Cher the Hypocrite?

Why can’t celebrities leave politics alone if they have no concept of what they’re even talking about? Before y’all start emailing me that celebrities have voices, too – you should know I get that. And I absolutely, positively agree. But celebrity or no, they’re just as accountable for the things they say as anyone else. And Cher’s just dealt us a doozy.

I have no idea where some artists (or stars or celebrities – take your pick) get the idea their foul-mouthed antics serve any purpose. And I might be wrong, but if I were the president, the last person I’d want going to bat for me is Cher. Then again…considering the president….

Did anyone hear her interview with Randi Roberts this week? Ugh….disgusting. And clueless. And classless, too.

She was speaking with Randi Roberts about the grief she believes President Obama suffers as a black president:

Roberts: Why do you think there’s so much hatred? Is it because he’s black?

Cher: I definitely think there’s a component of racism in it. I think the Republicans thought they were gonna be in office forever and they weren’t and they got thrown out by a black man. Where are the people? The real people? The Latinos, the Asians…where are the black people? I’ve never seen such disrespect for a president. There has never been such disrespect for a president.

Really, Cher? Perhaps you’ve forgotten your past interviews. I can assure you there’s been such disrespect for a president:

Immediately following President Bush’s election in 2000 Cher told an Associated Press reporter:

“Has everyone lost their f–king minds? Doesn’t anybody remember the illustrious Reagan-Bush years when people had no money and no jobs? What has happened to people’s memories? It’s like they have Alzheimer’s or something! I don’t like Bush, I don’t trust him. I don’t like his record. He’s stupid. He’s lazy.”

Yeah, in my book, that counts as disrespect for a president.

 

Grab Your Stetsons, We’re 2-Steppin’ to Dallas

48 hours and counting….

I was thrilled to be able to preview the 2 hour return of Dallas, which premieres Wednesday on TNT. As excited as I’ve been the past year and a half (I mean seriously….I’ve always been vocal about my crush on JR Ewing…don’t judge me), I was concerned it would suffer an early death much like the efforts of other classic reprises (think Charlie’s Angels on ABC last year). I can tell you it goes far and beyond any high expectations any of us could have had.

Even at its height in the 1980s, the writers seemed to be creating their magic with the mindset of, “Get out of my way…to hell with political correctness”. Of course, it was the 80s – so pushing the envelope then was a nice, slow waltz compared to what writers create these days. It’s a sure-enough, down-home, giddy-up three step with TNT’s efforts of developing a plot line without compromising the foundation that made Dallas such a guilty pleasure.

I’m always cautious of a premiere that appears to focus too heavily on perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfectly designed wardrobes – give me a little imperfection so that it’s more authentic. Anytime you’re dealing with a fictional TV family that’s loaded to the gills with riches (even if the plot line includes worries about going broke), you’re bound to be hit with unrealistic appearances. Like the first go-round, there exists the right balance with what we’re seeing and the story we’re being told. The women are vain and concerned with appearances, but like any true Texas girl, she wants her man to look as powerful as she’s trying to make him. She knows if she can pull that off, it can only add to her own presentation.

The most important aspect for me, though, was this isn’t a “new” Dallas; the efforts were made – and successfully, I might add – to pick up in many ways where the original story line dropped off. We’re being introduced to the new generation but we’re not losing any of the greed, narcissistic and jealous qualities of the original cast. J.R. Ewing reins supreme: “Ah, you know I hate to hit below the belt – but ya know I will”. Bobby is still trying to save souls while making sure he doesn’t become jaded in the process. The focus is still on oil – after all, “oil” has always been a character in and of itself in Dallas. Now, though, the problems between J.R. and Bobby, and ultimately their sons, is on whether or not the Ewing land will continue to be a drilling field or if it will become a more muted conservatory. Guess which brother wants more oil rigs. The only obstacle even these brilliant writers couldn’t overcome – Barbara Bel Geddes, who played the sweet Miss Ellie in the original series, passed away in 2005.

Their two sons – perfect casting – perfection, I tell you! They manage to capture the qualities of their respective fathers while bringing entirely new dynamics into the game. And by the way, if you’re as hokey as I am and can appreciate a multifaceted man who masters ulterior motives and all the other less than noble human emotions, then J.R. Ewing is definitely your man. Two words: explosive genius.

Don’t miss this one. Seriously – do not miss this one.

Dallas premieres on TNT Wednesday, June 13 at 8 pm central time.

OK…so to get you in the mindset, here are a few tidbits of info you never knew and your life isn’t better because you know them now (or maybe it is). Just random info from the late 70s, early/mid 80s:

Dallas premiered in April 1978 as a mini-series, but was so popular, CBS took a chance – and never looked back. The series ran until 1991, making it the second longest drama series in TV history. Gunsmoke reined supreme, but since then, Law & Order has tied Gunsmoke – both were on the air for two decades.

Did Dallas inspire Urban Cowboy (my all time fave movie) or did Urban Cowboy inspire Dallas? This is one of those questions right up there with “Who shot JR?”

Bee Gees DOMINATED the music charts. Saturday Night Fever was red-hot in 1979.

Also, and this is interesting – keep in mind John Travolta was in three of the biggest films in the U.S. during this time span between ’77 and ’81: Grease, Saturday Night Fever and, of course, Urban Cowboy

The best seasons were between ’84 and ’86. Ronald Reagan was president (what I’d give for those days) and the music – oh the music from those years…

1984

When Doves Cry – Prince

What’s Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner

Jump – Van Halen

Like A Virgin – Madonna

Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) – Phil Collins

Footloose – Kenny Loggins

1985

Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon

Cherish – Kool and the Gang

I Want To Know What Love Is – Foreigner

Money For Nothing – Dire Straits

Careless Whisper – Wham

1986

You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi

Stuck With You – Huey Lewis and the News

Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer

Someday – Glass Tiger

 

Way Cool People of 2011

So who were the folks who inspired us in 2011? The ones that breathed fresh air into a stale media, renewed our faith and refused to give up? Here’s a list of the top 5 way cool folks of 2011 – in no particular order:

Adele

How can you not love that attitude and the unapologetic honesty of this fireball? She’s one of those rare people who can tell it like it is, mince no words and still not insult anyone else. Oh – and then there’s that voice. I think I want to be Adele when I grow up. What’s that? You’ve never heard her music? Sure you have! But check out the video below and see for yourself why she is a must-have on any “way cool” list.

Kate Middleton

Ah, the newest addition to the royal family. When she married Prince William earlier this year, she was given the title Duchess of Cambridge. She’s elegant, humble and with not a single pretentious bone in her body. If there were, you can be sure the paparazzi would’ve reported it, shoved it down our throats and spewed harsh images to serve as proof that she was anything but a lovely addition to her husband’s family. Hopefully, she can find a way to insert a sense of humor into the queen. I know…I know…it just wouldn’t be proper for the Queen to cut loose – but wouldn’t it be fun?

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

Sometimes the media simply gets it wrong. This was one of those times. Jared Loughner, a disturbed young man, felt it proper to show up at an Arizona town hall meeting Rep. Giffords was hosting on a cool Saturday morning in January. It’s what he did after he showed up that paralyzed the entire nation as the news came rolling in. He shot 19 people and killed 6. One of those shot and was reported dead was Rep. Giffords. She was shot in the head and despite the collective media’s reports that she didn’t survive, that’s exactly what she did: survive. Then, in this amazing renewal of faith, we watched her recovery. Today, she is thriving with a new appreciation for life. I’ve yet to see this woman display rage, or even anger, self-pity or the “woe is me” mentality we see with the likes of Lindsay Lohan and other “has been that never should’ve been” celebrities. Instead, she and her husband simply keep on keeping on with grace and humility.

Navy SEAL Team 6

An unexpected announcement that President Obama would be addressing the country on a Sunday night sent the rumors flying. Within an hour, he was standing in front of his podium and telling the world that an incredibly brave and elite group, the Navy SEAL Team 6, had killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. It was an amazing moment for every American and the pride each of us felt for our military is immeasurable. No one knows their specific names, of course, but they’ll go down in history known as Navy SEAL Team 6.

J.R. Martinez

Martinez is also one of those brave souls who made the choice to go into the U.S. Army at a very young age. The Iraqi vet suffered devastating injuries that nearly cost him his life. Like Rep. Giffords, Martinez opted to pick up the pieces and reclaim his life. Since then, he has served as a powerful motivational speaker and on a whim, decided to try out for a role on All My Children, which he landed. More recently, Martinez took the mirror ball trophy on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. Watching him week after week was something millions of Americans looked forward to as we each was reminded, courtesy of that dancing man, the true meaning of patriotism.

 

Patsy Cline is Mad!

For the love of all that’s good and honky-tonk timed in country music, will someone please enlighten these poor, misled women?

What is going on with the women in country music? They look like wax recreations of their former selves. Don’t get me wrong: if it ain’t got a twang, it ain’t got a thang – for this country girl, it’s all about the country music. Yes, mommas, dogs and love gone wrong – the prereqs of any fine country tune. But I’m thinking these women need to fire their wardrobe and hair “pros” in lieu of those looks from days gone by, back when a lady knew how to do big hair with proper justice and knew that curves were a good thing that comes from good southern cooking. I’m thinking they’re all too  “Hollywood-ized”. Patsy Cline would be so disappointed and I’m betting Loretta Lynn bit her tongue all night in an effort to resist a “good ol’ fashion’ talkin’ to”.  Don’t worry – I’ll redeem myself with a few nice comments about the ones that really did fashion justice, too. Take a look:

I didn’t know Faith Hill had her own wax double. Look- her husband is posing with it!

OK…so maybe it’s not a wax double because it..I mean “she”…moved. Girl, fire your hair and make-up team and eat a biscuit!

Keith Urban is posing with his wife’s wax double too, I see.

OK, now. See? You can’t have big hair with loose ends. And when your hair’s bigger than your waistline and bustline, there’s trouble. I swear, if I didn’t see her moving and walking, I’d know this was a wax statue.

Uhm…memo to Kellie Pickler: it’s called lipstick, sugar. Use it. And you need to eat a biscuit, too.

See? There’s another one with big hair that doesn’t stay where it ought to. Do something with those ends, Ms McBride! Either go big or don’t.

Here’s your proof that LeAnn Rimes hasn’t whittled away to nothing. I don’t care what that crazy Beverly Hills Housewife says – I am totally diggin’ LeAnn Rimes and that handsome husband of hers.

Now when did this Nashville hottie arrive and where can I buy his music? OK…so Kellan Lutz doesn’t sing, but he’s sure giving Tim McGraw a run for his money, which probably isn’t too hard considering all the wax he had to buy for his wife’s double.

This is how it’s done.  Carrie Underwood is the epitome of elegance.

You can’t NOT love Miranda Lambert. That girl knows how it’s done, too. Be sure to see her video at the bottom of this post for my favorite song of hers. Nothin’ but attitude!

Aw, it’s Lauren Alaina. I’m still loving this little girl’s attitude and flair. So glad some things never change.

Alrighty – now for the disclaimers – all photos are courtesy of Associated Press. And here’s the video I promised -

 

The REAL Problem with Reality TV

I admit it – I am a total reality TV junkie and I can live with that knowledge. Until this weekend. Let’s just say I got a bit more reality than I bargained for.

First, there are a lot of questions I’d love to ask a producer who’s worked in this sector. You can’t help but wonder what these “characters” parents think of them. I mean, really, ever seen Oxygen’s Bad Girls? The whole time I’m watching an episode, I’m thinking to myself, “Girl, if I was your momma? I’d beat you up one side and down another.” Their behavior is so far out in left field and you know there’s a mom somewhere out in the Midwest who’s dreading the next morning at the office after the whole world’s just witnessed her daughter strip down on a bar in some seedy lounge. But that’s not what this is about.

This weekend, I could find nothing on TV. I thought about watching Water for Elephants, and I will at some point, but I have a feeling it’s going to make me cry. So, I’m plundering through Cinema Plus on DirectTV and see a

Handsome as all get-out but definitely will make you blush. Or grab your Rosary.

reality show on Showtime. The description doesn’t really tell a whole lot about it, but it’s clear it follows a group of men who are gigolos. Really, truly “sure enough” gigolos. I figure, eh, why not? Let’s see what their egos dictate. So I record a couple of episodes. The first one I watched was clearly an episode in the middle of the season. I’m watching it, a little fascinated by the collective mindsets of these men and how they react to their female clients.  And then….it happens. The camera flashes to one of the appointments. The whole…hmm….how to say this….the whole….well, the whole thing. Nudity and all. Soft porn.  I know I’m only about 20 seconds into this as my mind is processing what’s on the TV and then it occurs to me. And I’m scared as hell…

…I also watch Long Island Medium. And I believe those who’ve passed before us are always right here with us.  The star of the show, Theresa Caputo, makes me laugh and like I said, I think those we love are always right here, just in a different form.

So as I’m reaching for the remote to change the channel (at this point, I’d be perfectly happy with that stupid football game between LSU and Alabama) it occurs to me – if I truly believe our loved ones are right here with us, then that means my Maw Maw Nellie is probably trying to figure out how to thump me upside the head for not having sense enough to figure out what I was recording. Or maybe not. She was the one who told me that sex was like candy and that once you had it, you always wanted more.  She was great like that – didn’t matter what we wanted to talk about, nothing shocked her and she was never critical with us. She just told it like it was, with no apologies, and loved us through it all.

And that, my friends, is the real problem with reality TV. Let’s just say Nurse Jackie and Homeland are still the only two Showtime shows I have on auto-record.

 

The Oscar and The Five & Dime

If you ever want a different perspective for life in general, talk to someone who’s lived a rich one; one who has the experience and brutal scars that serve as definitive proof of a well-lived life. While I will certainly never know the honor of speaking with Ernest Borgnine, I caught a 2009 interview with the then-92 year old movie star. When I say “movie star”, you can be sure it has nothing at all in common with what we are blessed with out of Hollywood today (and I use the term “blessed” loosely).

Anyway, the very first film I saw him in was A Catered Affair. He co-starred with Bette Davis in this 1956 film about parents whose only daughter is getting married. In an effort to “keep up with the Jones’”, Davis annihilates the budget to the point Borgnine is beside himself. He’s nearing retirement and though he wants to give his daughter a wedding, he simply cannot afford the lavish event his wife has in her mind. I thought it was one of the best films ever. Remember – Bette Davis stars in this one with him and y’all know what I say about her films: they never have a happy ending for her and A Catered Affair is no different. The bride-to-be finally tells her mother (much to her father’s pleasure) to back off as she and her fiance are perfectly happy with a small ceremony. And then I saw Marty.

There are few words to describe what I felt after I saw this film – it resonated with me on many levels.

The interview I saw today revealed a very humble and gracious man. There exists no typical Hollywood snobbery and it’s clear he never possessed that on any level. The interview opens with his telling Robert Osborne of the night he won the Oscar for Marty and how he was looking around to find all the other nominees, sure that one of them would win. He said he was watching Burt Lancaster and Jimmy Cagney, both of whom were nominated.

He said he was thinking to himself, “Gee, wouldn’t it be nice, I’d like to win…’ and the next thing I know, I’m getting poked in my rib and someone said, “They called your name! They called your name!” He’s telling the story, quite animated and clearly reliving the moment. He mentions he kissed his wife and went up to stand next to Princess Grace, who announced the winner for Best Actor. And then, as he continues his story, we see the photo moments after winning the Oscar and with a smile as big as Texas. Interestingly, he was paid $5,000 for this movie.

Soon, he begins telling of his life before Hollywood and of his time spent serving our country in the military and how he returned home to difficult times. He said he told his mother at one point, “I could go back into service and retire in ten years”. She looked at him and said, “…out of the blue.’Why don’t you go into acting? You always like to make a damn fool out yourself in front of people. Might as well make money doing it.”

From there, he tells of how the politics in Hollywood worked back then and how he was often taken for granted and after having turned down a role the studio wanted him to take, he was blackballed. He said he was only interested in making a living. So, he told the studio heads, after not having worked for months, that Christmas was coming and he was going down to the Five & Dime to see if he could take a part time job. The studio, of course, went ballistic. They couldn’t have their Oscar winning star at the Five & Dime! From there things got better for him. And “better” is definitely an understatement.

Here’s a clip I found from Marty. I think we can all relate to the “blue suit” moment. This one scene is what I loved so much about this film -it truly is an amazing movie – definitely worth your time.

 

Ringer? Dead Ringer

I knew there was something so familiar about one of the new fall TV shows. Ringer, which stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and airing on the CW network, premiered Tuesday night. I’d been contracted to write a review, so I already had my DVR set. Now, here’s the thing with reviews: it sounds like a lot of fun, and most of the time, it is – unless it’s a show I really don’t like or a movie that didn’t live up to its hype. Fortunately, Ringer is a homerun and the CW has Gellar to thank for it.

But back to that sense of familiarity. It finally occurred to me that it’s eerily reminiscent Dead Ringer, the 1964 horror film that starred Bette Davis. Like Gellar, she too played the role of both twins. Now y’all know I’m a huge fan of the classics and especially Bette Davis. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong generation and then I remember all that great music from the 1980s and realize maybe I wasn’t. In both the Ringer and Dead Ringer, one twin – the wealthy one – ends up dead. That leaves the broke and down-on-her luck sister in both works with a decision: keep on keeping on with a life half-lived or assume the identity of the dead, though wealthy, sister. Of course – they choose to become their other halves. Wouldn’t we all? OK – don’t answer that.

Ringer definitely hit its mark. It’s smart with a great script, at least from the pilot, and hopefully, it will more than serve its purpose for this network that finds itself struggling each season, despite a few great efforts it’s made over the years. And even better is that the writers, and certainly with Gellar’s talent, have managed to maintain the quality and consistency from the original black and white film. The music is amazing, too. Seriously – who else would combine Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” with Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces”? It’s genius, I tell you!

So if you haven’t seen Dead Ringer, here’s a short clip and try to find it on Netflix or Amazon – it really is a great film with a less than perfect ending – which is a must-have for any Bette Davis film (think Of Human Bondage or Now Voyager – she loses out in both).

 

Yeah – That’s Who Saved America

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of one of the most devastating events to affect our country and certainly, the most devastating event in our lifetime. Everyone always says they remember exactly what they were doing at the moment they learned the nation had come under attack on September 11, 2001. Images of those huge planes crashing into the Twin Towers, photos of those who were lost – they’re all a part of our mental catalogs.

Women have this ability to memorialize those crucial moments in our lives. We remember the color of shoes and socks we dressed our newborns in as we leave the hospital following their births. We remember the date of our first kiss and we remember the exact moment – date and time – that we realize a marriage is over. So, naturally, I remember sitting at the red light in Hattiesburg, Mississippi that morning and wondering what I was going to do with a broken marriage. Needless to say, what unfolded the rest of the day made my problems seem almost petty. There’s very little I don’t remember about that day, even if it is quite different than what some are claiming today.

We can all remember President Bush sitting in that Florida classroom and seeing the expression on his face when he learns his country is under attack. We can also remember seeing the faces of those young men and women who felt a surge of pride so deep that it compelled them to enter the military to ensure another tragedy such as what we were living would never again happen. I mean seriously, what’s left, right? Well…

Here’s where memories will begin to betray many of us. There’s a special on the Biography Channel tomorrow night, “How Pop Culture Saved America”. In the clip, Christine Chenoweth, who I adore by the way, says, “It was almost our duty to take people out of this horrendous reality.” Hmm. There’s no denying folks use their celebrity status for good. Whether they’re traveling to support our troops or are serving as the driving force behind raising a million dollars for the latest cancer research, being a celebrity certainly has its perks. But to suggest it was pop culture that saved America following the terrorist attacks? Seriously? The documentary’s title alone is an insult.

It wasn’t the collective pop culture that saved this country. It was the commitment and determination of a powerful military, an angry president and the faith of each of us that saved this country. It was that too-brief time where each of us felt a sense of obligation to others for once instead of ourselves. It was the powerful prayers, the pride, the grieving and ultimately the healing so many found themselves thrown into that saved this country a decade ago. The country singers, glamorous movie stars and other celebrities played a significant role to be sure, but saved us? I guess it comes down to one question: when you look back and when you’re playing that mental catalog over and over, what do you see? Is it Cameron Diaz laughing inappropriately during the broadcast that was shown on every network or is it the fearful, but determined, faces of firefighters and police officers that causes your sense of pride to surge forward?

Nothing like a self-congratulatory attitude from Hollywood, right?

 

“We Laid Waste to Everything in Our Path”

Everyone has their favorite character from the 1980s show, Dallas, right? I would forgo Friday night dates so I could watch – but that was OK too because everyone wanted to be in front of the TV to see it. Even if we were 17. Despite all of the ridiculous attempts of bringing back those shows from yesteryear, like Charlie’s Angels (Really? For the love of God, let it rest in peace, please), we finally have a comeback that’s worthy of our time. Dallas is coming back next summer – and here’s the best part: Bobby, J.R. and Sue Ellen are back (Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman and Linda Gray, respectively) with all that sordid dysfunction and pleasurable hatred we come to know and love in the original. Now, we head into the second generation with John Ross and Christopher fighting over good ol’ Texas oil. What’s that? Do I hear a big “yee haw”?!

Oh please, please let there be lots of cowboy hats and boots….and in the meantime, check out the clip, where you’ll hear Bobby tell J.R., “We laid waste to everything in our path, J.R.” with that familiar tune playing in the background. You’ll wonder how you survived the past two decades without J.R. in your life. No word yet on when it premieres, other than Summer 2012 and it’s coming to TNT. If only I could go ahead and set my DVR…

 

Rewarding Bad Bahavior

Several years ago, when the mortgage company I worked for closed its doors, I found myself out of work. To be honest, I anticipated no problems finding a new position. That first week or so, I remember getting my resume updated and sending it out to employers who had positions to fill – and there weren’t that many, but I had faith the right one was just around the corner. I didn’t panic – I was actually looking forward to a few days off. Those few days became a few weeks. And then a month. It was one of the worst times in my life. I’m not a rich woman when it comes to material things, but I love the life I’d carved out and was hopefully turning a difficult situation into a learning dynamic for my son. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I wanted to at least show him that hard times hit when you least expect them. He was getting ready to graduate from high school and he had such big plans for his own future.

One day I was at the house feeling properly sorry for myself. I tried to keep most of it to myself because I didn’t want my family to worry and I didn’t want to burden my friends since they had their own families and problems; so in some ways, I’d sort of withdrawn. I was on the sofa and everything was flashing before me when I heard a knock on the door. I couldn’t imagine who it was since everyone works during the day. When I opened it, it was one of my best friends, Marline. Now, you have to understand something about this woman. She’s fearless. She runs on nothing but her faith and I’m certain she has no concept of biting her tongue – which is one of many of the amazing qualities she possesses. She marches in past me, sits her purse down on the floor and takes my seat on the sofa. I sit down next to her and wait for it. I wasn’t sure what “it” was, but I knew it was coming.

If I live to be one hundred, I’ll never forget what she said to me. “Look, I know life’s kicking you hard right now, but I’m going to tell you how it is. Use your God-given talents to make your living.” I remember laughing and thinking to myself, “Yeah, my only talent right now is that I’ve mastered the ultimate pity party”. I didn’t say that

Forget the rock stars - I wanted to marry a pro wrestler

to her, of course, but what I did say was, “Marline, I’m not sure, but I’m thinking my talent pool is running a bit shallow right now”. True to form, she told me I needed to find a way to step outside my box (I think she used the words “stop feeling sorry for yourself and just do it”) and then told me I needed to find a way to earn my living as a writer. At that very moment, I knew I was wasting time sending out resumes and that I had a career all along if I’d quit putting my faith into the never-predictable job pool and instead, turn that energy in. The point of the story is that up until then, it never occurred to me that I could write and earn a living at it. I knew it was what I loved more than anything else, especially when that whole “becoming the wife of a pro wrestler” thing didn’t work out (family joke – when I was a kid, my parents thought I was going to run away and marry a wrestler because I was convinced it was real and had a crush on everyone from Ted DiBiase to Scott Hall at some point before I was 15. OK, before I was 17).

Now, don’t get me wrong, it was still tough. After all, I was truly starting over. But there’s not been a day in those 3 1/2 years that I’ve looked back and questioned my decisions. Picking up the pieces is an ass-kicker, believe me. But is most certainly worth it.

I’m not a fan of Amy Winehouse. I believe she had a beautiful voice, but y’all know me – if it ain’t got a twang, it ain’t got a thang (for you non-southerners – that means I like country music). The tragedy of her death this weekend reminded me of what Marline said to me that day and I wonder if anyone ever told her to step outside her own box. The real tragedy is that she forgot or maybe she lost focus; regardless, it’s too late.

From Charlie Sheen to these jackass politicians to Winehouse, we, as a collective society keep elevating these people. When I say “elevate”, I mean we keep waiting for them to do the right thing, to use their own God given talents for the good of their very public roles. The only consistency is that we are always disappointed. I’m getting ready to spend the day watching first the Asian markets and then our own financial markets to see if those on Capital Hill have affected a global community due to their bad behavior and refusal to abandon the antics typically found in two year old kids. Honestly, I don’t know what the solution is with this shameful financial mess these people have created. It’s not even about not re-electing them. It’s too far gone for that and frankly, potential future political candidates haven’t proven they’re any different. They’re just as guilty as the current ones when it comes to giving interviews, primping for the cameras and then arguing in front of those cameras. Instead of making real change, they simply continue to be rewarded for their bad behaviors.