I’ve just finished listening to Lewis Black’s most recent comedy album, Stark Raving Black. I have to say, it’s my favorite since Rules of Enragement. It of course features the traditional ranting of Lewis, but I think the recent political climate really lends itself to his type of skewering.

Being a Nashville native, I’m used to seeing country stars around town. His description of his encounter with Vince Gill and Amy Grant is priceless. He also mentions “his generation’s” many foibles. While every generation has such shortcomings, only a member of that generation can properly roast it. I think my favorite part of his comedy is the fact that he says out loud what many of us are thinking. In a sense, politicians are fucked, and we’re sick of it.

I would also recommend you check out the documentary he filmed during this time, Basic Black: The Lewis Black Story. It really is more documentary than stand up comedy, and it shows the very human side of Lewis. I recommend this new album, as well as the documentary, to any Lewis Black fan.

There is always a lot going on in the world. However, this decade has seemed particularly eventful. During times like these, public figures that are really annoying pop up every other day. Here is the top 5 that annoy me the most as of today.

1. Joe “You Lie” Wilson – This is the halfwit from South Carolina that thought he’d tell Obama what he thought about healthcare reform…in the middle of a nationally televised speech. The only problem is that he ended up further alienating the GOP. People like him never seem to understand that you can’t win people over by being a jerk.
2. Sarah Palin – Not since Paris Hilton has someone who’s done less, become more accidentally famous. She single-handedly derailed John McCain’s presidential campaign. While I was in the voting booth, it came down to the two VP candidates to help me decide where to place my vote. If Obama or McCain were to die, who would I want running the country? My vote then became quite clear.
3. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – This tyrant is going to end up serving indefinitely as Iran’s president, mark my words. He and his “Revolutionary Guards” are going to end up making a figure head out of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran’s population will then be worse off (if that’s possible).
4. Michael Moore – It’s not that I am completely in disagreement with some of his views. It’s just that his tactics laugh in the face of journalistic integrity. When you lie and falsify evidence in your documentaries, you become the same self-righteous fool you’re supposedly against.
5. Henry McMaster – Sorry South Carolina, but you all need to clean house. This guy thought he’d sue Craigslist over the adult sections of their website. The only problem is, shield laws keep Craigslist from any liability in the matter. Once Craigslist sued him to keep from being prosecuted, he dropped the charges and declared victory. I have no words.

I look forward to your comments.

I watched the 2006 Amy Berg documentary, Deliver Us From Evil, last night. To say it was harrowing and heart-breaking would be an understatement. It is the story of Father Oliver O’Grady and the abuse he perpetrated on dozens of children in California.

It is also the story of the cover-up by the Roman Catholic Church. The cover-up enabled Roger Mahoney to continue his ascent up the church’s hierarchical ladder. He is now the Cardinal of Los Angeles. The film features powerful interviews with the victims and their families. I highly recommend it.

I just finished watching Marshall Curry’s 2005 Oscar-nominated documentary, Street Fight. It documents the 2002 Newark, NJ mayoral election between incumbent Sharpe James and challenger Cory Booker.

You are immediately taken in by the video footage of the police force escorting Mr. Booker out of an apartment building because he had the chutzpah to campaign there. Mr. James and his people violate numerous civil rights, including that of the documentarian. Most troubling was the support James received from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

You will not regret watching this gripping documentary.