Apologies Galore (and The Round-up)

To all those who are regular readers of this blog and therefore noticed that though I usually post every single workday, last week I posted only twice, I offer my profoundest apologies... This back thing really knocked me for a loop. Had to have x-rays last Thursday to rule out any herniated discs and the like (which were indeed ruled out) and then got put on a bit of bed rest and Flexeril--which, you will know if you've ever been on it, makes you more than a little groggy. I like to say that Thursday night was spent more or less in a drug induced coma, but by Friday, I'd figured out how to time my doses so that I could actually get some work done--albeit from my couch--during the day.

Today I'm finally back somewhat on track, and though my back is still aching and I'm kicked back in my chair like some17th century Pasha, its possible to get a few more things accomplished... like blogging. So here I am, again, and for the duration, I hope.

In any case, my job is not to natter on about ME, but to direct you to the news that's fit to kick around. So, to that end...

Bill Officially Stumping for Hill: Any time I get a message in my inbox from Bill Clinton that says, "Watch This" I promise you one thing: I'm opening it (since you never know what he could have in mind). Though not as titillating as some of the best outtakes from his years in office, this video of him stumping for Hillary really is effective--though whether that's because I learned things about Hillary I never knew before, or because I just got sucked in by that amazing Bill Clinton charm, I cannot say. Regardless, worth a watch.

J.K. Rowling to the Rescue: Seems that the Harry Potter author cum billionairess has offered to add a few pennies to the fund being amassed as a reward for the return of Madeleine McCann--the 4 year old who was left alone by her parents while they went out to dinner and then disappeared. Sources are calling Rowling's pledge "staggering"--so if you didn't think returning an abducted child to her parents was a valuable act in and of itself, now you have further inducement to be a decent human being.

Lefties Battle over Georgia Rule: I'm going to stay mostly out of this one since both are parties known to me, but just for your knowledge, there's an interesting debate going on between Jennifer Pozner, Don Hazen, and the readers of both their sites over a posting last week on Alternet about the film "Georgia Rule." Take it all in and judge for yourself.

Georgia Rules!

Last night was the world premiere of the Jane Fonda/LindsayLohan/Felicity Huffman flick Georgia Rule here in NYC, and the event was staged, happily enough, as a benefit for the Women's Media Center. As such, I not only got to attend, but earned myself an All Access pass by offering to work for a bit before the show actually started. It turned out to be one of those great red carpet events that you see on Access Hollywood every night, made much better by the fact that with my pass I could go pretty much anywhere I wanted, even onto the red carpet itself.

The movie was, by all accounts, much better than expected (quite good actually. I can't believe I'm saying this, but people really need to start giving Lohan a bit more credit--despite all the shenanigans, she's a pretty talented little actress). But the best part of the night came at the afterparty, at The China Club. Someone had the brilliant idea to play the song "Do the Jane Fonda" by Mickey Avalon in the VIP lounge, and within seconds, Jane and La Lindsay were in the middle of the dance floor, breaking it down white-girl style. Freakin' amazing.

My friend Don Hazen writes more about the event on the Alternet blog-- but seriously, it was one of the best things I've seen in ages. Two new hips, a white satin pantsuit and 69 years of experience was all Jane needed to get that party started. Superb!

Disney's First Black Princess

Well, after all these years of keening after princesses with silky straight hair and blue eyes, those of us of a darker hue will now have our own Disney iconography to aspire to: "The Frog Princess", Disney's first animated feature starring a black main character is now in the works. The story will be set in New Orleans during the Jazz Age (1920s), and centers on a young black girl named Maddy, who is a chambermaid. According to the Wikipedia entry, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose and Alicia Keys are all battling it out for the lead.

I feel both a partial hurrah in me and a partial sense of dread. Hurrah because, frankly, it's long since been time, dammit. But the dread comes from my basic distrust of Disney narratives, and my fear that now millions of little black girls will be modeling themselves on a chambermaid. Just what we need.