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Anytime I hear “The Plane” uttered, I can’t help but think about the 70’s television series, “Fantasy Island.” The character Tattoo would shout, “The Plane” at the beginning of each episode to announce the arrival of a new set of guests. But today “The Plane” has taken on a whole new meaning—an ominous, mysterious meaning. The plane I speak of today is the one that’s being talked about around the world. Where is Malaysia Airlines Flight 370? As I’m sure you know by now, it disappeared five days ago and despite countless search efforts with state of the art technology, we are still clueless as to the whereabouts of it and the 239 people who are on board. Like me and the talking heads in the media, you probably have your own theories. I’ve bounced around a few ideas, and they’re all bone-chilling. Was the plane hijacked? Perhaps the hijackers have rerouted the plan to a deserted land mass and in a few days the authorities will be contacted and demands will be made. I’m not sure how the families would react to such news. However, knowing their love ones could po...

In case you haven’t heard, it’s time to move our clocks forward. An easy way to remember is we spring forward and fall backward. So this Sunday don’t forget to move your clocks ahead by an hour. I have to admit, I didn’t even know Daylight Saving Time was upon us. I just happened to notice a reminder sign in the store located in the building where I work. There are a lot of pros and cons to this tradition that was initially proposed by a man named George Vernon Hudson in 1895. Since that time, many countries have used it at various times, most consistently since the energy crises of the 1970s. In my humble opinion, if we did away with the practice, I don’t think it would be a deal breaker.   In fact, I’m not surprised we haven’t banned it all together. I’m sure the countless people who will show up late to church this Sunday and late to work on Monday, might be willing to sign a petition. On the other hand, I do like the idea of it being daylight when I get home. At present, when I leave the house a little after five in the morning, it’s still dark out, ...

Last week I received an email on Facebook from an author named Charles Burgess with a request to read his new novel titled “Balllin’ the Last Dribble.”   He’s still in the editing phase and asked that I review the book and provide him with a blurb for the cover.   His request gave me pause because at the present time my cup overfloweth with projects. I work a 9-5 job, I commute 370 miles a week, I just released my latest Indie novel “Four Ladies Only” and I am deeply engrossed in promotions. I just signed a four-book deal with Soul Mate Publishing for my Cass and Nick series which includes, “Married in the Nick of Nine,” coming this summer, “The Baby in the Window,” “One Harte, Two Loves” and “Renee’s Return.”   In a minute I’m going to be working with my new editor getting “Married in the Nick of Nine” ready for publication and then I’m going to be embarking upon an aggressive advertising campaign. Additionally, I am directing a play I wrote called “Sacrificing Simone.” It will be coming to a theater near you this summer as well. I also have a...

  Today marks the 50 th Anniversary of President Kennedy’s death. People all over the world are taking time to remember the man who was known as Camelot to those who loved and revered him. Fifty years ago I was three-years-old, and unlike the older children and adults in my life, I can’t tell you where I was the day an alleged lone assassin took the life of our president—an act of terror that brought the citizens of our good nation to tears and to their knees in anguish and prayer. I can’t tell you what I was thinking that day, what I was wearing, or what I had eaten for breakfast on November 22, 1963—a day of infamy. I can only imagine that day. My three youngest siblings were not born yet. My two older sisters would have been five and nine and my mother would have been twenty-four. I don’t even remember where we lived. Perhaps we lived in Oakland, California where I was born. I do know that my mother was very aware and socially conscious, so most likely, she, like the rest of America, was watching television news that broadcasted endless accounts of th...

  Recently it was reported in the news that a preacher out of Texas banned the women in his congregation from wearing weaves. I thought it was a joke when I first heard about this, but on further inspection, I realized it was true—in my humble opinion, sad , but true. We are truly in trouble when a man of God is focusing on hair and not hearts. What is all the fuss about weaves? Okay, I must admit, I’m bias, because, yes, you guessed, I wear a weave. Why? Let me get honest. I like long hair and at present, my hair is short, and I’m growing it out. Can’t it grow without a weave? Yes, but when it grows, it invariably breaks. The weave, which I might add, I maintenance on the regular, provides my hair with an environment to flourish.   And to the Texas pastor, I must remind him that the Bible in I Corinthians 11:15 says “A Woman’s hair is her glory.” Okay, it didn’t say weave, but as far as I’m concerned, the weaved hair on my head is mine. I paid for it! The Pastor purports that women who wear weaves have low self-esteem.   With all due respect, ...

    Yesterday Americans celebrated the Fourth of July with food, fun, and fireworks. But for Paula Deen, the rockets, missiles, and cherry bombs, were set off over two weeks ago when word got out that she had admitted to using the N-word. That confession catapulted her into the hall of shame, where she now holds court with Michael Richards (Kramer in Seinfeld), Mel Gibson, and Don Imus. Hey, wait a minute. Shouldn’t a host of African-American rappers and celebrities be in the mix as well? What’s going on here? According to street rules, ramifications for using the N-Word are determined by the hue of a person’s skin. If you’re white, using the N-Word just ain’t right, and if you’re black, when using the N-word you get a lot of slack. Is it fair that black people get to use the N-Word with impunity, but if a non-black person spews the wretched word, they’re banished to the lowest echelon of society? Based on everything I’ve read and heard, the jury’s still out. But personally, I feel the word is atrocious no matter who says it. My first experienc...