Never did many of us imagine two or three years ago that a person that looked like Barack Obama would be president or that a person who looked like Michelle Obama would be First Lady.

In an email dated April 9, 2007, I had written to my family about an Easter brunch I had attended at my friend David’s apartment in Brooklyn

I had such a good that I didn't leave until around 10:30. It was PERFECT--food, friends and fellowship. There was good conversation, which was something David called "real talk". Topics ranged from Barack Obama (most agreed that he wouldn't become prez and would settle for vp. I disagreed saying he would never settle for vp. He had raised $25 million already. "People wouldn't donate $25 million to a losing cause") to Beyonce (everyone loved her).

The question is: Why would Obama have to "settle?"

Did "real talk" really mean "get real!"

Haven't we done enough "settling" in life already?
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The First Lady

The President

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DC came alive over the weekend. So many events, so little time.

One of the not-to-be-missed events was "We Are One," the concert on the Mall on January 18. Along with my sister and brother-in-law, and about 400,000 other people, we enjoyed performances by U2, Bruce Springsteen, and Mary J. Blige.

But the most poignant performance came from an old favorite. “Shower the People” by James Taylor, who was joined by John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, and Arnold McCuller.

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By the time the big moment arrived on January 20, the tears I was expecting didn't' flow.

Maybe that's because I was frozen solid. My crew and I had arrived on the Mall at 5 a.m.

We were all pumped and excited. There was adrenaline and jubilation, but we were also very cold.

There was just a good feeling throughout. A group near us sang the theme songs to "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons," and there were the requisite chants of "OBAMA!"

To say "there were so many people" would be the understatement of a lifetime. But still I can say I would definitely do it again. Not tomorrow, but maybe in another four years.

The memories will forever leave me with a smile on my face.

Photos: Michelle Obama in Vogue, 2007, photo by Annie Liebovitz; Barack Obama via the Richard Avedon Foundation

Survivors

President Bush delivered his farewell address to the nation yesterday and suffice it to say, unless he gets us all annihilated in the next four days with some last minute nuclear war, it looks like we're all in the clear!

I'm just so thankful to have survived the Bush years. I went from living in New York to the DC area--two terrorist hot spots--and I'm still alive!

But the one great thing I have to give Bush credit for is that he was always true to his word.

He said he'd be a "uniter, not a divider" a long time ago. True enough, we stand tall and proud as Americans in hopes that we never see the likes of George W. Bush again.

We stand united saying, "So long! Farewell! Good night!"

The New Definition of Greatness

From Martin Luther King Jr.'s last sermon, the Drum Major Instinct, delivered on February 4, 1968:

And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness.

If you want to be important—wonderful.

If you want to be recognized—wonderful.

If you want to be great—wonderful.

But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.

Condoms for Mississippi

Here's looking at you, Mississippi

It's apparent that teenagers in my home state, Mississippi, need condoms as much as relevant texts, in light of teen pregnancy statistics released last week by the US Centers for Disease Control.

How else can one explain Mississippi's absurd rate, which is 60 percent higher than the national average?

Realizing that teen pregnancy is often the gateway to poverty is one thing, but taking substantive action is another.

But does Mississippi offer sex education? Nope.

Information on birth control targeted to teenagers? Of course not.

And actually having an intelligent conversation with kids about sex and its consequences? Absolutely out of the question.

After all, that's what boyfriends are for.

What Mississippi does offer is a lot of head scratching and buck passing, as year after year legislators ponder why health care costs are so high and test scores so low.

That's why, as a symbolic gesture, I'm launching "Condoms for Mississippi."

Let's send a message loud and clear to Mississippi's governor, Haley Barbour, that something in the state must change by mailing condoms that he can redistribute ASAP.

Let Gov. Barbour know that these kids need condoms. They need condoms in Greenville, and Kiln, and Laurel, and Jackson. They need condoms in Biloxi, and Natchez, and Durant, and Cleveland. They need condoms in Meridian, and Raymond, and Crystal Springs, and Canton.

They need condoms all over the state.

Condoms for Mississippi, or 'Doms for the 'Sip, for short. Any old latex will do. Just send 'em on.

Gov. Haley Barbour can be reached at P.O. Box 139, Jackson, MS 39205, or by phone at 601-359-3150.

Tell him Marshand Boone sent you.


Graphic: Thanks, Famdev77