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11-15-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
CHICAGO STATE TO HOST MEMORIAL FOR DONDA WEST: Plus, autopsy completed; listen to what may have been her last interview.
*A memorial service will be held for Dr. Donda West on Friday at Chicago State University, where the former professor once served as chair of the university’s English, Communications, Media Arts & Theater Department.
Because of the former professor’s widespread popularity and love of teaching during her 24 years at CSU, the service "will really be a celebration of her life," university spokeswoman Robyn Wheeler said Monday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. "We are bringing together a number of faculty members who knew her well to organize an upbeat celebration. Her spirit was such that this requires a feeling of fun."
The news comes as a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner's office announced it may be weeks before an exact cause of death is determined for Kanye West's mother, who died Saturday – one day after undergoing cosmetic surgery. An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, but the cause of death will not be confirmed until results of toxicology tests are known, officials said.
Los Angeles coroners are examining whether West died from "possible complications of surgery." Dr. Jan Adams, a plastic surgeon, has come forward to say that he performed a tummy tuck and breast reduction on Dr. West, but that he did nothing wrong to cause her death. He told TMZ that she may have died from a heart attack, pulmonary embolism or massive vomiting.
Adams, who is being investigated by the state medical board, has been the target of numerous malpractice lawsuits and has paid out nearly $500,000 in civil settlements.
A close associate of Kanye West’s — himself in tears Monday — spoke to the Sun-Times about how much of a toll the death has taken on the rapper.
"Donda was his rock. They were so close and had such a magical relationship," said the unnamed source. "Lots of sons and mothers have good relationships, but I’ve never seen one where the two people were so in sync with one another."
AccessHollywood.com has posted on its Web site an audio tape of what may have been Dr. West's last interview. She spoke with Providence’s 95.5 WBRU radio DJ Souleo less than 48 hours before her death on Saturday.
“During the interview, Dr. Donda West was very candid and highly introspective about her life as a mother to Kanye, views on the world, and future goals,” Souleo told Access Hollywood. Listen to the audio here:
http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah7448.shtml
JAY-Z DOES IT AGAIN ON BILLBOARD: Rap mogul enters the chart at No. 1; ties Elvis for second most chart topping albums.
*It's now official, Jay-Z's "American Gangster" sold 425,000 copies in the U.S. last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, to become his 10th No. 1 album on The Billboard 200 chart.
Jigga has now tied Elvis Presley in second place for the most No. 1 albums on the chart and trails only the Beatles with 19. In the past nine years, all eight of Jay-Z's solo studio albums have reached No. 1, in addition to his "Collision Course" project with Linkin Park and his "Unfinished Business" collaboration with R. Kelly.
The Def Jam president knocked off The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden," which slips to No. 2 ahead of Garth Brooks' "The Ultimate Hits" at No. 3.
After debuting at No. 2 last week, Chris Brown's sophomore Jive album, "Exclusive," falls to No. 4. The top ten is rounded out by Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride," Josh Groban's holiday album, "Noel," Britney Spears' "Blackout," Taylor Swift's self-titled album, Angels & Airwaves'
"I-Empire" and Cassidy's "B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story" at No. 10.
Meanwhile, the official "American Gangster" soundtrack bowed at No. 36 this week with 21,000.
O.J. HEADED TO TRIAL...AGAIN: Judge orders former running back to face charges of kidnapping and armed robbery.
*O.J. Simpson was ordered to face trial on kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges stemming from an alleged sports memorabilia heist, a Las Vegas justice of the peace ruled Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, defense attorneys had argued during a preliminary hearing that the case was based on the testimony of con artists and crooks, and they asked for the charges to be dropped.
Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure ruled all charges in the 12-count complaint would stand against Simpson and co-defendants Clarence "C.J." Stewart and Charles "Charlie" Ehrlich.
"This is what we expected," Simpson told The Associated Press before he left the courtroom. "If I have any disappointment it's that I wish a jury was here. As always, I rely on the jury system."
Kidnapping convictions could result in a life sentence with possibility of parole. Armed robbery convictions would require some time in prison. The defendants were ordered to arraignment on Nov. 28.
The case stemmed from a Sept. 13 confrontation in a casino hotel room where Simpson and a group of men are accused of stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers.
Simpson, 60, has maintained that no guns were displayed during the confrontation, that he never asked anyone to bring guns and that he did not know anyone had guns. He has said he intended only to retrieve items that had been stolen from him by a former agent,
Bonaventure ruled hours after listening to 3 1/2 days of testimony by witnesses.
NFL REINSTATES RICKY WILLIAMS: Running back's suspension ended Wednesday after 18 months; but does Miami want him back?
*Ricky Williams may be able to take the field again for the Miami Dolphins following the end of his NFL suspension Wednesday, but it's still uncertain if the team, currently 0-9, want him back on the squad. As of press time, the organization had not issued a comment on Williams' new status.
Williams, the 2002 league rushing champion, was suspended last year after violating the league's drug policy for the fourth time and testing positive again for marijuana in April, delaying his return through the first half of this season.
He played in only 12 NFL games since the start of the 2004 season.
Williams suited up for the Canadian Football League last season and applied for NFL reinstatement on Oct. 1.
"Ricky worked extremely hard to meet the requirements for reinstatement," his attorney, David Cornwell, told the Associated Press. "He is grateful for commissioner Goodell's decision. Ricky is committed to making the most of the opportunity to rejoin the NFL."
Dolphins rookie running back Ronnie Brown is currently on injured reserve, leaving the team depleted in that position. But they may decide to keep Williams inactive the rest of the season and then try to trade him.
LABELLE, ROWLAND TO SPEND HOLIDAYS ON NBC: Singers to serve as celebrity choirmasters on new competition series.
*R&B singers Kelly Rowland and Patti LaBelle will join artists Nick Lachey, Blake Shelton and Michael Bolton as celebrity choir leaders for NBC's holiday talent competition series "Clash of the Choirs."
The show, produced by BBC Worldwide Prods., will feature each of the artists going back to their hometowns to form a choir of 20 amateur singers, according to the Associated Press.
After rehearsing gospel songs in the hometowns, the groups will fly to New York to perform live in a musical "sing-off" competition over four consecutive nights – Dec. 17-20. Viewers will vote one choir off the show each night until one winner is left.
The five celebrities will also get their Simon Cowell on and critique the performances alongside a music expert. The winning choir, along with the hometown celebrity musician, will choose a prize to help their community -- anything from renovating a school gym to building a new neighborhood playground.
LaBelle will return to Philadelphia, Rowland will head to Houston, Bolton will be going back to New Haven, Conn., Lachey will go home to Cincinnati, and Shelton will visit his Oklahoma City stomping ground.
COMMON NAVIGATES PROMO DEAL WITH LINCOLN: Plus, rapper to co-headline charity concert in Chicago hometown.
*Common, currently seen in Alicia Keys' new video "Like You'll Never See Me Again," will premiere in a new television commercial for Lincoln's
2008 Navigator on Nov. 25 during the telecast of NBC's Sunday Night Football.
The spot is part of Common's new partnership with Lincoln that will feature the rapper appearing next year in national television broadcast, radio and print advertisements, primarily focused on the all-new 2008 Lincoln Navigator. The first of the ads, titled "Common," will later appear on general market and urban schedules following its Nov. 25 premiere.
The "Common" TV ad spotlights the people, places and experiences that shaped his life while growing up in Chicago. It segues to his present-day life as an enterprising, multitalented individual, continuing to reach higher, yet still deeply rooted in his community. His understated confidence, authenticity, and distinctive sense of style echoes the personality of the Lincoln Navigator.
Lincoln will additionally work with Common in developing other online and offline cross-promotional and marketing programs across his diversified businesses, including the licensing of songs for creative executions for television and the Web, tie-ins with Common's books and hat lines, as well as alignments with his concert tour. He will also be appearing on behalf of the company at auto shows and dealer events.
Elsewhere on Common's schedule, the rapper will join fellow Chicago artists Office for a benefit concert to be held Jan. 12 at the Windy City's House of Blues. The event, called the "Chicago Youth Owning Their Future Benefit Concert and Silent Auction," will raise money and awareness for the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
NIA, SANAA, GABRIELLE COVER ESSENCE: Ladies dish on finding quality parts; dealing with the black gossip blogs and more.
*Essence has corralled top African American actresses Nia Long, Gabrielle Union and Sanaa Lathan for an in depth interview and photo spread for the new December issue, on newsstands now.
In the article, available at Essence.com, (http://www.essence.com/essence/themix/entertainment/0,16109,1682605,00.html), the ladies discuss difficulties in finding quality roles; (“… It’s a ton of pressure, and if you do take any job it becomes painfully obvious once the thing comes out. People are like, ‘Whew, she needed money.’” –Gabrielle Union); as well as dealing with negativity in the African-American gossip blogosphere.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
ON BEING IN-BETWEEN JOBS AS A BLACK ACTRESS
Essence: What kind of year has it been for you?
Sanaa Lathan: I’m happy to have gotten a job this year. You know one of the things I decided early on in my career—especially because I only have me to take care of—is that I don’t want to do anything just for money. As a result, I can be very annoying to my agents and pass on everything. To a fault. But something came along that I’m really excited about. I’m playing a Senegalese woman, and it’s the first time that I’ll be able to do some real accent work. It’s a small, really beautiful film. Other than that, I’ve just been living my life. Living the life that you live as an actor between jobs, which is…
Nia Long, Gabrielle Union: [Immense laughter]
Sanaa: You know, at this point in our careers, we’re all in our mid-thirties. There’s an art to being an actress, especially being a Black actress. And the truth is, to have persevered as long as the three of us have, you have to have some kind of philosophy about being in between work.
Essence: Because that’s so much time, right?
Sanaa: So much time.
Nia: No matter how long you’ve been in it, there is no security. So you have to really do sort of that internal work to just say I’m going to stay true to who I am, and also to have your heart open enough to be happy when other great things are happening for other people who do the same thing you do. Because that can be difficult if you’re not in the right place. I think having that helps to attract your highest good to you.
Gabrielle: That’s a tough lesson we all have to go through. It’s like, no matter how much you hate on somebody, it doesn’t change your life. I mean, you feel kind of okay in the moment as you’re dogging somebody, and then at the end of it you feel [bad] —and you still don’t have a job.
Nia: And you won’t get one because you’re putting all that negativity out there!
Sanaa: I truly believe that. And you know the thing is also, because we are artists, we feel. We have to nurture that sensitive side of ourselves, so of course we’re going to get jealous and envious. We’re human. But the key is to have the emotion, recognize it, deal with it, and move on. That’s what being an adult is. I think in life you have to work on yourself, but it’s almost like being an actress in Hollywood is double the stress.
ON GOSSIP
Essence: How do you deal with the 24-hours-a-day gossip that comes out on the Internet?
Gabrielle: Just last week somebody gave me a baby. This isn’t Perez Hilton or the White gossip people, these are women of color, specifically Black women who, for whatever reason, don’t like the company I keep.
Sanaa: She’s talking about the gossip sites.
Essence: The blogs.
Sanaa: That are run by Black women.
Gabrielle: And now because everyone is clamoring for celebrity tidbits, the bigger gossip sites and even mainstream entities are picking up on it. No fact-checking, no nothing. And in one week’s time, there were like five different dudes, a baby—I’m a homewrecker. In literally seven days. I can’t point the finger at the White media. They don’t care about us. Paparazzi are not staked out in front of any of our houses. They are not going through our garbage because they don’t care about us in that way. So when you hear crap about us, it is coming from our own community, which hurts.
Nia: We are some of the few Black actresses whose passions are rooted in our community.
Gabrielle: There is this idea that there is integrity in journalism; if it’s written it has to be true. But that’s not the case. When blogs or any of the magazines get it wrong, there’s no accountability. In the next breath, they’ll complain on the blogs that we don’t have enough Black stars. Well, you rip us to shreds every two seconds from our nose to the weave to the clothes to the shoes to the ashy ankles.
'PACMAN' JONES TO TRADE PLEA FOR PROBATION: NFL star avoids county lock-up for strip club shootings.
*Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was prepared to accept a plea deal Wednesday that will keep him out of jail in connection with a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club.
Under the written plea agreement obtained by The Associated Press, Jones intends to plead no contest to one charge of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, a gross misdemeanor, in return for a promise to suspend a sentence of one year in county jail.
Jones was identified as the person who sparked a Feb. 19 melee inside the Minxx Gentlemen's Club minutes before three people were shot outside.
Jones' Atlanta-based attorney Manny Arora said Tuesday the defense team felt Jones would have won a trial on two felony counts of coercion for inciting a fight inside the club. But a trial wouldn't have happened for six months or even a year.
"And he may have lost another year of eligibility by going forward. In the real world, sometimes you have to make these difficult decisions for what's best for your career, and we didn't want this dragging on any further," Arora said.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old athlete will still be suspended from the NFL for a series of off-the-field incidents, including the strip club incident. Commissioner Roger Goodell benched Jones for the season in April for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Goodell and Jones met Nov. 2 to discuss the suspension, but Goodell chose not to keep the punishment as is.
'BROOKLYN'S DON DIVA' HAS A LIL' SETBACK: Foxy Brown's album on hold until early next year.
*"Brooklyn's Don Diva," the forthcoming album from jailed rapper Foxy Brown, will now be released on Feb. 5th instead of Tuesday as originally scheduled, her camp announced. No explanation was given for the delay.
"When the Lights Go Out," the album's first single, can be heard on www.FreeFoxyBrown.com, a new site dedicated to the rapper as she serves a one-year sentence for violating probation stemming from a 2004 fight with two manicurists in New York.
Meanwhile, BET will air an episode of its "American Gangster" series spotlighting Foxy's manager, Chaz "Slim" Williams, on Nov. 21. The native of Queens NY's 40 Projects robbed more than 60 banks and was once on the FBI's "Most Wanted List" before eventually becoming 50 Cent's manager and launching his own promotion business and record label, Black Hand Entertainment.
LUDACRIS UP ON 'GAME' FOR LIONSGATE: Sci-fi film set in futuristic world dominated by mind-control technology.
*Chris "Ludacris" Bridges will star in Lionsgate's upcoming science fiction action thriller opposite Gerard Butler, Alison Lohman and Zoe Bell.
Previously titled "Game," the film takes place in the near future rampant with mind-control technology that has become part of everyday life.
In this dystopian world, the ultimate online simulation environment is humans remote-controlling other humans in mass-scale, multiplayer online gaming, reports ComingSoon.net.
Butler plays Kable, the top-ranked warrior in the highest-rated game, called "Slayers." With his every move tracked by millions, Kable's ultimate challenge is to regain his identity and bring down the system that has imprisoned him.
Ludacris stars as a member of Lohman's resistance group, called Humanz, which protests the manner in which prisoners are being used as part of the video games.
OPRAH PICKS A NEW BOOK: Plus, guests Grant Hill and Tamia show O their art collection in video promo.
*Oprah Winfrey has chosen author Ken Follett's 973-page "The Pillars of the Earth" as her new book club pick.
The talk show host made the announcement yesterday during a show dedicated to last month's pick, "Love in the Time of Cholera" from Gabriel García Márquez. The broadcast, mirroring the book's theme, featured stories of love that have weathered huge obstacles.
Phoenix Suns star Grant Hill and his wife, R&B signer Tamia, were among the guests on Wednesday's live show and discussed how his near-fatal staph infection and her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis brought them closer together.
People magazine has video of the couple showing off their art collection for Oprah's cameras as a promo clip for Wednesday's broadcast.
View the clip here: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20160024,00.html
STEPHON MARBURY FINED FOR TUESDAY'S WALKOUT: Knicks guard skipped game in Phoenix to protest Coach Isiah Thomas.
*The pockets of New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury were tapped for more than $180,000 Wednesday as punishment by the organization for purposely missing a game against the Phoenix Suns.
Marbury played poorly down the stretch in New York's 75-72 loss to Miami on Sunday, and the Daily News reported Tuesday the Knicks were trying to reduce Marbury's role or send him packing in a trade.
The story created tensions between Marbury and Thomas — neighbors in Westchester County who share the same agent. There were reports that the pair even fought on the plane to Phoenix, which the Knicks denied.
"There is no truth to that whatsoever," said Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz, who was on the flight.
Some of Marbury's teammates said his departure took them by surprise, but they expressed no hard feelings.
"You always support your teammates," forward Jared Jeffries said Tuesday night. "A lot of people on the outside don't understand what guys go through with their family, their friends, with this team, with anything.
Whenever somebody goes through a tough time you support your teammate."
Marbury, who averages 15.2 points and 6.8 assists per game, butted heads with Thomas early last season after the coach benched him in the second halves of two games. Marbury also behaved erratically during a televised interview, then testified in a sexual harassment trial against Thomas and Madison Square Garden that he had a sexual encounter in his truck with a team intern, smiling and singing on his way out of the courthouse.
The athlete's contract with the Knicks runs through next season for about $42 million.
'GREY'S ANATOMY' STAR FINALLY MARRIES BOYFRIEND: Chris Ivery seals the deal in quiet NY ceremony.
*Ellen Pompeo, the "Grey" in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," has gotten married to her boyfriend Chris Ivery in a low-key ceremony Friday at New York's City Hall, her father told People.
"I'm very happy for her," Joseph Pompeo, of Everett, Mass., said Wednesday. "She just didn't want a big thing."
The brief ceremony, officiated by a city clerk, was witnessed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Boston Globe reported. Bloomberg and Ivery are both natives of Massachusetts and reportedly have mutual friends.
Pompeo, who turned 38 on Saturday, hails from Everett, Mass.
Ivery, a 38-year-oldrecord producer, met the actress four years ago in a Los Angeles grocery store and began dating about six months later, after "one night she just looked different to me," Ivery told People last year.
The paparazzi photos taken of the couple at the Knicks game on Sunday were reportedly taken right after the nuptials, and before Pompeo caught a flight back to L.A. to finish shooting her series.
ALICIA KEYS PLUGS CHARITY; RELEASES NEW VIDEO: Singer hopes folks won't forget Africa; new video features Common as love interest.
*In a personal message published in the December issue of Seventeen, singer Alicia Keys asks folks to support her charity, which funds the testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS in impoverished African countries.
She says: "Keep A Child Alive funds the testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS in ... Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. One hundred percent of the monthly donations go to clinics and orphanages in Africa and India.
"By visiting www.keepachildalive.org and starting a chapter in your high school or college, you can help save lives. You don't want to grow up and say, 'How could millions of people be allowed to die from this illness when all the tools were there to prevent it?'"
Yesterday, Keys saw the release of her new album, "As I Am," which has gotten rave reviews and features the current single, "Like You'll Never See Me Again." Watch the video here:
http://videos.onsmash.com/v/KauasAC5Ycfekknj, featuring guest star, Common. Also, Keys' mother, Teresa "Terri" Augello, has a cameo role as a doctor.
TV ONE, DISNEY TEAM FOR 'NEW' PROGRAMMING: Multi-year agreement will bring 'PJ's,' 'Day Break' and lots of films to the network.
*Just when you thought ABC's cancelled Taye Diggs drama "Day Break"
was gone forever, TV One signs a new multi-year deal with Disney's ABC Domestic Television to give it, and other cancelled shows, brand new life.
The series, which starred Diggs as a Los Angeles police detective who keeps reliving the same day, joins Eddie Murphy's Emmy Award-winning clay animation comedy "The PJs" and the '90s sitcom "Where I Live" starring Doug E. Doug as newcomers to TV One this season.
A broad range of theatrical titles from The Walt Disney Studios are also part of the programming package, which includes windows on dramas such as Walt Disney Pictures’ "Glory Road," Miramax Films’Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language Film "Tsotsi," Touchstone Pictures’ "Shoot to Kill" with Sidney Poitier, Hollywood Pictures’ "Crimson Tide" with Denzel Washington, and Miramax Films’ "Down in the Delta" with Alfre Woodard.
Comedies in the lineup include the Touchstone Pictures titles "Sister Act 2" with Whoopi Goldberg, and "Bringing Down the House" with Queen Latifah, as well as Hollywood Pictures’ "Distinguished Gentlemen" with Eddie Murphy and "A Low Down Dirty Shame" with Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jada Pinkett Smith and Charles S. Dutton.
Also among the collection are family classics such as the made-for-television movies "Sounder" with Carl Lumbly, Suzzanne Douglass, Paul Winfield and "Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella" with Brandy, Goldberg and Whitney Houston.
"The PJs," which began airing on TV One this month, follows the Stubbs family, who live in the housing project where father Thurgood Stubbs is the building superintendent. Two of the 43 episodes have never before aired on U.S. television.
TV One expects to begin airing the 13-episode "Day Break" and "21-episode "Where I Live" later this season.
MUSIC BITS: Lenny & Lisa; Friedman on MiJac; Diddy's 38th b'day; Roots in South Florida.
*Lenny Kravitz was spotted taking his ex-wife Lisa Bonet, her baby girl Lola, 3 months, and her boyfriend Jason Momoa for a birthday dinner at Nobu in Malibu. Spies say Kravitz cuddled and calmed a fussy Lola allowing Bonet to enjoy her salad, reports People. When everyone finished, Kravitz and Momoa teamed up, strolling the baby to Bonet's car before everyone departed.
*Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman has another article about Michael Jackson – this time citing sources who claim the singer "has been soliciting opinions about his dying career from strangers in the music business." Read the entire article here:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311576,00.html#1.
*Diddy celebrated his 38th birthday this past weekend by flying 100 of his best friends to his private home on Miami's Star Island Friday for a huge shindig Saturday night, reports People. The Bad Boy founder, whose birthday was on Nov. 4, marked the occasion with fireworks and a sign lit up in flames that read, "Diddy. The World Is Yours."
*The Roots, Beastie Boys and R.E.M. are among the artists scheduled to perform at the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the South Florida Everglades for the sixth annual Langerado Music Festival, to be held March 6-9. Matisyahu, 311, Of Montreal, the National, Shout Out Louds, the Walkmen and others will also play at the event, which will feature 80 acts on five stages, reports MTV.
FILM/TV/SPORTS BITS: Will & Jada with TomKat; 'Idol' sets a date; Brangelina's ode to Zahara; Tiger's Privacy.
*Will and Jada Pinkett Smith were seen with Tom Cruise, his wife Katie Holmes and their daughter Suri at a football game at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif. According to a source, the group couldn't have been friendlier, taking photos with everyone.
*Fox's "American Idol" kicks off its seventh season with a two-night, four-hour premiere Tuesday, Jan. 15, and Wednesday, Jan. 16 (8 to 10 p.m.).
*Word has it that Brangelina purchased a man-made island in Dubai that is shaped exactly like Ethiopia, the homeland of their eldest daughter, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie intend to use the land to showcase environmental issues and encourage people to live a greener life, the Emirates Today newspaper reported. Billionaire businessman Richard Branson and rocker Rod Stewart are also reported to have bought plots on the development. Prices for the islands range from six million to 36 million dollars.
*Spies for the New York Daily News saw Tiger Woods out on his 155-foot three-deck yacht Privacy over the weekend at the St. Martin's Yacht Club in the Caribbean. In other Tiger talk, the golf star missed his daughter Sam Alexis' christening in wife Elin Nordegren's native Sweden last month because he was hosting his own charity golf tournament in California.
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Getting Serious About Global Warming
*I am concerned about global warming. I have heard and read repeatedly that we are in the midst of a planetary emergency and I am distressed that we may not be doing enough to address the current environmental crisis. I am distressed about the legacy this generation may be leaving our children and grandchildren. It is time to act. Even signing onto the Kyoto protocol would reduce emissions by only 0.07 degrees Celsius by the year 2050. Clearly, we must take more drastic measures if we are to avoid the cataclysmic repercussions of our irresponsible stewardship of the planet.
Forty percent of carbon emissions are the result of power plants burning fossil fuels. Cap and trade systems provide financial incentive for industry to reduce harmful emissions, but reduction is not elimination. It is essential that we begin transitioning to clean fuels – wind, solar and nuclear energy. Let’s do away with environmental impact studies. The survival of the human race must take precedent over our concern for a species of toad or the flight patterns of birds. It is time to raise taxes and cut social services so that Congress will have available the tens of billions of federal dollars and loan guarantees that will be necessary to build enough reactors and wind farms to service our electricity needs.
Air conditioners use 1/6 of our electricity and on hot days may represent up to half of the peak power usage. Municipalities especially those in the south and south west should immediately ban the use of air conditioners, at least until such time as we can provide the needed electricity cleanly. Many cities have already banned smoking in public and in apartments. Global warming presents a much more immediate danger than does second hand smoke.
Hybrid cars are certainly a step in the right direction, but they are not a panacea. The “dust to dust” environmental cost to build a hybrid car is extremely high. According to CNW marketing, the energy cost of the Prius over its lifetime (300,000 miles) was 3.25 per mile. Conversely, the cost of the Hummer H3 was 1.95 per mile over the same period. It would be much better if we committed ourselves to getting cars off the highways altogether. State governments can create a disincentive to automobile usage by increasing the cost of licensing and operating an automobile. I am proposing that we raise the cost of registering a car to $5,000 dollars and increase the gasoline tax inflating the price of gasoline to 6 dollars or more per gallon. This would be offset by tax credits for the purchase and use of bicycles.
According to the United Nations, raising livestock for food is one of the single greatest causes of global warming. One-fifth of all global warming-causing emissions come from animal agriculture. Meat is an environmental hazard and should be taxed in order to reduce its use. Vegetarian meals use considerably less energy to prepare and would reduce the average weight and health care costs of the average American. In addition, localities would be restricted to only those foods that are grown or produced within a radius of one days transport.
The California legislature recently attempted to outlaw incandescent light bulbs, mandating the use of fluorescent light bulbs, which burn longer. These bulbs are expensive, placing a burden on poorer people. They also contain high levels of mercury and must be disposed of under the household hazardous waste programs. I would go further and ban the use of light bulbs in the home all together and simply use candles. Candles are inexpensive, the wax is reusable and there is no burning of fossil fuel in order to provide electricity. Less light will force Americans to rely more on the light of day thus reducing the work day to daylight hours thus further lowering the use of electricity.
These suggestions may seem a bit harsh, and the economic costs will no doubt be huge costing each American family tens of thousands of dollars. However, we are either going to be serious about reducing the human impact on global warming or we are not. If the consequences of man made global warming are as dire as we are constantly being told then it is past time for us to stop talking the talk and begin literally walking the walk.
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.
THE MO'KELLY REPORT: Here Lies Monique 'The Misled' Shinnery
*"Here Lies Monique ‘The Misled’ Shinnery…”
And so begins the slow and painful character assassination of Monique Shinnery. Above is how her media epitaph will likely read. It’s alright to refer to Shinnery by name now and not just “the black girlfriend” of Dog the Bounty Hunter’s son. It’s alright now, because Shinnery has revealed her plans to sue Duane “Dog” Chapman for slander. The “story” is now about her…and not about Duane Chapman.
Note the choice made on her part.
Monique Shinnery, you’re now on the clock…you have 14 minutes and 59 seconds of fame left.
It seems that the oblique and veiled references to Shinnery in Dog’s audiotaped tirade have caused undue pain, stress and career impediment…or something that Shinnery feels tipped over her apple cart of life. She’s seems to feel she has been publicly ridiculed enough by the audiotape and wishes some sort of retribution, reward or remuneration. Mo’Kelly’s not sure exactly if she’s entitled to any of the aforementioned.
Just being honest and just being fair.
Don’t get Mo’Kelly wrong, the rant by Dog the Bounty Hunter is despicable on its best day; but the only reason this is even a “story” is because her boyfriend sold it to the National Enquirer. We can reasonably assume she was complicit in this endeavor. If there’s any “embarrassment” or defamation of character…some blame must be laid at the feet of her man Tucker and Shinnery too.
In telling the story of how this became “a story,” Shinnery’s role must be mentioned.
Not only that, Chapman never referred to Shinnery by name in the audio. The only reason we know “who” Shinnery is tied to her boyfriend Tucker releasing the tape (and presumably her name) to the National Enquirer and HER own nationally televised statements in conjunction with the same gossip magazine.
Mo’Kelly is not a lawyer, but he’s pretty damn sure that none of this adds up to slander and her complicity along the way is probably relevant. It would seem she would have a better chance suing Tucker Chapman.
But that’s not the point of this commentary on this day.
What has transpired in the days since Shinnery’s threat of lawsuit is predictably, fans of Duane Chapman have banded together to assail her character and discredit her.
Shinnery is also making the classic mistake of fighting a racial media battle…while refusing to talk to anyone in the African-American media…The Mo’Kelly Report included.
Huge, huge mistake.
If Shinnery is “upset” and “distraught” about being (indirectly) referred to by the “N-word” all across American media, her first order of business should have been to garner the support of the media who ostensibly would be most willing to come to her aid.
Instead, she opted for the National Enquirer and replays on Hannity & Colmes. Neither has any affinity or concern for the issues confronting African-Americans.
Shinnery likely got paid, but no doubt got played too.
For those of the opinion her lawsuit is only about money and not redressing a wrong…Shinnery’s been chopping her own wood to help stoke that fire.
That’s HER bad and hers solely.
In addition, she further ostracizes herself from any African-American media support if/when it really gets hot for her. One can’t run to “us” as an afterthought as OJ and Michael Jackson did.
Case in point…
Reports have emerged alleging that Shinnery has not been completely truthful in her public statements regarding her employment status as a teacher (as referenced in her slander claim). Also there is allegedly an incident being investigated concerning Shinnery purchasing alcohol to minors.
Now, do either of the aforementioned really have anything to do with the merits (or lack thereof) of her pending slander suit? Absolutely not. But slander suits fought in the media are usually won and lost…in the media. Rumor, conjecture and innuendo are quite powerful…especially when they run unopposed.
Just imagine if Black media were in her corner to help provide a platform in which she could effectively deny or rebut the character assassination heading into court?
Yes, keep on imagining it…because it probably won’t happen now. That horse has left the barn.
For Mo’Kelly personally, it’s saddening to see this Sista on the precipice of public disaster, due largely to lack of proper guidance and personal immaturity. In short, she’s ‘young’ and probably ill-prepared to deal with the subsequent scrutiny that comes with having one’s name in the national media.
A name she herself helped place.
The media is unforgiving and unrelenting. Although Shinnery may be of the opinion that suing Duane “Dog” Chapman is a good idea; proper guidance would have informed her otherwise.
Then again, proper guidance would have warned her that the subsequent media firestorm would have been too hot for her to handle when she and her boyfriend decided to get paid by the National Enquirer.
African-American women as a whole have been beat up enough lately by the media, so no joy will come to Mo’Kelly if/when Shinnery is really taken to task. But Shinnery needs to know that it’s going to get much, much hotter; the spotlight much, much brighter and Black media will ultimately be more and more removed and indifferent by then.
And she’ll have no one to blame but herself.
“Here Lies Monique ‘The Misled’ Shinnery…”
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com.
Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
VERONICA’S VIEW: The Changing Face of Homelessness
Veronica Hendrix
*I see homeless people every day, here in Los Angeles.
With 50% of the homeless population being of African American descent, the faces I've seen are predominately African American and male.
I don't know their ages, however it seems that the harness of life has creased their brows and dulled their eyes making them looked weathered and worn.
Often they appear animated, agitated or maybe inebriated just from what I've glimpsed, cursorily.
The homeless have become indigenous dwellers in many cities like Los Angeles. It’s no wonder because there are approximately 88,000 homeless that live in the County of Los Angeles alone. They are like shadowy silhouettes painted against our metropolitan landscape. While we see them captured boldly in broad strokes on the concrete canvas of our streets, we really don't see them at all. We actually see through them as if they are invisible non-entities - life forces with no life.
I've never really thought much about the homeless even though I walk past many of them everyday while walking to get to my office. Every now and then I might see a face and wonder how he or for that matter she ended up crouched beneath a cardboard tarp for shelter. You know every life has a story and their eyes do speak. But we really don't want to listen. To end up on skid row one must have experienced a series of ill-fated twists and turns, too unimaginable, too incomprehensible for me to process in a fleeting moment. So I don't. But in reality, many of them tussled with some of the same issues we struggle with everyday. However they lost the war and we are still fighting.
Last week while driving on my way to work, I stopped at a traffic light, casually glanced at the array of silhouettes dotting the streets, and literally looked into the eyes of two faces which jumped out at me from the concrete canvas. They were fragile faces. They were forlorn faces. They were female faces; maybe between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, it was hard to tell. And they were faces I was not prepared nor expected to see.
Huddled close together while sitting on the street curb, the cherub like expressions of these two very young African American women were haunting. One was glaring intently with a deterrent stare. The other was sucking her thumb as she crouched just behind her friend's stoic shoulders.
It was 9:00 a.m. in the morning, why where they there, perched on the street corner amongst the array of humans in distress and not in school?
I don't know. It remains a mystery and very unsettling. The streets of skid row are not a safe place for women, let along teen aged girls. Weren't they frightened?
What I have learned is that the face of homeless on skid row in downtown Los Angeles, as in many cities across the nation, is changing. It is becoming increasing female with about 30% of the homeless population in Los Angeles County being women with children for a multitude of reasons such as fleeing domestic violence situations, lack of affordable housing, poverty, low paying jobs, unemployment, mental illness, substance abuse, reduction in public assistance, to mention a few. Women who live on skid row are particularly vulnerable, and have an increased risk of being victims of abuse and sexual assault. Children who live on skid row are particularly defenseless.
The increase of homelessness among women has spawned an increase in the number of unaccompanied youth, with an estimated 15,000 in Los Angeles county each day, who are left to negotiate life in an environment that is uncertain at best and deadly at worst. In fact a recent survey published by the United Coalition East Prevention Project said that almost 50% of children who live on skid row have witnessed a death while living in that community.
Who knows what the eyes of those two young women have seen? Who knows what challenges they and their families have had to face just to survive? Skid row is a brutal, gritty and deplorable place for anyone one to live, but especially for children. And the public health risks are unthinkable.
When I drove past that same intersection the following day, the young girls were gone. Several homeless men had laid claim to their spot. I wondered where they were and what they might possibly be doing. They had disappeared among the thousands and I may never see them again. I said a prayer and hoped that they were safe.
These words are a call to awareness more than anything else because the face of homelessness is changing right beneath our very eyes. You see the folks on skid row are not shadowy silhouettes, nor are they invisible non-entities, they are human beings like you and me. What struck me is this, generations are not only being lost out here on the streets, they are being sentenced to live in hopelessness.
While I have just been begun to understand the scope of the problem and the resources that are available to assist the homeless, I plan to be open and sensitive to those opportunities where I can make a difference. One way is by donating to the United Way.
The United Way of Greater Los Angles has created an innovative initiative called A Pathway Home to prevent and end homelessness. This initiative engages the community through advocacy and volunteerism; builds a stronger system of care by increasing resources to homeless agencies and helping them link services with permanent housing; and it brings the private and public sectors together to get more involved through charitable contributions.
During a recent 5K Run Walk in my hometown called HomeWalk LA, over $630,000 was raised by corporate and private individuals like me.
This was a great place for me start. It’s also a great way for you to start too. Visit unitedway.org and find out how you can help end homeless in your local community. (If you have comments about Veronica’s View email them to vsview@yahoo.com)###
MADISON CHASE FITNESS: Fear
What is Fear? Gary Bucey has a very interesting definition. He defines Fear as:
F False
E Evidence
A Appearing
R Real
Webster’s dictionary defines fear as, an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight). My personal definition is not gathering all the information on a subject and making assumptions on an outcome.
Webster, Gary and myself all have different definitions. Whatever your personal definition of fear is, your meaning for the definition will vary. Your personal definition will inevitably be based on where you are from, how you grew up, and what your current environment is. One thing that is certain, is that fear definitely affects how you organize your day?
Fear can motivate you to do some iteration of these three things:
1.Move
2.Take action, or
3.Make you stand still?
Ask yourself what category do you fall in? Do you react to a stressful situation? Are you proactive, before a difficult situation? When new challenges or obstacles present themselves what do you do? Do you panic and feel overwhelmed? Do you lash out at others? Or do you do absolutely nothing?
I can identify with both. This article is from personal experience. Recently I found myself trying to manage so many things that one day I did absolutely nothing. I was overwhelmed with life, and personal goals for myself, that I was immobilized. Then my mentor told me that stressful situations are nothing more than a “TO DO LIST”. It sounds so simple, but it was so profound. Stressing out about a potential situation did absolutely nothing to solve my problem. But making a simple to do list gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps you to organize each specific goal.
You are probably wondering what this has to do with health and fitness. When you begin a new fitness program, or change your eating habits, how you respond to fear will determine your success or failure.
If you are afraid of change, consistent workouts or changing your eating habits can immobilize you. . If you have a fear of success, you may fear that if you loose weight and change your eating habits, you will have to be consistent and focused to maintain your new lifestyle. The perpetual thought of consistent workouts scare you, so you stay exactly how you are, STILL.
How do you break the cycle of fear? First you have to identify the issue. You have to hear your inner dialogue. What do you tell yourself? What are your deepest thoughts and opinions on how you feel about changing your life? Are you afraid of success or failure?
If you fear success, give yourself permission to fail. No one is perfect. Set realistic attainable small weekly goals. For example if you hate working out and you hate going to the gym, signing up with a trainer for 4 days a week is not realistic for you. For an individual who hates working out in the gym, a realistic goal for you is to try walking 15 minutes a day twice a week. Know that in order to succeed, health and fitness is a journey not a destination.
If you fear failure, this is often disguised as a perfectionist. Because you can’t be perfect you procrastinate. Procrastination is an assassination to your destination. Instead of procrastinating, decide to make a calculated move. Make a list of pros and cons. What happens if you continue with your current behavior? Give yourself a deadline to complete your task and reward yourself for the small steps. Fight your fear every step of the way, don’t let it immobilize you, be proactive and face your fear head on with preparation, and discipline.
Madison Chase is a certified personal life 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 Jada and Will Smith hit 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:
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
YOUR WORDS SPEAK VOLUMES
By Willie Jolley, Host of the “Willie Jolley Show” on XM 169 –The Power!
Most people do not have to wait for someone else to talk them out of their dreams, they will do it themselves! They use words that limit their vision and keep them from even giving their dreams a fighting chance. You must stop using negative words and start using positive, affirmative words. This poem is one my daughter shared with me. The author is unknown but the message is very clear.
Did is a word of Achievement
Won’t is a word of Retreat
Might is a word of Bereavement
Can’t is a word of Defeat
Ought is a word of Duty
Try is a word of the Hour
Will is a word of Beauty
Can is a word of Power
Willie Jolley is America’s “Premier Celebrity Speaker, Singer and Author”
and was recently inducted into the Speakers Hall Of Fame. Visit www.williejolley.com for FREE Motivation and Information on his Hot New “Money Making Music and Motivation” Program designed to Grow Your Faith, Your Future and Your Finances!”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Nov. 15: Bandleader Kevin Eubanks ("The Tonight Show with Jay Leno") is 50. Rapper E-40 is 40.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
HBCUkids has a ton of resources for black parents who are interested in positive images and educational opportunity for their children. http://www.HBCUkids.com
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Nov. 15, 1898: Lyda A. Newman (New York City, NY) patented a hair brush which permitted easy cleaning by having a detachable unit which carried the brush and bristles. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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