BeerGate - The Final Tally.

Since I clearly had better things to do yesterday, I only saw the opening images of the Obama BeerFest 09', and missed all the mindless cable talking head analysis afterward. That's likely for the better, since this seems to have been nothing more than a big snoozy photo op with zero fireworks, and nothing of lasting value beyond Crowley's Brett Favre style press conference. Either way, I'm glad this nonsense is finally over and no longer will take up valuable space on this blog. But in typical AB.com fashion, here's my final tally.

The Winners

Sargent Crowley - Give it to this guy, he really, really, really worked the angles on this one. He was never asked to justify the discrepancies between the 911 call and his police report. Nor was he made to apologize by his employer. He never admitted any wrongdoing of any sort. Then he gets to give this very reasonable, very polished presser, which looks like an audition for an upcoming Fox News pundit gig. It was a great day for the Crowley household.



He will probably get some martyr-style promotion out of this. He will definitely get a book deal. He will absolutely become an icon for the anti-Obama crowd. And he still never apologized, just as he said he wouldn't. Is that a freakin' come-up or what?

Lucia Whalen - I hate that Gates' neighbor had to give that tearful press conference, but you just know she's already got that appearance on Oprah booked, right?

Desire Rodgers - The WH Social Secretary really nailed the imagery on this one. For some reason, at the last moment, Joe Biden was asked to attend. My Negro Radar says this was to balance things out so that the image of two brothers hunkering over a white guy wasn't what folks saw when they turned on the TV. How else do you account for Gates and Biden sitting on one side of the table and the other guys on the other, nicely balanced, all in a completely non-threatening manner?

Professor Gates - Gates went from little known black scholar with well-regarded, but little known PBS documentaries, to a man of international name recognition overnight. Sure, some folks will see him as a race-baiter, but those folks probably would have thought that anyway. Even though money is probably far from his greatest motivation, I'm pretty sure he'll end up with a bigger stage to tell his next story.

The Losers

Obama - Yeah, he handled it well in the end, but his numbers took a hit, and you know opponents will try and paint him as "anti-police" in the future. Never mind the fact that Obama's "stupidly" comment was correct, Gates should never have been arrested. And that his inferences about "racial profiling" were in regards to the question posed, not directly related to Gates' situation. It's just another example of how this White House lets the media narrative get out of control, rather than "controlling the message", which is something his predecessor was actually quite good at.

Black Folks - Let's face it my peoples, we took an "L" on this one. The next time there's a legitimate story that involves racial profiling, the words "well what about Professor Gates?" are definitely trailing. I'm not saying this is an epic fail of Tawanna Brawley type proportions, but it damn sure ain't help.

Officer Leon Lashley - When Crowley's fellow black officer (seen outside the Gates home as he was hauled off in cuffs) went on CNN to go to bat for his boy, I lauded him as a stand up guy. So please explain to me why Lashley got all emo and ended up sending a letter to the White House along with Crowley, assailing those who called him an Uncle Tom?



Seriously, if you are going to take a bold public stand, you just can't be this mad when others disagree with you. Do you know how many times MLK was called an Uncle Tom and how many black churches effectively blackballed him for this beliefs? You did what you felt was right, people complain, then you write a letter crying about people complaining. That's sort of a b*tch move, man. Now I'm beginning to wonder if you were forced to do this. Get over yourself, brother. This is so not about you.

Joe Biden - I totally, totally, totally understand not drinking for moral/ethical reasons. Biden contends that he's never drank a beer in his life, and yesterday was no reason to start. Agree with that too. But come the hell on, man, why was this bama drinkin' an O'Douhl's? What sorta d-bag drinks non-alcoholic beer anyway? Isn't that sorta like drinking decaffeinated coffee? Uhhh, doesn't that sorta undermine the point of the whole thing? Why not just go ahead and poke hokes in your own condoms while you're at it. Beer without alcohol = L.O.S.E.R.

Race Relations In America - Do you feel any more post-racial? I sure don't.

Question: What do you think? Who won? Who lost? Who cares?

AB Goes To The Movies - Happily Ever After.

Many of ya'll know Lamar Tyler as "TheDad" from our brother/sister site BlackAndMarriedWithKids. Last night, AverageSis and I got a rare weekday night out, and had the pleasure of attending the DC premiere of Lamar & Ronnie (TheMom) Tyler's documentary, Happily Ever After - A Positive Image Of Black Marriage.

You guys know that I typically go hard on these movie reviews. The reasons are many. It's a recession and nobody should flush $40 down the drain if the movie isn't worth it. I also run into problems when I'm reviewing the work of people I personally know and like. Do you keep it real and potentially ruin a friendship, or do you say nice things and sorta kinda lie to your readers? If it sounds like I'm taking all this a bit too damn seriously (because let's face it, this ain't my Day Job) then you're prolly right.

Thankfully, this film presented no such dilemma. I can with clear conscience give Happily Ever After a very good review because it's a very good movie.



Shot documentary-style, sans narration, the movie is really much more of a celebration of black marriage than an in-depth analysis of why the institution as a whole is in such a lousy state in our communities right now.

Familiar faces like radio personality Joe Madison, filmmaker Janks Morton, author (and friend of AB.com) Denene Milner, and actor Tray Chaney (HBO's The Wire), along with average, everyday married couples from all walks of life tell their stories. For once, all the good things about marriage (financial benefits, living longer, balanced approaches to rearing children) are discussed, rather than wallowing in the muck of why "black women are too independent" and "all the good black men are in jail or on the DL". That's a tired, tired, tired shopworn narrative that seems to plague most examinations of Black marriage (Soledad, I'm lookin' at you). Instead, by presenting real couples (along with the occasional "expert) who talk transparently about the challenges, but also the triumphs of living with a "better half", the movie is inspiring on many levels.



Perhaps most interesting is how the movie challenged one of my personal stances. I've long maintained that The Obama Effect on black marriage is going to be negligible at best, and that black folks won't just be magically pairing up all of a sudden because there's somebody who looks like us in the White House. But as the movie suggests, The Huxtable Effect had a huge influence on changing the perception of what marriage means for millions of black people, and The Cosby Show was pure fiction. Even I'll admit, coming from a loving two parent household, even I observed some of what Claire and Cliff had and carry that sensibility into my own marriage. Who's to say that Barry and Michelle can't do the same for another generation? Not me. Not anymore at least.



Well paced and well structured at just over an hour, Happily will definitely leave you with a feeling that things are getting better for the overall state of black marriage, whether that's reflected in the crude numbers or not. Strangely, for a guy who runs a website called Black And Married With Kids, and is featured on the movie's poster, Tyler doesn't cave in to P. Diddy-Syndrome and appears nowhere in the movie. I can't say this is a good or bad thing, it's merely different. I'm sure he'll stop by to chime in on this probing question.

Final Verdict: As the erstwhile cultural expert Denene Milner asserts in this movie, black folks need to quit jibber jabbering about there not being enough "positive" depictions of us and start supporing each other when we do put out this sort of film. Naturally, I concur, and I applaud Lamar & Ronnie Tyler for putting their money where their website mouths are, instead of waiting for someone else to celebrate the good aspects of black culture rather than always focusing on the negative. Nuff' said. Buy the freakin' movie, already! 4 Stars (Out Of 5)

Happily Ever After [Official Movie Website]

I Will Not Apologize. Anymore.

Tomorrow I turn 36 26, and if the CDC is right, this officially signals the start of the 3rd quarter of my life. With age comes achy joints wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. A smart man uses the anniversary of his born day to step back, analyze, and access his lot in life, then make changes accordingly. And some of those changes are going to be seen shortly on this blog.

AB.com started 2 1/2 years ago as a way for me to vent a little, and over time, it's opened doors for me that wouldn't have otherwise been accessible. 1,500+ posts later (check the stats), AB.com has sorta morphed into a fullblown community of diverse voices, opinions, and walks of life. Thousands visit this site every week for some odd reason or another, which I suppose deems this April Fool's joke (the date of my first post) a success. That said, I always try and strive to make every post discussion worthy. There's enough fluff elsewhere on the web. But this gets draining, and sometimes takes the simple fun out of what I do. No more. Since it seems like ya'll will ride with me no matter what, I have some stylistic announcements to make.

I Will Not Apologize For Being A Rap Nerd - Except for my weekly What's On AB's iPod? features, I don't talk music too much here. I'm a geeky dude who prolly downloads 20+ new mixtapes, podcasts, and free promo stuff a week. I don't spend much time here discussing my love of music cause I assume there aren't too many like minded heads here. Doesn't matter. If you like these posts, chime in. If not, skip.

I Will Not Apologize For Being A Basketball Junkie - Likewise, I preface every sports related post with a bunch of disclaimers, hoping I don't alienate those who don't care about the potency of the Cleveland Cavaliers second unit. Again, if that's for you, chime in. If not...

I Will Not Apologize For Being A Liberal - I'm an unaffiliated voter who really, really, really wants to have two options when it comes to voting for statewide and national politricians. But damnit GOP, ya'll just make it too hard to justify even considering you with all the nonsense you do every week. Announcing that I'm a liberal at heart doesn't mean I drink Kool-Aid or walk in lockstep with the Dems (I don't), or that I don't vote across party lines locally (always have, always will). But why keep fooling myself into thinking I might be ideologically compatible on some level with a-holes like Jeff Sessions? I'm not, and prolly never will be. If you wanna brand me as a librul, go right ahead. Fine.

I Will Not Apologize For Liking Gossip - I usually try and avoid celebrity-related posts here, unless there's a greater context for discussion (ie: child support). But damnit, I like Necole Bitchie and hate Sandra Rose just as much as the next woman. So, expect a lot more Hollyweird, simply for the sake of gawking. I don't always need a greater purpose for these posts, just like I don't need a greater purpose for sports posts. Sometimes gawking is good.

I Will Not Apologize For Being Mean - Sometimes as a blogger, you're concerned about hurting people's feelings. You never know who is reading, and whom you might effect. But let's face it, anyone who knows me personally (tell em' CJames!) knows I'm a sarcastic, snarky, "downright mean" individual. That's my personality. Sometimes I hold it back in the name of being politically correct, or out of concern for offending folks. Not any more.

I Will Not Apologize For Deleting Comments - There's a new sheriff in town, and his name ain't Reggie Hammonds. Act up and get scratched up.

Question: Do you think you're going to like the new and non-apologetic AB.com? Got anything you're tired of apologizing for?

Go AB! It's Ya' Birthday!

Yep, it's that time of year. Yaw's Boy is turning 36 26 for the 10th year! Just got the AARP card in the mail! Woooo!

Anyways, I would do my usual begging and groveling for cash right about now, but that's sorta tacky. However, if you'd like to use the occasion to show your appreciation, The Tip Jar is always open for contributions.

2 Fingers.

AB

Skip Gates = Banana Eating Jungle Monkey?!?

Welcome to post-racial America, same as pre-racial America!!!



I love the whole "I'm not racist, I've got black friends!" non-apology. So Gates isn't actually a "jungle monkey", he just acts like one? Alrighty then.



We're gonna all need a beer by the time this thing's over.

Question: Should Barrett keep his job?

The Rise Of The NBA SuperTeam.

[Editor's Note: One of these days, I'll start the Nuthin' But Africans blog and take my sportswriter pipedreams elsewhere. Till then, live with it.]

Yeah, I know NFL camps are starting this week, and it's darn near sacrilege to be talking about any other sport, but what can I say? I'm not a football fan. Sure, I get my fantasy squad on, but that's more about talkin' smack with friends. Simply put, all the NFL is is a 2 month distraction before NBA training camp opens.

It seems like the Lakers just got their rings last week, but reality is, there hasn't been an NBA offseason with this much player movement in ages. And one trend that seems to be evolving is that the rich (much like in real life) are only getting richer. Welcome to the age of the SuperTeam. Here are your contestants.

Boston - The Celtics prolly would have made it back to the Finals had Kevin Garnett not gotten injured. So, to fortify the team's shaky frontline, they add Rasheed Wallace. Sheed gives them a stacked frontcourt, with Big Baby Davis, and Kendrick Perkins. It seems likely that the team will retain Stephon Marbury, and they're about to trade for Marquis Daniels, a guy who can play both guard positions. AB's Odds of Winning It All - 5 to 1.



Cleveland - The Cavs had the league's best record last year, but their date with destiny (and the ratings bonanza of Bron vs Kobe) was derailed when they were outplayed by a better Orlando team in the conference Finals. So, they remedy this by adding Shaquille O'Neal, with the express purpose of getting Lebron and Co. beyond the Magic. Uhhh, apparently they forgot about those Celtics. Additional pickups like Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon will help, but I just don't see a storybook ending here. On the bright side, no way Bron goes to NY. No way. I wouldn't be shocked to see him sign an extension before the season tips off. Odds - 10 to 1.



Orlando - Tasting the Finals (albeit briefly) was motivation enough for the Magic to go all out and add to their shaky depth in hopes of getting another shot at the title. They traded for Vince Carter, signed free agents Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes to reasonable contracts, and made a fatal error by matching a horrendous offer sheet for knock-kneed big man Marcin Gortat, a guy who makes John Koncak look like Wilt Chamberlain. Oh, and they also let their best crunch time player, Hedo Turkoglu, walk to the Raptors. Bad move. Odds - 11 to 1.



Lakers - Picking up Ron Artest is one of those unnecessary risks that can either ruin a team's season or push them over the edge. Essentially trading him for Trevor Ariza is a step up. However, if the team lets Lamar Odom bolt to the Heat over a lousy $2M pissing match, cancel all bets. Since this is still up in the air, I can't give them a grade. Odds - Incomplete.



Portland - A brief playoff run showed them that they needed a point guard to be the glue guy for their ultra talented squad. Picking up veteran Andre Miller fills a bunch of holes and gives Nate McMillan a quarterback who can get them to the 2nd round. Unfortunately, all their young players are going to need to be paid very soon, which means somebody is getting traded. And that Greg Oden over Kevin Durant picks looks worse and worse in retrospect. Imagine how much further along they'd be if they'd gotten that one right. Odds - 25 to 1.

Mavericks - After surprising a geriatric Spurs team last Spring, Mark Cuban and Co. made some aggressive moves to get back to the Finals. Picking up Shawn Marion, Tim Thomas, and Drew Gooden to join the forward tandem of Dirk Diggler and Josh Howard probably means a lot more small ball is coming. They did nothing to address their guard situation other than resigning Jason Kidd, a guy who still couldn't score if he had a pocketful of roofies. Do they even have a guard that's taller than 6-4 on the roster? That's not gonna cut it. Odds - 15 to 1.

Spurs - With Tim Duncan's window rapidly closing, the Spurs made some daring moves to improve their overall talent base. Getting a scorer like Richard Jefferson for a bag of chips and a soda was a steal. Adding Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, and rookie Dejuan Blair to the frontcourt takes some of the pressure off TD. I still think they need some help at guard, where Manu Ginobili is not getting younger, and Tony Parker often looks like he'd rather be on Wisteria Lane than the AT&T Center. Can you say Iverson? Odds - 7 to 1.

Others Considered - Washington (smart trades and health will determine outcome), Atlanta (stacked with guards), Toronto (not deep, but Turkoglu helps), New Orleans (Okafor trade fortifies the front line), Clippers (look awesome on paper).

Question: Which NBA SuperTeam has the best shot at winning the title?

Why I Married A Delta - Exhibit A(KA).

Before any ladies get their panties in a bunch over this post's title, let it ride. My Mom's an AKA, so is my wife's mother. And yeah, this sorta nonsense happens in every black organization on some level. But dayum, $900k for a wax statue of herself? Who does this chick think she is? Michelle Obama?

Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest sorority for collegiate and professional black women, are asking a D.C. court to remove the group’s national leadership and order its president to return funds allegedly paid in contravention of the organization’s bylaws.

The group’s national president, Barbara McKinzie, has come under fire for a long list of alleged financial misdeeds. The most interesting of those allegations: The plaintiffs claim McKinzie used the organization’s money to commission a $900,000 “living legacy wax figure” of herself. McKinzie could not be reached for comment.

Most Washingtonians recall the organization’s centennial celebration last summer — downtown D.C. was swarmed by thousands of AKA members decked head to toe in pink and green. The event drew nearly 20,000 guests to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, setting a Guinness world record for the largest sit-down dinner in the history of conventions worldwide.

The event itself, though, is part of the controversy. The massive attendance — and a registration fee that was twice as high as it had been in prior years, $500 per person — generated significant surplus funds for the organization, the plaintiffs allege. The plaintiffs claim that McKinzie, with the approval of the group’s directors but without the approval of the overall membership, spent the surplus funds on McKinzie’s “pet projects,” including the wax figure, projects to help Liberian women, the Ford Museum and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History. The statue of McKinzie will be displayed at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, said Celeste Moy, an attorney at the firm representing the plaintiffs.

In addition, the plaintiffs took issue with McKinzie’s alleged misuse of a corporate credit card for personal expenses, a $375,000 lump sum payment McKinzie received, and a $4,000 monthly stipend McKinzie is to be paid for four years after she leaves office.

The group’s accounting and investment strategies are also under fire. According to the complaint, several of the deductions on the sorority’s 2006 and 2007 tax returns are “unreasonably large and inappropriate” and may “expose[] the organization to potential IRS claims and obligations.” The sorority is a non-profit organization incorporated under D.C. law. It also has a non-profit foundation that is incorporated in Illinois.

Under McKinzie’s leadership, AKA also shifted several million dollars of the sorority’s and the foundation’s funds from cash and cash equivalents to stock and bond investments — those investments have since plummeted in value, according to the complaint.

The organization has also allegedly spent more than $500,000 in legal fees in 2008 and 2009 for “actions against whistleblowers.”

Members who have voiced concerns over the alleged financial improprieties have had their membership privileges “withdrawn, suspended and otherwise adversely affected,” according to the complaint.

Wow. What. A. Freakin'. Mess.

Question: Why do SOME black folks get a lil' title and lose their doggone minds?

Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha want sorority’s president fired [WashBizJournal]

Poll Position - Obama Should Serve Brewskis.

So, another week, another poll. Sometime today, President Obama, embattled Harvard professor Skip Gates, and maligned Cambridge Po-Po Officer Crowley will meet at the White House to shoot the breeze and do a special photo-op. The express purpose of this exercise in pointlessness is obviously to put a cap on this outlandish Gates-gate episode, so that Obama can skip off to Martha's Vineyard with a clear conscience. Skip will have a Red Stripe, Obama a Bud Light[1], and after fudging that police report, Officer Crowley will have a Blue Moon eat crow. Here's to hoping that all goes well, and nobody tries to card Professor Gates on his way into the Rose Garden. That could get ugly.

Anyways, I polled ya'll on what Obama should serve his guests. The results were predictable. Sorta.

Beer won, and thankfully, enough of ya'll remember Dave Chappelle's classic drank vs juice routine to get the inside joke on those choices. Kudos.



Naturally, I voted for the house favorite, CapriSuns. Let's face it, Obama got slammed for drankin' a beer at an NBA game last Winter cause some said it sent the wrong message to kids. No matter what brand of brew he chooses, folks are gonna overanalyze after the fact[1], and this pointless chatter will likely overshadow any prewritten speeches that the trio will read from their teleprompters. CapriSuns test well with focus groups, don't offend anyone, and are full of vitamins and high fructose corn syrup to boot. CapriSuns, FTW!

Question: What beverage did you choose and why? Just how awkward is this photo op gonna be?

[1] Believe it or not, some wingnuts are already questioning Obama's choice of beer because Budweiser is no longer American owned. And you wonder why some Conservatives can't be taken seriously.

Colin Powell On Gates-gate.

Damnit, why didn't this man ever run for President?



Question: Do you agree with Colin Powell's overall assessment?

The Gates-gate "Instigator" Speaks.

Question: Does somebody owe Lucia Whalen an apology?

How Much Child Support Is Too Much Child Support?!?

Some men say "it's cheaper to keep her" when it comes to divorce. I always say, "it's even cheaper to not get her in the first place", but that's just me. Let's face it, child and spousal support are the ultimate Grand Hu$tle, especially if you're rich and famous. It's much cheaper to simply get yourself fixed, and not bother getting married, especially if you still wanna eff' around like most of these guys do.

I'm not necessarily bringing up this topic in light of the recent Nas/Kelis episode, it's something that's been on my mind for awhile. I think we can all agree that it's right and just for a man to take care of his kids financially when a marriage dissolves. Likewise, it's fair for a man to assist his wife financially in getting back on her feet, especially if she's stopped working to care for children. Being a stay-at-home mom is the toughest job evar. And that's the truth, Ruth.

But c'mon, how much child support is too much child support? Isn't there a limit?

A judge has ordered Nas to pay Kelis nearly $40,000 in monthly support for the near future, a day after the "Milkshake" singer gave birth to the divorcing couple's baby boy. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Louis Meisinger issued the order at a Thursday hearing. Neither Nas, whose full name is Nasir Jones, nor Kelis, whose full name is Kelis Rogers, attended Thursday's hearing.

Rogers will receive $30,471 in spousal support per month; the couple's son will receive $9,027, according to the court records. Rogers gave birth to the boy, named Knight, at a New York hospital Wednesday. The 29-year-old filed for divorce from the rapper in April. The couple was married in July 2003.

The two have been sparring over support payments for several months, with Rogers contending that Jones hasn't paid many of the costs of her pregnancy and her expenses. His attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told the judge that the rapper has paid $30,000 in expenses and the former couple's health insurance has been maintained.
Kaplan proposed paying Rogers a one-time payment of $20,000 until the judge could settle on an appropriate spousal and child support amount at a later hearing.

Kaplan said Jones arrived at the hospital about five minutes before his son was born. Nguyen said Rogers' mother and sister were in the hospital room for the birth.

Meisinger rejected that offer, saying more money per month would be needed to accommodate Rogers' lifestyle and was warranted based on income declarations filed with the court. The judge also ordered Jones to pay $45,000 to pay Rogers' attorney fees and for a forensic accountant.

Wasser said Kelis is trying to secure a new record deal and hopes to begin recording new music soon. She said Rogers' income has dipped in recent months.

I mean, c'mon, where do you draw the line here? I understand that spousal/child support are supposed to allow a wife and child to maintain a similar standard of living to what they have become accustomed to, but how old is that damn baby? 7-8 days old? What exactly is that child accustomed to already that needs to be "maintained"? 50 Cent, who is far richer than Nas could ever dream of, only pays about $6k in support a month. Russell Simmons pays $40k for 2 kids. Diddy allegedly pays about $100k/month, but he has more kids than Shawn Kemp an orphanage. Where's the fairness?

I'll go ahead and say it, whether it's $40k or $55k (numbers thrown out there have varied widely), it's too damn much for a woman with one freakin' child. Especially a newborn. How many I Been Had!!! Baby Polos can you actually buy in a single month? Breast milk is free. Diapers cost a grip, but they are still just Huggies. Your most expensive college is $40k/year. Where exactly is $40k/month actually going, besides fattening up Kelis' wardrobe?

At what point does the woman need to get another job to maintain her own lifestyle? How many Kelis songs can you name? "MilkShake". "I Hate You So Much Right Now". Uhhmmmm.... "Milkshake". That's about it. Nas, on the other hand, has a nearly 20 year discography. Why should she be entitled to continue to reap the benefits of this man's lyrical prowess? Funny, but I don't recall her listed in the credits for Illmatic. Did she ghostwrite "Ether"? Why is she entitled to such an exorbitant fee?

I don't agree with everything Red & Meth say in this very sexist clip, but I do agree, the money she's been awarded is simply too damn much.



Part II.



Let's be honest, $500k/year in support is gonna wreck any man financially. And for what reason? There's no way in the world Nas (who clearly has just as bad luck picking lawyers as he does mates) is gonna be able to pay this. The man's best days have long since passed, and in today's ringtone industry, there's no way he can keep up with these payments. This will predictably strain any relationship, including the one he'll have with his child. Who, besides Kelis and her next boyfriend who'll love spending that $40k/month, actually benefits from this?

Sorry ya'll, this is just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Question: How much child support is too damn much child support? Is this case simply indicative of the child support system? How does this get fixed?

Nas ordered to make $40K monthly payments to Kelis [AP]

Star Trek Spoken Word Fail!!!

What the hell is Captain Kirk talkin' about?



[Editor's Note: NBC Universal sure knows how to ruin a fine joke. Litigious bastards! Watch this one while you still can.]

Question: Does this nonsensical rambling prove that William Shatner has finally lost it? Does this man need his head checked out? What sorta incoherent babbling is this? Does he really think this is poetic? Could a bunch of monkeys jumping up and down on a keyboard produce something more intelligible? Could I? You betcha'!

Legitimizing WingNuttiness.

Here's what's hilarious to me: imagine the outcry if the Dems actually had elected officials on The Hill drafting legislation to examine whether or not "Bush knocked down the Towers".

I don't personally think that these Congressmen believe the President isn't a US citizen. I think they're all guilty of pandering to the faaaar right in their party, and scared that they'd lose votes if they called this what it is. I can't figure out which of these is worse.

Glenn Beck Calls The President A Racist.

Get over it folks, he (not your imaginary girlfriend Sarah) is the President.



Uh, BTW, Obama is half-white himself. Raging racist that he is, I could only imagine his family reunions are a chippy affair. Full version.



Uh, and didn't Beck more or less admit that Obama was "very White" himself?



Glenn Beck, please, go somewhere and play in traffic.

AB.Com Open Discussion - The Great HealthCare Debate.

I've deliberated for some time on how to view this whole debate over healthcare. I think it's fair to say that something must be done. Outside the issue of the uninsured, there's the problem with those who are under insured, the fact that even with the stimulus package's assistance, health benefits for the recently laid-off are still too expensive. It's a complex issue with a lot of complex solutions proposed. It all makes me feel extremely blessed that I have quality healthcare.

Again, I don't have the solution, but there are some things I have to say on the matter.

We DON'T Have The Best Healthcare In The World! - Opponents of Healthcare reform argue that there's no need to overhaul our system because the US already has "the best healthcare in the world". Really? A few years ago, the World Health Organization made the first major effort to rank the health systems of 191 nations. France was first, followed by Italy. The United States finished 37th. In another ranking of advanced nations, we ranked dead last on almost all measures of equity because we have the greatest disparity in the quality of care given to richer and poorer citizens. Americans with below-average incomes are much less likely than their counterparts in other industrialized nations to see a doctor when sick, to fill prescriptions or to get needed tests and follow-up care. We rank near the bottom in infant mortality rates, average life expectancy, and near the bottom in kidney and liver transplants. So what are we #1 in? Obesity, of course.



HealthCare Providers Are Notoriously Wasteful - As a guy who's done consulting for dozens of healthcare providers, inefficiency and waste have been two hallmarks of every customer I've visited. These companies make money hand over fist, over duplicate efforts, and often have little internal accountability. They have no inclination to improve their lousy internal processes because, hell, they're making money. Why would they bother? I don't know how to change this, but perhaps some public option will encourage these companies to change the way they do business. As-is, there is no motivation.



Rationing and Long Waits - Uh, scuse' me, but doesn't this already happen today? Making an appointment for my routine annual physical results in a 2-3 week wait, simply because they're already "busy". Anyone who's had a child knows most hospitals start pushing the Mom to go home the moment the baby drops because beds are a valuable commodity. My sons sometimes are told to wait days (I said "told to", my wife usually just walks them in and demands that they be seen) before their pediatrician can see them for a fever. And I have great healthcare. It's not like our current system is perfect in this regard.



Don't Let The Gubb'ment Run Healthcare - One thing that continually pisses me off is when politicians keep arguing against a public option because they swear that you don't want the gubb'ment ruining something so crucial given their track record of incompetence. Uh, you mean the exact same track record of incompetence that you guys were elected to fix? F'real? Yeah, the gubb'ment isn't perfect, but why throw every public servant (10% of the US workforce) under the bus to make a pointless political point? And BTW, the gubb'ment is pretty good at some things. They mail packages cheaply and on-time. They protect us from terrorists. They collect our taxes, pickup our trash, and attempt to educate our kids. They often do these jobs for far less than they're get in the private sector. But yeah, throw em' under the bus anyway. And as for the private sector being so perfect, I have yet one word: Enron.



Don't Believe The Hype - For every disaster story of failed universal healthcare in other countries (ie: The UK, Canada), I am sure there are dozens of great experiences simply not being shared. If you're in a country that's already got some form of gov't run HC, please chime in below.



Where Are The Uninsured Opinions? - My biggest problem in this debate seems to be that the main folks (ie: me) doing all the jawing about what's wrong with healthcare all seem to have one thing in common: they're insured. Any cable news pundit, politrician, or talkshow host poppin' sh*t is entitled to their opinion, but I'd really like to hear more from those either out of work, or unable to otherwise afford insurance.



The Illegal Issue - One easy way to keep costs of any program under control is to simply not allow non-citizens to receive benefits. This doesn't just include illegal aliens, but also those here to work on H1B visas, exchange students, etc. I don't know how much this cuts into that fluctuating number of ~50M uninsured, but it's gotta help somewhere. Would anyone really have a problem with this?

Again, these are just my thoughts, not necessarily solutions. What are yours?

Question: What are your feelings on the HealthCare Crisis? You got any magic bullets to fix the situation? Any horror stories?

World’s Best Medical Care? [NYTimes]

Happily Ever After - DC Premiere This Thursday.

After a long wait, the premiere of Happily Ever After: Stories of Black Marriages and Why They Work is this week. Congrats to my main main Lamar Tyler, aka: TheDad @ BMWK.com, and his wife Ronnie on this effort.



The movie premiere is Thursday for those of you in the DC Urreah. Tickets are still available, but going fast. Depending on how everything pans out, AverageSis and I might make it down there, so be on the lookout. Not that you know how we look. Anyways, the details...

Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage - DC Premiere

Date:
Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 8:00 PM (ET)

Location:
The Avalon Theatre
5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015

For more information, visit Black And Married With Kids.com. You can preorder the movie at HappilyEverAfterTheMovie.com. Join their FaceBook group here.

He's Baaaaccckkk!!! The NFL Reinstates Michael Vick.

I don't necessarily want to get into a rehashing of whether or not Mike Vick's sentence was fair or not and I hope you don't either. That's old news. I think what we can all agree upon is that Vick deserves the chance to earn a living again after paying his debt to society. Donte Stallworth killed a man, and may play this year. Plaxico Burress could have killed someone, and will likely play this year. Leonard Little killed a woman and he is playing this year. Big Ben Rothlisberger might have raped a woman, and he is absolutely playing this year. Vick did the time for his crime. He should play this year.

The NFL finally concurred today.

The NFL has conditionally reinstated Michael Vick.

Vick will not be eligible to play when the regular season but he can play in the final two preseason games. Commissioner Roger Goodell will re-evaluate Vick's status for regular-season games by Week 6 His eligibility will be based on him following the NFL's guidelines that will oversee his off-field life, including his finances and personal relationships.

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy will serve as a mentor to Vick, who last Monday finished a 20-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction, during the conditional reinstatement.

Vick is free to sign with any club. Vick is eligible to participate in any team activities other than games before Week 6, although the NFL will develop specific guidelines governing Vick.

In a statement to the AP, Vick thanked commissioner Goodell for the second chance.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League," Vick said. "I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given.

"As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward."

Goodell will reevaluate Vick's status prior to Week 6.

Said the commissioner in a letter to Vick, "My decision at that time will be based on reports from outside professionals, your probation officer, and others charged with supervising your activities, the quality of your work outside football, the absence of any further adverse involvement in law enforcement, and other concrete actions that you take that are consistent with your representations to me."

Where Vick might sign is unknown. No teams have yet said they are considering signing him. In late June, USA TODAY analyzed Vick's potential fit with all 32 teams.

Personally, I hope Vick signs with the Redskins, the team closest to his Tidewater Urrreah home. Jason Campbell is a nice, but fragile guy just begging to hand his job over. Whether or not Vick makes the Skins better is a wash. At the bare minimum, he makes one of the boringest teams in one of the boringest sports cities somewhat watchable. That's worth the price of tuning to Channel 7 right there alone.

Question: Did Mike Vick deserve to get reinstated? What team do you think he'd fit best on?

NFL conditionally reinstates Michael Vick [USAToday]

A Forty And A Bl*nt, That's All They Really Want.

Does anyone else realize just how absurd this Gates/Obama/Crowley nonsense has become? The clock is ticking on Obama's deadline for a workable healthcare plan before Congress leaves on its August recess. Yet here we are, as a nation, focused on what's essentially a pissing match between two grown assed men, both of whom might have exercised a bit more self control, and a bit less bravado. The non-story is still leading off news broadcasts, and seems likely to culminate in a planned visit of all involved parties to the White House to shoot the breeze, drank some brews, issue some canned "let's all just get along" statements, and of course, pose for the obligatory Rose Garden photo op. I can already see the three cheesy, forced smiles right now.

So trivial is the coverage of this story that semi-reputable news outlets are busy pontificating about what kinda beer the three men should drink, and what the symbolic message conveyed in that brand of beer might be.

- Samuel Adams Boston Lager - It's the hometown brew for Gates and Crowley. Sam Adams is served at the Harvard Faculty Club and the Boston cop bar J.J. Foleys.

- Guinness - The quintessential Irish beer. Crowley is an Irish name, and Gates has some Irish blood. The professor had his DNA traced to learn his lineage and found out he's a descendant of an Irish king.

- Goose Island Honkers Ale - Known as "Chicago's craft beer," it was the President's local brew during his years in Chi-Town.

- Pabst Blue Ribbon - They can't drink Budweiser because it's no longer an American-owned company. They can't drink Coors or Miller, because they're owned by staunch Republicans. PBR is the next best thing for an all-American beer.

- Blue Moon Belgian White - Sgt. Crowley was drinking a Blue Moon when Obama called him on Friday. The President told Crowley that he, too, likes Blue Moon.

- Forget beer - "I think a guy like Prof. Gates would like cognac," said Sam Mitchell, who was drinking a Guinness Saturday at d.b.a., an East Village bar.

No malt liquor, huh? You know someone's gonna mess around and say something silly to this effect. My money is on Fox News. I can already hear the "c'mon, we were just joking, we're not racist, we love John Legend!" apology coming.



Upon further review of the police report, and after watching the two other black cops who were onsite at the arrest give their sides of the story, I'm convinced more than ever that this wasn't about race. I know a Bojangling Negro who's been forced by his employer to make a statement when I see one. This, my friends, is no Bojangling Negro.



This was about two men with egos, both of whom got a bit in over their heads when a crowd assembled outside to observe. Unfortunately for Gates, he didn't have cuffs and arrest power. Now, predictably, the Professor is saying he "wants to move on".

Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates says too much attention has been taken away from Pres. Barack Obama's health care initiative and placed on his arrest last week. Gates says he is ready to move on and has accepted the president's invitation to have a beer at the White House with Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley.

Meanwhile, the debate generated by Gtes' arrest, and the president's initial reaction to it, continued Saturday. Signs left anonymously outside Professor Gates' home call him shameful and a racist and reveal just how divisive the incident is.

Gates said in a statement that he'd be happy to oblige President Obama's invitation to share a beer with Sergeant Crowley at the White House, a sign that the president's outreach may be having a calming effect. It's a 180-degree turn from the tensions of just days ago when Gates told Sirius radio that Crowley had mistreated him because he is black.

If you think I'm crazy, ask yourself this question: if you'd been legitimately violated, would you be ready to "move on" so quickly? Wasn't Gates still posturing about a lawsuit just days ago?

If anyone's guilty of racial profiling, it's Gates' neighbor, but even so, Gates' home had recently been broken into (thus the jammed door). So what's to say this neighbor wasn't just being concerned, or merely just nosey, rather than racist?

Sadly, when you toss the topic of race out there, you're gonna put white folks on the defense (because some of them think that admitting any other white person is racist makes them racist proxy). You're also gonna put black folks on an angry offense (because, damnit you White Folks, why can't you admit that there just might be some racism? we aint' all paranoid!) which in the end accomplishes little. Were this a legitimate case of racial profiling (and I still contend that it's not), Gates could have handled the situation far better by keeping a cool head in the house, letting Crowley leave, then using his name, clout, connections, and title to make a far better public case for why and how we need to eradicate this issue.

Instead, by essentially crying wolf, he's merely made it difficult for the surviving family of the next Negro that legitimately catches a bullet to the dome to get a fair trial. Not that that helped Nicole Paultre-Bell.

Then again, just like those old ABC After School Specials, this whole uncomfortable episode will conclude shortly with cake and ice cream a couple of Heinekens, some hand holding, and a singing of Kumbaya. Crowley will become a walking martyr, although he really seems like a d*ck, and needs some more training in basic communication. Gates will go back to academia with his hard-earned reputation sullied, through the doing of none other than himself. Obama will still be scratching his head, watching his approval numbers tank, wondering why he stupidly chose the word "stupidly", when all he needed to do was tell that reporter "no comment, this is a f*ckin' healthcare forum you idiot!".

And somewhere in West Memphis, a black man in a black car will be pulled over for reasons beyond his comprehension. I pray for his wife and kids that he gets home safely.

Thanks a lot, Skip.

Question: Did Skip Gates possibly set back the issue of racial profiling by lumping his trivial case in with the legitimate racial bias that effects people of color everyday in America? What beer should Obama, Gates, and Crowley drink? How happy will you be when this story is dead?

What beer should President Obama with Harvard Prof. Henry Gates and Cambridge cop James Crowley? [NY Daily News]

[1] Props to the first person to tell me where this post's title was cribbed from.

Yet One More Reason Why I Don't Regret Voting For Obama.

Let's face it, Barack Obama's done a credible job as President thus far, but he looks even better than he might otherwise simply because the guys that he's replacing were so freakin' inept. It's sorta like the White House version of Mike D'Antoni replacing Isaiah Thomas. Sorry to all the non-NBA-savvy readers I just alienated.

While we were busy talking about Gates-gate, look at the latest example of Bush Administration corruption that just dropped.

Top Bush administration officials in 2002 debated testing the Constitution by sending American troops into the suburbs of Buffalo to arrest a group of men suspected of plotting with Al Qaeda, according to former administration officials.

Some of the advisers to President George W. Bush, including Vice President Dick Cheney, argued that a president had the power to use the military on domestic soil to sweep up the terrorism suspects, who came to be known as the Lackawanna Six, and declare them enemy combatants.

Mr. Bush ultimately decided against the proposal to use military force.

A decision to dispatch troops into the streets to make arrests has few precedents in American history, as both the Constitution and subsequent laws restrict the military from being used to conduct domestic raids and seize property.

The Fourth Amendment bans “unreasonable” searches and seizures without probable cause. And the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits the military from acting in a law enforcement capacity.

In the discussions, Mr. Cheney and others cited an Oct. 23, 2001, memorandum from the Justice Department that, using a broad interpretation of presidential authority, argued that the domestic use of the military against Al Qaeda would be legal because it served a national security, rather than a law enforcement, purpose.

To every wingnut that swears Obama is "dismantling the Constitution", your silence is deafening. I'm still waiting to see that TeaBagger's Ball. I am not holding my breath.

Question: Did the Bush Administration do anything good, or were their few positive gains strictly accidental and in spite of themselves?

Bush Weighed Using Military in U.S. Arrests [NYT]

Ashy Or Classy!?! - The Dancing Wedding.

This viral video of a wedding in Minnesota is blowin' up. The couple is all over NBC, CNN, and various talk shows, but I gotta ask ya'll what's up.

Question: Ashy or Classy? Is this wedding procession fun, or just jive tacky?

Listen To AB On The Village Report.

I was on a show called The Village Report with W. Eric Croomes this past weekend, where we discussed CNN's recent edition of Black In America 2, Gates-gate, and race in America. You can download the podcast, or just listen online here. The audio is a little choppy (echo...), but you can prolly make out most of what I'm saying.

KBG Weave Commerical - Racist Or Merely UnFunny?!?

Well, I guess I finally know what "Yaki" actually means.

Question: Is this commercial racial, merely stereotypical, or just not all that funny?

SuperHead Gets Ripped A New(er) One. Twice.

True Story: Karrine Steffans related posts comprise 3 of the Top 10 most viewed all-time posts here at AB.com. Just food for thought.

Obama Capitulates On "Stupidly" Comment. Sorta.

Ya'll know my feelings about Skip Gates vs Cambridge Po-Po, whether you agree or not. One thing I actually liked that happened as a result of this incident was Obama not cowering down in the presser the other night, and tellin' it like it was. Whether or not the Gates incident is such an example, racial profiling does indeed exist, and it's a real problem yet to be solved. A problem that Obama successfully pushed legislation to deal with while in the Illinois state legislature.



Let's face it, the only thing notable about this entire exchange was the word "stupidly". I will agree that this wasn't the right choice of words, perhaps, but Obama (for once) was clearly talking off the cuff about something clearly very close to him. I admired the candor, but I knew it wouldn't last long. Barry is the President, and apparently this means not pissing off potential voters.

Cue the quasi-apology.

President Obama said Friday that he “could have calibrated” his words more carefully in the controversy over the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. but added that he believed there was an “overreaction” by both sides in a case that has inflamed racial tensions across the country.

Mr. Obama said he hoped the case became “a teachable moment” to be used to improve relations between minorities and police officers.

The president conveyed his sentiment to the police sergeant, James Crowley, in a telephone call earlier Friday. Mr. Obama said he disagreed that he should not have stepped into the issue, saying it is the job of the president “black or white” to contribute to improving relations.

At the end of the call, Mr. Obama said, there was a discussion about the sergeant, Professor Gates and him having a beer at the White House.

“I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up, I wanted to make clear that in my choice of words, I think, I unfortunately, I think, gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sergeant Crowley specifically,” Mr. Obama said. “And I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sergeant Crowley.”

“I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station,” Mr. Obama added. “I also continue to believe, based on what I heard, that Professor Gates probably overreacted as well. My sense is you’ve got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in the way that it should have been resolved and the way they would have liked it to be resolved.”

The five-minute call between Mr. Obama and Mr. Crowley took place Friday afternoon. One hour after calling Sergeant Crowley, Mr. Obama reached Professor Gates by telephone. An administration official said the call was “a positive discussion,” that ended with an invitation for the professor and the police officer to meet at the White House. There was no immediate word on whether Professor Gates accepted the invitation.

I don't know exactly how to feel about this. While I agree that Obama's choice of the word "stupidly" was a little off base, I don't think that it necessarily warranted an apology. I mean, even I, a guy who thinks Gates overreacted, still agree that the cops were in the wrong for arresting him over what essentially amounts to a pissing match between two grown assed men. By not falling back, apologizing (how often has a President had to do such a thing?) to the cop, and bringing him and Gates to the White House for a photo-op, I sorta kinda fear that the real point that was being made ("Negroes get their heads busted by the cops! That sh*t is not fiction, that sh*t is real, sonn! Sh*t is real!") is being diluted to make some folks feel better about themselves, and pull Obama back into the "postracial" candidate mode that made him so acceptable to America in the first place.

And that ain't right.

Then again, given the firestorm of criticism over the final question in a press conference about healthcare, did he have any choice but to put this to bed?







I'm clearly not of Ivy League-calibre intellect, so I'm not saying how Barry could have put this genie back in the bottle, but I gotta think there was a better way than this.

Question: After initially "goin' hard" on Wednesday, is Obama being a bit too apologetic and possibly watering down his initial point? Does the President ever owe a private citizen an apology?

Obama Expresses His Regrets On Gates Incident [NYTimes]

Why You Wanna Keep Me From My Baby?!?

One of the most amazing things a man can evar experience is the birth of his child, particularly his firstborn son. I'm not saying that watching your daughter being born isn't the same feeling, I just don't have a personal point of reference. But watching both of my sons being snatched into life has been awesome. Yes, I have some very gruesome, very private delivery soon souvenirs photos to commemorate each occasion, but I don't really need them. Seeing my boys for the first time is a memory that stays in my head.

That's why it's incredible to hear that just a few decades ago, men weren't even allowed in the delivery rooms, and why it's even sadder that today, with all the kerfuffle about universal healthcare, the concept of universal paternity leave still hasn't been mentioned by a single politrician. When you consider the fact that the US is one of the few industrialized nations that offers no form of paid paternity leave, then the fact that courts are generally stacked in the favor of mothers when it comes to paternity cases, it's no wonder that there's a fatherhood crisis throughout the socioeconomic spectrum.

And that's why I really, really, really feel bad for Nas right about now.

Hip-Hop star Nas is currently celebrating the birth of his son, although sources close to the rapper told AllHipHop.com that he was not allowed to witness the event.

Nas' lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan stated that Nas rushed to the hospital to witness Kelis deliver his first son today (July 21). A source close to Nas told AllHipHop.com that the Queen's rapper missed the actual child birth.

“Nas is in New York City today, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his son. It was his intention to be there for the birth, but unfortunately he has not been allowed to be present,” a source close to the rapper told AllHipHop.com. “While this is clearly heartbreaking to him, Nas continues to offer his support and love to his new baby boy and his mother.”

Nas and Kelis were due in court today in regards to their pending divorce, specifically child and spousal support.

The date had to be postponed when Kelis, born Kelis Rogers , went into labor, around 10:30 this morning. Nas and Kelis were married in January of 2005 after being engaged for two years. Kelis filed for divorce in April of 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. No further details were available as to why Nas may have been prevented from witnessing the birth of his son.

Nas, born Nasir Jones, also has a 12-year-old daughter with ex-fiancée Carmen Bryan.

Seriously, how is this possible and why is it permissible? Yes, I am well aware that if the Mom has a restraining order, the Dad can't come within a certain distance of her. But what the hell does a restraining order have to do with a child being delivered? I suppose the letter of the law would dictate that there are no exceptions to that rule (unless you're Chris Brown, and you sorta have to go to awards shows for a living), but c'mon. What harm would/could a man do to a woman delivering his child? I don't recall any note of Nas having been violent with his soon to be ex-wife. So again, why they wanna keep a man from his baby?[1] The sh*t just ain't right, I tell ya'. It aint.

But Nas was apparently not too broken up about the whole thing, so hey, no harm, no foul.



I'm not sure he'll be so jolly when he begins paying the astounding $55,000/month (!) in spousal and child support that the courts just ordered today.

Anyways, since the main victim in this whole thing seems to have undermined the premise for my post, I figure I'll ask ya'll the following.

Question: Is it fair to prevent a man from witnessing the birth of his child? Was there some violent confrontation between Nas and his ex that I'm overlooking? What sorta woman prevents a man from seeing his son birthed? Why isn't mandatory paternity leave something that the gubb'ment is discussing?

Nas 'Not Allowed' To Witness Son's Birth [AllHipHop]

[1] Cyber CapriSuns™ to the first person to tell me what song this post's title was cribbed from.

[Update: Since nobody answered the footnote question, here's the song of note.]

Roland Martin Gets Owned By Lou Dobbs!!!

Ouch.

AB.com Guest Post - A Fat Surgeon General?!?

[Editor's Note: I'm workin', The Black Snob is pinch hitting again.]

She's been called a "genius" who's fought for the poor and sick and is known for her work to bring awareness about health issues to minority and poor communities. She's also has a physique more akin to Oprah Winfrey than Michelle Obama. So naturally ... someone was going to say it. Is Dr. Regina M. Benjamin too much of a woman (re: fat!) to fight America's obesity epidemic?

Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, Obama's pick for the next surgeon general, was hailed as a McArthur Grant genius who had championed the poor at a medical clinic she set up in Katrina-ravaged Alabama.

But the full-figured African-American nominee is also under fire for being overweight in a nation where 34 percent of all Americans aged 20 and over are obese.

Critics and supporters across the blogsphere have commented on photos of Benjamin's round cheeks, saying she sends the wrong message as the public face of America's health initiatives.

But others support the 52-year-old founder and CEO of Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, citing new research that shows you cannot always judge a book by its cover when it comes to obesity.

Even the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance -- whose slogan is "we come in all sizes" -- has jumped to her defense.

"The job of surgeon general is to make health care and policy decisions for the country -- not to look hot in a pair of skinny jeans," said one blogger on Frisky.com. "Perhaps her size could actually be an advantage -- she's in a better position to understand obesity and contemplate out-of-the-box ways to roll back ever-expanding American waistlines."

I almost gave this an "O RLY" owl because what does her waistline have to do with her ability to do her job? This isn't a beauty contest.

[Editor's Note: My primary physician is also overweight, but I don't take what he says any less seriously as a result.]

But then, hey, maybe someone can argue why this is an issue and convince me otherwise. Anyone agree with the critics?

Question: Does a surgeon general need to be in tip top shape to get the job done, or do her policy decisions matter more than her appearance? Is Benjamin being picked on because she's black?

Critics Slam Overweight Surgeon General Pick, Regina Benjamin [ABCNews]

Obama Is A U.S. Citizen. Get Over It Already!!!

Not to be outdone by the recent outpouring of Negro Nonsense, is this poor young lady who insists that Obama's actually Indonesian. Or Kenyan. Or somethin'. But he sure ain't a US citizen, that's for dang sure.

Tell em' lady!



She wants her country back, huh? Would it kill these "birthers" to pickup an actual newspaper for Crissakes? Hell, even Fox News has repeatedly admitted that this is a non-issue. It even has its own Snopes entry and the whole nine. What the heck is wrong with these folks?

Question: Why does anyone take "birthers" seriously?

Madea Takes The Philly Swimmin' Kids To DisneyWorld.

I've finally come to terms with Tyler Perry, as ya'll may recall when I recently reviewed Madea Goes To Jail. Many of the guy's movies, tv shows, and stage plays aren't my speed, but that doesn't mean they aren't entertaining someone. Rooting against the guy is futile, and criticizing him doesn't change the fact that he's one of the few black men able to get a movie greenlit, and one of the few able to turn a consistent profit, regardless of your perception of his quality of work. Period. That is it, and that is all.

Anyways, Perry ends up as the Inaugural recipient of AB.com's newest Poppin' Tag, the aptly titled Doin' Good, for reaching out to the kids recently denied access to a Philly area swimming pool.

Tyler Perry is paying for 65 children from a Philadelphia day camp to go to Walt Disney World after reading about allegations that a suburban swim club had shunned them because of racism.

The black and Hispanic children who attend the day camp run by Creative Steps Inc. cheered Monday when they learned about the actor's gift.

Creative Steps director Alethea Wright says she's thrilled about the offer, especially because Perry "comes from humble beginnings" like the children in her camp.

The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley has maintained that refunding the camp's swimming fee was not about race but rather a safety issue, in part because many children couldn't swim.

Perry is best known for his signature character Madea, a big-hearted but foul-tempered grandmother.

Kudos to Tyler Perry. This nearly atones for the $40 I wasted on Madea's Family Reunion. Nearly.

Question: Ok, I added a "good news" tag to balance out all the hateration. Ya'll happy, now?

Tyler Perry Treats 65 Swimming Pool Excluded Kids To Disney World [HuffPost]