The election disappointment has had me Blog-free for awhile, but since the holidays are coming, here's a really delicious recipe for egg nog. Considering the liquor content, this is a designated driver recipe. As with any "uncooked" egg recipe, there are some risks, but if you follow the directions and keep the nog chilled, you should be fine. Hell, Rocky ate raw eggs every day and still beat the crap out of Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang AND Ivan Drago. 2 cups sugar (save ¼ cup for egg whites) 1 quart bourbon 1 quart milk 1 pint whipping cream 1 dozen eggs (separated) 12 oz. dark rum 1 quart Half and Half Fresh grated nutmeg Beat egg yolks, sugar and nutmeg until sugar grains have been dissolved (you can't feel them) Gradually beat in rum and bourbon (the liquor "cooks" the eggs) Add milk and half and half Beat egg whites with ¼ cup sugar until stiff and peaks form Chill bowl and beaters before whipping cream Whip cream until it peaks Into egg a...

You know, I was depressed for most of the Post-Election Wednesday. Rehnquist's diagnosis grew more dire. Kerry conceded awfully early in the news cycle. France and Germany rolled over and hinted that they were ready to play ball with the newly-vindicated Dubya. Republican hacks and Freepers alike were sharing the "We Won" luv... You know what saved me? America's Next Top Model. Insipid (yet strangely satisfying) reality television. Dubya is a simple-minded bastard being puppeted by some of the most despicable partisans in the history of our nation, but my sweetly zaftig SISTUH Tocarra made it through the fire one more time. Meanwhile, Tyra's hypnotic allure was a balm to sooth my Dubya-stained soul. Sure we lost Senate seats, but Obama's right, they don't have 60 votes. We will lose some Supremes, but Dubya can't elevate Scalia or Thomas to Chief. And one of his replacements will have to be a concession to the Dems. Besides, if things co...

That Nevada's Clark county would close the 5,000 vote deficit and deliver Nevada to Kerry... That late New Mexico precints would give me a reason to smile... and that the final 2% of precints in Ohio's Cuyhahoga and Hamilton counties would represent a surge that would close Kerry's 150,000 vote gap. This morning, tired and disheartened from the long night, I awoke to see all of those dreams dashed. Of course, Ohio's provisional ballots will be counted. Ohio's Secretary of State isn't the new Katherine Harris, he's the new Judge Ito. In O.J. Simpson's legendary trial, Ito was giddily happy to be thrust into an unexpeccted spotlight while evidence of bloodshed littered his courtroom. Relishing every opportunity for a sensational ruling, Ito quickly became emblematic of how the media transformed public servants into creatures consumed with TV-friendly hair cuts. Ken Blackwell is cut from the same cloth. Extolling the virtues and merits of a syste...

5:45 PST CNN.com Election 2004 Nader is SUCH a PRICK! Already he's siphoned more than 20,000 Florida votes. That's 38 times the number that decided the election last time. How can people vote for this jackass???? Miami-Dade and Broward show no results yet, so all is not lost, but I'm turning my attention to Ohio and Pennsylvania where Kerry is actually leading Bush.

I want to pose a question about the Florida "toss-up." In 2000, Bush carried his Brother's state by an official tally of only 537 votes. Of course, various recount and probable misvotes for Buchanan indicate a much larger margin of victory for Gore. But here's the rub... As the post-election furor died down, the disenfranchisement of thousands of Black voters was revealed. A similar scenario would likely have happened this time around, but the spotlight shone too brightly on Jeb and consequently, these folks will be able to cast ballots this year. What's more, they will be trucked to the polls by the bus and vanloads thanks to the efforts of rightly-disgusted Black voter corps and Democratic poll watchers. Since we KNOW the pollsters are under-representing Black voters, doesn't it seem reasonable to presume that Florida is actually MUCH more likely as a Kerry win by thousands of votes? Just something to ponder. Thanks for reading.

Mary Cheyney is a grown woman. She is an employee of her father's campaign. She is also a lesbian. Sort of a professional lesbian inasmuch as her pre-campaign job was improving Coors Gay market share. Thanks to the homophobic pandering of the (not-much-longer-God-willing) President, she can't be married. However, she DOES wear a "wedding" ring. As an out, professional, "married" lesbian, one imagines that she is not ashamed to be who she is. But somebody IS ashamed. The Cheney's are mad as hell and they're not gonna take it anymore. Dick, Lynne and Big Sis (BS) Liz have all made scathing remarks about Kerry's brief and, frankly innocuous, comment in response to a debate question about homosexuality. Dick is an angry Dad. Lynne says he's a bad man. Mary says... well, NOTHING. Hmm, how come we haven't heard from the "injured" party. At Paula Zahn's town hall meeting, BS Liz labeled the remark being offensive. ...

Kerry reinvigorated my belief in his candidacy last night. And Bush reawakened my fears that he is even a bigger idiot than I ever could have believed. Did no one remind him that a split screen means that folks can see him grimacing like a petulant child? Doesn't he remember how Gore was excoriated for his exasperated posturing in the 2000 debates? Kerry obviously had it figured out. Calmly taking notes while Bush rambled. Preparing to skewer Bush on his half-offered "broken-record" platitudes. Actually KEEPING UP with the dialog and thinking on his feet to craft credible, measured responses... It was a breath of freshness from Kerry that had me on the phone for hours after the debates with folks (and not al Qaeda folks either). When will someone call Bush on the fact that the authorization vote was about Saddam's imminent threat as outlined by the President's intel about the purchase of nuclear fuel? Disputing the yellowcake claim is all the reasonable doubt a...

"She's not the slut she's been made out to be..." Any time an attorney uses the word "slut" in a declaritive sentence about his client, eyebrows should arch. Hmmmm, couldn't he have finessed that sentence for the cameras just a little? Of course, it doesn't help that the client may, in fact, BE a suicidal, attention-grabbing, slut with a penchant for cocaine abuse. Talk about the trifecta! And now she's pregnant. PREGNANT, people! That a sexual abuse "victim" can find solace in the arms of another recovering cokehead is touching. And it doesn't NECESSARILY mean that she's been lying the whole time, but let's examine the scorecard. She claims that she has suffered additional abuse as a result of the court, yet again, revealing her name. OK, except that the court mistake didn't put the name out there in the first place. People from her community were e-blasting her within days of the charges. Then came the sto...

The results are in and Black folks have a new person at the top of their S**T list. But it's not who you think... It's Mark Burnett, creator of the Apprentice (and every other decent reality show out there.) "Why," you ask? Simply, from a pool of more than 1 million applicants-- across two seasons-- he managed to pick the two craziest Black women in the country to participate in this high profile game show... Omarosa and Stacie J. Let's backpedal. Omarosa probably slipped through the cracks because she interviews well. I can imagine her presentation of good-looking credentials, stylish flair and diva attitude that TV producers salivate over. BONUS! She worked at the White House. But by the end of her run on Apprentice 1, it was obvious that she was a two-faced, conniving liar that was willing to do or say anything to suit her purposes. I weep for her husband... Fast forward to Crazy J... First red flag, "Don't I recognize her from somewhere?...

A friend and I were talking about movies the other day and "The Five Heartbeats" entered the conversation. I allowed some of his passionate discourse before tossing in my two cents about the generally poor performances, mediocre script and lackluster direction. While, I don't consider myself a Robert Townsend hater (I enjoyed Hollywood Shuffle and own it on DVD), anyone with the execrable "Meteor Man" and "BAPS" on his resume has a lot to answer for. But then came to coup de grace... When I offered Angela Bassett's riveting portrayal of Tina Turner in "What's Love..." as an example of superior story-telling, he STILL preferred "The Five Heartbeats." WHAAAAAT?!? Two Oscar-nominated performances versus an over-long "movie of the week!" You've got to be kidding. In his defense, his affection for Heartbeats is rooted in his own experiences as a member of an male, R&B group. That none of his bandmate...

Is right here . It's insightful and intelligently addresses the fact that the evidence now points to the fact that Bryant is ACTUALLY innocent as opposed to likely to be found NOT GUILTY. It also raises the Catch 22 of Bryant's current situation. Since the case will most likely be dismissed, Bryant will not face jail time, but the civil case looms. All pundits are predicting that he will probably offer a settlement to the accuser in order to get on with his life. But what will that life offer him. A settlement (even one that includes restrictive language about denial of guilt) will open the door for the accuser's lawyers to crow about "justice" being served. But is justice served when a false accusation spurs a seven figure nuisance settlement? The accuser's father sent a letter condemning the judge's actions, but what about his daughter's actions? The prosecution has no expert witness to refute the defense position that the accuser has se...

Debra Dickerson's Slate article on racism sparked a predictably anxious debate in their Fray . Below, I have excerpted some highlights of the interactions I had with some folks in response to her piece. Subject: RE: Racist like??? From: roadwarrior Date: Aug 12 2004 2:39PM Yes there is damage done by holding ones ethnicity and heritage only in "high" regard. That implies that one is looking down on another's race with low regard. Also, if one is true to the facts, they should also have the strength to look at their heritage and find its weaknesses... don't only look at your heritage with high regard but also with low regard where appropriate. When everyone looks at their race with high regard, then the negativ aspect of racism rears its ugly head... just like the Arian race was supposed to be superior. The negative aspects of racism feed off of each individual's insecurity with themselves and their race. The individual's insecurity causes him ...

So the latest is that the accuser may forgo the criminal trial in favor of a civil suit. According to her lawyer, she is concerned that the court screw-ups will make it difficult for her to get a fair trial. But how about Kobe's fair trial? The medical records are sealed and can't be admitted into evidence, but this is a young woman who has attempted suicide twice. Does it prove that she can't be raped? No. Does it mean her mental state is in question? Yes. Evidence suggests that she had sex with another person AFTER her encounter with Bryant. Until her boyfriend offers a sample, one can only guess his identity. Does it prove that she wasn't raped? No. Does a sexual encounter mere hours after a rape fall outside the typical victim profile? Yes. In the 200-page document emailed to the press, the prosecutors expressed concern that these revelations might make it more difficult to prove their case. Well, of course it makes it more difficult. The question i...

In a flabbergasting revelation today, the Illinois GOP virtually assured that Illinois' vacant Senate seat would be occupied by a Black person. After an embarrasing stumble through wishful thinking (Mike Ditka), their choices have narrowed to Andrea Barthwell (a former deputy drug czar) and conservative talk show host Alan Keyes. Never mind that Keyes doesn't live in Illinois and hasn't even had the chance to meet with the GOP there. Apparently. his most compelling qualification is that he's Black. I can't decide what's more insulting to Illinois voters: that they would prop up a candidate from another state or that they feel voters might confuse the two candidates on the basis of their color. Keyes is a fringe player. In all of his runs for state and national office, he has been marginalized by conservative candidates whose message is less strident and more centrist. He is a talented speaker, but how many voters share his extreme views? How many can d...

In the post-Fahrenheit 9/11 cinematic world, it's easy to lose sight of some other great docs. About a month ago, I attended a screening of "The Hunting of the President." This wonderful effort chronicled the Mr. Toad's wild ride that was the Whitewater "investigation." Like Moore's films, it uses a mix of stock footage and music cues to comic effect. However, as narrated by Morgan Freeman, it carries more emotional heft, especially when focusing on Susan McDougal. After the screening, it occurred to me that despite the overwhelming evidence that Whitewater was a partisan witch hunt, fully 50% of Americans were convinced that Clinton actually did something nefarious. This in the face of being led into a war of convenience against a sovreign nation that posed no immediate threat to our country. The negative Clinton public opinion shaped Gore's decision to distance himself from the enormously popular (pre-Lewinsky) president and tipped some De...

O.K. a milestone today. Salon posted one of my letters. Since I love Salon enough to pay for a subscription, it was nice to see my thoughts woven into the fabric of their most delightful online magazine. The letter (here in its entirety) was a reply to an excellent Dan Kois article about the cult classic Donnie Darko (newly released in a Director's Cut). "First off, thanks to Dan Kois for filling in the blanks on this compelling and confounding movie. I will have to check out the director's cut if only to enjoy a bunch of "Aha!" moments offered by his insights. That said, I think the Byzantine nature of the Tangent Universe puzzle is very similar in structure to God's challenge with Job. The point is not simply to save the universe, but to offer Donnie a chance at healing his fractured spirit. As Kois points out, Darko is a troubled young man (and not chemically imbalanced, as Thurman later reveals). While in Tangent Middlesex, Darko uncovers insigh...

It's been more than a year since the accusation was made and I have to wonder why this case is still on the docket. According to recent reports, the accuser has considered dropping the charges because of her lack of confidence in her safety and well-being. In light of the death threats resulting from numerous accidental leaks that have spread her name across the globe, I can't blame her. On the other hand, this case has seen some major bombshells dropped and none of them look good for the prosecution. Consider today's incredible ruling... The accuser's sexual conduct during the three days before her exam can be introduced at trial. That's huge. In a state with the most restrictive rape shield laws in the U.S., that's an incredible win for the defense. Of course, this ruling came after another dramatic turn. The accuser sent text messages to her ex-boyfriend within hours of the encounter. Perhaps 15 people know what the messages say, but the boyfriend...

Isn't it ironic? Fox News, Limbaugh, et al shriek about Michael Moore as a liar and presenter of a distorted view of "the facts," yet perpetuate a daily deluge of craptastic "journalism" which is devoid of any sense of fairness or balance. I can't decide if it's merely disingenuous, grotesquely manipulative or intellectually cowardly to couch one's perspective as a breathlessly shrill tirade that attempts to outshout a competitive point of view. It reminds me of Eddie Izzard's hialrious comedy special "Dressed to Kill" where he maintains that most Americans don't really know the words to our national anthem, they merely pantomime gibberish while looking really confident and firmly gesticulating. These Foxnewsian talking heads play the role of Plato's shadow puppeteers while legions of patriotic Americans are held rapt by their antics. Michael Moore may not be balanced in his arguments and, indeed, heads down many a blin...

Why does the Presidential circus continue to captivate me every election cycle? Haven't I grown a bit numb from the same game being played every leap year? It's like the callous on my heel... shouldn't layer after jaded layer of incredulity shield me from getting caught up in the maelstrom of lies, fractured promises and jingoistic flag-waving? Can I pose another question without offering any answer? I am flabbergasted that this election hinges on anything other than this bastard of a "war" in which we're engaged. Not that there aren't other things to be upset over, but am I the only one wondering why "impeachment" isn't being whispered in the alabaster halls of Washington DC? Saw "The Hunting of the President" a few weeks ago and it opened afresh the old Clinton wounds. They impeached his oversexed ass because he lied about a BLOW JOB. Yet, we're locked into a political morASS because a morON ignored prudent data an...

I've pondered creating one of these things for a while now. "Ender's Game" started my fascination. The idea that Peter and Valentine (children!!!) could shape public opinion with insightful essays posted via ansible to the "net" was a romantically captivating idea for me. But it's almost equally alluring to procrastinate. Alas, I have fallen prey to a surge of "social responsibility" to throw my musings into the ether and see if I can become as revered as "Locke" or "Demosthenes." So, here we go. Please keep your rants and musings in the full upright position as we approach the runway for take off. I hope you enjoy the flight.