Unspoken Kinship

Tom Joyner, the self-described "Fly Jock" and indefatigable worker for all things African American, observed in a recent blog post on the travails of Bishop Eddie Long and Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.: "You all know what I'm talking about - an incident that no matter what your politics, your economic status or your religious affiliation, you hurt, despair and even a tinge of betrayal because even though you may have had no personal connection, there was an unspoken kinship between you and person or people being accused."

With all due respect to Mr. Joyner, this is nonsense. I feel no kinship, spoken or otherwise, with Bishop Long, who allegedly sexually exploited four young men,or Rep. Jackson, who is implicated in political and sexual scandals. If these two gentlemen have disappointed or embarrassed anyone, it is the 25,000 congregants who comprise the New Birth megachurch and the constituents of Rep. Jackson's district.

Tony Curtis 1925 - 2010

Actor Tony Curtis died Wednesday night from cardiac arrest. He was 85 years old. I was first exposed to Curtis in his roles playing opposite Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones and opposite Kirk Douglas in Spartacus. Curtis was one of the last leading men produced by Hollywood's studio system.

Sweet Daddy

Must admit upfront that I despise televangelists of all stripes. I think they are nothing more than religious hucksters, charlatans, and hypocrites. The latest case in point is the unbelievably narcissistic Bishop Eddie Long who finds himself in the indelicate position of being on the wrong end of lawsuits brought by three young men accusing him of sexual improprieties, no doubt all in the name of the Lord. Among Long's crusades is his unwavering opposition to homosexuality and same-sex marriage. It is almost a given that those who protest too much a certain behavior have the most to hide.

Buddy Collette 1921 - 2010

Buddy Collette, jazz multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and educator has died.

Sonny at 80

Belated happy birthday to the tenor saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins who celebrated his eightieth on September 7th.

The Very Rev. Jones

Absolutely amazing that this jackleg preacher, the Rev. Terry Jones, managed to dominate the 24-hour news cycle and elicit almost universal condemnation for his threat to burn Korans on September 11th. As of this writing, this numbnut has decided to forgo the book burning exercise.

Gov. Brewer at the Abyss

Watching Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's awkward pause in the middle of rattling off her list of accomplishments reminded me of how Paula Abdul would occasionally blank out on American Idol. Of course a chief executive experiencing brain lock is a matter of much greater concern.