Monthly archive of June 2003
Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly
They say we use only a small part of our brains on a regular basis. I'm not sure if this is true, but I do believe we have enormous untapped power inside of us. Sometimes I forget how powerful I am. Yesterday, a speech, a play, a film, and a song helped to remind me.
Posted in spirituality on June 2 2003, 11:51AM | Read More
Hunting In Harlem by Mat Johnson
The book of the month for June is Mat Johnson's sophomore literary effort, Hunting In Harlem. Billed as "an explosive look at a neighborhood under siege," Hunting In Harlem tells the story of Lester Baines's Horizon Realty Company as it attempts to gentrify Harlem with black professionals.
Posted in books on June 3 2003, 10:21AM | Read More
The Wrong Direction
Three years ago, the nation enjoyed peace and prosperity. The biggest issue we faced then was when and where Bill Clinton had sex. Today, we face war and debt as far as the eye can see. No matter how you look at it, the country is moving in the wrong direction. And George Bush is to blame.
Posted in politics on June 4 2003, 11:53AM | Read More | Comments (10)
A Whole New Ball Game
Sammy Sosa, Martha Stewart, and Jayson Blair provide convenient foils for Americans to express their lack of faith in our institutions. When baseball, homemaking and the New York Times come under suspicion, what else is next?
Posted in pop culture·sports on June 5 2003, 11:13AM | Read More
Take Me Out
New Yorkers will be focused on two big events this weekend — the Belmont Stakes and the Tony Awards. But whether or not Funny Cide wins the Triple Crown, sports will be the big theme all weekend. That's because the hot new baseball play Take Me Out is a shoo-in for the Tony Award for best play, and one of its two leading stars is likely to win the best actor award.
Posted in sports·theater on June 6 2003, 10:44AM | Read More
Predictions From Europe
I'm away in Europe the next two weeks, but I will try to keep my site updated from abroad. Since I was able to predict the Tony Award winners on Friday, I thought I would start the new week by offering a few more predictions for the time I'm out of the country. Here's what I predict.
Posted in pop culture on June 9 2003, 5:21AM | Read More
Away In Europe
Paris -- I am still in France today. Friday I go to Amsterdam for the weekend, then I go to London next week. I thought it would be easier to update my site while I'm away, but I'm not used to the French keyboard. I will post new articles to my site when I return from Europe. See you soon.
Posted on June 12 2003, 2:31PM | Permalink
And The Winner Is . . .
A year and a half before the presidential election, some people think they have it all figured out already. Despite the efforts to create a sense of invincibility around President Bush, the winner has not been predetermined. There's plenty of time to change the outcome. Who wins or loses depends on what we do right now to make a difference.
Posted in politics on June 23 2003, 9:16AM | Read More
A Momentous Day
After two weeks of vacation from this site, I'm back at work today, and I have a feeling it's going to be a very good day. The weather is nice. I'm relaxed and refreshed. And if the Supreme Court does what I expect it to do, it's going to be a big day indeed.
Posted in pop culture on June 23 2003, 9:39AM | Read More
Flag Wars
The new documentary "Flag Wars" is a powerful film that offers an engrossing look at the issue of gay gentrification and the emerging conflict between blacks and gays. The film tells the story of residents in a depressed black community when white gays and lesbians start buying and renovating the local property.
Posted in movies on June 24 2003, 12:29AM | Read More
Post Cards From Europe
We left the United States on June 9. Two weeks later, we had been to five countries and three major European cities. I visited London, Paris, Amsterdam and Guernsey. Here are my online post cards.
Posted in pop culture on June 24 2003, 4:35AM | Read More
Night Work by Nelson George
The new book Night Work by Nelson George provides an entertaining and well-written story of a black man's adventure into New York's upscale escort scene. As it turns out, rich straight white people like kinky sex too.
Posted in books on June 25 2003, 12:40AM | Read More
Victory In Texas
Seventeen years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an antigay sodomy law in Georgia. Today, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court finally reversed itself and struck down an antigay sodomy law in Texas. If the infamous 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick case was the Plessy v. Ferguson for the gay community, then today's Lawrence v. Texas case may become the Brown v. Board of Education of the LGBT movement.
Posted in politics on June 26 2003, 10:09AM | Read More | Comments (7)
National HIV Testing Day
Today is National HIV Testing Day. Launched in 1995 by the National Association of People with AIDS, the message of the day is simple: "Take the Test, Take Control." If you don't know your HIV status, you don't know enough about HIV. For testing locations near you, call the National AIDS Hotline at (800) 342-2437.
Posted on June 27 2003, 12:59AM | Permalink
Gay Pride 2003
This weekend marks Gay Pride in New York City, San Francisco, Atlanta and numerous other cities. After the Supreme Court's decision yesterday and the Canadian ruling on gay marriage last week, there is much to celebrate.
Posted in sexuality on June 27 2003, 10:01AM | Read More | Comments (8)
Is Gay Marriage Next?
It is impossible to overstate the gravity and breadth of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision last Thursday. On Friday, the Supreme Court told the Kansas courts to reconsider the conviction of a teenager under the state's sodomy law. By Sunday, powerful members of Congress were already calling for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Posted in sexuality on June 30 2003, 9:58AM | Read More | Comments (11)