Tag Archives: Rachel

Here is my “top 10″ list of the best of 2011:

Best non-fiction book: A Singular Woman by Janny Scott.  This book did not try to paint Stanley Ann Dunham a particular way.  It was simply the true story of a strong woman, who married a Kenyan and had a son named Barack Obama.  Stanley later married an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro and they had a daughter named Maya Soetoro.

A Singular Woman is about a woman who did not conform to the norms of her time.  Stanley Ann Dunham went on to obtain her masters and PhD. in anthropology.

New York Times writer Janny Scott researched her topic meticulously and it shows on every page.  I enjoyed the book immensely.

Best Politician:  Without a doubt in my mind I have to say Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)  Congressman Frank will be retiring after sixteen terms in office.   Known for his quips, quick responses and snarky comments over the last three decades, Congressman Barney Frank announced recently that he would not run for re-election in 2012.

• I’m used to being in the minority. I’m a left-handed gay Jew. I’ve never felt, automatically, a member of any majority. 
• They appear to have become so attached to their outrage that they are even more outraged that they won’t be able to be outraged anymore. 
• Gay people have a different role than other minority groups. … Very few black kids have ever had to worry about telling their parents that they were black.

Best Pop Song of 2011:  Now I know that there are probably dozens of songs out there that folks will find better than Beyonce’s Love on Top but for me, that was the best song in 2011.  The funny thing is that I happened to be channel surfing and saw Beyonce performing that song on the Video Music Awards a few months ago.  I was blown away by the song and then by her pregnancy announcement at the end of the song.

President Obama’s Best Accomplishment of 2011:  Undoubtedly it has to be the POTUS ordering The Navy Seals to take out Osama Bin Laden.  It doesn’t eradicate ten years of an unjust war in Iraq, but it was a huge deal.

Best Motion Picture of 2011:  I can only go by what I’ve seen in 2011 and my pick is Limitless.  Bradley Cooper is phenomenal playing  a down and out computer genius who makes it big on Wall Street but not on his own volition.   Robert DiNiro has a small but significant role in the movie as well and suffice it to say, he’s excellent.

Best Fall Season 2011 Television Show:  Homeland which stars Clair Danes (who gives an outstanding performance as a bi-polar CIA Analyst) and British actor Damian Lewis who has actually mastered his American accent for his role as a soldier who was missing in Afghanistan for eight years and returns home to his wife and kids, a different man.   I hear this is one of the President’s favorite shows.  I can see why.  Check it out on Video on Demand, it’ll be worth it.

Best MSNBC Anchor of 2011:  I have to say, hands down it’s Rachel Maddow who anchors The Rachel Maddow Show  nightly on MSNBC at 9:00 pm est.   Rachel’s show is provocative, funny, informative and well researched.  I used to listen to Rachel on the now defunct Air America Radio.  The best thing about Rachel Maddow’s show is her deliberate presentation of an issue.  Needless to say, Rachel breaks down the most complex political news to it’s lowest common denominator so that all of her viewers will go away understanding exactly what a particular issue is really about.  Oh, by the way, she has a Doctorate  in political science.  Rachel Maddow is by far, MSNBC’s best asset.

Best Weekly Periodical of 2011:  Time Magazine, for recognizing that the Person of the Year actually turned out to be tens of thousands of  people from protests movements across the globe.  Time Magazine‘s smart choice of naming The Protester as person of the year gives them my nod for Best Weekly Periodical, besides, I subscribe to Time and look forward to each issue for their fine reporting on global issues.

Best Viral Video on You Tube in 2011:  

Best People I’ve Interacted with in 2011:  The readers and commenters of this blog.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!