EURweb |
12-29-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
FIVE INJURED AFTER E-40 CONCERT IN DENVER: Shootout follows rapper's show at downtown nightclub.
*An early morning shootout in Denver following a concert by rapper E-40 has left five people injured, according to local reports.
Denver police said they responded to a report of shots fired at 11th Avenue and Broadway outside of Vinyl nightclub, where witnesses said gunfire erupted for several minutes.
Bullets struck a nearby hotel and hair salon, according to police. The hotel locked itself down to avoid having suspects enter it.
DPD Detective Sharon Hahn said five people were injured in the shooting. Denver Health Medical Center said one person is in critical condition and the other four were treated and released.
The club was holding a sold-out show by E-40 of California's Bay-area. At press time, authorities were still searching for suspects and asking anyone with information to contact the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
Two years ago Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting across the street from Vinyl.
KATT WILLIAMS VS. STEVE HARVEY: Beef hyped on Jamie Foxx's satellite radio show.
*A new standup comic beef has emerged between Katt Williams and Steve Harvey – mostly on Williams' part – that is expected to be settled during a head-to-head battle on New Year's Eve in Detroit.
Instigating from the sideline is fellow comic Jamie Foxx, who joined co-hosts of his Sirius XM FoxxHole radio show on Dec. 19 to comment on the absurdity of Williams calling out Harvey in advance of their Dec. 31 show.
First, Foxx plays a clip of Williams dissing Harvey. "I wanna apologize for what's gonna happen," Williams said of the joint comedy gig.
"But the second that you get on stage, I need you to understand that that's your final time as the 'King of Comedy.' Water seeks its own level, you can't stop it playboy. It is what it is, so I hope you're ready. I hope you got a team of writers. You gonna need about six or seven of 'em…."
Steve Harvey then calls in and says he's baffled by the whole thing.
"I've always been cool with Katt. He said in an interview that back in LA, I didn't know who he was," Harvey told Foxx and crew. "I mean understand, I didn't know who he was when I was on the radio in LA. He hadn't been in any movies or anything, and the brother was just not that known. He was talking about me in the clubs, and I just asked on the radio, whoever Katt Williams is, to call me.
"He called me, we straightened it out. We became friends. We've been cool ever since, so I thought."
Listen to the entire Harvey vs. Williams showdown on the FoxxHole radio show here: [LEE WILL INSERT CLIP]
OPRAH-PRAISED 'LOVE STORY' RULED A FAKE: Herman Rosenblat claimed to have found/married long-lost concentration camp crush.
*Another so-called "true story" embraced by Oprah Winfrey has been exposed as a fraud.
Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), announced Saturday it has withdrawn the upcoming memoir of "Angel at the Fence" from Herman Rosenblat, a man who said he met his future wife at a Nazi concentration camp.
For the past two decades, Rosenblat has been on numerous talk shows, including Winfrey's, describing how he came to know his wife, Roma Radicky.
According to Rosenblat and his wife, he was a prisoner at a sub-camp of Buchenwald in Nazi Germany and she was a young Jewish girl whose family was pretending to be Christian and lived nearby.
For months, they would meet on opposite sides of a barbed-wire fence, where she would sneak him apples and bread. Rosenblat was then transferred to another camp and the two lost touch, until the 1950s, when they were reunited by accident — on a blind date — in New York. They soon married and earlier this year celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Rosenblat's "Angel at the Fence" had been scheduled to come out in February, but Berkley Books withdrew the memoir Saturday following allegations by scholars, friends and family members that his tale was untrue, reports the Associated Press.
"Berkley Books is canceling publication of 'Angel at the Fence' after receiving new information from Herman Rosenblat's agent, Andrea Hurst," the publisher said in a statement. "Berkley will demand that the author and the agent return all money that they have received for this work."
The Rosenblats were interviewed twice over the years by Winfrey, who has called their romance "the single greatest love story ... we've ever told on the air." They have inspired a children's book and a feature film adaptation is scheduled to begin next year.
Rosenblat is indeed a Holocaust survivor and records prove that he was at the Buchenwald camp. But scholars doubted his story, noting that the layout of the sub-camp made such an encounter at the fence virtually unthinkable (They would have met right by an SS barracks). A recent article in The New Republic quoted friends and family members who were outraged by Rosenblat, so much so that one of his brothers stopped speaking to him.
James Frey's memoir "A Million Little Pieces" was a Sept. 2005 pick for Oprah's Book Club before it was discovered the following January to be largely fabricated.
'BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO' SONG WON'T DIE: RNC chair candidate puts offensive tune on CD and distributes to committee members for Xmas.
*A candidate for the Republican National Committee chairmanship is trying to explain why he included a song titled "Barack the Magic Negro" on a CD that he sent to committee members as a Christmas gift.
As previously reported, the song, set to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon," was first played on conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh's radio show in 2007 and was drawn from a Los Angeles Times column that suggested President-elect Barack Obama appealed to those who feel guilty about the nation's longtime mistreatment of African-Americans.
Tennessee Republican Chip Saltsman, who sent the CD to RNC members, said the song was clearly intended as a joke. "I think most people recognize political satire when they see it," he told CNN. "I think RNC members understand that."
Saltsman said the song, penned by his longtime friend Paul Shanklin, should be easily recognized as satire directed at the Times. The CD, first reported by The Hill on Friday, is titled "We Hate the USA" and also includes songs referencing former presidential candidate John Edwards and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, among other targets.
According to The Hill, other song titles, some of which were in bold font, were: "John Edwards' Poverty Tour," "Wright place, wrong pastor," "Love Client #9," "Ivory and Ebony" and "The Star Spanglish Banner."
Saltsman was national campaign manager for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential bid in 2007 and 2008. Before that, he held a variety of posts, including a number of positions under former Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, reports CNN.
DIDDY OFFERS $1 MILL TO CHANGE TIMES SQUARE BALL: Mogul and Ciroc say they'll donate money to charity for chance to turn ball 'Ciroc blue.'
*Sean "Diddy" Combs' latest publicity stunt with Ciroc Vodka is a $1 million offer to the city of New York to redesign the annual New Year's Eve ball that drops in Times Square.
If approved by New York City, Diddy and Ciroc would alter the famous orb's appearance to resemble the well-known blue stone emblem of Ciroc Vodka. Both Diddy and Ciroc said they would, in turn, donate $1 million to needy charities around the city.
“As the ‘Official Vodka of New Year’s Eve,’ it’s only fitting that we take over New York, the most iconic New Year’s city in the world,” said Diddy, who entered into a strategic marketing alliance with the drink more than one year ago.
“I’m going to give every adult in America a taste of what it’s like to enjoy a sophisticated celebration with Diddy, and what better time than while ringing in the New Year,” he added.
The color of the Ciroc sphere originates from a unique plant that grows in the Gaillac region of France, where Ciroc is still produced, and serves as a symbol of prosperity for the area even today.
“Having this iconic blue stone sit atop the New York skyline on New Year’s Eve is my way of wishing New York a fruitful New Year,” said Diddy.
BEYONCE OWNS CHRISTMAS BILLBOARD: 'Single Ladies' remains No. 1 on Hot 100 and R&B charts.
*Billboard has given Beyonce two gifts for Christmas – a third week at No. 1 on its Hot 100 chart and a sixth week atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for her song "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."
The track sold 149,000 downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
T.I.'s "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna holds at No. 2 and Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis remains No. 3. Kanye West's "Heartless" is the chart's greatest airplay gainer and rises 7-4.
Elsewhere on the chart, another West song, "Love Lockdown," moves 10-8, while T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" falls 5-9 and Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" falls 9-10 to round out the top portion.
On the Hot Dance Club Play chart, the Pussycat Dolls' "I Hate This Part" climbs to No. 1, the ensemble's fourth consecutive chart-topper (and its entire output of Club Play entries). "Hate" joins their previous No. 1s "Don't Cha," "Buttons" and "When I Grow Up."
MORE MARIAH PREGNANCY RUMORS: Singer cuts back on exercise regimen and described by NY Post as "zaftig."
*The New York Post quotes a source on St. Barts who claims Mariah Carey "is definitely pregnant."
The songbird, who just arrived on the island from Aspen with husband Nick Cannon, was described by the source as "zaftig" and was said to have "tipped off her expectant state when she cut down her strenuous fitness regimen."
On Dec. 9, the Post reported that Carey had emerged from a well-known ob/gyn's office on North Crescent Boulevard in Los Angeles, "clutching what looked like a sonogram and being greeted by her entourage with cheers."
JOHN LEGEND BOWLED OVER FOR 30th B'DAY: Singer's party invitation mentions Lucky Strike pit stop before club.
*John Legend sent out invites for his 30th birthday party Saturday night via e-mail, indicating a night of both bowling and dancing to mark the occasion.
"I hope you're healthy and happy. It's that time of year again," Legend wrote in the e-mail sent Saturday, according to the New York Post. "My birthday is sandwiched between Christmas and New Year's again (I tried to change that but apparently these things are permanent!). I'll be hitting the big 3-Ohhhhhh, so we're going to make this one special."
Legend said Sunday's party would start with "my new favorite pastime," bowling, at Lucky Strike Lanes on West 42nd Street and move at midnight to RdV on West 13th.
Legend concluded: "We have a lot to celebrate so come early and stay late! Call in sick on Monday."
OBAMA, HILLARY CLINTON 'MOST ADMIRED' AMERICANS: New poll also has Oprah ranked behind Sarah Palin.
*President-elect Barack Obama is the most admired man in the world, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll published Friday.
Obama pulled 32% of the vote, while current president, George W.
Bush, came in second with 5%. Defeated Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain ranked third with 3 %.
Hillary Rodham Clinton leads the list of most admired women with 20 percent, according to the poll. She has held this spot for 13 of the past 16 years, as first lady, then New York senator and now Obama' choice to be secretary of state.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate in the November elections, was the second most admired woman with
11 percent. Oprah Winfrey ranked third with 8 percent.
The only other time a president-elect has led the poll since Gallup began asking in 1948 was in 1952 when Dwight Eisenhower topped the list, reports the Associated Press.
The survey of 1,008 adults, taken by landline and cell phone Dec. 12-14, has an error margin of plus or minus 3 percent.
BET ANNOUNCES NEW YEAR'S EVE LINEUP: 'Notarized' looks back at 2008; '106 & Party' to feature Brandy, Sullivan, Brutha and more.
*On Wednesday, Dec. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., BET will roll out a special day of New Year's Eve programming beginning with its year-end countdown "Notarized," from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and ending with "106 & Party" bringing in the new year.
"Notarized," BET's annual top 100 countdown special, is set to bring in 2009 by giving viewers a look back at the best videos, highlights and events of 2008.
During the 12-hour pre-party, artists and BET hosts reveal the best videos of the year and share their most memorable moments of '08, as well as their goals and resolutions for 2009.
"106 & Park" hosts Terrence and Rocsi will ring in the new year with
"106 & Party," featuring exclusive performances by Jasmine Sullivan, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Brandy, Ray J, Ace Hood, Plies, Jadakiss and Brutha.
ITTY BITTY BITS: 'Killing of Wendy' DVD; Diddy, Roots host New Year's Eve gigs.
*Johannesburg-based Brainstorm Entertainment releases the film "Killing of Wendy" on DVD. The dark comedy, starring Vanessa Bell Calloway, Michael Boatman and Rachel True, centers on an investigation into the murder of the title character, an aging actress who has been blackmailing an agent, screenwriter, producer, director and five actresses. Boatman plays the case detective, but his questioning is compromised, as he is not only a detective, but an aspiring screenwriter, actor and rapper and sees the interrogation as his way into "Hollywood." View photos from the film at our EURthisNthat.com blog here:
http://www.eurthisnthat.com/film/the-killing-of-wendy/ The film’s expected release is Spring, 2009.
*Several celebrities are descending upon various major cities this week for New Year's Eve parties. In Miami, Adam Levine and Maroon 5 will perform poolside at the Fontainebleau to ring in 2009, while Diddy will host a party inside of nightclub Liv. The Roots will perform at the Delano, and Busta Rhymes will hit up the Shore Club. In Las Vegas, Usher plays host at the Bellagio.
CHICAGO – AMERICA'S MOST SEGREGATED CITY: New Tribune study found Chicago blacks are least integrated group in U.S.
*Chicago is the most racially segregated city in the United States with black residents marking the most isolated racial group, according to a new study conducted by the Chicago Tribune.
"The calculations paint a starkly different picture from the ones broadcast across the nation during Barack Obama's Election Night rally last month, when his hometown looked like one unified, harmonious city," the Tribune reported.
"The fact is, racial patterns that took root in the 1800s are not easy to reverse. Racial steering, discriminatory business practices and prejudice spawned segregation in Chicago, and now personal preferences and economics fuel it," the paper noted.
An analysis of 2008 population estimates found that Chicago's black population was the top segregated racial group in the country's 20 largest cities. The data analysis found that in order to reach an acceptable level of integration in Chicago, 84 percent of either the city's black or white population should alter neighborhoods.
But segregation expert Douglas Massey of Princeton University says such major residential changes are unlikely due to ingrained racial patterns formed by history.
"Once institutions exist, they tend to persist, and it requires some act of force to get them to change," he told the Tribune.
The newspaper said other key issues regarding segregation in Chicago were restrictive real estate dealings, income differences, personal taste and an individual's level of comfort with their surrounding neighborhood.
Read the entire Trib article here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-segregation-26-dec26,0,976255.s
tory
EUR FILM REVIEW: Seven Pounds
Will Smith as Widower Wracked with Guilt
Film Review by Kam Williams
*This time of the year is the perfect time to release a relentlessly-depressing drama about a suicidal widower wracked with guilt over killing his wife in a car accident in which he was fiddling with his Blackberry while driving. Not.
But what's to worry, when you're Will Smith, and your last eight movies have opened up at #1 in the box-office and grossed over $100 million apiece.
That must have been the thinking behind foisting Seven Pounds on the unsuspecting public at the height of the holiday season.
The picture plays like a variation of The Millionaire, if you're old enough to remember that classic TV series about a reclusive philanthropist who, with the help of his loyal manservant, Mr. Anthony, gave away a fortune each week to a needy stranger, anonymously.
Here, we have a rocket scientist, Ben Thomas (Smith), passing himself off as an IRS agent to perform seven random acts of kindness as a sort of penance.
He still plans to take his own life anyway, because he's eager to join his dearly-departed spouse in the great beyond.
The only reason this transparent film takes two hours instead of two minutes is that Ben must go to great lengths to make sure his beneficiaries are worthy of his blessing. Another fly in the ointment is the seemingly-inappropriate romance which unexpectedly blossoms between him and Emily (Rosario Dawson), the sexiest, terminal heart patient in the history of cinema.
Among the other charity cases are Ezra (Woody Harrelson), a blind telemarketer who keeps his cool when Ben berates him; Connie (Elpidia Camillo), a battered woman too afraid of her violent boyfriend's outbursts to leave or press charges; Nicholas (Quintin Kelley), a sickly kid in need of a bone marrow transplant; Holly (Judyann Elder), a social worker with cirrhosis of the liver, etcetera. You get the idea.
And you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out how St. Ben will earn his angel's wings. Consequently, your job is just to sit there and let yourself be manipulated by a syrupy tearjerker that might be well-meaning but drags on long enough to infuriate before the predictable warm and fuzzy moments finally arrive.
Surprisingly superficial for a sentimental message movie laden with schmaltz and mood muzak. Little more than a feature-length public service announcement on the dangers of text-messaging while driving.
Fair (1 star)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes, sensuality and disturbing content.
In English and Spanish with subtitles.
Running time: 118 minutes
Studi Columbia Pictures
To see a trailer for Seven Pounds, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9nn0eKwxHY
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." — Donald Kendall
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Dec. 29: Actor Mekhi Phifer ("ER") is 34.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
There's a new movie critic in town at www.reelmarla.com and she has a sista swagger with spoil-free reviews.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Dec. 29, 1845: Texas became a slave state. (Source:
www.BlackFacts.com)
Click for the latest Obama - Political headlines
Share and Bookmark |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
