Last week, I was interviewed by a newspaper about last week’s article in the New York Observer about the sudden rise in popularity of celebrities like Jack Black and Vince Vaughn. Both actors, it seems, are leading a new generation of White boy comedians whose frat boy movies are yielding major box office dollars.

More important, they, along with golfer Phil Mickelson, are also bringing “man flab” back into style. For those that don’t know what “man flab” is, Sara Vilkomerson explains:

“Man flab must also be distinguished from ‘fat.’ If you imagine a man-flab man with his shirt off, what comes to mind is a sort of doughy mattress, soft but not squishy, and no beer gut. It feels good, not distressing, to get a man-flab hug.”

While many attribute the resurgence of man flab to talents of Black and Vaughn, the leading comedic actors of this generation, I’m wondering if it also has to do with a metrosexual backlash. Have Americans finally tired of the weight conscious, finely manicured, immaculately dressed, narcissistic character that has been the poster boy for 21st century American life? Are A-listers like Jack Black, Vince Vaugn, and even Phil Mickelson signposts of a new era where big waists and “man boobs” are what society accepts and adores?

Unfortunately, such a luxury will never be available to women, whose real-life and cinematic bodies must consistently reflect the unrealistic demands of a world ruled by the same frat boys who have forced us to love their surplus pondage.

Today is National HIV Testing Day. The day was created 11 years ago to respond to the growing infection rates in the United States.

If you might be at risk for infection, go get tested!!!!!!!!!!!!

India Arie’s new album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life and Relationships, hits stores today. The reviews have been decent but, more importantly, the songs that have been released on her site are pure joy. I’m picking it up today and will provide a review later in the week.

Last Friday Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced that the government had successfully identified, infiltrated and brought down a “homegrown terrorist cell” with Al-Qaeda ties that had designs on blowing up the Sears Tower in Chicago.

After closer investigation, however, this appears to be more about government scare tactics and public relations for the Bush Administration than real anti-terrorist work.

First, the seven Black men who were arrested in Miami for terrorism were poor, disorganized, and altogether unprepared for terrorist activity. The group had no clear plans, no weapons, and little money. In fact, the groups didn’t have boots or uniforms until the federal informant obtained them for the group.

In addition to their lack of finances, the Miami crew seemed fairly unsophisticated in terms of their strategy. Unlike most terrorists who attempt to blend into the community, this group seemed to do everything they could to stand out. They sold Black hair products on the street, wore a variety of colorful and African-centered outfits, and practiced martial arts in public.

Although it is possible that more damning information will be released, this sounds like an overzealous government picking on some crazy but relatively harmless Black people.

Yes, they attempted to connect to Al-Qaeda, a group that is far from harmless. But the current evidence suggests that the group had no access to the Bin Laden’s organization until the federal informant joined the group and pretended to have a contact. Also, it appears that the idea of blowing up the Sears Tower also came from the government snitch. In fact, the group didn’t seem like much of a threat until the feds joined the group and organized it. Before then, this was more like a bunch of guys on the corner talking trash than an insurgent movement. Even the government described the group as “more aspirational than operational.”

The question is, “How realistic were their aspirations?” Based on the evidence, not very.

On the contrary, it looks as if the government has wasted precious time and resources trying to convince us that the “war on terror” is so efficient that even the most inept of terrorists will be caught. Unfortunately, while Bush and company try to convince us that we’ll go to jail for even thinking about terrorism, real terrorists continue to thrive.

And laugh.

The cousin of the accuser in the Duke University lacrosse rape case says that alums of Duke offered her a staggering $2 million “to drop the charges, and go on with her life.” On June 19, the woman, whose first name is Jakki, told The Carolinian and Wilmington Journal that the allleged victim “told me they wanted her to make the case go away.”

More important, Jakki insists that her cousin refused to accept money in exchange for silence due to her commitment to justice.

Although the University denies these rumor, other sources have confirmed to The Carolinian and Wilmington Journal newspapers that early on, several Black leaders were approached by persons concerned about outcome of the controversy and offered money to the leaders, the victim, and NCCU if they could convince her to recant her claims.

According to these sources, the victim and the leaders refused the money. In fact, the woman has refused money from NCCU student organizations, charities, and even Jesse Jackson, who publicly offered to pay her college tuition. Despite her dire financial circumstances –she has not worked since the incident and is relying on her thin savings to support herself and family– she does not want to fuel perceptions that she is motivated by money.

At a moment when the national media has done a stunning aboutface and begun to crucify the victim for her alleged oppportunism, it will be interesting to see how this information is received.