HOT PIECE OF THE MONTH. The votes are in! January's hot piece of the month, is no other than T. Russell Green III. Who is this mystery man you ask? Well this hottie is a Senior I.T. consultant/Real-Estate Visionary/Options Trader/Property Manager - amongst many other things. This Aquarian enjoys reading, traveling, movies, video games and poker. The Washington DC native is this month's hot piece because, well - he's hot, and also because his unyielding entrepreneurial spirit and his genuine charm and likebility are an awesome combination. And ok, he's also my husband. But the votes clearly speak for themselves. And by votes, I mean myself because I'm the only voter. Nevertheless, congrats to Russ on this achievement milestone. Happy New Year indeed!

OBAMA for 2008. Check It officially endorses Illinois Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Never before has the Presidential race been so exciting! Well, aside from the obvious - an African-American AND a woman are running for President, but also this is the first time in almost 50 years that neither an incumbent President or Vice President is in contention. What do I like about Obama? My biggest concerns are domestic issues - particularly education and healthcare. Obama's record as a state Senator shows that he was the biggest supporter and an actual trailblazer for early childhood education. He helped create the Early Childhood Council in the state of Illinios. He also plans to double the budget for afterschool programs (which is key because too many of our youth get into trouble afterschool!) His civil rights and urban community organization experience is evident in the causes he supports. I think we can rest assured that he's going to champion causes that directly effect African-Americans. But it doesn't end there. His healthcare plan outlines coverage for every American regardless of income. If you already have healthcare, this will mean less expensive premiums. If not, not only will you be covered, but you won't be turned away due to a pre-existing condition or a chronic illness. I know that the other canidates promise similar legistlation, but I especially like that Obama focuses on preventitive programs which are key since we're faced with completely avoidable epidemics such as obesity and various STD's. For more about Sen. Obama's plans, voting record and bio, click here. So far he's won the Iowa caucas and he just totally blew the competition away in the South Carolina primaries. Here's wishing him the best in these last campaign days before Super Tuesday!!

CLUBBING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE CHILDBIRTH. Laila is a babbling six month old who is now sitting up on her own, eating pureed veggies and even throwing mini-tantrums. She's the absolute love of my life, and while I'd rather spend most nights hanging out with her - this past weekend I hung up my mommy sweats and danced the night away in my brown leather wedges in a Baltimore club. My friend turned 28 this weekend, and another came down from NYC to celebrate, so a gang of us made the most of the occasion by 'warming up' in a bar first, then dancing the night away in a downtown club. The Chikee of old came back in full force. My entourage occupied the dance floor the entire time - I don't think any of us sat down once. A nice kick-start to my desperately needed (and yet implemented) work-out program. Come to think of it, this might be my first club experience as a married woman. A few things occurred to me since I was last on the club scene. 1- Nothing much as changed. At all. Of course there's the inevitable door politics that ensues if the price or dress code isn't favorable. First there's the appeal to the doorman for a break, quickly followed by the whipping out of trendy luxury communication device, formally knows as a phone (essential for intense and rapid texting to an inside contact, of course). Women are still coming across as desperate (i.e. dressed in their skivies, while it was quite literally 20 degrees outside) and the obligatory storming of the dance floor by a group of trannies. Ladies were granted free admission at this club... I wonder if they had to pay? 2 - The pressure was off. We girls enjoy dancing alone or with each other, usually in a circle. But eventually, Random Dude will appear behind one of us for a dance. Random Dude almost never politely walks away after a song or two. He wants to dance through the entire Reggae set and beyond. The longer he stays, the more we ponder his approach to get the digits. Will it be a drink offering? The 3rd degree? And why am I too nice to walk away? I was rather content just dancing with my girlfriends. All of those feelings were moot for me last night. Mainly because my husband was there to serve as a spirited dance partner all night. Random Dudes did approach my friends though, and I could just see the wariness build as these guys stuck around for consecutive sets. 3- I actually had a great time. I must say this surprised me the most. I didn't know how starved I was for a completely adult evening out with my friends. I must have danced liked this would be the last time. Actually I kind of felt it might be. Who knows when I'll make it the club again. My friends are so spread out geographically, or tied to their offspring as I am. In a way, I don't want to engage in nights like this too regularly. I feel it might spoil the fun of it being a treasured, well-deserved night to cut loose amongst friends. Well, that - and I just don't find going to the club to be all that interesting. This was my attitude even when I was single. To me, the funnest part was getting all dolled up with my friends, and deciding which cocktail to consume (if I drank anything at all). I mean, let's be honest - we all know the music rotations by heart. It's only a matter of time before we hear the Jamaican "Chi-Chi Man" song which is met with same exuberance each & every time we hear it (Although it's no longer a hidden fact that this song is horrendously offensive as it rallies for the violent & indiscriminate persecution of gay males, yet it gets us running to the dance floor every single time. Even gay males). When all's said and done though, I much prefer a comfortable evening sipping hot chocolate in a bookstore with Laila in tow, or staying home and entertaining our friends. Still, there's nothing wrong with marathon booty shaking when the spirit hits. Live it up!

THE ATTACK ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Yes, I know it isn't until February, but this is on my mind today! Some people believe that in order to end racism, we have to stop underscoring our differences. I recently read a quote from Morgan Freeman who publicaly denounces Black History month during an interview on 60 Minutes. "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." He said the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it, and he noted that there is no "white history month." In accordance with Morgan's quote, indeed there's been an onslaught of critics (most of them non-Black) who believe that observing Black History month is no longer necessary. That it's outlived it's need. I do believe that we've made major strides in the right direction in terms of racial awareness in this country - certainly since Black History Week's inception. But I just don't see the point in taking away something that is very positive, prideful and interesting! If there are some who don't want to acknowledge it then don't. You do have a choice. Just like the people who work on Martin Luther King Day even though it's a government holiday. There's no mandate that all citizens must wear dashikis and sing Negro Spirituals twice a day. Do the slave documentaries that get regular spin on PBS annoy people that much? Maybe it's the McDonald's commercials with the choirs humming behind the narration. I don't know. I asked my husband if he thought the United States should still observe Black History Month and his answer was quite simple, "Yes, because everyone else has a month" i.e. Hispanic Heritage Month (June) and Asian Heritage Month (September). Although those were probably incepted because of the existence of BHM. Should we discard all of these special observances? For who, and for what? What annoys me the most in all of this is that American schools are still so poorly educated about Black History. Morgan is correct, it is American History - but it's a part of American History that is often swept under the rug in many school districts (mainly non-black ones, which means most). It's astonishing how kids (even Black kids) don't know much about slavery, reconstruction or Jim Crow. That is so, so very dangerous! There kids are growing up and joining the working world. Actually, they have grown up and joined the working world - they are managers, lawyers and yes, teachers now! When I was producing as the Discovery Channel (yes, the Discovery Channel) there were writers who didn't know much about the Black experience in this country. In fact I was in a conversation with mulitple co-workers about ancestry and they wondered why I couldn't tell them where exactly my ancestors came from. This is Slavery 101 people. The Irish guy in my department (like, actually born and raised in Dublin) had to break it down to them for me. I tried to elaborate myself, but they just couldn't grasp. "Surely you know what country your people came from, I'm German". I can't take on the task of teaching African American Diapsora for 6 clueless white Americans. This is why we need Black History Month. And not just for non-blacks, but for everyone. I went to Howard with Black kids who knew nothing of Sojourner Truth and Nat Turner being educated in their various school districs across the country. My own husband who grew up in the nation's capital says slavery was summed up in 1 paragraph in his 9th grade history book. That's all he got. This is not a game people!

Tim Gunn is NEVER wrong.

Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, I'm certainly watching my share of TV. The best show of all is Project Runway. Tim Gunn is the man, and I agree with everything he says. Thought this little clip was worth posting because I honestly find his advice to be helpful, and I'm such a huge fan. Cheers!