'Tis the Season to Be Salty

I'm a yuletide hater--I admit it. Something about the throngs of manic shoppers and related traffic that kills the "merry" in my Christmas. The music, however, is something else altogether. The folks at iTunes are offering up a holiday sampler--for free (my favorite part). No crowd- or long-line-tolerance required.

Speaking of tolerance, the good people of Houston, Texas elected City Comptroller Annise Parker as its mayor. Of course, when a gay/lesbian is elected to serve in one of the largest U.S. cities--a reputedly conservative one at that, it becomes news. Personally, I appreciated that her campaign was based more on the issues and her experience--despite the antigay venom spewed during her campaign--than her sexuality.

Frankly, it's just refreshing to see a Houston other than Whitney in the news.

Which leads me to the whole Reverend Al Sharpton satire debacle. It's a joke, people--a joke! Friends of mine--people with common sense---have been Facebooking and tweeting their credibility away all (last) week. Why people would really think Rev. Sharpton would decry Tiger Woods' lack of black mistresses is beyond me. But what do I know? I once owned a two-finger ring. Interestingly enough, it was a Christmas gift.

Featured Song: "Baby, It's Cold Outside (featuring Velma Middleton)," Louis Armstrong (from Historic Collection, Volume Three)