Coca-Cola Goes Blak

Coca-Cola is introducing a new drink that mixes the flavor of coke with coffee. Although similar mixtures by other companies have failed in the past, Coke is banking on its new Blak product. I think we also have some black consumer marketing going on here too. Nothing wrong with that. Starbucks has 11,000 stores all over the world and Coke is a worldwide product too. And Starbucks recently financed a black movie: Akeelah and the Bee. Coke knows people like coca-cola and coffee, so why not combine them. Ever taste their Vanilla Coke? Interesting new taste for awhile. Don't know how much it sold, though it is still on the grocery store shelves. Right on Coke. Get your blak on.

Starbucks Finances Movie

Starbucks Entertainment has joined with Lionsgate and 2929 Productions to release the film "Akeelah and the Bee," a story about a girl succeeding against all odds to compete in the National Spelling Bee. Blacks often succeed 'against all odd' it seems. And of course blacks have to be two or three times better at this cliche. But we digress. Morpheus, uh, Lawrence Fishburn trains Neo, uh, an inner city black girl, to compete in the bee. Starbucks is to be commended for financing this movie.

Go see the film. It opens on April 28.

Inside Man

Inside Man is a very good film and Spike Lee's first $100 million movie. And for a film about a bank robbery in Manhattan that involves 50 hostages, no one gets killed (except in a fantasy sequence, a faked murder and in a kid's video game). In fact, the head bank robber bemoans the killing he sees in the kid's hand held video game. Imagaine an anti-killing bank robbery film. Google the film if you want standard reviews but we have two observations that probably will not be covered.

First is the digging in the bank to find a sewer line. Without giving away the film, suffice it to say that the line is needed for a specific purpose. I am just curious though about whether such a line would flood the room once breached. How much pressure is there in Manhattan sewer lines? And what about sewer gas? Wouldn't the antagonist be overcome by the methane?

Second, Hollywood bends over backwards to keep black men away from sexual situations with white women. The onscreen heat between Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster, above, almost melts the screen with them just talking. Yet this sexual dynamic is not explored because of studio sensitivities to negative reactions from white males and black females, which could translate into lower box office. Of course, contrary to such expectations, it could actually add to the box office. It would also reflect reality because such interactions are common, particulary in New York.

Green Clooney Featured In Vanity Fair

GEORGE CLOONEY, as a member of the new Hollywood environmental movement, will be featured in the first "Green Issue" of Vanity Fair. Clooney's efforts to raise environmental awareness and inspire activism are profiled, along with other limosine liberals, enviro elites, politicians, other left-wing prius-driving stars and ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. Clooney has also produced "Oil Change," a campaign to educate audiences and reduce our dependence on oil. Clooney also drives an all electric two-seater Tango. It has to be recharged each night.