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09-25-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
KANYE MOVES ALBUM RELEASE TO NOV: Move avoids second showdown with 50 Cent.
*Rapper Kanye West says he is pushing up the release date of his upcoming album "808s & Heartbreak" from Dec. 16 to "November something," according to a post on his blog.
"I finished the album and I felt like (moving up the date)," he wrote. "I want yall to hear it as soon as possible."
The change allows him to avoid a December sales showdown with 50 Cent, who set the release of his new album "Before I Self Destruct" one week before Kanye's former street date of the 16th. 50's last album "Curtis" was outsold by Kanye's "Graduation" CD during their first faceoff in September of last year.
"Love Lockdown," the first single from "808s & Heartbreak," makes its debut today at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to first-week digital download sales of 213,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
CIARA 'VERY UPSET' OVER VIBE COVER: Singer says photo was 'misleading' because it made her look completely nude.
*R&B singer Ciara claims she was wearing underwear during the photo shoot for Vibe's October cover, even though it looks as if she's completely naked.
It's "very, very upsetting and somewhat misleading," she told MTV News of the photo.
However, Vibe Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith says not only was Ciara indeed fully naked for the shoot, but the whole thing was her idea.
"I have so much respect for Ciara, and Ciara was so happy when she pitched this idea to us, and the photos are actually striking and beautiful," Smith said during an interview with New York's KISS-FM. "It was pitched to me in a way that it was time [for her] to grow up and be beautiful and be free and be all the things she wanted to be."
Ciara says the intent of the photo shoot – as far as she was concerned – was to celebrate the human form. At the end of the session, she walked away believing everything had gone great. It wasn't until she saw the photos weeks later that she realized something was missing.
"When I saw the pictures, that wasn't what was discussed or what we were going in to do, so that definitely bothered me," she told MTV. "I think the body is something beautiful, and I wanted to celebrate that. And unfortunately, it wasn't exactly what it was in the photo shoot, and I'm looking forward to moving forward."
Ciara says she will not pursue any legal action against the urban publication.
"I think, at this point, I'd rather just be quiet about things such as that but I definitely want to make it clear that I was going in to do something artistic, and I was upset that when I saw the photos, everything was gone," the singer told MTV.
CECE WINANS BEHIND NEW ATLANTA CONDOS: Gospel great offers affordable housing near Brookhaven and Buckhead.
*CeCe Winans will be in Atlanta on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. to announce the grand opening of The LIGHT at Brookhaven, a condominium community built on the guiding principles of her life -- fellowship, family and the power of personal belief.
The 17-story complex offers one-bedroom and two-bedroom condominium homes at the apex of Brookhaven and Buckhead, two of Atlanta's most sought-after neighborhoods.
Against the backdrop of a national housing crisis, Winans says she decided, "I could help people affected by the housing downturn by working to provide them with beautiful, affordable homes in a comfortable, nurturing environment."
The LIGHT at Brookhaven, located at 3833 Peachtree Road, NE, offers an environment for those buyers looking for more -- a richer, deeper involvement with their neighbors and in their community, a press release states.
'FIGHT THE POWER' VOTED BEST RAP SONG: VHI compiles list for countdown show beginning Monday.
*Public Enemy’s 1989 black power anthem “Fight the Power” topped VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs ever.
The cable channel will count down all 100 songs on the list in a series of shows beginning on Monday.
Following "Fight the Power" on the list is the Sugar Hill Gang’s groundbreaking song, “Rapper’s Delight,” followed by Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin but a ’G’ Thang” at No. 3. Run-D.M.C.’s “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s “The Message” round out the top five.
Salt ’N Pepa was the lone female act in the top 10, with their early hit “Push It.” Jay-Z and Eminem made the top 20, while other acts on the list include the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Biz Markie, Black Sheep and J.J. Fad.
T.I. ORDERED TO PAY MORE CHILD SUPPORT: Ga. judge sides with mother of two of his kids.
*A judge in Georgia has ordered T.I. to increase his child support payments to ex-girlfriend LaShon Dixon, the 28-year-old mother of two of his children.
The monthly checks will go from $2,000 to $3,000 after Tuesday's ruling by Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane. Also, the rapper must continue to pay for the boys' private school tuition, their uninsured medical bills and expenses related to their extracurricular activities, according to the Associated Press.
Dixon's lawyer, Randy Kessler, said she's still unsatisfied with the $3,000 ordered by the judge, but feels a $1,000 boost is better than nothing.
"Every little bit helps," Kessler said. "She was just getting by with the children, while they lived a different life with their father. It can't be complete opposites on the other side."
In other T.I. news, AllHipHop.com is reporting that his company Grand Hustle Entertainment has signed on to manage the solo career of Outkast rapper Big Boi.
Grand Hustle CEO Jason Geter and the company's management staff will oversee the branding of the artist outside of his gig with Andre 3000 of Outkast.
“Our first plan of action is to identify Big Boi’s next hit record and get him on the road,” Geter told AllHipHop.com. “He’s so big. But we feel what’s going to get him where he’s trying to be is to get back to the grassroots level and let him interact with those fans that grew up on Outkast and are eagerly waiting to see what Big Boi has to offer on his own.”
DMX'S LAWYER WON'T EXPLAIN LATEST AILMENT: Rapper missed court date after being hospitalized for reported 'fear of a stroke.'
*A lawyer representing DMX confirms that the rapper missed a court date in Arizona because he was admitted to a hospital in Florida, but the attorney would not confirm media reports that the reason was for "fear of stroke."
"It was serious enough for him to be brought and taken into a treatment facility," his lawyer Bradford Cohen told Billboard. "He spent the night there last night, and he will probably spend tonight there as well. I don't think it's going to be an ongoing thing or a life-threatening situation. He's going to be alright."
DMX, born Earl Simmons, checked into an Aventura, Fla. hospital on Monday and did not make Tuesday's court hearing in Arizona, which was to "clear up the bond issue for the [drug] possession case."
Earlier this month, the rap star was extradited from Florida to an Arizona jail to face numerous charges he had accumulated in the state, including drug possession, traffic violations, animal cruelty accusations and defrauding a hospital with an invalid Social Security number and name.
He has since posted bond and has no warrants in the state.
BUSTA RHYMES SIGNS WITH UNIVERSAL MOTOWN: Rapper's new 'B.O.M.B.' album due Dec. 9.
*Busta Rhymes has inked a new record deal with Universal Motown and will release his first album for the label in December, reports Billboard.
The project, previously named "Blessed," is now titled "B.O.M.B." and is due for release on Dec 9, a label spokesperson confirmed.
In July, rapper 50 Cent's Web site, ThisIs50.com, reported that Rhymes was dropped from Aftermath/Interscope, but it was never confirmed by the label. Busta finally admitted the separation last weekend on New York radio station Hot 97, telling listeners, "Me and (Dr.) Dre are still good, even though I'm not in business with Aftermath or Interscope."
Rhymes went on to explain that "B.O.M.B" stands for "Back on my Bulls**t" and that his newly leaked single is called "Arab Money."
"I just want the world to know it's official," Rhymes said.
PLAXICO BURRESS SUSPENDED FOR 1 GAME: Player punished for undisclosed violation of team rules.
*The New York Giants on Wednesday suspended wide receiver Plaxico Burress for one game after announcing he had violated unspecified team rules.
General manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin informed Burress of the suspension Wednesday morning before the team held a bye-week practice, according to the Associated Press.
The suspension will keep Burress on the sidelines while his 3-0 team battles the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 5.
While the Giants did not specify why Burress was suspended, FoxSports.com said that he failed to show up for work on Monday and did not call in or answer phone messages to explain his absence.
O.J. TOLD CREW TO PACK HEAT, WITNESS SAYS: Testimony continues in Simpson trial with Walter Alexander on the stand.
*O.J. Simpson asked friends to bring guns to a confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room, a witness testified during the former NFL star's robbery trial Wednesday in Las Vegas.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence Stewart face 12 charges that include kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion. Simpson has repeatedly insisted he was unaware any members of his gang were armed prior to the alleged robbery in Las Vegas on Sept. 13, 2007.
Four other involved men have pleaded guilty to lesser charges with the agreement to testify. One of them, Simpson's former friend Walter Alexander, told the court Wednesday that Simpson asked them to carry weapons for their own protection and to "look tough" by displaying the guns in their waistband, reports the Associated Press.
"I need somebody to watch my back ... do you think you can get some 'heat'?" Simpson said in a meeting before the raid, according to Alexander.
Alexander quoted Simpson as saying: "I doubt you will ever need 'em (the guns), you just want to be protected. Put 'em in your waistband and have your jackets open so they could see when you walk in."
For protection, Alexander and Michael McClinton visited a spy shop to buy a tape recorder and mini camera to record the upcoming event. They intended to sell the footage to the media, Alexander testified.
McClinton gave Alexander a .22-caliber automatic handgun and kept a 9 mm handgun for himself. Then they met Simpson and three others at a low-budget hotel when the unsuspecting memorabilia dealers thought they were meeting prospective buyers, Alexander testified.
Simpson told McClinton to take out his gun just before the men burst into the hotel room, according to Alexander. He told the court his thoughts were: "This is gonna be a robbery. I just wanted to turn and go the other way, but O.J. was my friend and I said I had his back. But I really didn't want to go in the room at that point."
After the robbery, Alexander and McClinton worried about getting arrested, Alexander testified. "We realized he was going to throw us under the bus and the only way to defend himself was to blame it on us," Alexander told the court.
Alexander left Las Vegas shortly and was arrested at the airport. He gave details about the robbery to police as part of a plea bargain.
FAMILY DROPS LAWSUIT OVER MIJAC HOSPITAL STAY: Case was supposed to go to trial Oct. 27.
*A family who was suing a Santa Maria, Calif. hospital for removing their critically-ill relative to make room for Michael Jackson during his 2005 child-molestation trial has dropped their lawsuit against the medical center.
According to the Santa Maria Times, the family of Manuela Gomez Ruiz and their attorney filed papers on Aug. 19 requesting the lawsuit be dismissed. Court documents did not give a reason.
The Ruiz family had sued Marian Medical Center in February 2007 for infliction of emotional and mental distress. They claimed Ruiz, 73, was kept from critical care after a heart attack on the same day Jackson was brought in with flu-like symptoms during his trial.
The lawsuit said Ruiz was moved from a double room so Jackson could have the entire space to himself. The suit also complained of an "outrageous, circus-like atmosphere" in the last hours of her life.
The family had initially sued Jackson also, but a judge dropped him from the lawsuit in April. He was acquitted of the child molestation charges.
GA INMATE TROY DAVIS SPARED FROM EXECUTION: Court rules hours before he was scheduled to walk the green mile.
*The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of execution to a convicted murderer due to be put to death on Tuesday night amid doubt over his guilt and appeals for clemency from the pope and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, reports the AP.
The court issued the stay hours before Troy Davis was to be executed by lethal injection for the murder in 1989 of police officer Mark MacPhail, who was shot to death near a Burger King restaurant in Savannah, Georgia.
Davis, 39, protests his innocence and his lawyers say it was a case of mistaken identity.
Seven of nine witnesses who testified against him have recanted and some say police coerced them into giving their original evidence. Four of those witnesses also say another man, Sylvester Coles, shot MacPhail, and three of them say Coles has confessed to the murder, according to court papers.
The court granted its stay so it can consider whether to hear an appeal from Davis' lawyers when it comes back into session next week, according to attorneys who have followed the case.
Davis heard news of the stay on television at the prison in Jackson, Georgia, while he was waiting to go to the execution chamber and fell on his knees, according to his sister Martina Correia, who spoke to him.
'OBAMASPEAK' INFILTRATES POP CULTURE: Words such as 'Obamacize' and 'Obamabot' studied by Global Language Monitor.
*The last name of presidential candidate Barack Obama has taken on a life of its own when it comes to U.S. television culture.
According to a study from the Global Language Monitor, "ObamaSpeak" " -- encompassed by words such as "obamamentum," "obamabot," "obamacize," "obamarama" and "obamanation" -- has been the second-most-used catchphrase on U.S. television this past year, topped only by No. 1 word "Beijing" referencing the recent Olympics.
"This year, two events dominated television -- the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. presidential elections," said Paul Payack, president of the Texas-based Global Language Monitor which tracks the latest trends in word usage.
Other popular words and phrases among the top telewords of 2008 were the cliche used frequently by sportsmen and women, "It is what it is" at No. 3; "third screen" at No. 6, as in watching TV on a mobile phone; and No. 7 "vincible" applied to the upset of the seemingly invincible New England Patriots by the New York Giants in the 2008 Superbowl.
NBA'S BARON DAVIS ON JENNY CRAIG: L.A. Clippers guard follows in footsteps of his homie Queen Latifah.
*Training camp for the 2008-09 NBA season begins Oct. 5 and Baron Davis hopes to quickly shed the extra pounds gained during the off-season with the help of Jenny Craig.
People magazine is reporting that the 6' 3" L.A. Clippers guard has signed on as an official spokesman for the weight loss program after being encouraged to use the program by his friend and fellow spokesperson, Queen Latifah.
"I know Queen Latifah, and when I saw her out there using it, I thought maybe I could use it, too, to work on my health and fitness goals and inspire others," he tells People.
Davis admits that he got a little carried away with calories over the summer, especially when it came to Mexican food.
"I go to Pinches Tacos in L.A., start with a carne asada burrito, and work my way down the menu," he says. "In the off-season, it's kind of hard to maintain day-to-day. I don't want to get up and cook. And when I pig out, I'm the type of person where there's no limit to what I can do."
Despite some initial ribbing from friends when he signed up for the plan, Davis says he's inspired some of them to join, too.
"They were like, 'Huh? Why is Jenny Craig in your fridge? Why are you eating this?' But then I'd be at a friend's house and have my weekly check-in call, and they saw how serious I was about it and it helped."
While he won't reveal how much weight he's lost on Jenny Craig until a press conference in L.A. on Friday, Davis says he feels "great" and has "a lot more energy."
VOTER REGISTRATION INTO OVERDRIVE: Hip Hop Caucus/Radio One, BET, Al Sharpton step up efforts.
*As the country inches closer to the presidential election on Nov. 4, voter registration drives are naturally picking up lots of steam.
The bi-partisan Hip-Hop Caucus is teaming with Radio One for the “Respect My Vote" Campaign, aimed at registering over 50,000 voters on Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The one day drive will be held in 15 big market cities throughout the country, including Atlanta, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.
Radio One will utilize 52 stations across the nation to broadcast live from a central location in each city, allowing registrars to set up eligible voters.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama supporter Rev. Al Sharpton is launching an effort to register black voters in six swing states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina and Michigan. The civil rights activist hopes to register at least a quarter of the estimated 9.5 million unregistered blacks nationally, reports Reuters.
"That could be the difference of who wins or loses in Pennsylvania," Sharpton told high school students at a rally at the University of Pennsylvania. "Who wins the White House can be based not on who votes but who doesn't vote."
BET Networks is joining the effort with its "Stand Up, Sign Up, Be Heard" campaign. On Saturday, (Sept. 27), the network will host a voter registration day on air (from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET/PT), online and in communities across the country.
The BET studio in New York City will serve as the headquarters for the event, featuring host Queen Latifah and featuring appearances by Jim Jones and Mary Mary. The studio audience will be comprised of 100 unregistered voters.
In addition, BET will present live remote coverage from voter registration rallies taking place in cities in four (4) key battleground states: Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Mich.; Norfolk, Va.; and Philadelphia, Pa.
At each rally, thousands of people will gather to register to vote, receive valuable voter registration information and hear about the importance of voting from BET hosts and news correspondents, as well as celebrity guests.
Details for each rally are as follows:
• PHILADELPHIA, PA: The Met, 858 North Broad Street (between Poplar and Parrish Streets) Hosts: Terrence (106 & PARK) and Sharon Carpenter (BET News) Confirmed Talent: Q-Tip, Beanie Seagal, Young Chris and Jurnee Smollet. Affiliated radio station: WDAS 105.3 / WUSL 98.9
• CLEVELAND, OH Location: Luke Easter Park -- 3090 Martin Luther King Drive;
Hosts: Tocarra (THE BLACK CARPET) and Jeff Johnson (BET News) Confirmed
Talent: n/a Affiliated radio station: WENZ 107.9
• DETROIT, MI Location: Reggie McKenzie Field -- 10 Pitkin Avenue, Highland Park, MI (between Hamilton and 3rd Street) Hosts: Q45 (RAP CITY) and Jina Johnson (BET News) Confirmed Talent: Brandy, Ray J and Marvin Williams Jr.
Affiliated radio station: WHTD 102.7
• NORFOLK, VA Location: Crispus Attucks Cultural Center -- 1010 Church Street (between Virginia Blvd. and Church Street) Hosts: Toure and Danella (THE BLACK CARPET) Confirmed Talent: Clipse, DJ Khaled and Coko (formerly of
SWV) Affiliated radio station: WVKL 95.7 / WNVZ 104.5
OBAMA BITS: Fox producer fired over 'Obama's Baby Mama' chyron; racist fliers delivered in NJ; 5th grader suspended over anti-Obama t-shirt.
*Fox News has fired Jessica Herzberg, the freelance producer responsible for the "Obama's baby mama" chyron from June, according to the blog Chickaboomer. In June, during a segment on Fox News' "America's Election HQ," a chyron read: "Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking On Obama's Baby Mama!" At the time, Fox News' Senior Vice President of Programming, Bill Shine, acknowledged Herzberg's poor judgment, saying, "A producer on the program exercised poor judgment in using this chyron during the segment." Herzberg has reportedly moved on to CNBC.
*New Jersey's Star-Ledger newspaper reports that fliers left on driveways in Roxbury, NJ from a white supremacist, anti-immigration group named the League of American Patriots questioned, "Do You Want A Black President?" and stated "Black Ruled Nations most unstable and violent in the world." The flier also detailed what it contended to be a series of facts on black unemployment, poverty, HIV and crime rates, while pointing out the woes of a couple of predominantly black-populated countries. Police said they received some complaint calls Saturday about the flier and were reviewing the issue to determine if there were any illegalities connected to the material or its distribution. Andrew Poag, a spokesman for the Obama campaign in New Jersey, said: "These divisive and offensive fliers won't distract the Obama campaign's focus on bringing our country together and bringing the change we need to Washington, D.C."
*An 11-year-old in Aurora, Colo. was suspended for wearing a homemade shirt that reads "Obama is a terrorist's best friend." The fifth grader at Aurora Frontier K-8 School wore it on a day when students were asked to wear red, white and blue to show their patriotism. According to the boy's father, the school district told the student, Daxx Dalton, that he had the choice of changing his shirt, turning his shirt inside out or being suspended. Daxx chose suspension. "They're taking away my right of freedom of speech," he told MyFox Colorado. "If I have the right to wear this shirt I'm going to use it. And if the only way to use it is get suspended, then I'm going to get suspended."
ITTY BITTY BITS: Diddy lawsuit tossed; Nappy Brown dies; Q-Tip ready 'To Go'; Estelle's MOBO gig; 'Payne' syndication; Glover's 'Emmett'; Page's Playhouse; 'Notorious' trailer.
*A woman who sued Diddy and Vibe magazine for printing her picture without permission has had her lawsuit dismissed by a judge. Maria Dominguez filed a $3 million claim against the mogul and the publication for a Nov.
2006 article which featured images of her. She alleged that both parties violated her right to privacy by using pictures of her at the rapper's White Party event without her permission. She also claimed the article was free advertising for the rapper and his label, Bad Boy Entertainment Inc. But New York state judge Justice Doris Ling-Cohan threw out the case on Tuesday, saying Dominguez couldn't expect privacy at such a public event.
*Blues legend Nappy Brown, whose hits included "Night Time is the Right Time" and "Don't Be Angry," has died in hospital after a long illness. He was 78. The singer, whose real name was Napoleon Brown Culp, was among the first wave of African-American musicians to gain popularity among white audiences. He rose to fame in the 1950s alongside peers Chuck Berry and Little Richard. He had released a new album called "Long Time Coming" in September 2007. The singer died in his sleep on Saturday at the Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.
*Q-Tip is the latest musician to be featured in the exclusive "Music to Go" concert series, co-hosted and produced by New York's Knitting Factory venue and Mozes, the service that connects people to various links through their mobile phones. Mobile tickets to the free Sept. 29 concert will be offered exclusively to members of Q-Tip's mob (mobile fan club) and to select music and cultural influencers in the New York area. Fans who want to join Q-Tip's mob and RSVP to receive a free mobile ticket to the show can text QTIP to 66937. No paper tickets will be issued.
*U.K. R&B artist Estelle has been confirmed to perform at the MOBO Awards at London's Wembley Arena on Oct. 15, reports Billboard. She has five award nominations including best female and best song for "American Boy,"
which features Kanye West. John Legend, who signed Estelle to his Hometown Records label venture with Atlantic Records, will also perform at the ceremony that recognizes "music of black origin." Legend's new set "Evolver"
(RCA) is out on Oct. 20 and features Estelle as well as Kanye West and Andre 3000.
*The broadcast syndication debut of Tyler Perry's sitcom "House of Payne" ranks third among the eight new syndicated shows that bowed so far this season. In first place is "The Doctors," followed by the syndie debut of "Deal or No Deal."
*Stage and screen actor Danny Glover will take part in an upcoming reading of Emmett, Down in My Heart, a play which concerns the brutal 1955 murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi. The reading will take place on Oct. 6 at the Judson Memorial Church in Manhattan (55 Washington Square South). Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets, priced $15 (students with valid ID), $30 (general admission) and $150 (patron ticket, includes reception with the cast), are available by visiting www.cultureproject.org or by calling (212) 352-3101.
*Independent filmmaker Lawrence Page — whose films include "Blood of a Champion," "Statistic" and "Murda Muzik" — has purchased the famed Off-Broadway venue, the Actors' Playhouse at 100 Seventh Avenue South in New York's Greenwich Village. The theatre had shuttered in summer 2007 due to increased rents. The 32-year-old Page plans to present his own productions for 20 percent of the year, but will lease the theatre out the other 80 percent for Off-Broadway plays, red-carpet events, seminars, television and musical performances.
*A trailer for the upcoming Notorious B.I.G. biopic has been released. The film follows the rise of Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, the famed rapper from Diddy's Bad Boy record label who achieved huge commercial success and critical acclaim before being gunned down in Los Angeles in 1997. View the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENNqayMGr-U
EUR DVD REVIEW: Leatherheads
Clooney‘s Screwball Football Comedy Comes to DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*It is the height of the Roaring Twenties, the decade which signaled the introduction of professional football in the American heartland. And this is where we meet Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly (George Clooney), the owner/captain/coach of the Duluth Bulldogs.
While most folks fail to see much of a future in a game played on turnip fields by farmers and shell-shocked veterans, Dodge can already envision the fledgling league’s potential as a popular spectator sport.
Plus, the aging star is still a kid at heart, who would rather continue playing indefinitely than make any concessions to Father Time.
But with his Bulldogs enjoying more of a reputation for brawling in speakeasies than for greatness on the gridiron, they find themselves without a sponsor and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. So, in order to save his team from financial collapse, Connelly comes up with an inspired idea to bolster his flagging franchise’s box-office receipts.
The plan is to offer a record-setting contract to Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), provided the Princeton University sensation is willing to abandon his plans to attend law school and turn pro. Carter signs up and, the plot thickens when both he and boss fall for Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger), attractive reporter.
Written and directed by George Clooney, Leatherheads is an old-fashioned screwball comedy cut from the mold of a Preston Sturges farce. Half slapstick, half romantic romp, the picture is at its best when serving up witty repartee between Clooney and Renee Zellweger.
If only the rest of the script measured up to their inspired exchanges, the movie might have amounted to something more than a momentary diversion. Instead, what we have is a pleasant period piece harking back to days of yore, but one so superficial that it’s likely to be forgotten as soon as it’s over
Good (2 stars)
Rated PG-13 for brief profanity.
Running time: 114 minutes
Studi Universal Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, visual effects sequences, feature commentary
by George Clooney and producer Grant Heslov, “The Making of” and a
couple of other featurettes.
To see a trailer for Leatherheads, visit:
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik68CWaTx78_
EUR DVD REVIEW: What Black Men Think
Thought-Provoking DVD Discusses “What Black Men Think”
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Harriet Tubman once reflected wistfully, “If I could have convinced more slaves that they were slaves, I could have freed thousands more.“
Director/narrator Janks Morton employs the same sage adage during his introduction to What Black Men Think, his thought-provoking documentary which paints an enlightening and empathetic portrait of African-American males by employing some rather surprising raw statistics to suggest that we all reconsider some commonly-held beliefs about brothers.
Merely relying on data readily available from government agencies, Morton, pointer in hand, uses graphs, charts and a chalkboard to debunk a litany of popular stereotypes like the idea that there are more black men in prison than in college, that most don’t graduate from high school and that most don’t pay child support.
Not only does director Morton expose all these widely-disseminated notions as fallacious, but he suggests that, left unchallenged, they have the ability to do an incalculable amount of damage to impressionable young minds.
When not busy busting such misleading myths, he devotes his time to a series of compelling tete-a-tetes with an array of leading public intellectuals like Shelby Steele, Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson, John McWhorter, Juan Williams, Steve Perry, Armstrong Williams and former Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R-MD). All it takes is a cursory glance at the above list to notice that most are known for being conservative. So excuse me for bracing myself to hear a lot of that blaming the victim nonsense that tends to come from their lips when they’re guests of right-wing TV talk show hosts.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that in this format they have been offered an opportunity to expound fully on their hopes and aspirations for black men, rather than being restricted to addressing only hot-button issues in ten-second sound bites. Consequently, each of these elders has some worthwhile advice to share, here, as they cover timely topics ranging from the AIDS epidemic to the N-word to black-on-black crime to conspicuous consumption to academic underachievement.
In sum, What Black Men Think is highly recommended as an excellent alternative to the mainstream propaganda which would have us internalize the worst beliefs about an unfairly maligned segment of society. Guaranteed to generate quality conversation about the direction of African-Americana.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 87 minutes
Studi iYAGO Entertainment Group
To see a trailer of What Black Men Think, visit:
_http://wbmt.wordpress.com/trailers/_
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By AdviceChick at ameritech.net
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Dear Advice Chick,
*Do you think you can find love on the Internet?
Advice Chick replies,
The short answer is yes. You can find love on the Internet. You can also find rapists, and axe murderers. The key to Internet dating success is using common sense.
Pictures:
Is the picture he sent you him today, or him 8 years (and 47 pounds lighter) ago? Look for old ass photo tell-tale signs like that tired ass wicker peacock chair, and a “gumby” hair style.
Living arrangements:
Does he have his own place, or is he chill’in at home with mom and nem? When you and he are talking on the phone does he tell you to hold on a minute, cover the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand and scream, “I’m on the damn phone!” Not good.
My ex this, my ex that:
If he talks incessantly about his ex he’s stuck in the past and may not be ready to move forward with someone new.
Internet dating steps:
- Chat and/or for about a week
- Talk on the phone for about two weeks. You call him via a calling card or follow me service.
- Web cam. I’m not talking about getting naked (yet) I’m saying when you chat via web cam you can see the person in real time. You chat and talk on the phone first to get a feel for his voice. This way if he tries to put his cuter friend or cousin on the web cam you will recognize game.
Chemistry: Do you feel a certain chemistry is there, or are you feeling uneasy? Go with your gut. Always.
Face Off:
If you decide to meet, make sure he comes to your city. He can stay at a hotel, and you can meet him for coffee at 11:00 am. If things seem ok, meet him later for bowling or a movie. Keep the activities fun, and in well populated locations.
I made light of a couple of the situations, but the bottom line is you can find love anywhere you look for it. My advice to you is go for it, but be careful. Good luck.
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GLENN'S STRATEGIES FOR WELL-BEING: MUCUS
*By a show of hands, how many of you have taken a prescribed or over-the-counter stool softener, only to find out that either drinking more water or increasing the fiber in your diet would have done the job just as well? Or how many have taken pain relievers for chronic headaches for years only to come to understand the potentially damaging effect of the liver?
How about restricting salt in your diet to control high blood pressure, only to find out that the key is the actual ratio between salt (sodium) and potassium?
Okay, you can take your hands down now.
The point to that is that insight and information on many “obscure” health matters ultimately leads to a healthier community.
I have written on a plethora of such issues: urine; blood; bowel health; colons; infections; vomit; constipation; diarrhea; and skin sores. All of these are areas where “no man has gone before.”
Now, let’s explore the final frontier- mucus.
Mucus is a truly wonderful thing. For most of us, it is just the stuff we spit out when we cough, or when we blow our noses.
In reality it is a natural barrier and protector for the body. Mucus lines the membranes of the respiratory tract, the eyes, and the intestines. The mucus in these areas is filled with secretions from the immune system that fight bacteria and germs.
In the eyes, the mucus secretions in tears protect the eyes from infection.
The airways of the respiratory system have little “hairs” that filter dust and other foreign matter that flows in with the air. This matter is trapped in the mucus secretions and washed away out of the lungs. We tend to cough up mucus when it is loaded with this stuff and spit it out.
Moving on down to the intestinal tract, there are a number of actions involving mucus. When we digest food in the stomach, the body produces mucus to protect the stomach lining from the acid that is produced to break down food. There is also an anti-bacterial action to counter any such activity from contaminated food we might eat unknowingly. In people who secrete little or no stomach acid, mucus helps to interfere with the susceptibility to Salmonella poisoning. As the intestine contract to pass food on down the “canal”, they shed old and dead tissue from the lining. Mucus is responsible for trapping this garbage and sending it on out along with your “sinkers” and/or “ floaters”.
When your bladder empties, any bacteria in the urethra is once again trapped in the mucus and flushed out of the genitourinary tract with your urine.
If you can grasp these concepts, it should broaden your understanding of not only the beneficial role that mucus plays in the body, but how, in excess, it can impair your health.
Any time there is excess mucus in the body, it could indicate that the body is trying to recover form some malady.
For example, let’s look at the most common example: The Common Cold.
What’s the first thing we do when we get chest or nasal congestion from a cold and start coughing with a stuffy nose? Bingo! You got it; we take cough syrup to stop the cough and/or an antihistamine to stop the nose from running. How wrong can you be? The congestion indicates that the immune system has ordered up extra servings of mucus to deal with the influx of germs or infection. Instead of drying it up, we should be doing the logical thing to assist the body in removing the contaminated mucus: drinking plenty of water daily. Keep this in mind the next time you want to “comfort” your child and pump them up with cough syrup.
(By the way, the same logic holds true when an allergy causes these same symptoms)
Anytime we have mucus congestion, 9 times out of 10, it is the result of an increase in production to prevent some foreign invader from entering the system. So you see mucus is really a natural barrier in the true sense of the word.
Here are some mucus tips:
If ever you cough up mucus that has blood in it, you should know that in half of the cases, it is the result of acute or chronic bronchitis. In the other half there is usually a larger amount of blood, and this could indicate a serious problem.
Infection in mucus is readily identified by the color ranging from light to dark yellow or green. The darker the color, the more severe the infection.
Sometimes you may notice mucus in your stools after a bowel movement. Don’t’ mistake it for fat, which could signal some sort of a liver condition. Mucus in stool often indicates there is inflammation of the intestines. Mucus in stool can occur with either constipation or diarrhea.
For good general lung health, deep breathing and fresh air will help the lungs to naturally eliminate mucus.
In terms of the diet, try to avoid heavy starchy foods, pasteurized dairy products, and refined foods; they are known to contribute to mucus congestion.
Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of pure water daily will thin mucus and aid in its elimination from the body.
This is but a small dent in the vast body of mucus information, so use it as a starting point to gather more knowledge for you own good health.
Remember, I'm not a doctor. I just sound like one.
Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible!
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended, nor implied, to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
Glenn Ellis, author of Which Doctor?, is a health columnist and radio commentator who lectures, and is an active media contributor nationally and internationally on health related topics
For more good health information, visit: www.glennellis.com
AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: Urbanworld Film Festival - 2008
12th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Roster Has Jazzy Opening And BEE-utiful Closing; Spotlight Screenings Included WU; Tennessee; And Sexually Explosive Zane’s Sex Chronicles
By Audrey J. Bernard, Fashion/Lifestyles/Society Editor
*The 12th annual Urbanworld Film Festival (UFF) presented by BET Networks, the largest international competitive festival of its kind today, took place in New York City from September 10-14. UFF -- founded in August 1997 by Stacy Spikes, a former executive at Miramax -- is one of the most successful outlets for the urban filmmaking community.
This year's selection showcased New York-based films and filmmakers celebrating local artists and communities, as well as a strong representation of international filmmakers from around the world. "These are really exciting times for the festival," admitted Spikes. "On display we have films of nearly every genre, created by filmmakers of nearly every background. This robust selection of cinema, together with our new partnership with BET Networks, promises to make this the best Urbanworld yet."
All festival screenings were held at the AMC Loews 34th Street Theaters and hip-hop royalty presided over the event with Queen Latifah – whose movie closed the festival -- serving as honorary chair of the festival which was dedicated to the exhibition of independent and mainstream cinema by and about people of color.
The five-day long festival consisted of a number of big name screenings including Steve Harvey: Still Trippin'; Wu: The Story Of The Wu-Tang Clan directed by Gerald Barclay; Tennessee starring Mariah Carey and directed by Aaron Woodley; and Zane's Sex Chronicles.
The eagerly anticipated festival got off to a bangin’ start at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem on Wednesday, September 10, with the funtastic stand-up comedy show, Steve Harvey: Still Trippin’. The all-new, all-live, laugh out loud stand-up routine, presented by Codeblack Entertainment, features the revered comedian’s provocative comedy routine and nothing was off limits. From tattoos and family weddings to polygamous compounds and diaper-wearing astronauts -- Harvey got big ups on his street credentials with his hilarious take-all show. Filmed in New Jersey to a capacity crowd, Harvey proved why he’s still one of the Kings of Comedy.
“We’re very excited to have Steve Harvey return to the festival,” exclaimed Spikes. “He has always been an Urbanworld audience favorite.”
The premiere of urban documentary Jazz In The Diamond District, directed by Lindsey Christian, was another UFF standout. The urban documentary film which tells the story of Jasmine “Jazz” Morgan who, after losing her mother to cancer, pursues a singing career entrenched in the D.C. underground hip-hop scene starred Wood Harris and D.C. native Clifton Powell and introduced native Washingtonians Monique Cameron, Erica Chamblee and Andre Strong. The film was co-edited by Daniel Rezende and featured an original score composed by super-producer Chucky Thompson, also a native Washingtonian. An exciting invitational only soundtrack listening session and reception followed.
A total of 85 films were screened at this year’s festival including16 narrative features, 40 narrative shorts, 19 documentary features and 7 documentary shorts, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings and the celebrated Actor's Spotlight, featuring Queen Latifah to be aired on BET, with previous honorees including Vondie Curtis Hall, Samuel L. Jackson, Billy Dee Williams and Rosie Perez.
"Great festival, probably the best we ever had," Spikes stated. "The movies make everything and [we had] closing night with Secret Life Of Bee's and opening with Steve Harvey and we've had the most films [this year]. We had 85 films."
The festival also included a number of other films by up and coming filmmakers including the urban drama Streetballers. "It was a great experience overall. I learned a lot. I was basically just impressed with the professionalism as a whole and I think it’s an event that’s going to be able to compete with the top festivals soon,” observed Craig Thomas, one of the producer's of Streetballers.
The competition’s winners for feature documentary, short film, screenplay and audience award categories were honored at a closing awards brunch. "On behalf of the Urbanworld Film Festival and our Presenting Sponsor BET Networks, I proudly congratulate the exceptional winners of the Festival's 12th annual competition," remarked Spikes.
The 12th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival winners are: Best Narrative Feature Film, “The Heart Specialist,” directed by Dennis Cooper, produced by David Getachew Smith, awarded $10,000 cash prize by Urbanworld Foundation, Inc. Honorable mention, “Up With Me,” directed by Greg Takoudes, produced by Christopher Roberts and Greg Takoudes.
Best documentary feature film “La Americana,” directed and produced by Nicholas Bruckman, awarded $10,000 cash prize by Urbanworld Foundation, Inc.; Best Documentary Short Film “El Play,” directed and produced by Pablo Medina, awarded $5,000 cash prize by Urbanworld Foundation, Inc. Honorable mention, “Fresh Off The Boat,” directed by Mark Andersson and Katrina Lucas, produced by Kristian Moliere.
Best Narrative Short Film, “A Day's Work,” directed by Rajeev Dassani, produced by Charles Uy, awarded $5,000 cash prize by Urbanworld Foundation, Inc.; Best Screenplay, “Meadowlandz,” written by Moon Molson, awarded $5,000 cash prize by HBO; Best Director, Leon Lozano for “Something Is Killing Tate,” Special Feature Category Award presented by Time Warner Cable.
The coveted Audience Award Winner was “This Is Not A Test,” directed and produced by Christopher Angel and awarded $10,000 cash prize by Urbanworld Foundation, Inc.
The exciting 2008 UFF culminated in the special closing night premiere screening of The Secret Life of Bees starring Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Keyes, Jennifer Hudson and Dakota Fanning, written for the screen and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The film, which is scheduled for nationwide release on October 17, 2008, is a poignant love story about family and redemption centered on an undeniable desire for a sense of belonging and the often daunting journeys that we must navigate to achieve it.
This year’s UFF roster of marquee sponsors included HBO returning for the 12th year as the founding sponsor. Time Warner Cable joined the festival as a prestige sponsor and Grey Goose served as an official sponsor. Principal sponsors included The Weinstein Company, WNBC, Black Enterprise, Essence, Vibe, and Power 105.1. The Directors Guild of America and AMC Theatres returned as benefactor sponsors. Sponsoring studios include Fox Searchlight and the Weinstein Company. The Hilton Times Square – where registration and panels took place -- served as the host hotel of the festival.
Over the past eleven years, UFF has presented approximately 700 features, shorts and documentaries, with estimated attendance reaching in excess of capacity crowds. Now in its twelfth year, the UFF is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind having re-defined the competitive film festival landscape with its fresh and necessary approach to spreading the voices of a multicultural world.
UFF is an initiative produced by the Urbanworld Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing programs and events that support the development and success of the urban filmmaking community. Stacy Spikes serves as chairman emeritus and Gabrielle Glore serves as executive producer.
Beginning this year, BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc., has signed on for a three-year strategic partnership to present the UFF. The unique partnership, strengthened by BET's position as the nation’s leading media and entertainment provider for African Americans and consumers of Black culture will further establish the festival as one of the world's largest competitive film festivals designed to redefine and enhance the roles of multicultural constituents in contemporary cinema.
The primary BET channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. "The exciting lineup of cinematic talent rounds out our mission to embrace and support the new wave of filmmakers of color through our partnership with Urbanworld," stated Alvin Bowles, senior vice president, integrated marketing, BET Networks. (Photos: Ronnie Wright)
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area.
THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: Lyfe Jennings' new release 'Lyfe Change' made number one on Billboard Charts for two weeks, and also The Bill that made September Gospel Music Heritage Month
By Eunice Moseley
Platinum selling Lyfe Jennings new CD ‘Lyfe Change’ reached number one on Billboard’s Top R&B Charts
“I grew up in the church,” said platinum selling Urban-Soul singer/songwriter Lyfe Jennings (Chester Jennings) about his style of singing. “I would always get a standing ovation.”
Lyfe’s whole family is musically skilled; in fact, aside from the choir; Jennings was in a group with his brother and cousin called Dotsons. But the “life” of the streets of the inner city of Toledo, Ohio had him living a lifestyle that ended with him being arrested at age 14 on a arson charge. He received 10 years and did the full term. Jennings was released in December, 2002 and in a months time he was performing at the Apollo on Showtime in Harlem. He had five victory performances and sold 1,000 of his demos while there.
Lyfe moved to New York after his winning run and was soon signed to Columbia Records. His debut CD “Lyfe 268-192” was released in 2004, selling over a million copies. It was reissued the next year with a bonus track, “Hypothetically,” featuring American Idols’ Fantasia. In 2006 Jennings released a sophomore album, “The Phoenix,” which released two singles “S-E-X,” featuring Three 6 Mafia and Young Buck, and “Freeze,” featuring LL Cool J.
Lyfe Jennings newest project, “Lyfe Change,” features collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg and T.I. The album debuted at number four and reached number one on Billboard Top R&B Album Chart for two weeks. The first single is “Never, Never Land” and the next is “Cops Us.”
An accomplished pianist, guitarist and bass player, Lyfe’s “Will I Ever” on the “Lyfe Change” CD shows his vocal range and it’s recorded with a live band, always a favorite for me. Other impressive songs are “Wild, Wild, Wild” with Wyclef Jean, “It’s Real” and “Midnight Train.”
Lyfe, who received his name because his songs are always about life situations, is a father of two boys, one and three years-old. He just finished his “Baby I’m A Star Tour” which featured Solange Knowles, Ray Lavender and Yolanda Renee.
The making of a Bill recognizing September as Gospel Music Heritage Month began with a statement
“Charlie (President and CEO of Gospel Music Channel) and I were going over some business and he made a statement, ‘I wish there was a day to recognize Gospel music’ and I said, ‘you got It,'” laughed Alvin Williams, Senior Director of Music Industry Development at Gospel Music Channel.
Alvin explained that he went on to do extensive research on Gospel music to support why Gospel music should be honored. A friend of Alvin’s knew a Congresswoman who took it to Congress with the support of Gospel Music Channel, Senators, The Recording Academy and the Gospel Music Association.
“The whole process took eight months,” Alvin explained. “I was told in the end (by the Congresswoman) that I actually wrote the Bill.”
Williams, who co-authored with mentor Jay King “The Business of Music for the Gospel and Christian Music Industry,” talked about his past achievements that include heading the Gospel division of Mathew Knowles Gospel label, and producing songs for Michelle, Beyonce and Destiny's Child (to name a few).
“I produced a song for Bizzy Bone and made big money and developed an ego. I was talking to Jay King (showing that ego) and he hung the phone up on me!” Alvin said. “When I did talk to him again Jay said that a big ego closes doors.”
The Gospel Music Channel has been airing various programming in honor of Gospel Music Heritage Month such as documentaries on Mahalia Jackson, Thomas Dorsey and Johnny Cash; Faith and Fame, a show that has Gospel artist like Kirk Franklin telling their story; the BMI Trailblazer Awards; the Best Performances of the Dove Awards; 80 Years of the Dixie Hummingbirds; the Gospel of Elvis Presley; Hometown Gospel on location in Chicago, Atlanta, New York and New Orleans, and much more.
Most shows will be re-aired so visit www.gospelmusicchannel.com or www.gospelmusicheritageh.com
Veronica Hendrix
VERONICA'S VIEW: It Takes a Village to Raise and Sustain a Leader
*It’s always hard when one of us falls from the height of power to the pit of shame. Actually it’s pretty devastating on a number of levels. And when that bough breaks, it becomes a spiraling public spectacle, as layer after layer is pried away from a highly polished veneer. The semblance of what was gathers a new velocity and swirls like a funnel cloud out of control. We all know what happens when a funnel cloud touches the ground – it becomes a tornado. The devastation that remains in its aftermath can be incalculable.
In Detroit, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has become part of that spiraling public spectacle. In Los Angeles it’s Service Employees International Union (SEIU) chapter president Tyrone Freeman.
Both are young, gifted, black and bright lights in their respective jurisdictions. They are individuals who held great promise as leaders. Both made real advances in improving the quality of life for their constituents.
Kwame has pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstructing justice by committing perjury for attempting to hide his extramarital relationship with a staffer. He will spend four months in jail, pay up to $1 million in restitution, and serve five years' probation.
Freeman is currently being investigated by the SEIU national office and the U.S. Labor Department for alleged ethics violations and questionable expenditures on the union’s dole. As a result both are no longer in their posts serving their constituents.
It’s a sad day for both cities. It’s fodder for the press who in both cases were all in the mix of the investigations through their brand of watchdog and whistleblower journalism. We can’t blame the press for their fall. They simply shined a light on their incendiary choices and manipulation of power.
We are the biggest losers in all this. We lose jobs when our leaders fall because their administrations are often dismantled. We damage relationships that leader was building with entities that could possibly bring resources to the community. We lose an advocate; we lose a champion, someone who pushes to keep our issues on the radar at a time when our voice is just above a whisper.
Power is intoxicating. We know this. It is seductive. We know this as well. The lines of ethics and impropriety are easily blurred by technicalities, aberrant interpretations and “yes” men and women who don’t yank that proverbial ear when they know they should or before it’s too late. It’s like watching a car careen into a brick wall.
At the end of the day, the aperture will always have a laser focus on African American leaders. They will always be held to a higher standard of excellence and performance. When they have a moral or ethical fa
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