11-17-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
JANET WATCHES HER OWN FLASH MOB: Singer appears at LA mall to watch throng
of people break out in dance. (video)
*Janet Jackson made a surprise appearance at Los Angeles mall The
Grove last weekend to personally witness a flash mob that featured a
choreographed number to her greatest hits. [Watch video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MacopS3N0lM.]
Flash mob is a term used to describe a throng of people in a public
venue who suddenly break out in an elaborate dance routine -- to the
complete surprise of bystanders around them.
While Saturday's event wasn't technically a flash mob, because there
was no element of surprise to the Grove shoppers, it was still impressive
enough to help promote her new greatest hits album, which drops today.
As previously reported, Jackson told ABC's Robin Roberts that she
believes her brother was killed by his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray,
who has admitted to administering Propofol to Michael Jackson, but claims he
didn't kill him.
"He was the one that was administering ... I think he is
responsible," Janet told Roberts in the interview set to air Wednesday.
Janet also claims Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine.
WHERE IN BLOODY HELL IS FAIZON LOVE?: British poster for 'Couples Retreat'
leaves out black actors. Universal responds.
*There's something missing on the UK marketing material for
Universal's motion picture "Couples Retreat" – the black people.
Co-stars Faison Love and Kali Hawk, who play the film's lone African
American couple on the couples retreat, were photoshopped out of the movie
poster for the film's UK release.
According to London's Daily Mail, the studio said it regretted
causing offense and has abandoned plans to use the white's only poster in
other countries.
A Universal spokesman said the revised advertisement aimed "to
simplify the poster to actors who are most recognizable in international
markets."
JAY-Z, WILL & JADA CONFIRMED BACKERS OF 'FELA': Threesome signs on as
producers of new Broadway musical.
*It's now official. Producers of the upcoming Broadway musical
"Fela!" have confirmed that rap mogul Jay-Z and Hollywood couple Will and
Jada Pinkett Smith have joined the show's producing team.
Rumors about Jay-Z's backend participation had been circulating ever
since he told the Associated Press last month that he might get involved in
the musical, which celebrates the life of Nigerian musician Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti.
There was no announcement regarding the amount of money the power
trio have put into the show.
As previously reported, "Fela!" is directed and choreographed by Bill
T. Jones, and is currently in previews at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. The
show's official opening is next Monday.
'MEET THE BROWNS' HEADED TO SYNDICATION: Tyler Perry's TBS comedy to begin
airing off-network next year.
*Tyler Perry's TBS sitcom "Meet the Browns" will be syndicated in
more than 70 percent of the U.S. next fall.
Syndicator Debmar-Mercury has cleared the comedy for a September
debut on several major station groups, including Fox, Tribune, Weigel, CBS,
Capital, Cox, Meredith, Granite and Belo.
"Browns," based on Perry's 2004 movie, ranks as the No. 1 series on
TBS this season among adults aged 18-49, a demographic coveted by
advertisers. About 40 episodes have aired since it premiered in January.
OPRAH'S DUBAI DEBACLE: Talk show host was wrong about region having free
health care, electricity and water – citizens respond.
*Last month, as part of her "Women Around the World" episode, talk
show host Oprah Winfrey conducted an interview via Skype with Dr. Lamees
Hamdan, a Dubai mother of four who owns Shiffa, a line of high-end skin-care
products.
In the online introduction to the segment, Oprah's team writes of the
United Arab Emirates: "Thanks to this country's rich oil supplies, the
government provides its citizens with free water, electricity and health
care. The best part? No income tax!"
Although Dubai residents aren't subject to income tax, the water,
electricity and health care are not free, according to Dubai citizens who
flooded the show's Web site. One viewer, named "Truespeak1," posted the
following clarification:
• 1. Everybody has to pay electricity and water bills. As non-locals (ie
anyone who is not a UAE citizen) we pay very high bills for electricity.
Consider the fact that the UAE has the highest energy consumption in the
world. No one is subsidizing the bills that's for sure!
• 2. We all have to pay for healthcare. If you are not covered by health
insurance, a regular visit to the doctor can range from anywhere around 100
AED- 400 AED .
There was also controversy over the outfit Hamdan wore on the air --
a tunic, but not a sheila, the national headdress. Hamdan referred to her
decision to forego the sheila as a "cultural" and not a "religious" one,
upsetting some Arab-world viewers, according to Gulfnews.com.
Another bone of contention among Arab viewers was that the interview
was conducted via Skype: The Web-based phone system is banned in the UAE,
though the rule was waived for Oprah's segment.
A spokesman for Oprah's production company Harpo told the New York
Post's Page Six, "It was never the intention of the 'Oprah' show to
misrepresent the people of Dubai. Dr. Hamdan appeared live on our program to
speak about her personal life experience as a citizen of Dubai. We apologize
if any of our viewers were offended."
Read the entire posting from "Truespeak1" here:
http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/120475
ROBIN GIVENS GETS AN 'O'-POLOGY: Oprah says 'I should've said something'
when Mike Tyson quipped 'I wanted to sock her.'
*Oprah Winfrey gave Robin Givens a lengthy apology on her live show
last Friday over the manner in which she dealt (or didn't deal) with a
comment made last month by the actress' ex-husband Mike Tyson.
On a previous episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Tyson was asked
about their 1998 Barbara Walters interview, in which Givens revealed that he
physically abused her.
"At that particular moment, I truly wanted to sock her, but I didn't
do it," Tyson told Oprah, as her audience laughed. The talk show host
continued on with the interview without addressing the comment.
Givens, who is a spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence
Hotline, told Winfrey Friday that her non-reaction was hard to stomach.
"I was really hurt, really, really hurt," she told Winfrey. "I just
wanted you... When he said 'I've socked her before,' to say, 'That's not
right!' And it wasn't right and it was painful. There are so many women like
me out there... if you hear laughter about it, it lightens it."
Although Winfrey tried to explain what the mood was like that day in
her studio, she apologized to Givens for what happened.
"In that moment, I didn't know - the audience laughed because they
were uncomfortable, and the word 'sock,' you think of a cartoon character,
they weren't laughing at you," Winfrey responded. "I should have said
something, 'This isn't funny.' I regretted... that moment. To you and every
woman who's ever been hit, I feel that I did not handle that as well as I
should have - I apologize to you, and to every woman in that situation, for
not being sharp enough."
"I hope you accept my apology," Winfrey told her. "I had a lot of
empathy and compassion for Mike Tyson and still do, but that never makes
hitting women OK. It's never OK."
SWIM CLUB ACCUSED OF RACISM TO FILE BANKRUPTCY: Suburban Philly venue says
they've 'struggled to stay out of the red for at least the last decade.'
*The suburban Philadelphia swim club accused of discrimination last
summer after revoking the memberships of mostly black and Hispanic children
is headed for bankruptcy, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Saturday.
Valley Swim Club president John Duesler sent an e-mail to club
"friends and families" Friday saying the board of directors had voted to
file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this week.
Duesler noted that many would blame the bankruptcy on legal
proceedings and negative media exposure, the newspaper said. But, he said,
"the truth is that the club has struggled to stay out of the red for at
least the last decade" and owes more than $100,000 in operational expenses
and legal fees, the newspaper reported.
Members "are all tired and beaten down and just sickened by how our
club has been improperly portrayed," he said, according to the Daily News.
"After speaking to many members, my sense is that mostly everyone wants to
move on."
The Creative Steps day camp had arranged for its kids to swim at the
Huntingdon Valley club each Monday during the summer. But during the first
visit in June by 56 children — 46 black and 10 Hispanic — two kids reported
hearing racist comments, and the day camp's payment was later refunded,
according to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
The commission said in a decision in September that it had found
probable cause to conclude that the campers were asked not to return because
of the "racial animus" expressed by one member and "racially coded comments"
by other members.
SATELITE RADIO GETS SIRIUS ABOUT MILES DAVIS: New limited-run channel to
feature trumpeter's music and interviews 24/7.
*Satellite radio SIRIUS XM will launch a limited run channel
dedicated solely to the music, life and career of Miles Davis – hosted by
Davis' son Erin Davis, his nephew drummer Vince Wilburn Jr. and bassist,
producer and writer Marcus Miller.
Miles Davis Radio will feature music from the jazz legend's extensive
catalog, which features over 100 albums - including his collaborations with
Charlie Parker at the age of 19 to his landmark albums, "Kind of Blue,"
"Birth of the Cool" and "Bitches Brew."
The channel will launch on Friday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. ET and will run
until Wednesday, Nov. 25 on SIRIUS channel 72 and XM channel 70.
Listeners will hear composer and former Miles Davis music director
Robert Irving III premiere never before heard soundtrack music recorded by
Davis for the 1986 film "Wise Guys."
In addition, the channel is scheduled to include special segments and
interviews with former Davis band members and various guests, including
drummer Jimmy Cobb, pianist Herbie Hancock, guitarist John Scofield, pianist
Monty Alexander, record executives Bruce Lundvall and Clive Davis, Davis'
long-time road manager Gordon Meltzer, bassist Ron Carter, guitarist Carlos
Santana, Rolling Stones bassist Darryl "Munch" Jones and friend and peer
Quincy Jones.
Words and music will also be devoted to different phases of Davis'
career including stories from the icon himself. Courtesy of CBS News,
excerpts from the 1989 "60 Minutes" interview with the late Harry Reasoner
will be aired and musician/broadcaster Ben Sidran contributes his 1989
conversation conducted on the beach at Davis' Malibu home.
DIDDY PLANNING 40TH BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT: Rapper to take over NY's Plaza Hotel
Grand Ballroom for elaborate event.
*Sean "Diddy" Combs turned the big 4-0 on Nov. 4, but he is waiting
until this Thursday (Nov. 19) to celebrate the birthday milestone in grand
style.
According to the New York Post's Page Six, Diddy has booked the Grand
Ballroom inside of New York's Plaza Hotel for the extravaganza.
The mogul hired event planner Bronson Van Wyck to create a "fantasy
dreamland" with fashion installations, a labyrinth, performance art and a
display by "wizard of light" Bentley Meeker, who promises the lighting will
grow "dimmer and sexier," punctuated by a "blizzard of light."
The guest list for what Diddy is calling "the party of the century"
includes Queen Latifah, Russell Simmons, Spike Lee, Zac Posen, Lil' Kim and
a "very special" musical guest.
MEAN JOE GREENE FINALLY AWARDED FOR COKE AD: CLIO given to former Pittsburgh
Steeler for his role in iconic commercial.
*Thirty years after his famous Coke commercial premiered during the
1979 Super Bowl, Mean Joe Greene has in his huge hands a CLIO award, given
annually for excellence in advertising.
The ad shows Greene limping back to the locker room after a game,
only to be approached by a young fan who offered the lineman his Coke. After
downing it in one long gulp, Joe tosses his game jersey to the boy, whose
face lights up in gratitude.
The commercial has been frequently cited as among the best in TV
history.
Greene wasn't able to receive the award in person at the time it was
presented. When Coke realized upon the 30th anniversary of the commercial's
airing that Greene still didn't have it, a ceremony was held before the
Bengals-Steelers game Sunday.
Tommy Okon, who was 9-years-old when he played the young boy in the
commercial, watched as Greene was given the award.
'WANDA SYKES' RATINGS SLIP A BIT: Second week down about 14 percent from
debut.
*New late-night talk shows from both Wanda Sykes and George Lopez
saw a mild decline in ratings from their premieres, according to the
Hollywood Reporter.
Saturday's second episode of Fox's "Wanda Sykes Show" drew a 1.9
metered-market household rating, down 14% from its debut. That slips just
under the "Mad TV" average for the fourth quarter last year.
On TBS, the first four days of "Lopez Tonight" rose and fell largely
based on the popularity of its lead-in. After Monday's "Lopez Tonight"
premiere generated 1.7 million viewers on the network (plus an additional
1.5 million via simulcasts on other Turner networks), Tuesday dropped 18% to
1.4 million viewers -- nearly matching its "Office" lead-in.
With Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns" drawing a huge audience
Wednesday, "Lopez" rose to its highest TBS audience yet -- 2 million
viewers. Then the chat show plunged to 1.3 million Thursday after a
similarly rated airing of "Meet the Parents."
It's way too soon to make judgments about either show's prospects,
but both programs seem to have avoided a steep post-premiere plunge, which
can signal outright rejection from an audience.
MJ'S CUSTODY LAWYER FILES CREDITOR'S CLAIM: Law firm wants to be paid for
their 4.35 hours of work done earlier this year.
*The latest party to file a creditor's claim against Michael
Jackson's estate is the law firm that represented him against Debbie Rowe in
2005.
The Law Offices of Michael L. Abrams, according to TMZ.com, seeks
$1,419.70 from the late singer's estate, claiming hew owed the firm for 4.35
hours of legal work completed earlier this year.
Jackson paid part of the bill, the claim indicates, which included a
$14 parking charge.
STEVE HARVEY, WIFEY TO GIVE OUT TURKEYS: Couple to feed more than 6,000
families nationwide for Thanksgiving.
*On Nov. 23, Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie will give away more
than 6,000 turkeys to needy families across the country, as well as host
“Steve Harvey’s Big Turkey Give Day” in Chicago with two daytime events in
the cities of Markham and Chicago.
As part of the nationwide giveaway, the Harveys will team up with
Steve Harvey Morning Show affiliate stations in 53 markets to distribute
thousands of turkeys, with live on-air gives taking place in 10 of those
markets.
During the Big Turkey Give Day, the Harveys – in conjunction with
V103/WVAZ-FM in Chicago – the couple will personally give away 1,000 turkeys
and 1,000 ropes of turkey sausage courtesy of Hillshire Farm to Chicago-area
residents.
Steve and Marjorie are featured on the cover of the December 2009
issue of Essence Magazine. In the article, the couple shares how they love
to help others through various charitable endeavors, including two annual
mentoring weekend programs for 200 high school students, a four-day
mentoring event during Father’s Day weekend on Steve’s ranch in Dallas, TX
and the Disney Dreamers Academy, a career-oriented seminar at Disney World
in Orlando, FL.
For full details on giveaway locations and times, please visit
www.steveharvey.com.
ANIKA NONI ROSE TO HOST AFROPOP ON PBS' WORLD: Second season of documentary
to begin next month.
*Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose will host the second
season of "AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange" on “World,” the 24-hour
PBS digital public television channel, beginning on Dec. 2.
The documentary series shines the spotlight on contemporary life, art
and pop culture across the African Diaspora. AfroPoP is produced by the
National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), and co-presented by American
Public Television (APT).
“Hopefully the series will shed light on our similarities across the
Diaspora, the beauty of the cultures depicted and the forward progress of
Africa and its people,” said Rose, who will soon appear as Disney’s first
African-American princess in "The Princess and the Frog."
"I don't think Americans are very knowledgeable about Africa, so I
think this is a wonderful and positive way to broaden our understanding,”
Rose said.
For more information about the films, filmmakers, and to view
trailers, visit www.AfroPoP.tv.
50 CENT OFFERS CONTEST FOR SINGLE MOMS: Plus, rapper to hit talk show
circuit this week plugging new album.
*50 Cent will play Santa for single mothers this holiday season as
part of "50's Money For Moms" contest, in conjunction with BET.
Entrants must explain in 200 words or less why she -- or a single
mother the writer knows -- deserves to win one of three grand prizes of
$10,000 each from 50 Cent. Details and entries are available at
www.bet.com/Site/contests_50cent.
The effort is part of his promotion for new album "Before I Self
Destruct," which was released digitally on Nov. 9 via
Shady/Aftermath/Interscope and became available in stores this week.
The rap star will plug the album in a number of television
appearances this week, including "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien"
(11/17), "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (11/18), "Chelsea Lately" (11/19), BET's "106 &
Park" (11/19), "Tavis Smiley" (11/20), and the "American Music Awards"
(11/22). He will make additional appearances on BET 106 & Park on 11/23 and
11/24.
NEW BEYONCE VIDEO PREMIERES TODAY: Preview of clip featuring Lady Gaga
online since midnight; full video to debut later today.
*Beyonce's new video for "Video Phone" will has its global premiere
today across 60 channels on MTV networks.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m./EST, fans can log on to MTV.com, VH1.com and
all MTV international Web sites for an early view of the clip, directed by
Hype Williams. Then later today, the video will premiere on MTV, mtvU, MTV
Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, VH1 and VH1 Soul in the US and on all MTV
international channels.
Lady Gaga teams with Bey for "Video Phone," marking their first ever
collaboration. The single for "Video Phone (Extended Remix)" is available
on "I Am...Sasha Fierce" Deluxe Edition, which will be released on Monday,
Nov. 23.
DARRIN HENSON TO HOST 'BAYOU CLASSIC' EVENTS: Battle of the Bands and Greek
Step Show to take place later this month at the Superdome.
*Actor/choreographer, Darrin Henson will host The State Farm Bayou
Classic Weekend Battle of the Bands and Greek Show, featuring the legendary
music rivalry between Southern University and Grambling State University.
Officially renamed, "Nerjyzed Entertainment Battle of the Bands and
Greek Show," the event will feature the two bands battling for bragging
rights, while fraternities and sororities compete in the annual Greek Step
Show.
The Battle of the Bands and Step Show will take place on Friday, Nov.
27 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Louisiana Superdome and the XXXVI State Farm
Bayou Classic Football game will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets for the
State Farm Bayou Classic® range from $15 - $50. All tickets can be
purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-488-5252, online at
www.ticketmaster.com or at the Southern University and Grambling State
University Box Offices.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Mijac's 'This Is It' continues overseas domination; Lillias
White for New Year's Eve.
*“Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” in its second week in theaters,
remained the No. 1 movie at the overseas box office, beating newcomer
"Disney's A Christmas Carol," which currently sits atop the U.S. market.
Sony's "This Is It" grossed $29.5 million from 8,623 screens in 110 markets
for a foreign gross of $129.2 million in its second frame and a worldwide
total of $186.2 million. The documentary's foreign box office was led by
Japan, where it grossed $3.9 million from 319 screens. In France, the film
opened to $3.3 million from 463 screens.
*Tony Winner Lillias White, back on Broadway in the new musical Fela,
will debut a brand-new cabaret act on New Year's Eve at City Hall
Restaurant's The Granite Room in New York. The show, titled A Brand New
Year Me!, will run at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Accompanied by
pianist Miles Dalto, White will sing her "favorite songs of love, reflection
and self satisfaction," according to press notes. "You have to love who you
are," says White, "and embrace the things you can't change."
EUR FILM REVIEW: The End of Poverty?
Globalization Documentary Discusses Paradox of Poverty in Era of Unparalleled Wealth
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Why have so many Third World countries remained impoverished and underdeveloped even after gaining their independence from the European nations which had conquered and colonized them?
This is the basic question addressed by The End of Poverty, an incendiary expose' directed by Philippe Diaz. In essence, this damning documentary is a history lesson about the ugly underbelly of Western Civilization from 1492 up to the present.
For not long after Columbus "discovered" America, European countries began descending on the so-called New World, using both the bullet and the Bible to bend assorted indigenous peoples to their will.
The Dutch focused primarily on Asia while the English assured themselves that the sun would never set on the ever-expanding British Empire.
Even the Pope got into the act, awarding Africa to Portugal and South America to Spain by papal decree.
The basic thesis of the luminaries lending their insights to this thought-provoking project is that for 500+ years, white people have extracted the resources and oppressed the natives living in lands located in the planet's Southern hemisphere. And that unfair economic relationship never changed substantially at the end of the era of colonization, since in most countries a handful of families continued to own the bulk of the business interests and the majority of productive real estate.
Former CIA consultant Chalmers Johnson indicts that Agency for serving as the private army of a succession of American presidents. He specifically alleges that the CIA was behind the assassination of a long list of populist leaders, like Lumumba in the Congo, Arbenz in Guatemala, Roldos in Ecuador, Torrijos in Panama, Qasim in Iraq and Mossadek in Iran. Similarly, John Perkins, author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man," owns up to his role
in the overthrow of numerous Third World rulers in order to replace them with corrupt puppets handpicked by the U.S.
The situation has degenerated to the point where over a billion people around the world are currently trying to survive on less than a dollar a day, and their prospects are only getting worse, given that the ownership of natural resources has become increasingly concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. In concluding, the picture suggests that this imbalance can only be corrected if the poor rise up and insist on reforms like the nationalization of land, mineral and water rights, and the taxation of the $11.5 trillion
hidden by the rich in offshore accounts.
Solutions seemingly incompatible with capitalism, an economic system dependent on escalating expansionism and the incessant exploitation of cheap labor. So, why does poverty persist in the midst of unparalleled wealth? In a word, greed!
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
In English, Spanish, Portuguese and French with subtitles.
Running time: 106 minutes
Studi Cinema Libre Studio
To see a trailer for The End of Poverty, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBkiPFmTHMM
EUR FILM REVIEW: The Good Soldier
Pacifist Documentary Asks Tough Questions about the Meaning of War
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Who do you think said, "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility?"
You might be surprised to learn that these weren't the words of a disgruntled GI gone AWOL but of Dwight Eisenhower, a five-star general who as president would also one day warn of the dangers of the Military-Industrial Complex.
Thus, it is fitting that his quote should appear emblazoned onscreen during the opening of The Good Soldier, a controversial documentary which takes a frank look at war through the eyes of five combat veterans.
What is striking about these men who served in WWII, Vietnam and the Middle East conflicts is that none speaks in lofty platitudes when describing the nasty job they had performed more for self-preservation than for freedom or out of a love of country.
The subjects of this shocking expose' uniformly describe the soldier's lot as a soul-draining trap which exacts a heavy toll that lasts long after the return to civilian life. Consider Private Edward Wood, who earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart in France in 1944. You can still sense the aftereffects of his having fought in Europe permanently etched on his furrowed brow. "War is about one thing only," he reflects in quiet contemplation. "It is about killing or being killed yourself, which is why I have come to loathe it."
Then there's Staff Sergeant Will Williams, a black man who recounts enlisting in the Army in 1966 because he "needed to get out of Mississippi" to avoid getting lynched over the bitter resentment he felt about racism. So, he married his high school sweetheart just before his deployment, and ended up spending his honeymoon in a foxhole in Vietnam. He admits to being driven by misplaced revenge over there where "the hate I had experienced growing up in the South expanded. I became an animal who could kill with no remorse."
Captain Michael McPhearson, an African-American from Fayetteville, North Carolina, talks about how he and a buddy dropped out of high school to serve in Iraq after being treated to pizza and taken to see a fireworks display by a local recruiter. McPhearson recalls subsequently seeing "young men turn into psychopathic killers" while in the Middle East. As for himself, however, he held onto his humanity only to be unfairly labeled a conscientious objector for refusing to shoot innocent civilians.
Marine Staff Sergeant Jimmy Massey, a white guy who grew up in a trailer park, has a similar story. He regrets his tour of duty in Iraq, given that he hasn't had a good night's sleep since the day he followed orders to kill some unarmed Iraqi women and children. Finally, there's Warrant Officer Perry Parks, a good ole boy from Rockingham, North Carolina who volunteered for Vietnam where he was "ordered to blow up houses with women and children
inside."
If you know any kid contemplating enlisting in the Armed Forces based on watching commercials with misleading slogans like "Accelerate your life," or "Be all that you can be," you might want to suggest that they watch The Good Soldier prior to making any life-altering decisions. For co-directors Lexy Levell and Michael Uys deserve a 21-gun salute for fashioning a sobering antidote to all that patriotic claptrap about serving God, country and apple pie.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 79 minutes
Studi Artistic License Films
To see a trailer for The Good Soldier, visit:
http://www.thegoodsoldier.com/clips.html
Or: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9JKXbX5brY
STEVEN IVORY: Raheem's Theory
*He navigated the big, maroon Buick Duce and a Quarter into the shopping center parking lot, found a space close to the sidewalk near the intersection and slid out from behind the wheel.
Giggling, I stayed behind in the passenger seat. When he found his spot, I pushed B.T. Express into the dashboard tape player and turned it up. With the funky, insistent, "Do It 'Til You Satisfied" blaring from his car speaker, Raheem, bent on proving his grand thesis of the soul, stepped onto the southeast corner of Crenshaw and Slauson and proceeded to get busy.
In 1975, Raheem, eleven worldly years older than my nineteen and an avid student of "astrology, mysticism, world religion and so forth," was the most "spiritual" person I knew. It was from Raheem that I learned the difference between an optometrist and an optimist. “One is an eye doctor," he said. "The other is all about the third eye."
Then again, Raheem also introduced me to something called hashish. One day at his modest Inglewood apartment, during a third-eye-watering, herb-induced haze of optimistic heaviness, Raheem got to gabbing again about his Theory.
Whenever he started on this, you couldn't stop him. Normally, I'd listen passively, like a naive disciple sitting at the Flagg Brothers platform shoe-clad feet of a hip, inner city guru. But this Saturday afternoon I challenged him to prove his cosmic rap. If he did, I'd give him $20. Otherwise, he would give me $20.
Grinning at Grasshopper's challenge, Raheem said he'd not only show me, but do so in the most immediate and simplistic fashion. "No reading from books," he declared. "You gon' SEE this happen, brotherman." As we headed to his car, he explained how he would illustrate his notion. He said it wouldn't take more than an hour.
Thus, there my lean, afro'ed sage was, in faded Navy bell-bottoms, a long sleeved, massive-collared blue and white flower print shirt and black platforms, commandeering one of south-central L.A.'s busiest corners, seriously getting down.
Raheem COULD move, now. As a weekend regular at Maverick's Flat, a popular club for young blacks further up the Crenshaw Strip, he'd honed a definite style.
But out here, the only thing his clever and soulful moves generated were honks from heckling drivers and gapes from sidewalk pedestrians who, thinking him "off" or shermed out, gave him a wide berth. Undeterred, Raheem worked himself into a sweaty trance as I, his clandestine DJ, threw at him the entire contents of his funk-filled glove compartment--Funkadelic, Ohio Players, Kool and The Gang, some Philadelphia International.
Determined to prove his tenet, like a Soul Train reject he danced on and off for a good forty-five minutes, almost ten of them dominated by a live version of James Brown's almighty "Sex Machine." I was feeling $20 richer with every funkified vamp.
And then I spotted her. In a light green muumuu artfully concealing the sexy girth that gave a pair of pink flip flops a hurting, she looked to be in her late thirties, forty, tops. Coming up west on Slauson, she cradled a bag of groceries while casting a gaze on Raheem's funky chicken that concerned me.
At the corner, she pushed the WALK button and then turned to give Raheem another look, smiling, no doubt, at the idea of this lone, stupid so-and-so tearing it up on the street in broad daylight. When the sign said WALK, I prayed she'd obey the sign and not mess with my money.
However, the glide in Raheem's joyous stride, coupled with Parliament's raucous "Together,” proved irresistible. Incredulously, the woman calmly walked over, sat her groceries down next to our car, stepped toward Raheem and proceeded to move.
There was new vigor in Raheem's boogie as both he and his dance partner appeared to guffaw at the sheer thought of strangers literally dancin' in the street. Cars slowed in bewildered amusement; while watching our spectacle, a man missed his bus. Miss Muumuu shook her tail feather for what seemed like a good minute before relenting. "I needed that," she told Raheem.
As the woman retrieved her bag, two teens walking upon the scene, like mischievous kids unable to resist an abandoned sidewalk chalk hop scotch diagram, instinctively broke into a shuffle of their own.
Defeated but fascinated, I prepared to pay the $20 bet. Raheem's Theory, which he'd courageously illustrated, was simple: Anything good, he declared, is infectious. He bet me if he danced long enough on a public boulevard that somebody, feeling his joy, would either verbally encourage him or abandon their fear and join in.
His sidewalk hoe-down, Raheem said, was a metaphor for love. And that, of course, was his theory: that if you love, people will love with you. To get the love back, it might take a minute, so to speak, or metaphorically, a disco version's worth of George McCrae's “Rock Your Baby." But demonstrate selfless love--that is, love for the sake of love--and somebody is going to join you. One person dancing on the street is considered "crazy.” Two people dancing, Raheem insisted, is a movement. "And movements grow." At nineteen, I hadn't considered this kind of thinking.
Nor, apparently, had the brother who charged us five bucks to give a jump to Raheem's car battery, drained from all that funk. The stranger summarily resurrected the Batmobile, in the process presenting blunt and unvarnished proof that, at least in the 'hood, the cost of enlightenment, while cheap, ain't free.
Steven Ivory's book, FOOL IN LOVE (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) is available at Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com). Respond to him via STEVRIVORY@AOL.COM
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Health Care and the Moral Imperative
*I am always troubled by those in government claiming they have a moral imperative to enact this or that policy. A little digging often reveals that their motives are more self serving than moral. I am doubly troubled when those raising the moral banner tend to reject the very idea of an objective morality applicable to all men at all times.
Such is the case with liberal Democrats and their insistence that the moral laws of the universe – laws that have been with us since God breathed life into man (or as some would have it when we rose from the primordial soup) – command Government to supply every citizen (and many that aren’t) with health insurance.
But as is generally the case all we need do is scratch the surface and the truth reveals itself.
As reported in the Wall Street Journal, John Cassidy of the New Yorker lets the cat out of the bag when he writes on The New Yorker website that we must be clear about what the reform amounts to. "The U.S. government is making a costly and open-ended commitment," Cassidy writes. “The Obama Administration . . . is creating a new entitlement program, which, once established, will be virtually impossible to rescind." And why are they doing it? Again the WSJ quotes Cassidy: Because “ObamaCare serves the twin goals of making the United States a more equitable country" and furthering the Democrats' "political calculus." In other words, the purpose is to further redistribute income by putting health care further under government control, and in the process making the middle class more dependent on government. As the party of government, Democrats will benefit over the long run.”
That might explain why this massive 2000 page bill uses the command “shall”- business “shall” do this, you “shall” do that -- 3,345 times; creates 111 new government boards, commissions and bureaucracies all overseen by a healthcare czar and subjects every aspect of healthcare to government regulation; all this at a whopping cost to taxpayers of $1.5 trillion over 10 years, which will be paid for through a host of new taxes, penalties and fees. In spite of rumors to the contrary; there is no free lunch.
This bitter pill might be easier to swallow if the new left was at least honest in admitting that the cost of seeing this imperative through will be paid for in freedoms. These new Knights Templar have defended their cause with constant references to affordability and yet under their plan what is affordable ceases to be a subjective measure that each man can make for himself according to his individual needs and priorities. Rather it becomes an objective measure defined by the new “Commissioner of Health Choices.” Every American will be forced to purchase an insurance policy. The government will decide what benefits those policies must include. Even if you are happy with your current insurance plan you will have to switch to a policy that includes the government mandated benefits even if you don’t want them, will never use them and their inclusion will increase the price you pay for coverage. And suppose you decide for whatever reason that you are simply not going to pay? Well the house bill specifies “a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” Imprisonment…whereupon you will of course receive free government healthcare.
There is nothing quite like morality imposed at the point of a gun, or which benefits some at the expense of others.
The Pelosi bill narrowly won passage in the house after Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) offered an amendment prohibiting abortion coverage in the public option as well as any private plans accepting people receiving taxpayer subsidies. But be not dismayed; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the Democrats’ chief deputy whip in the House of Representatives has promised that she and other pro abortion democrats will work overtime to ensure that the Stupak amendment is not included in the final version of the health care bill. During an appearance on MSNBC Wasserman Schultz declared, “I am confident that when it comes back from the conference committee that that language won't be there.” That’s right; those claiming a moral imperative to reform healthcare are the same folks that believe they also have a moral right to murder children in utero AND force others to pay for it.
It seems obvious why those claiming the mantle of righteousness chose to pass this monstrosity of awfulness under cover of darkness. Thankfully -- to quote the pop star Jeffry Osborne -- “I really don’t need no light to see through you.”
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of "He Talk Like a White Boy" available where ever books are sold.
THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: A Family's Love
*Almost every month it seems that another celebrity has come forth to confess their personal experience with childhood sexual or physical abuse. There was Michael Jackson who a decade ago revealed that his father, Joseph, beat him and his siblings; Oprah Winfrey alleged sexual abuse at the hands of an uncle and most recently Tyler Perry and Monique’ Parker have come forth with their versions of abuse by a family member or trusted friend.
Parker has said her personal experience as a child victim is what led her to deliver what some say is an Oscar-worthy performance of Mary Jones, the mother of the abused teen in the movie "Precious" who allowed her daughter to be victimized and took part in the abuse.
Children are easy targets because they are defenseless and at the mercy of their caregivers. So it’s no wonder that some adults who have trouble coping with their own issues take out their frustrations on the children around them. It’s wrong, inexcusable and oftentimes the damage is irrevocable because that most impressionable time of a child’s life was spent void of the love and support that creates positive self-esteem.
According to statistics, almost five children die everyday due to abuse or neglect. Ninety percent of abused children know their abuser and 68 percent of the abusers are family members. Some former victims go on to abuse their own children. And that’s partly why there are millions of children in the foster care system nationwide.
As the daughter of a single mother I have plenty of stories to share about my childhood. There was the time I got suspended from school for fighting and my mother had to leave work to pick me; There was the time I stole money from my mother’s purse to repay a school yard bet; and my teenage years were filled with so many challenges I thought I never would reach 18. Now more than twenty years later I honestly can say abuse or neglect was never apart of my childhood. Sure, I got my ass whipped when I needed an ass whipping, because when you spare the rod you spoil the child. The tag team known as my mother, grandmother and grandfather saw to that. Of course now I realize their discipline, support and direction were expressions of love. It’s love that so many other people didn’t get. Reading their stories let’s me know how much I appreciate my childhood and family’s love.
Steffanie Rivers is a free-lance journalist living in the Dallas, Texas metroplex. For speaking requests, questions or comments email her at teamtcbadvertising@hotmail.com. Or see the broadcast version of her journal at youtube.com/steffanierivers.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
Today’s ‘Live Better With Willie Jolley’ Tip: Self-Development
How do you make yourself a better, more productive and effective person? The
key is self-development! Just as a bodybuilder goes to the gym to develop
his or her body and to gain strength and power, the same is necessary for
development of your mind and of your inner strength. You must develop
yourself by working on yourself. I don’t mean just your outer self by
exercising. That is important, but you must also develop your inner self and
your mind.
Do you develop your mind like your body, maybe by way of lifting books, cd’s
or tapes, and encyclopedias? No. The correct way is to read those books,
listen to the cd’s or tapes, and fill your mind with the information. Fill
your mind with the pure, the powerful, the positive, and program yourself
for success. You can program your mind for success or let it be programmed
by others for failure.
The key is making the decision to program yourself by reading and filling
your mind with positive information. Create a new you. Give yourself a
makeover, not just your face and hair, but also your mind and spirit. Just
as you renew your body with food and cleanse your body with water on a daily
basis, you should also renew your mind and cleanse your spirit on a daily
basis. Read more positive books, think more positive thoughts, listen to
positive music, and take time to pray and meditate on the good.
Give yourself a daily dose of positive images and develop a new you, because
the best way to build your wealth is to first build yourself!
Visit my website at www.williejolley.com free motivation and make every
minute count!
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Nov. 17: Entertainer RuPaul is 49. Singer Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe is 42. Musician Jeff Allen of Mint Condition is 41.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Black and Married With Kids was created by Lamar and Ronnie Tyler, a 30-something-year-old professional couple with four kids in the DC Area. They share opinions on relationships, parenting, politics, current events and anything in between (www.BlackAndMarriedWithKids.com).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Nov. 17, 1972: Barbara Jordan of Houston and Andrew Young of Atlanta become the first African Americans from the South elected to Congress since Reconstruction. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
