section D
March 3-9, 2010
Reflections
By Steve Holsey
Warped priorities
It was amazing that a Detroit City Council
the Black eyed Peas
hearing on strip clubs attracted a standing-
room-only crowd, when any public school
official will tell you how difficult it is to get
parents and other adults to volunteer for any-
thing or come to Parent-Teacher Association
meetings.
Meanwhile, while they are getting all bent
out of shape about strip clubs, Detroit’s
public schools continue to badly under-per-
form, crime figures are through the roof,
formerly nice neighborhoods decline further,
drug dens operate freely, thieves break into
buildings to steal copper, chop shops sell
parts from stolen cars without fear, etc.
And, of course, far more people continue to ‘Rando-musing’
move out of Detroit than move in.
I am not for or against clubs that offer
adult entertainment. But no matter how By Steve Holsey
disappoint.
anyone feels about them, they have a right to
Obviously they enjoy what they
exist — with liquor licenses — and will con-
Let’s see, the word “random” is
do and are cognizant of the fact
tinue to exist, even though some people want
defined as “made, done, happen-
that people are watching (televi-
them gone.
ing or chosen without method or
sion, YouTube, etc.) or attending
conscious decision.”
Why not have “red light districts,” as
a concert because they want lively
several countries do, thus containing those
To “muse” is to be “absorbed
entertainment.
kinds of businesses, keeping them away from
in thought, say to oneself in a
And when it comes to creativity,
children, etc.? (Just a thought!)
thoughtful manner.”
no one out there today can match
Also, it is hoped that Detroit City Council
That being the case, it seems to
the Black Eyed Peas, unless you
will not allow itself to be bullied by grand-
me that “rando-musing” should be
count Lady Gaga who, for me, is
standing, holier-than-thou, self-serving,
a word. Actually, I thought it was,
“creative” to the point of it being
mean-spirited, publicity-loving ministers and
but I could find no verification of
distracting and detrimental to the
others of their type.
that on the Internet or elsewhere.
music.
I even called the Main Library
It is time for Detroit to take an honest look
DIAHANN CARROLL, legend-
and had them try to find “rando-
at itself and then begin rearranging its priori-
ary star of screen and stage, made
musing” in one those very old dic-
ties.
an interesting point recently —
tionaries that are about 24” thick.
that there are not nearly as many
THERE IS much to be said for good behav-
No luck.
movie and television roles for
ior.
older actresses, such as herself,
But I decided to use the word
The Los Angeles Superior Court judge,
Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, etc., as
anyway, justifying it as “journalis-
Patricia Schnegg,
there should be. (Angela Bassett
tic license.”
praised Chris Brown
should also be seen more often,
for not missing any of
So into “rando-musing” we go. and she’s only 51.)
his domestic violence
SADE is an artist I have a lot of “I would like to work more than
counseling sessions.
respect for (“Is It a Crime?” is my I do,” Carroll said succinctly.
In addition, he dutifully
favorite song by her) and I am so
completed the required
Actress Lonette McKee, who is
pleased that her “return” album,
32 days of hard labor
in her mid-fifties, made the same
“Soldier of Love,” is doing so well.
in his home state of
observation, but was even more
She is cool, sophisticated and
Virginia.
Beyonce and Jay-Z blunt. She said producers, direc-
jazzy.
tors, studios, etc., make it clear
The judge was so
That said, I wish that Sade that they do not want older women
pleased that she gave
would occasionally pick up the in front of the camera much, par-
him permission to leave
pace. An uptempo song by Sade ticularly in lead roles.
the country in May and
— now there’s a thought! She is a
June for concerts. (His
This is in sharp contrast to,
fine artist, but her albums always
album, “Graffiti,” is
for example, Morgan Freeman, 72,
solid.)
Chris Brown
sound basically the same and put
and Samuel L. Jackson, 61, who
me to sleep. They work better than
make one movie after another.
Now he can really get on with his life and
Sominex.
And you can be sure that Laurence
career, just as ex-girlfriend Rihanna has.
TRACY MORGAN, best known Fishburne, Don Cheadle, Denzel
AND SPEAKING of Rihanna, she has, as
for his work on “30 Rock” and Washington and Forest Whitaker
you may know by now, signed on to appear in
“Saturday Night Live,” is one of will continue to work nonstop.
the remake of “The Last
those comedians that I feel un-
Not fair.
Dragon” starring Samuel
comfortable with. So often what
L. Jackson. Rihanna’s
he does borders on being buffoon-
BEYONCE and Jay-Z are to be
character will be a domi-
ish. I can understand Bill Cosby’s
admired for managing to main-
natrix! The 1985 “The
concern and criticism.
tain a substantial amount of pri-
Last Dragon” starred
vacy despite being one of the most
Another one who makes me
Vanity and Taimak.
high-profile couples in show busi-
uneasy is Flavor Flav. He and
ness. People want to know a lot
Rumors are circulating
Morgan both seem to, all too often,
more, but that information is not
about Whitney Houston.
play up to racial stereotypes.
forthcoming.
We sure hope it’s not
Which brings to mind Jimmy
true that she has been
“J.J.” Walker on “Good Times.”
Shawn Carter (that’s his real
falling off the drug cessa-
No wonder John Amos left show
name) and Beyoncé Knowles were
tion wagon. If she has, we
after the third season.
married in early 2008, and even
Rihanna
hope she gets back on it
the when and where of the upcom-
THE BLACK EYED PEAS and
and stays there. A lot of
ing nuptials was widely speculat-
the Pointer Sisters are two acts
people have been pulling for her, just as they
ed on before the couple chose to
I enjoy because they perform at
have been for Robert Downey Jr., who has ap-
such a high energy level and never
parently gotten himself together.
Sade
See Rando-musing Page D-2
Clever: Rap star Ludacris (real name:
Christopher Bridges) says his next album is
likely to be titled “Ludaversal.” Meanwhile,
he is promoting his current release, “Battle of
the Sexes.”
Alicia Keys and Beyoncé went all the way
to Brazil to film the video for their duet, “Put
It in a Love Song,” featured
on Keys’ album, “The Ele-
ment of Freedom.” It’s nice
that two beautiful young
divas can work together.
JOHNNY MATHIS has
the distinction of being the
first artist to have an album
with the words “greatest
hits” in the title. Today, of
course, it is commonplace.
“Johnny’s Greatest Hits”
was also history making in
that it remained on the Bill-
Johnny Mathis
board best selling albums chart for an amaz-
ing nine and half years (490 weeks!). It landed
the legendary crooner a place in the Guinness
Book of World Records. His accomplishment
See Reflections Page D-2
Diahann Carroll Robin Thicke The Pointer Sisters Tracy Morgan
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