Joan Steffend offers thoughts on Haiti and Pat Robertson

In the aftermath of the earthquake that ravaged Haiti, economic support is all that two of Wyclef Jean's Minnesota friends can offer right now.

"Just contributing money at this point," said Joan Steffend. "My husband [Joe Brandmeier] was calling, trying to get ahold of Wyclef to see if he could come down there and offer his services to document what is going on."

Steffend and Brandmeier, CEO and founder of Moving Pictures, became close friends of the Haitian musician and humanitarian while shooting an inspirational documentary, "One Voice," with Jean in 1999. "Joe hasn't been able to get through to Wyclef yet," said Steffend, a former HGTV show host.

Steffend is as deeply disturbed as the Twitter world is about Pat Robertson's disturbing take on this new suffering in Haiti. Robertson, who has an incredible track record for calling attention to himself by making unkind comments about people who already live difficult lives, said Haiti was cursed because it made a pact with the devil. "He represents God for so many people," she said.

"He's an ist," Steffend said. "I think he's willing to go to the [head of the] line on every topic as an ist [with this attitude:] Let's just divide people. Let's not go into a situation like this and find a way to heal and come together. Let's separate and destroy. What fun! The world's best ist."

An author now Joan Steffend is thrilled about her book scheduled to come out in September.

"It's a gift book," she said. "It's a metaphysical story that Tristan Publishing is going to come out with. This is one thing I am really, really excited about. Five years ago, I was on a plane from Puerto Rico, and it was one of those moments where nothing made sense and I couldn't figure out where I was going or why I was where I was."

A title has not been determined.

Pass the Purell Twin Cities media personality Melinda Jacobs bumped into Donald Trump, and that was just the start of the holiday faux pas.

Jacobs' family was in Palm Beach, Fla., over the holidays, looking and not buying, she stressed. "I was leaving a store and almost hit him smack in the face," said Jacobs, whose husband "Howard and the kids were watching the whole thing; they saw [Trump] walking down the street. He was by himself. Being the shy person I am, I said, 'Hi, I'm Melinda Jacobs,' and he said, Hey, how are you? How's your dad doing?" Her dad is flamboyant millionaire businessman Irwin Jacobs. "I said, 'He's doing well. I'm still a fan of the "Celebrity Apprentice" show and let me shake your hand.' I forgot he doesn't like to shake hands. He did put his hand out. Little did he know I was just recovering from H1N1."

See, that's why squeezing a bottle of Purell instead of hands is NOT unreasonable!

Jacobs insisted, "I wasn't buying anything because of the economy. I was just browsing." Only problem with this is that she and Howard can afford to help the economy by spending. "I understand, but the prices on Worth Avenue are very expensive. I don't pay retail for anything," she said.

Keeping straight Too bad Jet magazine didn't ask Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards what big event he wanted to celebrate in 2010.

"For Christmas I want a trip to St. Thomas' Ritz to see one of the beautiful islands of the Earth. Relaxing in the sun when it's snowing where I'm from (Ohio and Minnesota)," he said. "Check it off my bucket list of things to do."

Shouldn't the only thing on his immediate bucket list be a Super Bowl?

The magazine also asked this question of Aretha Franklin, Niecy Nash, Frankie Beverly and Tom Joyner, and no one was dreaming of a Super Bowl for Christmas. But then, they don't play pro football.