EURweb |
J-HUD TO SING ANTHEM AT CONVENTION: Plus, John Legend's Monday night song available at iTunes and Obama's Web site.
*Jennifer Hudson has accepted an invitation by Barack Obama to belt the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, before the Presidential candidate gives his acceptance speech at Denver's Invesco Field.
"His reps called and said we'd love for you to sing the anthem on Thursday," Hudson's publicist tells People.com. "She's thrilled and excited. It's a tremendous honor."
The Oscar winner, whose self-titled album is due Sept. 30, has previously expressed a desire to help the Obama campaign. "I'm so proud and excited for him," Hudson, 26, told E! Online in June. "I haven't gotten a call from them yet, but he does have my support."
In other convention news, John Legend's song "If You're Out There," performed at last night's opening session at the Pepsi Center, is now available at both www.my.barackobama.com/johnlegend and via iTunes.
According to a statement, the song is an "anthemic call-to-action and evocation of human potential." It includes such lines as "We're the generation / We can't afford to wait / The future started yesterday and we're already late."
The track, featuring the Agape Choir, will also be found on Legend's next album, "Evolver," due October 28 via Columbia.
BRAXTON, SAPP, GREENE TO GO 'DANCING': New cast announced for ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars,' beginning Sept. 22.
*It's official, Toni Braxton and Warren Sapp are confirmed members of the new cast of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," which debuts Sept. 22 with 13 celebrities vying to become a ballroom dance champion.
Joining the duo will be 2000 Olympic track-and-field gold medalist Maurice Greene, Susan Lucci, Lance Bass, Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, and Misty May-Treanor, who won her second gold medal for beach volleyball at this year's summer games in Beijing.
Rounding out the cast are chef Rocco DiSpirito, Cody Linley of "Hannah Montana" and comedian Jeffrey Ross.
Kardashian, meanwhile, will be limping into the competition with a foot injury. The reality show star checked into a New York City hospital Sunday after cutting her foot on a glass table in her hotel room.
"I will be able to dance. I went to the hospital. I'll be fine," she said in a phone call to "Good Morning America" on Monday.
OPRAH GATHERING GOLD MEDALISTS FOR 9/11 SHOW?: Plus, TV host reportedly rents a home for $50,000/wk near Denver.
*Word has it that Oprah Winfrey is trying to feature every single American Olympic gold medalist from the Beijing Games for a broadcast of her talk show to air on Sept. 11.
The New York Post claims agents for several medal-winning athletes said they were contacted by Oprah's producers about appearing on the special, which marks the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Olympian Ronda Rousey - the only American ever to win a medal in judo - said yesterday on her own Web site that she would be appearing on Oprah "September 11th on some Olympic medalists special."
The U.S. won 36 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, but Oprah's stage would have to hold much more than 36 people – as many of the medals represent entire teams of athletes.
A spokesman for Oprah yesterday said the show "is not confirmed," however, the Post reports: "Rather than focus on the tragedy of the attack seven years on, an Olympic-champions show would be an irresistible piece of patriotism - marking the day with a positive note."
Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Winfrey paid $50,000 to rent a house for seven days near Denver, where her close friend Barack Obama will be formally nominated for president during the Democratic National Convention.
According to the Associated Press, Winfrey's rep said she didn't know if the talk show host rented the place as a way to entertain guests.
"Her attendance at the convention has not been confirmed," said the spokeswoman, who didn't want her name to be published.
The rented crib, nestled in a historic neighborhood near Cherry Creek, came with a weekly rental fee of $50,000.
JODECI LITERALLY FALLS APART IN AUSTRALIA: Jo-Jo passes out in mid-song; K-Ci ignores him and keeps singing.
*It was a hot Feenin mess in Australia Saturday during a Jodeci concert that ended up with Dalvin DeGrate not showing up at all, Jo-Jo passing out mid-song and K-Ci continuing to perform around his brother's motionless body.
Needless to say, someone's cell phone footage of the debacle is now a YouTube sensation. [View here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVjLN8mFYTI.]
The night started to unravel when the R&B group (now three members strong after founder DeVante DeGrate exited) arrived at Enmore Theatre in Sydney without Dalvin. According to reports, the singer pulled out at the last minute.
Brothers Cedric and Joel Hailey, a.k.a. K-Ci and JoJo, were left to perform as a duo. But fans began booing and tossing bottles at the stage because they forgot some song lyrics and, at one point, even sat down.
The lowlight, however, took place during a sloppy rendition of "All My Life." That's when Jo-Jo simply passed out and fell to the stage. K-Ci looked at him briefly, then continued performing. A security guard walked toward Jo-Jo, but only to retrieve the microphone that had fallen out of his hand and rolled several inches away.
Eventually, Jo-Jo came to and was helped off stage by K-Ci and the security guard. K-Ci later explained to the audience that they were tired after their 24-hour flight and that JoJo had gotten dizzy."
MCCAIN TRIES TYING OBAMA TO MADONNA MONTAGE: Campaign says celebs supporting Obama have no boundaries.
*John McCain's campaign lashed out against a video montage displayed during Madonna's UK concert Saturday that showed the Republican presidential candidate grouped with such men as Adolf Hitler and Robert Mugabe.
"The comparisons are outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time," McCain's campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement. "It clearly shows that when it comes to supporting Barack Obama, his fellow worldwide celebrities refuse to consider any smear or attack off limits."
The montage [view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZZvmXsSPU] was played on huge video screens during the kickoff to Madonna's world tour Saturday in Cardiff. During a performance of the song "Get Stupid," McCain's face was flashed up alongside images of destruction and global warming as well as Hitler and Mugabe.
Towards the end of the song, when the lyrics become positive, pictures of Beatles star John Lennon, former vice-president Al Gore, Indian Mahatma Gandhi and McCain's Democratic rival Barack Obama appeared.
KANYE, T-PAIN, AKON SUPPORT NEGRO LEAGUES: Rappers part of compilation CD to benefit museum in Kansas City.
*Rappers Kanye West, T-Pain and Akon are helping to raise money for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by appearing on "True to the Game," a CD of hip hop and R&B songs due Oct. 21 from Pyramid/Fontana/Universal.
The museum in Kansas City, Missouri will use a portion of the proceeds to help fund a $15 million education and research center within the historical landmark building where the Negro Leagues were established in 1920, reports Billboard.
"True to the Game" is the first project from Stadium Entertainment, a privately financed company that aims to combine music, social consciousness and philanthropy. The company also signed a licensing deal with T-Pain's Nappy Boy Digital label for the set's first single, "Beam Me Up."
Track selections also include "Make Your Way to the Dance Floor" (Ziggy Nina featuring Chingy), "Around My Way" (Young Cash featuring Akon), "The Pursuit of Happiness" (GLC featuring West), "Knock It Outa Da Park" (Yung Joc) and "Ghetto Love" (Mario).
Stadium plans to release two more compilations and a best-of CD under its agreement with the 18-year-old museum.
SERENA WILLIAMS JUMPS IN WTA RANKINGS: Also, Williams sisters to promote Oreo Double Stuf – (stuff, with one "f") – cookies.
*Serena Williams scoots her way up to No. 3 in the WTA rankings, which were announced on Monday ahead of the U.S. Open.
The recent Olympic gold medalist in ladies doubles swapped places with Svetlana Kuznetsova – with the Russian dropping to fourth. Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic are ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively.
Serena's sister and Olympic doubles partner, Venus Williams, is ranked No. 8.
Meanwhile, both sisters are appearing in a new ad campaign for Oreo Double Stuf cookies as the newest members of the Double Stuf Racing League (DSRL).
The DSRL brings friends and families together to "lick race" - a friendly competition where racers see who can twist, lick and dunk a single Oreo Double Stuf cookie and drink a glass of milk the fastest.
The siblings join famous quarterback brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, who launched the DSRL earlier this year.
"And because we love a friendly rivalry, it'll be fun to show the Mannings what real DSRL competition is like! They're going down," said Serena.
Added Venus: "Oreo cookies and milk were a tradition in our house growing up, and my sister and I fondly remember twisting, licking and dunking them together. It was only natural to continue that tradition as adults, which is why we jumped at the chance to be a part of the DSRL."
BLACK WOMAN TO HEAD NY BOXING COMMISSION: Gov. David Paterson selects veteran judge Melvina Lathan.
*New York has its first-ever female African-American boxing commissioner, thanks to Gov. David Patterson.
Veteran boxing judge Melvina Lathan has been appointed to head the New York State Athletic Commission, the three-member board (appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate) that regulates professional boxing in New York. Lathan's Senate confirmation was completed on May 30, 2007.
"I am honored and flattered Gov. Paterson has chosen me to lead the New York State Athletic Commission," Lathan said in a statement. "I pledge to maintain the original mission of the Athletic Commission and catapult it to meet the demands of today's boxing industry. In 1911, New York became the first state in the nation to regulate the sport of boxing. Our primary objective is protecting the health, safety and welfare of the participants. Today, our goal is to continue to be the standard-bearer for professional boxing in the United States."
Lathan became the first African American female licensed as a Professional Boxing Judge in New York in 1991. During her distinguished career she has judged more than 235 fight cards, including 82 World Title Bouts across the United States, Europe, and South America.
LATE NIGHT COMICS SPLIT ON OBAMA: McCain and Hillary Clinton get brunt on broadcast TV; but cable favors poking fun at Illinois senator.
*Late night talk show hosts have pretty much left Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama alone during the election season, saving their ammunition instead for his rivals – Republican nominee John McCain and former primary foe Hillary Clinton.
According to researchers at George Mason University, Obama has been the butt of a mere 169 jokes from Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien since the beginning of this year, compared to McCain's 322 and Clinton's 382.
But when it comes to late night cable programs – mainly Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" – Obama is the favorite target, with 207 jokes vs. 201 for McCain and 179 for Clinton, according to the study.
The researchers speculate that Obama's lead on cable is attributable to the fact that those two shows closely follow the day's headlines, reports Variety.
DEATH ROW SALE FALLS THROUGH: Global Music Group’s $24 million dollar acquisition has been terminated.
*Death Row Records remains on the market today following the termination of a $24 million acquisition by Global Music Group in June, reports Allhiphop.com.
Global Music Group failed to consummate the acquisition of the label as required by a deadline of July 23, 2008, or by the forbearance extension date of July 29, according to a lawsuit filed in bankruptcy court by Suge Knight’s estate and the trustees of Death Row Records.
The lawsuit further states that “since July 29, GMG (Global Music Group) has continued to fail to forward the purchase money, instead making a number of requests for extension, none of which has been granted by the Trustees.”
GMG tried to secure more extensions with the Death Row trustees on Aug. 15, only to be rebuffed with a termination letter calling the deal off. The backup bidder Entertainment One (E1), upon hearing of GMG’s failure to close, relinquished their rights to the sale for unspecified reasons.
The trustees of Death Row and Suge Knight’s estate are now asking the courts to reinstate their right to negotiate with other potential buyers. If approved, Death Row’s assets including its masters collection of albums would again be up for public auction.
SNOOP TO STEP UP CLOTHING LINE PRESENCE: Rapper to promote product across multiple properties.
*Snoop Dogg is about to focus a great deal of attention to the promotion of his clothing line, Rich & Infamous.
According to Variety, the Long Beach rapper intends to plug the label extensively across the various entertainment properties with which he's involved, including his E! reality TV series "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" and through product placement in films and music videos.
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Additionally, Snoop's CD packaging will include the Rich & Infamous brand message and product unveilings, and the line will be showcased through fashion shows during his world concert tour.
Snoop will promote the line through an original Web series, distributed across multiple sites, and through iTunes, which will feature the artist.
Snoop teamed with brand manager the Robert Thorne Co., licensing giant IMG World and design house Industry Concepts to create the line of streetwear for men 18-35. It will expand into accessories, grooming and home products as well.
Snoop Dogg will unveil the collection this week at the Magic fashion tradeshow in Las Vegas.
SAM MOORE FILLS IN FOR ISAAC HAYES AT CONCERT: Billy Paul also on hand for tribute to late soul icon.
*R&B legend Sam Moore was an eleventh hour replacement to headline the Sunset Junction Festival in Los Angeles, which was to feature Isaac Hayes and his band before his death on Aug. 10.
According to WENN, Moore fought back tears as he performed songs that were written by Hayes and his partner David Porter throughout his career.
Meanwhile, "Me & Mrs. Jones" singer Billy Paul called for a moment's silence during his emotional set, after calling Hayes "a personal friend... I shall miss."
Also on hand were jazz great Michael Henderson, who ended his set with Hayes' "Walk On By," and Philadelphia R&B star Jean Carne, who called for a standing ovation for her friend Hayes.
TERRENCE HOWARD DISCUSSES STALKING SONG: Track on actor's debut album about spying on wife after split.
*Terrence Howard tells the New York Times that a song on his debut album, "Shine Through It," is about the ways in which he stalked his ex-wife immediately following their split.
"I wrote that song ("No. 1 Fan") as a stalker," said the actor. "It was raining, and I was sitting there in front of the house, watching her come home from a date after we were divorced."
"I was imagining what she did on this date, and watching her giving him a kiss. I went home and wrote this song," he said.
Howard, whose album "Shine Through It" is due next month, was married to Lori McCommas for 14 years before divorcing in 2003. They remarried two years later, but have since separated. McCommas is the mother of his three children, Aubrey, Heaven and Hunter.
ESPN'S STUART SCOTT INTERVIEWS OBAMA: SportsCenter segment to rerun this morning at 9 and tonight at 11.
*Barack Obama got his "boo-yow" on last week. The Democratic presidential nominee sat down with ESPN anchor Stuart Scott for a one-on-one "game/conversation" that debuted yesterday and will rerun this morning at 9 and tonight at 11.
The interview, which took place last Wednesday at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, N.C., features Obama discussing his favorite basketball player, the human rights controversy surrounding the Olympics in China and much more.
Listed below are interview excerpts:
Barack Obama: “My favorite player when I was a kid was Dr. J. He had those old Nets shorts with the socks up to here. Those Converse Dr. J's, that was the outfit then.”
Stuart Scott: “If your vice president had to be an athlete, who would you pick?”
Obama: “Well, I'll tell you what. I'm a Chicago guy, so I'm thinking Walter Payton. ‘Sweetness.’ That guy had durability -- he could block as well as run. Michael -- doesn't lose, and, since I haven't won the presidency yet, that wouldn't be a bad teammate to have. I'd just keep on feeding him and figure he'd hit the last shot.”
Scott: “Because of human rights issues, there was a loud cry for President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Games. If you had been President, faced with that, what would you have done?
Obama: “Well, I said very early on that I don't want Olympics to be overly politicized. But, when a host country is violating human rights, I think we have to say something. It would have been an appropriate statement for the President to say that, ‘I will not go to the opening games unless we have seen some progress on the issue of Tibet.’ If all of us are silent all the time, then human beings all across the globe are being silenced and being oppressed in ways that I don't think captures the Olympic Spirit.”
Scott: “Congress played a vital role through its hearings, and baseball union and players union into more frequent testing for performance enhancing drugs and stricter penalties. When you were watching the hearings, what did you think of them?”
Obama: “I love baseball. Baseball is America's pastime. I'd like to see the baseball Commissioner handle this without Congress being involved. We've got a lot of stuff on our plate.”
Scott: “If the Cubs and the White Sox both make it to the World Series?
Obama: “I would be going.”
Scott: “Who would you root for?
Obama: “Oh, that's easy. White Sox. I'm not one of these fair weather fans. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer, beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball.
Southside.”
EUR FILM REVIEW: I.O.U.S.A. (One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt.)
Documentary Explains America’s Financial Crisis in Layman’s Terms
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Irrational exuberance to the contrary, all you have to do is look around to see that America is in the midst of a worsening recession.
From the precipitous devaluation of real estate to bank failures to the credit collapse to runaway inflation to the price of gasoline to the high unemployment rate to the devalued dollar to the exorbitant cost of waging two wars simultaneously to the bear market, it’s clear that the country has a host of money woes.
But listening to the experts and political pundits weigh-in on the subject is likely to leave you confused about why we’re in this mess.
Democrats and Republicans predictably resort to blaming each other, while economists tend to explain the situation using jargon too complicated for the Average Joe to comprehend.
For this reason, director Patrick Creadon is to be commended for making I.O.U.S.A. (One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt.), a nuts and bolts documentary which seeks to explain the burgeoning financial crisis in layman’s terms. The film opens by stating the basic proposition that the most serious threat to the U.S. is our own irresponsibility when it comes to spending. America’s present predicament is then put in perspective via telling analogies of the Roman Empire shortly before its fall.
Next, Creadon cleverly sets about proving his premise by relying on a combination of archival footage and some surprisingly frank interviews with concerned, if not fed-up folks like billionaire Warren Buffett, fired Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, the late Tim Russert, CNBC’s Jim Cramer, presidential candidate Ron Paul, and former Comptroller General of the U.S. David Walker.
The conservative Congress which ran Washington until recently is referred to as schizophrenic, since it repeatedly lowered taxes while irresponsibly continuing to encourage runaway government spending. The result is an ever-escalating national debt and a record trade deficit which together threaten to burden unborn citizens for generations to come, if the country doesn’t fall apart at the seams first.
Secretary O’Neill whose words fell on the deaf ears of President Bush when he was a member of the current administration, warns that, “When you get extended to the point that you can’t service your debt, you’re finished.”
Ron Paul is shown sounding an equally-dire alarm in a videotape from a House hearing in 2000 during which the Congressman tells then Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan to his face that he had so mismanaged the economy that he should start looking for another job.
Greenspan’s replacement takes it on the chin, too, his hit coming courtesy of animated Jim Cramer who shouts that “Ben Bernancke is an academic who has no idea” how bad the crisis is. “The Fed is asleep,” an exasperated Cramer concludes.
Apparently, America’s basic problem boils down to the fact it is a nation which has become addicted to credit in the wake of outsourcing so much manufacturing overseas. To balance the budget we either have to raise taxes or cut spending, because a country which consumes more than it produces is unsustainable.
Tough talk for tough times.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG for mature themes.
Running time: 85 minutes
Studi Roadside Attractions
To see a trailer for the movie, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBo2xQIWHiM
EUR DVD REVIEW: What Happens in Vegas ...
Kutcher and Diaz’s Battle-of-the-Sexes Comedy Comes to DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*New Yorker Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) has just been unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé at a surprise birthday party she threw for him.
Meanwhile, somewhere across town, slacker Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) is being fired from the family business by his bitterly disappointed father (Treat Williams).
Both of these sad sacks venture to Vegas to lick their wounds, Joy accompanied by her best friend, Tipper (Lake Bell), Jack by his buddy, Hater (Rob Corddry).
Fate conspires to have the four cross paths when their hotel accidentally assigns them to the same room.
And although misogynistic Hater and man-hating Tipper instantly dislike each other, Joy and Jack hit it off so well that they impulsively decide to get married after a night of imbibing and debauchery. However, by the time their hangovers wear off the next morning, they realize they have nothing in common. So, saner heads prevail and the newlyweds agree to get a quickie divorce.
But just as they are about to go their separate ways, Jack deposits one of his bride’s quarters in a slot machine, and wouldn’t you know he hits a $3,000,000 jackpot. Because they can’t agree on how to divvy up the cash amicably, the greedy couple ends up in divorce court where the judge (Dennis Miller) sentences them to live together for six months before he’ll render a decision.
Joy reluctantly moves into Jack’s apartment and the two proceed to drive each other crazy in a standoff with nothing new to offer to anyone familiar with the battle-of-the-sexes genre. He gets under her skin with alpha-male antics like urinating in the sink and leaving the toilet seat up, and she’s no angel either, relying on shrewish Tipper for advice about how to torture her hubby.
A recycled romantic comedy best left in Vegas.
Fair (1.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, crude humor and a drug reference Running time: 99 minutes
Studi 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment 2-Disc DVD Extras: Director’s commentary, a bonus digital copy of the film, behind the scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, theatrical trailers and additional trailers for other upcoming Fox releases.
To see a trailer for What Happens in Vegas, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJGAsbcfuRs
STEVEN IVORY:Boys will be Boys--Sometimes, Men Will,Too
*I'd just lowered myself onto a stool at the counter and was reaching for a laminated breakfast menu when, from somewhere behind me, came: “…You remind me of the people who was against the Wright Brothers. Listen, they got this pill--I'm usin' it.”
Through the reflection of a shiny vintage toaster on the waitress' work station I caught sight of a booth behind me holding four black gentlemen.
Cocking my head to the left allowed me a peripheral view of the casually dressed men, who looked to be in their early '70s. Where there wasn't gray, there was a bare noggin. Or hair painted jet black. There was a wine-colored Sean John workout ensemble on one of them; there was laughter, coffee, eggs, sliced fruit, dry toast, orange juice, bacon, extra crispy. And there was hardy conversation. The subject: Viagra.
I ordered scrambled eggs, toast and hash browns and settled in for some breakfast eavesdropping.
“One night, I went to Ruth's place--you remember Ruth,” said the portly man with the gold tooth, talking when I came in the place. The man, not the tooth. “She wanted me to come over, but by the time I got there, she said she changed her mind.
"I said,'Baby, I don't mean no disrespect, but I just took one of these pills and they ain't cheap. Wake up your sister or that dog you got chained up out back, the parakeet--I don't care who or what it is, SOMEBODY in this house gon' fuck tonight.'” The table roared.
Usually, to hear dialogue this rich in either infinite wisdom or knee high bullshit, you'd have to be somewhere in The Community--taking in both soliloquy and Aqua Velva vapors while waiting for a barber's chair to open up. Or at a pool hall; outside a liquor store, or wherever a spirited game of dominoes or bid whist thrives. Anywhere black men congregate, really, including boardrooms, private jets and on yachts in the Mediterranean. I just happened to be getting the show in a diner on L.A.'s Westside.
If a Brother was among the chemists who invented Viagra, he got no credit at the booth. "That white man is somethin' else, ain't he? Shit going on all around us, cancer and shit, and what does he do? Come up with a dick pill. You gotta love that man..."
"Oh, didn't you know?" Somebody else chimed in. "That's what he DO--conquer it or stick it!" They didn't seem to see themselves in the portrait they painted.
Some of what the men said was funny; some of it sexist. All of it reminded me of when I was a boy.
At a certain age, sex is all boys talk about. The orators usually consist of boys who (A) at 14 or 15, are truly having sex and (B) boys who SAY they are but aren't--both of whom found a captive audience in (C) nervous virgin boys such as myself, who stood around listening, trying to separate fact from fiction.
The men spoke of Viagra in the same fashion they spoke of the Internet and cell phones, alternately bemoaning progress and expressing begrudging affection that these things exist. All of them had vivid stories about women. A booth of orators. I listened in earnest, still trying, after all these years, to discern fact from fiction.
“My wife's friend got her husband some [Viagra] on the advice of my wife,” said the guy in Sean John. “She told us her husband gets an erection now, but is still lousy in bed. She told my wife it was my fault. I grabbed the phone, I said, 'Mattie, I told you: it'll get his dick UP--I didn't say he'd know how to use it.'” Guffaw.
One of the crew asked ardent users at the booth what they would do if the little blue pill proved to be unsafe.
"I gotta take my chances, I got too much going on," answered Mr. Jet Black. "The day I can't have sex, I'm dead anyway, so...." Again, laughter.
When you're a young boy, you're nervous about the day you finally have sex. When you're older, you fear the day when you can't have it. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Most things anyway. According to the booth at the diner,anything the little blue pill can't directly or indirectly fix in the form of an erection, doesn't matter.
Steven Ivory's book, FOOL IN LOVE (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) is in stores now or at Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com) Respond to him via STEVRIVORY@AOL.COM or MYfeedback@eurweb.com
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By AdviceChick at ameritech.net
ULTIMATE Ladies NITE Out Part Two coming soon! Visit http://www.ultimateladiesniteout.com NOW for details!
Dear Advice Chick,
*I met this guy on an online dating site and we did a lot of Q&A stuff about our goals, life, etc. and seemed to get along well. We then exchanged nice emails where he was really chatty and complimentary. Next we moved to instant messaging each other and that was great, except when he was busy working and I was fine with that. We met and seemed to get along well and on our second date--it ended up being 12 hours long...we had a lot of fun hanging out with friends, singing karaoke until the sun rose and then toward the end of our night we ended up kissing and then having great sex, which he initiated. The next morning was ok, we had breakfast and then I had to go. After this he has been in touch, but only to say hi, then he had to go--was busy. He declined some opportunities to meet up.
When we ran into each other a week later at a bar it was nice to see each other but it felt awkward (esp since he said he was too busy to go out). I said something about the awkwardness after we spent a few hours just talking and hanging out. He said he felt awkward too, because he was afraid I might feel that there was a relationship now that we had slept together. I said that was making assumptions. He said we barely know each other. I asked him if he wanted to keep getting to know each other or not and he said he did want to keep getting to know each other. He hugged me and said that he was glad we talked about this. He asked if I felt better, and I said I guess so. Then I left the bar. I called him 30 mins later to apologize for bringing up the topic in public and I got voicemail. I also emailed him the next day a short friendly email to show I was still the same fun person he was getting to know. No response yet from him but he is out of town for a week on a work project. What do you think? Is there hope?
Advice Chick replies,
Keep getting to know each other? He no longer needs to get to know you. He already knows you’re a female that fuxxs on the second date. He said that because he didn’t want you to create a scene at the club. He was happy as hell when you finally left the club. When you called a few mins later to apologize, he reached for his phone (they’re usually on vibrate when in a club), saw YOUR number, and pressed IGNORE so fast and hard that he almost broke his finger.
He may be out of town, but the odds are he has access to the Internet and his email. Oh! You’re no longer the fun person he was getting to know; you’re now some chick that got the dyck.
Yes, there is hope. There’s “hope” that you learned something from this and possibly previous encounters; stop getting physical so fast. Also, learn how to value your time. Date number two was twelve hours? That’s an awful long date, ma. Initially this guy might have been interested in “you.” As the date went on (and on, and on) he realized you didn’t appear to have sense enough to end the date. We don’t always have to wait for the guy to end the date, ya know. We also don’t have to agree to a sexual liaison just because he initiates it. Ever heard of saying no?
-----> Ladies, please listen. Notice the signs. Listen to your intuition. When you’re with a guy B.S. (that’s BEFORE Sex) everything is good. He calls all of the time. He responds to your emails almost instantly, he is available and is interested. Usually A.S.T.S. (AFTER sex too soon) he doesn’t (or rarely calls), ignores your emails, and isn’t available or interested. <-----
When you saw him in the club he said, “We barely know each other.” That was a true statement; however, I bet he wasn’t saying that when he was talking you out of your thong, was he? If it’s too early for a relationship, it’s too early for sex.
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! Send your emails t advicechick at ameritech.net
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Ask Advice Chick about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING related to dating, sex, love, and life! She is THE resident dating expert at EURweb.com, and calls on over 11 years of dating and relationship industry experience.
THE BRIDGE: How America Killed Us
By Darryl James
*As a people, we have been dying since we came to this land and built it on our backs for free.
Slavery gutted Africa, taking its most vibrant and vigorous men and women in childbearing years. It took or slaughtered young strong women and men. That completely destroyed the natural cycle of that continent, which is why it began to fall off.
It was made worse when the world continued to ravage the continent of its other natural resources, making war and causing strife amongst and between the indigenous peoples. Now, even some of us look at Africa with detached disgust, imagining that Africans destroyed their own land and each other for no good reason.
Even after slavery and Jim Crow, America did the same thing to African Americans, as in-bred self-hatred continued to seep into secret places in the psyche of Black folks. Integration and Black flight saw the best and brightest of the community seeking to live anywhere but around other Blacks. They took Black commerce with them and completely destroyed the natural cycle of the community.
It was made worse when the nation and crack came to ravage the community —as the educated and hard working denizens migrated to other communities, the lowest of the low became elevated and respected.
Pimps, prostitutes, gangsters and thugs took their place at the top of the food chain and completely retarded the community’s growth process. Things went off on a “Back to the Future” parallel universe tangent.
There was once a straight brotherhood, where the gangsters only took the kids who weren’t going anywhere anyway. As much as I thought I was a gangster, I was told in no uncertain terms that they would beat my ass everyday after graduation until I went to college, preferably out of the city.
Now the gangsters take whoever they can and lives are destroyed. Only after crack cocaine and the Eighties did we begin to see grown men dressing and behaving as children. Gangsters are now the biggest cowards, shooting at random to avoid face-to-face confrontations that may lead to man-to-man combat.
America gave us selfishness.
The Eighties in America gave us self-centered bitches for men who would rather pursue big vehicles with too many televisions and careers chasing balls or holding balls while rhyming about nonsense.
There was once a straight sisterhood, where women encouraged each other to be beautiful and to love men and families. They encouraged each other to walk and talk in ways that commanded respect. Even prostitutes could clean up and look regal after working.
After crack and the Eighties, overly promiscuous women reigned, telling each other that they didn’t need men to have children—in essence, avoiding and helping to destroy the Black family.
The Eighties was the “Me” decade and ushered in the first generation of Black women who were hyper-materialistic, turning to easy money and away from and against their men.
The chickens have come home to roost now that we see an abundance of women who are single, angry and bitter with no kids. There are far too many old, drunken, promiscuous drugged-out freaks calling themselves Independent women and queens.
And our children are suffering the most.
America has given us a lack of integrity.
There is no personal responsibility. The selfish, greedy behavior of grown men and women has eroded the guts of our community.
In general, Black men blame white men and Black women blame Black men. For everything. In such an environment, whites can say nothing about Blacks or they will be accused of racism and Black men can say nothing about Black women or they will be accused of hating them--even if they are telling the truth.
There are no mores, no standards, there is nothing.
The goal used to be to garner recognition as kings or queens, now it’s just to be called by those names. We want to feel good about ourselves without doing anything to feel good about.
America sold us sex without love, simply to feel good.
Porn is now mainstream. Strippers wear their title and career proudly and respectably and the idiots who make it rain are pawns in a game they think they are playing well. But both sides are using sex as commerce and love for nothing and in the open market, we are the icons for sexual debauchery.
Everything is sexualized and crude.
We see this crudeness everywhere in our community, particularly in interpersonal relationships. People don’t even know how to talk to each other anymore. Ignominious idiots will hurl insults and cast aspersions and then demand respect, deciding that cursing is worse than name calling, or that name calling is worse than insults, when really, moronic cowards are looking for ways to hurt others without being hurt.
No one wants to take the weight.
And no one wants to take the blame.
Even those of us who are doing well seek to blame those who are faltering for their own demise.
And really, most of us are at the precipice of demise.
We are underemployed and mostly two paychecks from disaster, while most of us claim to be doing well.
At least before the Eighties we were a primary part of the cheap labor workforce. Then many of us were supplanted by illegal immigrants who worked below the minimum wage and off the books, only to later unionize and demand a “living wage,” claiming that they took jobs Blacks were unwilling to do. In order to support such a lie, they had to ignore the people who were at work when they showed up to take the jobs for little pay.
But why wouldn’t those immigrants think so poorly of us when they and America promote outdated racist propaganda and materials in their native land?
Add that old school negative imagery to the new school negative imagery we allow ourselves to participate in promoting through rap music and comedy and African Americans are officially at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of respect.
And while some of us talk about reparations that will never come, too many of us refuse to look at the repairs that could save us—Black commerce and focus on saving young Black girls from AIDS and young Black boys from prison.
There are a number of viable hypotheses for the outrageously high HIV infection rate in our community, but the only one most of us want to entertain is the scenario where Black men are responsible. We promote this hypothesis while watching our children (and foolish adults) become more and more reckless with sex.
We became the primary fodder for the privatization of prisons at the same time that after school programs and college assistance programs were cut, while states began adopting “Three Strikes” legislation. All this under the watch of a president we called the first Black president, who later showed us his ass while attempting to get his racist wife elected as president.
Too many of us are dying, not from AIDS, but from simple, preventable curable diseases including hypertension and diabetes, yet none of us are supposed to talk about the high rate of obesity amongst Black women who want to feel good about being fat.
We are screwed, because as a people, we own little and control nothing. Yet, we boast about our visibility in sports and entertainment. But why wouldn’t a product be visible in the open market? We are clearly for sale and not only are we oblivious to the price, but most of us aren’t even aware of the cost.
We are paying and paying, while we are dying and dying.
We are helping to kill ourselves, which makes us very good Americans.
Darryl James is an award-winning author of the forthcoming powerful anthology “Notes From The Edge.” Discounted Autographed and Numbered Pre-Release copies can be ordered at www.darryljames.com. He released his first mini-movie, “Crack,” and this year, will release his first full-length documentary. View previous installments of this column at www.bridgecolumn.proboards36.com. Reach James at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: Who’s On First?
*In the heat of a political election it can be hard to remember why you favor one candidate over another. It’s like taking a handful of vitamins every morning: You forget which pill does what. All you remember is it was a good idea at the time.
Democrats and Republicans will hold their party conventions this week and next, to mark the official kickoff of the presidential general election campaign. Even though Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama announced Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden as his vice president running mate, creating a symmetrical political portrait, it takes more than a pretty picture to win an election.
Before you know what you want in a president, it’s just as important to know what you don’t want. Do his plans for your family match your plans for your family? As leader of the free world, the president will be the decider of a number of issues that could affect future generations.
If you agreed with President George W. Bush’s decisions ninety percent of the time you probably would want to support McCain for president. Since 2000 McCain has voted with the Bush agenda at least 90 percent of the time. That would make you 100 percent satisfied with McCain.
This 71-year-old (his birthday is Friday the 29th), six-term elected official with his pension and wealthy family ties has been against the protection of the Social Security program probably because he won’t have to worry about actually living off his. Maybe that’s why he’s also against union rights, workers rights and a health care program that covers every American.
For sure that’s why the AFL-CIO is against him. Some other need-to-know facts about the McCain agenda:
If he had his way health benefits provided by employers would be part of taxable income instead of the current pre-taxed income.
He voted for a national right to work-for-less law that would make it acceptable for states not to adhere to national labor standards in a number of areas including hiring practices and the minimum wage.
In 2003 McCain voted to take social security money to pay off federal debt.
Not only has McCain spoken against employee unions and strikes against unfair labor practices, he supported a bill that could allow employees to hire permanent replacements if they do strike.
McCain is not above taking what appears to be campaign bribes. After some of his campaign advisors lobbied for a particular company to get U.S. military contracts his campaign received nearly $30,000 in contributions from that company’s executives and employees a short time later.
With so much money at stake McCain told the Boston Globe “The issue of economics is something I’ve really never understood as well as I should,” yet he’s worth $40.4 million. And if you ask him how many houses he owns, he’ll have to get back to you on that.
Obama and his new running mate don’t have all the answers, but I like their responses a lot better than I do McCain’s.
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist living in Dallas, Texas. For public speaking inquiries, comments or questions email her at teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com.
POLISHED STONES ETIQUETTE: Movie Manners
*I guess you could say that I am an old fashion girl. I love a good movie and dinner date. I love being escorted to the movies by my husband and standing back while he pays for the tickets. Yes, it can be fun cuddling at home on the sofa while watching a movie, but there is something to be said from having your man take you to the theater, hold your hands and make over you. It just makes me feel like we are dating again.
However, lately, it has become difficult to enjoy a good movie with all the disruption. For some reason, going to a movie theater can bring out the worst in people. Noisy chewing, excessive laughing and even cell phones can quickly become annoying. No one should be forced to play theater police. So I have I decided to address some basic manners to display when going to the movie theater to help make it pleasant for everyone.
Be on time. Don't enter a movie theater after the film has started. But if you happen to arrive late, don't be choosy about your seat. Take the one closest to the aisle.
First things, first. Go to the bathroom and buy your snacks before entering the screening area.
Be quiet! Save all talking until the final credits have rolled.
Sit still. Please refrain from kicking the seat in front of you because you want to rest your feet on the back of the chair. This is annoying and very unkind to the person in front of you.
Neatness, please. Carry out all trash at the end of the movie.
I realize this may seem petty, but trust me, it really is very important. Movie outings have become, at times, painful for many people who only want to have a peaceful evening at the theater. And for girls like me who just want to feel special by spending a quiet evening at the theater with her man, it can be very important to many of us. So the next time you go to the movie theater, think of this simple southern girl who just wants to enjoy a nice, peaceful evening at the movies. Remember, "People are like diamonds, they sparkle once they are polished."
Angela Carr Patterson is an etiquette consultant, founder of The Love Story Women's Circle, an online women's circle and the owner of Oasis Promotions, an empowerment and personal development company, and the creator of The Revival of a Love Story Women's Experience. A popular speaker for events and conferences, Angela travels the country teaching women how to embrace passion, purpose and power for their lives. Contact her at angela@oasispromotionsllc.com www.oasispromotionsllc.com
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." — Jack London
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Aug. 26: Singer Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson is 62. Bandleader Branford Marsalis is 48. Singer Cassie is 22. Actress Keke Palmer ("Akeelah and the Bee") is 15.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
On February 9, TV stations will broadcast in digital only. Find out if your TV is ready via a quiz at www.dtvtransition.org
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Aug. 26, 1943: William Dawson became Black Democratic Party vice presidential candidate. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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