50 Cent's Crib is Up In Smoke

Rapper 50 Cent's NY house went up in flames last night according to reports on TMZ.com. The fire broke out at the six bedroom, five bath house in Dix Hills, NY around 5:00 AM. Six people, including the rapper's ex Shaniqua Tompkins and their 10-year-old son Marquise, were in the house. They all were transported to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. Fire investigators are calling the blaze "very suspicious".

Suspect #1 - Fiddy's baby mama Shaniqua Tompkins.

The house has been the subject of a bitter dispute between Fiddy, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, and Tompkins. The rapper reportedly bought the home -- one of the biggest cribs in the area -- for a cool $2.4 mil in January 2007. In April he tried to evict Tompkins and Marquise (his son) from the house, demanding she pay him $4,500 a month in rent.

On April 17 in Supreme Court in Manhattan, Tompkins filed suit claiming "breach of contract," alleging that the rapper had promised to put all or part of the house in her name. The court sided with 50, and Shaniqua was given until the end of the school year to pack up. On Monday afternoon, the two are seen screaming and cursing at each other on a NYC street...things get so heated Fiddy had to be held back!

Just this morning, 50 Cent's house in Long Island was burnt to a crisp.

Suspect #2 - "Someone"

Shaniqua Tompkins, tells TMZ that she heard "someone" come into the house this morning at 4 AM, shortly before the fire broke out around an hour later. Shaniqua's lawyer, tells TMZ that his client is "traumatized" by the fire and that the kids are similarly in total shock.

Suspect #3 - 50 Cent (or a Fire for Hire)

Shaniqua Tompkins, Fiddy's baby mama, went NUTS this morning, suggesting the rapper had something to do with the blaze. She alleges that he tried to kill her, that he's obsessed with her. Informed this morning while filming a new motion picture on location in Louisiana, Curtis Jackson expressed deep concern over this fire at his property. He is extremely thankful that everyone including his son, Marquise, escaped the burning house safely. He is confident that authorities will be conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and is eager to review their findings.

"Any suggestion that Mr. Jackson had anything whatsoever to do with the fire at his home is outrageous and offensive" his attorney said.

Stay tuned as the drama unfolds!

Side Note:
The house that burned was the house his baby mama and son (and apparently 4 other people) lived in. Fiddy lives in a house that was formerly Mike Tyson's.

Who Knew that Catholic Priests Cussed in Church?

I would have turned Catholic long ago if I would have known that they cuss and get you out of church in 20 minutes! I'm just playing, but seriously, Rev. Michael Pfleger delivered a sermon at Barack Obama's church (Trinity United Church of Christ) in Chicago on Sunday and boy, did he have a lot on his mind! They must have some "make you act a fool" mist that they spray on that microphone.

Pfleger is a Catholic priest at predominately black St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's southwest side. Commenting on the campaign, Pfleger very candidly spoke on the subject of 'white entitlement', using Sen. Hillary Clinton as his example. He said Clinton's eyes welled with tears before the New Hampshire primary because she felt "entitled" to the Democratic nomination and because "there's a black man stealing my show." He then went on to parody Clinton, sobbing and wiping his face with a handkerchief.

"She wasn't the only one crying," he said. "There was a whole lot of white people crying." (source)

What will be interesting is to see how the media handles this as opposed to the handling of Rev. Wright. Why? Because Pfleger is white and Wright is black. They referred to Wright in headlines as a 'preacher', never as Dr. Wright. I wonder if they will take the same tone of belittling and disrespect with Father Pfleger and if they will set out to personally attack him like they did Wright. Just watch and listen.

Watch the video below for yourself.


Of course, you know the rest - Clinton denounced. Obama condemned. Pfleger apologized.

I predict Obama will make his exodus from Trinity in 5...4...3...2...

Keith Olbermann Commentary on Bush Legacy

Take 12 minutes out of your busy schedule and check this out. Post comments.

Death Row Records to be Sold Off at Auction

QUICK! Let's pool our money together!

Seriously. TMZ.com is reporting that a judge has ordered Suge Knight's pride and joy be sold off to settle his bankruptcy debt. The bidding will start at $24 mil on June 26th and will include the rights to recordings by Tupac, Snoop, & Dr. Dre.

Wow. That's a serious investment for whomever wins the bid. Remember when Michael Jackson purchased The Beatles catalog for something like $50M (I think, don't quote me on that). Anyway, it ended up being a life saver after he got in financial hot water. He was able to use it as serious collateral.

Anybody got $23,999,872.38 I can borrow?

Sean Levert Died of Natural Causes

The coroner's report has just been released on the cause of R&B singer Sean Levert's death.

County Coroner Frank Miller said Levert died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in body's organs. The coroner said Levert also suffered from other conditions, including cardiovascular disease and withdrawal from alprazolam -- a drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

After Levert died, jail warden Kevin McDonough said he had been sick and guards were watching him because he had been acting strangely. When he started pounding on his cell door, guards strapped him in a restraint chair, McDonough said. Levert's breathing became shallow and he was taken to the hospital. (source)

The 39 year old son of legendary O'Jay member Eddie Levert and brother of the late Gerald Levert was serving a 22-month sentence for failure to pay child support. No comments have been made by the family concerning the coroner's report.

W.W.J.D.?

What Would Jada [and Will] Do? Well, accorinding to Will Smith, they would work it out. On an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show, Will Smith gave the key to the couple's successful 10-year Hollywood marriage to which Ellen was amazed saying, "It's like dog years when you're married here," she said. "That's like 50 years, right?"

What I found is divorce just can't be an option," he said. "It's really that simple. And I think that's the problem with L.A. -- there are so many options. So a huge part of the success for [Jada] and I is that we just removed the other options."

Smith went on to say, "We're like listen, we're going to be together one way or the other so we might as well try to be happy." (source)

I think my make-believe husband Al Green said it best "Let's stay together...whether times are good or bad, happy or sad..."(did I ever tell you that I have a crush on Al Green? Okay, well that's a post for another time).

Now, if the D-word was removed from your marital vocabulary, how would it change the way you handle situations? Give me some feedback.

Former White House Insider Spills the Beans on Bush

Well, well, well. We all know that a house divided against itself cannot stand, so what happens to the White House, when the roosters start crowing? One such rooster is former White House press secretary Scott McClellan. He was the former spokesman for Bush when he was governor of Texas, was named White House press secretary in 2003, and had previously been a deputy press secretary and was the traveling spokesman for the Bush campaign during the 2000 election and resigned from the White House in 2006, so he has had extensive opportunity to observe and listen.

In his new book, scheduled to go on sale June 1, entitled "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," McClellan drops a dime on how the White House has used the media to deceive and manipulate public opinion.

McClellan draws a portrait of his former boss [Bush] as smart, charming and politically skilled, but unwilling to admit mistakes and susceptible to his own spin. Bush "convinces himself to believe what suits his needs at the moment." (source)

McClellan covers some of the current Administration's major misses, such as Iraq and Katrina, saying the White House "spent most of the first week [after Katrina] in a state of denial...One of the worst disasters in our nation's history became one of the biggest disasters in Bush's presidency," he wrote. "Katrina and the botched federal response to it would largely come to define Bush's second term." He also wrote, "The Iraq war was not necessary."

Needless to say, the White House faithful are scrambling to throw doubt, calling McClellan "self-serving, disingenuous, and unprofessional" and "disgruntled."

Former White House adviser Karl Rove said on Fox News Tuesday that the excerpts from the book he's read sound more like they were written by a "left-wing logger" than his former colleague. (source)

[And that my friends is how you know Mr. McClellan must be telling the truth. The End.]

I Saw You (and Him) Walking in the Rain...

...well, actually, it was more like a shower...a GOLDEN shower.

Uh oh! Things are not looking too good for Aruh Kelly. Another witness has identified Kells as the male in the infamous sex tape. R. Kelly's former personal assistant, Lindsey Perryman testified Tuesday that she was 110 percent sure it was him on the tape. [What was the extra 10% for? I'm in a movie and I'm not even sure if I'm looking at myself in one of the scenes. I think it's me, but I can't say that I'm 110 percent sure and I've been looking at myself for 33 years.] Perryman worked for Kelly and his family off and on from 2000 to 2007.

"The image I saw looked exactly like Mr. Kelly," Perryman said, adding she was "shocked" and "disturbed" by the video.

Perryman said she saw the alleged victim numerous times, including when she would come to Kelly's Chicago music studio. She recognized the girl as the one in the video by her cheekbones, as well as by the "distinctive" way she moved her mouth, smiled and talked, she told jurors.

Tjada Burnett, a family friend of the alleged victim, was more certain, saying she recognized the female by her "cheeks, her nose, her facial structure," and said she could have been about 12 or 13 years old at the time the tape was made. (full story)

Sounds like Kelly needs to start taking applications at the county for a Hair Braider. Methinks he'll be spending a little time in the pokey real soon.

When it rains, it pours.

NY Gov. Paterson Gives Slick Rick a Full Pardon

Rapper Slick Rick, known for the hip-hop classics "La-Di-Da-Di", "Children's Story", "Hey Young World", and my favorite, "The Show" with Doug E. Fresh, has finally been granted a pardon by the NEW governor of New York, David E. Paterson.

Gov. Paterson announced: "Mr. Walters has fully served the sentence imposed upon him for his convictions, had an exemplary disciplinary record while in prison and on parole, and has been living without incident in the community for more than 10 years," Paterson said. "I urge federal immigration officials to once again grant Mr. Walters relief from deportation, so that he is not separated from his many family members who are United States citizens, including his two teenage children." (source)

Here's what I find amazing. The first notable act by the new governor is to pardon a rapper! I call that poetic justice. Come on, you know Spitzer wouldn't have done that. We 80's kids know that Slick Rick is part of the rap culture's finest hour. He's like royalty, and it took David Paterson to be swept into office in order for Uncle Ricky to finally get off the deportation train.

Paterson gets a great big thank you, but Rick needs to do a song giving a shout out to Client #9 and Girl 6. Without them, we may have lost the best thing to come out of the U.K. since fish 'n chips.

I feel like celebrating. Here's one of my all time favorites...The Show!

Dead Woman Awakes After Rigor Mortis

Doctors are calling Val Thomas a medical miracle. They said they can't explain how she is alive.

They said Thomas suffered two heart attacks and had no brain waves for more than 17 hours. At about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, her heart stopped and she had no pulse. A respiratory machine kept her breathing and rigor mortis had set in, doctors said.

"Her skin had already started to harden and her fingers curled. Death had set in," said son Jim Thomas. "She had no neurological function," said Dr. Kevin Eggleston. Her family said goodbye and doctors removed all the tubes. However, Thomas was kept on a ventilator a little while longer as an organ donor issue was discussed.

Ten minutes later the woman woke up and started talking.

Excerpts from WEWS Cleveland newsnet 5.com. Read news story and watch video here.

Still Breastfeeding a Seven Year Old

Um...yeah. That's what I said. I just spotted this over at News Bloggers on AOL.

A 2006 British documentary called Extraordinary Breastfeeding profiles a mother who (with the full support of her husband) decided to breastfeed her children until THEY were ready to wean off. The oldest daughter has fond memories of mom's milk, saying that it was "sweet...better than mangoes, even."

Even though this mother is probably biologically on target, we have been so cultured away from breastfeeding that I kept feeling like I was watching child porn. I would love to see some medical testing done on these kids to see if their immune systems and bones are stronger than children who are breastfed for a shorter time.

The human body biologically expects to breastfeed for up to about seven years of age ~ the universal age for losing the milk teeth. There is so much anthropological and scientific evidence to show that this is what our body needs and expects, regardless of the culture, climate, race or status we are born into.

"If we were meant to drink crap from a can, milk from the udder of a cow, goat, camel or horse, then we'd have been born to those animals rather than a mammalian human." (source)

McCain Denounces Hagee and Rejects Endorsement

John McCain has come out an publicly denounced and rejected San Antonio based Pastor John Hagee amid pressure surrounding Hagee's sermons regarding the Holocaust and other controversial statements. Hagee has reportedly made statements saying that Hitler was sent by God to force the Jews back to Israel, and that the Catholic Church is the "great whore" referenced in the book of Revelation. Needless to say, Jews and Catholics have been pretty upset by the remarks, so Hagee's endorsement of McCain on the heels of the blowup about Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial remarks were bad timing for McCain.

In a statement to CNN on Thursday, McCain said "Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Rev. Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well."

Shortly after McCain's announcement Thursday afternoon, Hagee withdrew his endorsement, citing critics who had been "grossly misrepresenting" his positions.

Now. Let's watch how the media handles this. John McCain has repeatedly tried to draw a distinction between his relationship with Hagee compared to Obama's relationship with Wright by saying that Hagee was not his spiritual advisor or pastor and that he didn't sit in his church for 20 years. Yeah, okay John. That makes it sooo much different. You're not getting out of this that easily.

The conservative media wanted to play the game of character assassination to Rev. Wright, but they didn't take into account that the same rules would apply to conservative candidates. Do I disagree with the tactic as a whole? Yes. Rev. Wright was taken out of context and reportedly Pastor Hagee was too, but unfortunately this is not a gentleman's war. There aren't even definitive candidates yet and this things is already nasty. What in the world will we have to endure on the road to November?!

I believe now more than ever, we will see the media for who they really are. Just watch and see.

Appeals Court Rules Polygamy Raid Was Illegal

I'm not surprised at all...and I completely agree. I believe that there were significant holes in the whole case and some things didn't make sense to me in the first place.

1). There was a cell phone call from a 16 year old reporting abuse. Okay, again I ask the question how did a child get access to a cell phone inside a camp with no access to the outside world and where did she get a phone number to call directly to the reported hotline?

2). An early report stated that there was a government agent who had been planted into the sect for something like 4 years. This fact was never discussed again in later reports. If there was in insider, why did the government wait four years to take action?

3). How is it legal for a law enforcement agency to raid a "neighborhood" or "gated community" because a 16 year old makes a telephone call alleging abuse? Think about it. If a 16 year old in your neighborhood called police and said she was being abused and so were many of the other children on her street, would the police block your street off and start loading your kids up on buses? No. They would have to come in and do a house-by-house investigation and prove misconduct. Furthermore, they would need a warrant in order to seize and remove your children, right?

Anyway, this mess is stinking. The appeals court has ruled that the Texas Child Protective Services overstepped their boundaries and according to CNN.com, they have 10 days to vacate an order placing the children in state custody (I'm not exactly sure what that means). They completely violated the parental rights and took a "moral" stance against FLDS. This whole thing had nothing to do with the children's rights or safety. It was about taking down another "cult" by whatever means necessary and violating freedom to practice whatever religion one chooses.

Thank God the FLDS didn't decide to stand off. There would have been unnecessary bloodshed and Waco all over again at the hands of an overzealous government.

God Bless America.

I'm in the movie "A Good Man Is Hard To Find"

Hey - to all my fans, stans, and stalkers! You can check me out on a new movie that has been released on DVD. Go rent or buy "A Good Man is Hard to Find" today! It was filmed here in Baton Rouge and is the first of several "faith based" movies that will be shot in Louisiana. I had the privilege of being a background extra and actually got a lot of camera time for an extra.

You can see me pretty clearly in all the choir scenes. I'm standing right behind Bishop Noel Jones. There is a choir rehearsal scene where I'm in a blue shirt and jeans. I'm in the background in the art gallery scene, though you only see my side profile. I also walk through the emergency room near the end of the movie. I'm a doctor (with a ponytail) at the desk in the background while the three main characters are doing their parts. As I walk out of the scene, I'm putting a pen in my shirt pocket...that was my improv...LOL!!!

Anyway, check it out. It's a pretty good film. It's a tear jerker for the sentimentals out there.

A Good Man is Hard to Find is the story of three women who each undergo romantic crises that challenge their personal and spiritual relationships. Each must overcome personal demons, resist temptations and withstand bad decisions so they can learn how to find and hold on to... a good man. (source)

My pastor's wife is in it too. She plays Golden Brooks' mother. Watch the trailer here.

Is Johnny Cochran My REAL Daddy?!

My first post about a body double was with my BFF Holly and my FAV singer Jill Scott. Here's the latest installment of body double: my dad (affectionately known around here as Uncle Freddy) and the late Johnnie Cochran, with whom I had the privilege of speaking to by phone almost daily for a while in 1999. He was the attorney representing my boss at the time, but most of the time he would relay information thru me. He was a very nice man. I think I remember telling him how much he looked like my dad. I wish they could have met.

Anyway, there have been times when we were travelling and people would do a double take at my dad. I remember one time in particular when we were in Las Vegas, we were going up an escalator and people who were coming down on the other side were looking and pointing. They thought they were seeing a celebrity! Well, they were...sort of. My dad is an internet celebrity and a hometown star.

He's delivered two babies, can fix anything, fancies himself a teacher and philosopher, Fruita Vita peddler, local herbalist, village medicine man, and is actually a very good photographer, even though he doesn't do it anymore. Oh, and if you haven't heard, he's on the hunt for a new pair of brown leather Birkenstock sandals with the heel strap. It's an emergency. Trust me.

What do you think...do we have a body double?

Morehouse Graduates First White Valedictorian

I have to admit that my initial reaction to this headline was not positive, but after reading the articles about Morehouse College's 2008 valedictorian, I am completely convinced that on both sides of the race conversation, we all need to talk less and listen more.

As a graduate of an HBCU (historically black college & university), we are fiercely protective of our status as meccas for the next generations of college students to get the "black experience". I just had this discussion with my good friend C.K. yesterday. Going to Southern University was a complete culture shock for me. I had never been around that many black people before in my life! I had gotten a glimpse of black college life by watching "A Different World," but to actually experience it was life changing. I just remember being in awe of the all the different shapes, sizes, and shades of black men...oooweee!!!

*fanning* ...okay, I just had a flashback...

Anyway, Morehouse College is the ultimate HBCU destination for the all-male experience. Women swoon when you talk about a 'Morehouse Man' not because of a look, but because we know that a certain old school value system has been instilled in him. He is the epitome of what we imagine a successful black man should be.

Enter a young man named Joshua Packwood. He's handsome. He smart. He's not black. Packwood is not the first white student at Morehouse, there have been many. But he is the first white valedictorian that the college has ever graduated in 141 years and according to the published reports, he has earned his place and much respect.

From his first day at Morehouse College _ the country's only institution of higher learning dedicated to the education of black men _ Joshua Packwood has been a standout. The 22-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., will graduate on May 18 with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a degree in economics.

When Packwood applied to Morehouse, he had frequent conversations with George Gray, an alumnus who was a recruiter at the school. Gray was impressed by Packwood's credentials and spent months trying to talk the sought-after senior into choosing Morehouse over other elite schools."He had outstanding numbers," said Gray. "He was the kind of kid we were looking for to be a presidential scholar." After several conversations, Packwood began to suspect that Gray had no idea that he was white. His suspicions were confirmed when one of Gray's calls caught Packwood in the middle of track practice. "Don't let the white kids walk you down," Gray quipped. "Wait," Packwood responded. "You know I'm white, right?" Silence. Uneasy laughter. Confirmation.

For Packwood, knowing that he had been picked on his merits, and not as a token white recruit, made the difference.

Being surrounded by black men for his undergraduate career has taught him more about diversity, Packwood said."I've been here for four years and yet, I cannot give you the definition of black," he said. "I cannot tell you what a black man is. I really learned to look much deeper. It takes a lot of effort to know people."

(read entire article here)

It's National Dump on Al Month!

Woohoo!!! Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, National Day of Prayer, and Dump on Al Month?! May has officially overtaken my birth month, July, as my favorite month of the year. Thank you Lord for answering prayers.

Former Wall Street banker, professor, mobile-home dweller, and soon to be author Al Scales Reynolds is crying a river over the recent breakup of his marriage with his wife, Star Jones.

Both are claiming to take the high road, but Al has hit a low point and needed to vent a little via MySpace and Facebook. Here are a few excerpts that caused me to giggle:

I grew up in a working class home, a mobile home in fact. I understand the struggles of the working class. My mother was a teacher and my father was in the military. was given values, integrity and a strong moral upbringing (thanks mom and dad). In these hard economic times, I am working to take my knowledge and experience of the business world and use it to empower and enlighten working class Americans who are often 'left behind' by traditional financial advice. [sounds like Hillary Clinton doesn't he?]

What I want people to know is that I am not the caricature portrayed by the media. I am complex, contradictory and capable of great intelligence but also remarkable stupidity. In other words, I am a human being. [sounds like Robin Thicke "...I'm too complicated, she's not complicated...I wish I could change, I wish I could change, I wish I could stop placing the blame, ohhhh..."]

In my mind, it feels like "Dump on Al Month." And I'm not having fun yet. [suck it up Al...you were married to a celebrity and as a former Wall Street banker, one would assume that you have thicker skin than that]

I have been called a gigolo, a freeloader, unemployed, a sham and many other things that don't bear repeating. People on television, radio and the internet have spoken disparagingly of my life, my sexuality, my career and my integrity. [this is not new Al...they were saying that before you married her]

Anyway, this whole display of raw emotion is to brand Al as a marketable person of interest and phase one is to victimize him. Whether it brings sympathy or contempt doesn't matter. As long as we keep his name fresh, then his mission is accomplished and he profits off his alleged marriage and divorce.

Public Relations 101. Class dismissed.

Obama '08 Monkey T-Shirt - UPDATE

In Marietta, Ga, the owner of Mulligan's Bar and Grill is selling an Obama '08 t-shirt with the likeness of Curious George, the monkey, on it. The owner claims that the shirt was not meant to be seen as a racial reference. He said he did it because he saw a resemblance between Barack Obama and Curious George.

According to AJC.com,
Rick Blake, a spokesman for publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which owns the Curious George image, said Wednesday that the company didn't authorize the use of the character's image, but hasn't been in touch with anybody selling or manufacturing the shirts.

"We find it offensive and obviously utterly out of keeping with the value Curious George represents," Blake said. "We're monitoring the situation and weighing our options with respect to legal action."

Marietta bar owner Mike Norman has said he got the T-shirts from someone in Arkansas. He started selling them at his bar -- known for the provocative, ultra-conservative political slogans often posted on signs out front -- in April but said he has no plans to mass market them.

Norman acknowledged the imagery's Jim Crow roots but said he sees nothing wrong with depicting a prominent African-American as a monkey. "We're not living in the (19)40's," he said. "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears -- he looks just like Curious George."

You make the call. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Goodnight Suge Knight!

In the yellow trunks, standing 6'3" and weighing in at 315 lbs...the big bully...MARION "SUGE" KNIGHT!

The challenger is in the blue trunks and comes in at a svelte 5'10" and 173 lbs...this unnamed opponent is simply known as...THE BARBER!

Well, well, well. Notorious Death Row Records mogul Marion "Suge" Knight has finally been brought down to earth...literally. The giant of a man who was the personification of a bully, got knocked out cold at a club by some random dude in LA over the weekend.

Suge and his peeps beat up a guy at an L.A. club last night, but the victim landed a punch that caused Suge to go Knighty night. Suge was taken to a hospital, and LAPD officers arrived shortly thereafter, but Suge was uncooperative and refused to file a police report. (source)

You know whoever the dude is that did it is a hero in the hood now. He's probably getting free hot links at the corner stand and phone numbers left and right, but if he's smart he'll get out of town like Ice Cube did in Next Friday. You know Deebo/Suge is looking for that dude. He ain't just gonna let that slide...and there's pictures of him knocked out all over the internet too?!

Run Craig, run!!!

Neverland Ranch Avoids Foreclosure

According to a story on BlackVoices.com, A last minute deal has saved Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch from being lost to foreclosure. Just days before the ranch was to be sold off, a real estate investment firm called Colony Capital bought the loan on the singer's fortress.

Jackson is said to be in discussions with Colony and its founder, Tom Barrack Jr, "with regard to the ranch and other matters." The King of Pop hasn't stepped foot on the compound in more than two years, spending his time in Europe and Middle East since his 2006 acquittal on child molestation charges.

The ranch sprawls over 2,800 acres and features a main home, a theme park and a zoo that once housed tigers, elephants, giraffes and orangutans. The animals were removed and the ranch shut down in early 2006 following an investigation into whether Jackson had stopped paying his employees and allowed his insurance to lapse.

Jackson's overall financial situation has stabilized in the past year, thanks to a refinanced loan with help from his label Sony Music.

If anyone connected to the Jacksons is reading this, my offer still stands. Holla back Joe.

O.J.'s "Alleged" Confession

Okay. I was really trying to resist the urge to write about this. I really was, but as I was reading the article, so many things jumped out at me.

A memorabilia dealer who profited from O.J. Simpson for many years has written a tell-all book, one alleging that a groggy Simpson, high on marijuana, confessed to killing his ex-wife after he was acquitted.

Mike Gilbert also claims that he helped his former friend wiggle out of the murder charges by suggesting how to bloat his hands so they wouldn't fit the notorious bloody gloves...he counseled the jailed Simpson during his murder trial to stop taking his arthritis medicine so his hands would swell up and not fit the bloody gloves in court.

So, at first he said that OJ confessed after the trial, then he says that he helped him swell up so the gloves wouldn't fit which would indicate some sort of admission of guilt before the trial was finished right?

Okay, well here's another twist:

According to Gilbert, Simpson said he went to his ex-wife's condominium but did not bring a knife with him. Simpson told him Nicole Brown Simpson had one in her hand when she opened the door. In a soft mumble, Simpson told him: "If she hadn't opened that door with a knife in her hand ... she'd still be alive."

If that were true, why would OJ have been wearing gloves in the first place?

Anyway, you can read the whole article if you want to. The obvious contradictions were just too much for me to ignore. Not interested in wasting any more of my time on it. Have a great day.

Teen Arrested at Prom for Skimpy Dress

This girl was turned away from the prom and then arrested for actin' a fool because she couldn't get in with her "custom made" prom dress. Marche's mama needs to have her behind whupped for letting her walk out of the house with that on. She's the one who should have been arrested. Now that's all I have to say. (read the story here)

Jury Selection Underway in R. Kelly Trial

Aruh Kelly is finally about to get his day in court. Jury selection has begun and is expected to last about a week (source). The child molestation trial is expected to have many twists and turns. The alleged under aged girl in the video is now 23 years old and claims that she in not the one in the video. There is also another woman who is expected to testify that she was the third leg of a threesome that happened between Kelly and the (then) under aged girl.

Three jurors have already been selected: a baptist preacher's wife, a business executive, and a telecommunications worker [insert jokes here]. Potential jurors who were dismissed included a man in his 50s who prosecutors said clearly was awe-struck by Kelly's celebrity and a security guard who said Kelly would have "some explaining to do" if he was on the video.

This mess has been delayed for 6 years, so I seriously doubt that R. Kelly will be found guilty. Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of him going to jail. Out of all the celebrities who've been sentenced to jail recently, he should've BEEN gone. I'm not an attorney, but I just foresee too many hurdles to cross for the prosecution to put on a successful case: 1) six years have passed, everyone's memory is questionable 2) if you find an untainted jury, they will not be a jury of his peers 3) the girl says it's not her...how will they prove it is?

Personally, I wouldn't mind if they give him a few years just for GP. That will at least give us a break from him putting out songs like "Hair Braider" and "Trapped In the Closet". The only downside is he could use idle prison time to come up with worse songs that are more reflective of prison life like "Trapped in the Shower" "Hair Braider: the Commissary Remix" or "I Believe I'm a Guy".

Email me to order t-shirts.

I'm Not A Monster...I Just Play One on TV

Incestuous daddy grandpa Josef Fritzl is not happy about his new found infamy.

Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said his client had access to a television in jail and was closely watching coverage of his case, which has garnered worldwide attention.

Mayer said Fritzl was bothered by the fact that he was being made out to be a monster. He said Fritzl told him, "I'm only being portrayed as a monster and not as someone who committed monstrous acts."

Huh? Could you repeat that last part?

"I'm only being portrayed as a monster and not as someone who committed monstrous acts."

Okay Josef (with an 'F'), maybe you thought you were watching a Lifetime movie. You saw the same dude on TV that we're seeing and that guy is YOU! It's not a portrayal, it's a presentation of the facts. That's like a rapist saying "I'm only being portrayed as a rapist and not as someone who committed rape."

Since you seem to be having an identity crisis, let's try this:

monster - Pronunciation: \ˈmän(t)-stər\
Function: noun
1 a: an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure b: one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character

2: a threatening force

3 a: an animal of strange or terrifying shape b: one unusually large for its kind

4: something monstrous; especially : a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness,or cruelty

5: one that is highly successful

Let me give you a quick 4-point argument that supports the monster definition:

~ First of all playa, you had 7 children by your own daughter. (See definition #1 & 2)

~ Secondly, you kept her and the kids locked in an underground dungeon for 24 years. (See definition #1, 2, 4, & 5)

~ Thirdly, have you seen your mug shot? A picture's worth a thousand words. You have an eerie resemblance to the Grinch and he's the meanest guy we know. (See definition #1, 2, 3 & 4)

~ Fourth, you put paper stars on the walls in the dungeon. What kind of cruel person puts paper stars on the walls?! That's just sick man...sick! Those kids had never even seen real stars before or sunlight for that matter! (See definition #4)

Okay, so maybe I only had 3 valid points. I threw the last one in there just for dramatic effect. I was on a roll. Forgive me, though it was true, that was not a good point.

Anyway, the investigation continues in this case that has grabbed headlines around the world.


Oh, and by the way, Fritzl has not yet been charged. (source)



Happy hump day.

Superdelegates are Getting Off the Fence

Just as I predicted last night, the superdelegate hornets' nest is stirring. Already today, three supers have pledged support for Obama and one for Clinton.

Obama is ahead of Clinton in total delegates: 1,842 to 1,686. Only 217 pledged delegates are up for grabs in the remaining six contests: West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota. Neither Sen. Barack Obama nor Clinton is expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to capture the nomination during the remaining contests. That means the superdelegates -- party and elected officials who are allowed to vote during the national convention -- will probably decide who becomes the nominee.


Here are some of the SD's perspectives: (source)


Former North Dakota Sen. George McGovern -- who had supported Clinton -- called on her to drop out of the race. He said he's supporting Obama. "I think mathematically the race is all but won by Barack Obama and the time has come for all of us to unite and get ready for the general election in the fall."


Rep John Lewis, D-Georgia, who originally supported Clinton but later threw his support to Obama, said "there are quite a few people who are having what I call an 'executive session' with themselves. People see the end is near."


Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California and a superdelegate, said she wants to talk to Clinton to "see what her view is on the rest of the race. What the strategy is."


Several SDs are still sitting on the fence:


Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, said he wants to "wait a little more time" before announcing his endorsement


Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, has remained undecided "I think if we get this thing settled in the first 10 days of June we'll be fine," he added.


Rep. Brad Miller, who represents the 13th Congressional District in North Carolina, said he will announce who he's supporting soon. "I'm going to let the dust settle for a few days," he said.


This will get more interesting over the next few days. It's time to make a decision and the SDs know it. As the old folks say "Pee or get off the pot."

Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon Confirm Wedding

Okay, I'm finally catching on. Leak a wedding or baby story. Play coy about it for a few days or a couple of weeks. Get friends and relatives to sort of confirm it. All the while, I get my people to negotiate a photo deal with a magazine. As soon as the details are complete, release picts to the magazine, collect a couple of million and live happily ever after.

So here's my plan. The Jacksons are doin' bad and could use a few dollars right? Well, so could I so we need each other right now. I could claim to be Michael Jackson's real baby mama or better yet, Papa Joe Jackson's mistress. Me and Joe could take some pictures together doing couple stuff like walking on the beach holding hands, me putting icy hot on his knees, him standing over me while I stack bricks...you know, couple stuff.

Then, sell the pictures to the National Enquirer or somebody and voila! Joe is back in business and I can retire early and we never have to see each other again. That's a business plan for success.

Here's the Carey/Cannon story. They say they're in love. I'm gonna say the same thing about me & Joe Jackson. I'm convinced I can make it work.

Georgia Bans "Pot" Candy Sale to Minors

Seriously? There is a such thing as pot...like marijuana pot...candy? Wow, I had no idea. I remember candy cigarettes. I was a big fan, but I don't think I would have liked them if they actually tasted like cigarettes. "Pot Suckers" and "Kronic Kandy are actually marijuana flavored. Ewww.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a measure into law Wednesday that bans the sale of "marijuana flavored products" to minors -- anyone under 18 -- and calls for a fine of up to $500 for each offense. The measure takes effect July 1st. (source)

What's next, baby powder infused with real cocaine with a hint of poppy for stimulation?

And they probably have a patent on this candy. Some stuff is just plain dumb.

Cops in Philly Caught on Video Beating Motorists

Several Philadelphia police officers, in a department under stress from the killing of another officer, are under investigation for using excessive force. (Read full story here)

The officers were videotaped kicking three shooting suspects and hitting them with blackjacks after pulling them from their car late Monday, WCAU-TV reported.

Police chased the car down just after 10 p.m. Monday. The men inside were suspected in a shooting. Police said the gunman ran away and was still on the loose Tuesday afternoon. The three later caught in the car were charged with aggravated assault.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the other suspects also have priors, but he added that their criminal history has nothing to do with police arrest procedures.

"On the surface, it certainly does not look good in terms of the amount of force that was used. But we don't want to rush to judgment," Ramsey said.

Ramsey said he does not want to make any excuses for what appears to have happened on the tape. But he did want to remind everyone that many officers are emotionally drained and under a great deal of stress.

Clinton Wins Indiana in Triple Overtime

Talk about coming down to the wire. I have literally been on the phone with one of my friends for the past 3 and 1/2 hours watching and waiting for the Indiana results to come in. We're watching the numbers change and calculating votes and listening to the analysts like it's the NBA playoffs! You know it's serious when you get cut off from telling a story so that you can be updated on the latest precinct numbers...LOL! I love this game!

Anyway, in a hard fought battle Clinton has come away in a nail biter as the victor in my former state of residence, Indiana (I lived in Kokomo off and on over the course of 3 years). Indiana held 72 delegates of which Obama and Clinton will almost split down the middle, so basically Senator Clinton will only net 3 or 4 delegates (Obama netted 8 delegates with a win in NC, so overall he profits about 4 additional delegates...[gotta love that fuzzy math]). Clinton won with a 2% margin of victory. You can't get much closer than that (read more on CNN.com)

The hilariously frustrating part was listening to the dialogue between Wolf Blitzer, the mayor of Hammond, IN and the mayor of Gary, IN. Everybody was tired and mad because it was taking so long to count the votes in Gary. The Gary mayor kept saying over and over that it was taking a long time because they had just gotten 11,000 absentee ballots in on Monday and regular voting was Tuesday and that they wanted to take their time and count all of the votes properly, so as not to disenfranchise the voters. (Whatever dude. Ya'll took way too long with that.) The Hammond mayor made very overt suggestions that impropriety must have been taking place in Gary to cause such a delay. Now let me point out that the mayor of Gary is black and an Obama supporter and the mayor of Hammond is white and a Hillary supporter. After the results came in, the Hammond mayor hurried up and shut up about 'hanky panky' after CNN called Clinton the winner.

Anyway, Obama currently leads in pledged delegates and in states won, and he is ahead in the popular vote, if Florida and Michigan are not factored into the equation. Those states are being penalized for moving their primaries up in violation of party rules.

With neither candidate expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination by June 3, the end of the primary season, the final decision will most likely fall to the 796 superdelegates: Democratic governors, members of Congress and party officials.

I predict that super delegates will start to take sides now. Everybody's getting tired of this race. It's time to move on to something more productive.

....and North Carolina goes to (the envelope please)...

Barack Obama wins North Carolina and nets about 8 delegates.

He's baaack! After a much maligned few weeks, filled with questions regarding flag pins, pastors, and gas tax - Barack Obama is once again walking tall and carrying a big stick. At a time where polls suggested that he was losing support and popularity among voters due to the media's weapons of mass distraction, the supporters of the Obama campaign have shown up en masse to prove that they are interested in issues, not all that other foolishness.

Obama has claimed a huge victory in North Carolina. It was the last big state left with 115 delegates up for grabs. Of course the naysayers would love to make the point that he only won North Carolina because of the black vote (as if the black vote is somehow insignificant and blacks are not capable of making rational, well-thought out decisions. Did anyone question the judgement of black voters when the candidate was Bill Clinton?) ...but, i digress.

Turnout in the North Carolina Democratic primary was expected to reach 50 percent, according to Gary Bartlett, executive director for the North Carolina Board of Elections. That figure would far exceed the 15 percent to 30 percent that usually turn out for a primary, he said.

Now, here's the problem (see CNN.com for in depth coverage):

According to early exit polls, half of Clinton's supporters in Indiana would not vote for Obama in a general election match up with Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

A third of Clinton voters said they would pick McCain over Obama, while 17 percent said they would not vote at all. Forty-eight percent of Clinton supporters said they would back Obama in November.

Obama got even less support from Clinton backers in North Carolina where 45
percent of Clinton supporters said they would vote for him over McCain. Thirty-eight percent of Clinton supporters said they would vote for McCain while 12 percent said they would not vote. Obama voters appear to be more willing to support Clinton in November. In Indiana, 59 percent of Obama backers said they'd vote for Clinton, and 70 percent of Obama backers in North Carolina said vote for her against McCain.

Okay, I've been hanging around for the past hour and a half waiting for them to call Indiana. This is better than watching game 7 of the playoffs. I'll get back to you when the updates are in.

75 Students Arrested in Drug Sting at San Diego State

I've said it before and I'll say it again: STOP TEXTING!!!

Before going to Las Vegas for the weekend, fraternity members involved in the sale of drugs sent text messages to their customers, saying, "We're going to close out our inventory," and inviting them to "buy the cocaine at discounted prices," Damon Mosler, chief of the narcotics division for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office said. After the weekend, they sent another text message saying they were back and ready to do business, Mosler said.

LOL!!! What were they doing, having a spring clearance sale? Rolling back prices like WalMart. You gotta give 'em points for good customer service though.

"They weren't picky about who they sold to," he said, alleging that undercover officers would simply call them and say, " 'Hey, I heard you deal. Will you sell to me?' ...."And they did."

[Their service rating keeps going up. They treat every customer equally. Non-discriminatory. Customer friendly. You just can't get that quality of service everywhere.]

About 100 people, including students majoring in homeland security and criminal justice, were arrested Tuesday in an undercover drug sting at San Diego State University, officials said. Among those arrested, 75 were
students, one of them a criminal justice major charged with possession of guns and cocaine, authorities said. One student allegedly dealing cocaine was a month short of obtaining a master's degree in homeland security at the California school and worked under campus police as a student community service officer. Campus police initiated the investigation about a year ago after a fatal overdose on campus. Five months ago the school solicited the DEA's help.

Mosler described the students as "mid-level distributors"
who were selling more than a person might buy for personal use.

And they say the education system is failing.

(read full story here)

Jesus Take the Wheel

Who knew Jesus was living in New Mexico? I guess it makes sense though. NM is kind of a dry, desert place like Jerusalem, so I get why he would choose to live there as opposed to someplace like south Louisiana where the 100% humidity might cause his hair to frizz up.

Apparently he and the pope aren't on speaking terms these days. I don't remember them sitting down to break bread while the pontiff was in town recently. I wonder what that's all about. So many unanswered questions...

I have to admit that I'm a little bit annoyed that he didn't make himself known before now. I just hope he's registered to vote or better yet, I hope he's a super delegate. An endorsement from Jesus could go a long way for the Obama campaign.

CNN reports that the leader of an apocalyptic New Mexico church who claims to be the Messiah was arrested Tuesday on sex charges. Wayne Bent, who also goes by the name Michael Travesser, was arrested at the compound that is home to his Lord Our Righteousness Church, called Strong City by members. Bent said on the Web site that God revealed to him in 2000 that he is the Messiah.

Bent has acknowledged having sex with his followers, but authorities will not divulge who the alleged victims are. The Lord Our Righteousness Church is to be featured Wednesday on a National Geographic Channel program, "Inside the Cult." In a video clip of the show posted on the channel's Web site, Bent and some young women followers admit the young women lay with him while naked, but deny sex took place. [same defense Micheal Jackson used...apparently it works]

"It was God," Bent said in the video clip. "God came down on them and told them to do it."

[Dear God, please come down on all my bill collectors and tell them to zero out my balances and send me refund checks. Thank you. Amen.]

Bent had predicted the world would end October 31, 2007.

I predict that he'll be showering with frankincense and myrrh soap on a rope, and teaching bible study in an orange jumpsuit and flip flops in the penitentiary in 2008.

Flip the Script: A Roland Martin Commentary

I have a lot of respect for Roland Martin, who is a CNN and Essence.com contributor. His point of view in this commentary is that the tables should be turned on all those who have championed the cause against Barak Obama by using Jeremiah Wright as a weakness. He suggests that if it is acceptable that the pundits play that game with one candidate, then the rest are fair game too.

Interesting perspective. I totally agree with the principle; however, I think that the practice will be counterproductive to the cry for change. It would be right to hold everyone's feet to the fire and play hardball with the candidates who so smugly criticized Obama's association with Wright. It would be a calculated political move, but ultimately I think it would turn out to be just another distraction.

Just my opinion. Read the article and discuss in the comment box.

Stay on the Scene, Like a Sex Machine

Soul Brotha #1 is still on the scene. 16 months after the Godfather of Soul, James Brown passed away, DNA tests have proven that the sex machine was still in service at least six years before his death. JB's name lives on. James Brown, II is officially the son of former backup singer Tomi Rae Hynie and James Brown. (read AP report)

The six year old boy was left out of Brown's will, but now may have a legitimate claim to a portion of his father's estate. There may not be very much for the little guy to lay claim on after they pay off JB's line of credit at Sally's Beauty Supply and split the rest with lawyers, accountants, hairdressers, tailors, his six other confirmed siblings and possibly at least three more alleged siblings (tests have yet to confirm).

I guess Tomi Rae is somewhere trying to get somebody to put her back on TV so she can show out and tell everybody "I told you so!" I ain't mad at her.

In honor of Cinco de Mayo here's a video that I've been looking for a reason to post. Another laugh to kick your week off right. Enjoy! ...hey ck ;-)

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

It's Cinco de Mayo, one of my favorite days of the year. I really like the Mexican culture...the bright colors, the food, the music...it all works for me. I think I'm gonna call in sick, put on my Mexican shawl, and go hang out at On the Border all day.


Background on Cinco de Mayo:

It is NOT Mexico's Independence Day. That's on Sept 16th. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a Mexican heritage. In these areas the holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, of food, music, beverage and customs unique to Mexico.

Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have also had a hand in promoting the holiday, with products and services focused on Mexican food, beverages and festivities, with music playing a more visible role as well. Several cities throughout the U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week following up to May 5th, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than it is to the south, and being adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year. It's not even a national holiday in Mexico. It has primarily become a big deal in the U.S. because advertisers are capitalzing by selling boat loads of alcohol...and pre-paid phone cards.

While One Marriage Begins...Another One Ends

Not to be outdone by the quickie hush, hush nuptials of Jayonce`, it's been confirmed (sort of) from many sources (except Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey) that the couple did indeed wed in the Bahamas last week. People.com reports that Bishop Clifford Petty of the National Church of God in the Caribbean confirmed to PEOPLE that he presided over the wedding of Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. Carey, 39, and Cannon, 27, obtained a marriage license on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera.

Many seem dubious of the whirlwind romance (and for the record, I don't really care).

"This is what Nick does; Nick is such a sucker for love," said a source close to Cannon. "He falls in love so quick."

Well, apparently so does Arnold Drummond.

...Insert a "whatchu talkin bout Willis?" right here....

What I'm talking bout is Gary Coleman's divorce after only 8 months to 22-year old bride Shannon Price. (read story)

The Colemans appeared on Divorce Court in two episodes last week. Judge Lynn Toler was on Tom Joyner and explained that she tried to reason with Coleman and get to the bottom of their issues, but he is still an angry guy over his handlers stealing his money back in the day, so he has fits of rage and throws temper tantrums.

Check out the video:

Bush Delivers Commencement at a H.S. in Tornado Devastated Town

President Bush addressed a high school graduation Sunday in Greensburg, Kansas, a year after a tornado took 11 lives and destroyed 90 percent of the small Midwestern town. (story)

The May 4, 2007, tornado touched down more than 75 times, leaving hundreds of residents of southwestern Kansas without their homes and businesses. It blew winds up to 205 mph, reducing brick-and-mortar buildings to piles of rubble. It smashed cars and semi trucks, and rendered Greensburg virtually unrecognizable.

Still, most Greensburg residents chose to stay and rebuild their community, Bush pointed out.

Never before had Bush delivered a commencement address at a high school, and his presence was meant to reflect how far Greensburg has come. From nearly total devastation last May 4, this town is recovering, and hope has been rekindled.

"We celebrate the resurgence of a town that stood tall when its buildings and homes were laid low," Bush said in his remarks at the temporary high school gym.

Congrats to the kids in Greensburg and the entire town for persevering, but I have only two words for Mr. Bush: NEW ORLEANS

...meanwhile, the Neville Brothers just performed together for the first time in over two and a half years...since Katrina devastated their homes (and over 80% of the entire city) and left the family scattered across the nation. The family reunion took place at this weekend's finale of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Read more about it here.

PETA Wants KY Derby Jockey Suspended

Can PETA please go sit down somewhere? Here's a recap of the events of the Kentucky Derby in case you haven't heard. Eight Belles, the filly who won second place, crossed the finish line and then collapsed on the track with both her front ankles broken. Because her injuries were so extensive, she had to be euthanized right on the track (read full story here)

Enter PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). According to SportsIllustrated.com:

PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" and asked that Saez [20-year old Panamanian jockey Gabriel Saez] be suspended while Eight Belles' death is investigated.

"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

*sigh*

I would really be impressed with PETA if they were showing up in the hood, but you only see them during high profile, Hollywood type situations. Pets on the block are the ones really suffering. Why don't they come and fit all the 3 legged project dogs with prosthetics and donate big money to research to find a cure for mangy cats with hairballs? What about all the chickens running around at the car lot on Sherwood...is that ethical? Huh PETA?!

Yeah, I'll Take That In Small Bills Please.

A 21-year old Ft. Worth, Texas man was arrested trying to cash a $360 BILLION dollar check. That is not a typo...I said a $360,000,000,000.00 - wait...wait - CHECK!


This fool wrote HIMSELF a stolen check for $360B so he could start a record label! I'm too through.

Police arrested Charles Fuller last week when bank tellers noticed the ridiculously large amount and called the woman whose name was on the check. Police said they found 2 ounces of marijuana and a gun in his pockets when they arrested him, so he also faces charges for unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana.

Click here to watch news footage.

Michelle Has Spoken: Let's Move On

“You know what I think, Meredith,” Mrs. Obama replied. “We’ve got to move forward.”

These were the poignant, unapologetic frank words that Michelle Obama spoke to Meredith Viera on the Today Show. I believe that her statement was the punctuation mark that was needed to put this diversion to rest and to move forward. Period.

In the first joint interview the couple has given in more than a year, Barack and Michelle Obama sat down on the Today Show with Meredith Viera for a segment that aired this morning. They addressed the questions with tact and grace, firm on their position to move forward.

In a one-on-one interview with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, Michelle Obama said "With all due respect, we're moving forward...Barack was so clear, and he's been so open about this issue, and he speaks for me as well."

"Because it's through this limited struggle that we're facing ... if out of that comes something grander and we get in a place where we're a more unified nation, where people aren't focused on the small stuff, and we're looking at big picture -- brave, courageous approaches to our problems," she said. "And people, you know, are ready to roll up their sleeves and engage again."
I have a lot of respect for Mrs. Obama. She is not intimidated and doesn't back down. She's tough. I like that.

See video here.