GUN RECOVERED IN HUDSON CASE: Police discover weapon near where singer's nephew was found shot to death.
*A gun was recovered by Chicago police during a search for evidence in the murders of Jennifer Hudson's nephew, mother and brother.
Cops found the weapon Wednesday afternoon in thick weeds in a vacant lot near where Hudson's nephew, 7-year-old Julian King, was found shot to death inside a SUV on the West Side.
It was not immediately known whether the gun was used in the killings of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. Police Deputy Chief Nick Roti said the firearm would be sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab to be tested.
Police, yesterday, sent about 100 personnel to the area near 13th Street and Kolin Avenue to search for evidence. The handgun was found around 1:30 p.m. about a block from where the vehicle was parked along the street.
All three victims were shot to death. King, was shot twice in the head with a .45-caliber weapon, the same caliber used in the murders of his uncle and grandmother, authorities said.
Meanwhile, law-enforcement sources told the Chicago Tribune that more than one person might have been involved in the killings.
Investigators are trying to determine whether another individual drove "person of interest," William Balfour, to the West Side of Chicago after the killings at the Hudsons' South Side home. Balfour remains jailed on unrelated charges as police search for clues.
DRUG RAID AT HUDSON HOME IN 2002: TMZ says 'court documents show how lives of people in the murder tragedy have intersected.'
*TMZ has obtained arrest reports and other documents in connection with a March 4, 2002 sting operation in which Chicago police targeted Jason Hudson, Jennifer's murdered brother, and Gregory King, the father of Jennifer's murdered 7-year-old nephew Julian.
The Web site reported Wednesday:
Both men allegedly sold crack cocaine to a registered informant. Cops then raided the very home where Jason was murdered last week. According to documents, Jason, Gregory and Julia (Jennifer's sister) were all arrested.
Julia was never charged with a crime. Jason was charged with cocaine trafficking, but the main count was dismissed in 2004 because the judge ruled police conducted an illegal search. During that hearing, Jennifer's mom had to choose whether to go to Hollywood to watch her daughter on "American Idol" or be in court...she chose the latter.
Gregory was convicted. Jason agreed to enroll in a drug abuse program and the less serious remaining charge was dismissed.
Cops say Jason and Gregory were affiliated with the gang, Gangster Disciples. That's the same gang that William Balfour, the "person of interest" was in. The lawyer who repped Jason told TMZ cops often jumped to conclusions and assumed people in that neighborhood were gang members.
T.I. VOTES DESPITE CONVICTED FELON STATUS: Rapper hit up Atlanta polling center after re-examining Georgia law.
*T.I. thought his voting privileges were revoked because he's a convicted felon, but under Georgia Law, felons are still eligible if they're not currently serving probation or a prison sentence.
"Until he is sentenced in the federal case, he doesn't have a conviction yet," said lawyer, Steve Sadow of his 28-year-old client, whose real name is Clifford Harris. "Even though he is a convicted felon, he has a right to vote since he is not serving probation and hasn't started his prison sentence."
Because his jail term doesn't begin until late March, the rapper immediately got himself to an early polling station in Atlanta yesterday to cast his ballot for the next President of the United States.
"It's a relief," the rap star told the Associated Press Wednesday before voting for the first time in his life. "This what it is all about, not staying up late and waking up early to vote. Now rather than just talking about it, I'm being about it. I'm leading by example, and it makes me feel a lot better."
After standing in line for less than 10 minutes, T.I. emerged with an "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker planted on his black vest. He signed autographs and took photos with several fans who were stunned to see the Grammy-winning artist at the polls.
A spokesman for the Georgia Secretary of State's office confirmed that T.I. was eligible to vote.
MARION JONES HAS 1ST POST-JAIL TALK WITH OPRAH: Disgraced sprinter talks about making the decision to lie about steroid investigation.
*Former Olympic sprinter Marion Jones sat down with Oprah Winfrey for her first interview since being released from a six-month federal prison sentence for perjury on Sept. 5.
In the interview, which aired Wednesday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show,"
Jones explained the exact moment she made the decision to lie to federal prosecutors about her use of the once-undetectable designer steroid THG, called "the clear" by clients of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO).
It was during the BALCO steroid distribution investigation that Jones ran afoul of federal agents.
"And so when they showed it to me and they said this is the substance, and I knew that I had taken that substance, I made the decision that I was going to lie and I was going, you know, try and cover it up,"
Jones told Winfrey.
The former sprinter, who has never failed drug test, pleaded guilty in October 2007 to two charges of making false statements to federal investigators in 2003. Having denied for years that she had ever taken steroids, Jones admitted she had started using THG in 1999 and continued using it into 2001.
As a result of the admission, Jones was stripped of her five medals, three of them gold, from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"It wasn't as difficult to give back the medals because it's not about the hardware," the 33-year-old athlete told Winfrey. "It was about that memory. So that memory is what will be tarnished."
Jones also discusses her time in a minimum security prison in Texas, and what she told her two young children about her incarceration.
USHER ALREADY SETS SIGHTS ON NEW ALBUM: Singer plans to make it a "worldwide entertainment experience."
*Usher is about to launch his "One Night Stand Ladies Only" tour Sunday in Atlantic City, N.J. in support of his current CD "Here I Stand,"
but he's already plotting the logistics of his next album, telling Billboard.com it will be a "worldwide entertainment experience."
It's "all about adapting new musical styles in creating a unique blend between what I know works here in America and what I know will be appreciated worldwide," he says. "I may go to France and do some work. I may go to London ... Japan.
"There's tons of artists I want to work with abroad. I can't give you specific (names) but I am interested in working with artists who are out of the range I'm accustomed to. I want to try new things."
Usher said he hasn't started recording but that the album would be the next thing on his to-do list, following the tour and an "ensemble" movie that's among the film projects he's considering.
Leading up to the tour, Usher -- an outspoken supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama -- has released a socially conscious new single, "Hush," via iTunes. Proceeds from sales of the song will go to the singer's New Look Foundation.
BEYONCE'S 'SASHA' INTERRUPTS JAY-Z SET: Singer dances to 'Single Ladies' during husband's performance in NJ.
*While Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Ne-Yo rocked the crowd at Power 105's Powerhouse concert Tuesday night in New Jersey, all three were upstaged by a surprise appearance from Beyonce.
The singer entered the stage during her husband Jay-Z's set and with two background dancers performed the choreography from her new song, "Single Ladies."
Without saying or singing one word, she performed the dance routine from the video in black stretch pants and a black turtleneck, then ended the set by flashing her huge wedding ring before walking off.
The other headline of the night was an anticipated joint performance that never happened. Many fans thought that Jay-Z would join Wayne for their duet "Mr. Carter," but Weezy rapped alone on the track.
Jay-Z was the evening's last performer and ended his set by reminding the crowd to vote on Nov. 4.
"This is the most important election ever," he said. "Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Obama could run and Obama is running so we all could fly."
CHEADLE TO FOLLOW 'IRON MAN' WITH 'AVENGERS': Actor to play same role in multiple films.
*Don Cheadle will see his new role of Jim Rhodes/War Machine in "Iron Man 2" continue on in "Iron Man 3," as well as "The Avengers," Marvel Studios' upcoming film about its team of superheroes.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Cheadle signed on to perform in the action flick after his deal to replace Terrence Howard in the "Iron Man" movies was finalized.
Marvel's current slate is designed to introduce superhero characters via individual movies that lead up to the characters teaming up for "Avengers," which is set for a release in 2011.
Downey and Cheadle are the first stars to sign on for "Avengers," whose team roster features such heroes as Iron Man, Captain American, Hulk, Wasp, Giant Man, Hawkeye and Thor.
Edward Norton portrayed Bruce Banner/Hulk in "Hulk," but the actor-writer-director clashed with the studio over the movie's cut. It is unclear whether Norton will return for "Avengers."
GRACE JONES 'CAN'T STAND' SARAH PALIN: Entertainer wanted Hillary Clinton in the White House; says Alaska Gov. is no replacement.
*In an interview with German magazine TV Spielfilm, Jamaican-born entertainer Grace Jones said she was sorry Hillary Clinton had failed to last through the primaries, and that she "can't stand" vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Jones, 60, said Palin stood for a backward vision of America laden with government restrictions of sexuality and social behavior.
"I would have loved it if Hillary Clinton had pulled it off," Jones said in the interview published in German marking the release of her new album. "I can't stand Sarah Palin. I bet a woman like that has no sense of humor."
The androgynous Jones, who was a disco staple in the 1980s, admits she had angered feminists for stunts such as "appearing naked in a cage," but insisted she had the right to determine what was artistic or simply exploitative.
"I believe a woman can present herself as a sex object if she has fun doing it," she said.
KWAME KILPATRICK GOES TO JAIL: Detroit's ex-Mayor sentenced to four months for lying to investigators about sex scandal.
*Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to four months in jail Tuesday for the so-called "sex-and-text scandal."
Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner called him "arrogant and defiant" and questioned the sincerity of a guilty plea that ended his career at City Hall. Kilpatrick declined to speak in court, but his lawyers urged the judge to look at his entire career, not just the crimes that threw local government into disarray for months.
Kilpatrick admitted lying while testifying last year in a civil lawsuit filed by former police officers who accused him of illegally demoting or firing them. He and chief of staff Christine Beatty, both 38, were accused of having an affair and denied it, but text messages obtained by a lawyer in the case — and later the Detroit Free Press — clearly contradicted them.
The jail sentence was part of a plea agreement reached last month. Groner followed that deal but said Kilpatrick would not get time off for good behavior, potentially up to 20 days in this case.
"When someone gets 120 days in jail, they should get 120 days in jail," Groner said.
Kilpatrick also was given a 120-day concurrent sentence for assaulting a sheriff's officer who was trying to deliver a subpoena in July.
The disgraced mayor was escorted across the street to the county jail, where he will spend 23 hours a day in a private cell. As he was being led away, he yelled out to supporters: "You all take it easy."
They responded: "Be strong, Mayor. We love you, Mayor. We got your back, Mayor."
Ken Cockrel Jr. was promoted to mayor from council president. A special election to fill the balance of Kilpatrick's term will be held in May after the field is trimmed to two candidates Feb. 24.
"This is a sad day for Detroit and for the Kilpatrick family," Cockrel said in a statement. "As a city, we now must put the past behind us and work together to meet our common challenges."
BET BOSS DEBRA LEE ROASTED AT LUNCHEON: Network president gets in her own zingers at Center for Communications event.
*BET Chairman/CEO Debra Lee was in the hot seat Tuesday as the honoree of a roast at the Center for Communications’ gallows-humored annual luncheon at New York's Pierre Hotel.
Lee is the 25th winner of the center’s Frank Stanton Award, which recognizes standouts in the media business.
In keeping with the humorous vibe of the gathering, Lee told the crowd: "When I was first asked to receive this honor, I thought, Oh my God, isn’t that the last thing Tom Freston heard before Sumner Redstone asked him to lunch?" Freston did get the Stanton prize in 2006, not long after he was fired as Viacom’s chief exec.
Taking off on BET’s pickup of "The Wire," Time Warner chairman Richard Parsons ran through a list of shows that he proposed could make a similar transition. HBO’s "Entourage" would become "Posse," "Lord of the Rings" turns into "Lord of the Bling," and so on, reports Variety.
On a more serious note, Lee mentioned joining Katherine Graham as one of two women to earn the award but facetiously highlighted another bit of context for her award.
"When Barack Obama gets elected, it’s not only going to be the first black president," she said. "It’s going to be the end of white presidents forever. Because you know what they say, once you go black …"
TINA FEY EMBRACES OPRAH – LITERALLY: Actress gushes over talk show host's upcoming appearance on '30 Rock.'
*Just being in the presence of Oprah Winfrey for an entire day was a dream come true for Tina Fey, as well as for her character Liz Lemon in the NBC comedy "30 Rock."
Fey appeared on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" Tuesday and talked about how Winfrey ended up as a guest star on her Emmy winning sitcom.
"Amy Poehler and I were on her show last spring and she, I think, was kind of joking, saying, 'Oh, yeah, maybe I would do ["30 Rock"].' And then…[it's because] she's just a woman of her word that we got her to show up and be in an episode."
Fey also described how delightful it was to film a scene in which she gets to hug the famous talk show host, calling the sensation "everything you want it to be. …You feel like you're becoming a better person."
NATALIE COLE BACK ON THE ROAD: Singer returns after taking time off to battle kidney problems.
*Natalie Cole has resumed her tour schedule following a break to address problems with her kidney. The singer, however, must undergo dialysis three times a week, for three hours a day while traveling.
"The dialysis is to wash my blood, to keep my kidneys functioning," she told People magazine. "When they put me in the hospital, [my kidneys were] only about 8 percent [functioning]."
The kidney problem was in addition to her ongoing battle with hepatitis C. She is currently virus negative and says of her return to the road, "It feels great to be back."
"I feel sturdy and strong," the 58-year-old Grammy-winner told People Tuesday at a CD signing for her new album, "Still Unforgettable," in L.A. "And my voice is still here! It's almost like a miracle because [the treatment] didn't affect my [singing]."
Cole, who was hospitalized in September after suffering a setback in her treatment, described battling the liver disease as her "biggest challenge" ever.
"I've never been through anything like this," she said. "I've never been this ill." But, she explains, "I love what I do so much. I just keep going. Not much can bring me down."
EL DEBARGE RECEIVES PRISON SENTENCE: Singer to spend next two years in the pokey following drug bust.
*El DeBarge was sentenced to two years in state prison Tuesday for violating his probation on a 2007 drug case in which the singer was found in possession of crack cocaine.
The former R&B crooner, best known as the former lead singer of the ‘80s group DeBarge, was immediately taken to California State Prison in Lancaster to begin his sentence, reports TMZ.com.
The ruling follows DeBarge’s arrest on Monday in Los Angeles. In that case, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Q-TIP HEADED OUT ON TOUR: Rapper to travel with Cool Kids for 2K Sports Bounce Tour.
*2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. presents the 4th annual Bounce Tour with headliner Q-Tip supported by his live band, which includes DJ Scratch from EPMD.
“Q-Tip killed it last year on the 2K8 Bounce Tour and we’re honored to have him back on tour with us. He’s a legend in the game, and one of the most influential artists in hip-hop culture,” said Tim Rosa, director of brand and lifestyle marketing at 2K Sports.
The popular duo, The Cool Kids, will also be performing new material. In addition to the live music performances, the Bounce Tour will provide fans with an opportunity to play the latest games by 2K Sports, check out different visual vignettes of games displayed throughout the show, and receive exclusive gear and other exciting giveaways.
JAY-Z AND COLDPLAY IN LATEST MASH-UP: 'Viva La Hova' album blends tracks from both acts into new material.
*Frequent collaborators Jay-Z and Coldplay are teaming up again, this time for a new mash-up album entitled "Viva La Hova," reports Allhiphop.com.
Jay-Z and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin first joined forces in 2006 for the track "Beach Chair" off the rapper's album, "Kingdom Come." The recent release of Coldplay's "Lost" remix featuring Jay-Z encouraged mixtape kings Mick Boogie and Terry Urban to expand the concept into a full-length album.
"Jay and Chris represent all that is right with modern music and art and have collaborated a few times in recent years to great results," Mick Boogie told AllHipHop.com. "So why not extend that concept over an entire album? I thought when Danger Mouse did the 'Grey Album,' it was just remarkable. And while I didn’t like every song on there, when it was on, it was absolutely some of the most amazing stuff I had heard. Same with the Jay-Z/Linkin Park project. So we tried to take a collaboration that was already organic and make it real and also extend that quality level throughout the entire project."
The 19-track mixtape includes mash-ups from producers 9th Wonder, The Amps, Cookin' Soul, Gooch, The Kickdrums, and nVMe. Each was assigned samples and snippets of Coldplay songs from which to create new tracks. The results where then paired with Jay-Z lyrics to create the finished songs. Among them, "No Love "Hola Blanco," a combination of Jay-Z's "Hola Hovito"
and Coldplay's "White Shadows."
ITTY BITTY BITS: 50 distributes JMJ doc; Booker T. and the MGs honored; Tracy Morgan's sobriety; StarCaps under fire; Serena and Blake team up.
*50 Cent tells MTV News that for a limited time, he has signed on to be the distributor of the documentary "Two Turntables and a Microphone," which centers on the life, legacy and untimely death of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay. The documentary was produced in part by JMJ's cousin, Stephon "Phonz" Watford, and 50 Cent was recently brought in as an executive producer. Although the filmmakers don't come out and say who they think the killer is, they do infer that at least two people in Jay's inner circle know who gunned down the DJ six years ago while in his Queens studio.
*Booker T. and the MGs were among a host of artists and producers honored during the Musicians Hall of Fame induction ceremony Tuesday. The integrated group served as the studio band for Memphis-based Stax Records in the '60s, playing on hits for Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and others. They played on Southern soul classics like "Soul Man," "Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour," and had a major hit of their own with the instrumental "Green Onions." Kix Brooks of the country duo Brooks & Dunn said the group "listened and could create something on the spot. They were really great because in a time of racial segregation they were black and white."
*Tracy Morgan credits his "30 Rock" co-star Alec Baldwin with helping him sober up and turn his life around. Last year, the comic had to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet as punishment for violating his probation on a DUI charge by drunkenly groping a female DJ. He told WENN: "Alec was the main one counseling me. He's a passionate dude. I don't give a [bleep] what nobody say about him, dude been there. 'You got an opportunity on "30 Rock,"' he told me. I felt the love when he did that."
*The Associated press is reporting that New Orleans Saints offensive guard Jamar Nesbit filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the makers of StarCaps, an over-the-counter weight-loss supplement, alleging it was improperly spiked with a diuretic that is banned by the NFL. Nesbit returned last week from a four-game suspension levied after he tested positive for Bumetanide, a substance that helps rid the body of excess water and salt. The NFL considers the substance a possible masking agent for steroids. It is the same substance for which several other players around the league have reportedly tested positive, including three other Saints: running back Deuce McAllister.
*Serena Williams will team with James Blake to defend the title she won at the Hopman Cup in January, organizers announced. The return of world number three Williams, who is a two-time winner at the annual tournament in Perth, Australia, is reportedly a coup for organizers. Williams also paired with Blake to win the event in 2003 and has never been beaten in the tournament. The 11th-ranked Blake is also a dual Hopman Cup winner, having teamed with Lindsay Davenport to win the event in 2004.
OBAMA BITS: Jimmy Buffett for Obama; skinhead apology for murder plot?; Obama's Jakarta home; Ron Clark Academy students
*Jimmy Buffett plans a free concert Sunday in Tampa to urge people to vote for Democrat Barack Obama for president, reports the Associated Press. The "Last Chance for Change" rally and concert is happening two days before the election at the outdoor Ford Amphitheatre. People can get two free tickets by visiting any of the early voting information tables the Obama campaign has set up in the Tampa Bay area. Show time is 3 p.m. More
information is available at http://www.FL.BarackObama.com.
*Relatives of an Arkansas teen accused of planning a racist killing rampage and an attack on Barack Obama say they don't believe the plot was serious. Paul Schlesselman's father says it was "just a lot of talk." His sister admits her brother was a white supremacist, but she says he's told her by phone that he's "sorry about everything." Schlesselman and 20-year-old Daniel Cowart from Tennessee are accused of planning to kill 88 black people - beheading 14 of them. They were planning to wear white tuxedos and top hats, and then open fire from a vehicle while speeding toward Obama. Federal authorities say they did not have the means to carry out the threat. Authorities describe the two as neo-Nazi skinheads who met on the Internet about a month ago. They are being held without bond.
*Anticipation that Barack Obama may become the next president has shone a spotlight on the cream-colored colonial-era Jakarta house where he lived in as a child, from potential buyers and journalists to an entrepreneur who wants to turn it into the ‘‘Sweet Home Obama Bar.’’ The home's current owner, 78-year-old Tata Aboe Bakar, has no plans to move out.
His family has lived in the house since it was built in 1939. He recalls Obama as the curly haired boy who moved into the two-bedroom pavilion within the compound with his pregnant mother and Indonesian stepfather in 1970. But with a potential price tag of $3 million — and even more if Aboe Bakar can believe one broker’s claims that a U.S. Embassy official is ready to pay five times the market price if Obama wins — he says he’ll seriously consider it.
*CNN interviewed the students of Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy who became a YouTube sensation this month with their rap "You Can Vote However You Like," a parody of TI's "Whatever You Like" featuring battle lyrics supporting both John McCain and Barack Obama. View the entire CNN interview and performance here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEKNAZbn9p0.
EVENT CALENDAR: LaBelle at the Apollo; James Reynolds reps National Salute Week; Smiley's 'Black Union' back in L.A.; Naomi Campbell hosts photo exhibit of herself.
*The newly-reunited Labelle – Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx – have scheduled what is billed as "their first and only public performance this year" for Friday, Dec. 19 at the World Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group's first full concert since 1977 will promote their new album, "Back to Now." Doors open at 7 p.m.; showtime is at 8 p.m.
Tickets ($200 Gold Circle - VIP package, $125 Orchestra, $100 Lower mezzanine, $75 Upper mezzanine) are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office, 212 531 5305 and through Ticketmaster, 212.307.7171 / ticketmaster.com. Meanwhile, the legendary trio is scheduled to appear today on "The Bonnie Hunt Show."
*Emmy nominee James Reynolds will lead VA's annual patient recognition program inviting the public to visit and honor hospitalized veterans during National Salute Week, Feb. 8-14. He serves as the national spokesperson for more than 131,000 volunteers serving veterans at VA facilities across the nation. Best known for his role of police officer Abe Carver on “Day's of Our Lives,” Reynolds is chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 2009 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.
*Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union (SOBU) will return to Los Angeles -- the site of the first symposium -- in celebration of its 10th anniversary on Feb. 28, 2009, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The symposium is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required online at http://www.tavistalks.com. Smiley and attorney Raymond Brown will moderate the discussion that will be broadcast live 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Pacific Time on C-SPAN. Panelists will include Danny Glover, Nikki Giovanni, Naim Akbar, Michael Eric Dyson, Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Al Sharpton, Iyanla Vanzant, Julianne Malveaux, Maxine Waters, Earvin "Magic"
Johnson and more.
*Naomi Campbell is set to host the Dec. 2 opening of a photo exhibition at Art Basel Miami featuring images of herself, many showing her in states of undress, reports the New York Post's Page Six. Among the fashion photographers whose shots of her will be featured: David LaChapelle, Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Ellen Von Unwerth and Albert Watson.
EUR DVD REVIEW: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile)
Unwanted Pregnancy the Subject of Sobering Romanian Drama Released on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Judging by a recently-released movies, American and Eastern European teenagers must have very different mindsets when it comes to an unwanted pregnancy.
Afterall, it was no big deal for Juno, the terminally-sarcastic title character of the hilarious teensploit.
With the help of her equally-blasé best friend, that proto-typical American rebel simply decided to find a perfect suburban couple to adopt the baby, then behaving like she’s above it all for the rest of the film till her unplanned bundle of joy arrived.
By contrast, we find relatively-morose Gabita (Laura Vasiliu), the heroine of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, stuck behind the Iron Curtain in Rumania where abortion has been outlawed. Looking like Borat’s lost wayward sister, this glum college student lives in a grey dorm on a grim campus where practically everybody seems to be dealing in contraband (cigarettes, candy, even showers) or is up to some sort of shady shenanigans.
For, you see, this is the late Eighties, during the last days of Communism, so it comes as no surprise when Gabita turns to the black market rather than have the child. Accompanied by her very supportive roommate (Anamaria Marinca), who handles most of the details, she unwittingly seeks out the services of Bebe (Vlad Ivanov), the callous butcher of Bucharest, an unlicensed monster who could care less about the welfare of his vulnerable clients.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a relentlessly-depressing, slice-of-life drama which unfolds over the course of 24 hours. Since the picture, perhaps a little too convincingly conveys the harrowing ordeal of a desperate female in Gabita’s predicament, before watching this movie you still might want to make sure you’re in the mood for a feel-bad flick.
The Un-Juno.
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for nudity, sexual situations and profanity.
Running time: 113 minutes
In Romanian with subtitles.
Studi Genius Products
DVD Extras: Interviews with director Cristian Mungiu and actress Anamaria Marinca, and filmographies.
To see a trailer of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbAYPt1mpgI
EUR DVD REVIEW: Sex Drive
Desperate Virgin Chases Internet Fantasy in Raunchy Road Comedy Film Review by Kam Williams
*Ian Lafferty (Josh Zuckerman) is your prototypical high school grad with one mission in life: to lose his virginity before heading off to college in the fall. But the 18 year-old nerd’s prospects of quenching his raging hormones aren’t that great for several reasons.
First of all, he’s socially awkward and gets tongue-tied around girls, especially Felicia (Amanda Crew), the cute classmate he has a big crush on. Trouble is she only sees him as a nice guy she can confide in about her own boy problems.
Secondly, Ian’s job as the mascot of a convenience store called Senor Donut tends to get in the way, since he spends most of the day walking around the mall disguised as a giant piece of pastry under a big sombrero.
Needless to say, that look isn’t exactly a chick magnet, in fact, the only attention he attracts is from mischievous kids out to embarrass him by secretly attaching sex toys to his costume.
Things aren’t any better for Ian at home, where he’s mercilessly teased for possibly being gay by his older brother, Rex (James Marsden), a macho stud with a classic Pontiac GTO from 1969. And to add insult to injury, even his 14 year-old brother (Cole Peterson) is already having better luck with the ladies. Consequently, it’s no surprise that Ian spends most of his time in his bedroom, trolling internet chat rooms in search of a date.
This loser’s fate seems to change the day he meets “Ms. Tasty” online, a blonde temptress who’s very impressed by his embellished bio and computer-enhanced photos. She promises to make it worth his while if he shows up in Knoxville behind the wheel of the muscle car he claims to drive. So, Ian “borrows” his brother’s GTO without permission, and sets out for Tennessee from Chicago accompanied by Felicia and his best friend, Lance (Clark Duke), for the 1,000-mile road trip of a lifetime.
Sometimes, getting there is all he fun, and this is the case with Sex Drive, easily the funniest teensploit of 2008 so far. Loosely based on the novel “All the Way” by Andy Behrens, the screen version is a rather raunchy adventure reminiscent not only of Judd Apatow’s recent offerings but also of such shock genre staples as The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Road Trip, American Pie, There’s Something about Mary and The Sure Thing.
En route to Ian’s romantic rendezvous with Ms. Tasty, our hardy trio has hilarious encounters at every turn, whether with a homeless hitchhiker, kinky trailer trash, trigger-happy cops or wayward Amish. Brace yourself for outrageous fare ranging from politically-incorrect epithets to explicit dialogue to scatological humor to male and female frontal nudity. Yet, underneath all the scummy hijinks, there’s a redeeming message about true love waiting to be revealed, allowing for a sweet sendoff which manages to make Sex Drive something that’s very special in the end.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for crude humor, profanity, sexuality, nudity, and drug and alcohol use, all involving teens.
Running time: 109 minutes
Studi Summit Entertainment
To see a trailer of Sex Drive, visit:
http://www.summit-ent.com/sexdrive-trailer.php?subj=3&sel_page=4&show_trailer=1
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By AdviceChick at ameritech.net
Calling ALL Chicago Ladies! Attend the BLOCKBUSTER All Male Revue Event of the year on Sat. Nov. 8th! YOU might WIN $100.00 cash! Get details and see clips of my last show at http://www.hireblackdancers.com
Dear Advice Chick,
*I don’t have anyone else to say this to. I hope you don’t make light of this. Last week my man slapped me in my face. He immediately apologized and I want to believe him but this is not the first time he has shown me his violent side.
We have only been dating three months. Last month he raised his voice at me and he grabbed me in the collar. I didn’t think much of that but now that he has hit me I am worried. Could I have made him hit me? Was it a one time thing or should I be concerned?
Advice Chick replies,
Yes, you should be concerned; no you didn’t make this grown a$$ man do anything. When things become violently physical you might want to rethink even dating him. Ladies deserve to be treated like ladies. That old school foolishness (if a man hits you he must REALLY love you) is for fools. Everyone has disagreements at one point in their relationship or another, and those issues are to be discussed and worked out.
I can not tell you to leave your man alone but I can and do STRONGLY suggest it. Three months is not too much time wasted and it’s better that he has shown you that he is a potential woman abuser sooner than later. In the words of pre-nervous breakdown Lauren Hill, “If he did it then he’ll probably do it again.”
Send YOUR questions to Advice Chick right NOW! Please put “Dear Advice Chick” in the subject line so your email isn’t deleted as spam. Thanks! Send your emails t advicechick at ameritech.net
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Ask Advice Chick about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING related to dating, sex, love, and life! She is THE resident dating expert at EURweb.com, and calls on over 11 years of dating and relationship industry experience.
THE ROBERTSON TREATMENT (America’s Premier Lifestyle Column) Edition 11, Issue 14: The Metamorphosis of Kevin Powell
*Over the years America has watched Kevin Powell’s transformation from the impetuous youth as seen on the first season of MTV’s “The Real World," a celebrated journalist/author (whose credits includes a stint as a senior writer at Vibe magazine and 8 books), to his most recent incarnation as a serious contender for the 10th congressional seat, representing Brooklyn, NY. Although he lost this race, the robust turnout for his candidacy hints at a promising future in politics. For the time being, he is back to his first passion as an author with the release of his 9th book, “The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life”, which he calls a must-read” guide and call-to-action for Black boys and men to redefine their manhood for the greater good of themselves, their communities and the world. The Robertson Treatment recently spoke to the talented Mr. Powell about his coming of age, his work as an author and his future in politics.
Why are African American men in such trouble?
There are a number of reasons why Black males in America are in trouble. There has been a noticeable drop off in Black males graduating from high school since the 1980s, a huge drop off in Black male college enrollment over the past two decades, and a huge surge in Black male imprisonment rates. Add in chronic joblessness, nonstop Black male violence in cities across the country, the on-going saga of Black fatherlessness, and the traumas and tragedies of street life and the most destructive images of Black males since segregation, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and what we have in these early days of the 21st century is a recipe for disaster across the board. I have incredible faith, hope, and an undying love for Black people, for Black males, but we need to be brutally honest about what is at stake. That would be our future as a community.
How were the essays selected for the anthology?
I have been doing Black male development in some form or fashion since I was a teenage student and youth leader in the 1980s. The first time I ever began to think about Black manhood in a different way was when I first read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and found myself led to the Nation of Islam. Little did I know, back then, that concepts around eating habits, exercise, mental wellness in the form of knowing our history, and so on, would eventually evolve into putting forth my own holistic solutions for Black males in the past decade as a leader and public speaker. So it is not so much that the essays were selected for The Black Male Handbook. It is that I realized, several years back, that Black people need practical and holistic solutions to our many challenges. That those areas had to include spirituality, politcs, culture, economics, physical health, and mental wellness. So when you look at the table of contents of The Black Male Handbook, and read the essays, they cover what I call the 6 areas of development and empowerment for Black people. From there I simply brought to the table, as editor, the brothers of my generation who I feel have some of the most progressive thinking in those categories. With Hill Harper writing the Forward and Dr. Jelani Cobb ending the book with a brilliant essay that ties it all together called "I Am A Man." As I say in the editor's note, be it Lasana Hotep's essay "Creating A Spiritual Foundation," or Ryan Mack's very timely "Starting A Plan for Economic Empowerment," the mission is to give Black males of all ages real talk, in simple language, with solutions. We've heard enough of the statistics, the pitfalls, and all that. We need to know what the blueprint is for going forward, for being fully formed men. That is why I shaped The Black Male Handbook the way I did, with things like a reading list, a music list, hygiene, etiquette, and job interview tips in the back. We really feel that if Black males take The Black Male Handbook seriously, read it from cover to cover, refer back to it when needed, that they, we, will become better and wiser men, better and wiser fathers, and better and wiser loved ones and partners.
Besides the recommendations given by your authors, what else can be done to help save Black men?
Every single Black male in the country, especially adult Black males, has got to make a commitment toward self-empowerment, toward self-improvement, in spite of systemic racism, in spite of all the obstacle in our way. And there are many. For example, when I was 18 years old, as I said, I began to pick up books about Malcolm X, about Black history, for the very first time in my life. It was mind-blowing, to say the least. It was like a light switch had gone off in my head as I absorbed the tales about ancient African civilizations, about the middle passage, about slavery in America and in the West Indies, about the great Haitian revolution. I had no idea Black people had been through so much, had done so much. All the inventors, all the historical figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, the writers of the Harlem Renaissance, of the Negritutde Movement, of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. My point is this: reading and the digestion of knowledge, of practical information, is the most critical thing that Black males can do to change our lives. Without that action, we are doomed, seriously. Look where a lack of knowledge led Malcolm X. Prison for seven years. But once he began to add on to his 8th grade education with his reading in that prison cell, his entire world changed. It did not matter that Malcolm never went back to school, that he would always be an 8th grade dropout. He had discovered self-empowerment, self-improvement, which meant he would, for the rest of his life, be a reader, be a thinker, be a doer, be someone who was about change. And once you as a Black male shift your thinking in that direction, anything is possible. Let us not forget that Malcolm who had been in foster care, on the streets, a hustler, thug, gangsta, drug dealer and a drug user. But the knowledge, the self-education, is what changed it all from negative to positive. So I firmly believe that all the government programs in the world, all the policies in the world, will not matter unless we instill the very basic principles of love of self and knowledge of self. Now, certainly we need more mentors to teach these things to Black males, we need more community centers and afterschool programs. And we certainly need more jobs for our Black males. The bottom line is if someone is struggling every single day, he is not going to think about picking up a book. Malcolm picked up that book, a dictionary, because his family became a supportive network for him, loving him and pushing him at the same time, while he was in prison. And they and the Nation of Islam had his back upon his release from prison. There is very little to redeem the lives of Black males today. So many of us are just left out there to wander for ourselves. Which is why so many of us are winding up dead, in prison, homeless, or as cigarette, drug, or alcohol addicts, or just out of our minds with mental illness. So there is really a need for major institutional intervention in the lives of Black males across the country. So many brothers tell me all the time that they feel abandoned. That was exactly how I felt in my darkest days. That feeling is real, and highly dangerous.
Do African American men still have a responsibility to be our ³brother’s keeper?
Of course we do, which is exactly why I created The Black Male Handbook. There is no way I could travel around the country as much as I do, work in the community for the past 24 years as I have done, be a writer who has often written about my life and the lives of other Black males, and not see myself as a helper or protector to other Black males. It is my moral, spiritual, political, and cultural responsibility. If we do not help each other to become self-empowered, who will? And I have a particular challenge to those of us Black males who are professionals, who are college-educated, who are privileged in some way: do not ever criticize Black male behavior if you yourself are not a mentor, a volunteer, a coach, a friend, a father figure, active in the life of at least one younger Black male in need of hope and direction. It bothers me greatly that Black women, time and again, are the ones stepping up to run programs that are for Black boys and young Black men, and they can barely get any professional or college-educated Black males to speak for an hour, even, to these younger Black males. Imagine how much things could improve if every single professional or college-educated Black male in America, even if they have a child or children of their own, said "Hello" or "Peace" or "What's up" to the young brothers on their block every single day; or organized a men's group in their religious or spiritual institution; or started a reading group for Black males in their community; or volunteered once a month to speak to Black boys in area schools, foster care programs, or juvenile or adult jails. Or challenged local businesses to hire young Black males in the community. None of this is rocket science. Folks just have to be willing to think in terms of "we" not "I," as we did during segregation. The answers, really, are all there in our history, honestly. But if we do not know the history, or choose to ignore the history, we simultaneously ignore the boys and young males in the 'hood.
What’s behind your transition into politics?
As George Orwell once said, everything is political. I am 42 and I have been a political activist and community organizer since I was 18. I have done extensive voter education and voter registration work my entire life. I have worked on and supported many political campaigns. So there is not really a transition into politics. As a leader you are just always thinking of different platforms to use, to help the people. My running for Congress this year is not about me, it is about the people. Black America is in dire need of a different kind of leadership. I am saying to people now if someone calls her or himself a leader in the 21st century, she or he had better be doing 1 or all of these 3 things: 1) Changing the direction of the conversations we've been having with bold new ideas and a new vocabulary; 2) Creating and sustaining institutions, organizations, or businesses that serve the community; or 3) Working on the frontlines on a regular basis, as a teacher, as a social worker, as a doctor, as a community organizer, as a mentor, as a spiritual leader, and so on. If that person is not doing any of those things, then she or he is just a spokesperson, just a mouthpiece, making a lot of noise, with no action. Those are the folks you see on television all the time, constantly marching or protesting, with no real purpose whatsoever. The same goes for Black elected officials. The great irony of the Civil Rights Movement is that we have more Black elected officials in America than ever before, but we are also more disempowered than we've been since the end of the Reconstruction era in the 1870s. It makes no sense. But, then again, it does, because Black politicians, not all but far too many, have become corrupted by power and privilege. So getting elected is not about serving the people. It is about holding on to your seat, your money from donors, your special connections and hook-ups, for as long as you can, even as the community you are elected to represent is in a state of arrested development. I simply got tired of seeing this in Brooklyn, so I decided to run for Congress. I lost this year, but, then again, we won, because we ran an honest and clean campaign, we never attacked my opponent personally even as he and his folks participated in the ugliest forms of character assassination. And we got a whole bunch of folks to pay attention to the political corruption, to the process, who had never done so before. And you best believe I will be running again in 2010. And we are telling folks, Black folks all over the country, that we should never allow another Black politician to just go from election to election without being challenged. The days of supporting a leader just because she or he is Black are over. We need transparent, accountable, visionary, and hardworking leadership no matter what race.
If elected, what new flavor will you bring as an elected official?
When I get elected in 2010 it is not really about new flavor, it is about the fact I will actually show up for work. And I will work hard. I was raised by a South Carolina-born mother in terribly poverty, without a father. I cannot imagine not working hard, not showing up for work, not having a plan of action, given where I come from. And I could not imagine being anything other than about the people. And I will certainly term limit myself. One reason why politicians became tainted by the system is because they still in too long, they get comfortable, the power and influence becomes addictive. I come from the Dr. King school of thought: nothing wrong with power as long as it is rooted in God, in love, in a love of the people, and is being used to uplift, not to keep people down.
AUTOMOTIVE SPIN 2008 Dodge Dakota
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Grade: B
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GLENN ELLIS'S STRATEGIES FOR WELL-BEING: Got Calcium?
YOU'VE HEARD IT A MILLION TIMES: “You need to drink milk to get calcium to prevent osteoporosis!” But a lack of this mineral means more than weak bones. Major organs and bodily functions, like your heart and metabolism, need calcium to operate at their best. Yet only 21 percent of us are getting the recommended amount of calcium.
The symptoms of calcium deficiency are:
Cramp pains in legs
Delay in sitting up, Crawling and Walking of babies
Heart becomes irregular
Nerves become extremely irritable
Poor sleep disorder
Weakness in the bones
Calcium is the most common mineral in the body and one of the most important. The body needs it to build and fix bones and teeth, help nerves work, make muscles squeeze together, help blood clot, and help the heart to work. Almost all of the calcium in the body is stored in bone. The rest is found in the blood. About 99% of the calcium in the body is in the bones and teeth and 1% is in the blood, muscles, and other soft tissues (such as the nerves, organs, etc.) This 1% plays a major role in our health.
Normally the level of calcium in the blood is carefully controlled. When blood calcium levels get low, the bones release calcium to bring it back to a good blood level. When blood calcium levels get high, the extra calcium is stored in the bones or passed out of the body in urine and stool.
There are some important reasons why milk may not be the best source for everyone.
These reasons include the following:
Lactose Intolerance
When people with lactose intolerance eat or drink milk products, they may have symptoms such as abdominal bloating, excessive intestinal gas, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. Lactose intolerance is more common in Asian, African, African-American, Native American, and Mediterranean populations than it is among northern and western Europeans.
Lactose intolerance can begin at different times in life. In Caucasians, it usually starts to affect children older than age 5. In African-Americans, lactose intolerance often occurs as early as age 2. Many people have some degree of lactose intolerance. For them, eating or drinking dairy products causes problems like cramping, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. One alternative for those who are lactose intolerant but who still enjoy consuming dairy products is to take a pill containing enzymes that digest milk sugar along with the dairy product, or to consume milk that has the lactase enzyme added to it.
High Saturated Fat Content
Many dairy products are high in saturated fats, and a high saturated fat intake is a risk factor for heart disease. And while it's true that most dairy products are now available in fat-reduced or nonfat options, the saturated fat that's removed from dairy products is inevitably consumed by someone, often in the form of premium ice cream, butter, or baked goods.
Possible Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer
High levels of galactose, a sugar released by the digestion of lactose in milk, have been studied as possibly damaging to the ovaries and leading to ovarian cancer. Some researchers have hypothesized, however, that modern industrial milk production practices have changed milk's hormone composition in ways that could increase the risk of ovarian and other hormone-related cancers. More research is needed.
Probable Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer
A diet high in calcium has been implicated as a probable risk factor for prostate cancer. In a Harvard study of male health professionals, men who drank two or more glasses of milk a day were almost twice as likely to develop advanced prostate cancer as those who didn't drink milk at all.
Adequate amounts of vegetables are BETTER SOURCES OF CALCIUM THAN MILK AND CHEESE!
Soy milk and soy beverages can also be consumed to receive adequate amounts of calcium. Tofu, sea vegetables, oatmeal and dates are good sources of calcium. Similarly, people who think milk is not the best source of calcium can add blackstrap molasses to their baked desserts to obtain adequate amounts of calcium. Green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, spinach and cabbage are particularly rich in calcium and other important minerals. Beans and nuts are yet another good source of calcium coming from plant sources.
The best calcium-rich supplements available out there are a blend of calcium and some percentage of magnesium. Most people think the main reason to take a Calcium/Magnesium supplement is to build strong bones. But the need for Calcium and Magnesium is so much more complex than that. An adequate intake of daily dietary Calcium is required to control the heart rate, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and much more. And Magnesium is an important factor in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body, contributing to the production of cardiovascular functions, and the production and synthesis of energy. While Magnesium enhances the absorption of calcium, it also works hand in hand with calcium, one to contract muscles and the other to relax them, as well as relaxing and calming nerves. Together, they create an intricately linked relationship to support the nervous system. Although only a small amount of blood calcium is needed in the blood and soft tissues, without it your heart wouldn’t beat steadily, your muscles wouldn’t contract correctly, your blood wouldn’t clot, and your nerves wouldn’t carry messages.
Think about it: Humans are the only animals who drink breast milk after infancy and the only animals who drink milk from a different species.
Remember, I'm not a doctor. I just sound like one.
Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible!
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended, nor implied, to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
Glenn Ellis is a Health Advocacy Communications Specialist and author of, "Which Doctor?": What You Need To Know to be Healthy.
For more good health information, visit: www.glennellis.com
BETWEEN THE LINES: Election Day, November 4th, 2008: Don’t Let Change Pass You By
Anthony Asadullah Samad
*The day we’ve all been waiting for is less than a week away. There are times in our lives we will remember all of our lives. There are few dates in American history that represent watermark changes in American society. There are less than a dozen, that one can recall, where a date can call up a shift in American culture. July 4, 1776 (Declaration of Independence); March 6, 1857 (Dred Scott Decision), January 1, 1863 (Emancipation Proclamation); May 18, 1896 (Plessy Decision); October 29, 1929 (Stock Market Crash); December 7, 1941 (Attack on Pearl Harbor); May 17, 1954 (Brown Decision), November 22, 1963 (Kennedy assassination), April 4, 1968 (King assassination); January 28, 1986 (Challenger Explosion); S