A Sad Diag-nose-is

No doubt by now you have seen this almost gruesome (and truly sad) photo of Michael Jackson. Seems that the king of pop's face has been ravaged by the effects of years of surgical procedures.

Now in this article Plastic surgeons give us the 411 on Jacko's schnoz.

"What he's done is to go from a Negroid or black nose, which is round and broad and flat, to a Caucasian nose that's narrow and projecting," said Dr. Harvey Zarem, a former chief of plastic surgery at UCLA who practices in Santa Monica. "To do that, you have to put cartilage or silicone or bone in the nose like a tent stake to make the nose stick out. But when you do that enough, the cartilage or silicone or bone pokes through."

Mike should have stayed away from the plastic surgeons three or four noses ago.

Gore in '04?

Maybe.

In what Barbara Walters calls his first interview since his devastating defeat, former Vice President Al Gore said on ABC's "20/20" Friday that he has not decided whether to run again for president. "I haven't ruled it out, I won't make a decision until the end of year; after the holidays I'll make an announcement," Gore said.

"I would like to be president, but is it the right thing for me to do?" Gore said that at the moment he is neutral on running on a presidential ticket for a fifth time but that in the end, the decision will ultimately depend on "a gut feeling."

Here is what Daniel Schorr had to say.

As for me, I'd vote for Gore, and not just because he won in 2000.

Above the Law

The Washington Post has this story

The Roman Catholic bishop of Arlington has told a local priest that he will be permanently suspended from the diocese for obeying a subpoena to testify in a civil lawsuit about another priest's adultery with a parishioner's wife.

Bishop Paul S. Loverde informed the Rev. James R. Haley in an Oct. 28 formal notice that he is being removed for violating a gag order a year ago, which barred him from disclosing wrongdoing by priests in order "to avoid scandal, to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and to protect the reputation and privacy of both the faithful and priests of this diocese."

This seems like the total opposite of what should be expected from a church leader. "Removed from office for obeying a subpoena"? This is horrfying ...

Is that Satan I hear laughing in the background, Bishop?

Of course, this doesn't look good for the Vatican that recently approved their revised sexual misconduct guidelines which was then passed by the American bishops

(Repost)

Major Slip-up

Fox News' Anchor Shepard Smith was doing a report on Jennifer Lopez in which he made the following slip-up:

"J.Lo's new song 'Jenny From the Block' is all about Lopez's roots, about how she's still a neighborhood gal at heart," Shepherd declared innocently enough, before veering horribly off his teleprompted script. "But folks from that street in New York, the Bronx section, sound more likely to give her a curb job than a blow job!"

Watch the faux-pas for yourself, the video clip is here. (Windows media)

Oops!

(Via Oliver Willis)

*Repost* I'm reposting this story from 2 days ago. Hits on the website have quadrupled in the last 24 hours from visitors searching this on GOOGLE and elsewhere.

Jenny From the Block?

In this story MTV.Com reports:

A New York newspaper reporting on the "Primetime" visit alleged that Lopez was less than cordial to the peeps from her past. Accounts of bodyguards shoving fans and bringing one to tears were coupled with personal testimonies that claimed when Jenny left the block, she didn't look back, except when shout-outs to the Boogie Down benefited her.

And, by the way, If you missed her interview on "Primetime" with Diane Sawyer of ABC News on Nov. 13th, you can see it here.

Excerpts:

I am such a kind of artist in dat way, you know, just such a flutter bug in dat way. Where it's just like, you know, the idea of love and fairy tales and romance and all dat."

"What I knew that was different this time is that I was just more scared ... It was too powerful ... whereas before it was almost I had control of things, so I wasn't afraid to kind of be in there, in the fire.... This time it was just smothering me and — so hot, you know, that it was just like — it made me afraid."

Uh, sounds like we might be a little out of touch with reality there, J-lo.

Could Nineteen Eighty-Four be Upon Us?

William Safire of the NY Times writes

If the Homeland Security Act is not amended before passage, here is what will happen to you:

Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend — all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as "a virtual, centralized grand database."

To this computerized dossier on your private life from commercial sources, add every piece of information that government has about you — passport application, driver's license and bridge toll records, judicial and divorce records, complaints from nosy neighbors to the F.B.I., your lifetime paper trail plus the latest hidden camera surveillance — and you have the supersnoop's dream: a "Total Information Awareness" about every U.S. citizen.

1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell's prophetic nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming seems timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of "Negative Utopia"—a startingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny this novel's power, its hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions—a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Predictions made on a pot high

Remember the Ms Cleo debacle and subsequent lawsuit?

The operators of Miss Cleo's psychic hot line agreed Thursday to cancel $500 million in customer bills to settle federal charges that the service fleeced callers while promising mystical insights into love and money.

The settlement requires Access Resource Services Inc. and Psychic Readers Network Inc. to stop using pay-per-call numbers to sell their soothsaying services, the Federal Trade Commission said. The two Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based companies, which promoted a national network of "psychic readers" on television and the Internet, also must pay the FTC a $5 million fine.

What I'd like to know is how the heck can such an operation amass $500 million in the first place, is the public that gullible? Geez.

Holiday Events NYC

Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the fantastic Rockettes.
November 7, 2002 - January 5, 2003
Ticket Prices: $36-$119

With a cast of over 140 people, over 1,300 wonderful costumes and beautiful sets, America's #1 favorite Christmas show is back at it again at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Starring everyone from the Rockettes, Santa, the marching Wooden Soldiers and many others, this annual hit is sure to please all!

______________

Christmas Tree Lighting & Ice Show
December 4, 2002

Where else on earth will thousands and thousands gather for the lighting a single tree? NYC that's where! Join in this fantastic event which is televised nationwide and perhaps even across the seas. Entertainment, Singing etc. Be there.

List of other events, dates, directions etc. here

Oliver laments, in a letter to J-Lo

"Why? You hurt me Jenny. Hurt me real bad. I was there for you before the fame, before the money, damn it - I was there before the lip gloss. And this is how you repay me. Ben Affleck. Ben-freaking-Affleck?" [More]

Signs of Democratic Life

As Nancy Pelosi becomes the new Democratic house minority leader, she has work to do:

Mary McCrory's (The Washington Post) article compares Tom DeLay, the newly elected House majority leader and Nancy Pelosi, she writes:

Both Pelosi and DeLay are formidable personalities. Both can raise money, and both are fervent disciples of grass roots. In 2000, when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent some $90 million to pick up one House seat, Pelosi oversaw the victorious campaigns of five California contenders -- all of whom were reelected on Nov. 5.

Pelosi and DeLay probably could not discuss issues with any profit to either, except possibly child welfare legislation. He is a tiger at protecting poor children. She has stood almost alone in her defense of human rights in China. But they can talk politics.

Says Pelosi:

"I have perfect confidence in my ability to do this job," "They're not electing me because of my ideology or my gender." (She's the first female leader in history.) "I know I can lead the Democrats into a consensus on issues so the Republicans can't mischaracterize what we're doing."

Folks are already asking:

Should the Democratic Party re-fashion itself “Republican-lite” as it reorganizes and seeks to regain political control?

Should Democrats move to the middle?

Or should they move left and re-energize their base?

The middle seems to me the most likely road to success. Republicans are hoping she veers left. Of course, that wouldn't be prudent since it seems that the country lurched to the right during the Nov. elections. And, people seem to be tired of extremist left wing factions.

But, is that really the case? Another spin may be that the Republicans have done a great job crafting their rethoric as to camouflage their real intentions, threreby causing more supporters to flock to their camps.

Many decisions have yet to be made.

Whatever direction Pelosi takes, she must transform the Democrats from their current, dejected state into a team that is hungry for victory.

Political Courage Resonates with the Electorate

Monica Friedlander Writes:

That courage is a winning virtue may be Paul Wellstone's greatest legacy.

The disheveled, 5'5" Jewish senator from a small Midwestern state looked nothing like a hero. Yet he had the stuff that legends are made of, and Americans from sea to shining sea knew, loved and respected him for it.

Not everyone is cut out to be a hero, but everyone can show courage, at least on occasion. And elected officials who go with the flow and coast to victory (why does Diane Feinstein spring to mind?) may want to reconsider their strategy -- not just as a tribute to Paul Wellstone, but for their own political gain.

Wellstone never spoke in platitudes or voted for what was politically correct. He marched to his own drumbeat. He became a symbol for progressive politics as well as for political courage. It's not his death that turned him into a legend, for death cannot make giants out of common men. He was a giant in life as well. [more]

Vibe with me

Uhh uhh uhh.
You ready B? Let's go get 'em..
Look for me! Young, B
Cruisin down the westside - high, way
Doing what we like to do - our, way
Eyes behind shades, this necklace the reason
all of my dates been blind dates
But today, I got my thoroughest girl wit me
I'm mashin the gas, she's grabbin the wheel, it's true to the heart
She rides with me - the new Bobby and Whitney
Only time we don't speak is during "Sex and the City"
She gets Carrie fever, but soon as the show is over
She's right back to being my soldier
Cuz mami's a rider, and I'm a roller
Put us together, how they gon' stop both us?
What ever she lacks, I'm right over her shoulder
When I'm off track mami is keepin me focused
So let's, lock this down like it's supposed to be
The '03 Bonnie and Clyde, Hov' and B

[Jay]All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
[Bey] Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.
[Jay] All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.
[Bey] Down to ride 'til the very end, it's me and my boyfriend.


(From bleuprint 2) Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Photo credit to Vibe magazine.

Copped the lyrics from Tory, thanks girl.

Corporate America + Slang

AZ central has this story

Use a little slang and you've got their attention. That seems to be the growing thought in corporate America and the media, eager to hook the younger crowd. Some sportscasters have started describing impressive plays as "sick." Before that, Budweiser ads helped place the greeting "Whassup" in the American lexicon.

But those are the rare cases that don't draw groans and eye-rolling from the young crowd. More often, young people say adults shouldn't even think about using lingo from the streets, hip-hop clubs and school hallways.

Every decade hundreds of words and definitions are added to America's lexicon. When it comes to slang, if added in a subtle way, it's likely to gain acceptance without much notice, I think. But if overdone, that's when it tends to become silly.

AMNH NYC

Here is one of the nicest things to do in New york City. First have a good breakafast, (a bowl of oatmeal, some scrambled eggs, toast and juice would be fine), put on some comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes and head on down to the

American Museum of Natural History.

If there are children in your house, take them along.

Take your girlfriend, wife or significant other, you'll have a great time and there's much to learn in the process.

I visit the Museum at least once every couple of years. My first trip there was during the 80's, with my ex girlfriend (How time flies).

While you are there, don't miss the National Center for Science Literacy, Education and Technology

The hall of Biodiversity and the Rose Center for Earth and Space

Seems Hopeless

My knicks haven't been doing well at all, The Utah jazzed put a hurting on them on Teusday. But, maybe when Sprewell gets back this Saturday, things will start moving a new direction ... At least we hope.

Major Slip-up

Fox News' Anchor Shepard Smith was doing a report on Jennifer Lopez in which he made the following slip-up:

"J.Lo's new song 'Jenny From the Block' is all about Lopez's roots, about how she's still a neighborhood gal at heart," Shepherd declared innocently enough, before veering horribly off his teleprompted script. "But folks from that street in New York, the Bronx section, sound more likely to give her a curb job than a blow job!"

Watch the faux-pas for yourself, the video clip is here. (Windows media)

Oops!

Via Oliver Willis

Jiggaman does it again

To the person who bought me Jay Z's Blueprint 2, thank you, you know who you are. The gift was right on time.

The new album (a double-disc set) features 20 tracks and 4 bonus tracks, led by single "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" featuring Beyonce Knowles (my favorite), was released yesterday.

Producers include Dr. Dre, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Just Blaze. I find that this album has a more eclectic sound, compared to his previous stuff.

Tracks range from reggae to soul to blues to rock. The album also features somewhat untraditional rap album guests such as Lenny Kravitz and Sean Paul. Other guests include, Scarface, LaToiya Williams, Sadat X, Memphis Bleek, Faith Evans and more.

Jay Z also samples from both Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.

My other favorites on this album include Lenny Kravitz on the track 'Guns and Roses.' and "As one" with samples from the Earth Wind And Fire song of the same name.

I give it a 4 out 5 stars, Rock on Jiggaman.

Other recent stories on Jay-Z:

For 10 days this month, Jay-Z will act as principal of different schools across the
country, addressing students, holding open forums and tending to other daily duties ... Jigga what?
[more]

Jay-Z Speaks On Beef With Nas, Links With 'Austin Powers' [more]

___________

And Missy too ...

Let's not forget that Missy Elliot's album (Under Construction) came out yesterday as well, that's next on my list ... I would chat a bit more about Missy, who I think is also a talented artist, but Leah already did a great job at it.

C'est La Vie

When life feeds you lemons, add sugar, make lemonade.
RG

Homey D Clown? Is it really you?

That's right Nikka ... Who tha hell are you?

My name is Ray, I'm a blogger.

A blogger hey? Blogging, in my opinion is a big flocking waste of time, see, that's why Homey don't play that. Everybody knows, that Homey the clown don't play around

Actually, it's not that bad Homey, Blogging is therapeutic for me. I spend about an hour or two a day here, post a few stories, events and other things that are important to me. The process helps me relax, while learning and exploring.

Freak that ... Homey spends his time messing with the man, making ribbed and lubricated balloon animals, playing with the ladies and getting his wine and song on ... dig.

Yeah well, to each his own I suppose.

Yeah, you dam skippy ...You know what, Ray? I ought to knock you upside your head with this here sock.

Homey, just chill, you need to stop thinking in terms of violence all the time.

Looka here Ray *Whack* Homey don't play that.

Black Republicans On the Move

Take note that Black Republicans made history last week by winning two lieutenant governors' races, marking the first time they have held the spot in two states concurrently.

Maryland's Michael S. Steele and Ohio's Jennette Bradley rode the Republican tide to victory Tuesday, renewing Republican hopes of raising the party's profile among traditionally Democratic black voters.

This year marks the retirement of Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. of Oklahoma, the only black Republican in Congress, and Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers, the highest-ranking black Republican in a statewide office.

Doctor of Music

Billy Ocean was awarded an Honorary Doctor Of Music degree in recognition of his services to the music industry.

The awards ceremony took place at the University of Westminster Barbican Centre in London.

Ocean has released eight albums in the UK and America, spanning three decades.

Those that were around back-in-the-day may remember his hits "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" and Caribbean Queen ( no more love on the run)". Reminisce, why don't you?

Reality Check

Photo of an advertisement, released Tuesday Nov.12 2002, for anti-fur group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which features pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor holding the body of a dead fox. The ad, due to appear in magazines around the world, was photographed by Mary McCartney Donald, daughter of the late Linda McCartney and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. (AP Photo/ PA, Mary McCartney Donald) Via Yahoo.com

Not Really

In this Times Online article Chris Ayres says (in speaking of Eminem's success) that "All change as Eminem hailed as new Elvis"

He says further that:

"The comparisons with the King [Elvis Presley] may seem bizarre, but they are not new. Eminem is, after all, a white man who took a black cultural product, in this case hip-hop, and sold it to a white audience, making hundreds of millions of dollars in the process."

Let's be real, the best comparison I see between the two artists is hype over the color of their skin as it relates to current marketing trends.

Whitney

After years of obscurity, unpleasant headlines — including an arrest for possession of marijuana — and questions about her health, Ms. Houston has been knocked down a notch. Now she needs to be promoted like any department store line. And for her new album, "Just Whitney," scheduled for release on Dec. 10, to be successful, she needs to be seen by her listeners

Ms. Houston, who has not released an album in four years, and will be competing with Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez for fourth-quarter record sales. "There is room for all of them," said Antonio L A Reid of Arista records. "Yes, there are new trends in music since Whitney released her last record, but her voice is timeless."[more] Via NY Times (Reg. required)

Local police, brought to you by Joe's Bar and Grill

Imagine your local police car emblazoned with advertising logos instead of the familiar and bold "Police" logos that are all too familiar. This writer says that he understands the pressures that are leading some small town police administrators to consider putting ads on their cruisers.

I say, forget-about-it, they are certain things that should just remain status-quo ... But I'm sure the folks at Dunkin Donuts are loving this idea.

A classroom Crusade

The Washington Post has this story

Eric Smith wants to prove he can eliminate the achievement gap that divides blacks and Hispanics from Asians and whites. His stint in Maryland will put him to the test

The premier percentiles top the list. They belong to schools near Anne Arundel's coastline where neighborhoods are shaded by leafy trees and many homes boast boat slips. These are communities where parents have law degrees and PhDs, and the children are overwhelmingly affluent and white. Here, students' math and reading skills are among the very best in the country.

In the past, school leaders have focused on those numbers. But today, Smith's pencil is pointing at the bottom of the list--at the performance of schools surrounded by public housing projects and decrepit apartment complexes. These are ramshackle neighborhoods with stray Doritos bags blown into the front yards and drug dealers doing business on the corner. The children here are almost entirely poor and black, and their test scores show they have already fallen far behind most students their age.

Most of the accolades come for work Smith did in North Carolina, where he spent six years leading Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 109,000-student system. During that time, he quadrupled black enrollment in college-level Advanced Placement courses and boosted test scores overall by 20 percentage points. He started an ambitious prekindergarten program called Bright Beginnings that has, he says, "eliminated the gap" between rich and poor kindergartners when they start school.

The country needs more innovators like Eric that are willing to address the causes of the "achievement gap", help solve it and prove to the nay-sayers that the public education system can work.

De Facto Democrats?

Tom Friedman of the NY times writes

With the Dems out of business, the real opposition party on foreign policy will now be the "De Facto Democrats": Colin Powell, John McCain and the British prime minister, Tony Blair. They are the only voices that, if raised in opposition to any Bush foreign policy initiative, could restrain the president and sway the public. That is not true of any Democrat today.

"While the Democrats failed to articulate a broad range of policy differences with President Bush," said David Makovsky of the Washington Institute, "their key failure was their inability to persuade Americans — in their guts — that they were prepared to deal with the world as it really is now." That is a world full of terrorists and rogue regimes dedicated to our destruction and not responsive to therapy or social work

Makes sense ... As I've said before, the Dems will need to articulate the challenges facing us and do so from a position of strength and passion .

Where Everything Is Happening

Glitz and glamour, fine food, media and publishing — they define New York. But can the city that never sleeps continue to be the center of all that is trendy?

In a series of reports, NY Newsday exlpores Fashion | Publishing | Ads | Food In NY, among other things.

"New York is about the economics of scale -- what you're producing has enormous effect,” says Glenda Bailey, the British expatriate who is editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar. "And what's so exciting about New York as opposed to other cities is there's not just one industry in town.”

Remembering our War Veterans

The annual parade up Fifth Avenue is just one of many events planned around the city today to honor the nation’s veterans.

The Veterans Day Parade, in its 84th year, will also pay special tribute to U.S. soldiers who have fought against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

There will be a wreath-laying ceremony and 21 gun salute at the Eternal Light Monument in Madison Square Park at 10 a.m. The parade itself, which runs up Fifth Avenue to 56th Street, is expected to kick off at 11:15 a.m.

To all the U.S. Military men and women who fought to maintain the very freedom we have today, Our noble United States Veterans, of all branches, we honor you, we thank you.

An aerial photograph of my neighborhood as rendered by the folks at Globe Explorer. Looking at the color of the foilage, I'd surmise that this is a shot from the late summer, early fall.

Thanks Doug

Knicks fall in overtime

The Knicks took a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter against the visiting Hornets but couldn’t hold on in a 97-91 overtime loss on Sunday. Allan Houston led New York with 27 points, while Kurt Thomas recorded a solid 14 points and 16 rebounds. Lee Nailon scored eight of his 18 points in the fourth.

Recommended Reading

The Conscience of a Liberal: Reclaiming the Compassionate Agenda

by Paul David Wellstone

"This is not a conservative America.... There is a huge leadership void in this country that the Democratic Party, emboldened by political courage and a commitment to the issues that made our party great, can fill."

Democratic leadership, take note

Hispanics now rival blacks as the nation's largest minority group, according to the 2000 census.

Some Gubernatorial, Senate and House candidates took notice of these census figures, and made strong efforts to court Hispanic voters. They spent more than $9 million on Spanish-language television spots, setting a record for non-presidential election years, according to Adam Segal, editor of the Johns Hopkins Journal of American Politics and author of a report on Spanish-language broadcast advertising.

That was a good strategy especially in states with large latino populations like Florida and new York.

Hispanics helped Republican governors Jeb Bush in Florida and George Pataki in New York win their re-election bids.

In Florida, 60 percent of Hispanics cast votes for the president's brother and in New York, 50 percent voted for Pataki, said Sharon Castillo, deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee

As the democratic party reviews it's leadership, they should never assume that they're doing enough. Certain segments of the population, whether latino, blacks, women etc. are open and receptive to messages from both parties. Leaving various groups uniformed and unispired can be a huge tactical mistake, The elections results of last Nov. 5 proved that beyond a doubt.

Looking Ahead

Now is the time to start planning for the future. It may once again come down to a choice between These guys or those guys. Of course, One party will need to do more preparing than the other, but be assured that a formidable challenge looms ahead for all involved.

Salon Books: How the world sees Americans. A great author interview.

Fishy Story: I eat a lot of fish. Some of my favorite dishes are fish based. Looks like now I need to be more aware of where the Salmon I eat comes from after reading this CNN article.

Mind Stretch

Found via Lis and Zoe ... I just had to try this little excercise.

LOVE :: One another
HAPPINESS :: Cold Beer
PEACE :: and understanding
ANIMAL :: Dog
VACATION :: On the sand in the West Indies
DRUG :: WWW
DESIGNER :: Hugo Boss, Pierre Cardin.
SHOES :: Stacy Adams, Sketchers.
HAIR :: Short/winter Bald/summer
FRIENDS :: Quality not quantity
BEAUTY :: In the eye of the beholder
SEX :: Yes
COUNTRY :: USA
MUSIC :: Frees the mind
CD :: Hendrix, Marley, Floyd, EW&F
MOVIE :: Dead Poets society
TV :: CNN, FOX News.
IDOL :: Dad
NEMESIS :: None
VICE :: None
MEN :: Love women
WOMEN :: Beauty, strength.
FAMILY :: Special
CAREER :: Solid
DREAM :: Big
ART :: Life affirming
HOBBY :: Amateur Radio
CAR :: Ford Expedition
NATURE :: Mother
TERRORISM :: Sad reality
AUTHOR :: Jamaica Kincaid
BOOK :: Talk Stories
SONG :: Reasons (EW&F)
JEWELRY :: Wedding band / College ring
PALM PILOT :: Palm V
BRITNEY SPEARS :: Justin did her
BOARD GAME :: Chess
INTERNET :: Necessary
MADONNA :: Much love
OSAMA BIN LADEN :: Loser
PIERCINGS :: Left ear (many years ago)
TATTOOS :: 1 Yin Yang (no regrets)
CRIMINAL :: Osama
MEDIA :: Spin city
SCHEDULES :: Well managed
BARBIE DOLLS :: In the News
P. DIDDY :: Doing his thing
AMERICAN IDOL :: No comment
A PHOTOGRAPHER :: Ansel Adams
LINGERIE :: Eye candy
BLUE JEANS :: Comfortale
THIS INTERVIEW :: Mind stretch