Click Here
D.L. HUGHLEY PROTESTED IN FORT WORTH: Comic halfway agrees with Don Imus; local black leaders say joke isn’t funny.
*He didn’t agree that they were “hoes,” but comedian D.L. Hughley said to Jay Leno during a recent “Tonight Show” visit “there were some nappy headed women on that [Rutgers women’s basketball] team.” The comment prompted black leaders in Texas to protest his recent stand-up gig in Fort Worth.
"It's not only that comment, he has a history of demeaning our community in such a way that it's not funny anymore," said Pastor Kyev Tatum of Servant House Baptist Church, according to Fort Worth’s CBS 11 News.
Tatum joined a number or local black ministers, community leaders and local citizens to protest Hughley’s appearance Saturday at a Juneteenth show at Bass Hall.
Not only did Hughley say the team members were “nappy headed,” but he also referred to them as “some of the ugliest women I’ve ever seen in my whole life.” [See clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIqD1GCvedw]
Hughley, whose NBC series “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip” was cancelled, has responded to community outrage in a statement released to the media.
He said: "I believe that freedom of speech is a zero-sum proposition.
Too many times I have watched clowns like these pretend to speak for the masses. I can only speak for me. Isn't there a child you can help teach to read, a war to help stop, an unjustly accused man you can help out of jail?
I will not apologize for telling a joke about the world as I see it."
TYLER PERRY RESPONDS TO ‘PAYNE’ CRITICS: Filmmaker apparently draws the line at criticism of actors’ weight.
*Tyler Perry has distributed another e-mail to his fans, this time defending the girth of his lead actors in “House of Payne,” the filmmaker’s new sitcom airing Wednesdays on TBS.
Stars LaVan Davis and Cassie Davis have apparently been criticized for being overweight. Also, Perry’s letter suggests that some have accused him of perpetuating the stereotype of portly black mothers.
Perry begins his e-mail response by pointing out the harsh treatment he’s received from critics throughout his career. He writes:
You all know that the critics have hated every thing that I have done over the years. Roger Ebert gave DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN-THE MOVIE an awful review, one critic called MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION-THE MOVIE the worst thing that he'd ever seen, some other critic said that DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS shouldn't have ever been made and that I had to be stopped. Not to mention the plays, a critic in L.A. said of MADEA GOES TO JAIL, that it was the worst play he'd ever seen and that this type of show should not be at the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Oscars.
So over the years I have learned to ignore these people and keep doing what I feel that I am being led to do. But when people begin to attack certain cast members of HOUSE OF PAYNE because they are overweight, then I have to say something. Just because a person is overweight doesn't mean that they are less than anybody else. That's why these people have not been able to get a job for years in Hollywood. One person even asked, "Why do you even hire them?" I hire all kinds of people--thin, not so thin, tall, short, in shape, not in shape, Black, White, Latino. When somebody comes to work for me I don't see color, I don't see their size, all I want to know is "Can you do the job?"
One person asked why does the mama have to be a "FAT BLACK WOMAN"
and said that I am perpetuating stereotypes by putting these overweight people on the show, as if there are no fat black women in America that are mothers. My mother and aunts are fat black women. And that upsets me to think that people, especially Black people, would say that I'm doing a disservice to America by putting them on T.V. Skinny does not make you beautiful. There are all kinds of beautiful women in this world. And if we begin to look at the heart of a person rather than prejudge then we would see that we are missing some of the nicest and most talented people in the world. I'm sorry but I had to get that off my chest. I just don't like to see good people hurt because of ignorance and intolerance.
I won't apologize for putting these people in this show. I don't ever remember hearing any of this about ROSANNE. They deserve to be on this show. They are very good, caring, God-fearing people who needed a hand. And I am so grateful that so many of you are watching HOUSE OF PAYNE and making their dreams come true everyday.
God bless,
T.P.
MIJAC SETTLES $48 MILLION LAWSUIT: New Jersey financial company claimed singer stiffed them on a refinancing package.
*Michael Jackson’s legal team settled a lawsuit filed by a New Jersey financial company that claimed the singer owed them $48 million.
Jury selection for the case was about to get underway Monday when the settlement between Jackson and Prescient Acquisition of Hackensack, N.J was announced by the judge. Terms were not disclosed.
Steven Altman, a lawyer for Prescient owner Darien Dash, said his client was owed the money for helping Jackson refinance a $272 million bank loan and secure $573 million in financing to buy Sony Corp's half of the Beatles' song catalog that Sony co-owned with the King of Pop.
Jackson’s defense? He claimed he never heard of Dash and didn't remember signing an agreement.
MORE TRADE TALK FROM KOBE BRYANT: L.A. Laker says he and team have ‘different visions for the future.’
*Kobe Bryant is again dropping hints that he would be happy with any NBA team other than his current squad, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The player had made a series of comments in the past several weeks in which he’s been inconsistent about his desire to be traded. In a statement posted Sunday on his Web site kb24.com, Bryant said he and the Lakers “just have two different visions for the future."
"When you love something as much as I love the Lakers its hard to even imagine thinking about being elsewhere. But, the ONE THING I will never sacrifice when it comes to basketball is WINNING," wrote the 28-year-old NBA star. "The more I thought about the future, the more I became convinced that the Lakers and me just have two different visions for the future."
Last month, Kobe made headlines when he voiced frustration at Lakers management and publicly requested he be traded after the team was eliminated by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.
Several days later, and after meeting with Coach Phil Jackson, Bryant downplayed his previous comments and implied that things had been worked out with the organization.
Bryant’s Web posting on Sunday swings the trade talk pendulum back to its original position of wanting to leave L.A. His statement also questioned the commitment of Lakers owner Jerry Buss in signing players who can actually support Bryant in another run for a ring.
"The Lakers are pursuing a longer-term plan that is different from what Dr. Buss shared with me at the time I re-signed as a free agent," he wrote. "I have seen that plan unfold for the last three years and watched great trade opportunities come and go, and have seen free agents passed on.
That has led to the Lakers not winning a playoff series."
The 28-year-old Bryant, a nine-time All Star, has four years left on his contract — but he can terminate it following the 2008-09 season.
SLY STONE ‘OPEN LETTER’ CAUSES CONFUSION: Did reclusive singer question ethics of Family Stone sax player?
*Sly Stone has reportedly come out of hiding to protest a so-called Sly and the Family Stone “tribute band” that features one original member, yet represents itself as the real funk/rock group founded by Stone in the 1960s. But there is question as to whether the musician actually authored the letter.
The problem of imposter bands has led to legislation in several states banning the practice, and has prompted Stone to write an open letter to his fans warning against such a band featuring original Family Stone saxophone player, Jerry Martini, reports the New York Post.
Sly says Martini has "no right to use the name I created - not to mention all the hit records . . . Do not be fooled."
But Martini, who says he co-founded the band with Stone, doesn’t’
believe that Sly actually wrote the letter.
"That letter was sent by other people, not Sly,” Martini told the Post. “He has my phone number and has been my friend for 45 years. If he really wanted me to stop, he would call me . . . Legally, even if Sly wanted me to stop, as a founding member of the band, I do not have to."
Martini's lawyer, Carl Spagnuolo, writes off the letter as "questionable communication . . . Jerry and Sly have been and remain friends." But a rep at Stone's official Web site, Phattadatta.com, tells the Post the letter was genuine.
‘LAW & ORDER’ STICKS WITH JESSE L. MARTIN: Actor prepares for ninth season as Det. Ed Green.
*NBC’s “Law & Order” has undergone a bunch of new personnel changes in preparation for its upcoming 18th season, but Jesse L. Martin is not one of them.
The actor just inked a deal to return for his ninth season as NYPD Detective Ed Green.
In addition to the criminals, Green will have to deal with a number of new faces on the scene. Jeremy Sisto has signed on to play a detective, replacing Milena Govich, and Fred Thompson has announced his decision to exit the series and focus on his campaign to be the next U.S. President. His role of district attorney will be filled by the show vet Sam Waterston.
Martin, meanwhile, will follow up his big screen role in “Rent” with "Caretakers." He’s also set to play Marvin Gaye in the feature film "Sexual Healing."
DID YOUNG BUCK DIS HIS G-UNIT GENERAL ON STAGE?: Rapper’s camp says a joke was misconstrued; ‘there is no beef.’
*The black blogosphere was abuzz over the weekend with reports that Young Buck dissed G-Unit founding member 50 Cent during a performance in Atlanta. But apparently, the whole thing is one big thug misunderstanding.
Witnesses at the Twelfth Annual Birthday Bash hosted by Radio One affiliate Hot 107.9 have come forward to call the rumor bogus. Hot 97’s Miss Info even said on her blog: "Eyewitnesses at the 107.9 Atlanta radio station bash say that he talked about his new label Cashville Records…but he never dissed 50 and G-Unit."
Buck’s co-manager Sixx said the comment in question came after informing the crowd that his Cashville Records label had just signed former Tupac protégés The Outlaws.
“All [Buck] said when he got on stage was that he was trying to make Cashville Records the next G-Unit cause 50 didn't share [those millions],”
Sixx told Allhiphop. “He was joking, talking about the VitaminWater deal. I guess I can see how they might have misunderstood, but he definitely wasn’t dissing. There’s no beef."
More than 20,000 fans were in attendance at the Birthday Bash concert, which also featured performances by T.I., Ciara, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Rich Boy, Da Shop Boyz, Gucci Mane, Lil’ Jon. and Lil’ Scrappy.
G-Unit rival The Game was also in attendance and used his early performance slot to take shots at “every member of G-Unit from Ma$e to Olivia,” reports Allhiphop.
ORNETTE COLEMAN COLLAPSES ON STAGE: Jazz legend out of hospital after falling out at Bonnaroo Fest.
*Jazz great Ornette Coleman is currently recovering from heat stoke after collapsing on stage during a performance at Sunday’s Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn.
The 77-year-old saxophonist was rushed to a nearby medical tent following his collapse and given intravenous fluids before being taken to Coffey County Hospital. He was treated for heat-related dehydration and released later that night, said publicist Ken Weinstein.
The artist, known as the pioneer of “free jazz,” said he was lucid and felt no symptoms before the incident. Conditions at Bonnaroo were described by the Associated Press as “hot and dusty.” One fan died, AP reported, and officials are investigating whether heat or drugs played role.
Coleman received a lifetime achievement award at this year's Grammys, and won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for music for his 2006 album, "Sound Grammar," his first live recording in 20 years. His next scheduled concert is July 6 in Kongsberg, Norway.
EDDIE MURPHY, J-HUD INVITED TO JOIN FILM ACADEMY: ‘Dreamgirls’ pair among
115 actors invited into prestigious group.
*They may not have given him an Oscar, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited Eddie Murphy, as well as his Oscar-winning “Dreamgirls” co-star Jennifer Hudson, to join its coveted ranks.
A total of 115 actors, filmmakers, studio executives and others were invited into the exclusive group, including British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell.
Academy rules would have allowed nearly 150 new members this year, but the group's selecting committees endorsed fewer candidates than the maximum.
The academy enacted policies four years ago to slow its growth, with the number of members eligible to vote on the Oscars holding steady at a bit below 6,000 since then.
Besides Murphy, other nominees from last year asked to become academy members include actors Adriana Barraza ("Babel"), Ryan Gosling ("Half
Nelson") and Jackie Earle Haley ("Little Children"); directors Paul Greengrass ("United 93") and James Longley (the documentary "Iraq in Fragments"); screenwriters Guillermo Arriaga ("Babel"); Patrick Marber ("Notes on a Scandal") and Peter Morgan ("The Queen"); and costume designer Consolata Boyle ("The Queen").
BARACK OBAMA IS THE ‘RENEGADE’: Secret Service reveals its special code names for politicians.
*In case you’re around a Secret Service agent barking the word “renegade” into his or her wrist, it’s safe to assume that Sen. Barack Obama is somewhere close by.
On Sunday, the agency revealed to the Washington Post a list of code names it has given to its high-profile clients. Obama was christened "Renegade," while his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, is known as “Evergreen,” her husband Bill Clinton’s tag is “Eagle,” and Eagle’s former vice-president, Al Gore, is named "Sawhorse."
Secret service agents bestow nicknames as a way to communicate with each other without having to utter the person’s name as he or she engages in daily activities. Although officials say monikers are chosen without particular reference to a politician’s characteristics, Obama’s “Renegade"
may be viewed by some as a nod to his status as the lone black candidate running for president.
As for former presidents, Jimmy Carter, a former Sunday school teacher, was known as “Deacon”; Ronald Reagan was referred to as "Rawhide," and George Bush Sr. was "Timberwolf."
The secret service refers to your current president as “Tumbler.”
POLICE WANT TO QUESTION PACMAN JONES: Suspended Titans player may know suspects in yet another shooting following strip club fracas.
*Adam “Pacman” Jones, the Tennessee Titans player currently on suspension by the NFL following a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, is currently wanted for questioning about anther shooting that took place early Monday involving members of his entourage at a strip club in Atlanta.
"We believe he knows some of his entourage who were involved in the shooting," said officer Ariel Toledo. "On himself, we do not have any charges on him. He wasn't there when the shooting occurred."
According to Toledo, Jones and his crew fought three other people at the club, apparently over a woman. After everyone bounced — the three people in one car, and Jones and his entourage in three other cars — someone in Jones' group shot at the car, and the others returned fire.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete First Season
Seventies TV Series Featuring Lovable Sweathogs Arrives on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*In the fall of 1975, America was introduced to a motley crew of underachievers referred to by their teacher, Mr. Kotter (Gabe Kaplan), as The Sweathogs.
No offense was taken by the students, because Kotter had himself sat in the same remedial class when he had attended the Buchanan High School the generation before, so they actually appreciated the fact that he cared enough to come back to serve as inspiration for kids from his old Brooklyn neighborhood.
The sitcom's basic premise revolved around these delinquents cutting-up while a flabbergasted Kotter attempted to impart his pearls of wisdom.
Besides that rowdy brand of humor, the program is probably best remembered for launching the careers of John Travolta, who played heartthrob Vinnie Barbarino, and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who was the suave Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington.
Another indelible character was the terminally-nerdy Arnold Horshack, played by the hopelessly-typecast Ron Palillo who was unable to parlay his sudden fame into much more of an acting career.
The principal cast was rounded out by Robert Hegyes, Marcia Strassman and John Sylvester White, and this 4-disc DVD also features a guest appearance by two-time Oscar-nominee James Woods in the series' very first episode, entitled "The Great Debate."
Welcome Back, Kotter itself was nominated for Emmys in a couple of categories for this debut season, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
Because of its embracing of multiculturalism (Puerto Rican, black, white, Italian, Jew, etcetera) and its willingness to tackle some serious social issues, the show seems a lot less dated than most other comedies from the same era. Likely to resonate best with folks who still remember the memorable catchphrases of Vinnie ("Up your nose with a rubber hose!"), Boom-Boom ("Hey, Mr. Kot-tair!") and the annoying nasal Horshack ("Oooooooh! Ooooooh! Oooooooooh!") as he tried to get his teacher's attention in order to answer a question.
Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 9 hours, 13 minutes
Studi Warner Home Video
4-Disc DVD Extras: Original screen tests of stars John Travolta, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Ron Palillo and others, plus a featurette in which the original Sweathogs reflect o their most memorable moments on the show.
EUR DVD REVIEW: The Ultimate Ali Collection
Ali Career Revisited via Classic Bouts and More on 3-Disc DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Muhammad Ali was much more than "The Greatest" boxer of all time, he was also a defiant international icon who captivated the world by articulating the feelings of the oppressed underclasses.
He was an unusual sports figure in his day, being an outspoken conscientious object willing to offer an opinion on civil rights and the Vietnam War (Ain't no Viet Cong ever called me 'nigger').
And while the government moved swiftly to strip him of his heavyweight crown, it was never able to shut him up or take away his dignity.
The Ultimate Ali Collection is a boxed set comprised of three DVDs: Ali Rap, Ali's Dozen, and Ali 65. Ali Rap, narrated by rapper Chuck D, revisits his career via tributes from an eclectic assortment of luminaries including Sly Stallone, Reverend Al Sharpton, Diane Sawyer and Ludacris.
Ali's Dozen focuses on the pivotal round in 12 different fights which best help highlight Muhammad's brilliance inside the ring, where he exhibited a guile and grace unmatched either before or since.
This disc is also hosted by D, and features interviews with his opponents and eyewitnesses of these legendary bouts. Ali 65, narrated by Jeffrey Wright, is a celebration of the enduring icon's 65th birthday, and takes a fond look back at his life with the help of many who knew him.
Augmented with The Thrilla in Manilla and The Rumble in the Jungle, adds up to the perfect present for any Ali fan.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 152 minutes
Studi Genius Productions
DVD Extras: Interviews with Chuck D and Angelo Dundee, The Rumble in the Jungle (Ali vs. Foreman), The Thrilla in Manilla (Ali vs. Joe Frazier), Ali vs. Cleveland Williams, Ali vs. Ernie Terrell, Ali vs. Zora Folley, Ali vs.
Jerry Quarry, deleted scenes timeline, 1960 Olympic Gold Medal Match, Cassius Clay vs. Ziggy Pietrzykowski of Poland, and a Chuck D music video entitled "Ali Rap."
FILM/TV BITS: Cheadle in NY; Merkerson in ‘Sheba’; African Union Summit; Gooding Jr. honored; Evan Ross & Kardashian?; Ball Don’t Lie; Tony Parker concerns.
*Actor Don Cheadle will attend a screening and discussion of his Focus Features film "Talk To Me" July 10 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York. The film follows the true story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s
*S. Epatha Merkerson stars in the Los Angeles revival of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba, which begins performances June 17. The Center Theatre Group production will officially open June 24 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre for a run through July 15. Tickets to shows at The Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, can be purchased by calling CTG Audience Services at (213) 628-2772 or online at
www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.
*The African Union Summit Promoting African American Interest in Africa took place at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on Friday with a bevy of black male celebrities in attendance. A group photo floating around the Web features Judge Mathis, Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Herbie Hancock, Isaiah
Washington, Ozwald Boateng and Mos Def.
*The National Fatherhood Initiative has nominated actor Cuba Gooding Jr. for a 2008 Fatherhood Award for “being a great father to his three children and for his positive portrayal of an involved, responsible, and committed father in an upcoming Sony Pictures release, ‘Daddy Day Camp,’” which opens nationwide on Aug. 8. Gooding’s participation in a 2006 television special for children of deployed parents called, "When Parents are Deployed," also caught the attention of the organization. Awards will be announced in January and presented at the Annual Fatherhood Awards Gala to be held next June in Washington, D.C.
*Rumors of a new romance between socialite Kim Kardashian and Diana Ross’ son Evan Ross heated up over the weekend with paparazzi photos of the two arriving at L.A.’s Les Deux hotspot holding hands. "It was definitely a date" said a witness, according to gossip writer Janet Charlton. Ross, an actor who appeared in such films as “ATL” and HBO’s “Life Support,” is eight years younger than his rumored flame. Kardashian is best known for her sex tape with ex-boyfriend Ray J.
*Nick Cannon, Ludacris and Harold Perrineau star in a new teen drama titled “Ball Don’t Lie,” which follows a basketball prodigy striving to deal with life on the street, reports Variety. The cast also includes Rosanna Arquette, and Perrineau’s former “Lost” co-star Emilie de Ravin.
*The New York Post is reporting that friends of Eva Longoria have serious issues with her fiancé, Tony Parker. Page Six quotes one of her pals as saying: "He is just not gracious. He puts himself ahead of her. He always orders at restaurants before her and is rude to waiters. We just don't have a good feeling about him."
MUSIC BITS: DMX gig canceled; D.Child solo albums; 50 Cent at benefit; ‘T.I.
Vs. T.I.P.’
*DMX’s scheduled June 22 concert in Rockford, Ill has been canceled over security concerns raised by local police, reports the Rockford Register Star. “The key is sufficient crowd control,” Rockford City Attorney Jennifer Cacciapaglia told the newspaper. “If the Mormon Tabernacle Choir were performing, it’s logical to assume you’re not dealing with an adrenaline-charged crowd. But any time you have high-energy performances, you want to make sure everybody inside and out of the venue is safe." DMX is in the midst of a 17-city tour to promote his new greatest hits album, “The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter.”
*Kelly Rowland recently revealed that she and her former Destiny’s Child members Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams decided long ago not to release their respective solo projects at the same time. "We don't think of it as competition, but everyone else does so we try to avoid it," she said, according to WENN.
*Rapper 50 Cent is scheduled to perform a dinner concert benefit in New York Wednesday for the Sarah Ferguson Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street, reports New York Daily News columnists Rush & Malloy. The appearance is part of Cipriani's charity concert series, which is underwritten by Deutsche Bank so that 100 percent of the proceeds can go to charity.
*MTV.com has the skinny on T.I.’s upcoming album, “T.I. Vs. T.I.P.,”
due July 3 on the singer’s Grand Hustle imprint though Atlantic. “T.I.P.
raps on act one, T.I. handles act two and the two personas go head-to-head for act three,” reports the Web site. Artists featured on the album include Eminem, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes and Nelly.
EUR FILM REVIEW: The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Dull Sequel More Disappointing Than Original
Film Review by Kam Williams
*How do you take a team of beloved, comic book crime fighters with cool superhuman powers and turn them into absolute bores by the time they hit the big screen?
That's a question which can best be answered by Tim Story, director of The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, since he's achieved that improbable feat twice now. For this surprisingly-flat sequel proves to be just as dull as his first adaptation of the Marvel franchise back in 2005.
The quartet, which was ostensibly inspired by the classic Greek elements, air, fire, water and earth, is again led by the elastic Dr. Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd), a contortionist who has the ability to stretch, twist and re-shape his body.
Then, there's Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) who can turn herself invisible and also control force fields. Her brother, Johnny (Chris Evans), The Human Torch can fly and set himself afire. And The Thing (Michael Chiklis) is a rock-like mutant with incredible strength.
At the point of departure, we find Reed and Sue in Manhattan, making last-minute preparations for their impending marriage, blissfully unaware of extraordinary climate changes occurring elsewhere. They're too distracted by the paparazzi and adoring fans to hear about the fact that it's snowing on the pyramids in Egypt or that the seas encircling Japan have frozen solid.
Only after weird weather triggers a blackout in New York and ruins the couple's wedding day, does anybody pause to wonder what's suddenly causing these atmospheric anomalies. Of course, they soon discover that it isn't global warming at all, but the work of The Silver Surfer (played by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne). This intergalactic traveler is on a mission to Earth on behalf of Galactus, an evil entity that feeds on life-bearing planets.
The Silver Surfer is a virtually indestructible figure, provided he isn't separated from his metallic surfboard, which is the source of his cosmic powers. He flies faster than the speed of light and can survive in outer space, so it's clear that it's going to take a concerted effort to match wits with and subdue this elusive villain bent on world domination.
Thus, at the suggestion of U.S. Army General Hager (Andre Braugher), the Fantastic Four reluctantly join forces with their recently-revived archenemy, the diabolical Doctor Doom (Julian McMahon).
Unfortunately, the tortoise-paced adventure which ensues is a childlike insult to the intelligence which relies on pseudo-scientific claptrap which probably couldn't convince a ten year-old of its merit. Further, despite the flick's $130 million budget, its CGI-enhanced fight sequences are so tame and underwhelming that the movie was able to get away with a PG rating.
Inexplicably, directory Story remains determined to squander screen time on distracting sidebars developing his protagonists' personal lives, including The Thing's continuing relationship with his blind girlfriend (Kerry
Washington) and Johnny's being a ladies man. Of course, we have Sue and Reed's nuptials, at which Fantastic Four creator Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance as a wedding crasher.
That clever aside can't save Fantastic Four 2 which amounts to the worst comic book adaptation since, well, since Fantastic Four 1. An unimaginative disaster that takes forever to end, as if the celluloid is being stretched by Mr. Fantastic to make the movie last ten times longer than ninety minutes.
Poor (0 star)
Rated PG for sexual innuendo, mild epithets, and action violence.
Running time: 92 minutes
Studi 20th Century Fox
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
“A lifestyle is what you pay for; a life is what pays you." — Thomas
Leonard: CEO of CoachVille.com.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
June 19: Actress Gena Rowlands is 77. R&B singer Al Wilson is 68.
Actress Phylicia Rashad is 59. Singer Mark DeBarge of DeBarge is 48.
Singer-dancer-choreographer Paula Abdul is 45.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Black-owned e-commerce site features contemporary furniture and specializes in platform bedroom furniture. The site also customizes bedroom sets to meet your needs and budget: www.JazzMama.com
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
June 19, 1865: Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, slavery continued in Texas until June 19, 1865, when word reached Galveston, Texas that all slaves in Texas were free. This day, known as Juneteenth, is celebrated annually with picnics and barbecues at public emancipation grounds, some of which are used to this day. (Source:
www.BlackFacts.com)
STEVEN IVORY: Delicious Hustle
*Geneva can cook her ass off.
The way other people breathe is how effortlessly Geneva can take a breast of chicken, some fish, a lean steak, vegetables, fruit, dough and practically anything else digestible and turn it into a gastronomic delight. Friends say she's always possessed this innate talent, which she enhanced when she graduated from culinary school with flying colors.
Geneva's dream is to open her own eatery. Nothing big or fancy, just a place where people can relax and enjoy a great, reasonably priced meal. She's got the skills and the master plan. Her scrumptious dream was missing just one major ingredient.
At age 42, Geneva didn't have hustle.
Hustle is the motivating force that transforms fantasy into reality. Ambition on steroids, the hustle, in principle and procedure, is simple: It's the work. It's the phone calls; the letters sent; the rejection slips, the door closed in your face and the ability to endure it over and again until someone gives you what you want.
To hustle is to burn the candle at both ends, believing you're investing time and energy in a valiant return. It is planting seeds and then shaking the tree for fruit--while you plant more seeds. It is knowing that if you hustle diligently, there will be a positive result.
The word Hustle has long received a bad rap, but the honest hustle is simply what you have to do to make something go. Even mediocre purpose can find success if properly hustled. Then again, the world is filled with gorgeous plans that never succeed because its author is afraid to risk failure or just doesn't know how to roll up their sleeves.
Geneva only rolled up hers to cook. Either through her parents, who were not well off, or her ex-husband, who was, she always had what she wanted. But when both her parents and her marriage died within five years' time, Geneva found herself fending for herself. Worse, she had absolutely no sense of hustle.
Her uncle hired her to help run his plumbing firm, and in the evenings she attended cooking school. She developed a menu from her own creations and figured that even if she opened a little stand, people would come.
Geneva can take lobster, shrimp, okra and corn, layer it with her secret cream sauce and make hearts melt. Something she calls apple banana cobbler should be registered with the FDA as a narcotic. But
cooking never seemed like a real achievement to Geneva. People have swooned over the contents of her pots ever since she was a teen, and she never developed immunity to the word 'no.' When a potential investor in her eatery uttered the word, it jettisoned Geneva's dream into purgatory, where it languished for years. Until six months ago.
It began with something as simple as a walk. Geneva had been threatening to start exercising before heading into work and a friend challenged her to hang up the phone, turn off "Good Morning America" and come join her on her morning walk. Geneva drove ten city miles just to walk with her friend around a block twice, but it felt like an achievement.
That evening, Geneva tackled laundry. For months she'd done the kind of washing people do when they're on the move--vital pieces, some bedding and enough underwear to get her through a few days.
This time, she did loads; found clothes in her closet she hadn't worn in months. The DNA of the hustle is the empowerment one gets from seeing the results of a sincere effort, be it a hard earned job promotion or sticking with an exercise regimen. Sometimes, the smallest accomplishment can jump start big dreams.
In the coming days, Geneva read over her old recipes and menu. During the drive to and from work she found herself gaping at vacant storefronts and empty lots where a little food stand might be built. She dared dream anew.
She phoned that investor again, and again he politely said no. However, this time the word didn't frighten her. How could he say no, she challenged, if he'd never tasted her cooking?
After the sumptuous dinner Geneva prepared for his family at his home, the investor's wife, three helpings of cobbler later, said he'd be a fool not to get involved. He agreed.
I'm not going to end Geneva's story by telling you that she's opened her dream restaurant. Last I spoke with her, he had a way to go. But she will get there. She's got a heavenly product, clean clothes in her closet, and most important, the recipe with which empires are made: She's got hustle.
Steven Ivory's book, FOOL IN LOVE (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) is in stores now or at Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com) Respond to him via STEVRIVORY@AOL.COM or MYfeedback@eurweb.com
THE BRIDGE: Top Ten Gym Violations
By Darryl James
The heat is on!
People who broke all of their new year’s resolutions are now cramming the gyms in hopes of getting their “Summer Sexy” on before the big vacation, the family reunion or the high school reunion.
While being in the gym is almost always a good thing for people in a nation where fat is the national pastime, some people’s gym behavior is deplorable.
In another top ten list, here are some major violations while in the gym.
Top Ten Gym Violations:
1. Wearing perfume or cologne.
You may think you smell nice, but really, flowery scents and funk don’t mix. Instead of smelling sweet, you are now mixing your sweat, personal funk and the general odor of the gym with sweetness, which creates sweet, sickening stank—and that’s not good.
2. Spandex or any form of Lycra.
Unless you are in the midst of a performance sport, there is really no need to wear tight, stretchy clothing in the gym—especially if it’s only spreading your stuff around. Loose clothing is actually best for cardio, aerobics and even lifting.
3. Midriff tops.
If you are doing anything worthwhile in the gym, there is no reason to have your belly all exposed, especially if you have too much body fat leaking. It’s really anti-social to make everyone look at the lard leaking from your tight shirts. The sad part is that the most frequent offenders are the ones with the flabbiest midsections. Wait until your abdominal program starts to work before you wear that half of a shirt.
4. Offering unwarranted advice.
For the most part, health clubs offer professional trainers for those who need them. If you pretend you know what you’re doing, anyone silly enough to take your advice is at risk of injury and you can even catch a lawsuit. And, if you have a jailbird body (big arms, small legs and huge belly), you probably have no idea what you are doing anyway. If no one asks you, focus on your workout and shut up.
5. Using the gym as a pickup spot.
While some people dress to impress at the gym, most people are probably there to really work out. If there is no eye contact, keep it moving, Bluto. And ladies, allowing your breasts to pop up out of your already too small sports bra (which shouldn’t be worn as a shirt), won’t get you the kind of attention you probably want. Meeting someone cool can happen anywhere, but don’t force it in the gym.
6. Socializing while sitting on a machine.
It’s great that you have a workout partner, because sometimes, we all need a little motivation. But if you and your friend are doing more talking than working out, do the chatting away from the machines. It’s really poor social behavior to sit on a machine and have a conversation, while others are waiting to finish their workout. For the most part, people are trying to be time efficient when working out, perhaps using their lunch hour or the time in between work and converging with family. Step aside and allow them to work in.
7. Throwing the weights around.
At the end of your set, it’s really ignorant to drop or throw the weights. Maybe they get away from you after a grueling set or two, but if you are consistently tossing the weights so that they make maximum noise, you only make yourself look silly. If you can’t handle them without dropping them, you are using too much weight.
8. Working out without a towel.
Perhaps the worst gym experience is getting to the next machine in your workout and finding that some nasty loser has left their sweat on the machine. And, damn if it ain’t worse when someone has a greasy head of hair, leaving sweat and grease where you are now supposed to lay your head. Even if you forget your towel, they gym probably has one you can buy, or you can get some paper towels from the restroom and clean up after yourself. Many gyms are now demanding that patrons carry a towel upon entry—Thank God!
9. Grunting or making loud, stupid, annoying sounds.
If you can’t lift the weight without a lot of noise, maybe you are lifting too much. But, really, if you think that anyone is impressed, realize that most of the people who hear you are irritated and think you are a clown.
10. Singing along with your ipod.
It’s one thing to have your volume up so loud that everyone around you can hear your music. But it’s another thing to sing out loud. Just because it’s your favorite song, doesn’t mean that the rest of us want to hear it. Save your American Idol debut for the shower or the privacy of your car and spare everyone else.
Darryl James is an award-winning author who is now a filmmaker. His first mini-movie, "Crack," was released in March of 2006. He is currently filming a full length documentary. James’ latest book, "Bridging The Black Gender Gap," is the basis of his lectures and seminars. Previous installments of this column can now be viewed at www.bridgecolumn.com. James can be reached at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: Summer Politics
*As summer vacation plans start to hit their stride most people avoid thinking about something as un-fun as politics. But with a historic first about to take place at Howard University it’s in our best interest to pay attention.
On June 28th eight presidential hopefuls will participate in a debate of the issues facing our American economy. The event will be broadcast live on PBS.
Although some people are under the false impression their vote doesn’t count, if your money means anything to you, it’s in your best interest to pay attention. Some elected officials are spending our tax dollars on programs we are not aware of and/or we don’t support. The only way to change their actions is to know how they plan to use our money. That means doing our due diligence now to choose the best representatives instead of complaining after the election is over.
As part of my most recent tax return, I received an itemized list of how my tax dollars are used. Although I wasn’t surprised, seeing the match on paper made me realize how important it is to be an active participant when it comes to our elected officials.
According to my most recent tax return for ever dollar I paid in taxes, 36 cents went into the social security and Medicare programs. By the time I reach retirement age, if there is any money left for me to collect, it won’t be enough to pay a monthly utility bill, let alone anything else. Nineteen cents of every tax dollar I paid was used for national defense or shall we say international defense in Iraq. That’s money I certainly want directed somewhere else. Fourteen cents of every dollar I paid in taxes went to pay for Medicaid, food stamps and related programs – none of which I qualify for. Ten cents of every tax dollar collected from me went to pay for community development. Seven cents of every dollar I paid in taxes went to support unemployment and social services programs. Another seven cents I paid out of every tax dollar went towards “interest payments,” whatever that means. Four cents of every tax dollar went towards programs for veterans and foreign affairs.
I half-heartedly support these two programs. If we were wise about the amount of money spent on international defense on the front end, we would spend less money on the back end on veteran services and sustaining dilapidated facilities such as Walter Reed Medical Center.
Lastly, three cents of every tax dollar I paid was spent on law enforcement and general government.
It’s clear to me that I’m not just working to pay my bills; I’m working to pay the government’s bills too. That’s why I plan to make sure my vote counts.
I want a president who is woman or man enough to admit a bad decision and will stop throwing good money after bad. The only way to make that happen is for me to pay attention to the issues that affect my community and my money. That’s why I’ll be watching the presidential debates on June 28th and September 27th (at Morgan State University) live on PBS. Will you?
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist living in the Washington, DC metro area. Send your comments and questions to teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com.
College Zone: College Dorm Rules
By Regina Thomas
*Adjusting to dorm life can be a breeze for some and a difficult transition for others. Face it, there are students coming from all walks of life, with different habits and ways of living. All of these ways of being will converge on a college campus and for many become what you wake up and go to sleep with for the next year. Adjusting to living with a roommate can be made easier just by following a few of these college dorm rules.
Tip # 1: Dorm Questionnaire. The housing office will not take the time to read your personal statement in order to place you with the “perfect” roommate. Instead, they rely on answers you submitted on your questionnaire to help them place you with someone who is for example, an early riser like yourself. So please be honest in your answers on this form.
Tip # 2: Roommate Rules. Even if you immediately hit it off with your new roommate, I strongly recommend setting aside some time to talk about how the two of you will live together. Communication, often and up front, instead of after a problem arises is perhaps the best way to avoid hurt feelings or misunderstandings. Set aside no more than 1 hour to talk about any ground rules you would like to establish such as overnight guests, personal space, food sharing, studying time, and conflict resolution. Getting a clear understanding of each other’s expectations will hopefully create a harmonious living arrangement.
Tip # 3: Security. Since both of you will be staying together, it is always a good idea to have each other’s cell phone numbers in case of an emergency. Also, if your roommate spends the night out, you should be aware of this information. Don’t think of it as playing surrogate parent, instead view it is a safety precaution. Hundreds of students each year become victims of crimes and knowing where your roommate is during late hours can make all the difference.
Tip # 4: Quiet Time. In addition to sitting down with your new roommate to establish some basic dorm rules, you may want to spell out some rules around quiet time. Even though you may be the type who likes to study in the library instead of the room, there may be circumstances from time-to-time which prevent that from happening. If following a daily quiet hour is too rigid a rule, consider setting aside a couple of hours each night or morning during the period of finals or mid-terms.
Tip # 5: Personal space. This rule is saved for last because it is perhaps the most sensitive one. I remember being in college and going out to a party only to find my roommate wearing my favorite blouse. Needless to say, she didn’t ask for permission to raid my closet. Establishing up front what is okay and what isn’t to share, do or say can go a long way in building a mutually respectful living arrangement.
For those of you who will go it alone freshmen year and not have a roommate, you are really missing out on an experience. I will never forget mine; it was filled with laughter, good times and lessons learned. All of these experiences and more, made my freshmen year of dorm living an unforgettable experience.
Each week I’ll write about college-centric topics that are informative, witty, inspirational and above all intended to give you “The Edge”. Until then…Carpe Diem!
Regina Thomas is the founder of College Admissions Counselors; a private, one-on-one admissions coaching service that assists high school students and working professionals with the college application process. She has a Master of Education Degree from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley. Regina is happy to answer your college related questions. Send your inquiries to regina@yourcollegeworld.com.
PEOPLE OF NOTE: Marjorie Moutari: Combining Health and Beauty
By Deardra Shuler
*Marjorie Moutari is a positive thinker. She believes in attracting the best into her life and in doing so is someone who is concerned her clients receive the full effect and benefit of natural health care. As a result, she combined her experience and knowledge of nutrition, diet, health, and skin care to develop natural health care products that coddle and soothe the body. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Marjorie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Since there have been limited studies on black skin or research into the harmful effects certain chemicals have on the skin, few know the potential harm that chemicals contained in so-called health and beauty products may have on the body. Therefore, Marjorie Moutari saw the wisdom in trying to stay as close to nature as possible.
Marjorie is married to the former Ambassador of Niger, a man who can trace his family back to the royal blood of Africa. Marriage to a diplomat afforded Marjorie the opportunity to travel throughout the world. She became a world citizen thus took full advantage of this opportunity and immersed herself into the study of various beauty techniques, essential oils, perfumes, personal care, health products and nutritional remedies native to the various countries in which she lived. Eventually, she took these natural remedies and developed her own health and beauty products which she now sells via her company Kazam Natural Body Care. She learned these secrets and studied these formulas in countries such as Germany, Russia, and Africa, etc. She now sells these lotions, body scrubs, bath salts, soaps and natural body care and organic health and beauty products in her Bayonne, New Jersey store located at 239 Broadway, (between 9th and 10th Streets) in Bayonne. She even sells candles and semi precious stone jewelry. Her products are also available on line, via mail order, and are carried in several beauty shops.
Her position as the wife of a high ranking diplomat stationed in several countries, including Africa, enabled Marjorie to aid African women through conducting workshops and seminars whereby she trained African women in the making of soaps, lotions, essential oils, and perfumes. Marjorie is proud her efforts helped these women become self-sufficient business women who could generate income for their families via formulating their own personal care businesses.
“We combined our passion for travel with our knowledge, experience, and creative ideas for bath and body formulas to create a range of truly indulgent products. Products that delight the senses and soothe the body,” said the busy CEO of Kazam Natural Body Care. “Only the finest ingredients nature has to offer go into the making of our products and are specifically selected for their skin nourishing qualities. We feel passionately about producing beautiful skin care items without the use of harsh chemicals, artificial preservatives and artificial fragrances,” continued Moutari. “Thus, all of our ingredients have been carefully chosen to ensure that the final result is not only kind and caring for our customer’s skin but is also safe enough for the entire family.”
As a beauty consultant and nutritional expert, Ms. Moutari believes that one should take the time out of each day to pamper and indulge oneself. Therefore, she designed her products to insure the optimal sensory experience. She combines facial and body skin nourishing oils and nut butters with ravishing scents so that her customers not only benefit from the products that make the skin moist and supple but can also enjoy the added pleasure of her products aroma.
“I am always pleased when I get feedback about my products,” said the charming entrepreneur who is having a Grand Opening in her New Jersey Store on Saturday, June 23rd and whose product reviews have appeared in “Honey Magazine, the Editor’s Pick Award in Five Star Review Magazine, and the online magazine Delush. Actresses Illen Kristen and Melissa Archer of the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live” liked the products so much, they gave them as gifts in their celebrity gift bags.
“Nature has provided us with an abundance of wonderfully pure ingredients that are perfect for pampering and treating our body and soul. I have worked hard to make certain that the wonderful scents contained within my essential oils combined with the facial and body skin nourishing oils and nut butters, provide my customers with the perfect excuse to enjoy a moment of pure relaxation,” claims Marjorie.
Well published in Africa, Moutari has written several articles on health, beauty care, and nutrition in the French language. She is published in national magazines such as La Nourriture Fondement De La Vie" (Translated from French to English) meaning “Food is the Foundation of Life.”
It is Ms Moutari’s belief that her company, Kazam Natural Body Care grew out of a demand for preservative free products that have no harmful side effects. As growing numbers of health conscious consumers continue to seek out and utilize pure, natural, high quality organic and aroma therapeutic products made without any harsh chemicals, they will look for companies such as Marjorie Moutari’s company, Kazam Natural Body Care to meet this growing need.
For further information about Kazam Natural Body Care products see: www.Kazambodycare.com and/or info@kazambodycare.com.
THE ROBERTSON TREATMENT – Volume 10, Edition 5: TRAVEL DIARY – “A Magical Village Come Alive” – Zurich, Switzerland
*Zurich immediately impressed me from the moment my plane arrive at its gate. Loaded with ultra-modern, high-tech facilities, my curiosity was peaked by the ease by which I was able to move through the international terminal. Exiting the airport headed for a hotel arranged for me by the Swiss Tourism, I had no idea of what to expect from the second leg of my European getaway. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long as after a short ride my eyes soon settled on a township that looked like it was plucked right out of one of my childhood fairytales; a place that would soon take me literally 400 years back in time. As my car approached what is still central Zurich, I first thought the area was of some sort of an exhibit that I would later visit. However, when my driver veered onto the area’s cobble stone roads, it dawned on me that this “exhibit” was in fact my destination. I silently told myself that it was okay to let my mind drift to fairy land.
Getting There
From Berlin I took Swiss Air for the short flight to Zurich. From the States a number of US and International carriers offer regular direct service to the city from several US gateways. After you arrive many transfer options including a light rail system, taxis and car service await. Special Note: The average ride from the airport to town by car averages nearly $50 American dollars.
Accommodations
As my luck would have it, my Swiss hosts had selected a charming boutique hotel for me right in the center of town. The Hotel Adler is located within a short walk from the city’s efficient light-rail system, and literally a stone’s throw from virtually all of the best restaurants and attractions in Old Town Zurich.
Conveniently adjoined to a moderately priced Swiss restaurant, the Adler was staffed with a friendly staff and featured a highly popular computer center that was well-worked by yours truly who had last minute details to finalize for a New York premiere screening a few days later. My room was compact, but modern, and offered just enough space I needed during my stay.
Culture
Like the rest of Switzerland, Zurich is a mixed bag of diversity. Bordered by France, Germany and Italy, every aspect of cultural life in the city is deeply influenced by its distinct European neighbors, which gives the country a multicultural resonance unlike any other place on the continent. Reflected in its architecture, language and cadence, Zurich exudes a nice balance of character from its European neighbors without being overwhelmed. It’s that healthy flava, plus the warmth and helpfulness of the Swiss people that makes the city a pleasure to visit.
Tour Guide
My tours around Zurich were presented via two vantage points: land and sea.
On my first day in the city I was met by an older sagacious gentleman who delivered to me a brisk and comprehensive tour of the city. From past to present he rendered the history, politics and culture of Zurich, providing me with vast insights into the city. Going on this walking tour with him was a truly enlightening experience that gave me a better empathy for the Swiss people. We later made our way by light-rail to the industrial area of the city where we enjoyed a delightful dinner in what’s called New Zurich. There I enjoyed a fabulous communal Italian meal with an eclectic array of the city’s residents.
The next day I met with a much younger tour guide who while not quite as erudite as the old man nevertheless pointed out some interesting sites (like the famous Lindt Chocolate factory, Hotel and a view of Tina Turner’s home), during our lunch out in the middle of the Zurich sea.
That afternoon I spent the day roaming around town, hanging out in bars and restaurants, taking in the various sites and sounds of the city. It was amazing to see so many people from different parts of the world all hanging out in a much smaller space. In many ways it reminded me of London, sophisticated, wild and fun.
Culinary Delights
Start your day with a traditional Swiss breakfast, enjoy your afternoon with a delightfully rich French lunch, and making yourself hot and fussy with a grand Italian meal for dinner is an essential part of the Zurich experience. Put quite simply, the food in Zurich is the BOMB! I must admit that I co
