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04-09-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
TONI BRAXTON HOSPITALIZED IN VEGAS: Singer in 'good condition' after treatment for chest pain.
*Toni Braxton was hospitalized in Las Vegas Monday night after suffering from chest pains, reports People.com.
The 40-year-old singer has been performing her five-day-a-week show "Toni Braxton: Revealed" at the Flamingo hotel since 2005. She was listed in good condition as of press time Tuesday and expected to be released sometime in the afternoon.
"We wish Toni a quick recovery and would like her to take the time she needs to regain optimal health," said president of Flamingo Las Vegas, Don Marrandino. "We are looking forward to her return at the end of the week."
Braxton took Tuesday night off, and was not scheduled to perform Sunday or Monday night in her show.
The singer suffers from the heart condition pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. This year, Braxton became a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.
JASMINE GUY FILES FOR DIVORCE: 'Whitley' cites irreconcilable differences; asks for spousal support and custody of their daughter.
*It's splitsville for Jasmine Guy and her husband of nine years, Terrence Duckett. The former standout on TV's "A Different World" filed for divorce Thursday citing irreconcilable differences.
According to court documents, the 46-year-old actress is asking for spousal support and primary physical and legal custody of their 9-year-old daughter, Imani Guy Duckett.
Guy also listed a number of assets that she wants confirmed as her separate property, including several bank accounts, her production companies, the copyright of a book she penned and a slew of household and personal items, such as furniture, jewelry (including her wedding ring), paintings and a leased Lexus SUV, reports E!.
The estranged couple, whose separation date is noted as April 8, exchanged vows on Aug. 22, 1998.
Since her sitcom days as Southern belle Whitley on "A Different World," the former Alvin Ailey dancer has starred in such films as "Harlem Nights" and in Broadway productions of Chicago, The Wiz and Grease.
MO'NIQUE TO HOST HER OWN RADIO SHOW: Syndication One grabs comic for national midday shift.
*Syndication One has added comedian and actress Mo'Nique to its roster of radio personalities, which already includes Rickey Smiley, Yolanda Adams, Bishop TD Jakes, Donnie McClurkin and CoCo Brother.
"I love radio and being able to talk about issues that really concern my community,” says Mo'Nique. “For me it’s all about the listeners, the community is my boss. With my program, you'll have more fun, more real talk, and more love.”
The actress will host a daily show from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST. So far, the midday program has been added at KDAY in Los Angeles with a start date of July 23rd.
"Mo'Nique is one of the funniest, most dynamic female entertainers working in radio today," says Syndication One's President of Programming Gary Bernstein. "She has a clear vision of what she wants to do and how she wants to do it. Radio is lucky to have such an incredible personality at its disposal."
Syndication One is a joint venture between Radio One, Inc. and REACH Media, Inc.
ALICIA KEYS FILM OFFERED FOR FREE ONLINE: Documentary chronicles her trip to Africa for Keep A Child Alive.
*"Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland" is a documentary of Grammy Award-winning musician and Keep a Child Alive (KCA) co-founder Alicia Keys' month-long trip to Africa to visit communities affected by HIV and AIDS.
Spreading the message is so important to the Grammy-winner that she is making the documentary available for free online. A portion of the film will debut tonight on "American Idol: Idol Gives Back" (7:30-10:00 p.m.
ET/PT) on FOX. Viewers who visit www.americanidol.com will be directed to www.AliciainAfrica.com where they can watch the entire documentary.
"Alicia in Africa" will also be available to download courtesy of the documentary's exclusive download partner www.SpiralFrog.com. The film will also be available on http://impact.myspace.com.
"Everyone who visits Africa is changed by the experience, but not everyone can afford to go to Africa," says Keys. "Come with me on my journey and learn as I learn. Let's start a virus to stop a virus- send the film to everyone you know. Let's change this nightmare into our generation's greatest success story."
Alicia's commitment carries over into her concerts. She'll screen the Alicia in Africa trailer before each concert on her American tour, which kicks off April 19 in Virginia. Go to Aliciakeys.com for tour dates. Alicia will also announce the "Text Alive" initiative, which allows anyone to make an immediate $5 donation to KCA simply by text messaging "Alive" to 90999.
• Alicia in Africa, directed by South African filmmaker Earle Sebastian, shows us an Africa rarely seen. Travelling through Africa's beautiful landscapes we meet inspiring children, families and communities in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. The documentary is a breathtaking journey of a generation that refuses to give up. In under an hour, Alicia introduces viewers to so many eye-opening topics surrounding the AIDS pandemic-from the Gogo grannies and the Agape Orphanage to the success of antiretroviral drugs, the ongoing need to access them and KCA's essential efforts throughout Africa.
T.I. SAYS LEAKED TRACK IS TWO YEARS OLD: Rapper records message warning fans about 'Hunt 'Em Down.'
*T.I. is in full damage control mode after one of his tracks – a rather hostile ditty called "Hunt 'Em Down," recently found its way onto the Internet.
The rapper, currently out on bail awaiting sentencing on gun charges, says the leaked track was recorded in 2006 after the murder of his best friend, Philant Johnson, and does not reflect his mindset while recording for his upcoming album "Paper Trail."
"It's an unwarranted, unauthorized release," says T.I. in a phone message e-mailed to EUR by Atlantic Records. "It is not a 'Paper Trail' selection. It is not of the same standard and the same quality as the record that I'm doing right now. So I don't want nobody to get it misconstrued and think that that's the first single."
"It was actually the very first thing I recorded after my big homie Philant died," he explains further. "So it was filled with a lot of rage, a lot of anger, a lot of frustration. It was never even really meant to be released. I don't know how it got out there. But I just wanna tell you from the horse's mouth man, that the record you gonna hear when I put it out there is gonna be way better than that and on a whole 'nother level."
The Atlanta-based artist, born Clifford Harris, says the track may have been leaked by haters attempting to influence his forthcoming sentencing, which will take place in one year upon completion of more than 1500 of community service. The judge has already stated that his jail term of about 12 months may be reduced or increased based on his behavior during community service.
"I guess for some reason someone saw fit to put that out there in order to dilute the message that I'm trying to give right now," he says.
"But I ain't gonna let that stop what we doing. I'm on a bigger mission and a greater journey is ahead of me."
EMINEM'S MOM SUED OVER TELL-ALL: Man claims he helped Mama Shady write book but hasn't seen his share of the profits.
*The mother of rap star Eminem has been sued by a man who claims he helped her to pen a tell-all book about her son but was cut out of the profits.
Neal Alpert claims in an Oakland County Circuit Court lawsuit filed Monday that Debbie Nelson developed the book while she was under contract with him, reports the Associated Press.
The lawsuit alleges they signed a contract in 2005 that called for Alpert to serve as her agent and receive 25 percent of the gross profits.
The book, titled "My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem," has sold 100,000 copies since its U.K. release last year, the lawsuit states. The book is to hit U.S. stores this week.
NO MORE NAOMI ON BRITISH AIRWAYS?: British tabloid says supermodel was banned due to incident last week.
*A London tabloid is reporting that British Airways has banned Naomi Campbell after she acted a fool on one of their planes last week at Heathrow Airport.
The supermodel, 37, was escorted off a flight bound for Los Angeles Thursday after she found out one of her bags wasn't onboard and allegedly spat on a cop.
She was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and released on bail less than 24 hours later pending an investigation.
According to the Daily Mirror, British Airways said Monday that Campbell is not to step foot on one of its flights again.
Asked to confirm the story, a BA spokesman said: "We don't comment in detail about matters relating to individual passengers. All incidents of abuse against passengers or staff are taken extremely seriously by BA and will not be tolerated. We deal with cases on an individual basis and will take whatever action we feel is necessary."
DIDDY CLAIMS CASSIE HAS GOTTEN BETTER: Mogul tells Billboard that her new CD will 'really catch people off guard.'
*Although pop star Cassie had a huge hit in 2006 with her single "Me and You," critics and fans alike were appalled by her severe vocal challenges during a string of promotional performances on TV.
Her label head, Sean "Diddy" Combs, tells Billboard that Cassie has since stepped up her game and has songs on her sophomore album that will impress the haters.
"That's going to really, really catch people off guard," Diddy says. "There's a huge [cry] out there for a younger Britney Spears, a younger Janet Jackson. Those two great artists have paved the way. She has a single out called 'Official Girl' and Danja produced it, and it is a smash."
Explaining Cassie's poor performances during the promotion of her self-titled debut album, Diddy says: "I just don't think she was ready. I think that we threw her into the spotlight without the artist development -- that goes on with a lot of new artists. We pulled out, we took our time, we developed her for like, a year-and-a-half. People are just going to see her there and be like, 'Wow, she's really cocooned into a butterfly.'"
Although the track list isn't finalized, Cassie told Billboard earlier this year she'd worked with mentor Ryan Leslie, Seven, Mario Winans, Bryan Michael Cox, Eric Hudson, Sean C and LV on the project.
EWING, OLAJUWON IN NBA HALL OF FAME: Pair joins Adrian Dantley, Pat Riley, Dick Vitale and others.
*NBA greats Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and Adrian Dantley are among the Class of 2008 to be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, the league announced this week.
Olajuwon and Ewing both played in three Final Fours, with Ewing's Georgetown team beating Olajuwon's Houston squad for the 1984 national championship.
"We both are warriors. We both want to excel. We both wanted to dominate, and when you play against the best you want to perform at your best," Ewing told the Associated Press. "So we both definitely looked at each other as the best."
In the pros, Olajuwon got back at his rival as his team, the Houston Rockets, won the first of two straight titles with a seven-game victory over Ewing's New York Knicks in the 1994 NBA finals — a team coached by fellow
2008 inductee, Pat Riley.
"Growing up in Nigeria I didn't really understand the magnitude of what it means to be a hall of famer," said Olajuwon, a 12-time All-Star. "I still cannot believe that I'm in the same company with all these great legends."
Dantley, a six-time NBA All-Star, played for seven teams during his 15-year NBA career. Other inductees include Dick Vitale, coach Cathy Rush; and William Davidson, owner of the Detroit Pistons since 1974.
SOMEHOW SERENA WILLIAMS DROPS IN RANK: Despite win at Sony Ericsson, tennis star falls from No. 8 to No. 9.
*What does a tennis player have to do to scoot up in the WTA rankings? Apparently, winning isn't the lone requirement.
According to the latest rankings released Monday, Serena Williams has dropped one place to No. 9 despite winning last weekend at the WTA Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
Her No. 8 spot is now occupied by Russian player Elena Dementieva, who moved up from No. 11 despite reaching only the quarter finals at Sony Ericsson. How does this happen?
According to Agence France-Presse, the rankings reflect play over the past 52 weeks, and players only progress if their performances are improved compared to the previous year.
Although Serena successfully defended her title last weekend in Miami, Dementieva did not compete in the Sony Ericsson Open last year.
Therefore, her quarter-final achievement this year was cause for a major bump in her ranking.
Meanwhile, Serena's sister Venus Williams moved up a slot to No. 6.
The top 10 players are listed below:
1. Justine Henin (BEL) 6105 points
2. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 4216
3. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 4095
4. Svetlana Kuznetzova (RUS) 3905
5. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 3601
6. Venus Williams (USA) 2781 (+1)
7. Anna Chakvetazde (RUS) 2665 (-1)
8. Elena Dementieva (RUS) 2305 (+3)
9. Serena Williams (USA) 2297 (-1)
10. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 2257 (-1)
MARIAH CAREY 'VERY GOOD' IN NEW FILM: Fox.com's Roger Friedman reviews singer's acting performance in 'Tennessee.'
*Fox411 columnist Roger Freidman weighs in on the acting performance of Mariah Carey in her upcoming film "Tennessee," which debuts next week at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The movie follows two brothers, one of them terminally ill, on a road trip in search of their missing father. Along the way they meet Carey's character, an aspiring singer who joins them for a stretch of the trip.
Friedman writes of her performance: "Carey is very good in the role as Krystal, even though I think it’s the wrong part for her. She should be doing comedy.
To her immense credit, she somehow relaxes her naturally cherubic face to portray an abused wife who has a dream. 'Tennessee' is full of clichés, but Mariah provides the least of them. She hangs in there even when the drama is more contrived than real.
And she does sing, just a little bit, but that’s what almost undoes the film. Mariah Carey cannot play a wannabe. She opens her mouth and The Voice comes out. Luckily, in 'Tennessee,' it’s just one song. But as in “Wise Girls,” she’s better off not playing a singer unless the character is a star, a la “The Bodyguard.”
Mariah’s two co-stars are Adam Rothenberg and Ethan Peck, two actors who seem to be having a good time with her. No one is embarrassed here, and there’s no invocation of 'Glitter.'"
YOUNG BUCK NO LONGER PART OF G-UNIT: 50 Cent says rapper still remains signed as a solo artist.
*During a radio interview in New York Monday, 50 Cent announced that estranged G-Unit member Young Buck is no longer a member of the G-Unit foursome, but would still be signed to the label as a solo artist.
"You can take this as official notice," 50 told Hot 97's morning-show hosts, DJ Envy, Miss Jones and Michael Shawn before making the announcement.
The rapper said Buck's recent actions – which included speaking out about friction within the ranks – mirrors the behavior of another former G-Unit member just before his exit from the crew in 2005.
"You can look at that and see that's Game all the way," he said of Buck. "I was giving him the benefit of the doubt then."
MORE BEY-JAY WEDDING RESIDUE: Why is Jay-Z's ring finger bare? Is Beyonce with child?
*Much is being made of new photographs that surfaced Monday showing Jay-Z emerging from a private plane with his wife Beyonce, but without a wedding ring.
The longtime couple married Friday at Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment, but reps for either star have yet to confirm the nuptials with an official announcement.
During a concert in North Carolina the following day, Jay-Z's co-headliner Mary J. Blige all but confirmed the wedding by congratulating the couple before beginning her set. Also, Jay-Z thanked a TMZ.com cameraman who congratulated him on the marriage.
Meanwhile, the inevitable rumors of Beyonce being pregnant were written about Tuesday in the New York Daily News.
"Buzz is building that this weekend's quickie nuptials were actually a shotgun wedding," the paper stated. "It would be the second for the Knowles' family: At just 17, Beyoncé's little sis, Solange, wed boyfriend Daniel Smith in the Bahamas after learning she was pregnant."
LIL' MAMA'S 'LIPGLOSS' INSPIRES JANE AUSTEN REMAKE: Screen Gems to present hip hop version of 'Emma.'
*The video for Lil Mama's song "Lipgloss" has inspired the head of Screen Gems studio to remake Jane Austen's classic novel "Emma" as a hip hop musical.
Clint Culpepper, the studio's president, said he happened to see the teen rapper's clip set in an urban high school and a light bulb went off.
Austen's original story, which revolves around a stepbrother and stepsister, also inspired the Alicia Silverstone film "Clueless," which was set in a suburban Southern California high school.
"Now it's urban," Culpepper told Variety. "This is the way it should be re-imagined in the new millennium."
The Screen Gems version will be renamed "Emme," take place at an inner-city high school and include at least 15 song and dance numbers. "Menace II Society" screenwriter Tyger Williams penned the screenplay for producers Chris Bender and J.C. Spink.
AKON BRINGS KONVICT MUSIC TO LONDON: Singer opens new office across the pond; scouts talent in Europe and Africa.
*Akon's Konvict Muzik, home to artists T-Pain and Kardinal Offishall, has gone international with the March launch of a new office in London, reports AllHipHop.com.
“We will be scanning Europe and Africa for the next mega superstars,” says Melvin Brown, CEO and co-owner of Konvict Muzik. "When Akon and I partnered and created Konvict Muzik, we agreed that we would have the hottest artists on our roster. I have concentrated on diversifying the artist roster and creating an international presence. I personally look for unique artists.”
Brown confirmed the signing of two new international groups: the Reggae/R&B/Hip-Hop trio American Yard and Dutch boy band GLOWB, according to Allhiphop.com. Rounding out Konvict’s current roster are R&B singer Ray L, Pop/R&B act Colby O, and Atlanta rapper Dolla, who all working on their debut albums, due out this year.
Meanwhile, Akon is also planning to follow-up his multi-platinum sophomore release "Konvicted" with a new album due in the spring.
ROSIE PEREZ DESCRIBES 'AWKWARD' SEX SCENE: Her homie John Leguizamo plays husband in new film.
*Rosie Perez says everything was going along fine in her new movie "The Take" until the day she had to shoot a sex scene with her good friend John Leguizamo, who stars in the film as her husband.
"This is not my first time working with John, we are friends, I've known him very long. ... It was very easy working with him. We have an easy dialogue and between each other there is no ego, no competition," the 43-year-old actress told The Associated Press.
"It was in the sex scene between husband and wife that things started to go bad. ... It was the hardest scene, very difficult," she said. "I respect him so much and he respects me so much. I know his wife, he knew my husband and introduced me to my boyfriend. It was very awkward. Like brother and sister having to do a sex scene."
In "The Take," opening Friday in New York and Los Angeles, Perez plays Marina de la Pena, the wife of an armored-truck driver (Leguizamo) who struggles with rehabilitation and tracking down his assailant after a shooting.
Perez said they managed to get through the sex scene by talking about their own experiences and about relationships in general.
"It took a lot to go there and be honest," she said. "He has a wonderful marriage, but even in a successful marriage you have times when things are not good and sometimes that plays in the bedroom. And we went for it."
ITTY BITTY BITS: L.A. radio shakeup; AnObamaMinute.com; Madonna compares Britney to suffering Africans; Nicole Richie not engaged.
*Los Angeles has experienced a recent shakeup in urban radio. Syndication company Radio One sold its Urban AC station KRBV (V100) to Bonneville, which switched to a new format at 12:01 a.m. this morning, reports All Access. Meanwhile, in an intellectual property transfer, crosstown Magic Broadcasting's Urban KDAY (93.5) becomes the new home of Radio One syndication in L.A. under the new name "The Beat of L.A. – No Color Lines." Comedian Mo'Nique will debut her new syndicated midday show on KDAY beginning July 23rd. Additionally, KDAY will pick up the sponsorship of V100's "Superfest" set for April 19 at the Gibson Amphitheatre, starring Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, Slick Rick, and Bell Biv Devoe.
*Later this week, an independent crew of Barack Obama supporters plans to launch a new fund-raising Web sitewith the goal of raising $1 million dollars in one minute, reports Business Week. The effort, to take place at www.AnObamaMinute.com, calls for pledgers (who can pre-register) to register a donation within 60 seconds, at 1 p.m. on Apr. 21. Last week the Obama camp announced it had raised $40 million in March alone, nearly twice the amount raised by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) during the same period. In all, he has raised some $234 million.
*Madonna says she finds similarities between the recent woes of Britney Spears and the suffering of people in Africa. She tells MSNBC.com: "It's very painful (seeing pictures of Spears). When you think about the way people treat each other in Africa, about witchcraft and people inflicting cruelty and pain on each other, then come back here and, you know, people taking pictures of people when they're in their homes, being taken to hospitals, or suffering, and selling them, getting energy from them, that's a terrible infliction of cruelty. So who's worse off? You know what I mean?"
*Nicole Richie is denying reports that she plans to marry her boyfriend Joel Madden this summer, insisting the rock star hasn't even proposed. The couple, whose daughter Harlow Winter Kate was born in January, were said to be sending out invites for their impending nuptials as early as next week. But a spokesperson for "The Simple Life" star says, "They are not even engaged."
EVENT CALENDAR: Joyner on the Hill; Obama Concert Fundraiser; BMI's Showcase; Van Peebles at Tribeca; Michelle Williams auditions; Detroit Bring It Competition.
*Nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner will testify today before a congressional panel investigating thousands of reported voting irregularities that included the lack of voting machines, poorly trained precinct workers and a run on ballots at polling places across the country this year. Joyner will testify with other voting rights activists before the Committee on House Administration hearing, “2008 Presidential Primaries & Caucuses – What Lessons Have We Learned,” at 11:30 a.m. EDT. The hearing will be web cast live at http://cha.house.gov.
*A Barack Obama Concert Fundraiser will be held at Vault 350 in Long Beach, Calif. on April 16. Performers include the Hues Corporation, Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore, Scott Mayo, Doc Powell, Sadoc Christian Singers, Kevin Toney and Phil Upchurch. Tickets range from $75 to $200. For more information or ticket sales, call 888-80-VAULT. The venue's Web site is www.Vault350.com.
*Rapper Lil’ Wayne, singer/songwriter Sean Garrett and singer Teyana Taylor are set to headline BMI's 11th Annual Unsigned Urban Showcase on Thursday, April 24, at Atlanta’s Luckie Lounge (375 Luckie Street) at 9 p.m.
The night provides a unique opportunity for BMI affiliates to showcase before a room of industry professionals. The final four will perform for a panel of celebrity judges. The festivities are open to the public; attendees must be 21-years-old with valid identification. Admission is $20.00 until 10 p.m. BMI will also present the Legends of Atlanta Award to a community leader, recognizing his or her contributions to the Atlanta music scene.
*Filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles will debut his latest work, "Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha," at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27. It has been chosen as one of six "most-noted" films at the event by Downtown Express, a New York City newspaper. View a trailer of the film here: www.myprgenie.com.
*Michelle Williams will be holding auditions in Los Angeles for male dancers to join her in a series of performances and projects to plug her new solo album, "Unexpected," due August 12. Auditions will be held at The Basement in North Hollywood (5259 Lankershim Blvd. Studio C) on Sunday, April 13, and are open to male dancers only. Applicants need to be 5' 10" or taller and at least 18 years old. Prospective dancers should bring a resume and headshot. Open Call: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Agency Call (Agency Dancers only)
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*The 2008 Detroit Bring It Competition is a search for "the most soulful singer, righteous rapper, clever comedian, delightful dancer and moving musician," a press release states. There will be three categories in the competition: music, dance and spoken word. Through the process of elimination, the selected contestants will advance to the semi-finals and onto the finals scheduled for July 2008. Auditions will be held April 19 at the Cobo Hall Convention Center in downtown Detroit from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Registration is $25. You must be 18 or older to participate. Applications are available at www.detroitbringit.com.
NAACP ALLEGES RACIAL BIAS IN 'BARBIE BANDITS' CASE: White female bank robbers received less time than black male co-conspirators.
*The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the head of Georgia's NAACP chapter wants a state investigation into racial sentencing patterns in Cobb County after disparities emerged in the so-called "Barbie Bandits" case.
The Feb. 27, 2007, heist at a Bank of America branch in Acworth involved four people: two young white women and a black male bank teller — who admitted their roles — and another black man convicted by a jury of planning the job.
Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, and Ashley Nicole Miller, 19, both pleaded guilty to theft-by-taking charges. Miller received two years in jail, followed by eight years probation. Johnson got 10 years probation.
Prosecutors had recommended both be sentenced to 10 years, three in jail and seven years' probation.
Local NAACP president Edward DuBose says the racial disparity warrants an immediate probe by Attorney General Thurbert Baker.
"When four people are involved in the same crime and those who happen to be Caucasian receive much less time than those who are African American, this reflects a problem in the justice system that must be addressed,"
DuBose said at a news conference at the Cobb NAACP headquarters in Marietta.
Bank teller Benny Allen III also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to five years in jail. Prosecutors had recommended six.
Allen, 23, told the women what to write in their demand note and handed them the money, nearly $11,000. He was on probation for a drug conviction when he was sentenced and the prosecutor in the bank case said he had not cooperated with authorities.
"He was not honest before his plea. He was not honest after his plea," prosecutor Bonnie Derrer said at his sentencing.
Michael Chastang, who is serving 15 years on drug-trafficking charges unrelated to the bank heist, received the most severe of the sentences meted out by Superior Court Judge Mary Staley. She ordered the 28-year-old Chastang to complete the term on the drug charges, then serve 10 years for the bank theft.
EUR DVD REVIEW: The 11th Hour
DVD Discusses the Perilous Plight of the Planet Due to Global Warming
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Anyone who watches The 11th Hour is likely to come away convinced that saving the planet from extinction ought to be high atop every advanced and developing nation's political agenda.
Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this chilling expose' makes an even more convincing case than An Inconvenient Truth that time is of the essence, if there's to be any hope for humanity to halt the trend towards global warming.
Where Al Gore's Oscar-winner was essentially a "before" and "after" lecture delivered by the former Vice President standing on a stage pointing at a series of slides, this dire documentary features convincing contributions from a diversity of dozens of experts out in the field, including acclaimed physicist Stephen Hawking, CIA Director James Woolsey and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.
Backed by damning film footage, their assorted observations combine to lead to the conclusion that there is a burgeoning crisis in terms of climate change which borders on irreversible if allowed to continue unabated.
The good news is that most of the blame for the predicament is placed right at the feet of the human race, which means the solution to the problem is also within our grasp.
Ironically, it appears that the man-made technological advances associated with the Industrial Revolution simultaneously led to the runaway consumption of fossil fuels now causing the rapid depletion of natural resources.
As a consequence of the rise in the Earth's temperature and the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere, we are witnessing a marked increase in such natural disasters as wildfires, drought, the melting of the ice caps, deforestation, air and water pollution, disease, the depletion of the ozone layer, etcetera. The segment of the scientific community consulted here has arrived at a scary consensus, namely that, left unchecked, this rapid degeneration will inexorably lead to planetary conditions which will no longer support life.
Overall, a cautionary tale sounding the alarm that we're close to the tipping point of wholesale ecological disaster, if not already irreversibly past it.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 124 minutes
Studi Warner Home Video
DVD Extras: "The Bonus Hour," more than 60 minutes of extras exploring action plans for rescuing the planet.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The pessimist borrows trouble; the optimist lends encouragement." — William Arthur Ward
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
April 9: Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam ("The Cosby Show") is 29.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Corvette of Choice is a car club that fosters camaraderie amongst Corvette lovers in the greater Los Angeles area: www.corvetteofchoice.com
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Apr. 9, 1866: Civil Rights Bill passed over the president's veto. The bill conferred citizenship on blacks and gave them "the same right, in every State and Territory... as is enjoyed by white citizens." (Source:
www.BlackFacts.com)
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