CIARA SIGNS WITH WIHELMINA MODELING AGENCY: Singer also plotting clothing line.
*Fresh from print modeling stint for Jay-Z's Rocawear line, Ciara has signed a contract with modeling agency Wilhelmina in an effort to book even more print gigs, reports Billboard.biz.
Wilhelmina will focus on casting the artist in both clothing and fragrance campaigns, according to the singer.
"Modeling has always been one of my aspirations," says Ciara. "But I was insecure about my height. I thought I was 5'7" but I just found out that I'm 5'8" so I'm really excited about that."
Additionally, the singer is in talks with discount department store, Steve & Barry's, to create an affordable clothing line that incorporates her personal style.
"I have a couple of cool things that I'm working on," says Ciara.
"The coolest thing about Steve & Barry's is they cater to everyday people. I won't say that my line will be like theirs, I want to stay true to who I am, but most importantly it has to be affordable."
In the meantime, Ciara continues to work on her upcoming third album, "Fantasy Ride," set for release in September via Jive.
RUBEN STUDDARD GETS A MARRIAGE LICENSE: Velvet Teddy Bear and fiancée visit office in Birmingham.
*Ruben Studdard, 29, took a step closer to the altar Monday by obtaining a marriage license with his fiancée Surata Zuri McCants, 30.
The couple arrived at the Shelby County Probate Office in Studdard's native Birmingham, Ala. just before noon, according to People.com.
"They looked really happy," an eyewitness told the magazine.
There's no word on the wedding date, but Alabama law requires that couples tie the knot within 30 days of getting their license.
REACTION TO SHAQ'S KOBE RAP: Arizona sheriff wants O'Neal's badge back; Nas chooses sides; TNT's Kenny Smith questions 'freestyle' claim.
*Fallout from Shaquille O'Neal's infamous freestyle dis of Kobe Bryant has rippled all the way to Maricopa County, Ariz., where the Phoenix Suns star is a "special deputy" in the sheriff's department.
"I want his two badges back," Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio told the AP, "Because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they're fired. I don't condone this type of racial conduct."
Shaq made headlines after a clip of his freestyle rhyme at a New York club Sunday night – which was posted Monday at TMZ.com – ridiculed his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate-turned-rival Kobe Bryant.
In the freestyle, O'Neal teased Kobe and the Lakers' for failing to win a championship after he was traded from the team in 2004. He also blamed Kobe for ruining his marriage when he told cops in his rape case that he "should have done what Shaq does ... Shaq would pay his women not to say anything."
TMZ cornered Nas at Hollywood hotspot Beso Monday night and asked him to comment on Shaq's rhyme. The rapper's response was: "Shaq is my man, f*** Kobe." (View Nas' entire response here:
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1628142868)
TNT basketball analyst Kenny Smith was also hit up by TMZ Monday night and said he was skeptical about Shaq's rhyme being an actual "freestyle."
"I've gotta see if Shaq's freestyle is what it used to be," he said.
"I don't know if it's still tight. He might've wrote all that down." (View Kenny Smith's entire response here:
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1626239332)
DMX ARRESTED IN MIAMI FOR SUSPENDED LICENSE: Rapper in custody for the third time since May.
*Rapper DMX has been arrested yet again – this time in Miami for driving without a valid driver's license.
Police nabbed the 37-year-old on an arrest warrant at about 1:30 p.m. Monday and brought him to Turner Guilford Correctional Center where bail was set at $500.
This latest arrest is his third since early May, when he was taken into custody for driving 114 miles per hour on an Arizona freeway back in January. Three days later, he was charged with suspicion of drug possession and animal cruelty after his home in Arizona was raided by police.
JACOB 'THE JEWELER' ARABOV SENTENCED: NY businessman gets 2 ½ years for lying about a drug ring.
*Jacob Arabov, known in hip hop circles as Jacob "The Jeweler," was sentenced Tuesday to 2 ½ years in federal prison for lying to investigators who were working to stop a multistate drug ring.
The 42-year-old Russian immigrant was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and to make a $2 million forfeiture payment to the government, reports the Associated Press.
He pleaded guilty in October to falsifying records and giving false statements as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, who were seeking a minimum sentence for Arabov of three years and one month. However, U.S.
District Judge Avern Cohn decided to remove seven months from the prosecutors' recommendation, citing Arabov's extensive charity work.
"I feel ashamed that I broke the laws of this country, a country that has been so good for me," Arabov said. "I will carry this shame for the rest of my life."
In 2005, police arrested the "king of bling" in his Manhattan jewelry shop and accused him and others of conspiring to launder about $270 million in drug profits for the "Black Mafia Family," a Detroit-based crime ring that took root in the early 1990s. Prosecutors dropped the money laundering charges in the plea deal.
The seven-year investigation resulted in the indictments of Arabov and at least 41 other people, according to federal authorities. They say about 1,100 pounds of cocaine and $19 million in cash and other assets were seized beginning in 2000.
Arabov is due to begin his prison sentence on Jan. 15.
2008 BET AWARDS RECAP: The good, the alright, and the not so funny...
*As many of us know the BET awards have become the pinnacle of all the award shows, at least for us. As i sit here watching this year's installment, i think about how far we have come, but i also realize how much further we still have to go.
It's now about 4:46 pm and I'm sitting in the rows of the Shrine Auditorium, the event's venue, close to the door when they just announced who was taking the stage for the opening performance, none other than the brother, Usher.
DL Hughley is hosting the show, in case you don't already know, and he and the staff are now frantically trying to seat everyone before the opening number.
Usher finally begins the show with his tricked out rendition of 'Love in the Club' in quite fashionable style I must add, then is followed by DL's official show opening.
Hughley starts the show with a few jokes that seems to get crowd at least chuckling, then Jennifer Hudson arrives with Terrance Howard to present the first award for best male R&B and Chris Brown showed and proved.
Young Jeezy was next up, performing his latest single "Put On," a collabo with Kanye West which set crowd on fire!
Jeezy was followed by Keyshia Cole who did her thing, starting with her latest single "Heaven Sent" and finishing off with "Let it Go." Surprising the audience, Lil' Kim joined Keyshia for this club banger.
Then, my boy Neyo comes out and did the damn thing performing his latest single, "Closer." I can bet money that people will think Neyo's performance was better than Usher's...I did. Brotherman was even joined by Jabberwocky,last years' winners of MTV's America's Next Best Dance Crew, in a blazin' sequence toward the end of his performance. A hard act to follow; or so I thought.
The best performance ended up being Alicia keys! This girl was on fire, she must have thought about all the old jams from back in the 90s, cause she took it back bringing SWV, Envogue, and TLC out of retirement. I gotta give it to Alicia that was original.
T Pain comes through next and takes us to the circus, entertaining with Flo-rida, Rick Ross DJ Khalid, and Ludacris and puttin on one heck of a spectacle.
And speaking of spectables, Niecy Nash had the funniest joke of the night with a hilarious "adopt a white kid" campaign. "To all you ballers and shot callers, stop making it rain, and adopt a white kid, the the gift that keeps on giving," was the punchline as three little white kids flanked her.
And then there was the not-so-funny. Dl hughley messed up ever popular gospel artist Marvin Sapp's name by calling him Warren Sapp, with much confidence...but of course Mr. Sapp was very christian and forgave him after his heart wrenching performance of 'Never Should've Made It' and even took home the award for the best gospel album.
Moving along, next Chris Brown sang his ballot, 'With You,' which was not his usual high energy type of performance. A couple of minutes later, though, the queen of dance herself, Ciara, comes out and starts breakin it down while performing Chris Brown's single "Takin You Down'...another hot one! Matter of fact, this one was a three-alarmer! Ciara and Chris put it down with some baffling dance moves, as the camera panned by Rihanna a few uncomfortable times.
John Legend had the honor of introducing Al Green, the recipient of BET's Lifetime Achievement Award. Honored by none other than Jill Scott and her rendition of the classic "Still In Love with You," Anthony Hamilton and his rendition of "I'm so Tired " and finally, Maxwell, the long lost soul singer, performing "Simply Beautiful" which was just that, Beautiful! Then the legend himself blessed us with the soulful sounds of "Lets Stay Together" and "Love & Happiness " which the whole audience sang along with as I'm sure you at home did followed suite.
Rihanna followed that up by singing "Take A bow," her latest single, which was cool, I suppose. She sped it up and her instrumentals were tight, but the performance just didn't stand out to me. Granted she sounded good, but I guess I wasn't in the mood for bland ballad.
Nelly made it hot again, though, by getting it crunk with singles from his forthcoming album. Rumored Wifey, Ashanti, introduced her Beau, and Fergie popped up with her contribution to the St. Louis native's set. Muy caliente!
Getting the second top honor out of the way, none other than Deborah Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET introduced the Humanitarian award and Queen Latifah presented the living legend Quincy Jones with the honor. Quincy's career has been quite the phenomenon!
Alicia Keys was the recipient of the best female artist award, and during her acceptance speech, she said something profound, "erase the word 'can't!'" something that needed to be said especially in this day in age. If we keeping thinking that we can't, then we WON'T. We got it Keys...and kudos for always trying to mentally stimulate.
The lyrically talented Lil Wayne, who won the viewers choice award, closed the night out with a three song combo and bolted through the crowd like a bolt of lightning.
Overall this award show was given a strong B+. Performances were great, with best performance being given to Alicia because she was so original. I also liked the plug in getting people to vote and the overall support of Obama. DL...the jury is still out on his showing, with the decision leaning toward 'not so funny.' I also wish more top-tier entertainers would have shown up but that's the case with every BET awards...I even hear Mary and Mariah canceled at the very last hour. Some people show...show people don't, but the people that were there were enjoying themselves, and I guess that's all that matters in the end.
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Check here for the full list of winners.
OPRAH FINISHES HER 21-DAY CLEANSE: Talk show host gave up caffeine, sugar, alcohol, gluten and animal products.
*Oprah Winfrey has made it through a 21-day cleanse that she was inspired to undertake after interviewing author Kathy Freston about her book, Quantum Wellness.
Three weeks ago, the talk show host said she wanted to "jump-start an inner makeover," by following Freston's suggestion of giving up caffeine, sugar, alcohol, gluten or animal products for 21 days.
Winfrey kept a blog about her experience on the cleanse. She admitted to nearly giving in at one point, saying: "I want some wine. Bordeaux 82. Just one glass at sunset, almost broke down and had a glass. I didn't."
On the cleanse's final day, she ate a large baked potato and fresh green salad. "All ingredients except the olive oil came from my garden," noted Winfrey. "I got a real kick out of that. I was raised by a grandmother who grew and harvested everything."
In the end, the TV titan accomplished what she set out to do. "This has been exactly what we intended: enlightening," wrote Winfrey. "I will forever be a more cautious and conscious eater. That's my commitment for now. To stay awakened."
CARMELO ANTHONY PLEADS GUILTY TO DWI: Denver Nugget sentenced to probation and community service.
*Carmelo Anthony entered a guilty plea Tuesday to driving while ability-impaired, a charge that was reduced from his original count of driving while under the influence.
The 24-year-old Denver Nuggets forward was sentenced to a year of probation, 24 hours of community service and $1,000 in fines and court costs, according to reports. He also pleaded guilty in the Denver court to failure to stay in a single lane.
"I'm happy that it's over so I get a chance to take care of my business," said Anthony, according to People.com.
The NBA player was suspended for two Nuggets games because of the arrest. Also on Tuesday, Denver police announced that he'll participate in their "Alive at 25" program, aimed at encouraging good driving habits among teens behind the wheel.
The two-time league All-Star was arrested on April 14, after cops noticed him on Interstate 25 weaving and failing to dim his lights. He was unable to pass a series of sobriety tests.
At court, Anthony was accompanied by his fiancée, MTV veejay LaLa Vazquez, with whom he has a 1-year-old son.
MIJAC TO DESIGN CLOTHING LINE: Singer teams with Christian Audigier to launch pieces this fall.
*Michael Jackson is reportedly in the planning stages of creating a new clothing line with his friend, Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier, that is expected to launch sometime in the fall, reports People.com.
“It’s the merging of the King of Pop with the king of fashion. Something explosive is going to happen,” said Audigier.
The project is currently in the planning stages, but Los Angeles boutique Kitson has already committed to carrying the line – without having seen any of the pieces.
“Michael Jackson is an international pop icon who has had a huge following throughout his career," said Kitson owner Fraser Ross. "I think people will think it’s hip to wear his line. Through all his ups and downs people still love him. He still has a huge fan base.”
BEYONCE THROWS B'DAY PARTY FOR SIS SOLANGE: Guests included Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Mario and Michelle Williams.
*Solange celebrated her 22nd birthday at a huge bash thrown by her big sister Beyonce Monday night at a mansion in Hollywood Hills.
Samantha Ronson worked the turntables – with best friend and rumored lover Lindsay Lohan by her side for most of the evening – and spun such tunes as Prince's "Kiss" and Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved."
Solange got on the mic and summoned guests to the dance floor, among them Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Mario and Michelle Williams, reports People.com. At the birthday girl's request, Ronson began playing a string of songs from Beyonce and husband Jay-Z, including "Big Pimpin'" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder."
When Beyoncé's "Get Me Bodied" played, guests circled around the Knowles sisters as they did the various dance moves from the song's video, People notes.
Most guests arrived after 11 p.m. and snacked on barbecue chicken, cornbread, greens and mac and cheese (served buffet-style). Rock band Chester French took the stage playing an instrumental version of "What About Dre," and finished their set with a rocked out version of "Happy Birthday."
Cupcakes with large white candles were passed through the crowd as everyone sang to Solange, who blew out the candles and banged on her tambourine.
BET PREPS FOR 'HIP HOP VS. AMERICA II': Special focuses on misogyny within the hip-hop culture, battle of the sexes.
*BET News presents the second installment of its town hall series, Hip Hop Vs. America II: Where Did the Love Go?," a discussion focusing on music videos, misogyny within the hip-hop culture, race vs. gender, the strained relationships between black men and women, and the media's role in shaping the perception of African Americans.
The three-part special, beginning tonight at 8 p.m., is hosted by BET News correspondent Jeff Johnson and rapper MC Lyte.
"It's really about African Americans having discussions that traditionally we don't have on television," Johnson told EUR's Lee Bailey. "It's a broad range of discussion that we hope is going to be a catalyst to move beyond the small screen and into the local communities."
Panelists for "Hip Hop Vs. America II" include "Flavor of Love 2" winner Deelishis London Charles, David Banner, Talib Kweli, Lyfe Jennings (R&B recording artist); Lola Ogunaike (journalist); Allison Samuels (Newsweek magazine); Nelson George (author/director/producer); Kevin Powell (writer/cultural critic); Michael Eric Dyson (author/professor, Georgetown University); Ali LeRoi (producer/writer/director); M1 Dead Prez (hip hop artist/activist); and San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris.
Part I premieres Wednesday, June 25 at 8 p.m., with the second hour airing on Thursday, June 26 at 8 p.m. The third episode with additional exclusive footage will be available on BET on Blast, the network's broadband channel (http://www.bet.com/OnBlast/), immediately following Part II's airing.
Here are some excerpts from the program:
Deelishis: " ... if you watch The Bachelor and you check them out, they're not only still married, they are expecting a child, and they're respected as having a serious relationship. However, when we did it, and I found my mate in that household, it was looked at as though it was 'toony'
or it was a joke ... "
David Banner: "I will say this to all the women: If you want to change what's going on - pick better mates. In most cases, with these men, you know what type of men they are when you lay down with them. You have to make a decision for yourself to pick a better mate. If you want to change this society, close your legs."
Talib Kweli: "An artist's job is to voice the struggle to inspire a generation of leaders. It is wrong to put the job of raising children on the artist when it comes in the home first."
Kim Osorio, author: "We need to see more female video directors, we need to see more female executives and we need to just diversify really what we're looking at. It's just one type of man that seems to be running the business of hip hop."
FLOYD MAYWEATHER HOSTS JULY 4TH EVENT: Retired boxer reigns over 3-day event in Michigan hometown
*Freshly retired from boxing, Floyd Mayweather is hosting a three-day event during the July 4th weekend to celebrate his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Named “Round 13, When the Gloves Come Off,” the festivities (July 4th-6th) will celebrate Mayweather’s 13 year career and the city that jump-started his rise to fame.
"I want to personally thank all of my fans for their loyalty and dedication as my career comes to a close," Mayweather said in a statement. “I always keep in mind where I came from which is why I decided to have my retirement party in Grand Rapids.”
Scheduled events include a downtown festival, strongman competition, a 70’s themed roller skating party and a Mayweather produced film showing behind the scenes boxing footage.
Keyshia Cole, Lil Jon, Monica, Vivica Fox, Lauren London, Jackie Long, Regina King, and Taraji P Henson are among the talent scheduled to appear throughout the weekend.
RUBY DEE ADDED TO FILM ACADEMY: Stage and screen vet among 105 movie biz folks asked to join.
*Ruby Dee, an Oscar nominee for her role in last year's "American Gangster," has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group responsible for selecting nominees for the annual Academy Awards.
The veteran actress was among 105 actors, filmmakers, executives and others in the film industry asked to join the exclusive club.
Also making the list was Sasha Baron Cohen, a screenwriting nominee for "Borat"; Jason Reitman, best-director nominee for "Juno"; and that film's writer, Diablo Cody, who took home the Oscar for original-screenplay.
Next for Dee, 84, is the Spike Lee-produced "The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll," about a rock star who retreats to his hometown after his sophomore album flops. Dee will play a bartender.
WINEHOUSE IN, BASSEY OUT OF MANDELA CONCERT: London gears up for big bash to be held Friday in Hyde Park.
*Shirley Bassey, best known for her James Bond movie theme songs "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds Are Forever," had to cancel her scheduled performance at Friday's London birthday concert for former South African President Nelson Mandela.
The Welsh-born singer underwent emergency surgery on her stomach last month and was advised by doctors not to travel to London from her home in Monaco, reports Reuters.
Meanwhile, Amy Winehouse checked out of her London hospital for several hours Monday to rehearse for her scheduled performance at the concert celebrating Mandela's 90th birthday.
The 24-year-old Grammy winner had been hospitalized since June 17 after fainting at her home. Her father told reporters that she's suffering from emphysema. But her rep, Chris Goodman, says Winehouse has "scarring of the lungs which could lead to emphysema. If she keeps doing the wrong things, then it could lead to it. If she does the right things, it won't."
Winehouse was photographed smoking a cigarette upon her release from the hospital Monday.
Mandela arrived in London earlier this week in advance of the event in Hyde Park, which is also expected to feature acts Queen, Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and Razorlight.
TIMBALAND IS ASCAP'S SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Newlywed nabs top prize; Thicke, Fabolous, Mims also among winners. New Edition honored.
*Timbaland, who recently married his longtime girlfriend Monique Idlett, took home top honors at ASCAP's 21st annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, held Monday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
The Songwriter/producer/artist was named songwriter of the year at the annual ceremony saluting top songwriters and publishers behind the most popular music of 2007. His material last year included "Ice Box" by Omarion, "Make Me Better" by Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo and two Justin Timberlake songs, "My Love" (featuring T.I.) and "Until the End of Time" (featuring Beyoncé).
Other big honorees were publisher of the year (EMI Music Publishing); R&B/hip-hop song of the year (Robin Thicke's "Lost Without U"); rap song of the year ("Make Me Better" by Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo); ringtone of the year (Mims' "This Is Why I'm Hot") and gospel song of the year (the Clark Sisters' "Blessed & Highly Favored").
New Edition members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill were in the building to receive ASCAP's Golden Note Award by writer/producer Maurice Starr and ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento. Veteran entertainment reporter Tanya Hart, who was the first to showcase New Edition on her WBZ-TV program in Boston, was also on hand for the special tribute.
Rounding out the evening, hosted by songwriter Johnta Austin, were performances by a diverse lineup that included Shawty Lo, The Dream, J. Holiday, Raheem DeVaughn, Floetry founding member Marsha Ambrosius and Flo-Rida.
MICHAEL STRAHAN NABS POST-NFL GIG AT FOX: Plus, former Giant gears up for annual charity golf tournament.
*When the NFL returns this fall, freshly-retired New York Giants star Michael Strahan will be sitting among Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson as an analyst on "Fox NFL Sunday."
Fox signed the former defensive end for $2 million after a fierce bidding war with CBS. NBC and ESPN were also said to have talked with Strahan as well, reports the New York Post.
Meanwhile, Strahan is also scheduled to host a charity golf tournament in New York this weekend (June 29-30) along with law firm Dreier LLP.
This year's event, which benefits the charities Children's Rights and Keep A Child Alive, features a private concert by an 11-time Grammy Award-winning singer and an auction of sports memorabilia by Strahan on Sunday, June 29, followed by a celebrity golf tournament on Monday, June 30 featuring current and former professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey stars.
Celebrity golfers include Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Deacon Jones, Julius Erving, Alonzo Mourning, Marshall Faulk, Ahmad Rashad, Ozzie Smith and Darryl Strawberry, among other celebrities and athletes. Expected celebrity guests at TAO include Justin Tuck, Nicole Murphy, Spike Lee, Charles Oakley and Angie Harmon.
Last year, the tournament raised more than $300,000 for children's charities.
MIKE TYSON ESCAPED GANG HITMAN: News revealed during testimony in racketeering trial of crime ring associate.
*Mike Tyson was at one time the target of a murder plot by members of the notorious gang Cash Money Brothers, it was revealed Monday at the racketeering trial of CMB associate Abubakr Raheem.
According to the New York Daily News, CMB leader Damion "World" Hardy put a hit out on the former heavyweight champ in 2000 after learning that he placed a $50,000 bounty on their heads for the murder of his assistant.
Shelby Henderson, an associate of the crack-dealing crew, recalled Monday the discussion about whacking Tyson at a party hosted by Hardy's mother. She was celebrating the murder of a man who killed another son of hers in drug wars at Lafayette Gardens in Bed-Stuy.
"I was sitting in the living room, they were discussing Mike Tyson had to be murdered and I flipped out and I said that's outrageous," Henderson said in Brooklyn Federal Court at Raheem's trial.
Tyson was nearly taken out in the summer of 2000, about two months after the boxer had dedicated his 38-second TKO of Lou Savarese to slain bodyguard Darryl Baum. Tyson's Range Rover was spotted by chance near the men's shelter on Atlantic Ave. by Henderson, Raheem and CMB members Edward
(Taz) Cooke and Abdul (Desperado) Aziz.
"It was believed it was Mike Tyson in there and Taz was trying to get Aziz to murder him," Henderson said under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Haran. "Me and Abubakr Raheem and Abdul Aziz objected to that and it was squashed right there . . . because Mike Tyson was a Muslim," he said.
SHERYL LEE RALPH WANTS COUPLES TESTED FOR HIV: Actress and husband to launch new campaign Friday in Philly.
*Actress/activist Sheryl Lee Ralph and her husband, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes, will mark National HIV/AIDS Testing Day Friday (June 27) by announcing the launch of their "Get Tested Together" campaign.
The couple will appear in Philadelphia's Love Park at 16th and JFK Blvd. at 11 a.m. to host couples who have agreed to join the effort.
“Get Tested Together” is an ongoing public awareness effort which will be implemented through billboards, radio, TV and print material advertisements and articles.
“HIV/AIDS remains a constant and growing health threat around the world, and especially in American cities,” says Ralph. "It is an equal opportunity disease and we are all at risk. We are encouraging everyone to join us as we take a new approach to this growing epidemic.”
Of the more than 1 million people living with HIV in the United States of America today, nearly half are black. One in 50 African American males and one in 160 African American females is infected with the virus.
And yet, as a racial group, African Americans represent just 12% of the U.S.
population.
Couples as well as individuals can also go to the Web site, www.testtogether.org, and indicate their interest in joining this effort.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Hip Hop Honors; Miss Universe taps Mel B; Corey Feldman clears MiJac; Randy Jackson's b'day gift; Donna Summer's 'Stamp.'
*VH1 has set aside Oct. 2 for its 2008 "VHI Hip Hop Honors" program. Now in its fifth year, the annual event will again pay tribute to the hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and propelled the genre into a global phenomenon. The show will tape at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday, Oct. 2 and premiere on VH1 Tuesday, Oct. 7. Honorees, to be named later this summer, will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today's hottest talent.
*Spice Girls star Melanie Brown will co-host this year’s Miss Universe Pageant with Jerry Springer, according to People magazine. “I’m thrilled to be a co-host of the Miss Universe pageant,” says Brown in a statement. “I believe the diversity and dedication that the pageant brings inspires and empowers young women across the globe.” The pageant will air live from Vietnam on July 13 from 9-11 p.m. EST on NBC. In the meantime, her TLC music game show, "The Singing Office," which she co-hosts with Joey Fatone, debuts this week.
*In a recent interview with GQ's Mikey Rapkin, actor Corey Feldman says he was sexually abused as a child, but denies that it was his one-time homie Michael Jackson. "People can say whatever they want, but it wasn't Michael," said Feldman, who was a young teen when he hung out with the King of Pop. "He and I have our own issues, but that wasn't one of them. The guy that did this to me was my assistant. I was still a virgin at the time. I hadn't even had sex with a girl. So for me it was just kind of bewildering."
*People magazine is reporting that "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson was puzzled by a birthday gift given to him by fellow "AI" judge Simon Cowell. The present was "A barbaric-looking sword," says Jackson, who celebrated his 52nd birthday in Las Vegas over the weekend. "I don't know what part of me he wants to cut off, but that's a whole 'nother thing."
*Donna Summer's new single "Stamp Your Feet" has risen to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts. It's her 14th No. 1 single to top the club charts and her 20th No. 1 across all charts. Several weeks ago, Summer's first single "I'm A Fire" from her new CD "Crayons" topped the Billboard Hot Dance Chart – marking her first No. 1 hit in almost 10 years.
The disco diva launches the "Stamp Your Feet Summer Tour" on July 5th in Vienna, VA at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap.
SPORTS BITS: Rodman sentenced to probation; Paul Pierce signs collectibles deal; suspect in Javon Walker case arrested.
*Dennis Rodman pleaded "no contest" to spousal battery yesterday in Los Angeles. The former NBA star was sentenced to 36 months of probation, 45 days of roadside graffiti removal, one year of domestic violence counseling, and six months of drug and alcohol treatment, reports TMZ.com. The former Los Angeles Laker was arrested in April after a night of drinking culminated in the alleged assault. He was warned by the judge: "If I hear or see in the news that you have committed any more crimes -- you will go to jail."
*Paul Pierce, the Boston Celtics star forward who was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA, has signed an exclusive collectibles and autograph deal with Steiner Sports (www.steinersports.com). The line of Pierce collectibles includes signed photographs from the NBA Finals games, including pictures with the MVP trophy; autographed No. 34 Celtics jerseys; signed NBA basketballs, as well as items signed with the "NBA Finals MVP"
inscription.
*An arrest has been made in connection with last Monday's early morning attack of NFL star Javon Walker. Las Vegas police say Arfat Fadel will be charged with robbery and assault, according to TMZ.com. Walker had initially said three men stormed into his room at the Bellagio hotel, knocked him out and dragged him out of the hotel before robbing him and leaving him on a Vegas street. Police now say Walker willingly got into Fadel's car, and surveillance video reportedly shows Walker walking out of the hotel "in good health."
FIRST BLACK LAW STUDENT GETS POSTHUMOUS DEGREE: University of Arkansas honors Silas Hunt 60 years after historic enrollment.
*Sixty years after enrolling in law school and stepping into history, Silas Hunt has finally received his degree, reports the Associated Press.
A native of Idabel, Hunt was the first African American to study law at a public university in the South. He died of tuberculosis after earning his degree, but now the University of Arkansas has bestowed a posthumous degree in his name.
Law school Dean Cynthia Nance said the college wanted to honor Hunt as the 60th anniversary of his enrollment came this year.
Hunt was born March 1, 1922, to Josie Gulley Moton and R.D. Hunt of Red Bluff. The Hunt family moved to Texarkana in 1936 from Idabel, Oklahoma. Hunt attended the Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal College at Pine Bluff, which later became the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
After a stint in the U.S. Army, he returned and finished his degree.
He enrolled in the University of Arkansas law school in 1948, but died a year later before he finished his law degree.
EUR FILM REVIEW: Brick Lane
Arranged Marriage at Center of Cross-Cultural Drama Set in London
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Homely Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee) grew up in Bangladesh experiencing nothing but contentment in her village until the day her parents arranged for her to marry Chanu Ahmed (Satish Kaushik), a man older enough to be her father.
But worse than their age difference was the fact that her Bengali hubby-to-be lived in London, and planned to force his young bride to move there and to adapt to a culture with which she was totally unfamiliar.
Even though she'd miss her family, especially her sister and confidante, Hasina (Zafreen), Nazneen complies out of a sense of religious duty.
Afterall, she was raised in a strict Muslim environment where women were taught not to question. But despite having the best of intentions to adapt to England and her domineering husband, after wasting 16 years in a loveless marriage she finally gets fed up with being trapped in an East End flat with an insufferable fatso.
By then, she has a couple of equally-discontented daughters (Naeema Begum and Lana Rahman) who infuriate their dad by adopting Western ways like surfing the internet. Their complaints ("I didn't ask to be born here!") fall on his deaf ears, and don't prevent their sexually-frustrated mom from entertaining the overtures of Karim (Christopher Simpson), a strapping, young hunk who happens to be a religious fanatic with an urgent political agenda.
So unfolds Brick Lane, a cross-cultural cautionary tale, set in the Eighties, which warns of the pitfalls of settling for a soul-strangling relationship. Based on the Monica Ali best seller of the same name, the movie is likely to resonate best with closet feminists inclined to question the constraints of orthodox Islam.
A fascinating character study offering insight into a pressing issue, but unfortunately also the sort of empowerment flick that could get a fatwa issued against Sarah Gavron, the intrepid director daring enough to make the picture.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity and sexuality.
Running time: 101 minutes
Studi Sony Pictures Classics
To see a trailer for the film, visit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=f8PKMvlUUzQ
Or: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ApKTtTyp_k8
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