So I actually sat down and watched some TV last night after I realized that the graphic design project that I thought was due this morning is actually not due for another two weeks. (Don't you love when that happens?) So after I calmed down, I turned on the VMA awards. Ah... MTV you never let me down. I would like to take this moment to thank Kanye West for making himself look like a jack-ass. Thank you for ruining a little girl's moment to shine. Thank you for making me take the time out to acknowledge your mistake, and actually re fence pop culture. You guys know I'm not into the recent happenings of the world around me! You're making people from Chicago look bad! Don't do it again!

Kanye is not the only one who had a episode this week, Serena Williams at the U.S. Open and Congressman Joe Wilson at Obama's speech. What is wrong with people? Am I the only one noticing a dramatic change in the way people handle themselves in public? Are manners out of style? Is courteousness dead?

Happy Birthday Michael Joseph Jackson!!! Thank you for everything. Love you forever.

The body is temporary, but the soul eternal. One sista said that energy transforms and I agree. Let's pray that Michael transitions out of this realm and that his soul is free and not bound by any negative forces that keeps souls bound and tormented. Michael was angelic and if our journey is judged by the way we live then why be sad he is in a good place. I say to you Michael because you are free and uninhibited , "soar brother soar!" Be happy and come back some time and mess with all the people that messed with you while you were here with us. May peace be forever with you.

I am so unbelievably sad and heartbroken over the passing of Michael Jackson, and I know I'm not alone in this. Everyone has their favorite memories and reasons for missing him. Many people will remember him for his immense talent and incredible music. For others, he is a symbol of their childhood. For me, he is all those things and more. I will remember him most for his kind, gentle loving heart and all his humanitarian efforts.

I didn't think it was possible to feel so much pain over someone I never met. This is very much out of character for me. I usually don't get overly upset when it comes to celebrities because for me, there is somewhat of a disconnect from them. But this one is different. I am grieving for Michael as though I knew him personally. I can't stop crying, it's hard to eat, hard to think about anything else. I am crying as I write this. This beautiful man has such a profound effect on people. There will never be another quite like him.

After growing up without parents and in the degrading, extremely restrictive and damaging ravages of poverty, how will the little girl feel to find out that her government officials and the judge in the case (who no doubt live a life of privilege) denied her the opportunity to have a real chance at reaching her potential as a human being? They have the audacity to be self-righteous regarding Madonna while the women in their country suffer so much? The decision to deny the child a warm, comfortable, safe and happy home and a promising future is absolutely sinful.

They feel they have denied Madonna, but what they've really done is denied the child protection, good nutrition, a loving family, and, worst of all, a potentially good future.

" LILONGWE, Malawi (AP) — A judge and a lawyer say Madonna's application to adopt a second child from Malawi has been rejected because of a requirement that prospective parents be resident in the country for 18 to 24 months.

The judge who spoke did not make the ruling, but saw it. The lawyer was present when the ruling was made. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case."

I'm sure that you all have heard the news of the transition of two of our beloved brothers.Bernie Mac and Issacc Hayes .May our hearts and prayers go out to their families. Friends and Fans of Chicago comedian Bernie Mac, who died Saturday, are invited to a public memorial celebrating Mac's life. Services are scheduled for noon Saturday in the 10,000-seat House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago, said Danica Smith, Mac's publicist. Donations in Mac's honor may be sent to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. 9th St., Suite 601, Chicago, IL 60605, Smith said

In addition to my love of holistic living, I still have this insane habit of keeping up with media, pop culture, and yes celebrities (I say insane, because too much of it can make you just that). I think my reasoning is I like to try and figure out how certain things affect people. In other words it makes for good conversation. Well, here is one. There is a new book coming out about Tom Cruise and his journey with Scientology. The author (I can't recall his name at the moment) has gotten no authorization for this "tell all" book. Well, the book is getting much talk because of it's negative and in depth look into Scientology. I call it a "Witch Hunt." We all know that Cruise has taken a media beating for being a Scientologist, but I believe it has also enhanced his career greatly. Now I know very little about the religion but I can relate to Cruise's plight to defend his spiritual beliefs. As many of us, I grew up in a Pentecostal Church were it was forbidden to wear pants and 'catching the Holy Spirit' was a form of enlightenment. I appreciate my Christian background for being the foundation of my Spiritual journey, but for me I felt the need for something more.

As I turn on the television, my computer, or open the newspaper I am bombarded with the latest Brittany Spears-gone-crazy news. I must say in the past year of listening to this exploited mess about the once pop-princess, I have gone from utter disgust to humbling sympathy for the girl (Madonna sure put one on her). All this media coverage about Brittany got me thinking about one of OUR own Princesses who seems to be going through a few struggles, Ms. Lauryn Hill. Since the break-up of the Fugees, her marriage to Rohan, her Unplugged CD, and outlandish antics on stage, critics have had a field day bashing our sista from every direction. She has been called a racist, emotionally unstable and all sorts of things. I know, I know criticism is a price of fame, but when I saw an interview with Wyclef on BET's the Black Carpet, and he stated that Lauryn need 'professional help' that was it for me. I was convinced that OUR sista was going through it. Think back for a minute. Where were you when you first heard L Boogie spit on the the Fugee's 'Blunted on Reality" or heard her rip it on "Killing Me Softly"?