War in Libya

I don't get it, Mr. President. How many wars can we wage? "It is U. S. policy that Qaddafi has to go," you said yesterday. There are a whole lot of tyrrants out there, Mr. President. How do you pick and choose among them? I'd much prefer that you waged war on poverty and illiteracy here at home. Any way: here's an editorial in today's NYT.

R I P

Drew Hill, former pro football player in Atlanta.

J.T., found dead in my Fire Island neighborhood. My favorite bartender.

Why Are So Many Black New Moms Dying?

I came across a fascinating article in Women's eNews today. Apparently “black women for the past five decades have consistently suffered an almost four-times greater risk of death from pregnancy complications than have white women.” And, writes the author, Rita Henly Jensen: “Pregnant black women in New York City face nearly double the national risk.” The medical experts are still seeking plausible answers to the disparities. Today's article is the first in a series. Check it out.

Fried Chicken and Waffles

If you have not already done so, check out my piece for The Root on IHOP’s decision to tap into blackfolks’ fondness for this dish, as evidenced by the menus of many Southern or soul food restaurants around the country. The novelty of this dish on its menu may help improve IHOP’s bottom line, but what about the waistlines of its patrons, especially blacks? I wrote the article to focus on IHOP's "discovery" of this dish, but it does make me wonder about health consequences. What do you think? Follow the link to the article on The Root and add your comments.

Is Sarah Palin "Slumping"?

According to The Washington Post, she is. Its latest poll shows that the GOP’s once presumed 2012 leading contender is losing her runaway standing among Republicans and independents. I’m actually not all that convinced by the numbers, from a poll conducted between March 10 and 13.

From the article:
“In one sense, the poll still finds Palin near the top of a list of eight potential contenders for the GOP nomination. The former vice presidential candidate scores a 58 percent favorable rating, close to the 61 percent for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and 60 percent for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and better than the 55 percent that onetime House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) received.
“But Palin’s unfavorable numbers are significantly higher than they are for any of these possible competitors. Fully 37 percent of all Republicans and GOP-leaning independents now hold a negative view of her, a new high.
“In another first, fewer than 50 percent of Republican-leaning independents — 47 percent — hold favorable views of Palin.”

If the poll is correct, her standing restores my faith in the ultimate ability of Americans to come to their senses even after periods of illogical exuberance.

The Future of Black Publications

Shouldn't we just get real? Remember the saying about when certain powerful people and institutions catch a cold, blackfolks get the flu? Well, it's flu-time in America when it comes to everything from magazines like Ebony and Jet to newspapers as close as the one in your neighborhood.

I think it's time to chuck the paper and make the dissemination of information an online product. It's not as if blackfolks don't have access to the Internet.

Infants Who Disappear Right Before Our Eyes

Have you been following the Carlina White story -- the baby who was kidnapped from Harlem Hospital in 1987 and re-surfaced as an adult just weeks ago? Please read the piece I wrote for The Root:

http://www.theroot.com/views/carlina-white-abduction-could-it-happen-today?page=0,0