During a period of which I look at as the American Renaissance, a time during the 60′s and 70′s, a spiritual awakening was taking place on city streets and in communities across the country. Art, film, television all pushed through the confines of the box they were put in by the moral majority struggling to hold onto yesteryear under the guides of politics and religion. But nothing, nothing pushed as hard and changed as much as the music of the time. Lost under the pile of incredible musical iconic voices of the generation, were groups like “the Last Poets” and “The Watts Prophets.” Black voices using powerful poetic verse infused with passionate rhythm and rhyme, spoke to the plight of their communities on both coast. They did so without the need for self served bravado, disrespecting women and the glorification murder. And for this, they have been termed the godfathers of Rap.

But none was more successful than Gil Scott Heron. Like his contemporaries, Gil Scott Heron was not a rapper, he was a voice of the Black social conscious. With songs like ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ ‘Superman’ ‘Johannesburg’ ‘Hello Sunday! Hello Road,’ Gil Scott Heron blazed a trail that many followed, empowered by his lyrical genius that always rang true, simply because they came from the heart of a man who truly believed them.

Gil Scott Heron died late Friday evening. He died at the tender age of 62, after fighting years of drug addiction, HIV infection and actually seeing the Revolution televised.

If you have not yet sought Gil Scott’s genius, check here for a list YouTube collections, it will be a lesson you will be glad to have learned.

Rest well Gil, you fought hard, spoke strong and will always be remembered.

Looking for a bit of fun in your day? Of course you are, who isn’t? I have a suggestion for you, something I just stumbled on and had a lot of fun with. The fun revolves around a new stable in America, maybe even the world. A celebration made famous and global the moment Jack Black uttered the phrase “It’s a Cosby sweater” a reminded us all what life is really about. A Cosby sweater.

The website thecosbysweaterproject is taking the sentiment and keeping the fascination alive. The creator goes through each episode and picks out the best sweater worn by a cast member in that episode. The creator also adds a sketch of the sweater highlighted in the episode.

You may not think it much fun simply reading the description of the website, but I guarantee you, you will find yourself grinning ear to ear by the bottom of page 2.

The great, the incomparable, the man who did it first, sang about love, peace and harmony, bringing folks of all walks together to throw their fist in the air for world equality and love of the fellow human – Bob Marley died on this day in 1981.

The undisputed king of Reggae died of cancer and left the world with is unmatched voice and rhythm, but left a hole in the world that has yet to be plugged. Take a few moments out of your busy day to throw your hands up and sway with unfeathered humility, giving thanks in memory of a great.

I hate to do this for a few reasons.

1. Art is subjective.
2. Publicly putting down someone’s art and vision is bad karma, and just plain bad.

However, I have to go out on a limb here because my sensibilities have been so completely disturbed by the new show ‘Camelot’ now playing on Starz. Last night I had the chance to sit down and watch my recorded 3rd episode of the retelling of the English story of King Arthur and his Nights of the Roundtable. Problem is, when I say “retelling” I too am not telling the true story, because this retelling of a classic story isn’t even worthy of a Day-Time-Soap moniker. Or, maybe that’s exactly where it belongs.

The script is absolutely horrible, and like any good or bad show the script is where it starts. The dialog between these great timeless characters is terrible. Note: If you’re going to tell a 6th century story, don’t give the characters 21st century emotions. Merlin asking the mother of King Arthur what she did before she met King Uther, is just plain stupid. In that time period, Merlin nor any other man would give a rats behind about the lifestyle and ‘choices’ of the woman that gave birth to the King. Mainly because she had none. But that is just a drop in the bucket, the things these characters have said to each other have dropped my IQ further than I would like it to go while watching televised drama.

In as much as the script makes or breaks a work, so too can be said for the works actors, and this too is a huge miss.

Johnny Depp’s ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ has slowly become one of my favorite films, don’t ask me why because I really can’t explain it. There is something that was done right in that movie and it creeps up on you until one day you realize that it’s very well done. However, each time I watch it, I have to fast forward through the ear piercing vocal stylings of Jamie Campbell Bower. In fact, I find his screen presence (and Johanna’s, Jayne Wisener) so boring that I unconsciously tune out each time he’s forced onto the screen. Why the Producers of Camelot thought this guy could play the great and noble King Arthur, and keep captivated a remote control grasping audience, is completely beyond me. He’s freakin’ unwatchable.

Then there is Joseph Fiennes, an actor that is supposed lend weight to the considerably ‘light’ cast. For some reason this Merlin can’t lift his head to look anyone square in the eyes. Is it because he realizes he does not have a beard, or is this just the actors crutch? I don’t know, but it’s irritating. Even the background actors look unenthused. In a scene where Arthur’s evil sister (Bond Girl) Eva Green, works a disenchanted crowd into an angry fervor against their new boy King, the background crowd looks more like they are on their 10th rehearsal of the scene and are now tired and ready for lunch. And as far as Eva Green goes, there was never, ever any question of her characters evil intentions, she wears them like a suit of armor.

When ‘Spartacus Blood and Sand’ started, I wasn’t sure about it at first. There was enough there to make me come back the second week, but I’m not one who believes aggressive nudity is the hallmark of a worthy show. But by the third episode, I knew I was coming back for more. By the end of season one, I cheered because I now had another show on par with Battlestar Galactica, Six Feet Under and Dexter to name the few. Starz had come out of the gate with a kick-a$$ show that dropped one of the best season ending cliffhangers since “Who Shot J.R.” (Joke)

Even the ‘in-the-meantime’ presentation of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, was home run hit for Starz. No, it’s not as good as the original, but it didn’t have to be, it simply needed to satisfy and hold over the fans of Blood and Sand. I only mention these two shows to demonstrate the ability of Starz to recognize a good script, a great cast and exceptional television dramatic directing. So how did they go so wrong with Camelot?

As far as I’m concerned, they went wrong by creating a vehicle for Blond haired actors that are supposed to be the new sex symbols, instead of creating another kick-a$$ show to enjoy on premium cable Sunday night programing.

Folks, I have found that over thinking your March Madness brackets can only be a detriment. Like playing basketball, you have to go with your instincts. You have to see the whole court and make snap decisions. At the risk of sounding sexist, we have all lost a pool to a female co-worker who has never watched college basketball and picks more winners than you do. So, as a first, I have picked my brackets in less than two minutes. This could make me a genius, a man who is made part of male heroic folklore…or not.

My all-time favorite ESPN anchor was let go this week. Steve Berthiaume? Chris Fowler? Hannah Storm? No it was Keith Olbermann. Sure he’s been at MSNBC the last 8 years, but I do miss the Golden Years of ESPN. If you were a true sports
fan you would not miss The Big Show with Keith and Dan Patrick. They were genuine, witty, and you could count on meticulous preparation. Those are the three ingredients missing from anchoring today…sports or news.

The anchor is supposed to live up to the definition of the word and give the viewer a sense of support and security. Is that possible in this day of corporatism where big companies own all of the news outlets? Hungry for advertisers, their whole purpose is to have big ratings. Is that why ESPN is resorting to TMZ tactics and manufacturing news? I had to endure ESPN and the reporting of Tweets (thanks again Twitter) from various players and them accusing Jay Cutler of quitting and not being tough. Is that really news ESPN? Were there no other games we could see highlights of? They are now flirting with the playbook of opinion or cable news. Cable news needs ratings and advertisers to stay afloat. So, the more provocative the news, the higher the ratings, right? Well, I just watched clips of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite and that’s as compelling a news broadcast there is. Their writing was thoughtful and insightful. Yes, journalism misses this point on a nightly basis. It is now just the sensational. Anything Sarah Palin says is taken as news. And if you are ESPN, anything Maurice Jones-Drew tweets about Jay Cutler is also news.

My friend asked me what the best and worst invention of our lifetime is. I said the Internet for both. It has given birth to the 24 hour news cycle. Like a child, it has no memory. What happened two days ago is now forgotten. Politicians love this because they can be loud, say ridiculous things, and it becomes true in the Zeitgeist of American thought. Anchors need to take back the news and become the guardians they once were. They need to take on that fatherly or motherly role and want the best for this country. Maybe they need to take an oath, an oath to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That would take guts.

The fact that Americans watch opinion news shows they are hungry for more. More news or just someone to tell them what to think, it’s hard to say. That’s where network anchors come in and show us the value of critical thinking. They must take
news to a new level. What that level is, is up to them. A paradigm shift is needed. The biggest challenge though is for local news anchors. With only 22 minute for news, weather, and sports, these anchors have a very limited time to inform the
public. They have the challenge of taking on that previously mentioned parental quality and give the public confidence in their own critical thinking. It’s very esoteric in what they do and the best example of that is KCBS’s Paul Magers in Los
Angeles. The news is valuable and he seems to value it the most.Keith Olbermann valued the sports as news.

He and Dan Patrick cared so much about the news of sports that they garnered high ratings and praise. Ah, the magic of the early 90’s. Times have changed and people now could pick Snooki out of a police lineup before they could pick out Hosni Mubarak…although they look much the same. But is it the public’s fault? Or do anchors have to remind
themselves that, “the fault dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” Edward R. Murrow was right to ponder that.

As I was watching the nationally televised programs honoring those who died in the Twin Towers tragedy on 9/11, I was brought to tears by the countless families and friends of those who are continuing to deal with losses daily.  But as I began to wipe my eyes, President Bush Jr. showed up on my screen and I became absoluted enraged.  Where the hell is Bin Laden?  Wasn’t he the one we were supposed to going after?

Then my grief was compounded as I thought about all of our brave troops, contractors, interpreters, journalists, and countless innocent Iraqi citizens who gave/lost their lives on a baseless war.  There is way too much proof that shows that not only was Saddam Husein not involved with Osama Bin Laden/Al Qaida, but he actually hated Bin Laden and thought that he was a trouble maker.  Was Saddam and his sons evil, yes yes yes, but was that grounds to invade their country, hell no!  We aren’t that much safer than pre 9/11, but more importantly with the country being in extremely dire financial state, this upcoming election should be about the issues and nothing else.  We as citizens of one of the best nation’s on this planet have gotten far away from character, decency, and basic human respect for one another and have replaced it with mean spirited diversions that benefit no one.  When you hear people asked about the candidates for President and Vice-President for Democrats and Republicans, I feel as though it is grammar school children that are getting interviewed.  “I like how Obama speaks, it makes me feel important.  Biden is so intense and passionate, and he is not afraid to get in your face.  I feel safer with McCain as President.  I like Sarah Palin because she just seems like a real American.”  These are all direct quotes I have written down over the past month or so, and this is totally unacceptable!  Issues, people, WE…NEED..THE…DAMN…ISSUES!!  No more snide remarks from either side or crying about the media is being mean, or talk of someone is more of a celebrity, it is all gossamer bullshit!  If the candidates are talking about the G-Ddamn issues, make them do it, stop feeding into the “lipstick foolishness.”  Also, a direct question to the McCain camp, “If Sarah Palin is so qualified with all these accolades that you are heaping upon her, then why has she not addressed the American public?  And I am not talking this foolishness that Charlie Gibson is conducting!”  Why can’t she take any questions from the media?  She is to be a candidate for the second highest office in the land and their is a media blackout?  Get real!  And to my fellow brother and sister in Christ, she should be held accountable for the lies and her conduct, is that how you act?  What would Christ think?  Stop making excuses for her!  Is her house in order?  Is she truly living a righteous life?  Just because she is anti-abortion, doesn’t mean that all of a sudden she is the best candidate to represent your views.  I have gotten into screaming matches with my religious right friends over the hypocrisy of accusing others of being people/world pleasers, but they are guilty of the same things in their own way!  Barak is not a perfect candidate either and he, Biden, and McCain should get no rest, because this is not some junior high school popularity contest, the stakes are literally life and death.  It is tantamount that every single one of us take the initiative to learn about each candidates platform and investigate how it measures up to your standard of living, stop just beliving what a friend, neighbor, the news, or a church member tells you, get off your ass and look for yourself! Because at the end of the day, it is this kind of urgency that will reinvigorate this country.  We have to stop looking to Obama/McCain/Paul to save us, they work for us and not us for them!  God bless you all, and if I have offended anyone, please accept my apology, but I am just a frustrated but proud American.   Have a good day.

There’s nothing about Hills reality ‘star’ Lauren Conrad that I like. From her back stabbing bitch-ness to her designer clad feet. Lets face it this little daddy’s girl wouldn’t be able to put an outfit together unless it was already part of designers collection. Take her hideously cheap yet over priced line she’s still trying to flog!! She’d have better luck at Target rather than Bloomingdale’s, and even that’s a far cry from a fashion house.

I can’t make out what it is, a top and leggings, or a top and a mini skirt and leggings. Ahhh all black, with bright red shoes, yeah that just screams fashion statement! What an old look, been there, done that sweetie, when we were 12 and we got it for half the price and twice the quality!

Can she really be this self absorbed that she actually believes she’s a fashion designer, ha!

My advice: go back to what you do best my darling: bitching and moaning about you life …… and leave the designing to the big boys and girls.

Flying is not my least favorite mode of travel (give me a road trip any day).  So the story I am going to tell you, should explain why I dislike it so much  My husband and I have just returned from a wedding in North Dakota. Now my husband always joke’s about our past travel experiences with NWA and how there is always a problem with the aircraft when we fly with them.   Well, as not to disappoint, they have struck again. On the way to our destination, we had to wait on the plane after we were in our seats for 45 minutes until they fixed some sort of weather radar.     Then on flight back home,  the plane had just pulled away from the gate when we heard.  “Attention passengers, we seemed yo have left the gate with out any water”. So we had to taxi back to the gate to get the water.  We were not sure if it was drinking water or lavatory water?  That was never confirmed.  Anyway, we made it home safely.  However, NWA seems to have a way with the words “attention passenger’s”.  So you have been warned.  Just keep your fingers and toes crossed when you fly with NWA.

Ciao!

Sweet P

Okay, I have to rant here for a second cause I just don’t get it. Why do people think CHRISTINA AGUILERA is hot or even cute. Everyone makes a big deal about her and now it’s about her breast, her big, blue, veiny breast. Uggh, cover them up already!

News flash: She was never hot, is still not hot and never will be hot. Take off the ten pounds of infused fake-up and then let’s see what she looks like. Wait, on second thought, let’s not. Calgon, take her ass away!

Last night, after I posted on Palm’s Tony Brown and what he had to say about the state of Palm’s new OS, I began to get a tad bit perturbed.  Those accustomed to Morninpaper’s stylings know that this is not too uncommon.  Being a longtime Palm user and fan, I have been known to ruffle the feather of a Palm fan… Or two.  But let me be clear on this, I have no blind allegiance to anything except my mother and God, and even they can test me sometimes.  If I feel that something, no matter how much I advocate for it is wrong, I will let those feelings fly, even if it’s my own advocacy.  Now, maybe I’m getting… annoyed out of place here, and you can tell me if you think so, but I just don’t think Palm really cares about the community that keeps it in the news.

The net is riddled with sites that have devoted time and cash to the cause that is Palm.  Sites like PalmAddicts, Palminfocenter, TreoCentral and Palm-Mac to name a few, give readers updated news on everything and anything Palm, and yes, I include Morninpaper in that list.

Even though somewhat unrelated, when a representative of Palm sat down to discuss in some part the future of Palm, and then stood up done with said interview without shinning a single flare on a spec of light, I felt….Dissed. 

Never mind the fact that the only time someone from Palm reaches out to any of the hard working Palm blogs is to squash some rumor, demand the pull of a leak or clarify a misunderstood quote.  No, we can put that aside, that’s just business.  But when given the opportunity to let us go to work on Palm’s behalf, they don’t even give up a time card.  MorningPaper, now Morninpaper.com leaked and started the firestorm that is the Palm Centro.  That torch was carried by every Palm loyal blog, Tech blog and blogs that would really rather see Palm go away, all across this big blue globe.  I’m not trying to claim credit for the Centro being a selling machine, far from it.  But what I am saying is that interest that was created by that leak helped to get thousands hyped on the idea of a new Palm device.  By the time the thing actually hit the market folks couldn’t wait to see it in person.  And that’s what we do.  For every brand within their perspective loyal blogging. 

RIM seems to know this.  It’s no coincidence that BGR and Crackberry get the lowdown on Blackberry news before just about anyone else.  There is a pipeline that RIM unscrews the cap on, and the trickle of info finds its way to the advocates that will help fan the excitement through some of the nets most fervent Blackberry advocates.  Does it get out of hand? Yep.  I’m sure that there is info that makes it down that pipeline that leaves RIM asking, “who unscrewed the pipe?”  But they turn and look at their stock ticker and forget all about it.  

This is where the actions of Palm boggle my mind.  Not that I think Palm should be in the game of personally leaking information in a quiet sly manner.  No, that Palm doesn’t say anything at all.  They don’t play the coy games that elude to news that we must pick through and debate at nauseam.  On second thought, that is what they do.  The truth of the matter is this.  If Tony Brown let a juicy tidbit fly, or anyone from Palm, we on the net would have spent the next 7 straight news days discussing, mocking-up, rendering, planning for and most importantly, bringing the Palm brand back into the spotlight.

And maybe it’s true, the whole Folieo thing most likely left them shell shocked and gun shy.  But this is big business, with tons of awe striking competition out there.  Buck up and get over it.  While palm users look to their favorite Palm blogs for new and exciting news, and all they get is updates on the same 7 Palm software titles, RIM, GOOGLE, APPLE, NOKIA, HTC and SAMSUNG are treating their loyalist to party invitations that read like the ones reading it are the only ones who know, making them feel specially invited to the next secret launch party.  Okay, maybe not Apple.  But Apple doesn’t need it.

Frankly at this point it just doesn’t feel like palm really cares about the community that works so hard to spread its news.  They just don’t seem to take their loyalist seriously.  As if to say, “Who needs em’, folks will buy our goods with or without them.”  And there could be some truth to that.  But let’s just remember, if it were not for the blogisphere, the Folieo would be on the Best Buy shelf right now, single handedly pulling Palm into the dark recesses of retail store rooms. So evidence does seem to support the notion that Blogs, those that are loyal to Palm, could go a long way in helping them succeed.  

So why doesn’t Palm see it that way?  Or are they like the Clintons, living in decade’s old way of doing things, and thinking that it will work again in the new world.