Perfect Imperfection

I'm surprised there hasn't been more hype surrounding Kim Zolciak's departure from the Real Housewives of Atlanta. She did call them the n-word in one of her final segments. Thought more folks would be after her wig for that racial epithet. Bravo censored the remark, but you could still her the "nigg..." before the bleep. Yeah. Baby it was time for you to go!

Maybe Kim's remarks were just a non fucking-factor! For that matter, is the show anymore? Atlanta Housewives seems to sinking to new depths. The two new women replacing Sheree, Porsha and Kenya(?).... I dunno. One is mad-stupid, the other is mad-crazy. To quote Kandi, they're boughetto Um... yeah.

The Atlanta franchise might be on the fast track to cancellation. Nene is making a name for herself! With her stints on the New Normal ( I adore that show) and Glee, how much longer is she going to stay??? Let's face it, Nene is the Real Housewives Of Atlanta! I can't see the show continuing much longer. I don't. I really, really don't....

Question of the Day

How do you feel about this photo? I spotted this on someone else's blog and I felt more than squeamish. But perhaps I'm being overly sensitive? Thoughts?

Quick Thoughts...

I overslept this morning so I'm in a bit of a rush, but here we go....

Last night on the way home from work I was listening to John King on Sirius CNN. They were talking about the Republican presidential candidates and their feelings regarding immigration, illegal immigrants, and what needs to be done about the situation. The whole while they were discussing the issue, I sat and thought, OK this is only about Mexico, not Canada. But why?

No disrespect towards our brothers to the north, last I recalled no one ever suggested building 16 feet high barbed-wire fences stretching the length of the Northern Frontier Border? Why are we so hung up about Illegal Mexicans, like they're the dirt of the Western Hemisphere? IDK. I wish I had time to expound on my question. I know part of the problem is people feel illegals come and steal jobs from Americans, but let's be honest a moment! Most Illegals Immigrants take jobs that SOME feel are beneath them anyway. The other issue people feel illegals are leeching of the system.... blah, blah, blah.

I just don't understand.

Clot In The Plot

So how did you feel about last night's ep of True Blood? Don't be shy, be honest. Please tell me I'm not the only Negro out there who walked away irritated? Maybe I'm just in a mood lately, but last night the show just worked my damn nerves! Just wasn't feelin' it.


Lord, where to start?

• Lafayette and Jesus. OK these two lately, IMHO, have become really boring. I could watch reruns of Will & Grace and feel more sexual chemistry than I have from Laff and Jeez. I'm sooooooo not believing their relationship this season, AT ALL!!!! Um, have a sex scene or two or three or four or more! Everyone else in Bon Temps makes time for sex dammit. OK? Real gay couples at least touch in a damn while, but never seems to happen in Bon Temps Louisiana. Aw, hell no it don't!
• Jesus' Grandfather. Why the implication his grandfather knocked up some seemingly underage woman? Really???
• I see Tara's on the verge of returning to the whiny, sniveling, "I-can't-handle-life" character again. Oh DEAR JESUS (and not Lafayette's man neither)!!!! OK Tara. Bitch, you a Black woman living in the South. Louisiana. Um, I have it on good authority Southern women are strong and resilient. Shut the fuck up with your complaining, go back to New Orleans and be happy with the life you made with your woman. [Highlight: I am glad you came over to our team this season!]
• Arlene Bellefleur's "You people" comment. I know the shit was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but it wasn't funny! I thought Lettie Mae Thorton-Daniels was about to whup her ass.
• Now, speaking of Lettie Mae. I was glad to see you back shug, but seriously? Did you and your new husband, Rev. Daniels, really need to coon it up as bad as you did? That whole scene was just mess.
• The Black Vampire Sheriff. Rounding out my diatribe I was happy to see that HANDSOME brutha who was one of King Bill's sheriffs, but then horribly disappointed when True Blood practically castrated the character. None only did he get debased in front of his peers for his lack of knowledge of vampires being Priests in the Middle Ages but Good King Bill grabs him by the throat, like he was his " whippin' boy." Seriously not cute!!! Why did the black vampire have to look like the idiot and be the example? Whyyyyyyy? I know Bill is the Vampire King, but he didn't get physical with any of the other white and Latino vamps in the room, nor we're any of them portrayed "uneducated" or "naive." This undertone hit hardest with me and if you weren't careful, I'm sure folks missed it. Maybe not. I haven't seen any of my fellow blogger's reactions to last night yet.....
  

So there you have it. I was none too happy with TB in the least. It was tired. The annoying stereotypes and bullshit put in a funk with my crew of Vamps, Wolves and Shifters...My least favorite episode thus far. Of course, I'll keep watching though.

On a side note, I will confess I did enjoy seeing Eric Northman shirtless here and there. Didn't realize how hot he was until this season!

And....What?!?!

Been a few thoughts ratting around in the grey matter that I haven't commented upon. Here's a rewind of some moments catching my attention this past week.

RuPaul's Drag Race Season Three Finale: First off, congrats to Raja...don't want it to seem like I'm sore loser cause I was a supporter of Team Alexis and Team Manila. That said, why the FRAK did I waste my time this season???? I knew from the FIRST episode Raja was probably going to win! Even though she worked my nerves at times, I grew to love Manila. By the Final three, I knew poor Alexis would be first to go, so I threw hope behind Manila. Alas...

The Weather/Tornadoes: OK? What in Samhain is going on? I'm not one to hit the panic button, but the last few weeks of Tornado activity has been just down right scary. Tornadoes hitting St. Louis' Airport, Tornadoes flattening entire towns in Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia... What the Hell?!?! Even PA wanted to horn in on the horrible weather. Two confirmed twisted rolled through my area on Thursday. Trees were down, flooding galore from the torrential rain, the Susquehanna way past looking menacing....Ugh! Getting to work, which normally is a 20 minute commute, took over an hour. Suffice to say our area wasn't as bad as the South, my point is why is Mother Nature tearing like a woman scorned? She's pissed!

Obama and his birth certificate: You know? Really? Why was this necessary? Honestly, Trump and the rest of the Birthers needed to go over this issue long ago. How commendable that on 44's part to put up with it this long. Mind you, I was one of those who really felt our president showing his birth certificate was so unnecessary. Officials and Reps from Hawaii time and time again gave the proof required to show his birth as US citizen. Yet, Trump and cronies just weren't satisfied. Lord! Donald just go get a haircut and leave us alone already!!! Why hasn't anyone mentioned HIPPA in all this? But I guess the highest citizen in the land isn't entitled to privacy. In any case, 44 showed 'em the long form.

The Royal Wedding: Is it done yet? I know I was one of the ones way back when to watch Charles and Diana, but I have no, none what-so-ever, interest in William and Kate. That's saying something cause usually anything British, and I'm so there. Dunno. Maybe cause Wills and Harry did a flip flop in the cuteness factor? Harry has gotten more over the years....Yeah he looked good standing next to his brother in West Minster. OK, I peeked at the highlights! I didn't watch it Friday morning though.

Superman's Citizenship: Are people really reacting over a comic book character renouncing U.S. citizenship? Really? C'mon people, it's a work of fiction! Get with the program. Let's worry about the frakkin' economy instead a make believe character written for children.

Doctor Who Series 6: After seeing part two of the season opener, I'm completely disillusioned with Who. What complete garbage! Both episodes seemed rushed and loosely tied. I do realize the point to Who has never to wrap things up in a tidy package, but these episode had too many plot whole. And can anyone explain the Silence to me? Um, the Doctor's been visiting Earth for hundreds of years and this is his first encounter? Oh yeah, you forget them when they're outta sight. I get it, outta sight, outta mind. Uh no...

This was perhaps one of the worst Doctor Who episodes to date. I don't know if I was more frustrated with BBC America's commercial interruptions or trying to understand a hastily written story. I've been watching the show since the 70s. I've long said the problem with the new incarnation of Who is it needs to go back to its root. Go back the Tom Baker era telling of story arc. Any one Remember the Invasion of Time? Now that was a story arc for the ages.... Ugh! Moffett, please turn this show around. It needs H-E-L-P. If need be, bring back some the older characters, while keeping the zest and underlying promise. Matt Smith are times shows incredible spark.

Despite my critiques, I'm still intrigued by the Doctor and River's relationship. The show is giving us the truth piece meal, but I think I've worked through the red herrings and alleged theorist on who exact River is. I might be important to not the child from the Season opener. Who was she? Why did Amy react they ways she did in child's room at the Ophanage? What was the real reason Amy told the Doctor she was pregnant and not Rory? Might point out the plot gap...HOW THE HELL DID SHE DISCOVER SHE WAS PREGNANT???

Skipping my rant, I do have speculations who the child trapped in the Apollo 11 suit was. Deconstruct the episode, piece all you know so far about River, and it all makes sense. Had to go back and re-watch River's introduction to the Doctor while he was in his David Tenant incarnation.... Oh I won't spoil it, but I would be très surprised if my theory was wrong...

Foolish Girl, Quasi Funny Guy.

By now, I'm sure the vid has circulated through the 'net, but I'm posting it here because I'm amazed at some people's insensitivity. The second video is another Asian student's humorous attempt to respond to the first...

What I didn't post was the Hodge Twins' response. Those two seem to everyone's champion these days...Here's the link.

MED Thoughts on "44" (Thanks, Rippa!)

I saw this over on Rippa's blog, and I give brother full credit for his post! Please be sure to review the original article on The Intersection Of Madness And Reality. I'm re-posting here because it got this brutha to think and this certainly is a must v-cast for any Barack Obama supporter/advocate. Wanted to give others the opportunity to reflect and respond on Michael Eric Dyson's thoughts as well...

Do you agree or disagree with Dr. Dyson? Read my comment and response to Rippa below after viewing the clip.

"Wow! I was really ready to throw down and defend Mister "44," who I love and respect no matter what the staunchest critics say about him, but Dr. Dyson was dead on. Unfortunately, Dr. D speaks the truth, really, that to the older generations, having a black president may not matter! Washington is just a hot bed of game,contention, and mess. Pander to my neighbor so I can get what I need for my constituents or my own self interests. I'm not saying the President isn't a good man or without altruistic intentions, but let's accept there's going to be issues he'll sidetrack, back peddle, and perhaps, completely overlook for a time, until he's comfortable with the impact he's made on the majority (translation white people).

The President has to straddle a difficult fence. I don't envy him, but again, I agree with Dr. Dyson Black people shouldn't give him a "free pass." He needs to be held accountable. Believe me, as a gay black man, I'm watching and hearing the rumblings the Gay Community is having with Obama for not fulfilling his promise to LGBTQ community over DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) and other equal rights for gays. They/we're certainly are holding him up to his word. They/we are demanding he honor his obligation he campaigned.

Should certain issues be sacrificed for the time being? Which issues need to go first? Does a lack to act firmly on minority issues mean "44' has forgotten about us? I don't think so. He has so much on his plate, but I think Obama wants to reach out universally, not to just one community or the other, which means some in the minority (issues) will get overlooked. Is it right? Hell, no. But it's P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S!

Here's a personal question I need to ask. As someone who understands what it's like to be multiracial, how is the whole matter of race, ethnicity, and identity seen by the POTUS? For himself? I've seen interviews. Does he relate as an American? Or does he HAVE TO because we've given Obama the "Black" label, strictly identify as Black (or African American in the truest sense)? We all know he's biracial, "mixed" as we used to say, but grew up in a different set of circumstances than your average African American. I wonder...

Now we've heard the jokes...when the President makes a mistake or slights Black folk, blame it on his "White" half. Is it fair that we hold him to a standard that he has to be 100% in our corner? Honestly? I wanna say he should because if he didn't have the labels in front of his name...Professor, Senator, Mr. President...you know the racists would just see him as another "n" word. I don't know. America speaks with forked tongue no matter what the community, what the ethnic group, we all expect something from this President that he may or may not be able to achieve.

I accept that he'll need to not offend white people, who to be sure, many will accuse him of giving hand outs and freebies to "us" (Black folk) just because of his race. HOWEVER... like Dr Dyson indicated, each of the 43 Presidents preceding Mr. Obama looked out for their "own people," it just wasn't necessarily said because they were of the "majority." And Mr. Obama wants a second term. What President hasn't? So he's gotta play the game, back peddle in some areas, to insure he doesn't offend and hurt feelings to hinder a second term. Is this right? No, but is the nature of the beast. That's why I hate Politics. Ultimately, no matter who the politician, their best intentions, isn't it all about personal gain and legacy?"

Rise Up Black Television

Continuing this morning's commentary on the state of African American media and entertainment. For the first blurb, go here....

I find it interesting in the radio spectrum there seems to be a bevvy of programs to select from. We have Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey, Yolanda Adams, Wendy Williams, The Ride with Doug (Banks) & Dede (McGuire), just to name a few. So what wrong broadcast television? Can't someone get quality programming for us to watch? You can't tell me some celebrity couldn't match, dollar for dollar, and create a network or networks, to showcase African American talent? Real, decent, comedies, dramas, and serials for People of Color?

But Ian, you started off this commentary by slamming Terry Perry's effort. What up with that?

OK, OK, OK. You caught me dead to rights wrong. I did criticize Tyler, but not for his efforts. You're right, Tyler and Lionsgate are trying. But what about the other African American elite? The HollyWEIRD Black Royalty? Hm? Much as I love Will and Jada, can't they throw a few dollars in the collection plate? And how about some of our bruhs in sports? No naming names. Please don't get me started. Instead of shooting yourselves in the leg, cheating on your wives, dog fighting, or creeping on the crawl, put that time and energy you wasting back into the community. Invest in us like somebody invested in you...

Now, boys and girls, I'm not talking about er'rybody. No. Some people are subsidizing to the cause. Doing it anonymously. Not everything needs to be done by sight. But for every one brutha or sistah contributing to the cause, how many aren't? Don't let naysayers more can't be done. Doesn't Oprah own Oxygen Network? Really. People let's be creative. Aren't you tired of watching the same ole ghetto fabulous programming on BET? Sick of the stupid trash that's thrown at us, force fed to us, because that's all there is?

While some networks have tried, I'm sorry, The Real Housewives Of Atlanta (Bravo), I Love New York or Flava of Love (both VH1), From G's to Gents (MTV), 106 and Park, Hell Date, Baldwin Hills or College Hill (all BET) are gonna cut it!
Call me a television snob. It's true, I am, but I readily admit to watching all the above mentioned...Hell yeah...I loves me some garbage TV! Where else am I gonna get my lesson in the Stanky leg and such? Certainly not here in Pennsylvania Dutch Country! Willkommen! Wie bist du?

And to be sure, I do watch some programs their sleaze factor. Honey, do you honestly think I have anything in common with any of the peeps on College Hill, aside from my skin color? Really? Do you? Nope. I'm a middle aged homo, out on the chicken hawk thug watch, scoping out the fresh bruhs, jealous of where they at in life, what they're accomplishing.

Speaking of College Hill a moment, I know y'all caught Mr. Jones' picture post over on Surrealistically Speaking, the other day, right? Don't know where he found Dorian (CH: ATL) all undressed down like that (not the pix to the right, follow the link), but man...shivers down my spine...sexual fluster...heat flash, heart palpitations, and..... Oh did I just type that? LOL. Oops my bad. What exactly was I saying now???

Maybe I need to step of the soap box and collect myself half a mo',
-Ian

Your Game Commentary

The other night my parents and I were watching television together when a commercial came on advertising the new season of Meet The Browns. Innocently enough, foolishly, I made the remark I thought neither it nor the show that spawned Browns, House of Payne, were all that funny. Simple enough statement right? Wrong. Oh Lawd! My parents done gon' on a trip, and got defensive! And real quick.

"Why because it's BLACK?"

Huh? What? Umm, nooooooo. What does that have to do with the price of oil in Saudi Arabia?

Skipping over the conflicted race messages in my family, save that for another post, I just don't find either House of Payne or Meet The Browns humorous. They're cheap imitations of comedy entertainment, based on a "Three's Company"-esque style, watered down and spoon fed to the African American community. Love it or leave it. Leave it! I've never found stupid sitcoms particularly entertaining. I don't care both ventures are backed by Tyler Perry. For the same argument folk have over the Madea movies, I have for black television programming today. It's same old, stereotypical, tired gags, line, and routine reminiscent of Stepin Fetchit. Harsh opinion, but so true.

Maybe it's just me? But is it wrong to want, to hold, to demand, our shows in be held in a higher calibre similar to mainstream media and programming. Why do we have to look like the bottom of the heap? Where is our Black Grey's Anatomy? Our Black CSI? Our Black Law & Order, 24, House, etc. etc? Why is it black entertainment is confined to the same old sitcoms, different names, but same situations and lame ass gags? Really, I wanna know. And I won't throw in the subject of Reality TV. That old mess is just plantation mentally in it's most ignorant, purest form. Hint Holllyweird, 1865 has come and gone! Let my people go!

What few shows are on-air seem portray the worst of the black community. I'll pick on a show I do enjoy, which I still think is the same tired shiggety dressed up for a new generation, the CW Network's The Game.

Do I need to rehash it for you why it's so tired? Address the problems with the CW Network? Then again, while I wanna complain, if it weren't for the CW (née The WB Network) I doubt mainstream television would have regular black programming. No other network has made an effort to produce shows for African Americans. But even still, CW?!?! What up with you? The Girlfriend's spin-off leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth. Is this the best television the-Powers-that-be, have to supply black audiences?

Synopsis of every episode of The Game, without knowing the individual storylines.... biracial "black" man athlete (don't hate, I loves me some Coby), of course married to a white woman, cheap, bitter, and angry. There divaesque single mother ghetto girl tryin' to get hers and prove something to somebody. Her immature, spoiled, pampered "playa" son who reinforces every single misogynistic attitude Black men are accused of having...money hungry, no sense of morality, decency, irreverence, lack of common sense...and last, but certainly not least, the Christian boy, trying to be all grow'd up, trying to keep up with his boys, frontin', who can't keep it in his pants long enough to know a good thing when he's got, only in the end to get another woman pregnant....yadda, yadda, yadda.{Thank you Jerry Seinfeld for that lexicon added to our language}. Need I go on?

Ugh.

Make no mistake, I tune into The Game regularly. I was rooting for Jason and Kelly to get back together, stupid as I think they are together, I want Tasha to make her impact, do her thang, want Malik to become a real man and leggo his tired ways, want Derwin and Melanie to get their shit straight for reals this time....

Yeah, OK. I watch. Sue me, but it still doesn't invalidate my argument. If you hungry, but hate liverwurst sandwiches, but you ain't ate fo' six months, are you honestly gonna turn down that liverwurst? Honestly? Use the analogy with Black television. If what's current broadcast, all that's on the table, what choices do we have unless we demand for better...

-Ian

Got Racism?

Yeah effing right!

My ass.

Lawdhavmercy! Ian's on a militant tear this morning.Tired of the "isms" today already...Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Obamaphobia...and it's only 6:30 in the AM.
Oh Christ. What a way to begin your morning, eh? Got up and checked my email and Facebook, saw that one of my "friends" had did one of those annoying little "quizzy" things... Five Historical Things In History I'd stop If You Could. Well you know the fucker had the nerve to put the election of Barack Obama. Put me on blast! Fired off a reply, which I'm sure will end our friendship:

"If I hear one more white person complain about Barack Obama, I think I'm going to be sick. Will y'all get over it already.?!?! He's really not doing that bad of a job! Or is it that White people still see Black people as inferior in this country????? And Dave you put here that you'd stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, who by the way, Barack Obama has modeled his presidency upon, or didn't you pay attention during the Inauguration? So far he's {Barack} done the same things Lincoln did, and making better progress. I'm not expecting you to explain yourself or understand why black people think every negative remark against Obama is racist, because you people won't, nor do we have the time or desire to educate ones out of their self-deceived bigotry. I expected better statements than this from you. Really, I did. I'm really disappointed in you man...."

Ian's Inquiry: OK, Said friend might not be a racist, but I get that perception some folks are holding on to 44's election as this great evil, and to me it conveys nothing but racism. So, is every white person who has anything substantial negative about the President being prejudiced or racist?

Let's Get Lifted!

I forget how old my granddaddy, my father's father's father, was when he came to the United States, but I certainly wish the Old Man had lived to see the day relations between his Homeland and The US started to ease.

Making good on his campaign promise, "Forty-Four" has begun the process to lift travel restrictions for Cuban Americans to return to see relatives back in Cuba. Thank you President Obama.

Unfortunately, I'm not Cuban-American enough to qualify to travel to Cuba...too much other ethnicity swimming in my gene pool. Plus, I wouldn't know if any of my granddaddy's people are still alive in Cuba or not, but I live in hopes some day I might be able to visit Granddad's home country of Cuba...see the street where he played, where his parents worked, glance upon "the land of beauty" as he always told me it was.

Someday. The current measure is a foot in the door for the eventuality all Americans might have better relations with our Spanish speaking-neighbors to the South. I, for one, will smile a smile for Issy Sr, my granddaddy...

Is He? Or ISn't He?

Excuse my obsession with Dorian Gregory; it's becoming a bit tedious. Call me living in a fantasy world; you wouldn't be far from the truth. In a better world I suppose, in a better world...
I'll be forthcoming with my feelings on Dorian. Mind you, I normally don't debase myself and accuse this one or that one to be gay or on the 'low. Ain't none of my never mind. But there's something so comforting to me about the possibility of Dorian being, however discreet, gay.

Been watching the Charmed reruns since I've been in and out of the hospital, even rented a few of Dorian's movies from Netflix...I dunno. There's just this vibe. I can't put my finger on it. Let me be frank too, I've the world's worst gaydar, if indeed there is such a thing. My "Spidey Sense" isn't all that intuitive...I make such a bad homo, LOL.

Besides the fact I'm in lust with this man, and I do mean in lust...Dorian, in all his incarnations...buff, husky, bearish, trim...is my perfect man. Plus brother gives this look, don't know how describe it, but the look that he knows you. Yeah, I know, fantasy. Let's not talk about the reality of my own current relationship, I'll save that for another post.

One message board currently has a rousing discussion over Dorian's sexual preference. Hmph! I didn't think peeps knew who the hell he was anymo'. It's not like he's an A-list celebrity (but I love him just the same). I'm discovering though, there are plenty Dorian Gregory admirers! AND GUESS WHAT?!?! They're think the same thing, Dorian is gay, or at least bisexual. Ba da da dat dah.....I'm lovin it'!

Now, please forgive me. I'm no Perez Hilton! Whoever Dorian is sexing down at night is his trade and his alone. It really doesn't matter. But really? Don't you ever wonder how many brothers and sisters are out there. Playing on our team, and just laying low, trying to pretend to be mainstream? Yeah, there's the rumors about Kayne, Bow Wow, hell, even Will and Jada have are supposedly in the mix. Some I say yea, others nay.

My fervent wish, besides the one from young adulthood to get with any man I wanted, is to know the truth. Not that I'd use thsi information against people, but to know they we are indeed, not alone. We live in a society of "Do As I Say, Not As I Do." So many folks frontin,' pretending to be something in public, then behind closed doors, gettin' as nasty as they wanna be. Yup, let me in on the truth. I wanna know the real deal! Gimme the insight...Drop the secret vibe on folks' proclivities at night and by day. Who is and who isn't!?!?!

Ian's Inquiry: As a black man, given there are so few out gay black men role models, I ponder who's hiding behind the door. There's rumor about Will Smith, but I don't believe it for a second. So here's my question. What celebrity or celebrities do you think is on the creep, in the closet, or hiding in just plain sight???

ASU Snubs The President

How in the hell do you not confer an honorary degree to the President of the United States? Please, someone tell me. I'm in disbelief Arizona State University will not confer an honorary degree to this year's commencement speaker, President Obama, because he supposedly "has not yet reached the pinnacle of his experience." Um, excuse me. Hello? First Black President? US Senator? Illinois State Senator? Author? Lawyer? Community Organizer? Aren't these enough?

Why don't they just say what they really mean? "We don't wanna give that nigger a degree because he beat John McCain." I find it much better dealing with people when they're honest about their racism. Don't dance around it, be up front with it. Take off your robes and show your crooked ass smile! Wasn't Arizona the last state to formally accept Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national holiday?!?! How blatantly transparent and racist can Arizona State University be?

I wounder what the President himself feels about the issue? Probably is a good thing I'm not president, cause I'd back out of commencement proceedings. I'm sure Big Brother Barack won't, but I would. It's not the students' fault. It's all administrative politics. I'm Sure. And, as I pointed out, I'm positive some Arizonans are still smarting John McCain's loss for the Presidency. If the situation had been different though, you know damn Skippy ASU would offering all kinds of accolades and what not to the "distinguished gentleman from Arizona"...his his curmudgeonly self. No doubt McCain would get a degree.

We'll hear more about this gaffe in the coming days. Read the original Huffington Post article here.

Ian's Point: I'm just righteously indignant this morning. Perhaps I have no point other than I'm embarrassed for the 2009 Arizona State University Graduating Class!

Another Void In My Life

Before I begin, I need to apologize to my dear friend Corey because I hadn't yet read his most recent blog post before I contacted him last night.

After reading his latest post, I feel a bit selfish, like a heel. I recalled sobbing my tale of woe to him not realizing his own saga.

Brother, you gots my prayers, you know that...

Now, my sad news. After months of prolonged Alzheimer's and other health maladies, my grandfather made the transition from this life into the next yesterday afternoon. For me, I feel numb. I'm not sad, but feeling a void.

Granddaddy and I weren't particularly close. Mostly my heart aches for my family members who were. My mum, my aunties, and uncles are taking his passing pretty hard. I feel for them. Somehow, through their pain, I'm wondering what I missed out on? Granddaddy was in and out of my life, never around for long. It's a long story as to why, nothing I'll explain today, but his life still had merit and impact on mine. Through his children, their lives were the ones that fostered and molded me, guided me to become the man I am today. So somewhere, he did something right.

Granddaddy's children managed to maintain a satisfying relationship with him. Here was a man who had two families, one white, one black, attempting to stride the racial equality fence in a day when it was still a social taboo. My friend Roxanne finds it incredulous my gramps was a white man. I respond to her, shake your family tree hard enough, you might be surprised who falls out.

For what its worth, my family is no different than anyone else's, We had laughter, joy, tears, some sadness, yes, cussin', riot readin', but most important, there was love. My grand's passing leaves a void in my life simply for the fact I'll never know the man he was. The kind soul who, sure made mistakes, but was generous and loving. He musta done something right, my Grandma had six children with him...shoot! LOL. But here is a man who forever more will be a mystery to me. Unlike my other grandfather, I don't have the treasured memories of watching sports, throwing a football, or those things little boys do with with their Pop-Pop. No, he's gone now...

For now. I lift up my head, say a prayer in his memory, and give God the thanks Granddaddy's suffering is no more...

Oops! My Bad AfterElton!

For those Axe readers with excellent memory, you might recall a post waaaaaay earlier this year regarding a complaint about AterElton's Top 100 men? If you forget, check out their post there and my post here.

Chief concern was AfterElton compiled a group awfully disproportionate relative to including Men Of Color. Disturbed, my intention was to post a well-rounded, more balanced, inventory o' sexiness more reflective of all racial communities...Black, White, Asian, Latino...what-have-you.

Well, after months of tinkering with the damn thing, I finally gathered my own Top 100. Ian's personal catalog delves into handsome and attractive men from all media, not just Hollywood. Assembled, my list was inclusive of sexy men from the News media, sports, acting, and music arenas. Unfortunately, my results became just as skewed as on AfterElton's list. My compilation leans more towards men of African (Black) descent. As the series of names coagulated, people went off the register simply because I couldn't rationalize a more attractive Hayden, Ashton, Brenden, Antonio, Ewan, or Jake; couldn't conceptualize a less divinely handsome Blair, Rockmond, Marcus, Kobe, Hill, Idris, or Wallace. So the list seemed to fall in place, racially slanted, that way.

Is this an instance of partiality? Oh Hell yeah! I'll admit it. But does that make me racist? Um, no. Given my multiple ethnic heritage, definitely not. So how do you explain it? I guess it all boils down to who you're more familiar. Perhaps it's a matter of racial pride? Dunno. Looking back now, I suppose I must retract my criticism. Did the people over at After Elton intend to be non-inclusive? Doubt it. Can't say they did because I know it wasn't my intent. Hm? What does this say about the AfterElton list-compiler? What does it say about me?

As I manufactured my own hottest list, the most desirable men were/are predominantly ethnic, "Black identifying" (not necessarily "dark-skinned" fellas, but men who were proud to align themselves with the Black community...like Boris, Jason, Derek et al), Black/African American, and Men of the African Diaspora (brothers from Canada, France, the UK, and even the Motherland) in my humble opinion. This doesn't dispute the gorgeousness of my White, Native American, or Asian brethren. Nor does it exclude brothers of Spanish-speaking descent. Lawd knows I love a Dominican, Puerto Rican, and/or a Cuban man!

Is it wrong to be attracted solely to people who look, act, think, and share common background with you? Do we all have a natural predilection to people of our own racial heritage? Is it racist? I ask you. Is it wrong for me to want others to recognize the beauty that comes in all shades and hues of Black men, but not include the sexiness of other ethnic groups on my own roster of men? A man is a man, skin is skin, a hard dick is a hard dick, after all!

Seriously, I don't think it matters who you find most attractive, just as long as you can acknowledge have that attractiveness as well. . It's probably is a matter of who've been exposed to your entire life. If you're a person of color, and have never associated with persons outside your community, naturally you'll be attracted to those who look like you. This is synonymous across all social groups. With this conclusion, this leaves me with no choice but to withdrawal my original complaint to the folks over AfterElton, since I committed the same error.

Sigh! OK, that took forever to get out. Took over what I intended to post, which was my list of Honorable Mention Men, guys who just didn't quite make it on Ian's Top 100. This is coming in the next post. Promise! They're already typed; ready to be posted. Only reason they're not post now is because my little rant/apology took longer to explain than anticipated.

Stay tuned brothers...

Coal

by Audre Lorde

I;
is the total black, being spoken
from the earth's inside.
There are many kinds of open
how a diamond comes into a knot of flame
how sound comes into a words, coloured
by who pays what for speaking.

Some words are open like a diamond
on glass windows
singing out within the crash of sun
Then there are words like stapled wagers
in a perforated book—buy and sign and tear apart—
and come whatever will all chances
the stub remains
an ill-pulled tooth with a ragged edge.
Some words live in my throat
breeding like adders. Other know sun
seeking like gypsies over my tongue
to explode through my lips
like young sparrows bursting from shell.
Some words
bedevil me

Love is word, another kind of open.
As the diamond comes into a knot of flame
I am Black because I come from the earth's inside
Now take my word for jewel in the open light.

Railroad To The Big House

Just read a news blurb over on Yahoo Sports that the New York Giants have fined and suspended Plaxico Burress for the remainder of the season. Brother can't even play in the Playoffs should the Giants get that far. Oh this is bullshit.

While I wholeheartedly agree what he did was stupid, I see the railroad to the Big House already for Plax. Where they gonna put him? Riker's Island? I don't know about New York's jail system. Hmph.

You watch, you'll be in jail if the man has his way. Yes he broke the law, but ultimately he hurt himself more than any other person. This is my problem with professional athletes. They're over paid, get inflated egos, then when they fall, they always fall fast and furious, hard, with no bounce back.

Without getting on my soapbox, lecturing all the brothers out there effing up lately, brothers come on. Do you remember the code?!? Never ever act the fool and bring disrespect on your house, your name, your people. Too many of you are doing stupid stuff...shooting guns off, dog fighting, domestic abuse, fighting...going to jail, and proving the naysayers right.

"See he's just another ignorant, no class Negro." Let's get it together. Be men already. So many young boys look up to you as role models. You're shaping the future whether you want to or not. God gave you your talent for a reason. And His reasons were for good , not for you to be total idiots!!!

I think it's bullshit what I see as the handwriting on the wall for Plaxico. Again, he was wrong bringing a gun to the club, but I wonder if his skin complexion were a little lighter would he be getting the same treatment? This is not a black/white issue, and I'm not trying to make it as such, but I honestly can't recall the last time this year I heard an athlete who wasn't a person of color screwing up. What's the real deal? Somebody set the record strat in case I got it wrong....

Remember...

Happy 45th Anniversary

Lending a moment to let my inner nerd side have air time, I send out a proper Happy 45th Anniversary to BBC television series Doctor Who! The show has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. My stepfather introduced me to the show back in the 70s and I've been hooked ever since.

Oh sure, Doctor Who was always ultra cheesy and campy, but it's been so much fun along the way! Generally, I love the old version that aired on PBS stations more than the current re-imagined vision on BBC America and Sci Fi Channel. My complaint with the newer program ("programme" for my British readers) is stories seem to wrap up too quickly. Back it the day, it wasn't unusual for Tom Baker's Doctor or even Colin Baker's Doctor to have a 12-arc episode storyline. Now? Eccleston's and Tennant's Doctors are lucky to have a two episode arcs. Rush, rush, rush. Plots are on a mad dash to the finish line and resolve themselves lickety split, oh so sloppily, leaving room for continuity errors!

An additional gripe, the newer incarnation has so much death! Before Colin Baker's Doctor, the Davidson, Tom Baker, Pertwee, Troughton, and Hartnell Doctors were able to minimalize casualties, or least leave it implied, never directly shown. With the 2000s' series, never get too attached to any character long, they just might be dead 10 seconds later! The Doctor's companions are no except to the rule either.

Suffering from, "Oh God, while I love traveling in time and space, I really have to get home to pick the lint out of my laundry" syndrome, no current Doctor's companion seems to last longer than half a season or so. What happened to the old days when companions stayed through several incarnations of the Doctor? I miss my Jo Grants, my Sarah Janes, my Leelas, my Tegans...hell, I'd settle for an Adric, a Romana (albeit regenerated) or even an annoying Perpigilliam Brown! Companions always brought a bridge through the series; in-between transitions, when an "old" Doc became "new." And while I'm ever so thankful Sarah Jane has come back to the fold, what about long lost characters I've always wondered about? Like Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter, Tegan the feisty ex-airline flight attendant (back in the day they called her a stewardess, but that would be a trifle sexiest today!), or Ace, the crazy wild girl from Perivale? What became of thee????

Yeah, see I told you I was a geek!

My praise for the newer Doctor Who, though, is episodes have finally inserted characters, regular, reoccurring ones, who are People of Color. With the introduction of Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke) and Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), Doctor Who finally stepped out of the shadows of de facto segregation, and into the 21st century' idea of equality. Hell, there's even a rumor on the Internet the next Doctor may be Black British actor Pateron Joseph. Hmm. I don't recall any Black Timelords on Gallifrey? Maybe he's from the Southside Branch, LOL.

For you fellow Whovians wondering, "A Black Doctor? Really?!?!" Yep. If the rumors are to be believed, this would be a first! What a daring move on the part of the producers. It'll spice up the show, ruffle some feathers if a Joseph Doctor does comes to pass. There may be backlash, but you know what? Get over it! Black folk are coming to the forefront. We exist. We're not invisible. Get used to us. We don't bite.

Slowly, the outdated concepts of the old Who are leaving and the show is coming into the modern. Equally exciting as the introduction of prominent Black characters, was the debut of character Captain Jack Harkness. The good Captain, a sometimes gay, sometimes bisexual, Lothario is played by pseudo-American actor John Barrowman. John, who actually hails from Scotland, but spent significant time here in the States, truly defines the role. He's a dashing actor! His greatest appeal, for me, is Barrowman happens to be gay in real life!

I'm glad producers got a gay man to play a gay character. In my own personal viewpoint, it's disrespectful to have a non-gay actor play a gay character. I dunno, perhaps I just equate it up there with a non Person of Color playing a Black role? It's just my opinion, you don't have to agree with me.

Captain Jack added such dimension to the Doctor Who Universe. The first man-on-man kiss in DoctorWho? Whoo-hoo! Musta riled up some folks' nerves/ My response? In similar fashion to the thought of prominent Black characters on Who, "We're Queer, Get Used to Us!"!

All in all, good or bad, Doctor Who has endured through trial and tribulation. With the exception of a few breaks in programming over the years, it's the longest running television program in history. So Happy Anniversary to one of my favorite television programs. Here's hoping the Doctor outlives his prescribed 13 regenerations and the show lasts another 45 years or more!

OK, I'm putting the geek back in the bottle again!

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
-Darktomahawk

Yesterday

"See I decided that I cried my last tears yesterday,
Yesterday, (yesterday) oh Yesterday (yesterday)
I decided to put my trust in you.
Yesterday, (yesterday) Yesterday (yesterday)
I realized that you will bring me through,
There ain't nothing too hard for my God, no
Any problems that I have
He's greater, greater than them all,
so I decided that I cried my last tears yesterday"
- Mary, Mary

My thoughts are a bit dark this afternoon. What started out to be a promising day, turned around into something else. Watching the leaves falling while sitting on the back deck a little while ago I realized this, "Winter is coming." Well of course it is dummy. Seasons come, seasons go. Isn't that the natural progression of things? The natural progression, eh? Mm. What is natural progression? Further said,what is the unnatural progression of things?

Experienced the cold back hand of homophobia this afternoon, setting me back from my stride. After years of therapy, personal work to bolster esteem, taking pride in myself, thought I'd developed a thicker skin by now.Yet, the damn words got under my skin.

Nigger, faggot, queer-bitch, black fag, sissy, punk... all irreverent and superfluous words used to demoralize character. I've heard 'em enough; every gay man of color has heard 'em at time or 'nother. For me, coming from a stranger, they're easily dismissed. From a friend, an associate, a supposed ally, the words burn like acid.

What's the point of humiliating someone? Shaming them? Does it really make an individual feel so superior, to impugn another's self-worth? Masculinity? Racial heritage? Now, I readily admit I'm more sensitive than most folk, yes I've been known to wear my heart on my sleeve, but when you place your trust in someone, tell me is wrong to expect fair and equal treatment? Respect?

I feel a part of my spirit has died. I'm not sad though. Angry, yes. Disappointed, oh yes. But sad? God, no! Coming home this afternoon my only thought was I wanted to lash out, hit something, someone. Instead, the wind called to me. Told me to sit in the crisp autumn air; collect my thoughts. My feelings are hurt, but I'm not defeated.

See, what I know is this, just because you don't like me, there is Someone who loves me. Loves me for all my faults, all my insecurities, all my inadequacies. To Him, none of my "weaknesses" matter. With His love, I can never fail. With His Grace, I can never be disgraced. I put my faith in Him many yesterdays ago. You've known me for two minutes compared to His eternity knowing me. So I can hold my head a little higher, even though, I wanna sink my head into the pillow. God accepts me. Why can't you?