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?