We saw most of it live in Detroit — but Chris Rock is now at his best with Selective Outrage, a Netflix first — Friends spotted “an infrared glow” around Chris Rock after Will Smith slapped him at the Oscars. Rock spent a year crafting his careful response. Selective Outrage, the first live global event in Netflix history, describes Smith’s attack on Rock. …

What is beauty? The face of Madonna and the death of Raquel Welch makes us ask why we do what we do — The real power of beauty? You can’t say “no” to the truly beautiful. Beauty makes you stop, so we lost our breath when Raquel Welch died because she always got the gift that Madonna struggles with. Welch died at 82, universally considered to be as beautiful as ever. Madonna, at…

When one single line makes an entire song unforgettable, it lifts all music to a new level — One well-written line says everything. Certain key lines of songs are so moving that they make the rest unforgettable. A single line smashed into me the other day, turning my gym’s background music into a “wow, that’s great writing moment” as that line leaped out: “She is headed for the…

Lisa Marie Presley memorial: I live in the smiles, the moon, stars, and sky — and I feel eternal pride as I watch you all fly — Lisa Marie Presley “always knew she wouldn’t be here too long,” her mother Priscilla said at the singer/songwriter’s moving memorial service. It began in a fog — then the sun broke through, shining on a family whose legacy only seems to grow with time. Lisa Marie’s father, Elvis Presley, the…

The Mike Tyson Rule is back: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth — The Mike Tyson Rule is back, across our culture, from politics to people on the street: Everyone has a plan — until they get punched in the mouth. Who is your protector? Historically, a scandal, an indictment, or (in Richard Nixon’s case) the threat of impeachment was enough to make…

She dreamed her late sister was urging her to wake up — she got up to fight a fire — and save the family: God never drowns out our voices — How often do you know you need to do something now — without a sound, a silent certainty? “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5) Melissa’s birthday began in a deep silent sleep. Around 4 a.m., she heard the voice…

Free advice to Priscilla Presley: You can triple the audience, making more money by replicating the Top Gun and Father Stu strategies — Agent Elvis is beautiful — but it desperately needs editing. As it is now, many are hitting “stop” on a cartoon that’s too raunchy for families. The new Netflix TV series wants to be cutting-edge cool (and it’s hard to get cooler than Elvis Presley flying with a jetpack). …

Deuteronomy 31: You will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands — Why does God allow suffering? First, review Deuteronomy 31— and a new story. Researchers discovered the Founding Fathers cited Deuteronomy more than any other source. Similarly, Jesus quotes the Psalms and Deuteronomy more than any other part of the Old Testament. So its lessons stretch back more than 2,500 years…

Why we stand in line to meet TV legend William Shatner (he’s now 92) one last time — William Shatner is now 92 — so we stood in line to be with him — one last time. He’s not dying — except we’re all dying, and 92 is closer than most. The line of 1,610 people (sold out) stretched in every direction around a big city block holding…