The TTC Should Be An Essential Service!

Every three years in the city of Toronto the hostile Toronto Transit Commission employees hold the Greater Toronto Area hostage with threats of a strike. Why doesn’t the TTC have any competition? We need options! In Singapore the transit service has competition that’s important. I so tired of the TTC employees they are holding the public hostage its not fair!

Once again the TTC employees are complaining about salary even though they are being offered a 2% raise. I also must point out the TTC employees get paid over $50,000 a year including health & dental benefits and they also receive vacation pay. There are so many people in the greater Toronto area that don’t make this kind of money. Sorry, I have zero sympathy for TTC employees. I do have sympathy for the public because taxpayers money helps to pay for the TTC. The provincial and federal governments constantly are providing millions of dollars in funding for the TTC yet the washrooms stink, the attitudes of the TTC employees are deleterious, the service isn’t that great either.

Has anyone visited the men’s washrooms at Finch, Bloor, Kipling subway stations lately ? The mens washrooms are so gross you can pass out with the disgusting rancid odor. When is the TTC going to use some money and scrub the men’s washrooms down and clean them? I try very hard not to use the TTC men’s washrooms because I don’t want to vomit its just so sickening how dirty the washrooms are.

If a deal is not made by Monday morning next week there will be a strike. The quandary is the TTC is the lifeline of the greater Toronto area. Over 1.5 riders per day use the TTC. Many people don’t own a car we use the TTC because it is convenient and safe. Why should the public suffer because some TTC employees are avaricious?

Meanwhile, the mayor of Toronto David Miller is at a conference in China isn’t that convenient? Miller claims he still believes a deal can be made. Perhaps it is time for the Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to actually demonstrate some leadership roles and make the TTC an essential service? Enough is enough I am sick of the TTC providing crappy service and expecting the public to suffer. We don’t deserve this! The TTC is too important for the greater Toronto area strikes should never be allowed. The solution is either allow competition or make the TTC an essential service. The leadership in Toronto is seriously lacking this is just pathetic.

The TTC is the heart of Toronto people use the to go to work, doctor appointments, business meetings, shopping, students need to the TTC to travel to college, university, or high school. Businesses will lose millions of dollars if there is a strike. The ramifications of a TTC strike are chaotic and catastrophic.
I will not hold my breath but something needs to change ASAP in the greater Toronto area.

The TTC has too much power and the power needs to return to the public we deserve better options. Why should the public be subjected to smelly dirty washrooms, litter on the subways and buses, bad attitudes from querulous drivers, and slow inefficient service? Ooops forgot to mention the people of Toronto pay $2.75 cash fare and you just know we are going to soon pay $3.00 to take the TTC very soon! I think its time for me to seriously consider getting my drivers license and get a car.

Rare Clip Of Anne Sexton Reading Poetry

Are you having a bad day? Feeling a bit depressed and miserable? Want some introspection? Do you want to listen or read some morbid poetry? Why don’t you visit the bookstore or local public library and read some of Anne Sexton’s  incredible poetry. Anne Sexton’s poetry deals with gender, sexuality, depression, and suicide. Many of Sexton’s poems are about feeling unfulfilled with life yet wanting more out of life. The desperation in the poems are shocking yet also powerful.

Anne Sexton has written many poetry volumes but she is perhaps most famous for the wonderful book “Live Or Die” . “Live Or Die” is a fantastic volume of poetry. Anne Sexton is considered the second most important mid twentieth century female poet after Sylvia Plath. Anne Sexton committed suicide in the year 1974 the unhappiness proved to be too overwhelming for her she couldn’t deal with life anymore.

Despite Anne Sexton’s mental illness her poetry has incredible clarity, conviction, and honesty. In my mind Sexton was the superior poet after all Anne Sexton won the Pulitzer Prize for her groundbreaking 1967 collection “Live Or Die”. If you ever get a chance to read “Live Or Die” you will learn more about Anne Sexton’s issues with mental illness, depression, her thoughts of suicide, unhappiness, and despair. The poems are important in order to understand the real Anne Sexton. Here is a rare clip of Anne Sexton reading her poetry.

Serena Struggles But Advances To Family Circle Cup Quarterfinals

Tennis champion Serena Williams had a slow start in her third round match today against Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik losing the first set 6-4. However, Serena came roaring back 4-6 6-4 6-3 and advanced to the women’s quarterfinals at the Family Circle Cup clay court event. Serena will meet face Maria Sharapova in the next round.

Roger Federer Rolls Into Estoril Open Quarterfinals!

Swiss Tennis God Roger Federer is hoping the clay court season will reverse his current slump. Can the sexy, gorgeous, powerful, tennis champion turn back the clock and return to dominance on the ATP Tour? 2008 has been a bizarre year so far for Roger. Roger is usually so consistent but he was diagnosed with mononucleosis earlier this year. The only reason Roger has been losing is because he wasn’t feeling 110% percent it had nothing to do with his opponents. When Roger is healthy he is the best and this is a fact!  The tennis God has not reached an ATP Tour final this year nor has he won an ATP Tour event.

Roger is a joy to watch he moves like an elegant dancer on the court with soft, delicate, and intricate steps as he slides on the red clay courts of Europe.However, Roger is currently at the Estoril Open in Portugal this is the first event of the clay court season. Roger hired clay court coach Jose Higueras to help him in Portugal this week. Higueras’s clay court expertise helped propel Michael Chang and Jim Courier to grand slam glory at the French Open.

Roger is determined to become the French Open champion and he is doing everything in his power to be ready for Paris in late May. I am pleased Roger decided to add another clay court event to his schedule he needs to win matches and get back into the groove with his game. Roger is quietly gathering strength he appears alert, fresh, hungry, and healthy.

Today Roger looked confident and relaxed as he destroyed his second round opponent the Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3 6-2 in just one hour. Roger was confident hitting forehand and backhand winners. Russian tennis star Nikolay Davydenko is the only other top ten player in the event. Davydenko is very dangerous on slow read European clay his confidence is also very high after winning the Masters event in Miami.

CD Review: E=MC2 Is An Outstanding Album

Is Mariah Carey just a dizzy moron with a big voice? Is Mariah just a flake with no emotional core or center? If you pay attention to the news articles you would swear there is a tinge of anger mixed with jealousy after Mariah shattered Elvis Presley’s record. Thank goodness Mariah surpassed Elvis. I am a bit sick of Elvis Presley to be honest I just don’t think he’s as talented as the media claims. Mariah Carey is much more talented then Elvis. It is wonderful that Mariah Carey a woman of colour shattered Elvis record this is an incredible achievement. Mariah Carey is here to stay and if people don’t recognize they better wake up now and get with the program.

What is so special about Elvis Presley anyway? Elvis wasn’t that great a singer he had a couple good songs but that’s it. Why are some music critics so bitter? The negativity towards Mariah Carey is pathetic and immature. Mariah has surpassed Elvis with the most number one hit singles for a solo artist she currently has eighteen number one hits. Mariah is currently in second place behind the Beatles they have twenty number one hit songs. The Beatles were huge long before my time I just can’t relate to them. I think in terms of cultural resonance and importance the Beatles are superior to Elvis. Elvis is supposed to be considered a huge legend. I view Elvis a bit differently he was at the right place at the right time.

Part of Elvis popularity is the fact he appropriated African American rhythm and blues sounds to make it palatable to a mainstream audience. Justin Timberlake’s popularity is similar to Elvis he’s a white male singer that had some soul. Elvis was attractive and indeed talented. So why the scorn against Mariah Carey? The fact is many music critics are also middle aged male snobs. The hypocrisy is some of these male music critics have a problem with Mariah Carey because she is a very beautiful and very talented woman. Mariah isn’t just a pretty face she knows the music industry she has worked very hard for her success. In fact, Mariah has also survived numerous lawsuits by frivolous people attempting to discredit her songwriting skills. Mariah Carey has the skills she knows how to write radio friendly hit songs.

Mariah has gone through an evolution some fans complain about Mariah working with hip hop artists. Where have these people been? Mariah has been working with rap artists since 1995! Mariah is a shrewd business woman she knows hip hop is the music that young people gravitate towards she’s not messing with a winning formula. On E=MC2 Mariah mixes the ballads, with the club bangers and mid tempo songs. In the early days of Mariah’s career she was considered adult contemporary pop music but that wasn’t the real Mariah Carey she loves hip hop. I will admit when I was younger I wasn’t a Mariah Carey fan I just wasn’t interested in the elevator music she used to sing in the early 1990s.

Mariah Carey can actually sing really sing she has a multi octave range. When Mariah started her music career in the early 1990s she was criticized for being a technically proficient singer without the emotional core. It is true in the beginning of Mariah career she she simply had a huge vocal range and that’s it but Mariah has changed for the better. Now Mariah is a lot smarter she has more restraint on her voice she lowers the range when necessary to convey the lyrics. There is no need to shout a song lyric that’s not good singing that’s just being stupid.

Being a good singer isn’t just about a big vocal range, a singer is an artist that can convey emotions to the audience transcend the lyrics and make the words have meaning. Christina Aguliera and Beyonce Knowles are good technical singers but they haven’t matured and learned how to really sing. A good singer doesn’t just scream a lyric at the top of her lungs to convey emotion to make a point. A talented singer can twist the words make certain lyrics have an emotional core.

For instance, Billie Holiday may not be considered the best technical singer but she was an incredible emotive singer because she had the ability to discern how take turn the lyrics and make them magic. Words are just words they mean nothing if the singer doesn’t provide some “feelings” behind the words. Mariah Carey has progressed in her career she doesn’t feel the need to belt out multi octave songs because she is now concentrating on the emotional aspect of singing.

On the track “side effects” Mariah sings about waking up at night thinking about the “violent times” with her ex husband and she still feels the “side effects”. I was shocked when Mariah sings the line “the private hell we built”. Mariah doesn’t just write songs for herself she writes for her fans letting people know you can get out of a difficult abusive relationship. On the track “I’m That Chick” the song has a disco groove it is just mellifluous and wonderful. The song “Touch My Body” the current number one hit is about Mariah letting her lover know she prefers her love life to be private. The lyrics are playful, sensual, without being trashy.

“For The Record” is a song about wanting to go back in time dreaming, thinking about a lost love and wanting the lover back. Anyone that has ever loved someone but secretly thinks about their former flames can relate to this song. We always told to not talk about “ex lovers” because it is viewed as a sign of weakness.

Mariah Carey has dealt with sexism in the music industry and judging from the reviews I have read the sexism continues. From the beginning of Mariah Carey’s career she has always been a songwriter and she resents the fact she doesn’t get respect for her songwriting skills. Why is it so hard for the public to believe a woman can write incredible songs with Mariah’s remarkable consistency? Mariah always has a number one hit for every single album she released in her career with the exception of her two year slump.

Some people forget the movie Glitter and the soundtrack was released on 9/11 this is not an excuse people simply weren’t interested in watching movies or purchasing CDs that week due to the terrorist attacks on New York City. Mariah has more substance then people give her credit for. Mariah Carey is clearly a romantic she believes in love and she sings about the good side of love and the dark side of love. Love is a recurring theme in Mariah’s music but on this album she also sings about forgiveness, death, resentment, and there is a bit of anger on this album too.

On the track “I Wish You Well” Mariah quotes from the bible this gospel song is about moving on from pain. Another incredible track is “bye bye” it is mainly about Mariah’s deceased father but is also a song for anyone that has lost a loved one.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Is A Very Talented Actress!

Although, Maggie’s younger brother Jake, seems to be a fixture in the tabloids, she is more talented than her younger brother.

Maggie Gyllenhaal has the intelligence, sex appeal, the talent, and the drive to reach the top. I believe Maggie will become an A list actress in a couple of years due

to her drive, talent, and determination.

Maggie is also very outspoken, I agree with her that the United States does have a role in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It is  ludicrous for people to suggest otherwise.

Maggie didn’t say she thought people deserved to die but she did say that United States foreign policy needs to be examined.

Maggie had the courage to speak up, I applaud her for using her platform in the media to speak the truth. Some people on the internet are screaming because Maggie is the female lead in the summer film “The Dark Knight”. However, Katie Holmes just isn’t as talented as Maggie Gyllenhaal.

A lot of people online have screamed at the top of their lungs that  Maggie was cast for the role of Rachel Dawes.

However, Katie Holmes pulled out of the project she lost a huge opportunity to shine on the silver screen.

Of course, Maggie was going to take the opportunity can you really blame her? Maggie Gyllenhaal is best known for her dramatic performances in independent films.

However, two years ago, Maggie decided she wanted to advance her career by auditioning for higher profile roles. The pay cheques are bigger for high-profile films and the publicity is much larger also.

“The Dark Knight” could be the mainstream breakthrough for the incredible Maggie Gyllenhaal’s career.

I believe Maggie will bring a mature, nuanced, and layered performance in “The Dark Knight” that’s for sure. Check out Maggie’s breakthrough film 2002 “Secretary”, her performance is simply incredible she should of won an Oscar by now.

Also, watch Maggie’s wonderful 2006 indie film “Sherrybaby,” her acting in this film is just incredible.

Reconciliation

Last week Tuesday, during the evening I received a phone call from someone very close to me but there has been tension between us for the past month. Anyone that is paying attention to this saga knows we had a few arguments in the past month. I was being immature not examining my own life, my own self doubts. He has his own life and struggles. I think I was mad about myself and I was taking my frustrations out on him and that is totally unacceptable and unfair on my part.

I began to question myself and what I want out of my own life. I self loathe too much, put myself down far too often but that’s not his fault that’s my issue. I isolated myself and that’s never a good thing. I began to question do I really want to be a writer anymore? I know I can improve on myself and my work in so many ways to be more proficient. My work has been rejected so many times lately I am sick of it. My B.A. degree can only take me so far on this unresolved journey in my life. I need to do more for myself and try harder.

I applied to two M.A. creative writing programs. I also filled out an Ontario College Application form and I am applying to more practical programs. In Canada, there is an attitude that college is below university but now I realize college is probably even better. During my undergraduate days I learned a lot about theory but I am not sure I learned a lot about substance. I realize that I have expand myself and move beyond the invisible barriers that have held me prisoner for the past few years. The depression, unhappiness, despair, regret, and pain, has surrounded me for far too long. Its not his fault that I feel inadequate that’s my responsibility. After all, its my life.

We talked for over an hour about the recent strain between us. He suggested we meet in downtown Toronto  last week Wednesday to talk. I must admit I was a bit nervous seeing him. I wasn’t sure what we were going to say to each other? I haven’t seem him for a month so I didn’t know what to think? I was a bit nervous and scared. Would things be weird between us? Would there only be silence? Can we shatter the canyon of silence and elicit the truth? Would things flow and click when we talk to one another like before? I kept on thinking to myself I have to think of topics to talk about? I thought to myself on the Go Bus maybe I will ask him about this two sisters as a way to break the ice.

I caught the Go Bus and reached St. George subway station around 11:45 am. I am not sure if it was fate but we literally bumped into each other after getting off the subway at St. George! I had nothing to worry about the conversation was normal between us. Now of course, we were both surprised because we were supposed to meet at Bloor subway station but we  both reached St. George at the exact same time!

Anyway, we decided to take the subway down to College subway station and walked down to Dundas to a restaurant called Frans. Frans is a Toronto institution known for its great hamburgers, fries, and side orders. My friend he ordered a garden vegetable hamburger, lemonade, and tortilla chips. I ordered a cheese burger and fries. I noticed that he had shaved he looks handsome when he shaves. He admits that when he doesn’t shave it makes him look older. He told me that he shaved for me so I thought that was nice.

It took us an hour to finish our meal. After our meal he let me know he had two joints and wanted to smoke up. He suggested we go to a park but I thought that since it was just the afternoon it wasn’t a great idea.

Next, he suggested we visit the Toronto Islands and smoke some weed and hang out there instead of just shopping. I thought it was an excellent idea! It was spring so the weather wasn’t too cold to visit the Toronto Islands. We took the subway down to Union station caught a streetcar to travel to the ferry. The ferry ride cost $6 dollars Canadian and we boarded the ferry at 2 pm. I was surprised that the ferry was basically a tug boat. I have visited the Toronto Islands before and the ferry is usually more glamorous.

I guess since it is still winter season we went to Ward Island instead of Center Island. The ferry ride was wonderful the sun was shining, there was a slight gentle breeze, it was slightly windy and the water was the typical ghoulish green tinged color. Yes this is Toronto a place where the water is green. Anyway, we smiled and chatted. The Toronto skyline and the CN Tower was in the background as my thoughts burned into the sky.

Next, we arrived at Ward Island around 2:15pm we walked to a secluded area by some ornate rocks and trees and we smoked some weed. He suggested we do a “super” also known as a “shotgun”. I was thinking to myself “what is a super?” I had never heard of a “super” before. He is more experienced then me when it comes to smoking weed. A super is basically when the joint is almost finished and one person lights the joint and blows the smoke directly into the other person’s mouth.

When you do a “super” your lips are close to the other person’s lips so the weed travels directly into your mouth. It was an interesting feeling we did the “super” a couple more times. I don’t know if you can call a “super” a kiss but according to the information I’ve read a “super” is considered “intimate”.

We’ve kissed before though in the university newspaper’s office four years ago. I remember we were having a conversation and I closed my eyes to blink and then his lips were on mine. He also wrapped his arms around me but you know what was weird? After the kiss we didn’t speak to each other for an entire week after that. I guess we both freaked each other out?

Anyway, after we finished the joint we walked on the beach littered with cans, pop bottles, and broken sticks, he said “can we make up”. I said “sure”. The interesting thing about Ward’s Island is that not many people live there its actually a very quiet place. Next, we held hands and walked to some rocks at the edge of a cliff. It was beautiful looking at the rolling waves of the water splash against the rocks. He suggested we take some photos together. I noticed we never had any pictures together. He took some photos of me with his blackberry/phone standing by myself on some rocks and we also took some photos together.

One thing I’ve noticed is some of my blog entries have ended up on other websites such as Msnbc.com, Espn.com, and WTAWorld.com and other websites. Isn’t that interesting? So I can understand his perspective that he doesn’t want his photo on my blog and I respect his decision.

He actually has a picture of us together on another internet website. He doesn’t want his picture on the blog because he fears someone might “find out” about his sexual orientation and I respect his perspective. The interesting thing is though the other website that he posts pictures I think has a lot more hits then my blog. My sister told me I shouldn’t post pictures of myself either on this blog because she says it could be dangerous. I do recall receiving some weird messages from people that were mad at me about certain blog entries. In fact, one weirdo threatened me and told me he was going to find me. Weird stuff man! The thing is with wordpress I receive every single IP address of the people that want to post comments on this blog. The vast majority of the people that post comments on this blog are mature though.

I think its interesting that in some ways he’s actually more “out” about his sexual orientation then I am. It is inspiring to me that he has the courage to be “out” to most people that interact with him. I am the opposite my family knows about my sexual orientation, and yes I write, and yes I get published. The interesting thing about me is I am actually very cautious in the public sphere whom I disclose my sexual orientation to.

He’s “out” to friends and acquaintances, he’s “out” at the university, he’s even “out” at the South Asian group at the university. He was elected to a leadership position at the South Asian group recently. He told me that one of his sisters knows he is gay but the other sister most likely suspects he’s gay but they haven’t had the conversation about it. The only people that don’t know about his sexual orientation are his parents. I sense he’s a little bit nervous when I write these blog entries but I’m a writer. I have to write that’s how I express myself. Now of course, I understand now I do have to have more sensitivity when writing these blog entries. Words are powerful sometimes even more powerful then actual actions and language.

Next, we had a frank and serious discussion about the sexual tension between us. He is also younger me and maybe he needs to experience life a bit more? We admitted we are sexually attracted to each other but we also have known each other for over five almost six years. In fact, the first time we met was in December 2002 at the university at a gay and lesbian meeting. He tells me the first time he met me he thought I talked too much. I admit I am loquacious. It is kind of funny the first time we met through a mutual female friend at tense meeting between the gay men and the lesbians.

The direction of the gay group was crumbling and some gay men felt the lesbians were taking over the group. I have to admit the meeting in December 2002 was very intense. We kind of drifted off from the gay group with another friend and ended up at the school newspaper. The school newspaper was very gay positive and very friendly to gay men so we ended up going there.

We both decided why ruin a solid friendship? I love him and he told me he loves me but sex would change things. What is sex anyway? Sex is two hard bodies and a quart of rum stirred in a room. Is sex a connection, destination, or is sex something else? I mean I kind of still have body image issues. I am still trying to get my act together. I can admit this. I don’t like the way my face looks its just not thin enough. I am proud that I’ve lost about 30 pounds and I do look much slimmer it feels good to lose weight.

I’ve been in the situation in the past where I have been friends with some gay men only to have sex change the entire configuration of the friendship. I will admit though the other gay guys and I were more like acquaintances. I didn’t really know them long enough prior to sexual activity.I do remember the end result though the other gay guys I had sex with well they didn’t talk to me the morning after let’s just put it that way.

Actually, that’s not entirely true there was one guy I had known for six months from late 1999 to around the early part of 2000. We met at a gay group we hung out, we had sex, and then I never heard from him for six months. This particular guy he read an article of mine in Xtra! Canada’s largest gay newspaper and he wanted to pick up where we left off. But I didn’t appreciate the way he treated me and I knew I couldn’t turn back the clock. The conversation was strange between me and that guy and bizarre and that was the end of it.

Meanwhile, back on Ward’s Island at the beach my friend he told me as he hugged me that we have intimacy with each other . We were sitting on some rocks as the waves of water splashed around us. He says that a lot of gay men don’t have intimacy with one another. I think we have something special that is beyond sex and that’s intimacy. I think intimacy is an issue a lot of gay men don’t want to discuss it is the ability to have an emotional connection with another gay man. We cried, laughed, hugged, and talked about anything and everything.

I think my feelings are valid and legitimate about feeling upset last month but I also realize his feelings are valid as well. He was upset at me last month because I looked at his diary in his room and I invaded his privacy. I made sure I apologized face to face because talking to someone on a phone and apologizing is just words. When you look into someone’s eyes and apologize it is different it is sincere. He let me know my apology is accepted.

I understand now he has his own life and I have mine he has a right to meet new people and so do I. I also am cognizant of the fact I am a very important person in his life and he let me know this last week Wednesday. I cried it felt good to know that I have someone in my life that honestly cares about me . I have had superficial relationships with gay men in the past. The superficial relationships were about the usual gay resume of topics such as music, sex, gossip, clothes and other frivolous topics but never anything serious. We are different we have this emotional connection to each other and we want each other to be happy.

We caught the 4:15pm Ward Island ferry and returned to the mainland. After that we took the subway to Queen Street West and went to a cafe. He had two pieces of carrot cake and a cup of tea. I had a slice of cheese cake and some fresh juice. We decided to travel to Spadina around the University of Toronto and I bought a collection of Evelyn Lau’s collection of Short Stories “Choose Me”. Everyone knows I love Evelyn Lau’s work so I just had to buy this book! I think Evelyn Lau is one of Canada’s most talented young writers and her writing is filled with pathos, passion, pain, and incredible honesty.

A bit past 6:00pm he suggested we have dinner at an Indian restaurant. I had never been to an Indian restaurant before. I was a bit nervous. It was interesting to experience eating food from another culture. I do remember my mother making roti before when I was a kid but I haven’t eaten a lot of Indian food. The first appetizer was a piece of bread called naan it is thicker then roti.

I am so conditioned and used to eating food from the Occident. It was nice to try something new. Now since I have a Caribbean background of course I’ve eaten curry chicken, curry goat and seasoned food before. Anyway, we went to the Indian restaurant and he ordered lamb that was seasoned with curry it tasted great. I watched him take the piece of naan and a piece of lamb and eat it. I did the exact same thing I picked up a piece of naan with lamb and ate it. It tasted really good. I recognize this lamb I feel like I have eaten it before. I ordered a drink called a mango lassi it was delicious. The mango lassi is basically mangoes, yogurt, and sugar it is a fabulous drink.

Finally around a bit past 7:30pm last week Wednesday we decided it was time to go home I had a good time it was nice seeing him again. I will have fond memories when I think about that day. We were honest with each other and were able to open up to one another as well.

I arrived home around 9:30pm. I don’t know why but I felt guilty about eating a cheeseburger, and the slice of cheesecake so I decided I better hit the treadmill and start working out. I worked out for about 45 minutes of cardiovascular activity and I lifted some weights after. I took a quick shower to cool off and I decided to read some Evelyn Lau’s amazing collection of short stories “Choose Me”. I will review “Choose Me” by Evelyn Lau a little bit later on this month or perhaps early next month.

Neil Patrick Harris Is Wrong Britney Saved How I Met Your Mother!

A few days ago “How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris was quoted in an interview with the Associated Press that he doesn’t agree with stunt casting.

Here are some quotes Neil said to the Associated Press in an interview earlier this week.

“why does such a gem of a show need Britney to get any attention,”

“I’m in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed.”

“We’ve done a good three and three-quarter seasons with guest stars that we feel like are exactly perfect for the characters that (were) written … by the crack writing staff,”

“Well, uh, no. (They’re) totally unfounded rumors.” And Harris insists Spears isn’t ready to become a full-time actress: “She’s not an actress. She played a role for a week, and did a really nice job, but the workload involved with doing memorization and the purging of comedy over and over is really, really hard. I mean, it takes a strong skill set to do that every week. You do it one week, it’s fine, but to do it a lot of weeks is hard. She (Spears) is not going to be a regular on our show.”

“I worry that if they start ‘Will and Gracing’ us too much, that the show will suffer. And we’re all really proud of the content of the show. I mean viewership is not our game. It’s the network and the studio’s game, you know. It’s the promotion department’s game. We wish we weren’t opposite an awkward reality dancing competition. But we have no say about that. I just am a real fan of our content. I think we have a great show going and I hope it’s not screwed up by the desire for 700,000 more viewers.”

Actually Britney’s star power attracted an additional 1 million viewers to watch “How I Met Your Mother”. Neil shouldn’t be so petulant. I wonder if Britney was hurt when she read Neil’s comments? Neil should be thanking Britney Spears for bringing a lot of media attention to his show. I think it is totally unprofessional for Neil to slam Britney in the press like this.

Everyone knows “How I Met Your Mother” isn’t a hit the show generally has between 8 to 9 million viewers a week that’s simply not good enough. When pop superstar Britney Spears appeared on “How I Met Your Mother” a few weeks ago the show had its highest ratings ever over 10 million viewers. It is obvious to me Neil Patrick Harris is the star of his show and maybe he doesn’t like being upstaged by Britney Spears? :”How I Met Your Mother” has a cult following but CBS wants higher ratings for the show. It costs a lot of money to air sitcoms and CBS needs high ratings to attract more advertisers and generate more revenue this is show business. Neil knows the game he should just go with the flow.

Now Neil Patrick Harris is claiming the associated press “misquoted” his comments about Britney Spears. It is a classic PR move by CBS because Neil’s comments can be interpreted as arrogant and deleterious. If “How I Met Your Mother” is such a great show why the need for the stunt casting? Britney Spears has been bashed by the media forever and now Neil’s remarks are mean spirited and cruel. I have to admit I did watch the episode when Britney guess starred on the program and I was impressed.

Britney’s acting was flawless she looked so so cute, adorable, sexy, sweet, and innocent. Britney’s character Abby is a mild mannered receptionist looking for love. I thought Britney did a great job she has good comic timing. I don’t understand why Neil spoke out in the media he should of just kept his mouth shut. Britney Spears is a pop superstar and NPH needs to give her some respect she basically saved his show from the chopping block. Britney Spears got over 1 million people to tune into “How I Met Your Mother” I think producers of the program would be wise to bring Britney back. Britney makes the show so much more interesting.

Is South Africa’s Reticence The Real Problem For Zimbabwe?

Thabo Mbeki the current president of South Africa claims there is no political crisis in Zimbabwe. Mr. Mbeki says he has spoken face to face to the Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe. How can Mr. Mbeki say there is no crisis? Zimbabwe is in a complete downward spiral.  I wish Mr. Mbeki would speak out against the dictator Robert Mugabe but he chooses not to. I just don’t believe the international community can really make a difference here. I firmly believe African leaders can make change in Zimbabwe not the Occident. For instance, Mugabe doesn’t care about economic sanctions its not going to change his life. The masses will suffer in Zimbabwe but not Mugabe.

Is this just a waiting game? Mugabe is eighty three years old perhaps the Occident is just waiting for Mr. Mugabe to expire?  But what will happen to Zimbabwe after Mugabe dies? Will another dictator emerge? It is so sad because over a decade ago Zimbabwe was  known as the “bread basket” of Southern Africa the nation was thriving and doing so well. Now there it appears Zimbabwe is a dystopian nightmare. I think the African leaders such as President Mbeki could of been the difference since South Africa and Zimbabwe are trading partners and are tied to each other in terms of politics and economics. I wonder, if South Africa had a stronger leader could Mugabe been removed by now? Mugabe is desperate to cling on to power while the masses become more desperate, hungry, depressed, and frustrated. Doesn’t anyone care? Why is the world apathetic to the current crisis in Zimbabwe?

PJ Harvey CD Reviews: To Bring You My Love, Stories From The City Stories From The Sea

When I was in high school a friend of mine decided I needed to start listening to PJ Harvey so he stole a copy of “To Bring You My Love” from the record store. Of course, I didn’t know my friend was going to do this but he told me that’s how he obtained a copy of the CD. I initially was shocked at the cover of the album it appeared as though PJ Harvey was dead the smoke rising from her body.

I placed the CD in the CD player and almost like a trance the music possessed me. “To Bring You Love” is considered PJ Harvey’s first international breakthrough the album sold over 1 million copies worldwide. I love the title track “To Bring You My Love” the power of PJ Harvey’s voice is incredible. I never listened to a rock album before until I heard this CD. I started to branch out after listening to this album I soon became a fan of Hole I love their second CD “Live Through This”. I know a lot of people hate Courtney Love but I just hate it when people say Courtney doesn’t have talent this is not true. Courtney can sing and play the guitar just like PJ Harvey.

The big hit is the song “Down By The Water”. Some other songs I love are “Meet Ze Monsta”, “Long Snake Moan”, and “The Dancer”. I remember so many times walking through malls and listening to the song “Down By The Water” I wonder if people really understand what the song is about? The song is interesting it is about a mother murdering her daughter but even PJ Harvey has said people shouldn’t take the lyrical content of the song too seriously. I love PJ Harvey because she’s a woman that makes her own decisions she is a multi instrumentalist. PJ Harvey can play the piano, guitar, organ, sax, and numerous other instruments. PJ Harvey also writes all the lyrics to her own songs. I kind of wish there were more women in rock music as successful as PJ Harvey. The only other women I can think of in rock at PJ’s level of success are Courtney Love and Shirley Manson from the group Garbage.

The second PJ Harvey CD I love is “Stories Of The City Stories From The Sea”. I bought the CD myself this time around PJ won the Mercury Prize in the UK for this stunning album every single song is wonderful. I love “Is This Love?” the lyrics are great and PJ Harvey’s voice is incredible. I notice a trend in the music industry there aren’t any female rock musicians hitting it big these days I wonder why? The 1990s was so amazing for women in music. I remember listening to Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Hole, Garbage, and now I can’t think of any ladies in rock exploding on the music scene. I still have fond memories of the ladies that made rock so much more interesting and exciting over a decade ago. PJ Harvey is still here and Shirley Manson is still with Garbage but I wonder if they can recapture their form and set the album charts on fire again?