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J-HUD'S 7 IMAGE AWARD NODS LEADS THE PACK:  'Secret Life of Bees' attracts most film nominations; 'House of Payne' dominates TV picks.

 *Jennifer Hudson emerged Wednesday with the most individual nominations for the 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards, earning seven to lead the pack for its 100th anniversary ceremony.

      "The Secret Life of Bees" received eight nominations, including one for top motion picture, the civil rights organization announced Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
     
      "Cadillac Records," "Miracle at St. Anna," "Seven Pounds" and "Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" round out the best picture category.
     
      Screenwriting nominations included Gina Prince-Bythewood for "Bees"; Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"; Darnell Martin, "Cadillac Records"; Patrik-Ian Polk and John R. Gordon, "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom"; and Paris Qualles, "A Raisin in the Sun."
     
      In television, ABC led all networks with 24 nominations and CBS followed with 14, while the CW and NBC scored 10 each.
     
      "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" scored six bids - the most of any series - including comedy series. "Ugly Betty" nabbed a nomination for comedy series and star America Ferrera was nominated for actress. Other comedy series cited were "The Game," "Everybody Hates Chris" and "30 Rock."
     
      Drama series contenders are "The Wire," "The Unit," "Grey's Anatomy," "House" and "Lincoln Heights."  In the music category, Columbia Records led with eight bids - five of which went to Beyonce.
     
      As previously reported, Russell Simmons will be feted with the Vanguard Award, and both Al Gore and Dr. Wangari Maathai will receive the Chairman's Award.

 Halle Berry and Tyler Perry will host the affair, which will air on Fox Feb. 12 from the Shrine Auditorium.

OBAMA MEETS WITH FOUR LIVING PRESIDENTS: Two Bushes, Carter and Clinton join President-elect for meeting.

 *An historic moment was created at the White House Wednesday as all four living U.S. presidents joined President-elect Barack Obama for a meeting to discuss the world's challenges.
 
 "This is an extraordinary gathering," Obama said, during a photo-op in the Oval Office with George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

      "All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office. And for me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary. And I'm very grateful to all of them," Obama said.

 Earlier, Bush and Obama had a private meeting in the Oval Office to discuss current events, including the troubled economy and the Gaza Strip conflict. After Obama's harsh criticism of the president during the campaign, the two have shown solidarity since Obama's win in November, with one previous Oval Office sit-down and at least a few phone calls in recent weeks.

      "All of us who have served in this office understand that the office transcends the individual," Bush said as Obama nodded in thanks. "And we wish you all the very best. And so does the country."

      Without offering any specifics, Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs said all the presidents "had helpful advice on managing the office as well as thoughts on the critical issues facing the country right now. The president-elect is anxious to stay in touch with all of them in the coming years."

LATIFAH TAPS FANS FOR NEW SONG: People's Choice host launches contest Wednesday night during ceremony.

      *People's Choice Awards host Queen Latifah used the ceremony last night to launch a contest seeking an original song for her upcoming album "Persona," due this spring.
     
      The singer-actress is inviting aspiring singer-songwriters to pen a tune for the project.  Latifah says she expects the contest, conducted with People's Choice and its Web site, http://www.pcavote.com, to find a "fresh new voice and a hot new song."

      Latifah will whittle the submissions down to three next month and let fans decide which song is the best.
     
      The winner gets to record the song with Latifah, reports the Associated Press.

T.I. PAYS HIS OVERDUE LEGAL BILL: Rapper writes a check for $8,000 to pay outstanding bills.

 *Rapper T.I. wrote a check for $8,000 in court Tuesday to pay an overdue layer bill for the mother of two of his sons, telling a judge the debt was an oversight.

      Lawyers for LaShon Dixon asked a Fulton County judge sought out the Atlanta courts after the 28-year-old rapper, born Clifford Harris, failed to pay up by his November due date. He had agreed to the payment as part of an ongoing child support case.
     
      According to the Associated Press, T.I. showed up at the courthouse with the check in hand, effectively settling the matter. During the hearing, the rapper told the judge the order to pay got lost when he changed assistants.
     
      T.I. is scheduled to be sentenced on federal weapons charges in March. He is expected to serve at least a year in federal prison.

OBAMA WAX FIGURE AT MADAME TUSSAUDS: London venue to unveil statue on Inauguration Day with free admission to US citizens.

 *To celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama, London's Madame Tussauds wax museum is offering free entry on Jan. 20 to any visitor able to prove they're a U.S. citizen.

      The publicity stunt is also intended to introduce its newest attraction - a Barack Obama waxwork, reports the Associated Press.
     
      The statue has yet to be completed, but museum officials said Wednesday that Obama would be shown in an informal and relaxed pose, smiling with arms casually folded amid a reproduction of the White House Oval Office.
     
      Museum spokeswoman Liz Edwards said "it's such a poignant moment in American history." She declined to say how many people she thought would show up for the free viewing.
     
      The museum's usual entry fee is 25 pounds ($38).
     

O.J. SIMPSON REPORTEDLY PLEASED WITH JAIL DIGS: 'If I have to be in prison, this is the place to be,' he says.

      *The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that O.J. Simpson is having himself a ball in prison since he was transferred to the Lovelock Correction Center near Reno last month.
     
      The former athlete, incarcerated for felony kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges that could spell 33 years behind bars, "reportedly benefits from such amenities as a television in his cell, although he lamented the lack of HBO, and is allowed to play checkers and cards with his fellow convict roomies," the column reported.
     
      "If I have to be in prison," Page Six quoted him as saying, "this is the place to be."
     
      The setting is a sharp contrast to the situation he endured at Clark County jail in Vegas, where he reluctantly shed 25 pounds as a direct result of the mystery meat on the menu.
     
      "It looked like a jackalope," he reportedly griped, referring to the fictitious creature that's a cross between a jack rabbit and an antelope.

HBO TO AIR BARACK OBAMA INAUGURAL LAUNCH: Network will broadcast opening ceremonies to non-subscribers as well.

      *HBO will televise Barack Obama's inaugural opening ceremonies at the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 18, in what is being billed as a star-studded event with top performers from music and entertainment, reports the Associated Press.
     
      Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee said the ceremony will be free and open to the public, but HBO will get the exclusive rights to show it. The cable channel will make the 90-minute event available for free to all of those with cable or satellite services, not just HBO subscribers.
     
      Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden are scheduled to attend the event, which will be open for news coverage, although it is unclear just how much electronic press will be allowed to cover given the exclusive arrangement with HBO.
     
      At the first inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993, HBO paid a reported $1.5 million for the exclusive rights to televise a similar kickoff event at the Lincoln Memorial, with Jack Nicholson delivering historical readings, and entertainment from Tony Bennett, Diana Ross and Ray Charles. But the footage was available only to HBO subscribers. CNN and C-SPAN did show portions of the event, but not the entertainment.
     
      No entertainment has been announced for the fete, although sources have indicated that Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Stevie Wonder have been approached about performing some time during the four days of events planned for Obama's inaugural.
     
      It is uncertain whether it will be shown live or on tape delay.

JAN ADAMS GETS JAIL SENTENCE FOR DUI: Plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye's mom gets one year in prison.

 *TMZ.com is reporting that Dr. Jan Adams, the non-board certified plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye West's mother the day before she died, received a year-long jail sentence for drunk driving.

       Adams pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of DUI over an incident in the Bay Area last June where he was caught driving the wrong way on a freeway with a blood alcohol level of .20 -- more than twice the legal limit.
     
      Adams will get eight days credit toward his sentence from the time he served immediately following his arrest, TMZ reported. 

HUDSON CAMP DENIES INAUGURATION INVITE: Rep for singer says there is 'no truth' to recent reports.

 *A rep for Jennifer Hudson is denying recent reports that the Presidential Inaugural Committee was trying to invite her to perform at the festivities on January 20th.

      The New York Post reported on Wednesday that Hudson was in talks to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the ceremony, but her rep told "Access Hollywood" that the star has no plans to participate in any inaugural activities.

  In August, Jennifer belted the national anthem the night Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's national convention. The Oscar winner has not performed since the October murders of her mother, brother and nephew in Chicago.

      William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer's sister, Julia, has been charged with the killings. He faces three counts of first-degree murder and home invasion charges. His next court hearing is set for Jan. 20.

      As previously reported, Hudson's first performance since the tragic events is scheduled to take place on Feb. 6, at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in LA honoring Neil Diamond.

FAIZON LOVE A SUSPECT IN BATTERY: Cops say actor was involved in incident at the Standard Hotel.

 *Comedian/actor Faizon Love has turned up as a suspect in a battery that took place early Wednesday morning in West Hollywood, according to TMZ.com.

      Police say Love struck a man in the head with his fist at around 1 a.m. at the Standard Hotel. But by the time cops arrived, Love had left the scene, the Web site reported.
     
      In June 2007, Love was sued for allegedly committing a "barbaric assault" on a woman who was a former stage manager in one of his productions. She says the actor chased her around the table, yelled and cursed and threw chairs at her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances. It appears a default judgment was entered against Love.

EX-DETROIT MAYORAL AID SENTENCED: Christine Beatty follows former lover with 120-day sentence for perjury.

 *The former top aide and ex-lover of Detroit's disgraced ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to 120 days in jail for obstruction of justice, ending a legal case that rocked Detroit politics for more a year.

      Christine Beatty "waved goodbye to loved ones as she was ushered from a courtroom," reports the Associated Press.  She will serve her term in Wayne County jail, where Kilpatrick has been serving an identical sentence since late October.

      Beatty and Kilpatrick, both 38, were charged with lying about their affair under oath during a 2007 civil trial on claims that two police officers were punished for investigating alleged wrongdoing in the mayor's inner circle.
     
      The officers won their case, but the scandal didn't break until January 2008 when the Detroit Free Press published sexually explicit text messages that exposed courtroom lies and extramarital trysts by Beatty and Kilpatrick, former high school classmates.
     
      "It's now my hope that with this sentencing ... that this chapter in the city's history will be closed," Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny said.

OAKLAND UPSET WITH NEW HUGHES BROS. FILM: Pimp drama catches heat by city officials worried about the subject-matter.

 *The Hughes Bros have run into resistance from officials in Oakland, Calif. who are reluctant to grant the filmmakers a permit to shoot their upcoming pimp drama in the city.

      Authorities are worried that "Gentleman of Leisure," which follows the life of a legendary Oakland pimp as he tries to leave the game, will depict Oakland in a bad light, reports The San Francisco Chronicle,

      The series, written by Evan Reilly, delves into the overall hustlers' subculture by examining the conflict between old-school pimps and the younger guys whose approach incorporates the violence of the drug culture.
     
      The City of Oakland feels the show may take advantage of the negative reputation already associated with the Bay Area and create an environment that will lead to the further exploitation of women.
     
      That image would stand in exact opposition of Mayor Ron Dellums' plan to create a "model city."
     
      The Hughes brothers, however, argue that their aim is to do for Oakland what "The Wire" did for the city of Baltimore by staying as true to reality as possible.
     
      "It's The Wire meets The Sopranos set in Oakland in a crime element never used before," Allen Hughes told Chronicle. "It's not just about pimps and prostitutes, but also about the history of a city that never got its due. Like Detroit or Miami and a lot of other cities, Oakland is steeped in heavy street industry, in rackets. I'm just going to say it, Oakland is a pimpin' town. It's flourished there. And whenever and wherever street life is celebrated, the city gets a shout out."

INAUGURATION BALL ROUNDUP: Jay-Z to perform; Ray Chew to serve as musical director for 'Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.'

 *Jay-Z, one of Obama's biggest supporters during the election, has announced that he's playing a concert in Washington on Jan. 19, the day before Obama is sworn in as the 44th president. The artist, born Shawn Carter, Jay-Z will perform for a crowd of less than 2,000 at the Warner Theatre.

 *Ray Chew will serve as the musical director for the "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball" at the Washington Convention Center. Next for Chew is the 2nd Annual "BET Honors," the network's annual celebration of achievements of African-American luminaries; This year's honorees Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige, Honorable Congressman James E. Clyburn and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The star-studded special airs Feb. 22 on BET. As the world welcomes the new US President, look for Ray Chew to be at the helm of several inaugural events in January.

EUR DVD REVIEW: Battle for Haditha
DVD Docudrama Reenacts Massacre of Innocent Iraqis
DVD Review by Kam Williams
 
      *Remember when your mother warned that playing all those gruesome video games would desensitize you to violence? Now witness Exhibit A: Battle for Haditha, showcasing Generation Kill's all volunteer army in all its glory.

      On November 19, 2005, a roadside bomb detonated by Iraqi insurgents exploded under a vehicle killing Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas, while wounding a couple of his comrades.

      The IED attack so outraged other Marines from Kilo Company riding in the convoy that a dozen of them allegedly went on a rampage later that day, slaughtering 24 innocent civilians living in the City of Haditha.

      Though originally covered up, the incident later came to light because part of the massacre had been captured on videotape by a student with a camera. Consequently, several soldiers were court-martialed and charge with murder.

      Was their overreaction warranted, given the stress they were under from the day-to-day rigors of patrolling the streets of a village where they were treated as invading enemies? And aren't all things now fair in war, anyway, given America's disavowal of the Geneva Conventions?  

      These are the fundamental human rights questions posed by this super-realistic docudrama which takes a long look at ethnic cleansing from both the perspective of the cleansed and from the point-of-view of the perpetrators of the crimes against humanity. The film stars actual veterans of the Iraq War, and has the authentic feel of footage shot on the front lines of the conflict.

      A patriotic rationalization to support the troops, regardless of the transgression, since it's Bush's fault that they were sitting ducks in a godforsaken desert where they're the only available outlet around for every terrorists' anti-American impulse. What's next, a picture suggesting that we have to excuse the Abu Ghraib excuses, too, as reasonable interrogation
tactics?              

Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
In English and Arabic with subtitles.
Running time: 97 minutes
Studi Image Entertainment

DVD Extras: Commentaries by director Nick Broomfield and by co-star Elliot Ruiz, "The Making of" featurette, a conversation with co-star Eric Mehalacopoulos, casting tapes, an interview with Elliot Ruiz, and a theatrical trailer.

To see a trailer for Battle for Haditha, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPUWkhlGNjo

EUR DVD REVIEW: Live and Become (Va, Vis et Deviens)
Ethiopian Immigrant Adjusts to Israel in Coming-of-Age Tale on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams

      *9 year-old Schlomo (Sirak Sabahat) ended up in Israel in 1985 as part of Operation Moses, a humanitarian airlift of about 8,000 Ethiopian Jews fleeing religious persecution.

      The only thing wrong with this picture is that he didn't deserve to exercise any right of return like his fellow refugees, given that he was actually a Christian whose starving mother had him take the place of a deceased child.

      Nonetheless, upon his arrival in Tel Aviv, he is presumed to be a Jewish orphan by the couple who adopt him, Yoram (Roschdy Zem) and Yael Harrari (Yael Abecassis).

      While hiding the fact that he is neither Jewish nor orphaned, Schlomo does his best to adapt to the culture and customs of his new homeland.

      However, he soon finds that even if he were Jewish, most white Israelis seem to have a problem with his skin color, and don't real consider him one of the Chosen People. This proves particularly challenging when he hits puberty and takes an interest in girls, especially Sarah (Roni Hadar), whose racist father doesn't want his daughter dating a black kid.

      So, fish-out-of-water scenarios abound in this coming-of-age saga which covers 15 of Schlomo's formative years. Over that time span we see the lost lad grow into a man while grappling with assorted identity issues. To its credit, the film fleshes out his character, treating him not as a freak or a curiosity but as an ever-evolving human experiencing a full range of emotions.

      Consequently, both his enduring relationship with Sarah and his barely-tolerated presence in Israel combine to create a complicated and compelling character study. As much a peek into a tortured psyche as an exploration of an abundance of universal themes, from intolerance to abandonment to the need to belong.

      Brother from another temple.  

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
In Amharic, Hebrew and French with subtitles.
Running time: 140 minutes
Studi Menemsha Films

THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: ACLU honors Jermaine Dupri for his support of human rights; and, Film director/producer Ben Foster well on his way with new film "The Casting Call"

By Eunice Moseley

The ACLU honored Jermaine Dupri at the 2008 Bill of Rights Awards

   *Jermaine Dupri was recently honored by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for his work and support in areas close to its goal to defend and secure the rights of the people. Others who joined Dupri to be honored by the ACLU included Earvin “Magic” Johnson and David Linde who received the 2008 Bill of Rights Award also, and Betty and Stanley K. Sheinbaum received the 2008 Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award.

   Jermaine was chosen for his work with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) where he is a member of the Board of Directors. The organization fights for voter’s rights, fights against the mandatory minimum sentence; fights for racial justice, and holds youth summits. He was chosen also for his work with the Rockefeller Drug Laws enacted in 1973 and ended in 2005, the law targeted minorities and was opposed by both liberals and conservatives. It was said that it was the worst minimum sentence law in the country. Last, he was honored for his work with the House of Cartier which raises money and awareness for the Hurricane Relief Fund and for his work with Nu America which builds youth councils across the country with it sister organization, which focuses on education and research.

   “I lend my voice,” producer extraordinaire Jermaine Dupri told me about his involvements. “People ask me to do things (to help)….I lend my voice, thoughts and how I feel.”

   Dupri, who sited Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley and new president-elect Barack Obama as his inspirations, has - throughout all the interviews I’ve had with him since he started his label So So Def in 1992 because of his new acts Kriss Kross, Da Brat, Xscape, Bow Wow and Jagged Edge - always been about uplifting someone else’s career to unbelievable heights.

   I can name many times in history when he has made that happen, but I will name tw his work with Usher’s “Confessions” (sold 9 million) which brought Usher back on top and to the forefront of the entertainment/music industry and his work with Mariah Carey’s “The Emancipation of Mimi” (sold 5 million) which also jump-started her career as well. These are prime examples of his skills as a producer/songwriter.

   Jermaine has also served as president of Urban Music at Virgin Records and now serves as president of Island Records’ Urban Music. Reminiscent of his father, Michael Malden, who was the first black president of urban music in the country, at Columbia Records.

   ACLU said that Dupri was honored with the 2008 Bill of Right Award because of his ability to use his powerful position and influence in the music industry “to empower and inspire the next generation.”

Young film director/producer Ben Foster is well on his way in Hollywood

   I interviewed a 10-11 year old whose story impressed me so much because at that age he was an accomplished film maker with about five short films to his credit. Even then, young Ben Foster’s films reminded me of the initial films of Spike Lee.

   Today, Ben Foster is a film director/producer and author from Delaware who currently resides in Los Angeles. He is currently promoting his tenth film, “The Casting Call,” an hour-long comedy about the “casting/auditioning circuit” of Hollywood.

   “I was coming back from an audition and I was wondering what the producer was thinking,” Ben Foster said about where the concept for the very funny film came from.

   So the next audition Ben went on he mentioned that he too was having an audition for his next film. The result is “The Casting Call.” The film is so real-to-life and funny you’d think it was a reality-show type film, but according to Foster they all were scripted and acting.

   The growth I see in Ben Foster's films involves not only a higher level of acting, but also the quality of the film. For his achievements, Ben has already been interviewed on The Montel Williams Show, ABC’s “Fast Forward,” CBS’s “Speak Up,” NBC’s “101 Show” and has been honored by Black Enterprise magazine and Culture magazine.

  Ben has also been inducted into the African-American Hall of Fame and the Kids Hall of Fame for his achievements in the film industry. Foster was also awarded the Gold Metal from the NAACP ACTSO Competition in Philadelphia in filmmaking.

   He is currently attending the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and interning at BET Network’s west coast offices while still promoting his current film and planning on his next.

   “Being young, a lot of people are going to look at you like ‘what are you doing, why are you here?’ so you have to promote yourself,” 15 years old Ben Foster said when asked to give advice to other young prodigy kids like himself. “Prove you can do it, or even better.”

   Ben Foster Films web site www.benfosterfilms.com is adult/kid friendly and you can find a lot to do, such as watch his interviews, learn more on his first book “Kid Patrol,” and read some of his interviews from print mediums such as California Crusader News, Scoop USA, Philadelphia Tribune and The Sun Times.

BETWEEN THE LINES: 2009 As A Litmus Test For Change: Contact Sport or Spectator Sport?
Anthony Asadullah Samad

      *The expectations of the New Year has us all expecting change on some level.
Change in the nation's political direction; change in the global situation; change in the economy; change in the job markets; change in the schools; change in our local communities; change in our personal lives. Funny thing about change?

      It's much like the expectations of a new relationship, the reality is always less than the expectation. What you project as the reason for you hooking up is not what's delivered when the deal's been done.

      What's never discussed in the "change debate" is who's actually going to change. The devil is always in the details. How change is worked out in 2009 will be the litmus test as to whether we really are a changed nation.

      Change. Never has a one word message resonated so loudly with the American public. Barack Obama branded "change" in a way that made you want to go out and buy some. He created a new segment in the economy called Obama Capitalists, people who produce commodities around Obama, his accomplishment and his change message.

      It's one of the few growth industries in a failing economy. But while people are trying to buy themselves some "change" stuff, consumerism not really being a change engagement, does it mean people will be willing to practice what they wear? Which takes us to the question, what is change-who is change-and how is it measured? Moreover, is change an engagement or an observation? In real terms, is it a contact sport, or is it something we watch on television and root for, with our Barack t-shirts on (like football fans with their football jerseys)? Can Barack make change happen if he can't inspire others to change? Well, he inspired us to vote for him, but that was the easy part. We've made the change, now we have to made change happen. How do we do that? All interesting questions as we prepare to launch a new year based on this commodity we all are calling "change."

      If change is a commodity, who's "to do" list does it go on. Change agents call for change (and often times get what they ask for because of the newness of it), but who is the postman for change-responsible for making sure change gets delivered. What is change's address, where is its destination? In the prescription for change, who measures the dosage? How much change is enough, versus knowing when the change hasn't been sufficient? We see partial change all the time. Complete change rarely happens. How do we know change is on the way? Because there is a new figurehead? Do we know change when we see it coming? If so, do we embrace it or do we run from it? Most people run from the unfamiliar. They resist change as something new to learn, or as a burden to them functionalizing someone unproven idea. People like the idea of change-as long as they don't have to do it. It's like moving-people would rather bring the food and beer than carry a couch or refrigerator up three flights of stairs. In this instance, the three flights of stairs are; a one trillion dollar federal deficit that make it difficult for government to while the economy is putting people out of work (one flight), two wars abroad (two flights) and home foreclosure crisis that is causing people to lose their wealth and shelter (three flights). So far, attempts at change--$700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout, mortgage modification assistance, deployment rollback and exit strategies, Auto Industry layoffs, have all been met with the same social illness that existed before the change mantra came along, "analysis paralysis." So much gum banging that you can't do anything but sit there in your Barack t-shirt, with a bag of popcorn, and wonder what's going to happen next. We know the problem, but can't agree on solutions. Any solution has been complicated by this "two Presidents at a time" show that has a shadow President (elect) trying to egg on a lame duck President. It's like watching a tug of war, two people against a ton of bricks. Obama is the only one tugging. Bush is just holding the rope, waiting for the clock to run out. Change, huh?

       2009 is going to be a year to watch, but change is not a spectator sport. Change in America is only going to come about when we all engage. Obama's candidacy and election tickled our imagination. Now it's time for us to tickle our reality in a way that moves us off the dime and in a direction that improves our quality of life. Change is a contact sport. The American people are going to have to hit the wall of mess left by Bush. Don't be surprised when the wall hits back. Change will have to leave a whole in the wall, at worse, or knock the wall down, at best. One thing we know for sure.
We all have our work cut out for us. Change is more than a mantra.

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D., is a national columnist, managing director of the Urban Issues Forum (www.urbanissuesforum.com) and author of the new book, Saving The Race: Empowerment Through Wisdom. He can be reached at www.AnthonySamad.com

EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE

 "The only limits are, as always, those of vision." — James Broughton

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS  

       Jan. 8: Singer R. Kelly is 42. Reggae singer Sean Paul is 36.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
 
       Afromine.com was founded for those interested in collectible original drawings, fine art and spiritual poetry (www.afromine.com).

       Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.     

BLACK HISTORY
  
       Jan. 8, 1867: Legislation giving the suffrage to blacks in the District of Columbia was passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)