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06-16-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
MOM OF SLAIN HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL GUARD FORGIVES: Jacqueline Carter says she has no hate for the racist who killed her son.
*Jacqueline Carter, the mother of slain Holocaust Museum security guard Stephen Johns, says she has no hatred in her heart for the self-proclaimed white supremacist who shot and killed her only son.
"I can't hate the man. If I hated I wouldn't be any better than he," she told local news channel WUSA. "If he does survive maybe he can get rid of hate in his heart," said Carter. [Watch clip below.]
Police have charged 88 year-old James Von Brunn with murder. He was shot in the face during the incident last week and remains in critical but stable condition. Authorities say he is expected to survive his wounds.
Carter says of her forgiveness, "It's heartwrenching, don't get me wrong, it's not easy during these tough times but what can you do."
Both the U.S. Holocaust Museum (http://bit.ly/HZgdT) and the American Jewish Committee (http://bit.ly/Fh2cn) have set up memorial funds for Johns' family.
TAMEKA LAWYERS UP FOR DIVORCE FIGHT: Plus, friends of the couple say they knew this was coming.
*Tameka Foster Raymond is already getting her legal ducks in a row for her impending divorce from R&B star Usher.
The AP is reporting that a lawyer who represented women in child-support battles against rapper T.I. and boxer Evander Holyfield is now a member of Team Tameka.
Sports and entertainment family lawyer Randy Kessler said Monday his 38-year-old client was a "faithful wife and loving mother." He declined to comment on the singer's conduct during the marriage.
Usher filed for divorce on Friday after less than two years of marriage. The singer, whose real name is Usher Raymond IV, has two sons with Foster Raymond.
Kessler also represented rapper Mack 10 in his divorce from R&B singer T-Boz of TLC.
Meanwhile, People.com has more details about the drama inside of their marriage. Bottom line - few people in the singer's inner circle were shocked at news of the divorce.
"No one I've spoken to is surprised," a source close to the couple tells People. "As bad as this is gonna sound, it was never a matter of 'I wonder if they'll divorce,' but more like 'I wonder WHEN they'll divorce.'"
Several sources paint a picture of a troubled marriage that started unraveling even before the couple's wedding in September 2007.
"They peaked before they even got married," a friend of Tameka tells People. "Right after it was over, they started to drift apart. [Usher] just wasn't ready to settle down, at least not with her."
The source, who tells People that there was no third party breaking up the marriage, says that Usher still lived like a bachelor. "He just wasn't used to calling her if he was going to be out late," says the source.
"He didn't treat her bad. He just took her for granted."
As the marriage continued, friends noticed that Usher and Tameka were living separate lives. "They've been going their own way for awhile," says Tameka's friend. "They don't spend a lot of time with each other. When they were together, it was all about the boys."
KYM WHITLEY DID NOT SMACK TAMALA JONES: Report was a Twitter joke from Yung Joc that spiraled out of control.
*Essence.com got to the root of a recent black blogosphere firestorm that suggested Kym Whitley had smacked her good friend and fellow actress Tamala Jones during the Pleasure P album release party in Miami.
But, the whole thing was a joke from Atlanta rapper Yung Joc, who apparently felt like starting some mess on Twitter.
He tweeted: "They were playing at first, at least I thought they were and then Tamela [sic] was like b---- how you let a dude with a pinky d--- turn you out. BAM. I almost feel like it was my fault because I started flirting with the two of them and they took that sh-- somewhere else. I kinda feel bad. don't think Tamela [sic] didn't buck back!!! But Kim is too thick for her...i got pics and video too! '
Needless to say, folks believed the gossip and promptly spread it around. But Tamala Jones says she and Whitley were just playing.
She told Essence.com
(http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/tamala_jones_confesses_kym_whitley_brawl_a_joke#):
I really have to come clean about this because Kym, who's like my sister, has been catching a lot of flack for this. It was all a joke. What happened is we ran into Yung Joc in the lobby of our hotel and we were bickering like sisters do but nothing serious and Joc was like y'all are funny like Laverne and Shirley. He ended up going to dinner with us and while we were at dinner he said we should come up with a joke like he had done about DMX and Katt Williams. He thought we should be arguing over him and we were like, 'Uh, no.' So we start up and his boy is taping us in action as we begin ragging on each other and then we were going to tape the second part--the alleged smack--but it never happened. Again, we were just joking around and going to let everyone know it was just a joke. I was like, 'Sure this is good press for you Kym you have "Transformers" coming out soon.' I've never been violent nor has anyone ever been violent towards me. But now, it's gotten out of hand and it's affecting Kym's money because she has a deal with a company and they called her about it. So I want to just set the record straight that we were all just having fun and being silly.
FIRST LADY HOSTS WHITE HOUSE 'JAZZ STUDIO': Local high school jazz students join Marsalis family and others for tutorial.
*First Lady Michelle Obama hosted 150 middle and high school jazz students in the East Wing on Monday for Jazz Studio, where teens participated in workshops led by famous jazz musicians such as the Marsalis family.
Jazz Studio is part one of a new White House music series that will continue later this year, focusing on the country and classical genres.
Monday's seminars focused on the influence American history had on jazz, improvisation through jazz styles, and the influence of Duke Ellington, reports CBS News.
"Today's event exemplifies what the White House, the people's house, should be about. This is a place to honor America's past, celebrate its present and create its future," Mrs. Obama said in a speech concluding the day's activities. "And what better example of this than jazz, America's indigenous art form."
Obama applauded jazz as a democratic art form and considers it "America's greatest artistic gift to the world."
"There's probably no better example of democracy than a jazz ensemble; individual freedom but with responsibility to the group," Obama said.
Including an anecdote about her childhood, Obama said that her grandfather had jazz playing "twenty four hours a day at the highest volume" as she grew up.
First daughters Sasha and Malia also attended the event in the first lady's attempt to "keep them alive and aware of other kinds of music other than hip-hop."
Obama praised all of the jazz students as "future guardians of music" in her speech, stating that she's counting on them to keep the music vital and evolving for generations to come."
RIHANNA DATING RUMOR OF THE WEEK: New chatter has her feeling Orlando Magic player Rashard Lewis.
*Several weeks ago, there were reports that Rihanna was into Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers. This week, there's talk that she's trying to get with his freshly-defeated Orlando Magic opponent Rashard Lewis.
The New York Daily News' Gatecrasher column claims Riri's interest in Lewis was the reason she showed up at Game 4 over the weekend. Her ex-boyfriend and current alleged abuser, Chris Brown, was also at the game.
A source told Gatecrasher: "Rihanna is trying to get to know Rashard. She's digging on him, and she hopes the feeling is mutual."
As for the past rumor about Bynum, the source added: "Rihanna and Andrew are just friends, and they have been for a while. It's Rashard who she wants. She thinks he's hotter than hot."
The column further reports:
In a bid to avoid Brown - who has been accused of assaulting the singer in February - Rihanna left straight after the game, and spent much of the half-time break in a hospitality lounge.
Brown reportedly spent much of the game sneaking glances at his former girlfriend, and while she stayed away during the break, he came over to her friends to shake hands.
A source said: "Chris was definitely trying to make the situation less awkward. He was trying to be very grownup, and wanted Rihanna to see that as well."
Meanwhile, Brown returned to Orlando's Amway Arena for Game 5 with a Rihanna look-a-like sporting white sunglasses and wild hair. Turns out it was 18-year-old rapper/singer Teyana Taylor.
T.D. JAKES AVOIDS GAS EXPLOSION AT HOME: Potter House pastor says last minute change of mind saved his life.
*Pastor T.D. Jakes says he narrowly avoided being killed in a natural gas explosion at his home – all because of a last-minute change of plans.
According to the Associated Press, Jakes told thousands at Sunday's service at his church — The Potter House — that he would have been getting dressed near the blast last week had he not suddenly had the feeling he should call off a planned meeting.
Instead, he wasn't anywhere close to the blast centered in a sunroom of his house in Fort Worth. No one was injured
Fire Department Lt. Kent Worley said Sunday that investigators ruled the blast accidental. He said the sunroom had a gas-fired pool heater and a large gas-fired barbecue grill.
Jakes praised God for keeping him safe and described his situation as "inconvenient, but alive."
ABC AIRING PRIME-TIME OBAMA INTERVIEW: Gibson and Sawyer to steer coverage with live audience and viewer questions.
*Not to be outdone by NBC's successful two-night Obama-thon earlier this month, ABC News says it will go prime-time next week with its own White House special.
The network announced Monday it will present an interview with President Barack Obama on health care issues in a special to air June 24 at 10 p.m. Eastern, on two-hour tape delay.
Unlike Brian Williams' steering of "Inside the Obama White House," which followed the president on a Friday and edited the footage for broadcast the following Tuesday and Wednesday, ABC News' Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer will moderate the health care discussion with a live audience, and also take questions submitted by viewers.
That morning, Sawyer will also interview Obama for her show, "Good Morning America." Gibson will anchor that evening's edition of "World News" from the White House Blue Room.
LIL WAYNE LOSES BID TO BLOCK DOC FOOTAGE: Plus, rapper teams with Young Jeezy for tour.
*Rapper Lil Wayne's bid to stop the inclusion of “private and sensitive” material for use in an upcoming documentary was rejected by a California court on Friday.
Superior Court Judge Michael Mink ruled against the rap star's motion to prevent Digerati (QD3 Entertainment) from releasing a documentary titled "The Carter" in its entirety, reports Allhiphop.com.
According to court documents, Mink said the evidence Wayne’s attorney used as the basis for the suit were not strong enough to justify the his allegations.
Meanwhile, Wayne will team with Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy Tell'em and Drake for the Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival, a tour that launches July 27 in Scranton, PA, and ends on Aug. 23 in Dallas.
Listed below are the tour dates:
7/27 Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
7/29 Saratoga, NY @ Performing Arts Center 7/30 Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavilion
7/31 Philadelphia @ Susquehanna Bank Center
8/1 Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach Theater
8/2 Virginia Beach @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8/4 Toronto @ Molson Amphitheater
8/5 Montreal @ Bell Centre
8/6 Cleveland @ Blossom Pavilion
8/7 Washington, D.C. @ Nissan Pavilion
8/8 Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheater
8/9 Atlanta @ Lakewood Amphitheater
8/8 Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheater
8/12 Phoenix @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
8/13 Los Angeles @ TBD
8/14 Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8/15 Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion
8/17 Vancouver @ GM Place
8/18 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
8/20 Denver @ Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
8/22 Houston @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/23 Dallas @ Superpages.com Center
LENNOX LEWIS IN BOXING HALL OF FAME: British fighter inducted Sunday along with two others.
*Three-time heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis of Britain was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday, reports AFP.
The 43-year-old athlete retired in 2003 with a record of 41-2-1, including 32 knockouts. He entered the hall in his first year of eligibility.
Lewis, who began fighting as an amateur at the age of 15, said it was his mother who sparked his interest in boxing, hosting parties to watch big bouts when he was young.
"I didn't really understand them at first," Lewis said. "People would come over the house for the big fight. She would be really excited about it. I remember sitting in front of the television watching all the great fights."
Lewis said he hoped he'd be remembered as a proponent of boxing as a "magical dance".
"Our sport is usually looked at as a brutal, savage sport," Lennox said. "I see it as a sweet science, a magical dance. For me, I just wanted to live up to that, and keep the dignity and the humanistic aspect and the positiveness of it ... so that people will remember that's what I did for boxing," Lewis said.
Lewis, also a 1988 Olympic gold medalist, was inducted along with American bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales and South African junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell.
AL ROKER VS. SPEIDI: Spencer and Heidi Pratt say they were "attacked" and "verbally assaulted" by Today show weatherman.
*An uncomfortable situation jumped off yesterday morning on the "Today" show between Al Roker and married reality show stars Heidi and Spencer Pratt.
Heidi claims the weatherman was extremely rude to them during an interview about their experience on NBC's "I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here," which they quit last week when Heidi was hospitalized.
She tells TMZ.com of Roker, "He was incredibly rude and was verbally assaulting me... I would warn any people, especially women, who are going on the show to watch out for him."
Heidi also said no one told her that Roker would be conducting the interview. "I just thought he did weather. I thought he was coming to tell me it's sunny in New York."
Spencer chimed in: "I never in my wildest dreams thought a weatherman would treat us like we just rigged the Iranian election."
Roker fired back via Twitter: "Heidi and Spencer are an interesting couple. famous for...being infamous. Bad and vacuous behavior. I think we're at minute 11 of their 15."
GOP ACTIVIST MAKES GORILLA JOKE ABOUT M. OBAMA: South Carolina Republican posted comment on his Facebook page.
*A prominent South Carolina Republican deleted his Facebook page Sunday after being caught likening the First Lady to an escaped gorilla.
Commenting on a report posted to Facebook about a gorilla escape at a zoo in Columbia, S.C., Friday, veteran GOP activist Rusty DePass wrote, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."
Busted by South Carolina political blogger Will Folks on his FITNEWS blog, DePass told WIS-TV in Columbia, "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest," reports the New York Daily News.
Then he added, "The comment was hers, not mine," claiming Michelle Obama made a recent remark about humans descending from apes. The Daily News said it could find no such comment.
Columbia's mayor called on DePass to apologize properly. "The comment is reprehensible. There's nothing funny about it," said Democratic Mayor Bob Coble. "What he needs to do is simply apologize in a straightforward manner."
DePass, former chairman of the Richland County GOP, was an early backer of George W. Bush and co-chairman of Rudy Giuliani's 2008 campaign in Richland County, the state's largest.
"Most of us, of course, particularly in South Carolina, never gave a damn about New Yorkers, but somehow the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, made those people Americans again," he wrote in a 2007 Op-Ed endorsing Giuliani.
OBAMA'S HALF BROTHER GETS BOOK DEAL: Kenyan George Obama to discuss moving from life of crime to becoming advocate for the poor.
*Barack Obama's half-brother George Obama, the youngest of the senior Obama's seven children and a resident of Huruma, Kenya, will write a memoir under a new deal with publisher Simon & Schuster.
Tentatively titled "Homeland" and to be written with author-journalist Damien Lewis, the book will tell of George Obama's fall into crime and poverty as a teenager and his eventual embrace of community organizing — a passion shared by the president — and of advocacy for the poor, an identification so strong that he chooses to live among them.
The work is due in January 2010.
George Obama, 27, did not grow up with his famous 47-year-old sibling and they never met as children. George was born six months before his father died.
"Even had George Obama not been our President's half brother, his story is moving and inspirational," David Rosenthal, Simon & Schuster publisher and executive vice president, said in a statement Sunday. "It is an object lesson in survival, selflessness and courage."
Financial terms were not disclosed, but an official with knowledge of the negotiations said the deal was worth six figures. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the contract, spoke on condition of anonymity.
Other Obama relatives are working on books, including a half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng; and the brother of first lady Michelle Obama, Craig Robinson. Duke University Press is releasing the doctoral dissertation of the president's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, who died in 1995.
MIJAC WORKING OUT WITH INCREDIBLE HULK?: British tabloid says singer hired Lou Ferrigno to help him get in shape for summer concerts.
*British newspaper The Sun is reporting that Michael Jackson has hired Lou Ferrigno, best known for his TV character The Incredible Hulk, as a personal trainer to help him get fit for his 50-night concert run.
The 57-year-old former Mr. Universe has reportedly been making secret visits to Jackson's Los Angeles home to help get his stamina up for the show's dance routines. But the paper quotes sources who say the King of Pop has not been a cooperative client.
“Lou has been visiting Michael to build him up so he can perform his dance routines," said the source. “But Jacko refuses to lift weights. He doesn’t want to bulk up.”
According to The Sun, the two became friends after Jackson worked out at the actor’s gym in 2007. Previously, the bodybuilder said of the singer: “Michael is more delicate. Our trainer conditioned him for dancing. He likes me — he feels safe with me, he feels protected. He was nervous about people looking at him when he was training."
BET AWARDS PRESENTS CELEB GOLF TOURNEY: Chris Spencer to co-host 3rd Annual Power to End Stroke event.
*The BET Awards presents its 3rd Annual Power to End Stroke Celebrity Golf Tournament charity event, which raises awareness and funds to benefit the American Stroke Association (ASA).
The event will take place on Friday, June 26, at the Angeles National Golf Club (9401 Foothill Blvd., Sunland, CA) and feature putting contests with a chance to win a Pao Ferro, the Rolls Royce of exotic handmade hickory wood putters, compliments of Sweetwood Golf Clubs.
Hosted by comedian Chris Spencer and lifestyle specialist Kenny Burns, the star studded event will honor PGA legend, Robert Lee Elder and host several celebrity participants.
Invited guests include Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Mark Wahlberg, Oscar De La Hoya, Marcus Allen, Elise Neal, Nelly, Salli Richardson, Eric Dickerson, Tyrese Gibson, Boris Kodjoe, Kellita Smith, Flex Alexander, Jermaine Dupri, Camille Winbush, Alfonso Ribeiro, Caron Butler, Malik Yoba, Johnny Gill, Brian McKnight and more.
Participants will enjoy luxury prizes, continental breakfast with herbal tea bar, gourmet boxed lunches, chance to bid on one of a kind silent and live auction items, a posh post tournament cocktail reception, VIP awards ceremony and fabulous swag gifts, compliments of the event sponsors.
The event requires $200.00 donation to play. To reserve a spot, contact Keenan Towns at 818-207-5580 or ktowns@brand7m.com.
A division of the American Heart Association, ASA is dedicated to reducing disability and death caused by stroke through research, education, fundraising and advocacy.
HOLYFIELD TO FIGHT IN AFRICA: Former heavyweight champ to participate in exhibition match next month.
*Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will fight an exhibition match in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 25 against Sammy Retta, an Ethiopian-born American who moved from Addis to Washington D.C. when he was 16.
“I continue to strive to be the very best and I look forward to bringing it all to Ethiopia,” Holyfield told reporters according to Africa News.
“I feel so tremendous,” said Retta (18-3) at a recent news conference. “Fighting Evander is like Ali fighting in Africa.”
Ethiopian Airlines Journeys is offering exclusive travel packages for boxing fans to attend the exhibition. In addition to tickets to the main event, each package will include a three-night stay in Addis Ababa, meals, a tour of downtown Addis and round-trip airfare on Ethiopian Airlines. Call toll-free 1-866-599-3797 or visit www.seeyouinethiopia.com for more information.
THE BRIDGE: Just Us
By Darryl James
*Lisa is a single mother. She chose to have a child at 38, when 40 loomed too near and marriage seemed ever elusive. She knew that Kaileena’s father had no intentions of marrying her and would not make any kind of father, but she ignored family and friends and listened only to her biological clock and desires to be a mother by any means necessary.
She ignored the fact that he never took care of the four children he already had. Now that she is struggling to feed her daughter and has no time to hang out with friends, she complains to anyone who will hear that “all” men are dogs and that “most” fathers are Deadbeat Dads.
She tells that story to her friend Rose, whose ex-husband Damon doesn’t pay child support or see his child. When the two divorced, Damon decided to divorce his wife as well as his child, Damon, Jr.
Darnell married Linda ten years ago, when they both graduated from college. She loved him and remained faithful throughout the marriage. She found out over the last two years that he had been cheating, but was horrified to find out that he had been cheating on her with other men. She now tells the story of how her husband’s secret homosexual lifestyle caused them both to contract HIV.
When John turned 30, he realized that he didn’t have to rush to get married. He knew that there were more women than men and that as long as he left each woman before they pressed him for marriage, he could have as much sex with as many women as he desired.
Sandra has five children by as many as three men. She claims three fathers because she really has no idea who fathered her youngest children. Her focus is on having another child to increase her monthly income from Public Assistance. She believes that the combination of child support and Welfare should support her upscale lifestyle, because she deserves it.
Here’s the twist: The above stories are all of white people. Yet many of the people reading this have more than likely assumed that they were Black.
Some assumed that they were Black because the writer is Black, but sadly, many assumed the characters were Black because of stereotypes that exist in America, even within us.
The real problem is that when Americans hear these stories and know that they are of white people, we feel sorry for them and want them to get help.
However, when we hear about these stories about Black people, we talk about the poor choices they made and how they need to be given tough options or just dogged out in public.
Some people say that Spike Lee is speaking out of turn for declaring that some of Tyler Perry’s characters harm the image of African Americans.
Some say that Tavis Smiley was speaking out of turn when he made comments against presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
And some people say that I am out of turn when I write about which group of Blacks have caused which problems.
But there is no more out of turn. Stupid Ass Negroes ruined that when they began to call each other “Nigger” in front of the entire world.
Black women ruined it when they began to tell anyone who will listen how horrible things are for them because of those “sorry ass Black men.”
Elitists ruined it when they began to blame everything on poor people.
We can find evidence of racism at every turn, but really, until we make corrections in our self-image and our actions, the blame must be assigned to just us.
Right now, African Americans are discussing Spike Lee’s comments about Tyler Perry being likened to Amos ‘n Andy and the only real defense for Perry’s coonery is that he is making money. Not that he is laying any real foundation that we can capitalize off of--just that he is making money.
Only AA decide that making money trumps protecting our image.
An old axiom says that when it comes to the Justice System for Blacks, it’s “Just Us.” The meaning is that we are the ones who are persecuted and prosecuted.
Currently, when it comes to our own view of ourselves, all things bad are assigned to “Just Us.” The meaning, I believe, is clear.
Because of our skewed view of the world and how it works, it is just us who think that only Blacks are crackheads and criminals.
It’s just us who think that slavery was a “long time ago” and is no longer relevant to our current standing.
Ask any Jew about the Holocaust and even if that man or woman never deals with Judaism, they will more than likely pontificate with vigor on the oppression of Jewish people.
African Americans are the only people who have begun to downgrade their own historical oppression to pretend that the playing field is now level. Like racist whites, many of those blind Negroes cite President Barack Obama’s existence as evidence of all things being equal, not realizing that the mere fact that his Blackness is ALWAYS mentioned proves that it is an anomaly and not the norm in any other corner of society.
What it comes down to is self-hatred that has been taught to us overtly for hundreds of years and then covertly for nearly as long. It has been so covert that many of us pretend that there is no self-hatred and/or it has come from us.
At some point, we will become irrelevant. Not because some group of white racists finally tramp our existence into the dirt, but simply because we have accepted all things negative about ourselves in efforts to prove that we are nothing like “those people” and that all things bad are the fault of those whom we wish to be distant from.
Neither ten Barack Obamas, nor the resurrection of Martin and Malcolm can stop the diminishing of Black people and the Black image.
Whether we thrive or simply disappear into antiquity is completely dependant upon Just Us.
Darryl James is an award-winning author of the powerful new anthology “Notes From The Edge.” He released his first mini-movie, “Crack,” and will soon release his first full-length documentary. View previous installments of this column at www.bridgecolumn.proboards36.com. Reach James at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
FROM HER HEART TO OURS: New artist Laura Izibor brings heat to Atlanta's vinyl
*Newcomer Laura Izibor, signed to Atlantic records, dropped by intimate venue vinyl in Atlanta last Friday and strongly made her case for the embrace of her new album ‘Let The Truth Be Told’. The album is set to be released today.
The Dublin, Ireland born crooner -- yes there are blacks in Ireland -- took to the stage like a seasoned pro. She was engaging, confident, delivered lyrics of substance and...drum roll...she can sing! Her first single release, 'From My Heart to Yours', adequately represents how the artist comes across live; you're left really feeling as if she's singing her life with her words.
Singer/songwriter Izibor's piano heavy songs were mainly about the ins and outs of relationships and she coursed through each one with the fervor of a sage survivor of matters of the heart. It's often difficult for artists, established or new, to keep a crowd engaged with material they aren't familiar with, but Izibor's entire set was arresting, and her blazing band and back-up singers certainly didn't hurt her cause. For some reason, the temperature was pretty extreme in the house, but by the end of the set you didn't know whether the air conditioning was broken or if SHE had actually brought heat.
Every once in a while an Alicia Keys (who she's loosely being compared to), or a Jill Scott, or an India Arie -- all artists of depth and extraordinary talent, both live and recorded, turns up and breathes new life into the mundane record industry, and Izibor just sat her bags down. If the enthusiasm and diversity of her supporters is any indication, 'Me thinks she's here to stay!'
For more info, log ont http://www.lauraizibor.com/music/
THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: Coffee, Tea or Insurance Poli-cy?
*There's another reason why airline passengers should pack less stuff the next time they take a flight. It seems there is no payoff for lost or damaged items during a near-death experience on US Airways.
That’s what passengers of flight 1549 that fell into the Hudson River last January have discovered from the airline’s defunct insurance company American International Group (AIG). Reimbursement procedures have nothing to do with the fact that AIG has been under government stewardship since last fall. It has everything to do with who is at fault for the accident and that everyone survived.
A bird striking the engine – considered an act of nature – is to blame for the incident. And since the flight crew has been praised for saving everybody onboard from a violent death AIG argues the airline has no negligence and no obligation to pay claims.
Claims range from loss of personal items such as laptops, luggage and clothes because in an emergency evacuation everything must be left behind. And a few survivors have filed for medical coverage for therapy sessions to deal with the trauma of it all. US Airways paid everyone onboard $5,000 to cover immediate expenses, even though it had no legal obligation to do so. But for most passengers that wasn’t enough to cover their losses.
Initially US Airways executives told survivors more money would come when its insurance company paid the claim(s). Now it might take a class action suite against the airline and AIG to make them whole; a lawsuit that technically would be against the federal government and other taxpayers, including themselves, who now hold stake in AIG. If that’s not irony I don’t know what is.
Those familiar with industry practices said it would be many months before the issue of liability was resolved. So therapy sessions or other medical issues might have to be paid by the survivors themselves until liability can be established by the court system.
If that time comes survivors who signed paperwork promising to file no future lawsuits against the airline in exchange for a $10,000 payout right now will have sold themselves short.
So the next time you fly you should consider more than just a company’s on-time performance or the kinds of snacks they serve during your flight.
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist living in the Dallas, Texas metroplex. See the video version of her column at youtube.com/steffanierivers. To schedule speaking engagements or to send questions or comments email her at teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"Once you have a clear picture of your priorities- that is values, goals, and high leverage activities- organize around them." — Stephen Covey
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
June 16: Actor Bill Cobbs is 74. Songwriter Lamont Dozier is 68. Singer Eddie Levert of The O'Jays is 67. Singer James Smith of The Stylistics is 59.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Orijin Magazine is designed to connect all African descendants, sharing each other's culture and history through entertainment: music, fashion, lifestyle, sports, etc. www.orijin-ent.com
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
June 16, 1976: Hector Petersen, a 13 year old Soweto schoolboy, is the first to die in what will become the "Children's Crusade," the first nationwide black South African uprising in the 1970's. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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