Letterman is more than a talk-show host and more than a pertinent interviewer. He’s a raconteur, a fan of indy bands and of Darlene Love, a geopolitical connoisseur even if he modestly tries to dumb himself down.

Haiti is flawed and there are many injustices that must be denounced. Many things have to change, I know this. Condescendence, however is also a flaw that helas, too often rears its ugly head whenever the West talks about Haiti. That too, must change.

Like many, my life has a soundtrack. Music is both solace & motivation, every single day. Silence might be golden but music, is platinum. 2011 was a year of many things, including great tracks

Les maladresses de Dany Turcotte sont lourdes. Parce que just like that, elles nous rappellent que trop souvent, la première chose qu’on considère c’est la race, la différence. Ce qui nous rappelle aussi que le rêve de Martin Luther King n’a pas encore été réalisé.

I liked Ted Koppel as much as I did Simon Lebon. Because like Lebon, Koppel was the leader of a cool band. The Nightline band.

Everyone is a teacher. Never has this adage been truer than this week, for me at least. My teachers in recent days have been Jack Layton & Steve Jobs. Layton, a Canadian politician and chief of the official opposition, passed away a few days ago after a ferocious battle against cancer. Then yesterday, Apple’s architect [...]

Last weekend, Conan O’Brien delivered the Commencement Address at Ivy League Darmouth. There was nothing conventional about it. Not its tone, not its delivery and certainly not its message. I suppose that’s why I’ve been thinking about it ever since I saw it

At the time, the disease was associated to homosexuals, hemophiliac and junkies. And, just like that, Magic broke that stereotype and whether or not he wanted to, he became the face of HIV/AIDS.

At 16, I wanted to marry Donald Trump. I was in my last year of high school and I did many book reports on the man (based on his book The Art Of The Deal) and on his character (based on unauthorized biographies). At the time, Donald Trump was Mister New York. He isn’t anymore.

En 25 ans passés sur les bancs de votre école, je me suis épanouie. Bien au-delà de la couleur de votre peau, qui est la même que la mienne, j’admirais vos faiblesses, parce que vous avez su les convertir de passives à actives. Votre passé trouble et votre constant combat avec votre poids sont certaines des caractéristiques qui ont fait de vous l’une de nous. Mais il y a vos forces aussi: votre culot, votre curiosité et, bien sûr, votre générosité, qui a fait rougir les plus riches de cette planète.

In 1998, I had a bad breakup.  Breakups are rarely easy but this one was particularly difficult because not only was I heartbroken but also, my ego was crushed to its core.  I was too proud to cry on anyone’s shoulder so I sulked for longer than I wish to admit and found therapy via [...]

I wanted to write something deep and meaningful on this one-year anniversary.  But the images of despair I see in the media drown my words. I’m still heartbroken with a sense of powerlessness. I’m in dismay at the millions of dollars that have been sent by generous citizens of the world and that have yet [...]

I was never a particular big fan of former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.  I didn’t dislike her but I didn’t look up to her like I do a Kamala Harris or a Hillary Clinton.  Then, she lost her position at the last mid-term elections and I saw her for who she was: a [...]

“Scholar Alan Gribben and NewSouth Books plan to release a version of Huckleberry Finn, in a single volume with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, that does away with the “n” word”, I read with stupefaction in today’s Washington Post. What the f-word? , I thought. Mark Twain’s chef-d’œuvre is a honest look at, amongst other [...]

Bill Cosby should be a model for anyone who wants to be on TV. Today’s television is inundated with one too many reality stars whose claim to fame is well, only that. Where’s the talent? Where’s the craft?

Music is my life despite the facts I can’t carry a tune, have little rhythm and make no loving from it. Still, from the moment I open my eyes, to the moment I close them at night, music is a constant. This year, my life was dominated by Haiti, by deadlines and by new and not so new music. Here’s the soundtrack of my 2010 life.

The title should be bestowed on the Haitian Citizen. For sentimental reasons, of course, but also because I don’t remember a community not at war, being put through the ringer so much in such a short time. The Haitian Citizen has been failed by Mother Nature, by science and by Human kind camouflaged in greedy political administrators and yet, he is still standing.

Il y a plus d’une semaine, le journal La Presse publiait un article intitulé « Le fléau caché » sur la violence conjugale en Haïti.

La photo a dérangée plusieurs lecteurs, toutes origines confondues. Moi, c’est l’article que j’ai trouvé dérangeant. J’ai écrit à La Presse. Mon texte n’a pas été publié (comme les 84 autres lettres reçues au journal, d’ailleurs). La voici.

Martelly is close to the people. He looks people in the eyes, asks for their first name & actually remembers the names once the cameras stop rolling. Bachelet & him have that in common.

On the morning of September 11th 2001, I was living my 4th year in Miami and I was on the phone with my travel agent, booking a last minute trip for the next day to Port-au-Prince on American Airlines. Once confirmed on the flight, I left my apartment & drove to my office with the [...]

I just saw the commercial for the upcoming new season of Desperate Housewives. The beautifully shot 61 seconds features all four of the housewives and a newly-arrived-to-the-hood Vanessa Williams.

Il y a des rencontres qui nous nous marquent pro-fon-dé-ment. Lors d’un dîner chez de amis en commun, il y a quelques années, je rencontrais René-Frantz Durosel. Je le connaissais de réputation puisque c’est le Maverick derrière l’ascension de Corneille. C’est lui aussi qui a mis Gage sur le palmarès ici et en France. Mais [...]

Photo by jean-barak.fr We are obsessed with the new. We are obsessed with the young. In music, and in almost everything else for that matter, these two epithets do not necessarily mean better. The music charts are filled with ingrate & talentless artists who want the accolades without the blood, the sweat or the tears. [...]

Photo by AfricaHit.com What does it take to run a country? A Grammy? A mobile-phone commercial? The ability to create incredible guitar riffs? If so then all these rumors about Wyclef Jean running for President of Haïti may not be that crazy. Already fuelling debates online, on talk radio & at social gatherings, the news [...]

I spent Saturday night celebrating a dear friend, along with a brochette of great guests. Delish conversations oscillated between the disappointing post Earthquake developments in Haïti to the inevitable I-Phone vs. Blackberry debate. Then later in the night, many glasses of champagne later, my friend Adrian asked a simple question: what would I do if [...]

While devouring this weekend’s New York Times, an article on first-time dating caught my attention (read it here). It described how the ritual of the first date is now theme-inspired. Huh?! Whatever happened to dinner and a movie? Well not literally dinner and a movie but how about drinks? Or lunch? The article describes someone [...]

*Nota Bene: this is a post from June 3rd. Seemed appropriate to repost it today. I’ll start this post by saying how much I actually like Larry King. I think he’s authentic and his personal ascension into pop cultural history is quite impressive. He’s worked hard all his life, which hasn’t always been an easy [...]

By guest blogger Jean-Cyril Pressoir Brazil breezed through their World Cup round of 16, hammering Chile 3-0 for their fourth consecutive win in “South Africa 2010″. Just like they did at the end of the three previous Brazil matches, Haitians took to the streets, Port-au-Prince suddenly looked like Rio and rum flowed. Thinking as far [...]

In an interview with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company), the great Leonard Cohen wished for a moratorium on new versions of his song Hallelujah. I couldn’t agree more. Hallelujah is more than a classic. It’s a hymn that goes beyond religions and beliefs. To say it has soul would be a gross understatement. It is [...]

Rarely have I penned a post so fast. It was only a few hours ago that I discovered Londoner Tinashé. Late, I’m sure but nonetheless, I’ve been listening to his track “Zambezi” in-a-loop ever since. Style, substance with Zimbabwean flavor. Can’t go wrong with that. I’m so excited about this artist that I want to [...]

Top photo is from Herby.TV There are many ways Montréal distinguishes itself from big North American cities. First, it’s an island. Second, there is the language. Sure, many Montrealers are bilingual but en français is how it’s done here. It’s a cultural metropolis with its own definition for joie de vivre and Montréal is part [...]

You know how many Black actors complain there aren’t any good roles for them on television and how they make much less than their White counterparts when they do find roles? Now imagine 1978 and cue-in Gary Coleman. In 1978, NBC premiered “Diff’rent Strokes”, the sitcom that turned Gary Coleman into the loveable Arnold Jackson. [...]

I’ll start this post by saying how much I actually like Larry King. I think he’s authentic and his personal ascension into pop cultural history is quite impressive. He’s worked hard all his life, which hasn’t always been an easy one, and he deserves all the success that comes along with being late-night royalty. The [...]

Montréal is Hockey town. Even more so this year as the City’s beloved Canadiens (the Habs) came so close to reaching the Stanley Cup finals, against all odds & pundits’ predictions. Tourisme Montréal asked a few Montrealers to write about their affinities for Hockey & their meaning of the game. You’ll find the edited version [...]

*Photo of iconic TV show: “The Facts Of Life” A few months ago, I received an invitation to attend my 20th (yikes!) high-school reunion. I loved high school: I had been President of this and then President of that & I had simply adored the camaderie of being in an all-girls school. Still, when I [...]

A few months ago, Oprah had Mike Tyson on her show. Sure, it’s her show and she may have whomever she damn pleases on it. Here’s my issue: Mike Tyson is a wifebeater & a rapist & we live in a society where if you’re a guest on a TV show, it’s to be celebrated. [...]

Bons Baisers de Paris (Kisses from Paris): “It doesn’t matter how many times you go to Paris. It will always be breathtaking, stylish, old world ……”

Photo taken from ceospeaks.wordpress.com I’m about to celebrate my second anniversary on Twitter. I joined the now almost mainstream micro-blogging site at the urgency of friend, and fellow Barackanista, McLean Greaves. At the time, McLean & I were fully invested in the U.S. Democratic race (well, as much as Canadians could be). Barack Obama’s name [...]

Okay. Hate is a strong word. But I really do love to dislike The Masters Golf Tournament. I’m far from being a golf connoisseur but I’ve always found the Tournament’s history to be quite disturbing – and no, I’m not referring to the terrible color of their winners’ much sought-after blazer. The Masters are at [...]

*Photo taken from Madre’s Missives. Yesterday, various news agencies & all social media outlets were tripping over themselves reporting Ricky Martin’s revelation of his sexual orientation. Unless you’ve been living in Amish country, the fact Ricky is a homosexual was no surprise. I find it quite unfortunate that today; a public figure’s orientation still makes [...]

Relationship expert, Bob Grant, recently published an article entitled “50 Universal Truths about Men”. I thought it was somewhat insightful but mostly cheeky. Clearly, I’m not a relationship expert but I do have Truths of my own. Universal? You be the judge. Here are some of the Bob Grant’s Universal Truths About Men and my [...]

Being a publicist is great. You get instant gratification by seeing your clients’ names in the papers and their faces on television. Lasting gratification comes from the people you meet in the process and who remain in your life. Still, in times like these, in the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake, you feel helpless and wish [...]

In Montreal, like in many other cities in the world, February is Black History Month. Even though I question its existence, I applaud all the initiatives executed by the dedicated team behind the Montreal edition. It was thus impossible for me to refuse when they asked me to pen an op-ed on Michelle Obama: their [...]

It’s been 5 days since the earth has rocked my ancestors’ land. Far away, in the Maple Leaf, I feel helpless, restless but also hopeful because I know that like before, Haiti will rise from its ashes. Over 40 years ago, my parents left this Pearl of the Antilles to start their young lives in [...]

Here’s Vanity Fair’s upcoming February cover. It’s not a different Tiger: it’s the real Tiger. The one that is buff, thirty-something, cocky, sexual and human. It takes guts to break an image that has been carved by others for over a decade. Guts usually pays off.

They left Paris for Montreal a few years ago. Since then, the Barlagnes have fully integrated the Maple Leaf while contributing to the work force, participating in the school system and being part of the country’s social fabric. Despite having followed all “Immigration Canada” rules and regulations, they are now asked to leave the country [...]

I thought the Tiger-chatter nonsense would be done by now. Much to my chagrin, it has instead taken lude proportions. I can’t defend Tiger but I certainly can’t condemn him either. I know of him but I don’t know him. Furthermore, I’ve certainly never considered him a role-model simply because he’s an outstanding athlete: that [...]

* Painting is by Heavyweight I was just reading journalist Mike Doherty’s article entitled “Too many Miles” inquiring “At what point does the constant paying of tribute turn into fixation? And furthermore, is there a danger that in looking back at the career of someone who was always looking forward, the jazz world is ignoring [...]

A new reality show in the Netherlands has been causing roars and indignation all over the World. The “Big Donor Show” will have contestants vying for a terminally ill woman’s liver. Yes it’s grotesque, unethical and disturbing but we asked for it.

On Friday, October 30th the King of New York graced Montreal with his presence, his repertoire and with his place in pop cultural history. After a 10-year absence, Jay-Z was finally back in a City where he is deeply loved, despite the obstacles. I could speak of the man’s excellence or of his accomplishments but [...]