HE WAS NOTHING BUT A MAN

I wanted to take a moment to pay respects to the far too little heralded, actor/director Ivan Dixon. He recently passed in Charolotte, North Carolina at the age of 76. He was best known for his role as Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchole, a POW and electronics expert on the sitcom Hogan's Heroes. He also was known for playing the lead role in the sixties film "Nothin' But A Man", which was the story of an aimless railroad worker, who gives up his job to marry a school teacher and minister's daughter. His character then matures along the way as he strives to build a dignified life for the couple living in a deeply prejudicial South. It was groundbreaking because most blacks had not been portrayed like this in film unless it starred Sidney Poitier. Dixon was one of three black actors in the sixties getting steady work (Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby & Ivan). Dixon would go on to play numerous roles throughout his career on major white shows and he played each one with dignity. He seamlessly segued from acting into a directing career in which he directed hundreds of mainstream TV shows, when black directors were not the norm but the exception. I won't ramble on, but upon hearing of his death, I felt I needed to speak on this storied and dignified man's career because he continually fought for better for roles for himself and other black thespians. In the year 1973 he helmed the controversial film, "The Spook Who Sat By the Door", which was based on the novel of the name. It told the fictional story of the first black Central Intelligence Agent ever, who used his new found knowledge from the CIA to start a revolution from the black community. If that film were produced today, it would still be considered controversial. He did this 73'. Only five years earlier, the man gained his civil rights(on paper) and he did a film about black people using "The Man's" chicanery (there's a word I don't get to use often) against him. Man, he could've easily been blackballed (pun very intended) In 1973 Dixon had some mainstream celebrity, but nothing like that of Bill Cosby or Sidney Poitier, who had to become the number one box office draw to direct a film. This is a true testament to the character and career of Ivan Dixon, who was truly "Nothin' But a Man".

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TAKE CHUCKLEPUSS AWAY FROM THE BALLGAME

Yesterday, the boys of spring took part in the annual ritual of Opening Day in major league baseball. Monday the Washington Nationals opened Nationals Park, their new shrine to baseball in Southeast Washington, DC. To christen this shrine, the Nationals had our Commander In Chief, George W. Bush (aka Chucklepuss) throw out the first pitch. Chucklepuss was introduced to a chorus of ‘boos’ that couldn’t be matched by the Harlem Boys Choir.

That welcome has been high on the talk radio topic list. I heard one openly liberal, sports talk show host speaking of how he by no means has been happy with Chucklepuss’ presidency, but he would not ‘boo’ the office of the president like the Nationals fans did. Many people were calling in stating that they couldn’t believe that people actually ‘booed’ the POTUS. I on the other hand can’t see how people would not ‘boo’ him. I mean it’s easy to boo an office – a title -- a symbol, because that’s what it is. This country was built on healthy dissent, discourse and of course slavery, but that’s a long, discussion for another day and time. I myself can’t see the office for the Chucklepuss obscuring it with his usually, hair-trigger, impetuous, supposedly Christ-inspired, decisions over the past seven years.

To be fair, I thought I shouldn’t be so hasty to judge ole’ Chucklepuss, but then I said to myself “Self”, because that’s what I call myself, when I’m contemplating Chucklepuss and his what some call nimrod actions that are eroding at America like a festering cancer. Self, what reasons would I really have to boo the 43rd POTUS in American history? So I came up with this brief, but ever growing list of what I call “Chuckelpuss’ Big Boo-Boo’s”:

1) took America to war with the country of the mean Iraqi man (Saddam Hussein), that made his Daddy mad, by lying and saying that he was hiding WMDs.
2) destroyed America’s name on the global front with his cowboy politics and horrible annunciation STRATEGIES(stra-TEE-jor-REES)
3) uses the foundation of the American government, aka The U.S. Constitution, with same reverence he uses Charmin and Post-It’s
4) Implied to the Louisiana government that the American government would be at their beck and call, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (which would soon become the greatest natural disaster in American history) He then refused assistance from other countries and waited three days before he sending in any assistance
5) created a national debt that is greater the debt of the previous 42 presidents and will be felt by generations to come
6) Has executed the right of “presidential privilege” and veto power more than any other president in American history and to the benefit of partisan politics without any regard for this country’s well being.

Right now you’re probably thinking, “Rusty, I’m not seeing you usual humor filled twist on your subject”. That’s because it’s not funny. Chucklepuss has torn the fabric of America and like a child, when someone points out his faults he blames someone else or say that Jesus Christ made him do it. Jesus Christ has enough on his plate and then Chucklepuss piles on his issues like a fat man at a buffet. Can I boo and disrespect the office of the president? No, but can I boo the man, who disrespects the office. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Now follow me! Follow me to freedom!

AND WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?

Brandi’s Brother, who likes to be called Ray J for some reason is the mediocre, R & B singer/actor/amateur porn star, who is for some reason, still smelling the fresh air of celebrity. Many are wondering, as it recently crossed my mind, when is this wasted zygote’s 15 minutes of fame window going to be closed shut. I’m not taking away any credit for what Brandi’s Brother has done like starring in supporting roles on sitcoms like Thea, One On One and appearing places with his sister, R & B singer, Brandi. Brandi’s Brother definitely gets credit for creating his own opportunities. The big career boost in this second was having sex with Kim Kardashian’, then taping it and showing it to the world, himself (Brandi’s Brother) having sex with Kim Kardashian. Who is Kim Kardashian you ask? She is Brandi Brother’s former girlfriend, who became a quasi-celebrity in the vein of Brandi’s Brother for being the daughter of the deceased lawyer (see Robert Kardashian) of acquitted murderer (see O.J. Simpson) – oh yeah and having a sex tape of herself and Brandi’s Brother somehow get released to the public without her or Brandi’s Brother's knowledge. In recent weeks, Brandi’s Brother has been on The Tyra Banks Show (another enigma that boggles the mind, but not worth discussing now) speaking of – or should I say milking the sex tape to the very last drop. Brandi’s Brother told Tyra, ‘I treat it like a football player. I watch the tape to get pointers on how I can get better’. I have news for you, Brandi’s Brother. You can look at the same performance over and over and I promise you, not one move is getting better – that half a** down stroke – not improving, that horrid tongue action –- you’re still looking like a newborn puppy looking for a teat. Brandi’s Brother then proceeds to tell the audience that Kim Kardashian’s new boyfriend, Heisman Trophy winner and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush is getting his ‘sloppy seconds’. For a person, who is not known for his “hand to hand” combat skills I’d think Brandi’s Brother would want to shut up. In the end, Brandi’s Brother, must make the best choices for Brandi’s Brother. So be it the release of his next CD that may go wood, his fourth lead role on a sitcom that gets big numbers in the poor & ignorant demographic’ or his imagined ‘beef’ with someone; I just wish that Brandi's Brother would realize that his tombstone is still going to read ‘Brandi’s Brother’.

Now follow me! Follow me to freedom!