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"?