Jack & Jill Politics

That Sasha is such a cutie...but where are her legs?

42 days?! Isn't there any way to speed this thing up?

PE Obama has invited the remaining Tuskegee airmen to the inauguration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/us/politics/1...

that is wonderful.

rikyrah: There was a comment about ALASKA, soooooooI took a "Field Trip" to MUDFLATS:

Mudstock IV - Southern California!

Southern California Mudpuppies!

Another successful Mudstock meetup; this time in sunny California! I’ve gotten lots of messages from attendees and everyone had nothing but wonderful things to say about Fawnskin Mudpuppy and her husband who hosted this festive gathering. They opened their home to Mudstock IV, and a great time was had by all! Here’s the recap from Fawnskin herself:

THIS MOVEMENT means that ALASKA'S "RED" is being CHALLENGED!! :>) :>)

Can't wait to hear an interim report of a "PURPLE" on the way to "BLUE!" :>) :>)

Whooooo! Hoooo! :>) :>)

President-Elect Obama! :>) LARGE and IN CHARGE! :>) :>)

First Lady-in-Waiting Michelle Obama has become a muse for designers:

http://sec.online.wsj.com/article/SB12285227057...

carolinagirl:

And she dresses in accessible mall brands, like J. Crew and White House Black Market, as well as in higher-priced designer labels like Maria Pinto and Thakoon. "One thing I love about her is that she isn't a stick figure and not a plus size," says Mr. Mizrahi. "She has a body pride I love."

Annnnnnd SHE is also LARGE and IN CHARGE!! in HER OWN WAY!! :>)

PROUD OF HER!!! :>) :>)

I have a confession/admission to make JJP fam. You ever heard the song, "What You Won't Do For Love?"


What you won't do...do for love
You try everything...but you don't give up
In my world only you__
Made me do for love...what I would not do


I've heard the song a gazillion times...grew up with it (and it should be on my ipod by now)...but last night I got quite a shock watching MusicChoice (R&B Soul) while they played WYWDFL. When they play a song, they'll show the artist...and there was this white dude.

Lo and behold, I discovered that the singer of WYWDFL, Bobby Caldwell, is caucasian.

LMAO! Better late than never.

OMG! I thought he was black as well. I always pictured James Ingrim singing this song.

Webb: -Er, -ummmmm, Did you REQUEST this??

WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE!

ENJOY!! :>)

-UMMMM, Is this called a "CROSS-OVER" thang!?? :>) :>)

Just askin'. . . . . :>) :>)

Thanks GreenLady,

Enjoyed it! I thought he was a black guy also! Oops!

Justice58: LOL! :>)

My pleasure!! :>) :>)

Webb,

Don't feel bad. I actually remember sitting in front of the TV, stunned. ABSOLUTELY STUNNED!!!

Gino Vanelli - I just wanna stop

Does Italian count? LOLOLOL

Lol!!

LOL!! Where have you been? I thought that was common knowledge -even for those of us who grew up listening to WYWDFL!

He is on my holiday playlist with Vanessa Williams. They do a great version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on one of her Christmas albums.

I have that song on my playlist too!!

He also sang a great rendition of "Beyond the Sea", its used by casino and liquor companies alot.

I thought it was common knowledge that Bobby Caldwell sang that song. I remember when my older brother bought the album. If I am not mistaken Caldwell had a beard and a mustache.

During that era there were a quite of few white R&B artists that never really crossed over to a pop (white mainstream) audience.

Exactly. Growing up, the only white artist that stunned me was Teena Marie because I did not see her face until I went to buy her album "Lady T" in our little local record store. Hall & Oates were based next door in Philly (I'm from South Jersey) so no surprise there although Lisa Stansfield almost got me in the 90s.

For both Teena Marie and Lisa Stansfield I would squint and say "Maybe she's Arab, Latina or something but I really see some African blood there". My eyes were almost closed I was squinting so much.

I was suprised by Lisa, I admit. These English folk are really suprising cause its like they are listening to soul music in utero.

ROTFLMAO!!! You're killing me with the "squinting"

You knowTeena's mama had headphones hooked up to her belly!

Annovelista, Teena palled around with that buck wild , funk man, Rick James. They had a few duets. My aerobics intructor used to wear Lisa Stansfield 's song "Around the World out!

Um, er uh... yes, I know. Didn't I just say I was buying Teena Marie albums back in the day? LOL!! Lisa Stansfield was like a decade later when I was grown but, yes, I know all about Lady T and Slick Rick and his incredible but crazy genius.

In fact, I always pass on my favorite interview with Rick. A little known but telling interview he gave to the finance site Bankrate.com. I promise you it is a MUST read!

Rick James tried, but couldn't burn all his money

By Larry Getlen Bankrate.com

Editor's note: Rick James passed away Aug. 6, 2004. He gave this interview to Bankrate in 2002.

Rick James' story will make a fantastic movie one day. While most people's knowledge of James boils down to two facts -- that he had a tremendous hit with the song "Super Freak," and that he crashed in spectacular fashion, going to prison for a pair of incidents involving crack cocaine and several women claiming physical abuse -- his story is even richer, deeper, and more sordid than that.

James entered the Naval Reserve while still a teenager, but his misbehavior got him assigned to active duty. He was scheduled to ship off to Vietnam when he went AWOL. He took a bus to Toronto where he was immediately harassed by locals, and was saved from the fight by three musicians, two of whom turned out to be Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson of The Hawks (later to become The Band.) He soon joined a band led by the future founder of Steppenwolf. Another member of that band was Neil Young. James and Young wrote songs together, and they got signed to Motown Records. But a dispute with a manager led that manager to inform the Navy of James' whereabouts. James surrendered, and spent a year in the brig for desertion.

Upon his release, James joined Motown as a staff writer and released several records that did well in the black community. Then 1981's "Street Songs," featuring "Super Freak" and "Give It To Me Baby," made him a superstar. But with success came excess, and James quickly spiraled into full-blown crack addiction. James tried several times to get clean, but before he did, several incidents involving violence against women landed him in Folsom Prison.

Today, James is clean and productive, touring the country and preparing a series of new projects. Bankrate spoke to him about how his portfolio withstood the storms, and how his vices tapped into his wallet.

BANKRATE: How much money do you think you blew on coke?
- advertisement -

RICK JAMES: I spent $7,000 a week, and I did that for five years. I had a serious five-year hiatus where I didn't record, and didn't want to because me and Motown were in a lawsuit that I eventually won. But I couldn't record for another company, so I had a five-year sabbatical where I was just smoking, just freebasing. So I was smoking $7,000 every week. That's a couple of ounces a night.

BANKRATE: Did "Super Freak" make you rich in the long term, or did you blow that money on excess?

RICK JAMES: I made so much. You have to understand, I wrote and produced millions and millions of selling records, so my publishing company alone was worth millions of dollars. I didn't have to work anymore in life because when the rappers started sampling ... I'm the most sampled artist in history. Right now. I mean, Mary J. Blige just sampled me, LL Cool J, Will Smith, you name it. MC Hammer, the biggest rap record of all time is "Super Freak," (Hammer's "Can't Touch This"), Salt n Pepa, Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez, Ole Dirty Bastard.

BANKRATE: So even with all the money you blew, you didn't come close to blowing it all?

RICK JAMES: Right. I could have never been broke. See, that was the thing. Even when I was down to a couple hundred thousand, I would always get a check for 600, 700 more thousand, from the "Super Freak" album, or Teena Marie. That's the way it was. That's the way it is. That's because I kept my publishing throughout the years, and I was probably one of the first black acts getting $1 million an album at Motown in those days.

BANKRATE: How much are you worth?

RICK JAMES: I don't know. $30 million, $40 million, something like that. You don't really know your own worth because you don't know what may happen tomorrow. I may release an album tomorrow that gets me $10, $20 million, then I'm worth $70, $80 million more.

BANKRATE: Did you invest any of that money wisely?

RICK JAMES: I have very good accountants who look out for me. CDs, land, oil drillings, stocks, bonds, many different things. I have great people.

BANKRATE: Are you into the market yourself?

RICK JAMES: No I'm not, but I have played the market, and I have won.

BANKRATE: Any stocks or investments in particular you did really well with?

RICK JAMES: Pork bellies I'm a fan of, because people, especially black people, whenever there's hard times, times of financial insecurity, black people going to eat some bacon. Some ham hocs, pork bellies. And, because of the baby boom, pharmaceuticals are a very good investment. And holograms are going to be great. Holographic imagery. I think it's going to be the next step for music and TV.

BANKRATE: Looking back, what's the dumbest thing you ever spent your money on?

RICK JAMES: Cocaine.

BANKRATE: Not counting drugs -- material possessions.

RICK JAMES: A jacket and a pair of boots I bought from Bijan's in Beverly Hills. I walked by the store, and this old white woman was sitting at a big ornate desk, and she snubbed her nose at me. But Bijan waved me in, and I walked in and gave her this look, like, I'll show you. So I found this leather jacket cut to the waist with black mink inside, and this plain pair of black boots. $28,000. When I saw the bill, I said, "There must be a mistake here." I only did it out of ego. I may have worn that jacket maybe twice, then I realized it was too small for me.

Annovelista, thanks for the trip. I thought Webb would be interested in some Teena Marie history. I hadn't read this interview. LAWD HA' MERCY!

No problem!

JJP had me mess around and start playing Teena Marie from my iTunes! Behind the Groove, Portuguese Love, I Need Your Lovin'

There is a reason I would receive Teena Marie albums for birthday gifts as a kid!

It totally escaped me...and I like to think that "I know thangs."

That is hilarious.

Webb, LOL!!! My ex hubby brought me the album for my birthday one year. Yeah, he be white, but Soulful.

Was it the actual vinyl LP? Wikipedia is saying that Bobby C was portrayed, "only in silhouette on the cover and in advertisements — to hide the fact that he was white," from AAs.

Webb, that's correct on the silhouette:

http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/bobby_ca...

There is PLENTY of evidence of that, hiding the artist, that is. "race" artists used to do it all the time. Just not show the artists at all, if they were black.

But check out Teena Marie's first album cover.
Teena Marie - Wild and Peaceful 1979

I know, I know, I guess I'm giving up my age, but I DO miss album art. And the Earth Wind and Fire albums often had posters in them, Bootsy's sunglasses... Don't get me started! CD cases just don't get it!!! And mp3? There is nothing to put the art on!

Weird trivia for ya - Bootsy Collins shares a birthday with Hillary Clinton. I think about it every Oct. 26th LOL!

I remember Bootsy's sunglasses!!!

There are lots of soulful white artists. You know they can sing but they are blue eyed. Yknow that Blue Eyed Soul
I think the list varies depending on who you are. Some people might be:
Teene Maria ( mos def)
George Michael
Jon B

Who else?

Michael McDonald from The Doobie Bros. Love "I keep Forgetting" and "On My Own" w/Miss Pattie Labelle.

Robin Thicke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love him!

Anyone remember Morgana King, the jazz singer? She was the equivalent of Teena Marie on the jazz set.

Michael McDonald was the man.

Robin Thicke.

Average White Band. -- Hamish Stewart - Cut the Cake

As I mentioned earlier, Gino Vanelli,

Tower of Power -- What is hip?
Lenny is lead singer, but the band was black and white, and it was TIGHT!!!

Here's another one --
Tower of Power. -- So Very Hard to Go

Ya'll are takin' me back!!

isonprize, hellooooo! AWB "PICK UP THE PIECES"

Here ya go!! From back in the day... TIGHT!!

This band got their name because somebody said -- These cats ain't your average white band.

Indeed!!

Pick up the pieces

Here's a manifestation of the "blue-eyed soul" phenomenon from my childhood years. Don't laugh (even though I did upon stumbling upon this on Youtube, LOL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BLQgQNuN-M

Trumystique, believe The Righteous Brothers were te first white artist who were coined "Blue Eyed Soul."

Yeah, I understand "Blue-Eyed" Soul like carolinagirl suggested:
Michael McDonald/Doobie Brothers, Hall&Oates, Robin Thicke

But WYWDFL? Not in a million years would I have thought that singer was non-AA...totally flabbergasted.

Webb: Wild Cherry -"Play That Funky Music"

We used to jam to this song in the 70's They were our "Blue Light in the Basement days!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmH61C8cmG8

Webb: "OXYGEN MASK??" :>) :>)

Webb,

That is too funny! But I must say, it's one of my favorite songs and I have it on my portable satellite radio. It's right after Bill Withers' - Lovely Day (which I think Barack and Michelle- should dance to at the inauguration).

Hehehehe....yes, he is white.

I just went over to You Tube right now because I thought surely the version in my head is not the original you are talking about. Sure enough, its Bobby Caldwell.

This is embarrassing. I'm not keeping up with my people. ;)

Wait.... so you mean that's a white dude sing that song??????

Color me surprised. I decided to google this to see for myself and yep he is a white guy w/ a big ol' black voice like Micheal McDonald and Rick Astley. Video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuo1deYXnIw

Oh_, you know I had to do some followup research too (at wikipedia). What's particularly hilarious is how his record company marketed him to the "black" audience:

In order to ensure significant airplay on the African American-dominated R&B radio format of the time, Caldwell's management took certain steps — such as portraying the artist only in silhouette on the cover and in advertisements — to hide the fact that he was white. The secret was, for obvious reasons, shattered by his first live appearances.

Rhondacoca can testisfy to that, lol. Their management team succeeded, b/c I surely did not have a clue that whoever sung WYWDFL was not AA....

singing- not sing

I saw him at this concert when I was like 9 and I was like, why do they have this white man singing that song? lolz

My father was like because it is a white man who sings that song.

Its funny, my friend just expressed to me that she did not know that Teena Marie was white. I always knew that because I had the LPs though I used to swear she wasn't really white but just looks white-you know like Mariah Carey.

LoL, it's like going 20-years thinking that Kenny G is black, then seeing him in a video and literally being traumatized.

I was also reminded of that Dave Chappelle episode where he plays the Black&Blind KKK GrandWizard who reveals himself...but my head didn't explode last night.

ROFLO!! Clayton Bigsby.

HaHa...I went through that trauma already.

Beautiful picture.


Oh the joys of childhood.

She reminds me of me when I was little:)

I am waiting for the Obama admin. to get back to me regarding the "White House Babysitting" Job.

Dont know if this has been posted. My reaction is : Already???

AP: Cracks Appear In Obama Foreign Policy Team http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/08/cracks...
WASHINGTON — The first sign of cracks in President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy team of rivals emerged on Monday as his choices for secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations visited the State Department.

As Secretary of State-pick Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.N. envoy-choice Susan Rice separately visited the diplomatic agency's headquarters in Washington's Foggy Bottom neighborhood, persons familiar with the transition said that Rice wants to install her own transition team inside the department.

Such a move by an incoming U.N. ambassador is rare, if not unprecedented, because the job is based at the United Nations in New York, where Rice already has a small transition staff, the sources familiar with the incoming administration.

The push by Rice, an early Obama supporter whose position the President-elect wants to elevate to a cabinet post, is also a signal that she intends to use her influence with the new president to play a more significant role than previous U.N. envoys, they said. The transition sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Officials with Clinton's transition team declined to comment on the matter, and aides to Rice could not immediately be reached. State Department officials declined to comment on issues related to the transition. THERE IS MORE

Why do we take white-oriented corp news sources as legit leads for stories? Just because we read something in the WSJ or NYT doesn't mean it's true or that the story hasn't been slanted.

Do We Create or Regurgitate News as Bloggers? http://snipurl.com/7ovz5

I'm certain Dr. Rice - who recently got married by the way - is going to control her turf and keep an eye on Billary and will be given the leeway to do so. Cuz we all know it's a matter of time.

susan rice or condi rice??? really...?

I was talking about Susan.

Consider the source: AP is not friendly to Obama so anything negative they say has to be taken with a grain of salt.

I didnt think of that. But I didnt think AP was uniformly anti-Obama just a few reporters.

Pass the salt please.

show me a positive Obama story from AP, and I'm going to have to look for the angle.

Ever since the speech at Hampton in October 2007, have I not believed one word AP writes about Obama.

Yeah, I read that the head person at AP is a right winger and he has been on a tear about Obama since he was promoted during the primaries.

Illinois Legislature already moving to strip Blago of his power to appoint the Senator and have a special election

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com...

Jesse Jackson to run?

15 minutes sure is a long time:
Joe the Plumber: McCain "Appalled Me," Made Me Feel "Dirty"

Politico reports that Joe Wurzelbacher isn't a huge fan of the man who made him famous. He told conservative radio host Glenn Beck that he felt "dirty" after "being on the campaign trail and seeing some of the things that take place."

"I honestly felt even more dirty after I had been on the campaign trail and seen some things that take place. It was scary, man," Wurzelbacher said. He told Beck he asked McCain "some pretty direct questions" about the bailout, and wasn't pleased with the response. "They appalled me, absolutely. You know, I was angry. In fact, I wanted to get off the bus after I talked to him.

Asked why he didn't leave McCain's campaign if he was "appalled" by the candidate, Wurzelbacher said, "Honestly, because the thought of Barack Obama as president scares me even more."

While Wurzelbacher was critical of McCain, he gushed about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. "Sarah Palin is absolutely the real deal," he said.

You know, I only got to spend a short amount of time with her but, you know, it was been asked if I felt any presence when I was with John McCain or Barack Obama. You know, with Sarah Palin, I don't want to say I felt a presence but she definitely had energy and she definitely went to work for American people, and it disgusts me on how often they try to bash her just for her sincerity. It's just, you know, she really wants to work for America and I mean, I wish people would listen to her and let them, and let her work for us. You know, she wants to serve us. She's not looking for power.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/09/joe-th...

This man is full of shit. That is all.

Doesn't he have a toilet somewhere in Ohio to unclog?

Town, TariqNelson recommends he get a REAL plumber to unclog his ass.

LOL or maybe he just needs to take his butt up to Alaska and have Sarah "inspect" his pipes. Todd looks like the type that would sit and watch Joe and Sarah go at it.

Town, you know you are so, so, wrong for being so, so, right!

These characters are straight out of some deviant sci-fi pic.

She's(Palin) not looking for power.

Like hell she's not! Joe Scumbag is pure trash! It is so disgusting to hear him trash McCain, but yet trying to capitalize off of him. D#mn!
I wish he'd just stfu & go away.

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. "Joe" is turning out to be a real piece of crap

He certainly is, and someone needs to take a plunger and flush his ass down the toilet.

@ spirit_55z

perhaps a REAL plumber can do it

lol

Joe was always an opportnistic piece of crap.

Hey, MsMartin!

MOVING THIS OVER FROM THE DAY THREAD

Response to Michele

I think this is a pretty brilliant summation and conceptualization. I really hadnt thought of this in the context of the STHU conversation( Hildebrand).

But you remind me that this has always been my fear about Obama and any Obama administration. Obama has spent alot of time talking about unity and finding common purpose across gender, race, class, sexual orientation or political affiliation divisions. But in trying to find the common purpose he often negates these identities by trying to appeal to universality- as you have so aptly put it. This Other-ing happens in so many contexts from the liberal or feminist blogosphere, literary studies, health care what have you.

I hate to credit Shelby Steele ( cause he is wrong most of the time )-- but I do think in some ways Obama is a bargainer and that is probably his default position. But I am convinced he can be turned on.

Shelby's take on Obama : "Bargainers make the subliminal promise to whites not to shame them with America’s history of racism, on the condition that they will not hold the bargainer’s race against him.
And whites love this bargain — and feel affection for the bargainer — because it gives them racial innocence in a society where whites live under constant threat of being stigmatized as racist. So the bargainer presents himself as an opportunity for whites to experience racial innocence."

So I think Obama is a instinctually a bargainer from his family background. And he honed this gut level instinctual reaction professionally as a community organizer. My experience of many community organizers is this ethos of " I wont judge you and I will meet you where you are".

The community organizers dont talk about these social identities and at the same time try to pretend that they DONT EXIST. So in a collective bargaining situation if black workers are saying they are being denied position at the table in the union's white power structure they will be marginalized and told " Dont worry about it we are speaking to everyone's concerns and we are hammering out a deal" and if black workers continue and suggest lack of input, voice etc - they are labeled as troublemakers, selfish etc.

So yes I see these same tendencies in Obama as well and it gives me concern. It gave me concern before the election when I listened to his speeches and it concerns me now.

But I am still hopeful and heres why.

He can be forced to deal with these issues. The perfect example was the Reverend Wright issue. For most of the time Obama tried to ignore race in this country and its very real consequences on his candidacy and its power in the lives and aspirations of Americans. Wright and the MSM wouldnt let it go and he was forced to give his speech which I think was one of the most nuanced and compelling discussions of race in this country.

The only downside of the Wright situation was instead of being happy to talk about this issue the campaign narrative I heard was : It is really unfortunate that you (the MSM) forced us here with your pettiness. Shouldnt we be beyond these divisions? Lets not talk about race anymore lets get back to the issues like putting food on the table, paying for tuition and all the OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

That was a missed opportunity. Instead the narrative segue should have been:
This is a teachable moment. Race is very real in the lives in American and we should recognize it as such . At the same time we should not let racial division stop us from uniting for common purpose. We are all concerned about issues like putting food on the table, paying for tuition. We must recognize that challenges to employment and education have been complicated by an ugly history that has important effects today for African Americans. By focusing on the economy and the particular challenges faced by certain groups we can make sure that the American promise is kept for all Americans.

Obama is capable of this type of narrative. And this second narrative was offered later in the campaign. So Obama can come up with this contextualized narrative he just has to be pushed to it.

race is real...but food is realer...

I think Obama's talk on race in Philly did rise to what you call a teachable moment and that in fact he did say exactly this:

"Race is very real in the lives in American and we should recognize it as such . At the same time we should not let racial division stop us from uniting for common purpose. We are all concerned about issues like putting food on the table, paying for tuition. We must recognize that challenges to employment and education have been complicated by an ugly history that has important effects today for African Americans. By focusing on the economy and the particular challenges faced by certain groups we can make sure that the American promise is kept for all Americans."

At least that is what I heard when he spoke of a more perfect union and that his granmothers issues on race are based on her generations stereotypes and images. That America has progressed with each generation and that she is moving towards keeping her promise to all Americans. The demonstrable truth of that was Obama's candidacy and winning primary after primary.

I don't think Obama traded on making whites racially innocent in fact, he confronted them with the very racism they perpetuate by bringing up how the things his grandmother said would make him cringe.

I think he said the teachable moments much time after the incident. ( Of course correct me if I am wrong). Right after the speech the reaction of his campaign staff/surrogates was to use teachable moment language and then say "Let's get back to the issues".

Ironically, this narrative of "Lets deal with universal issues so STHU with your identity politics" is a bitter to pill to swallow when you are on the receiving end and not the one saying it. Case in point http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily... .

Ahhh, the sweet irony!

Sasha's adorable; oh, those care free days of summer. Remember the old rope tree swings with the thick board seats? We'd swing so high, we would leave our bodies! Weeeeee!

No? I have been reading this blog for almost a year now and I think that I am one of the youngest people here because I keep reading posts about 401Ks, all who voted for Dukakis and Clinton, husbands, kids, 10+ years at the same job, "old rope tree swings with the thick board seats" as well as other indicators of age.

I don't think they make those anymore. I was born in the late 80s, everything is plastic.

late 80s, you're younger than me : )

imma mid-80s baby and proud!

anywho's its wayyyy past my bedtime, peace&blessings

LOL! Rhondacoca, youth is a beautiful thing,and we get to learn from each other. I'm digging it. How about you?

And yes they still make swings of rope and wood in backyards a home. Some have leather seats like the one Sasha's in.

Love the photo! Wish I weren't too old to take a trip down to the playground instead of eating lunch in my cubicle... if anyone's going to be in DC for the inauguration (is it really just 42 days away?!), this might be useful: http://inaugurationsurvivalguide.com

Sasha looks so happy in that picture, swinging on a wonderful summer day in her raspberry red sundress....gosh I remember when life was such a joy like that...warm weather, a nice swing and nothing but a sun filled delightful day.

whiterosebuddy: -Er, -ummmm Did you REQUEST this?

SUMMERTIME (Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong)

ENJOY!!! :>) [There were soooo many versions to chose from.! WHEW! :>)]

Michelle Obama warrants salute for breaking barriers
By DeWayne Wickham

What might surprise you is that he is not my pick for "American of the Year." The first recipient of my annual acknowledgement of a person who has done something to improve the lives of people in this country, or given us the inspiration to make America a better place, is Michelle Obama.


Dispels stereotypes


In his winning presidential campaign, Obama helped a nation traumatized by the events of the past eight years heal its wounds. As his partner in marriage and his political life, Michelle Obama had an even bigger impact this year. She debunked the myth of the black woman. She is not a welfare mother, an angry woman, or an overachieving can't-find-a-good-man sista. Obama said his wife is his "rock" — the strong, steadying force in his life. But for many black women, Michelle Obama is their "everywoman."

She is the well-educated black wife and mother that Hollywood won't acknowledge and much of white America hasn't discovered. She's a black woman with wide hips and an occasional bad hair day who moved Erin Aubry Kaplan to say in a Salon.com article: "Barack's better half not only has stature but is statuesque," the black essayist writes. "She has coruscating intelligence, beauty, style and ... a butt."

While such descriptions of Michelle Obama might make some people uncomfortable, it goes to the heart of what makes a lot of black women rave as much about her becoming first lady as they do her husband's becoming president. She looks more like them than Halle Berry or Beyonce does.

Obama's election ends the long monopoly white men have had on this country's highest office. But as the loyal partner in his life, Michelle Obama shows the world the strength that many black women possess. And, in doing so, she salves the centuries-old wounds of the millions of black women who have been victimized and marginalized by negative stereotypes.

For all these reasons, Michelle Obama is my "American of the Year."



http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/12/michelle...

Yes, I co-sign.

Michele Obama s my "American of the Year" too!

"Barack's better half not only has stature but is statuesque," the black essayist writes. "She has coruscating intelligence, beauty, style and ... a butt."

IHowever, I submit that she's Barack's better WHOLE!

eek! i didn't know what coruscate meant so i had to look it up. but it's a beautiful word and it fits michelle obama: to give off flashes of light; sparkle; to be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity.

susan, word. Michelle Obama is a STAR!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008...

Ebony beats Time to the punch, makes Obama Person of the Year

You'll never guess who Ebony magazine has selected as its first Person of the Year. (Do you think Time may follow suit shortly?)

"He did it!" screams Ebony's news release about Barack Obama. "He's rightfully earned the title of President-elect."

Now we know why reporters for the N.Y. Post, Washington Times and Dallas Morning News were tossed off Barack Obama's campaign plane campaign plane shortly before the election to make room for, among others, an Ebony correspondent.

Just coincidentally, all three booted papers had endorsed Obama's opponent, the Arizona guy.

Ebony, along with other magazines, already published a cover story on Michelle Obama.

Anyway, the special January issue goes on sale today, and Ebony reps are hoping it does as well as other published Obama memorabilia did closer to the historic Nov. 4 election that saw, in case you hadn't heard, the U.S. elect its first African American president.

As though those mainstream reporters were somehow more deserving to be on the plane than an Ebony correspondent. Awww, PEBO, I knew you was looking out on the low!:-)

This blogger sounds a little catty. Is that the usual M.O. for the latimes

Yes.

On a different note...Diddy sure does love himself....

On why he should be the next James Bond...

“I know there’s some black people that can save the world. White people aren’t the only people that can save the world. My variation, I would come from the New York agency. I would actually be working with James Bond. And he would get kidnapped, and I would have to come get him and save the day. It’s a natural thing. It’s organic. I think it would be a tragedy for the next James Bond not to be black, and I think the next Superman should be black. We are like the coolest creatures on the face of the Earth.

I support this 100%, as long as just about any other black actor besides Diddy plays Bond. And no Terrence Howard.

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/12/09/diddy-mak...

I co-sign with the no self-absorbed and arrogant P. Diddy or Terrence Howard!

I can't stand either. I wish Diddy can apply all this creativity to his artists.

I've heard that they were looking at Idris Elba, which actually makes sense...seeing that he is British, and Diddy has no acting talent. Let's just keep it real, Diddy would embarass us.

Beyonce was just yapping the other day about "how great it would be if Wonder Woman could be Black. We have a Black president. The world is ready to see a Black Wonder Woman. I would love to do that". Chile, sit down. You can't act! Just let it go.

Y'all ain't slick! What is with these celebraties?!

Lynda Carter broke barriers as a Latina playing Wonder Woman. It would be nice to see an up and coming Latina playing her role.

I think it takes a lot of nerve to tell me they should consider you for a part. Come on now! Isn't that what your manager is for?

Idris Elba makes me think naughty thoughts unbefitting a married, Christian woman. There were huge issues in my household when we watched his seasons of the Wire.

Beyonce needs to sit down. I don't want to see her as Wonder Woman, but I would call for Obama's impeachment if he invites her anywhere near the Inauguration.

Even on JJP, Beyonce gets no love. I don't get it. Why are people so upset with her? I like her and I enjoy her music and she's the one chick my entire family all ages and genders likes, including my 60-something mother. She was good in "Cadillac Records" which proves she's working on her craft. I would not be mad to see her at the inauguration since she's a great performer and will do the honor justice.

Celebrities are the usual opportunists. They are trying to see if they could jump on the "Obama is the first black president, so I can be the first black something else" wagon.

Tiring.

It's come across as pitiful because it's soobvious when they do it.

Here you go ladies!!

1 Idris Elba: http://www.jamati.com/online/wp-content/uploads...


2. Lawrence Fishburne: http://www.rhyolitesite.com/lawrence.jpg

3. Wesley Snipes: http://paulignatius.files.wordpress.com/2008/07...

4. Don Chedle: http://www.vibe.com/images/celebs/don_cheadle.jpg

5. Morris Chesnut: http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb40/anonymo...

Definitely NOT Don Chedle. Everytime I see him, I think about his character "Ice Tray" on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBItEHdArXU

LMAO.

My aunt is friends with Fishburne's wife, she's nice.

I never liked Wesley's ass. Don Chedle is Don Chedle.

Morris Chestnut and Idris Elba anyday!

Snipes is not feeling black women. Idris Elba is my pick-o-the bunch!

Go, spirit_55z! It's starting to feel like ladies night at JJP. Idris Elba is most definitely the best looking man on this list. Thanks for the eye candy!

Eye candy, indeed!

I hear Wesley beats his women, so he's out.

Love me some Laurence F, but he's too old for the part, and these days, more than a bit on the chubby side.

Don Cheadle has the acting chops, but since when has "007" been about acting?

So that leaves Morris Chestnut and Idris Elba. I wouldn't kick either of 'em out of bed for eating crackers, but

Idris?? WHheewwww ... 'til the cops come knockin'


GreenLady, where is an oxygen mask when I need one? LOLOL

isonprize, LOL! "I wouldn't kick either of 'em out of bed for eating crackers"

MAXWELL

Idris?? WHheewwww ... 'til the cops come knockin'



"Till the Cops Come Knockin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9009y0Eu2A

I love that Maxwell song!! I listen to it twice a day.

isonprize: LOL!!! :>)

H----E----R---E it is!!! :>) :>)

I know...I have been fanning and panting and sighing every since clicking on that wooooonderful Idris Elba link Sprit posted.

Thank YOU Spirit...for making us feel good.

I am just melting over here drooling and ...well y'know what I'm sayin

wrb: LOL!!!!

FAN! CHECK!!

AIR CONDITIONER! CHECK!!

"OXYGEN MASK!" CHECK!!

Feel better! :>) :>)

Actual black actresses already have so few opportunities, but Hollywood has really marganilized them by getting these "two-fers".....a pop act with name recognition - if they can say a line without throwing up they'll get the part before Kerry Washington, Tajari Henson or Regina King....and I mean for serious dramatic acting roles.

Now, you wouldn't be talking about Beyonce in the role of Etta James, would you? When I saw the ad, I just rolled my eyes...

isonprize: I saw "CADILLAC!" :>) :>) ****shrug****

Yup!

I firmly agree. But I guess they're gonna learn their lesson when Cadillac Records fails to be Dreamgirls 2.0.

I actually like Beyonce...as a singer. Not everyone can do it all!

All the acting coaches in the world can't help what is just not there. Beyonce can't act...not a pure dramatic role. Every acting role I've seen Beyonce play...she is still Beyonce to me on the screen. I completely forgot I was looking at Diana Ross in Lady Sings The Blues...that was strung out Billie Holiday. Now that was some acting!

Beyonce can't act because she can't get into the character. Playing "Sasha Fierce" doesn't count.

Playing "Sasha Fierce" doesn't count.

YOU. AIN'T. RIGHT. I "screamed' out loud when I read this.

lol.

Halle got the chance at Catwoman and that was just horrible. Then again, Catwoman was the antagonist so I guess that doesn't count.

No offense to Beyonce, I'm all for diversity, but somethings should just not happen. Lynda Carter may have been a Latina, but Wonder Woman in the comics was obviously white. Yes she was supposedly an Amazon princess, and therefore dark-skinned, but it was a comic book character, and most comic book characters are not known for being historically correct.

Besides, at some point doesn't it just become insulting. Would we really be happy with just because a black guy got to play Superman? Or vice versa, wouldn't it have been silly to have a white guy play Blade?

It's one thing to want a black princess be a NEW main character in a Disney film, but many of these comic book characters have well-established origins and characteristics.

Sadly, this includes Bond (I know it's not a comic book character, but it is a fictonal character with descriptive traits and features)

Elizabeth Taylor played Cleopatra. Angelina Jolie played Marianne Pearl. Should I go on down the long list of white actresses and actors who have played ethnic roles?

I agree with you and I was thinking the same thing.

Speaking of Disney's first black princess, when is The Princess and the Frog going to be released? I can't wait for Tiana.

OMG!!! You do not know how excited I am about it. Finally. I spent my whole childhood having to deal with Disney having princesses and characters in every other race. When they went to Africa, the chracters were animals.

I am so excited.

Here is the trailer for those who have not seen Princess Tiana. She is so cute!

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessand...

I'm excited too. My great-niece is too young for it, but I will be there opening weekend in the theaters, praying and hoping it's decent, so that I can buy the DVD too.

My money is on Idris. Bond is British after all, and Idris is hot, hot, hot. I love Morris, but unfortunately he is way too short. He is not as tall as he looks.

Question: Is this supposed to be a real part of the Bond series, or just a new version for the non-melanin-challenged movie goers.

Question 2: Has there every really been a James Bond inspired spy flick starring a black actor, that wasn't I,Spy, or the average Blaxploitation film star?

Didn't Don Cheadle do something...? And does Vin Diesel count? LOL.

You're thinking of the Traitor film - which was great by the way. Rent it when it comes out on DVD! Vin Diesel is too much of a meat-head to play Bond. We need someone elegant. Idris is good. Chiwetel Ejiofor would be great as well - another Brit and a lead actor. I'd even consider Digimon - I mean Djimon Honsou.

I enjoyed "Traitor" a lot as well, surprised considering the subject matter that it got made. Not surprised that it didn't do so well...but I'm glad others have discovered it.
As for the Bond debate, Idris is undeniable if it ever happens. In the meantime, I'm fine with Daniel Craig's fine self.

Traitor wasn't advertised at all! I thought Casino Royale was surprisingly good. Haven't seen the new Bond yet.

I am down with Chiwetel if Idris is sick or something . He is not as fine as Idris but he is a great actor.

But hell naw to Djimon "Give Me Free" Hounsou. He is beautiful but I cant stand him. Plus there is no wish fulfillment cause I am sure its all about white girls for him.

Nah, he's with Kimora so he likes them at least half black.

Well Digimon is with Kimora. Not to burst the bubble but how do you know Idris dates black women? If that's going to be our requirement that will eliminate most of them. Seriously!

Chiweltel only dates white women. Idris is - or was- married to a black woman. But interracial dating in the U.K. is big on both sides, black woman with white man and black man with white woman.

Chestnut and Underwood are married to black women.

trust me...I look these things up.

Thats why Terence Howard needs to go sit down...not only is a strange, boring and long-winded. He shuns the sistas.

Idris does date black women. In fact, he has a beautiful daughter who is unmistakeably black.

While we're on this topic, as trivial as it is...has anyone ever seen Jamie Foxx's daughter's mother??

Don Cheadle is the new War Machine in the next two Iron Man movies so he is the next black superhero.

Answering lamh31's first question, I think the intent is to make this part of the Bond series as in the next Bond after Daniel Craig should be black. I actually think since 00 is a classification that it would be easy to introduce a new 00 in the next few movies that is black instead of just making James Bond black. Assuming they go in numerical order, with Bond being 7, then the new guy should be 008. I wonder what happened to 006?

Cheadle does not have the right body type...vinDiesel AINT chocolate! nor fine

Vin Diesel looks like a newborn baby bird.

ROTLMAO!!! Big Bird

cracking up at this description...lmao

I certainly like the idea of the next Bond being black...but Diddy ain't my idea of Bond.
I would like maybe Morris Chestnut, Wesley Snipes, Idris Elba,someBODY chocolate fine with a NFL body type like the Rock.

I want him suave, debonair and rich dark chocolate.

Idris! Idris!

I had a friend that said that a black guy could never be a spy let alone Bond. This because white people always notice black people where ever they are. So undercover work would be limited to big metro areas with substantial black populations or in Africa and the Caribbean.

I told my friend to shut up because he was ruining my fantasies of Idris as Bond

lol...that was funny.

I FEEL you Tru!!

I would have said the same thing!!!

I can't stand haters that puncture the rapture zone, lol

Your friend needs to watch Alias. Dixon was a great spy and he blended in fine. His cover was usually related to being a rich African or Jamaican which plays well internationally. Your friend needs to open his mind. Bond movies never take place in rural Iowa.

Also, The Unit.

Dennis Haysbert is trading countries every week on those missions.

Im sorry but Alias to me: horrible show. I couldnt watch it after being a devotee of La Femme Nikita. Actually there were black spies on the LFN despite the main cast being lilywhite. But they did have a few believeable storylines with black spies.

Haha! THAT WAS THE SHOW! I remember being so mad that they hired this blonde Amazon for Nikita but Peta Wilson totally won me over. The movie is still one of my faves!! It was great when they went into Season 2 and could move on from the movie plot. I love Roy Dupois that man was sex on a stick! I also have the DVDs and the music was way ahead of its time. The end of Season 3/start of Season 4 when they erased Nikita's mind was sooo messed up. That show was such a mind job. I got banned from an Alias board for complaining that it was a more expensive but pale imitation of LFN. It was! You can get the entire 5 seasons on Overstock.com for around $110 if you use a coupon. We are just starved for a show about a capable, smart and attractive woman who's kicking butt we'd practically watch anything half-way decent.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT! Now that you've brought ti back, I have to get it on DVD. Michael, Michael...you SEXY BEAST!

I love Le Femme Nikita! I have the DVDs. I thought I was the only one who
watched it.
But I also love me some Alias.

I have the DVDs not the full set yet. Started with s1 and they are so expensive.

Michael was so pathological in his love. I was still like Roy is hot ( really but those tight pants, the soulful stares...). Remember season 5 when he cut his face and was staring at Nikita in longing. That was so crazy but I was like "Ohhh he loves her!"

I found the DVDs on sale at Best Buy so I got lucky.

Dang you are making me want to break them out and watch over from the beginning. I loved Michael with his constant brooding and his love for Nikita. He was a bad ass. And Nikita could probably kick Sydney Bristow's ass.

Sydney would totally be crying for her mama after Nikita broker her kneecapa and threatened to hook up an iron to her crotch or something. Thats why I couldnt watch Alias not even for Carl Yumbly ( I know its Lumbly but he is a fine ass man)

And dont even get me started on the clothes on LFN. Loved them!!!

You found the whole set at Best Buy? When was this? You have no idea how obsessed I am. When they started playing reruns at 1 am I watched and taped all of those. I even re-watch season 1. I want me some DVDs. But the whole box set is $350.

They were individual seasons. The first three seasons were around $39.00
each and the last two were $59.00. Check Amazon. They have random sales on
there TV collection. You may have to piece it together but at least you can
eventually have the set.

This was about a a year and a half ago.

I am hopeless. So just went to Best Buy to see if they had any on sale. I saw them selling a La Femme Nikita and Babylon 5 starter pack and I was like: I WANT THAT!!!

I just check Amazon for you and they have Season 1 for $41.00, 2-4 for
$56.00 and 5 for $22.00

Word, whiterosebuddy. I'll throw Blair Underwoods name in the hat. :-))

spirit: WE graduated from the SAME undergraduate school -----1000 years apart, though! :>) :>)

Wonder IFFF he wants my "autograph??" ***shrug*** HAH!! :>) :>)

Dang, GLH. He's fine as wine. You can co-sgn Bair him with your new icon.

spirit: LOL! :>) :>)

Spirit, I was just about to nominate my sixth husband but you beat me to it.

Underwoods could work... they won't have to change the complexion of the Bond girl.

*snicker*

*runs and hides*

They better.

So wrong, but so true.

Nice one...!

Ha!, JunePearl. You can come out of hiding!

LOL! Thanks spirit_55z, you never can tell if folks will take this type of stuff personally. Thanks for having a good sense of humor!

JunePearl, It's all good! I just throw it in the mix and watch how it settles! :-))

They're all fine looking Brothas.

I LIKE Blair Underwood...he has just the right demeanor...great choice Spirit!!

Beautiful picture! Sasha is just too dang cute!

What a glorious picture! Captures the simple pleasures of childhood.