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09-20-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
O.J. SIMPSON FREE ON BAIL: Next stop, a flight back to his home in Florida.
*Dressed in a light blue sport coat, O.J. Simpson was released from the Clark County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon after posting $125,000 bail in connection with the armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors at a Las Vegas hotel.
The 60-year-old was freed about two hours after his court appearance, where Judge Joe Bonaventure Jr. outlined 11 criminal charges [see below], including first-degree kidnapping, which carries the possibility of life in prison with parole.
"Mr. Simpson do you understand the charges against you?" Bonaventure asked.
"Yes, sir," said Simpson, wearing a blue jail uniform and handcuffs.
Bonaventure also laid out a list of restrictions for his release, including surrendering his passport to his attorney and having absolutely no contact with co-defendants or potential witnesses.
The Heisman Trophy winner’s co-defendants - Walter Alexander, Clarence Stewart and Michael McClinton – received similar charges in connection with the alleged incident. Detectives were still searching for two unidentified men seen on hotel camera footage carrying boxes that police believe had some of the collectibles taken during the robbery.
Simpson will be represented by his Florida lawyer, Yale Galanter, and Las Vegas lawyer Gabriel Grasso. The prosecution will be run by District Attorney David Roger and Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Owens.
Both have handled some of Las Vegas' most high-profile cases, including the first Ted Binion murder trial and the Laughlin River Run riot, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal.
As of press time, Simpson was due to catch a flight back to his Florida home. Galanter said Simpson will plead not guilty to all of his charges, listed below:
• Two counts of first-degree kidnapping, a felony, carrying the possibility of life in state prison or a definite term of 15 years, depending on the sentencing judge's discretion. Parole eligibility begins after five years.
• Two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, mandatory
2-15 years in prison, plus a possible additional 1-15 years for use of a weapon.
• Burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, felony, 2-15 years.
• Coercion with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, 2-12 years in prison.
• Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, felony, 1-6 years.
• Conspiracy to commit kidnapping, felony, 1-6 years.
• Conspiracy to commit robbery, felony, 1-6 years.
• Conspiracy to commit a crime, gross misdemeanor, 1 year in county jail.
KANYE WEST COMMENTS ON SALES VICTORY: Plus, 50 Cent concedes defeat after SoundScan releases final tally.
*It’s official. The final first week tally is in and Kanye West’s new album “Graduation” has beaten 50 Cent’s “Curtis” in a promotional sales competition by nearly 300,000 copies.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, West sold 957,000 copies to enter the Billboard 200 chart at No. 1 this week. 50 Cent lands at No. 2 on sales of 691,000 copies.
"To be a champion, you've got to take out a champion," West said Tuesday night at GQ's 50th anniversary party, where he rocked a celeb-filled crowd that included Jay-Z, Beyonce and Diddy cheering him on, according to the Associated Press. Moments later, he called for his "theme music," then launched into a performance of his currently single "Good Life."
"Graduation’s” sales performance also beat the year’s previous first-week victor, Linkin Park, which sold 623,000 of "Minutes to Midnight"
when it debuted in May.
"It feels overwhelming," West told The Associated Press earlier in the day. "Everyone is coming up to me and telling me how proud they are of me."
This whole sales race was fired up when 50, whose album was originally scheduled to drop in June on Interscope Records, pushed his release date back to Sept. 11. Soon after, Def Jam decided to scrap the original release date of “Graduation” from late summer to Sept. 11 as well.
West said it was all his idea to go directly against 50.
"I was the underdog because I sold less records in the past, so it was a win-win for me," he said. "If I lost, everyone would be happy that I even went up against him."
During the early part of the media-hyped sales race, 50 Cent said he would retire from the music business if West outsold him. Now that it has happened, the rapper’s attitude has changed.
"I am very excited to have participated in one of the biggest album release weeks in the last two years,” 50 said in a statement released to AP.
Collectively, we have sold hundreds of thousands of units in our debut week.
This marks a great moment for hip-hop music, one that will go down in history."
"The rivalry helped both of them," said Jay-Z, president of West's label Def Jam. "It was definitely one of those moments in the game that was exciting, everybody could pick a side and weigh in on and have an opinion ... it garnered a lot of attention."
Meanwhile, country star Kenny Chesney, whose new album "Just Who I
Am: Poets & Pirates" was also released on Sept. 11, sold 2.2 million copies, as did the previous No. 1 album “High School Musical 2,” placing third and fourth respectively.
WESLEY SNIPES ORDERED TO PAY FORMER AGENCY: Action taken after actor ignores summons in lawsuit filed by UTA.
*A Los Angeles judge has ordered Wesley Snipes to make good on a $1.7 million default judgment to his former talent agency, which assisted him in earning lead roles in four motion pictures.
According to documents made public Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Workman signed off on the award after Snipes failed to respond to a summons in the breach-of-oral-contract lawsuit, which was filed against him in July 2006 by United Talent Agency, reports E! Online.
The complaint alleged that Snipes, 45, verbally agreed in November
2002 to give UTA 10 percent of his salary for any roles the company secured for him. UTA says it negotiated lead parts for Snipes in 2004's “Blade:
Trinity,” for which he was paid $13 million; the little-seen 2005 crime drama “Chaos”; and the direct-to-video films, “The Shooter” and “Middle Man.”
The agency filed a lawsuit claiming Snipes reneged on the deal and failed to pay commissions before he fired UTA in February 2006. After UTA's lawyers said they where unable to serve the actor notice of the complaint in person, Superior Court Commissioner Barry D. Kohn permitted them to publish a summons informing Snipes of the lawsuit in two newspapers, the Daily Journal of Los Angeles, where Snipes conducts business and The Record in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where Snipes owns a residence.
Neither Snipes nor his lawyer responded to the complaint by last Thursday’s deadline, which prompted Workman to give the actor's camp one last chance to review the case and default request by setting a hearing for Sept. 26. But by the end of the session, the judge reversed himself and signed a document entering the $1.7 million judgment into the record.
Meanwhile, Snipes’s tax evasion trial is set to begin Oct. 22 in Ocala Florida. The actor is charged with eight counts of cheating the Internal Revenue Service out of $12 million by filing fraudulent returns. If convicted, Snipes could face up to 16 years in prison.
As previously reported, the film star says he is innocent and being targeted because of his race. His lawyers have also asked a federal judge to dismiss the charges on those grounds, claiming prosecutors failed to seek similar charges against his two white codefendants.
ANTHONY ANDERSON’S ‘K’VILLE’ TOPS RATINGS: Fox’s post-Hurricane Katrina drama wins key demo Monday night.
*Fox’s new drama series “K-Ville” debuted to big numbers on Monday, drawing 9 million viewers to win the night’s coveted 18-49 demographic, according to early Nielsen data.
The series, starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser as police detectives in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, also outperformed last year's debut of "Vanished" in the same time slot by 5% in total viewers and 13% among adults 18-49.
The show’s 9 p.m., Monday competition included repeats on ABC and CBS and an original "The Singing Bee" on NBC, which drew 7.8 million viewers.
“Prison Break,” which began its third season at 8 p.m. Monday with Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) in a Panamanian jail, averaged an estimated 7.4 million viewers. Unfortunately, it was the series’ least watched premiere – down nearly 2 million viewers from the opener last year.
It was beaten in the ratings by reruns of “How I Met Your Mother (10.9
million) and “The New Adventures of Old Christine (12.4 million) on CBS.
“K-Ville,” slang for “Katrina-Ville,” expanded its “Prison Break”
lead-in by 6% in adults 18-49 and 22% in total viewers. Next Monday, both shows will face serious competition from the season premieres of NBC’s "Heroes," ABC’s "Dancing With the Stars" and CBS’ "Two and a Half Men."
TRACY MORGAN HAS SCRAM SENTENCE EXTENDED: Actor admits to violating probation with a drink last month.
*Two days after his NBC show “30 Rock” won an Emmy Award for best comedy series, Tracy Morgan was ordered by a judge to spend an extra 80 days in his alcohol monitoring anklet for violating terms of his probation.
Morgan was fitted for the Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring
(SCRAM) contraption on May 25th for violating probation stemming from a DUI in December 2005. The device, worn around the ankle, detects booze in sweat and vapors released through the skin.
At a status hearing Tuesday, the comedian admitted to drinking alcohol on Aug. 4. He was ordered to remain SCRAMed up for 80 more days and attend another 10 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings by Oct. 23, reports E!
Online.
His original SCRAM sentence was for 90 days, with a warning that he’d face another month and a half of ankle supervision if he fell off the wagon.
If he violates the terms of the deal a second time, he'll get an automatic 30-day stay at the L.A. County Jail.
RADIO VET EGYPT JOINS ‘MAURY’ SHOW: Personality to cover pop culture for daytime staple.
*Television and radio personality Egypt joins the “Maury” show this fall as a special correspondent covering pop culture.
Egypt will contribute stories and interviews both in-studio and on-location, including reporting on the latest and hottest trends, as well as behind the scenes exposes.
Host Maury Povich states: “Egypt is a solid interviewer who has an energetic and dynamic personality. She will be a great addition to our show as special correspondent.”
Egypt is an award-winning radio broadcast talent, most recognized as the co-host of New York’s Power 105.1 FM's morning show and the current voice of Premiere Radio Network's "Synopsis" entertainment report on "Live In The Den with Tigger," which is broadcast in over 60 cities.
ROSIE O’DONNELL CLARIFIES OPRAH SNUB: She uses her haiku-style blog to offer explanation.
*Rosie O’Donnell felt the need to explain why she turn down an invitation from the almighty Oprah Winfrey to promote her new book, “Celebrity Detox.”
In a posting on her Web site, Rosie addresses Tuesday’s New York Post story, which claimed she “dissed” Winfrey and decided to grant an interview with Diane Sawyer. Ro says the content of her autobiography – in which she hints of possible sexual abuse suffered as a child – is just “too raw” to discuss right now.
In her own special haiku-style delivery, Ro writes: "the book was hard to write ... i do not feel ready to discuss or defend the things i shared on those 209 pages."
Winfrey, meanwhile, told ET.com about O'Donnell's memoir: "I like the book very much. I thought Rosie in this book was so candid about what it's like to live a life in front of other people."
Addressing Winfrey’s reaction, O’Donnell ended her posting:
oprah is a force of nature
her invitation made me cry
her kind words about the book
reinforces what we all know
2 b true about her
As previously reported, O'Donnell's rep Cindi Berger said her client "is currently scheduled to do an interview with Diane Sawyer on Oct. 9" – the book's official publication date. The interview will run on “Good Morning America,” Berger said, adding, "I'm sure she will do Oprah for another project, just not this one."
PRINCE PERFORMS AT LONDON FASHION SHOW: Audience surprised when he jumped on catwalk to sing ‘U Got the Look.’
*Prince drew lots of quiet stares when he planted himself in the front row of Matthew Williamson's fashion show in London yesterday.
But when the lights dimmed and the first notes of his music began to pound through the sound system, His Royal Badness had the crowd screaming and scrambling to take cell phone photos as jumped onstage for a surprise performance.
"He really wanted to do this, and you don't say 'No' to Prince,"
Williamson told Reuters TV following the show.
The singer, currently in London performing a string of dates at the
02 Arena, took his front row seat at Williamson’s spring-summer 2008 collection and appeared to be there to just watch the show.
But when one of his songs began to play, a pair of identical twins appeared on the catwalk and started to dance. Prince, wearing a black suit and hat, then began singing into a microphone from his seat before jumping up and performing from the start of the runway flanked by his band, reports Reuters.
Audience members, including Sting’s wife Trudie Styler, rose to their feet and began cheering. He closed the show with his 1986 hit, “Kiss.”
Don’t expect to find any of this footage on YouTube. Those days are over, as Prince has gotten his lawyers to crack down on the use of unauthorized footage under threat of a lawsuit.
ROBIN ROBERTS TO START CHEMO TODAY: ‘GMA’ co-anchor begins phase two of treatment following surgery for breast cancer.
*“Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts has announced she will begin chemotherapy today as part of her treatment for breast cancer.
Roberts, 46, underwent surgery on Aug. 3 and spent ten days on the mend before returning to work. The TV personality said during Wednesday’s broadcast that she would come to work this morning “and then head off for my chemotherapy.”
She told viewers that doctors determined chemotherapy would be the best course of action for her, and that radiation treatment will follow.
"I'll work as much as I can," Roberts said. "Part of the reason I am coming forward is in case you tune in and it looks like Kojak is sitting next to Diane (Sawyer), you'll understand why."
MIJAC TAKES HIS KIDS TO SEE LION KING: Spy said he had the children dressed in wigs and baseball caps.
*While in New York to shoot the cover of Italian Vogue, (as rumor has it) Michael Jackson got out on the town with his three kids and took in a performance of “The Lion King,” according to Page Six.
Aspen magazine fashion editor Sue Hostetler was backstage when "all of a sudden, Michael Jackson appears with his three kids - who all had wigs and baseball caps on," she told the column.
Jackson reportedly introduced his children as Paris, Prince and Blanket to members of the cast before snapping photographs and "running out."
Hostetler also described the singer’s appearance, stating: "His face was totally white, he had his wig on, sunglasses and these absolutely wacky pants. It was surreal. There were four bodyguards."
OPRAH’S DADDY GETS INTO REAL ESTATE: Vernon and his wife make plans to develop area around his barbershop.
*Oprah Winfrey's father and stepmother are planning to build a retail and residential development near the small Nashville, Tennessee barbershop he has run for the past 40 years, reports the Associated Press.
Per their announcement Tuesday, Vernon and Barbara Winfrey are calling the project Winberry Place. The development will have six single-family homes, three townhouses, three apartments and retail space.
Barbara Winfrey says the project, scheduled to begin early next year, will help complement existing efforts to revitalize the area.
IS J.LO PREGNANT OR NOT?: In Touch magazine says yes; husband Marc Anthony says it’s news to him.
*In Touch weekly stands firm behind its report that Jennifer Lopez is finally pregnant after years of trying, and she may even be carrying twins.
"She's about twelve weeks pregnant. She’s due in the spring," In Touch quoted a source as saying. The spy also claimed the actress used in vitro fertilization.
But a rep for J.Lo’s husband Marc Anthony says the whole story is a figment of someone’s imagination.
"Everyone calls about this every month with the hopes that they'll hit the mark," Anthony's publicist told the New York Daily News, "but no.
No."
DID MEL B LEAVE BABY WITH THE HELP TO ELOPE?: Singer denies housekeeper’s account to Star magazine.
*A rep for Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown has used the word “fictitious” to describe a report in Star magazine that she left her newborn baby with the maid to run off and marry Stephen Belafonte.
Tonia Lamere told Star she was working at the singer’s Los Angeles house earlier this year when Brown suddenly jetted off to Las Vegas to get married, leaving her then two-month-old daughter Angel Iris and eight-year-old Phoenix Chi behind to be cared for by Lamere.
"One evening of baby-sitting turned into four days! The child was sick, there was no nanny, and when Mel called, she never even asked about the baby," Lamere told Star.
But Brown - who is currently embroiled in a child support battle with actor Eddie Murphy after it was proven he fathered Angel Iris - has dismissed the allegations and insists the former employee is just looking to make a quick profit.
A rep for Brown tells the New York Daily News: "Melanie is a hands-on mother completely dedicated to the upbringing of her children and the well-being of her entire family. Any fictitious accusations to the contrary stem from greedy people looking to make a buck."
BLACK COALITION CONDEMNS ISIAH THOMAS: Group outraged over statements regarding black women and the b-word.
*A coalition of African American leaders is condemning New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas for stating there is less of a sting when black men refer to black woman as a “bitch” as opposed to white men.
Thomas made the statement in a videotaped deposition played during his sexual harassment trial earlier this week.
African American female Knicks executive, Anucha Browne Sanders, is seeking $10 million in damages after being fired for accusing Thomas of harassment, her lawsuit states.
"Isiah Thomas owes black women a public apology,” writes the coalition, led by Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope. “That type of statement and mindset that Thomas has is ridiculous and should be condemned. There is no distinction in disrespecting black women. It’s not acceptable for anyone to use vulgar and disparaging remarks when addressing black women."
ITTY BITTY BITS: Dash behind ‘Untouchable’; Dixon powers ‘Ray’ musical; Ja Rule’s mirror; Streetcred.com; Gabrielle & Ludacris?
*Damon Dash is teaming with Magnolia Films to executive produce a new documentary about notorious Harlem drug kingpin Nicky Barnes, reports SOHH.com. Titled “Mr. Untouchable,” the film is due in theaters Oct. 19 and gets its name from the 1977 New York Times Magazine cover that bore the headline, “Mister Untouchable.” Marc Levin directs the project, which features music by DJ Hi Tek and commentary from Barnes, his ex-wife, Thelma Grant, ex-members of his crew, "The Council," reporters, lawyers and officers from various law enforcement agencies who worked to convict Barnes.
*Brandon Victor Dixon, a Tony nominee for his role as Harpo in Broadway’s The Color Purple, has been cast as Ray Charles in the musical Ray Charles Live! at the Pasadena Playhouse (39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, CA.) With a book written by Suzan-Lori Parks, the musical "incorporates the seminal moments in Ray Charles' life as 'The Genius'
records his last album. Parks uses his music to tell the 'in studio' audience the story of his life with all of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the sublime." Dixon stars opposite Nikki Renee Daniels, who plays Charles’ second wife Della. Previews begin Oct. 31, and the show will officially open Nov. 9 for a run scheduled through Dec. 9. Tickets are available by calling (626) 356-PLAY. For more information visit pasadenaplayhouse.org.
*Ja Rule’s new album, “The Mirror,” will arrive in stores on Nov. 13th powered by current single, “Body,” and previous first single Uh Ohh” featuring Lil Wayne. According to his label, “Ja Rule tips his hand more than ever about the hurdles he's successfully resolved and the new doors and challenges opening up ahead” on the album.
*StreetCred.com – billed as an “interactive social media network that aggregates the hip-hop culture onto a single global platform” was launched recently with the support of artists T.I., Diddy, Snoop, Common, and T-Pain. At www.StreetCred.com, members can establish their own “block,” reside on a virtual “street,” build their “squad of friends,” build and sustain 'cred' and express themselves using audio, video, images and blogs. The platform consists of social networking, content publishing and sharing, and digital content distribution, all for the hip-hop culture.
*According to In Touch Weekly, Gabrielle Union and rapper Ludacris have a budding romance going on. The actress was reportedly “openly affectionate” while attending his recent birthday bash in Las Vegas. Union is also said to be a cause in the reported “unofficial separation” of Dwayne Wade and his wife Siohvaughn. Rumor has it that the high school sweethearts have decided to give each other some space, reports MediaTakeOut.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Severance
Psychos Turn Tables on Gun Manufacturers in Horror Comedy on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Palisade Defence is a state-of-the-art weapons manufacturer which ships its goods to international hotspots anywhere on the planet.
As a reward for the company's success, CEO George Cinders (David Gilliam) has decided to treat his seven-member sales force to a team-building weekend at a luxury corporate retreat tucked away in a mountainous region of Eastern Europe near Transylvania.
However, their plans for a relaxing respite go awry before they even arrive, when the bus shuttling them from the airport to the spa breaks down.
Proceeding through the forest on foot, it is easy for the group to sense the palpable tension permeating the atmosphere.
Led by their ineffective boss, Richard (Tim McInnerny), this ill-fated motley crew of obvious archetypes includes his hyper sidekick, Gordon (Andy Nyman); Harris (Toby Stephens), the sarcastic smart-ass; skeptical Maggie (Laura Harris); Jill (Claudie Blakley), the brainy blonde; Steve (Danny Dyer), the hallucinating, recreational drug abuser; and Billy (Babou Ceesay), the obligatory black guy who will be the first person to be knocked-off, if this high-attrition rate horror flick follows the tried and true formula.
The action opens innocently enough, with the vacationers participating in a friendly game of paintball. But it isn't long before the weapons dealers find themselves actually being hunted for real by a gang of goons with a grudge.
Severance unfolds much like an installment of the Scream trilogy, except starring adults instead of teens. The film cleverly mixes humorous asides in with moments of sheer terror, such as when our heroes try to defend themselves with a prototype of a surface-to-air missile only to have it miss its target and fly up into the heavens and down a passing jetliner.
A comical cautionary tale which ought to trigger a little paranoia in the souls of any advocates of the Military-Industrial Complex.
Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, drug use and graphic violence.
In English, Hungarian and Russian without subtitles Running time: 90 minutes
Studi Magnolia Home Entertainment
EUR DVD REVIEW: The Camden 28
Vietnam Era Legal Case Revisited by Documentary on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*By 1971, the sentiment of the majority of Americans had swung to the side of the burgeoning antiwar movement, given the great number of boys returning home in body bags from Vietnam.
Among those moved to civil disobedience was a group of Catholic conscientious objectors based in New Jersey.
Led by four priests who were as outraged by the human toll the conflict was taking on the non-combatants as on our soldiers, the clergymen and company asked themselves, "What do you do when you see a child on fire in a war that was a mistake? Write a letter?"
Taking to heart God's commandment that "Thou shalt not kill," the group decided that they needed to do something more than picket or sign a petition. The tactic they settled on was to break into a Selective Service office in order to shred any draft documents they could find.
Even though they joked about the possibility of there being a Judas in their midst, what they did not know, however, was that a member of their cell was, in fact, an FBI mole named Bob Hardy. Thus, when they hatched their plan in the wee hours of August 22nd, a dragnet of agents descended on them before they could do any damage.
Nonetheless, the intruders and all the members of their support team were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit Federal crimes which would saddle them with sentences of up to 47 years each, if convicted on all counts. Dubbed the Camden 28, the accused mounted a spirited defense which appealed for a jury nullification of the charges based on the theories that the Vietnam War was both illegal and immoral and that the plot would never have been attempted without the involvement of the FBI, since its infiltrator had provided practically all the tools they were relying on to carry it out.
Directed by Anthony Giacchino, The Camden 28 combines archival footage with wistful remembrances by some of the surviving participants to yield a surprisingly timely reminder that peace is as every bit as patriotic an option as war.
Furthermore, in revisiting the oppressive measures employed by the FBI via its COINTELPRO program during that era's reign of terror, the viewer is simultaneously treated to a welcome message about the right, if not the duty, to challenge authority, especially in the face of corruption, intransigence and utter arrogance. Bring back the Sixties, man!
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 83 minutes
Studi First Run Video
DVD Extras: Bonus archival footage, multiple interviews, Camden 28 reunion, Howard Zinn essay and a filmmaker bio.
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Sebastian
*Meet Sebastian. Sebastian is 6 years old and like most little boys he is precocious and fun loving. He loves being outdoors playing soccer and basketball. He has an aptitude for languages and music so he also speaks French and has memorized all the songs from the Disney Channels “High School Musical.” He is a typical little boy in every way save one: Due to illness Sebastian doesn’t spend much time with other little boys and girls. He is educated in the home and his “playmates” are the doctors and nurses at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee . Sebastian suffers with Sickle Cell Disease.
Sickle Cell is an inherited disease of the hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying substance of red blood cells. The oxygen starved cells change shape becoming jagged (sickle shaped) and sticky causing chronic pain, damage to organs like the heart, kidneys and liver. For many, it causes premature death. The disease affects 80,000 Americans and millions of people around the world. Another 2.5 million people here in the states carry the disease and have the potential to pass the disease on to their children.
There is no cure for SCD. Doctors are still consigned to pain management. The only medication approved for treatment of the disease is Hydroxyurea, which has proven effective in increasing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood thus preventing pain crisis in patients. There are also promising strides being made in umbilical cord and adult stem cell therapy. That is what brought Sebastian to Memphis .
When he was 3-years-old Sebastian suffered a stroke which paralyzed the left side of his body. Months of physical therapy have restored the use of his body but in order to guard against another stroke he has been on a steady regimen of blood transfusions, which have also lead to a steady rise in the iron levels in his blood. It is one of the dangerous side effects of transfusion therapy. Unfortunately, the treatment for iron overload is an 8 hour injection of medication. It’s a lot for a kid to deal with, but being a pin cushion is something patients of sickle cell get used to.
The stroke, however, also meant that he was one of the limited patients eligible for a stem cell transplant.
Sebastian’s ordeal offers a prime example of why sickle Cell awareness campaigns are so important. As important as it is to educate parents and educators about Sickle Cell Disease, it is sometimes more important to educate those in the health care profession.
Sebastian’s parents didn’t discover their son was eligible for a transplant through their oncologist, but through a family friend that was up on the latest information from the SCDAA. Their doctor continued to tell them there was no rush. The fact is that after an "attack" to a major organ, the sooner a patient has stem cell treatment the greater the chance of success. The therapy is still in its infancy, but there was every reason to rush. SC patients also consume large amounts of pain killing drugs. Unfortunately, so do drug addicts, and hospital workers are often unable to distinguish the two. Patients often suffer needlessly because care givers refuse to medicate them for fear of feeding or creating an addiction.
The good news is that Sebastian’s body accepted the stem cells harvested from his father. The bad news is that two months after his transplant a virus began to attack the donor cells. In case his body rejected his father’s cells his own cells had been frozen. Three weeks ago his cells were given back to him. He is currently resting and allowing his body to fight the virus. With any luck they will be able to try another transplant in a few months time. The folks at St. Jude do not promise miracles, but they do offer hope.
Hope, however, is not enough. In addition to awareness there is a need for funding for research of new treatments that will hopefully lead to a cure. Through education and philanthropy we can whip this thing. Kids like Sebastian are depending on us.
For more information contact the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America www.sicklecelldisease.org
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By - AdviceChick@ameritech.net – (312) 205-0850
Dear Advice Chick,
*I've been with the same man since we were 18 & we've been married 4 years. We are making good money now (we both work) & want to buy a house. He recently told me that we are not compatible & the only reason he is still with me is so our 2 kids can live in a house. He also says the only way we can do that is if we stay together. We never see each other and on our off days we both try to be out. Neither one of us want to make the first step to leave. What should I do?
Advice Chick replies,
It a noble gesture to want to stay together for the sake of the kids but if there is no love, there is no marriage. You may want to seek marriage counseling prior to seeking a divorce attorney. Girlfriend, life is simply too short to be miserable. Gladys Knight sang, "neither one of us wants to be the first to say goodbye," but sometimes one of us has to muster the courage to do just that. With your salary and his voluntary (or court ordered) child support payments you can still reach your goal of acquiring a house for you and your children.
Dear Advice Chick,
My husband, no, my ex-husband wants me 4 days out of the week, Wed thru Sunday, that’s all!!! When we first got married we did have a traditional marriage for 3 years and it was awful. He’s very controlling. I don’t have any complaints when he’s with me. We have never broken up; even thru divorce proceedings which were very, very hurtful for stupid low self esteem me! We were still together from Wed-Sunday! I hate this arrangement, I am lonely for him, and I want him every night with me and for us to live together and be a family with my 2 kids who are grown and married and his 2 kids who are grown and gone, but still I want us to be more of a big family instead of him being my boyfriend and the relationship not going anywhere! Where is the relationship going? We are not planning anything together as a couple! Although we do plan our vacations together, I want to plan to buy a house together, and plan to retire together, I’m 50 and he’s 47. He has a house and he wants me to plan to buy my own house, so we can have 2 houses, and I am going to do that, but I want to plan together to be together everyday! I do not like this! But I still do it every week, he comes over and we are very happy. We have a good time doing nothing together, he even talks to me more than he did when we were married. We watch TV, eat, have sex, go to movies and even dancing sometimes, like a married couple. Then Sunday comes and I get up to go to Church and he’s gone when I come home from Church. We talk every day and every night.
What do I do? Accept this or move on? He does know how I feel, but this is all he’s capable of giving me now and forever! If I continue to stay with him, then I will have a MAN, but not everyday! I’ve lived long enough to know that you don’t always get everything you want out of a relationship, but also, if I don’t stand for something, then……I will fall for anything!!!! This Wed-Sunday marriage has been going on for 1 year now.
Advice Chick replies,
The two of you are divorced, right? Well, the relationship did go somewhere …. It went from marriage to divorce to you allowing him to shack up with you at his convenience. It sounds to me like your “man” is living a double life. He may have another woman. He also might have a “man.” Do you even know where he is Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning? Have you ever asked? I’ve read that man-sharing is common, and then comes you with the first chapter of a novel titled DRAMA.
He’s not your husband anymore and he’s only a part-time lover. This man will continue treating you like this until you or she or he --- puts a foot down to stop the insanity. Don’t lie to me. You and he are having unprotected sex, right? You know he lives with someone else yet you don’t even demand safer sex, do you?
I know it’s painful to be lonely. It doesn’t have to be this way. This guy is comfortable. You accept his behavior and the other person (woman or man) accepts it as well. Why should he do anything differently? He’s got the best of both worlds. Some women are totally o.k. with similar “arrangements,” but this is obviously wearing you down. Make a stand. Move on with your life. At 50 you’re still young enough to start over.
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Advice Chick” can excite your radio audience with a call-in advice program! Contact her at 312-893-0538 or advicechick@ameritech.net .
Send YOUR questions and comments to Advice Chick right NOW! Please put “Dear Advice Chick” in the subject line so your email isn’t deleted as spam. Thanks! advicechick@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.
REGGAE UPDATES FROM JAMAICA: Henton wins award for 'Konvicted'
By Kevin Jackson
• Jamaican producer Paul Henton collects double platinum award for his work on Akon’s Konvicted album
*Jamaican music producer Paul Henton, more popularly known as Computer Paul, recently picked up a double platinum record for his work on the track Mama Africa. The track is featured on Akon’s double platinum selling album Konvicted. Henton played the keyboards on the track, which was produced by another Jamaican producer, Robert ‘Bobby Digital’ Dixon.
Henton who has worked with a long list of Jamaican and international artistes over the years, was in high spirits when this column caught up with him earlier this week. 'I am happy to have been recognized for the work that I have done’, commented Henton.
Henton already has four gold records for his work on gold selling albums and singles for reggae artistes including Shabba Ranks, Inner Circle and Jimmy Cliff.
Henton currently manages Jamaican dancehall/pop girl group MBC. The group recently released an album with a Japanese imprint.
• Salanyde spreading the reggae message in Grand Cayman
Dancehall artiste Sean Gordon who goes by the name Salanyde has been creating some impact in Grand Cayman with his brand of dancehall music. This rising entertainer, who originally resided in Palmer's Cross, Clarendon, says his love and dedication for music along with his unique style and sound definitely places him in a position, to become a force to reckon with in the not too distant future.
Salanyde started out performing for classmates and later on, woudl engage in lyrical clashes with other aspiring talents after school. After graduating from the Garvey Maceo high school in 2003, he worked for a year as a mechanic and dabbled with music in his spear time. The following year he migrated to West Bay in Grand Cayman.
Having relocated to Cayman he decided to pursue a career in the music business, which for him was hobby, while he resided in Jamaica. He would later on make the link with two other Cayman based artists Bishmeezy and Phynezz and recorded a single titled "In Your Arms" (Bezzle Bezzle Entertainment).
A video was also shot for the song. This opened up the doors for Salanyde, as he gained recognition from the recording, which led to a demand for him to perform on major stage shows in Grand Cayman. He would later share the stage with top acts from Jamaica including Beenie Man, Morgan Heritage, Busy Signal among others.
Having made a name for himself in Grand Cayman, Salanyde plans to return to Jamaica within the next few weeks to commence working with some of the island’s top record producers. He hopes to make inroads similiar to what he has garnered in Grand Cayman.
His catchy phrase "Its off a di meeta" has won him a lot of fans in Cayman. When asked what it meant he said ‘It bad, it sort out, it wicked, all of these slangs put together means off a di meeta’.
• Anthony B rises to the top with Tease Her
Firebrand deejay Anthony B shot to the top of the charts with the song Tease Her. The song which is a deviation from his customary cultural and conscious lyrics, speaks about the desire and need to seduce a female.
Produced by Mario C for Trinity 7 Records, Tease Her, according to Anthony B does’nt signify a change in the direction of his lyrics. “Is a song that Mario C bring to me and the song really did connect. Right now mi just a give thanks fi the love that the people are giving to the song. Its one of the most requested songs whenever i perform overseas’, Anthony B told this column recently.
Anthony B’s latest single Nookie is featured on Mario C’s latest dancehall rhythm project which is called Revenge. Beenie Man and Barbee’s collaboration Give It Up is the lead off single from the project. Mad Cobra and Versatile also appear on the Revenge.
• Fantan Mojah, Maxi Priest, Jimmy Riley, Junior Kelly and I Wayne to release new albums
Expect a flood of releases over the next few months. I Wayne is dropping his sophomore album Book of Life in October. On the set of the video shoot for the title track single, I Wayne told this column that the album will be different from his debut Lava Ground.
He said the album will contain a few collaborations and the message-laced set will display some maturity in his lyrical output.
The video for Book of Life was directed by Ras Kassa last weekend.
Meanwhile, Fantan Mojah said his new album is coming out wtihin the next month. He said the album which is the follow up to his 2005 Greensleeves debut Hail the King, will be something to look forward to.
Veteran singer Jimmy Riley and father of new sensation Tarrus Riley, says he will be releasing a new album in October. According to Riley, the first single a cover ot When She Was My Girl, is already gaining momentum.
Singer Maxi Priest is prepping the release of a new opus in February of next year.
And, Junior Kelly recently finished working on his new album which is called Prince of Roots. The album contains different musical flavors including blue grass, punk rock, and hard rock. To date, Junior Kelly has released nine albums including his most recent effort, Tough Life.
• El A Kru member Tizzy and Machel Montano win big at International Soca Awards
Antiguan singer Tizzy from the group El A Kru won a handful of awards at the recently held International Soca Awards. Her awards included Female Soca Performer of the Year and Best New Female Scoa Artiste. Tizzy sang lead vocals on the EL A Kru’s smash hit Expose, which topped Tempo’s Cross Caribbean countdown for several weeks earlier this year.
Machel Montano from Trinidad and Tobago grabbed the male Soca Performer of the Year, Soca Artiste CD of the year for his album Book of Angels and Best Soca Music Video of the Year for the song Jumbie. Machel’s collaboration Hold You Tonight featuring Jamaica’s Vybz Kartel won the award for Best Ragga Soca Collaboration.
Barbados artiste Biggie Irie won the award for Soca Song of the Year for this smash hit Nah Going Home.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Sherwayne Winchester won the award for Male Soca Vocalist of the Year for his smash hit Open the Gate.
MADISON CHASE FITNESS: How To Make Fitness Part of Your Everyday Life
By Madison Chase
*With the internet, television, radio, youtube, myspace, and reality tv we are constantly bombarded with information. Every day we see the latest and greatest fitness diet, fitness machine, and fitness workout. With the super highway of information we have all tried at least one product. I have been featured in several of those products. If you take away the commercials, the toned actors, and the lights and the cameras, how can you make sense of all the products?
Let’s start by:
1. ASSESS YOUR CURRENT ACTIVITY LEVEL.
Examine your current activity level. What do you do on a daily basis that increases your heart rate? A healthy heart is truly what fitness should be about. If you work at a desk, eat lunch sitting down, go back to work and then go home and repeat this Monday thru Friday you have a very sedentary lifestyle, and there is room for improvement. If you incorporate walks during your lunch break you are moving in the right direction. If you have a gym membership that you are actually using this is a good start. Assess your current activity and see how you can incorporate some cardiovascular activity.
2. MAKE A LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT YOU ENJOY.
Think of 10 activities that you enjoy doing. Activities that require little preparation, but you have fun doing them. My list of activities would be bowling, roller-skating, hiking, hand-washing-waxing my car, tennis, walking and playing with my two dogs Cali and Tex, dancing all night with my friends, golf, horseback riding, and jogging on the beach. Make your list of 10 fun activities by yourself and with friends.
3. ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE BY MAKING A WEEKLY SCHEDULE.
Keep a journal of your current schedule. Then create a schedule that’s more productive. Set up a weekly time to do everything. Your schedule should include important chores (cleaning, grocery shopping), short and long term business goals, career goals, short and long term personal goals, and fun activities and a scheduled time to do every thing that’s important in your life. Add to your schedule a weekly time to get moving. Start with 1- 2 activities that you include 2 times per week. Make one activity a fun activity, after working 40 hours a week, you need some time to relax.
4. INCLUDE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ACTIVITIES IN YOUR SCHEDULE.
With a busy schedule you have to make time for friends and family. I have friends that I can stop by and say hello to and it will take one hour. I have other friends who I know it will take 3-4 hours when I visit them. So for the friends that take 3-4 hours I try and call and at least say hello once a week. My mom I talk to everyday. So schedule your friends and family activities.
5. FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER( SPOUSE, LOVED-ONE, FRIEND, CO-WORKER, OR ROOMMATE.)
You can have an amazing plan to add fun fitness activities to your schedule, but if you are not accountable to anyone, your plan will be just that, a plan on paper. Our goal is to take it off the paper and put the words into action. Find a reliable, positive, accountability partner. Find a partner that will pep you up when you are having one of those days.
6. PICK ONE DAY A WEEK TO SHOP AND PREPARE MEALS.
How many times have you gone to the grocery store after being at work all day, to busy to eat lunch, then you are forced to go to the grocery store starving, and tired? I know because I have been there.
When I’m hungry and tired my clarity and choices are a little skewed. My eyes are bigger than my stomach and I end up purchasing items based on my short term needs of hunger. So make a grocery list on Saturday and shop on Sunday and prepare your meals on Sunday.
7. MAKE A LIST OF RESTAURANTS TO PICK UP HEALTHY MEALS.
In a perfect world you can make a list on Saturday and grocery shop on Sunday. However in the real world we know things happen. So, to back up your weekly grocery shopping, and meal preparation, make a list of restaurants, or grocery stores to pick up healthy meals. Subway sandwiches with no mayo, no cheese is a great fast food alternative.
8. COME UP WITH A WORK OUT AND EATING PLAN.
Unless you put something in your schedule it will never be a consistent part of your routine. Consistent changes only become a part of your everyday life if you include them.
9. START SMALL AND THEN BUILD.
Start by adding physical activity 1-2 times per week for one month. After you have mastered your plan for a month continue to find new motivators and discover new activities.
10.GET STARTED TODAY. Take your plan off paper and get started.
BE YOUR BEST…… EVERYDAY!!!!
Madison Chase is a certified personal lifestyle fitness and health coach. Her background in fitness began with classical ballet at Julliard, School of American Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Fort Worth Ballet. She has a marketing degree from the University of Oklahoma and many personal training certifications, and is currently working on her Masters in Kinesiology with a focus on Sports Psychology. This former NBC Fitness Expert and 3- Time ESPN fitness champion has worked with some of the best in the business. Her clients include celebrities from Jadda and Will Smith show “All of US,” and professional athletes with many NFL teams including the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. She currently resides in Los Angeles and believes that everyday you should strive to be your best. For additional information on Madison, you may visit:
www.madisonchasefitness.com,www.myspace.com/madchasefitness
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