Well, hello Aria readers! And a belated Happy New Year!

My sincerest apologies – I've been away a long time (mostly due to writer's bloc). Needless to say, my muse whacked me upside the head this morning and told me to get back at it – and here I am! But, enough about that – a new year has begun and with it – a myriad of possibilities.

As is my nature, I'd like to take some time to reflect on the year that was. This once, however, I'd actually like to take some time to ruminate on a few of the high points (and low points) in my life last year.

2007 finally saw me get with the times (so to speak), as I purchased my very first iPod in early December. I have to say – I'm impressed! I'd pondered getting a portable media player for the longest time and I was mainly interested in something flash-based; my player would be mainly utilized during workouts, and a hard drive-based aparatus would – in my opinion – be far too susceptible to damage in extreme motion circumstances. A little research (and some valuable advice from fellow blogger, Rod McCullom) and I settled on my new baby, an 8 GB touch.

My decision to purchase a player couldn't have come at a better time; 2007 was an abysmal year for my musical genre of choice – dance. Of course, my two faves – Jody Watley and Ultra Naté – released a pair of brilliant floor-fillers in "I Want Your Love" and "Automatic", respectively, and the Freemasons cover of Alannis Morrissette's "Uninvited" featuring Bailey Tzuke was another pleaser. Overall, however, there were precious few other tracks to tickle my fancy (though I did like the club mixes to Ledisi's "Alright). I realize that contemporary music is at a crossroads – a place whereby it is (more often than not) overshadowed by cheesy uptempo pop. Indeed, this...downplaying of dance music's significance has been going on a long time. The importance of the progressive dance club has been slowly overshadowed by the ever-emergent speakerbox and convertible [car] phenomenon, wherein materialistic tweens insert a Rihanna or Beyoncé CD into their car stereo – or connect their iPod player to this selfsame stereo – and it's a "party". But I digress – I've spoken on this all before and it only affirms the need for a more discerning music buyer, as well as the opportunities afforded by iTunes and downloading in general; you can cherry pick what you want as long as you know what you're looking for!

Now – on to the year at hand! 2008 already finds us full-speed ahead in that most rabidly vicious season of political staging and discourse known as the Presidential primaries. I'll be quite frank in stating that I am NOT a Republican. Indeed, I would classify myself as somewhere left of the Democratic Party. I am, however, a pragmatist and place the highest importance on casting my vote(s) in the direction of the candidate (and party) that I feel can do the most good, be it short-term or long-term good. I've been asked numerous times whom I support for the 2008 presidency – to which I quickly respond that I remain undecided. I like some things about Hillary Clinton, and still others about Barack Obama. In my opinion, it is a matter of waiting – and I'm still waiting!

I can say with a great deal of certainty that the last 7+ years under the Bush/Cheney administration have been nothing short of catastrophic. This nation is in dire need of change, and I'm looking to the 2008 election to finally put this country back on course. Come what may, the best thing to look forward to is the forthcoming end to the current [Bush] administration's term. I can only hope that the often apathetic (and occasionally foolish) American voter doesn't elect someone worse to reins. We can only wait and watch.

Here's hoping for a positive 2008!

Categories: iPod Touch; dance music; Jody Watley; Ultra Naté; Rihanna; Beyoncé; Dick Cheney; George W. Bush; Hillary Clinton; Barack Obama

My, my, my...another year gone by...

In commemoration of a rapidly expiring 2007 – and in anticipation of the new year that is soon to be upon us – I would like to begin a new annual feature that will be known simply as the ARIA Fool of the Year. And I will gladly bestow this title upon none other than The View panelist, Sherri Shepherd!

I know what you're saying...

Why Sherri Shepherd?

Certainly, 2007 had no shortage of persons – both public and otherwise – who flaunted foolishness with a sense of pride and urgency – the "Rev." Ken Hutcherson comes to mind!

Well – the answer is quite SIMPLE actually: Sherri Shepherd is a fool who (sadly) wallows in (and thrives from) her own foolishness. Indeed, 2007 saw Shepherd achieve a monumental feat originally thought impossible: she [Shepherd] actually made fellow 'View panelist, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, look rational by comparison! Heck – she actually made me MISS Star Jones – whom I despise!

Among Shepherd's many curious vocal musings were her admission on the September 18, 2007, The View broadcast that she didn't believe in evolution – PERIOD. Not surprising considering Shepherd's relatively recent status as a "born again" Christian. However, Sherri proceeded to indulge her confrontationally stupid nature by stating (in response to a question posed by fellow 'View panelist, Whoopi Goldberg) that she didn't know whether the world is flat or not (?), commenting that she [Shepherd] never thought about it.  Even MORE ludicrous were her statements on the December 4, 2007, broadcast, wherein Sherri commented – during a discussion on the ancient Greek philosopher, Epicurus – that Christians existed in classical Greece and that the ancient Greeks threw them [Christians] to the lions [Hello?! That was the ROMANS!]. Sherri Shepherd further exacerbated this issue by stating her belief that Jesus came before the Greeks and the Romans and that she felt that no religions predated Christianity. Shepherd seemed to miss the point that Christianity – itself – technically began as a sect of Judaism!

Now – I don't (for one moment) believe that Sherri Shepherd is so dumb that she doesn't know whether the world is flat or not – I think that she [Shepherd] is picking her words and statements carefully enough to trigger the most reaction. This is why she is the very first winner in the newly created annual category of ARIA Fool of the Year – she sees historical and scientific illiteracy as charasmatic and endearing, and this epitomizes a lot of the foolishness in Christian fundamentalists.

Sadly, Shepherd's foolishness will no doubt confirm in many minds a great many stereotypes about black Christians – she honestly reminds me of the Alan Keyes-like minister of my former Baptist church who believed many of the same things [I'm proudly Episcopalian now].

Categories: Sherri Shepherd; Whoopi Goldberg; Ken Hutcherson; Elisabeth Hasselbeck; The View