What have YOU learned this year?

This is a REPOST, but I thought it was particularly relevant on this New Year's Eve eve...



This year has been a tumultuous year for me, but through the grace of God I've managed to come out of it all relatively unscathed and with a few lessons learned- some learned the hard way.

Oprah ends each edition of her 'O Magazine' with the last-page article entitled "What I know for Sure". Reading the last issue, it made me think about what I know for sure (or what I THINK I know for sure).

So Far, I have learned that:


1- I believe in LOVE. I just haven’t really experienced it yet.

2- Power and Beauty are the constructs around which everything is based.


3- Bullshit, no matter how pretty it’s packaged, no matter how many polysyllabic words surround it, no matter how many people tout it as dogma, no matter how it has withstood the test of time, is still- at its core- BULLSHIT!

4- Sooner or later, everyone-EVERYONE- will disappoint you at some point and on some level. And there will come a time when you will also disappoint yourself

5- YOU have the power to dictate the way you are going to be treated.

6- If you surround yourself with people unlike yourself who have their own talents, aspirations, and vision, YOU grow more.


7- Skin color will ALWAYS matter- even to those who lecture that it shouldn’t.

8- Even those that should know better, don’t always know better.

9- Ms. Mitchell was right; you don’t know what u got ‘til its gone.

10-The MOST important lessons you can teach a child are that they are BEAUTIFUL and that they MATTER!!!









11-Most of the time, people show you EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE within the first 5 minutes of you meeting them. You just have to keep your eyes open in those first 5 minutes.

12-There are always THREE sides to any story.

13-When you LEAST expect it, expect it.

14-No one can predict what is going to happen in life. If that were the case, we would all have crystal balls and either unlimited happiness or unfathomable sadness. So why not try to have unlimited happiness?

15-You CANNOT move forward in life looking into the rear-view mirror.



What do YOU know for sure?

ICON Alert!!! Undeniable BEAUTY!! Grace in your face...

I'm posting this as a result of the feedback that I got from a couple of people who responded to my comparison of Kelis and Grace Jones...

Completely unique and without contemporary peers, singer Kelis has managed to push the envelope in both her music and her image. No one looks like her, no one innovates like her, and currently no one understands what it is to be a "bad bitch" like her.

However...

Before there was Kelis Jones, there was...GRACE JONES!!! This chick is so bad, she gets her OWN post!!! Her "Grace Jones: One Man Show" concert video released in 1982 is STILL among the most visually arresting pieces of media out there. She has modelled, released CDs, appeared in movies, and become an international ICON of beauty. Take some Beverly Johnson, squeeze in some Larry Blackmon, a dab of Talking Heads, sprinkle some Annie Lennox, mix in some Alek Wek, make Jean Paule Goode's "special sauce" and you have the phenom known as GRACE.

Do you DARE deny her beauty?

End-of-the-year Questions for the Zeitgeist...

1- What do you think would happen if every person of color stopped using the "n-word"? www.abolishthenword.com

2- Who's MORE obnoxious, Rosie O'Donnell or Donald Trump?

3- Who's the one person you wished you could have had one last conversation with before they died? (BTW, R.I.P. James Brown and former president Gerald Ford...)

4- How would we define either victory or defeat in Iraq?



5- Is uber interior designer Kelly Wearstler- whose "classically modern world traveller"- themed projects for the Viceroy resorts worldwide and boutique hotels Maison 140 and The Avalon in Beverly Hills changed the landscape of commercial design and residential interiors alike- this generation's Dorothy Draper (who recently had an excellent tribute show at The Museum of the City of New York alongside the "Black Style Now" exhibit)? Further, with her line of bedding, china, crystal, flatware and decorative accessories in the pipeline, is she poised to become the UPSCALE Martha Stewart?

6- When was the last time you actually purchased a hip hop CD?
Is Nas prophetic by naming his latest project "Hip Hop is Dead"?

7- And while we're "keeping up with the Joneses", is Kelis (Jones) this generation's Grace Jones? How SEXY is her "Blindfold Me" vid with Mr. Nasir Jones?










8- Further, since we're on the subject of sexy videos...How HOT is the new commercial for J'Adore by Christian Dior, featuring Charlize Theron ramping through the manse while stripping off the accoutrements of "lux living"?


9- Isn't this one of the most TRUTHFUL countdown lists EVER?

10- You know THE REAL RE-Edit thinks Nicole Richie is a GODDESS, right? But with her recent arrest for driving up a Burbank freeway going the wrong way while hopped up on a Vicodin/marijuana cocktail, what is to become of her?

(By the way, only a true GODDESS could take a mugshot this good after a night of partying, drugging and a DUI arrest... but I digress... :~ )











11- According to this story, an ice shelf the size of 11,000 football fields has shaken loose in the Canadian Arctic. Scientists are attributing this to the changes in global temperature. How's THAT for "An Incovenient Truth"? Is former vice president Al Gore, who has been warning of us how our environmental negligence can have potentially irreversible damaging effects on our planet, sitting back with an "I told you so" look on his face?

And now...the FLASHBACK...
The whole "Dreamgirls" hoopla has me examining my whole fascination with the girl group phenomenon. Now that I think about it, if I were in A&R (ahem!), I would suggest that Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls cover this song (and update this video by raiding the racks of La Perla and Agent Provocateur) for her solo project, but that's just my opinion...
Never mind Destiny's Child, HERE is the girl group that did if for ME...Remember-"Nasty Girl" by VANITY 6???!!!???!!!

MAJOR!!!!!!

Okay, here it is...The REAL RE-Edit's 'DREAMGIRLS' review...

I went to see Dreamgirls twice during its 10-day limited engagement release here in New York; once on a date and today I took my 2 nieces and 2 nephews. The first time was just a tour de force; there was so much fabulousness and whatnot going on that I couldn't even sit down to write a review of it. My analysis would have been too muddled, as the constant firing of my artistic synapses everytime I thought about the film prevented me from even sitting at my computer and etching out even preliminary thoughts on the film. The second time helped me put things in perspective a little bit. This time I'm a little calmer and able to process the entire offering without being overwhelmed by the powerhouse performances of the REAL star Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce's sheer beauty and noticeably improved acting talent, Eddie Murphy's unbelievable transformation and ethos and Jamie Foxx' disturbingly convincing performance as the underhanded manager. But that is EXACTLY what you're going to be affected by when you see this picture. The entire ensemble is soooo incredibly good and the picture is sooo incredibly well-done that it has instant classic stamped all over it. So much so that I'm sitting at my computer on Christmas Eve writing this review.

For months, THE REAL RE-Edit has been pontificating on the likelihood of success of the film and its authenticity with regard to taking it from a Broadway playbill and adapting it for the big screen, all the while anticipating its release with each passing week. Needless to say, the Bill Condon-helmed project did not disappoint on ANY level. Having seen the play in my youth (and having dated someone who kept the original "Dreamgirls" soundtrack in heavy rotation on their CD player), I HAD to get this movie out of my system; if only to get past all of the anticipation, buzz, and comparisons. I HAD to see if Jennifer Hudson, in her feature movie debut, could pull off stepping into the HUGE shoes of Jennifer Holliday's defining role of Effie White (around whom the majority of the plot revolves). I HAD to see if the casting directors were on the mark when they offered the Diana Ross- I mean, Deena Jones!- role to Beyonce (one of the most beautiful and talented superstars to come along in a long time, but who in my mind's eye is not the most articulately compelling woman in history). I HAD to see if Eddie Murphy could take the camp out of his infamous Saturday Night Live James Brown impersonation and give real breadth to the James "Thunder" Early character. I HAD to see if Jamie Foxx could reinforce his status as an Oscar-winning actor with a convincing portrayal of Curtis Taylor, Jr. Of course, the answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES!!!


The Cast...
First and foremost Jennifer Hudson brings the house down beginning the minute her visage appears in the movie and doesn't let up until the credits are rolling. There is a very good reason she is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe award (and would be the snub of the year if she is not at least considered in the same category for the upcoming Academy Awards nominations). Her portrayal of Effie White simmers with strength and vulnerability simultaneously. Hard to believe she hasn't been preparing for this role her whole life.


Beyonce Knowles has said that her choreographer has been priming her for the role of Deena Jones her whole life, unbeknownst to her. Well, the work has certainly paid off. I was all prepared to write her off in the movie as "Beyonce in another movie", but Ms. Knowles has indeed ramped up her acting chops. Unconsciously (I suppose) I had such low expectations of her going into the movie and that it is to her credit that she was able to convincingly abandon the modern superdiva persona known as her alter ego "Sasha" and really commit in a huge way to this role. I'm going to say it- she DESERVED this role. Her portrayal of Deena Jones was thoughtful, well-crafted and dead-on(replete with the patented "hunched shoulder waif" move Diana affected early in her career with the Supremes--Ross fans know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!!!)









Jamie Foxx- one of the best comedians to emerge in the last 10 years- is no laughing matter in this movie. Its all business. Foxx's controlled and diabolical portrayal of the Dreams' architect and back-sliding manager is testament to his ability to convincingly transform into any character onscreen. That Academy Award is no fluke.

Eddie Murphy gives a powerful and endearing performance as James "Thunder" Early, the Rock-n-Roll originating 'chittlin-circuit' crooner with talent the size of Alaska and the libido to match. Murphy's command of Early's powerful charisma and his tragic descent into drug addiction is played with such fervor that its hard to believe this is the same man who did stand-up comedy in a tight red leather jacket and pants nearly 25 years ago.


Anika Noni Rose rounds out the trio as the third original Dreamgirl Lorell Robinson, Keith Robinson steps in for Usher (who was originally slated to play C.C White- the Dreamgirls' songwriter and Effie's brother), Danny Glover aptly covers Early's original manager Marty Madison and Sharon Leal plays the record company secretary who ends up as "replacement Dreamgirl" Michelle Morris. They all give excellent support to an already astounding cast. With talent like this onscreen, how could one have expected anything less?


The Story...
Another reason 'Dreamgirls' succeeds is of course that it has all of the elements of great theatre; compelling and sympathetic characters who experience schadenfreude and adversity, and emerge relatively unscathed and utterly triumphant. It is the story of the human spirit, really. Who WOULDN'T like this play? How could this movie fail, being based on one of the most compelling and perhaps well-known music industry anecdotes? Anyone who hasn't spent any time in the last 20 years under a rock knows the plot. The comparisons of the arc of the Dreamettes saga in "Dreamgirls" to the rise and fall of the Primettes and how they gave way to Diana Ross and the Supremes is no accident. It is indeed "based on" the story of the seminal girl group. Actually, there would BE no "Dreamgirls" if not for The Supremes' mythology. Interestingly enough, perhaps the only girl group's backstory that compares in intensity and drama to that of The Supremes is the musical lore surrounding the creation of this generation's most successful girl group -Destiny's Child- and the subsequent supernova known as Beyonce. But that's another story, fodder for the pop culture junkies who will spend endless hours drawing tedious comparisons between the two diva trios and their changing lineups, frontwoman superstar quality and the like.

Undergirding the main plotlines a Jackson 5-ish boy group, the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, and the advent of disco are all covered with wit and reverence for the "Motown Sound"-Berry Gordy's remarkable contribution to black music in general and black artists in particular.
The inspired photo montage for the Deena Jones character reconfigures and gives homage to Diana Ross' iconic "Do you Know Where You're going To?" photo shoot in the black movie classic "Mahogany" without riding on its coattails too much and being too derivative. This is definitely intelligent prolific filmmaking here.


The Execution...
Given the pedigree behind the scenes, there is no way this movie could have failed. Hence, a third reason for its success as a film: the Dreamgirls "stew" was properly prepared and flavored. Add one part Oscar-winning screenwriter Bill Condon (known for his screenplay adaptation of the Bob Fosse-choreographed gem "Chicago"). Who else could guarantee that the stunning glitz and glamour the late director Michael Bennett poured into the Broadway play would be present in the onscreen version? Add another part Academy Award-nominated costume designer Sharen Davis, whose handprint is all over blockbuster movies like Ray, Devil in a Blue Dress, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps and the new Will Smith project The Pursuit of Happyness. Who ELSE could have constructed the iconic fire engine red "Dreamgirls" dresses, replete with twelve pound titanium sequins to "pop" onscreen, and then come up with another 119 looks for the female leads alone?




Enter Fatima Robinson, choreographer extraordinaire who has been singled out by the MTV video awards by being nominated a phenomenal SEVEN times for best choreography in a music video (she has created moves for everyone from Aaliyah to Prince and almost every music artist in between) and whose film work includes Miami Vice, Save the Last Dance, Ali, and Be Cool. Who else could create the sensuousness, class and (excuse me, Kimora Lee) FABULOSITY the Dreamgirls needed to exude in their movements? Accomplished makeup artists, lighting designers and music supervisors sweeten the pot. Add original play alumni Hinton Battle and Loretta Devine to the mix and you have a stew you could sop up with a biscuit.





The VERDICT...
Dreamgirls...its utterly delicious!!! Its 10's across the board. "Sparkle", you have company, because this movie is definitely givin' me something I can feel...

Queer Black cinema? Who knew??

Outside of the Tribeca Film Festival and other smaller efforts, anyone who lives in New York City and has a hankering to attend a collection of screenings has to either head straight to Cannes or at least to the West Coast. To find gay cinema, the average New Yorker will have to either purchase that ticket to San Francisco or set the remote for the LOGO channel. Moreover, to find a gay BLACK film festival is like the proverbial needle in a haystack; some aren't publicized well, are in Atlanta and DC during the circuit party weekends, or on the West Coast.

Enter the Queer Black Cinema (QBC) Film Festival, a monthly compendium of works by black LGBTQ directors. Although it would seem that the category is relatively dismal, QBC- in its inaugural year- has managed to showcase films from little-known (Ken Jackson, Tina Mabry) to more established (Patrik Ian Polk) gay directors of color for the last 12 months at the Gay and Lesbian Center in the West Village.

Now, by queer cinema I'm not talking about "Dreamgirls" (although judging from the core audience at my screening the other night, it could definitely be labeled as such!), but rather movies and short stories that have their origins begat at the hand of black gay men and women. Although the submissions' subject matter doesn't necessarily have to deal with issues surrounding being gay, the QBC is attempting to highlight the talents and life's dreams of its homo creators. Kudos to Angel Brown and Kawana Bullock for bringing OUR stories, in all of their variety, to one place for all of us to appreciate. I had the pleasure of attending the last festival screening of the 2006 season on December 20th. The rather diverse crowd was treated to a screening of "Forgiven" by Kenya Briggs and "The DL Chronicles Episodes 1 (Wes) and 2 (Robert) by Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear.

"Forgiven" is a well-written (though not necessarily a well shot or editted ) short film surrounding the issues of race, forgiveness, mortality and religion and how it affects the friendship of two elderly women. Interestingly enough, the main character's sexuality has little to do with the movie; for that Bringgs should be commended. Very often we assume that because a film includes a gay character that the movie has to be about their sexuality, which is a mistake. The focus of "Forgiven" centers around what the lesbian main character learns as a HUMAN being, not just a SEXUAL one. Given a little bit more of a budget, the powerful message of the film could be even better fleshed out and more compelling.

The feature films of the night were two episodes of "The DL Chronicles", namely episodes 1 (Wes) and 2(Robert). Episode 1 (Wes) marks directors/writers Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear's foray into territory not covered by "Noah's Arc" or Oprah; namely, the TRUE issues surrounding being a black man questioning and/or hiding his sexuality in a society that doesn't really allow him to do either. If he questions, then he is viewed as less of a man, less of a person, less of a contributor to the diaspora. If he hides it, then he is a pariah, a duplicitous agent in the sexual politics of queer/gay identified organizations who believe he should put it all on the table for all to see. "The DL Chronicles" personalizes those who posess these struggles, and does quite a riveting job of being a realistic portrayal of what it is to be gay and not feel like you fit in ANYWHERE.


In episode 1 Wes, an investment banker, is married but unable to question his sexuality until a chance meeting with a stranger on the street brings those thoughts to the forefront. He is also unable to hide his sexuality when his wife's brother comes for a rather life-changing "visit". Well fleshed-out and wonderfully paced, it definitely gives an authentic feel to the down-low "phenomenon"- examining the pain that it inflicts upon the individual and the strength that those who walk in this existence must summon to continue to "live".


Episode 2 (Robert) offers a little bit more of a light-hearted view. When Robert meets the object of his desire Austin at a health food store, his "straight"-laced existence is turned upside down. He is faced with the truth of his desire, and the ramifications it may have on his job, his daughter, and ultimately on Austin. While possessing perhaps more levity than the first episode (courtesy of Austin's "good good girlfriend" and co-worker), the themes of secrecy and ultimately acceptance are again explored. I am told that The DL Chronicles is in the midst of being developed into a TV Show. I can't wait.

There aren't enough film festivals that show me my image on the big screen. I want my QBC!!!

Christmas presents for the REAL Fashionista...

I have a fashionista "friend" (you KNOW who you are!). Her family always dreads buying birthday and Christmas presents for her, because the majority of their tokens of affection cause her to immediately invoke that vendor's return policy. So much so that their knee-jerk reaction of late has been to either place a gift card in her stocking or to just fork over cold hard cash. Well, The REAL RE-Edit has some interesting holiday gift ideas for that label-whore relative who is so hard to shop for.

I came across the first gift idea as I was pumping it down 59th Street. In my periphery, I caught a glimpse of the iconic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress on a mannequin in the Bloomingdales window with a bunch of Barbie dolls stacked behind it.
Upon further inspection, it all made sense. You guessed it...the Diane Von Furstenberg Barbie Doll! Fully accessorized with jewelry, sunglasses, newspaper, passport, and DVF designed luggage, this will surely put a smile on any devout Vogue reader's face and still show that you have some fashion flair- anyone from the 12-year old whose life was changed after reading Diana Vreeland's autobiography to the woman who lives and breathes Prada will appreciate this thoughtful gift. All of that for around $100.00...

While we're on the topics of books and fashion, "The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris" by Alicia Drake would be a great gift for those fashionistas who would like to brush up on how the houses of Karl Lagerfeld and Yves St. Laurent came to be. The book chronicles the somewhat bizarre love-hate relationship the progenitors of two of the most powerful and creative fashion houses in the world shared- from their first interaction at the 1954 International Wool Secretariat Competition that launched both of their careers to the entourage antics of mythic creatures like Loulou de la Falaise, Betty Catroux, Pat Cleveland, Antonio Lopez, Paloma Picasso and the like that shaped their respective mystiques and creative output. Drake places you in this magical time in fashion and the mystical world that Lagerfeld and St. Laurent created with descriptive wit and historical context that keeps anyone remotely interested in fashion engaged until the very end. I gotta say, I was halfway through the book before it occurred to me that the sun had risen and that I need to get up and prepare breakfast. All of that for less than 25 bucks. Not bad...


Going a little upscale (for about $5,000), you can have the upgraded "fanny pack" from Louis Vuitton. This Marc Jacobs-designed multicolor-embossed mink fanny-errrr-"bum bag" has the stylemonster contingent up in arms; some like it, some HATE it. I think either way, it will definitely turn heads at Six Flags or during your morning jog through Central Park. That is, IF you can work it like Naomi in the new Vuitton campaign ads...

While we're on the subject of bags, here's a surprise: Any of the bags offered this season by Baby Phat. As you may remember from my Spring 2007 Fashion week review, I've not been a big fan of either Baby Phat's construction or necessarily Kimora Lee Simmons, but credit is definitely due. Yeah, its great to have your staple Vuitton or Bottega Veneta bag, but these bags were the surprise of the season. In addition, the price points aren't bad.







Smell up the place with "Angel" eau de parfum by Thierry Mugler...EVERY Fashionista has this fragrance in their collection- whether they wear it or not. Although the aroma is a bit "curiously strong"- requiring a light spritzing as opposed to the multiple-pulse-point application of most parfums- it is definitely unique and instantly recognizable. Sexy and intoxicating at the same time. Also available for men. Get some... $68.00 for 0.8 fl oz bottle...


For a little bit of fashion reference in DVD form, three movies immediately come to mind. Pick up a copy of "Unzipped", the Douglas Keeves-directed film documenting Isaac Mizrahi's agonizing and utterly fulfilling process of assembling his Spring 1993 collection. Will he get it done without going crazy? Will the fashion press like it? With cameo appearances by fashion stalwarts Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Shalom Harlowe and EARTHA KITT (!!), does it matter? Go along for the ride and check it out. For those "Project Runway" junkies, Keeves also directs the 2005 documentary "Seamless" which follows the trials and tribulations of 3 designers vying for the top prize given by The Council of Fashion Designers of America. Although Heidi Klum does a great job as the host of the television show, NOBODY's opinion is more important in fashion than that of Vogue Editor Anna Wintour-not even Isaac Mizrahi (who appears in this film as well)...

Diana Ross flexes her sartorial muscle as the costume designer in "Mahogany", starring Ross as Tracy Chambers, an aspiring designer-cum fashion model, chronicling her journey from the ghettos of Chicago to the fashion establishment in Rome and back. If for no other reason than seeing the Kabuki-themed fashion show that opens the movie or the fashion montage that "inspired" the same sequence featuring Beyonce in "Dreamgirls", every fashion plate should have this movie at the ready. Yeah, its campy--but so is fashion sometimes. Besides, getting "The Complete Sex and The City" DVD is soooooo three years ago...

If none of these work for you, there is always cold hard cash...

Let me get political on your asses for just a minute (but not really)...

I'd come across an article in 'The Economist' recently covering the ongoing furor over what Muslim women abroad are ALLOWED to wear (specifically, in Europe), and it got me to thinking. According to the article France, some German states, Belgian towns and Turkey (a mostly Muslim country) have banned the wearing of the face-covering burka and accompanying niqab in most public places. The "justification" for the ban are four-fold: legislation calling for the ban state that 1)it oppresses Muslim women in that the veil is supposedly worn at the behest of Muslim men, 2) its "separatist" with regard to Muslim integration into the non-Muslim world, 3)it is an affront to secular society because it is considered a religious symbol AND 4)it can be intimidating- especially in this climate of terrorism. The Dutch are also currently mulling a law to outlaw the wearing of the burka in public.

Thank God we live in the United States, where we can wear whatever we damn well please (at least for NOW, ACLU!) Currently, American women only have to to worry about how and where to acquire their Birkin bags, and don't have to worry about burka bans...

Questions for the Zeitgeist...WE'RE BAAAAAAACK!!!

Okay, I KNOW its been a while since you've heard from me. I've been working on a couple of things professionally (I may not be freelancing any more, who knew?!) and also trying to work on remodeling the apartment- its MUCH more comfortable now (and it took a nice chunk out of my bank account...hence the need for a more steady gig!). Anyway, a LOT has happened in my absence, so I'll try to catch up by posting a couple of questions that I'm SURE have crossed your minds as well...I'm also in the process of "remodeling" The REAL RE-Edit as well, so the 'Questions...' main topic will appear in RED, and items that are in BLUE or PURPLE contain links that you can click on for your own edification...here we go...

1- How HOT was "Dreamgirls"? Did it live up to OUR expectations?
1a- We've heard about Jennifer Holliday's criticisms of the Dreamgirls movie (i.e., not being asked to participate in the movie, etc....), but what do Tony-award winning powerhouses Lillias White, Audra McDonald and Heather Headley (who played 'The Dreams' in the 2001 anniversary concert benefit of "Dreamgirls") have to say about it?




2- With comedians being fined for using the "n-word" onstage at the Laugh Factory, and with seminary black comic Paul Mooney swearing off the use of the word altogether , is there a silver lining in the ugliness that Michael Richards started with his assinine, racist rant?

2a- That being said, what would John Ridley- author of the well-written and rather inflammatory Esquire magazine article "The Manifesto of Ascendancy for the Modern American Nigger"- have to say about THAT?

2b- Moreover, would anyone care to hear what Randall Kennedy, author of "nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word" has to say about questions 2 and 2a?







3- If Oprah gave YOU $1,000 and told you to "pay it forward", what would YOU do?

4- While it may not bring her the success of "Hollaback Girl", isn't Gwen Stefani's video for "Wind It Up"- with its uber-modern and ultra-stylish take on the beloved musical 'The Sound of Music"- the FLYEST pop video out there right now?

5- How appropriate is it that I have been selected as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year"? (ok, not just me, but "anyone using or creating content on the World Wide Web"- in essence we are ALL Time Magazine's Person of the Year! What a novel idea!)

6- New York Knick Mardy Collins fouls J.R. Smith from the Denver Nuggets, leading to the worse professional basketball team melee since the Pacers/Pistons game in 2004. My question is twofold: a) is basketball REALLY that serious? and b) If you're making millions of dollars for depositing a ball into a hoop, shouldn't it take more than a little thing like a flyaway elbow to get your pressure up? DAMN, Carmelo...

7- "Lonelygirl15" pulls off the internet hoax of the year, takes home the "BIG Web Hit of 06" at VH-1's "Big in '06" awards show AND snags the December cover of WIRED magazine. Does lying have its rewards?


8- The newest UN Report states that 2 million Africans will die of AIDS this year, accounting for three-quarters of all AIDS-related deaths ON THE PLANET! Can The Gap's (RED) campaign make a difference?

9- Proof positive that "one monkey don't stop no show"...With her book 'Shine: A Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Journey to Finding Love' topping the New York Times bestselling list, her residual checks still coming in from being the Payless Shoes spokesperson, her stint as an AOL 'Love Coach', her presence being felt on the RadioOne airwaves this week AND a planned gig as host and executive producer of a year-end special for TV One, are we ready for "Star Jones-Reynolds: Media Mogul"? Dame Dash, is Star Jones-Reynolds turning into "The Ultimate Hustler"?

10- Jennifer Lopez I can understand. I can even "forgive" Sean 'Diddy' Combs. But...with a perfume fragrance currently in the works, who the HELL wants to smell like Mariah Carey??!! Never mind- I guess if Celine Dion, Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell, Hillary Duff, Russell Simmons and Britney Spears can do it, so can Mariah...











11- I haven't heard the CD yet, but...How thoroughly FIERCE is the Thierry Le Goues-inspired cover artwork for Fantasia's new CD?


















12- And while we're on the subject of recording artists borrowing Le Goues' iconography... Didn't Brandy "channel" one of the Le Goues images when she appeared on the cover of Vibe magazine in 2004 to promote her Afrodisiac CD? You be the judge...




















And now...The REAL RE-Edit FLASHBLACK...

Although I usually end each "Questions..." segment with a flashback video, I felt the need to do something different this time. With all the hoopla surrounding the release of the 'Dreamgirls' movie, here is irrefutable proof that we should be grateful for the show-stopping performances that the movie cast gave. What follows is evidence that there is indeed a right way AND A WRONG WAY to do the musical... enjoy (if you can!)...

Alright, I changed my mind...I WILL do the FLASHBACK segment!! Since we were talking about recording artists influenced by Le Goues' photography, here is one of my favorite videos. It is visually STUNNING!! Remember... "Soul Sista" by Bilal?