Uncategorized

  • 'Cadillac' on Cruise Control

    There’s a distinctly authentic feel to Cadillac Records, from the fried catfish to the fried hair—gotta love the sight of Jeffrey Wright in that ‘do rag—and most of the time, from the grind of the guitars to the wail of the harmonicas, it makes for compelling entertainment. Beyoncé’s not bad, either. Still, there’s a certain…

  • Bulletproof

    I can’t pretend to understand why New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress would carry an illegal firearm or why he would go to a club where he felt a need to have a weapon. Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg last Friday at the New York nightclub Latin Quarter, and he has been…

  • Kwame Kilpatrick's Mistress Sentenced

    “Under the general heading of, ‘the light skin and the long hair will get you in trouble every single time’, former Chief of Staff to former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced this week to five years probation with the first 120 days served in jail for her role in the scandal that brought down Kilpatrick’s administration. Christine…

  • In The Fitness Spirit

    We all know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but what about Fat Tuesday? Nope, not the one heralding Mardi Gras. No, no. This is the Fat Tuesday that follows your holiday meal binge—you know, the one after all the turkey and pie and festive drinks, when you realize your pants are tight, the scale is…

  • King James in The Garden?

    Plaxico Burress won the Super Bowl, shot himself in the thigh and now may be looking at an abrupt loss of freedom if convicted of felony weapons charges. Stephon Marbury was living the dream; he was playing in the NBA for his hometown team, one of the storied franchises in the history of sports. He was…

  • Farewell, Odetta

    During my “real education” years, you know, post-undergrad and confused, there were five major players in the shaping of my consciousness: Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Henry Dumas, Toni Morrison and Odetta. I would sit in my living room in San Francisco, uncombed, Thrift Store gear and read excerpts of Angela Davis, Etheridge Knight with Odetta evoking…

  • You Barack It, You Buy It

    The day after America elected a black man president, a bundle of Washington Post newspapers were going for $400 on eBay. The L.A. Times made a cool 600K in Barack Obama merchandise. The ailing newspaper industry briefly got its swagger back when people realized that they couldn’t frame their computer. Unfortunately, that is not where…

  • Security Details

    The idea is to find the right match. Soul mates or perhaps a team of rivals? If only there were an eHarmony for presidential transitions, Thomas Jefferson might get matched with Condoleezza Rice: “Widower, nation’s first SoS, seeks SBF, preferably also former SoS, for ‘diplomatic’ liaison at country estate. Turn-ons include long trips to France;…

  • NBC Dances with David Gregory

    Politico and Huffington Post are reporting that Gregory, NBC News’ chief White House correspondent, will replace Tim Russert on Meet The Press in February 2009. However, NBC has said they will not and have not made an official announcement today. So maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. Regardless, it’s buzzin’. And what’s a little buzz without…

  • Is Shooting Yourself Punishment Enough?

    Poor hand-eye coordination could land Plaxico Burress in prison for at least seven years. He was arraigned Monday on weapons charges stemming from a nightclub shooting early Saturday morning…in which he shot himself. A witness saw the New York Giants wide receiver toying with his waistline just before his .40-caliber Glock pistol discharged, sending a…