Thursday Thirteen # 23 - Women Behind the Songs

The subject of this week’s Thursday Thirteen is the women behind the songs. I could think of more songs named after women, like Enchantment’s “Gloria” or Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally", for instance, but I could not find information about who inspired the song. These are listed in chronological order. What are some of your favorite women inspired songs?

1. Peggy Sue Gerron
From Buddy Holly's 'Peggy Sue' (1957) Holly wrote some lovely songs for his wife, Maria Elena, but his best-known hit was actually inspired by the woman who would later become his drummer's wife. Peggy Sue was a classmate of Holly's at Texas' Lubbock High when the song -- which the singer flirted with re-titling 'Cindy Lou' -- topped the charts. She's currently working on an autobiography titled 'Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?'

2. Donna Ludwig
From Ritchie Valen's ‘Oh Donna’ (1958) Valens wrote this song for his high school sweetheart, Donna Ludwig. Their relationship was included in the 1987 biographical film “La Bamba”. Donna Ludwig is now Donna Fox. She remains active in events having to do with her childhood boyfriend Ritchie Valens.

3. Carole King
From Neil Sedaka's 'Oh Carol' (1962) Impressing a love interest with a song gets a lot more difficult when said subject is just as capable of writing a smash hit herself -- but this bouncy tune helped Sedaka score points with high school sweetie Carol Klein. The song went on to become one of Sedaka's biggest hits, and inspired Klein -- who had by then adopted the nom de disque Carole King -- to record the answer tune "Oh Neil." Not even Neil Armstrong's moon landing some years later could make that one a hit.

4.Jenny Boyd
From Donovan’s 'Jennifer Juniper' (1968) Fashion models often captivate rock stars, but even by the standards of that profession, Jenny Boyd had a special magic. The teenage waif proved equally enraptured with folkie Donovan, who serenaded her with this guileless song. Their romance would prove short-lived, and Jenny went on to marry and divorce Mick Fleetwood -- twice! -- before earning her psychology degree. Coincidentally, Jenny's older sister Patti -- married to George Harrison but in love with Eric Clapton -- was the inspiration for 'Layla'.

5. Caroline Kennedy
From Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ (1969) Diamond said he was a "young, broke songwriter" in the '60s when he saw a cute photo of Caroline Kennedy in a magazine. “It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony," he recalled. "It was such an innocent, wonderful picture; I immediately felt there was a song in there."

6. Candy Darling From the Velvet Underground's 'Candy Says' (1969) Lou Reed wrote this as an homage to Warhol "superstar" Candy Darling, who came to New York a shy young man and emerged as a glamorous blond woman. Reed channeled both Candy's delicacy and steeliness in lines like "I've come to hate my body/And all that it requires in this world" -- a reference to the female hormones that enabled her gender change but ultimately took her life. He also name-checked her in 'Walk on the Wild Side,' recalling, "In the back room, she was everybody's darling."

7. Judy Collins
From Crosby Stills and Nash's 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes' (1969) Written by a man on the verge of a catastrophic breakup, this Stephen Stills composition chronicles his love for his longtime girlfriend, folk singer Judy Collins, and the differences that were driving them apart. The last verse of 'Judy Blue Eyes,' sung in Spanish, has absolutely nothing to do with Collins and instead focuses on an unfulfilled desire to take a trip to Cuba. We're presuming there's a veiled reference to Gloria Estefan in there someplace, but our language skills are a little rusty.

8. Patti D’Arbanville
From Cat Steven’s ‘My Lady Darbanville’ (1971) Cat Steven’s was inspired to write this song while in a relationship with actress Patti D’Arbanville, who would later become the girlfriend of Don Johnson and the mother of his son Jessie. I remember her best from the 90’s television show “New York Undercover”.

9. Sara Allen
From Hall and Oates ‘Sara Smile' (1976) Sara Allen was the love interest of Darryl Hall and a songwriter in her own right. Not only was she the inspiration for the 1976 hit Sara Smile. She was also inspired the song “Rich Girl” in a roundabout way, it was about a rich former boyfriend of Sara’s; however rich boy did not sound right.

10. Sara Recor
From Fleetwood Mac’s 'Sara' (1979) Anyone who thinks Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a tough game should try a round of with Sara Recor -- the subject of this airily pretty radio staple. Sara, a good pal of Stevie Nicks, actually helped write her own serenade -- a pretty gutsy move since she was on the verge of stealing Nicks' boyfriend, Mick Fleetwood. Recor and the drummer later married and divorced, but her relationship with Nicks survived -- long enough, at least, for Stevie to "borrow" Recor's first name for this song about Nicks' stint in rehab.

11. Sharona Alperin
From the Knack’s 'My Sharona' (1979) Knack frontman Doug Fieger was a twentysomething rock journeyman with a dirty-old-man streak when he met 16-year-old Sharona, who would give him his place in rock history. Fieger threw caution -- and age-of-consent laws -- to the wind and wooed Sharona, who inspired the song that bears her name, and she ended up posing for the single's picture sleeve. They remained a couple for four years, leaving Fieger as one of rock's great one-hit wonders and Sharona one of L.A.'s more successful real estate agents.

2. Rosanna Arquette
From Toto’s ‘Rosanna’ (1982) Ah, Hollywood. The Rosanna in question is surnamed Arquette -- yes, of 'Desperately Seeking Susan' fame -- and she happened to be the muse/lover of Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro. Ironically, Porcaro neither sang the song -- that would be frontman Bobby Kimball -- nor wrote it. The author was David Paich, who -- in a rare example of rock brotherhood -- penned the song to celebrate the love between his bandmate and Arquette, not to try to win her away from Porcaro.

3. Delilah DiCrescenzo
From Plain White Ts' 'Hey There Delilah' (2006) Plain White T's frontman Tom Higginson wrote this ode to Columbia University steeplechase runner Delilah DiCrescenzo. He fell for Delilah and told her he'd written a tune about her, then quickly backed off when she asked to hear the song, which didn't exist yet. By the time he got around to penning the ditty, Delilah was long gone. She has since weighed in, saying, "Part of me wants to scream at the top of my lungs that it's about me. Another part of me wants to cower and say it's not.

Enjoy Hall & Oates performing "Sara Smile" Live.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Obama Seals The Deal!

Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, becoming the first black candidate to lead a major party into a campaign for the White House. Vanquished rival Hillary Rodham Clinton swiftly signaled an interest in joining the ticket as running mate.
Obama arranged a victory celebration at the site of this summer's Republican National Convention — an in-your-face gesture to Sen. John McCain, who will be his opponent in the race to become the nation's 44th president. The 46-year-old Obama outlasted Clinton in a historic campaign that sparked record turnouts in primary after primary, yet exposed deep racial and gender divisions within the party. In a campaign of surprises, Clinton's comments about joining the ticket rated high.

According to one participant in an afternoon conference call among Clinton and members of the New York congressional delegation, Rep. Lydia Velasquez said she believed the best way for Obama to win over Hispanics and members of other key voting blocs would be to take the former first lady as his running mate. "I am open to it," Clinton replied, if it would help the party's prospects in November, said the participant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the call was a private matter.

Obama sealed his victory based on public declarations from delegates as well as from an additional 18 who had confirmed their intentions to the AP. The count also included five delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 15 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day. It takes 2,118 delegates to clinch the nomination.

Another Journalist Put Her Foot In Her Mouth

Is it just me or has the world gone MAD? FOX News contributor Liz Trotta thought it would be a good idea to joke about killing Sen. Barack Obama, since Hilliary Clinton busted the seal on the idea with the RFK comment, I guess it's fair game to joke about. If anyone had made a comment about assassinating the current president, albeit jokingly, they would probably be arrested immediately. The same respect and courtesy should be afforded to all elected governmental official. I do not like the way Bush has run this country in the ground, but I would not advocate that anything happen to him other than being impeached.

Back to Trotta, if you watch the segment closely you will see that this was not a mere slip of the tongue, and that she is clearly not an Obama supporter. As I have said before when remarks have been made about doing bodily harm (lynchings, etc.), we should not let one comment like this slide. Not one. But since it looks like she'll get away with it, please no more assassination remarks or jokes on national television! Ms. Trotta did apologize for her comments, but there was really no sincerity in my opinion. What do you think?




Here is the apology issued by Trotta

NBA Super Stars Who Never Received a Championship Ring

It is with a heavy heart that I write this…Alas, my beloved Pistons will not be going to the finals once again. Beat out by Boston in an upset on their home court, the Pistons have let another chance for the championship slip through their hands yet again. Although the team has no super stars, the players are cohesive group that compliment each other. When I realized “The Fat Lady” was singing loud and clear, I found myself feeling badly for team members like McDyess, who played their hearts out only to come away empty handed.

In the midst of my pity party I remembered some of the truly great players who never received a ring. Here is a short list; there are others out there as well. Feel free to name players that were great, but the “bling” of the ring eluded them.

Karl Malone (1985-2004)

He's considered the one of the greatest power forwards of all time, but the mailman didn't deliver a title. The Utah Jazz went to the conference title twice, but sadly there was a man named Michael Jordan standing (or dunking) in Malone and the Jazz's way in 1997 and 1998. As a Los Angeles Laker he did get to the NBA Finals with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, but dreams of championship bling were shot down by the Detroit Pistons.

Charles Barkley (1984-2000)

Barkley could out-muscle and out-rebound anyone on the court, he had attitude, earned 11 NBA All-Star Game appearances and two Olympic gold medals and was always good for a colorful quote. But alas, never ever once did he win a NBA title. Barkley came close to championship glory in 1993, when he led the Phoenix Suns to a berth in the 1993 NBA Finals. However, the Suns lost to some fella named Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.

Patrick Ewing (1985 - 2002)

It was "our year" ever year for the Knicks, and every year they and the big man fell short. His final years were plagued by injuries and he ended his career with the Orlando Magic in 2002.

Dominique Wilkins (1982-1999)

He was one of the best dunkers the game had ever seen, but he couldn't find a way past Larry Bird. The Atlanta Hawks' superstar never played in a single NBA Finals series.

John Stockton (1984-2003)

Regarded as one of the best point guards in NBA history, Stockton, like his Utah Jazz teammate, Karl Malone, had Air Jordan standing in his way of championship bling two consecutive years. Stockton retired in 2003 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Reggie Miller (1987-2005)

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Reggie Miller's Pacers fell to the Lakers in their one appearance in the Finals. Sad? Yes, but not as heartbreaking as the five conference finals the team lost, which includes three Game 7s. Ouch.

Chris Webber (1993-2008)

Maybe if it wasn't for those missed free throws in the Kings' Game 7 OT loss to the Lakers in 2002 or the missed three-pointer at the buzzer in Game 7 against Minnesota in 2004, we could say that Webber would have a championship ring. Then again, who has time for should have-could have-would haves?

Elgin Baylor (1958-1972)

Baylor played in eight NBA Finals ... and lost them all. To say that was frustrating is quite the understatement. He called it quits during the 1971-72 seasons, becoming one of the first greats to retire without a championship ring.

Pete Maravich (1970-1980)

Long before Magic Johnson, 'Pistol Pete' was the showman on the court, perfecting behind-the-back and between-the-legs passes. However, his playoff record was a bit sketchy and he retired ring less.

Tim Hardaway (1989-2003)

Hardaway's Heat balled their way to the '97 conference finals ... until running into Michael Jordan and the Bulls, who destroyed them. Tough, but losing in the first-round to the eighth-seeded Knicks in '99 packs a bigger bite.

Adrian Dantley (1976-1991)

You know you're working with a little bad luck when the two teams that traded you, in Dantley's case: the Lakers and Pistons, win championships right after the deal ... without you.

Alex English (1976-1991)

A prolific scorer, English scored more points in the 80s than any other NBA player. Impressive? Yes, but his Denver teams were shutdown by the Lakers in his one trip to the conference finals.

Bernard King (1977-1993)

He had a shot with the Knicks, who took the Celtics to seven games before losing. Yet as great as King was, most of his teams were never in title contention with the exception of that 1984 Knicks team.

Bob Lanier (1970-1984)

His Pistons teams in the '70s were never in contention. During his 14 years in the NBA, Lanier scored 19,248 points, 9,698 rebounds, and 1,100 blocks, yet he retired in 1984 without ever winning an NBA title.

George Gervin (1972-1986)

When he was in the East it was the Bullets, in the West it was the Lakers that shot down 'The Iceman's title hopes. His famous finger roll and prolific scoring never made an appearance in an NBA championship.

Lenny Wilkens (1960-1975)

Scoring a Hall of Fame career and considered one of the greatest playmakers in NBA History, Wilkens never won an NBA championship ... as a player. However, as a coach, he led the Seattle SuperSonics to the '79 NBA title.

Chris Mullin (1985-2001)

Mullin played 787 games ... 33 playoff games ... and had 0 championship titles to show for it. In what looked like his chance to finally get a ring, the Warriors traded him to Indiana before the 1997-98 season. Yet the ring remained elusive as the Pacers lost in the conference finals twice and once to the Lakers in the finals.

King's First Grandchild is Born

The first grandchild of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is a girl. A family spokeswoman says Arndrea Waters King, wife of Martin Luther King III, gave birth to Yolanda Renee King on Sunday at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. The mother and baby are reported to be healthy. The baby was named after her aunt, Martin Luther King Jr.'s eldest daughter Yolanda, who died in May 2007, Tarver says. Martin Luther King III married shortly after his mother's death in January 2006, but the wedding was not made public until this year. He wis the first of Martin Luther King Jr.'s four children to marry and the first to have a child.

The newborn weighed in at 7.5 pounds. Her birth comes two years and two days after her parents were married. "We are excited about our precious gift from God and cannot express how fortunate we feel to have our beautiful baby girl. It is truly the happiest day of our lives. I know my parents are smiling down from heaven," the new father said in the statement released on Sunday.

Senator Obama and Senator Byrd – Politics and its Strange Bedfellows

So this is on the record. It's not a hoax, like the Klan’s fictional support hoax we saw earlier this year.

Apologetic KKK alumni Senator Robert Byrd has endorsed Barack Obama, saying:

“I believe that Barack Obama is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and lead our country at this challenging time in history”.

Byrd has long since apologized -- and been forgiven -- for his past membership in the Ku Klux Klan and opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, But, how does one "apologizes" for being a recovering racist and member of an American terrorist organization is beyond understanding. Obama's cool with it. So there you have it. Indeed, armed with a letter signed by Obama, Moveon.org Political Action Committee was the top contributor to Byrd's 2006 reelection campaign. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows.

In his announcement, Byrd pointedly made note that Obama is a "noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian." This will help lay to rest rumors that Obama is a Muslim. Additionally, Byrd's endorsement should help Obama pull some additional votes in the Kentucky primary, which borders West Virginia. I was wondering why Senator Obama would risk being associated with yet another controversial figure (remember Reverend Wright), but I guess it’s is okay if it can garner votes.

I have a question. Does anyone else feel that this Democratic Party Primary nonsense has gone on long enough or is it just me? The way I am feeling today, I would vote for the Satan if it would get the prices of gas under three dollars. That last sentence was a joke, so don’t post comments about me endorsing the devil.

American Idol - David Cook

I guess I am eating crow or humble pie tonight. I counted out my favorite last night and said he had given away the opportunity to be the 7th Season American Idol. I criticized that he did not sing songs that showcased his exceptional talent. This guy knew what he was doing. Simon Cowell apologized to Cook before the winner was announced saying that his criticism the night before had been bordered on disrespectful and that David Cook didn't deserve that. Cowell went on to say that for the first time in the history of the show he didn't care who won.

The night rejoined the top twelve contestants and a lot of stars from the past and present. Seal, Graham Nash, Donna Summer, and George Michael to name a few. It was great to see the return of some of the contestants who left in prior weeks. They seemed refreshed and ready to go on the upcoming summer tour that incidentally will be in my neck of the woods on August 25th.

After 97 million votes (a record of over 23 million votes) the winner was announced with less drama and fanfare than previous years. Ryan Seacrest simply said the winner of this year's Idol contest is David Cook. I don't think either David expected that outcome. David Archuleta was gracious in his defeat and David Cook broke down and cried. Now I don't know if he was crying because he was happy to be our American Idol or because he is locked in contractually to Simon Cowell for who knows how long. I hope it was the former. Congratulation David Cook!

Thursday Thirteen #22 - Thirteen Films/Television Shows With Jenifer Lewis Portraying the Role of the Mother

I was talking with my uncle about Jenifer Lewis always portraying the same character in every film and he came up with the idea for this this Thursday Thirteen. She has made her stock and trade portraying the mother in various films and television shows. Ms. Lewis has been everyone's mother from Angela Bassett in "What's Love Got To Do With It?" to Omar Gooding's mother in "Hanging With Mr. Cooper". I have compiled a list of memorable performances, including the character she portrayed and the character's name and real name of the actor who portrayed her son or daughter. Side Note: When she portrayed Zelma Bullock (mother of Tina Turner) she was less than two years older than Angela Bassett.

1. Zelma Bullock – Mother of Anna Mae Bullock (Tina Turner) in “What’s Love Got to do With It?” (1993). Tina Turner was portrayed by Angela Bassett.

2. Annie – Mother of Lucky in “Poetic Justice” (1993). Lucky was portrayed by Tupac Shakur.

3. Georgia Rodman – Mother of Earvin Rodman in Hanging With Mr. Cooper (1993). Earvin Rodman portrayed by Omar Gooding.

4. Mrs. Curtis – Mother of Anthony Curtis in “Dead Presidents” (1995). Anthony Curtis portrayed by Larenz Tate.

5. Marguerite Coleman – Mother of Julia Biggs in “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996). Julia Biggs portrayed by Whitney Houston.

6. Mama Rose – Mother of David English (Melvin Franklin) in “The Temptations” (1998). Melvin Franklin was portrayed by D. B. Woodside.

7. Melissa’s Mother – Mother of Melissa in “Grownups” (1999). Melissa portrayed by Tammy Townsend.

8. Joss’s Mother – Mother of Joss House in “The Time of Your Life” (1999). Joss House portrayed by Gina Ravera.

9. Louise Smith – Mother of Jackson and Cherie Smith in “The Brothers” (2001). Jackson Smith portrayed by Morris Chestnut and Cherie Smith portrayed by Tatyana Ali.

10. Veretta Childs – Mother of Toni Childs in “Girlfriends” (2003). Toni Childs portrayed by Jill Jones.

11. Lady Em – Mother of Todd Andersen in “The Cookout” (2004). Todd Andersen portrayed by Quran Pender.

12. C- Note’s Mom – Mother of C-Note in “Who’s Your Caddy” (2007). C-Note portrayed by Big Boi.

13. Mary (Mama) Clark – Mother of Clarice Clark in “Not Easily Broken” (2008). Clarice Clark portrayed by Taraji P. Henson.

Below is a clip from the Fox television show "Girlfriends" Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Search for Cheaper Gas

Everybody is feeling the impact of the high prices of gasoline. I actually had to give up a couple of jobs because it was no longer economically feasible to remain employed. In other words my fuel bill was eating away at my profits. I am not going to even go into why gas is so high or what we can do to make the high prices go away because no one would listen anyhow. I visited The Rock Chick today and she touched on this issue. I am going to share with you the same information I shared with her. There is a website called Gas Buddy that will search out the lowest gas prices in your area in the United States and Canada.

And The Winner Is!!!

After Watching American Idol last night I am going to call a winner...DAVID ARCHULETA! I have to be honest, I always thought that David Cook would be the victor. He had the whole package, great voice and very good guitar playing. Something happened last night because Cook seemed to lose steam as the show progress as Archuleta picked up more momentum with each song.

I am sure it didn't help that after every round Simon declared David Archuleta the winner. Don't get me wrong David Cook sounded good, it was just that David Archuleta sounded better. His song choices were definitely better. Cook missed his opportunity on his last song by not choosing to revisit songs he had performed well in prior weeks. Archuleta chose to perform "Imagine" and Cook should have countered with "Billie Jean". He is going to look back on this night and realize that he blew it. I would be interested to know if others watching the show saw the same thing that I saw. It sort of seemed like Cook choked at the end and I was actually rooting for him. Although I am not a rocker per se, the guy is mad talented. I concede, congratulation Archuleta.

Music Memoirs, Tuesday Tunes - Week 33

From Music Memoirs, Tuesday Tunes - Week 33.

This week is word association week and it's all in colors! I'll give you a color and you tell me the first song/artist/album that comes to mind when you see it.

Pink: You Make Me Sick (by singer Pink)

Purple: Purple Rain (Prince)

Blue: Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis Presley)

White: White Christmas (Bing Crosby)

Gold: Band of Gold (Freda Payne)

Silver: Silver Thread, Golden Needles (Linda Ronstadt)

Green: The Green, Green Grass of Home (Porter Waggoner)

Yellow: Mellow Yellow (Donovan)

Red: Crimson and Clover (Tommy James & the Shondells)

Brown: Charlie Brown (Coasters)

Happy Birthday Malcolm X

Salaam. Today marks the what would have been the 83rd birthday of Malcolm X. After leaving the Nation of Islam in 1964, he made the pilgrimage, the Hajj to Mecca where he received his new name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and became a Sunni Muslim. He also founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Less than a year later, he was assassinated on the first day of National Brotherhood Week. Rather than provide an unneeded history lesson, I will celebrate his life by sharing some of his quotes. I love the picture on the right with him and Dr. King. It showed that they could come together although they did not often agree with one another.

"Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery". This one was a favorite of my grandmother's.

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today".

"I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion".

"I don't even call it violence when it's in self defense; I call it intelligence".

"If you have no critics you'll likely have no success".

"My Alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity".

"The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is controlled only by God".

"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time".

"You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being".

"You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it".

"You can't legislate good will - that comes through education".

"You show me a capitalist, and I'll show you a bloodsucker".

Old and Ailing Man Extradited

I am very interested in criminal justice or lack of criminal justice in the judicial system. Sometimes our moral and ethical judgment is tested in the interest of so called justice. In Raleigh, North Carolina an ailing 81-year-old man who escaped from a Maryland prison 43 years ago was taken into custody Friday to face extradition, a move his attorneys decried as a waste of time because he is ill and aging. Willie Parker, who suffers from several health problems, only served about a quarter of his sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon before escaping in 1965. He was tracked down in February as part of a Maryland effort to clear outstanding warrants.

Parker, who has been living in North Carolina, was unexpectedly arrested during a court hearing Friday and was held for about an hour before extradition documents arrived from the governor’s office. The question becomes why are they wasting our time with this old man? Parker is now a sick old man, requiring hospitalization at times, which the state of Maryland would have to pay the cost for if he is detained.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Maryland officials will decide how much time he owes once he is returned. It is reported that he would essentially pick up where he left off; however it appears that he would be eligible for parole since he served a quarter of his sentence. He was arrested after Maryland authorities reviewing old case files discovered he had a North Carolina driver's license. U.S. Marshals found Parker in bed at a home in rural Clinton, a town south of Raleigh, where he was being cared for by a nurse. He suffers from diabetes, heart trouble, hepatitis and stroke complications.

I get the fact that this guy is a fugitive from justice albeit almost a half century has passed since his escape. I frankly cannot fathom what can be gained by arresting this man. He is no longer a threat or danger to anyone and would more than likely be a burden on the taxpayers of the state of Maryland. Have I got it wrong? Should he pay for his crime regardless of his health and age? Let me know your thoughts.

The Battle of the Two Davids

I am not surprised that when the dust settled David Cook and David Archuleta would be the last two standing on American Idol. I predicted several weeks ago that David Cook’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean was enough to get him into the finale. He consistently made excellent song choices and did well even when he had to go outside of his rocker style to perform the songs of Mariah Carey and Dolly Parton.

David Archuleta was also pretty reliable when it came to churning out quality performances week after week. This guy has an excellent voice and handle himself well for a teenager still in high school. Archuleta sings songs that I can identify with more, since his musical influences are Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, and Brian Adams. However, I seem to be leaning toward David Cook because of his high-powered performances and the way he commands the audience.

The finale begins on Tuesday night 8:00 EST / 7:00 CST and the winner will be announced on Wednesday night. It promises to be an exciting night and I think both of these guys will definitely be on top of their game.

DeGeneres, de Rossi Plan to Marry

DeGeneres announced her engagement to Portia de Rossi during a Thursday taping of her show, telling the studio audience that the California Supreme Court had struck down state laws against gay marriage. The studio audience leapt to its feet for a long ovation, and De Rossi was sitting in the audience, beaming and clapping. This monumental decision that will allow other states to join the state of Massachusetts in recognizing same-sex unions as legally binding.

The court ruling means same-sex couples could be able to tie the knot in as little as a month. However, religious and social conservatives are seeking to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and ban gay marriage. I do not believe right-wingers will be successful in overturning the decision. This ruling will do for gay marriages what the Roe vs. Wade decision did for women’s right to choose.

Recognizing these unions is important because in some instances it allows partners to benefit from medical insurance, survivors rights, and to have a say in the decision making process during medical emergencies, etc. I do not see why others would have a problem with these unions.

Gay relationships can be just as committed as their heterosexual counterparts and it is only fair that they receive the same rights and privileges as married couples. Some people get hung up on the title of “marriage”, believing that the title should be reserved strictly for unions between men and women. It doesn’t have to be called marriage, in fact maybe we should have a contest to determine an appropriate moniker for same-sex unions.

Thursday Thirteen # 21 - Thirteen Favorite Television Bosses

I was watching this special last week about favorite classic television characters and it inspired this week’s Thursday Thirteen about some of my favorite television bosses from over the years. These bosses may not be the best, kindest, or most thoughtful, but they are among the funniest and most infamous in television history. These individual are in no particular order and feel free to share some of your favorite television bosses. Oh yeah, I am well aware that three of these bosses are cartoon characters (smile). 1. Montgomery Burns (Simpsons) 2. Louie De Palma (Taxi) – Portrayed by Danny De Vito 3. Khadijah James (Living Single) – Portrayed by Queen Latifah 4. Cosmo Spacely (The Jetson) 5. Sam Malone (Cheers) – Portrayed by Ted Danson 6. Sylvester Nate George Oscar Slate [Mr. Slate](The Flintstones) 7. Jack Donaghy (30 Rock) – Portrayed by Alec Baldwin 8. Wilemena Slater (Ugly Betty) – Portrayed by Vanessa L. Williams 9. Adrian Monk (Monk) – Portrayed by Tony Shaloub 10. Tim Taylor (Home Improvements) – Portrayed by Tim Allen 11. Anita Van Buren (Law & Order) – Portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson 12. Simon Cowell (American Idol) 13. Miranda Bailey (Grey’s Anatomy) – Portrayed by Chandra Wilson Check out this clip from "30 Rock". Alec Baldwin is hilarious! Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Jury Selection Begins For The R. Kelly Trial

Aaron McGruder’s cartoon “The Boondocks” settled this issue with a trial over three years ago. It appears that real life could learn a lesson from reel life. He was found not guilty on “The Boondocks” and I wouldn’t doubt if he goes free in the upcoming trial, which is almost six years after the alleged crime was committed. My problem with this trial is that it should have taken place back in 2002 when witnesses and facts were fresh. After the passing of nearly six years both R. Kelly and the supposed victim (who is now an adult) both deny that they were even in the video.

Attorneys in R&B superstar R. Kelly's child pornography trial are expected to begin questioning 150 potential jurors on Monday and it is unlikely any of his fans will be chosen to hear the allegations against one of urban music's biggest stars. Selecting a jury should take about a week, and the trial itself could take several weeks. A jury was chosen for the Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson trials and find one will be selected for this trial too. The selection of the 16 jurors, four of them alternates, will be key for both prosecutors and defense attorneys.

The 41-year-old hitmaker, known for sexually charged hits like "Bump N' Grind," has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. This is a case where a celebrity has good and bad public images, on one hand he is singing the gospel-like “I Believe I Can Fly” and on the other he is performing sexually infused songs like “Ignition” .

When the trial gets under way, prosecutors will face a daunting challenge: The girl believed to be on the videotape, who is now 23, says it wasn't her. Prosecutors say the videotape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the girl who appears in it was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.

I am definitely not taking up for R. Kelly, but let us look at this issue from a historical perspective.

— When Jerry Lee Lewis, rock’n’roll musician, married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, in 1957, radio stations refused to play his music, bookings were cancelled and several years passed before his career recovered

— Miami Vice actor Don Johnson was 22 when he began a four-year relationship with 14-year-old Melanie Griffith. She moved in with him and they were married three years later. She went on to become a star in her own right

— In 1992 film director Woody Allen was accused of sleeping with his partner Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon Yi Previn. She was 21, he was 56. They were later married

— Elvis Presley met Priscilla in 1959 in Germany, where her father was stationed at an airbase near Friedberg. Elvis, too, was based there while in the army. She was invited to a party at Elvis’s home. Priscilla was 14, Elvis 24. They married eight years later in 1967

— Bill Wyman started “dating” 13-year-old Mandy Smith in 1983 when he was 47. They married six years later – and divorced two years after that

The only difference is that Kelly's indiscretion was caught on film. Were any of these performers prosecuted? NO. Should they have been? YES, that is if we are playing by the same set of rules. This has been happening for years, yet no one has been prosecuted for the offense until now.

Check out this clip from "The Trial of R. Kelly".

MLK Monument

The centerpiece for the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall has drawn criticism from a federal arts panel, which says the proposed statue looks "confrontational" and resembles the head of a socialist state more than a civil rights leader. The statue (shown on the left with the artist) is a one of the models of a 28-foot tall statue depicting King emerging from a chunk of granite, his arms folded in front of his chest, his legs firmly rooted, an intense gaze on his face.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which reviews the design of projects in the capital area, said the design should be reworked to reflect a more sympathetic rendering of King.Members thought "the proposed treatment of the sculpture - as the most iconographic and central element of the memorial to Dr. King - would be unfortunate and inappropriate as an expression of his legacy". The panel went on to say that the statue resembled a genre of political sculpture that has recently been pulled down in other countries. I personally find nothing wrong with the artist's depiction of Dr. King. I am interested to know if others find the statue offensive. All opinions are welcome.

Hannah Montana

Star and D-Wade

If anyone didn't know by now. Star Jones and her husband of four years, Al Reynolds are divorcing. In the midst of the over the top wedding, her obvious surgery, and the gossip about Mr. Reynold's sexuality another story has actually emerged. I was watching my beloved Pistons on TNT and Dwayne Wade was on the panel analyzing the game, along with the regular cast of characters of Kenny Anderson, Ernie Jackson and Charles Barkley. Charles of course mentions that he has been hearing the rumors of D-Wade's relationship with Star Jones and went on to refer to Star as a "COUGAR". For those of you who are not familiar with the term it is a older woman who dates younger men.

D-Wade laughed the comments off on TNT. admitting only that he and Star are friends. It seems that he and Star are taking a lot of cheap shots from the "Star Bones" digs to one writer exclaiming that the pairing would be the "worst sexual miscarriage in the history of sport". If Star and D-Wade are "booed up" (a term I got from my young cousin) whose business would it be other than the two of them. I ain't mad at Star. Shoot I would be a cougar if I could date D-Wade. But seriously, what are your thoughts on the matter.