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11-24-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE(November 24, 2009)
J.LO'S 'AMA' TUMBLE TOPPED TWITTER & GOOGLE SEARCHES: Dick Clark Productions has since swooped down and yanked video from YouTube. *Word has it that Jennifer Lopez was livid after she slipped and fell on her famous backside during Sunday's "American Music Awards" performance of new song "Louboutins," the first single from her upcoming album, "Love?" The company then used its muscle to have the clip removed from YouTube, due to copyright infringement. CONRAD MURRAY TELLS CHURCH TO PRAY FOR HIM: Michael Jackson's doc worships before returning to work at Houston clinic. *The doctor at the center of Michael Jackson's death investigation asked his church congregation to pray for him Sunday, the day before he returned to work at his Houston clinic. But on Monday, Murray returned to the clinic after the judge in his recent child support case gave him an ultimatum last week -- either he pays $1,000 a month in child support (for just one of his seven kids) or he goes to jail. A judge has told him no more chances -- he either pays $1,000 a month in child support or he goes to jail, and that's just for one of his seven kids. "His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family," said Chernoff. "His intentions are to attend to these patients who have continued to support him, despite the attention and despite the threats." ROBIN THICKE, PAULA PATTON CHOOSE BABY NAMES: Couple expecting first child in May. *Father-to-be Robin Thicke says he and his actress wife Paula Patton have already picked out names for their first child, which is due in May. "The best advice I've got was I've been told just to enjoy this moment and it's the most special time in your life," he said. "It can seem stressful and worrisome, but it's the best time and we're excited." GAYLE KING TALKS ABOUT OPRAH EXIT: Winfrey's homegirl says 'No pity party, because she has a great life.' *Gayle King made a visit to "Good Morning America" Monday to clear up some headlines in the wake of her best friend Oprah Winfrey's announcement that her talk show would end in 2011. NEW MICHAEL JACKSON PHOTOS HIT BOOKSHELVES: 'OPUS' features never-before-seen images of singer from artist Nate Giorgio. "The Official Michael Jackson OPUS," a new photography book containing never-before-seen images of Michael Jackson sketched by artist Nate Giorgio, is due out on Dec. 7, according to the Associated Press. Giorgio said he met with Jackson, just days before the singer's death in June. The pop icon wanted Giorgio to create dazzling murals of his children as well as artwork for his "This Is It" concerts. Giorgio began sketching out ideas during their talks. OPRAH REP SAYS SHE'S NOT LEAVING CHICAGO: Talk show host still has a number of other projects based out of Harpo's Chi-Town studios. *Showbiz411's Roger Friedman says don't believe fellow entertainment columnist Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood story that Oprah Winfrey is leaving Chicago for good after her show ends because the city is too cold. "We are ending the show, but not shutting our doors," Winfrey's rep Don Halcombe told Friedman. OPRAH BRINGING SENSUAL PILOT TO HBO: Harpo Films behind series about a woman who leaves perfect marriage for seedy life in LA. *Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films and HBO are teaming for a sexually charged hourlong series about a woman who leaves her seemingly perfect marriage and children in Santa Monica for the underbelly of L.A., where she indulges her secret fantasies and desires. Harpo Films previously set at HBO "Ida Tarbell," a miniseries about the true-life muckraking journalist who helped expose the unfair practices of John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil monopoly. On the film side, Harpo Films is producing for Focus Features a Sam Mendes-directed adaptation of the Joseph O'Neill novel "Netherland" and is partnered with Playtone for an adaptation of the David Wroblewski novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" at Universal. BEN VEREEN CAST AS STEPIN FETCHIT: Tony winner to play Hollywood actor in new stage production next year. *Ben Vereen will play actor Stepin Fetchit in the upcoming world premiere of Will Power's Fetch Clay, Make Man, which will begin performances at New Jersey's McCarter Theatre Center on Jan. 8, 2010 and run through Feb. 14. Opening night is scheduled for Jan. 15. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS DB UNDER INVESTIGATION: Antonio Cromartie alleged to have hit someone with a bottle of bubbly. *San Diego police are investigating a claim that San Diego Chargers defensive back Antonio Cromartie cracked someone over the head with a champagne bottle at a bar just hours after the team clinched first place in the AFC West. NEW DREAMGIRLS PLAY OPENS IN HARLEM: Latest theater staging gets glowing review from columnist Roger Friedman. *Showbiz411 columnist Roger Friedman wrote a piece about the opening of "Dreamgirls" at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater on Sunday, noting the cast was met with "thunderous applause" and "standing ovations." Friedman wrote: This “Dreamgirls” plays the Apollo until mid December, then hits the road on the national tour. But from the reaction last night, the producers had better get a Broadway theater and move in before the Tony deadline of April 29, 2010. The revival of Michael Bennett’s “Supremes”-like musical is simply a smash, making stars of unknowns like Maya Angela and Chester Gregory. A.J. JEWELL'S BODY TO BE EXHUMED: Kandi Burress' former fiancé will get a second autopsy; family refutes sickle cell link to his death. *The family of A.J. Jewell requested - and will get - a second autopsy performed on him after refusing to believe that his death following a fight last month was due to complications related to sickle cell anemia. JACKSON ESTATE SUED BY ELECTRONICS COMPANY: Folks who installed audio/video system at Neverland join parade of parties filing creditor's claims. *Another new creditor's claim has been filed against the estate of Michael Jackson, this time by the company who installed his TV system at Neverland Ranch, reports TMZ.com. ANNA DEAVERE SMITH'S OFF-BROADWAY PLAY EXTENDED: Let Me Down Easy to run through Jan. 3, 2010. *Anna Deavere Smith's newest solo show, Let Me Down Easy, has been extended a second time following its Oct. 7 opening Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre, reports Playbill.com. NEWSFLASH - MARIAH'S DOG DELIVERS PUPPIES: Her Jack Russell went into labor while singer was in London. *Mariah Carey apparently doesn't trust just anyone to take care of her beloved Jack Russell terrier. The singer, according to WENN, flew her personal vet from Los Angeles to New York to help her doggie deliver puppies earlier this month. "My puppy just had a puppy. She's the most adorable Jack Russell terrier," she said. "We were worried because she was little, so she had to have a C-section and I missed the whole thing! 50 CENT'S CONDOM IDEA BURSTS: Rapper says his design for a revolutionary new rubber failed to stand up scientifically. *Rapper 50 Cent says he was forced to scrap plans for a new safe sex campaign after his design for an innovative new condom failed to meet his scientific specifications. CBC HONORS JESSE JACKSON'S PRESIDENTIAL RUN: Members paid tribute to 25th anniversary of activist's first White House campaign. *Members of the Congressional Black Caucus paid tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's first run for president last week on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. *Today, a group of 60 students from three Crenshaw District public schools in Los Angeles are scheduled to walk down the red carpet with celebrity guests and become a dot in what is being billed as "the largest Michael Jackson tribute in the world." ITTY BITTY BITS: Diddy's birthday gifts; MJ's vitiligo passed down?; Uncle Luke scores ESPN's 'The U' *Sean "Diddy" Combs received some lavish gifts for his 40th birthday, including a diamond cuff from TV chef Rachael Ray, who missed the big party last weekend at New York's Plaza hotel. Baldwin Spencer, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, gave the hip-hop mogul a vacation for 10 at the exclusive Jumby Bay resort on a 300-acre private island, complete with a private jet to transport him and his guests. *LaToya Jackson is claiming that her 12-year-old nephew, Prince, has inherited the skin disease vitiligo from his father, her late brother Michael Jackson, according to the UK Telegraph. It is widely believed that MJ did not biologically father his three children. *Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell provides the soundtrack for ESPN Films’ two-hour documentary "The U," about the swagger-filled rise of the University of Miami football program in the 1980s. Airing Saturday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. ET, immediately following the Heisman Trophy presentation on ESPN, Miami native and alum, Billy Corben takes an intimate look at the program’s sudden transformation into a football powerhouse that essentially changed the rules of the game as told by the players, coaches, students and administrators who were there. For a music sample and video clip: EUR DVD REVIEW: A Wink and a Smile
Invariably, they've struck me as godawful actresses rather than the nymphomaniacs they pretended to be in order to separate me from my money as fast as possible. Furthermore, I could see right through their lame acts to the sad truth that many of these desperate drug addicts needed to sleep with customers to support their habits. Not my fantasy. Those hardened whores cut a sharp contrast to the relatively-refreshing females to be found in A Wink and a Smile. Directed by Deirdre Timmons, this revealing documentary follows ten students as they learn the art of striptease over the course of a semester at Seattle's Academy of Burlesque. What makes this film fascinating is that the class is comprised of ordinary-looking, attractive women if you know what I mean, appealing but not the airbrushed models you would expect to find in Playboy. Most of these girl-next-door types are in their twenties and come from all walks of life, including a housewife, a college student, an opera singer, a physician and a taxidermist. So, anyone watching A Wink and a Smile would naturally want to know, what makes the stars of the movie interested in exposing themselves. Director Timmons does an outstanding job at allowing each to explain both her motivations and her reservations in this regard, as they get closer to graduation. Surprisingly, their reasons turn out to be as diverse as their professions. Besides the deep psychological analysis, the film does feature a lot of instruction about stripping, showing the girls learning everything from how to dance dirty ("Make believe you're trying to draw on the ground with a pen stuck in your crotch.") to what to do if a pasty falls off ("Never break the illusion."). These students prove to be quick, if occasionally hesitant, learners of the bump and grind. The film culminates with their final exam which involves performing a carefully choreographed routine at a local burlesque house in front of a very appreciative audience. Lovely ladies summoning up the courage to deliver some delightfully erotic, if simultaneously wholesome, adult entertainment. I just pray none of them
To order a copy of for A Wink and a Smile on DVD, visit: To see a trailer for A Wink and a Smile, visit: EUR DVD REVIEW: My Sister's Keeper
From birth, the test tube baby's life becomes intertwined with that of her sickly sibling when tissue is taken from her umbilical cord. As time goes on, Anna (Abigail Breslin) is subjected to a series of increasingly-invasive procedures as she is stuck, poked and prodded for assorted extractions of platelets, blood and bone marrow. By the time she's 11, Little Miss Stem Cells is asked to donate one of her kidneys because her big sister's are already failing. However, the surgeon warns that after this operation Anna will never be able to be a cheerleader or play soccer again for the rest of the life. Fed up with being expected to make so many sacrifices, she enlists the assistance of an attorney (Alec Baldwin) to sue for Medical Emancipation. Based on Jodi Picoult's best-seller of the same name, My Sister's Keeper is a character-driven morality play of deceptive emotional depth. This remarkably-rich screen version was directed by Nick Cassavetes who went to great lengths to develop each of the principal player's perspective of the fundamental, ethical life-or-death question at hand. Faithfully-adapted, except for the ending, this poignant, dysfunctional family drama marks the maturation of Cameron Diaz into a consummate thespian capable of handling the most challenging of material. Furthermore, her powerfully-grounding performance is matched in intensity by those of Abigail Breslin as the taken for granted Anna; Sofia Vassilieva as the wasting away Kate; Jason Patric as the stoic family patriarch; Evan Ellingson as the brooding big brother; Alec Baldwin as a vulnerable crusader for the underdog; and Joan Cusack as a judge concerned about the best A gut-wrenching tearjerker with a decent chance of landing on this critic's annual 10 Best List.
To purchase a copy of My Sister's Keeper on DVD, visit: To purchase a copy of the novel My Sister's Keeper, visit: To see a trailer for My Sister's Keeper, visit: THE JOURNAL OF STEFFANIE RIVERS: Marketing Madness *If I hadn’t already seen the movie Couples Retreat I would not have spent my precious time doing so after hearing the latest about the people in charge of marketing the movie. In case you haven’t heard, advertisers have been accused of using poor judgment at best and being racist at worst. The comedy stars four married couples who visit a tropical island to rekindle their newlywed love. Black actors Faizon Love and Kali Hawk, two of the premier thespians, are featured in promotional posters for the film across the United States along with three white couples. But the Black actors were removed from promo posters in the United Kingdom. And Universal Pictures is pointing the finger of bigotry at the citizens of the United Kingdom. In one response movie executives said the actors were removed from copies of the UK poster because "Black actors don’t attract a large following in the UK." Yet in another response a Universal spokesman said the altered poster aimed "to simplify the poster to actors who are most [recognizable] in international markets." The word ‘recognizable’ must be a euphemism for White. And even then the excuse doesn’t seem genuine. And here’s why: Even though people of color – my euphemism for non-Whites - make up a smaller percentage of the UK population, it has the most multicultural demographics than any other European nation. And just like in the United States people of color there want to see themselves represented in all professions, including on the big screen. As movie stars go, I would agree that Vince Vaughn, the premiere actor in the movie, might be more familiar by face and name than Faizon Love. But I wouldn’t say the same for all the other actors featured in the movie and on the poster. In fact, if I conducted a poll of the most recognizable actors in the movie I’m sure Love would rank near the top of the list instead of the bottom as suggested. I am amazed at the questionable decisions made by some people in the media and their disregard for people of color, as if those decisions won’t be questioned when those decisions come to light. It's as if they are hoping that we collectively will be working on some other project that day and will be too busy to realize when we are being bamboozled. As for those so-called advertising experts who claim the international marketplace is racist, while not having the intelligence to realize that including Black actors in the marketing would only attract more people to the movie thus increasing its profits, I say it takes a racist to know a racist. And these are some dumb racists.
By Deardra Shuler *Some of the most vital and athletic ballet dancers are those trained in Russia. The Moscow Classical Ballet started off as the “Young Ballet,” USSR State Choreographic Company. This ballet troupe was established by the USSR Ministry of Culture and toured the Soviet Union as well as various countries performing classical ballet in its traditional form throughout the world. The holder of 15 gold medals in international competition and the winners of 3 prizes at the Paris Academy of Dance, the Moscow Classical Ballet earned the distinction of being one of the few Russian ballet companies still supported by the Russian government. Recently the troupe was granted the title “Academic Theatre,” a prestigious titled granted to only a few top Russian ballet companies by the Russian government. Presently on tour in Brazil, the Moscow Classical Ballet is due to appear in the United States at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY, on Sunday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m. Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, under the directorship of Eva Bornstein, is a little known rare jewel nestled on the campus of Lehman College, wherein theatre goers can see outstanding entertainers and performances for less than what they would pay at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and other Manhattan performance venues. In fact, for the Sunday, November 29, 6:00 p.m., Moscow Classical Ballet Nutcracker performance, of children can get tickets for $10.00 wherein they can sit anywhere within the theatre. This is the best bargain in town for parents seeking to introduce their children 12 years of age and under, to culture and ballet. The Nutcracker ballet is very kid friendly and is a beautiful ballet for the entire family. I had the opportunity to speak with the producer of the Moscow Classical Ballet, Robert Friedman, president of Robert Friedman Presents, a company that has worked with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Madrigal Antiqua, The Black Light Theatre of Praque and other musical ensembles, theatre and dance companies. He co-produced the long-running romantic comedy “Talley’s Foley”, as well as Caryl Churchill’s comedy “Cloud Nine,” Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues,” A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” and Garath Armstrong’s “Shylock.” Bringing international troupes to the United States can occasionally be difficult. “The American government is not very conducive to foreign exchange. The IRS is now charging 30% off the top of any foreign artists’ fee. A thirty percent fee is pretty onerous because it does not reflect at all the profit, since ballet troupes performing in the United States are lucky to break even. With the dollar being so weak, foreign artists performing in the United States are already getting paid almost half the fee they would earn in their own country. Now people are reluctant to even come to America to perform which is very sad,” remarked Friedman. “Nancy Pelosi helped get the Moscow Classical Ballet into the country. If it weren’t for her, the tour may not have even happened. She was able to help us cut through the bureaucracy. Bringing the costumes and sets into the country is also another problem. However, to see the audience reaction makes it all worthwhile,” chuckled the producer who seems to love the business he is in. “Ballet requires a lot of strength and endurance. It’s a young person’s profession. Generally the troupe members start around 18 years old. Women can stay in the profession into their 40s but the men usually retire in their 30s, although, Mikhail Baryshnikov danced up until his 50s. All the lifting and leaps and bounds take their toll on the body,” stated the classical producer. The Nutcracker is generally seen around the Christmas holidays in America. “The Nutcracker Suite is the tale of a young girl who gets a nutcracker from her uncle as a gift. The nutcracker is a prince. The young girl has a dream about the nutcracker and falls in love with the prince in the beautiful land of sugar plums,” said Friedman. “The Nutcracker is one of the best ballets to take a child to. It has the rat king, mouse, gun powder, soldiers, swans, and is just beautiful. This ballet has caught on all over the world. These Moscow Classical Ballet dancers are beautiful young strong dancers with a great deal of vitality since the Russian training is the best in the world. The dancers attend dance class everyday because dance is a very demanding profession. It’s a profession you must love,” remarked Mr. Friedman of the troupe of 40 dancers. The Moscow Classical Ballet will appear in New Jersey and then at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, New York. I encourage parents to take their children to this delightful performance of the Nutcracker since children 12 and under, can see it for $10.00. For adults ticket prices run $35.00, $30.00, and $25.00. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.LehmanCenter.org or by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Mon. through Fri. 10am-5pm; Tues 10am-7pm and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert). Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. Parking is free. AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CELEBRATES 53RD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DAY DINNER Retired General Colin L. Powell receives National Urban League Humanitarian Award; John & Amonica Davis receive Entrepreneurship Award; Walmart receives Corporate Leadership Award By Audrey J. Bernard, Lifestyles/Society Editor *General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), a soldier, statesman and diplomat revered for his extraordinary efforts, dedicated leadership and humanitarian vision throughout the world, was on hand to receive the award from Marc H. Morial, chairman and president, National Urban League (NUL), at the 53rd annual Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) awards dinner on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. General Powell served as the 65th Secretary of State from 2001-2005. As he stated at his confirmation hearing, the guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy during his tenure was that ‘America stands ready to help any country that wishes to join the democratic world.” The National Urban League’s Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner rewards individuals and corporations that demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunity and exhibit leadership for the cause of equal rights. John & Amonica Davis, co-owners of the ServiceMaster by Davis franchise, a commercial and janitorial cleaning company with offices in Cleveland and Beachwood, Ohio were presented with the entrepreneurship award for their extraordinary achievements as ServiceMaster franchisees and their dedication to economic empowerment. Another hot husband and wife entrepreneurial team, Barbara Smith and Dan Gasby, co-owners of B. Smith Restaurants (NYC, DC and Sag Harbor, NY), presented the dynamic duo with the distinguished award. NUL chairman John D. Hofmeister presented president and CEO of Walmart, Michael Duke, with the corporate leadership award for Walmart’s generous support of the NUL workforce development programs. “The individuals and organizations honored at the Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner set the example for all of us in their commitment to the greater community,” said Morial. “This year’s recipients display exceptional leadership encouraging empowerment in all aspects of society.” This year the EOD was chaired by John G. Stumpf, president and CEO, Wells Fargo & Company. The NUL is partnering with Wells Fargo to expand foreclosure prevention programs, stabilize neighborhoods and increase financial literacy to ultimately empower communities. Maurice DuBois, co-anchor at CBS 2 News This Morning served as MC for the evening and Grammy award winner Quincy Jones was in attendance. Other highlights of the magnificent evening included the induction of NUL’s 2009 “Million and Five Million Dollar Hall of Fame” class recognizing organizations that contributed $1 million or more to advance the work of the League. This year’s $1 Million Hall of Fame awards were presented to the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Sprint Nextel Corporation. In addition, $5 Million Hall of Fame awards were presented to ExxonMobil Corporation and Freddie Mac. The NUL wishes to acknowledge the generous support of their donors including Wells Fargo (platinum sponsor) Anheuser-Busch, Inc. (presenting sponsor); AT&T Shell Oil Company and UPS (leadership circle) along with a host of many other Fortune 500 partners, champions and supporters too many to mention due to space limitations. But you know who you are and the League salutes you too! Established in 1910, the National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the NUL, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the NUL located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than two million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research. (Photos by Stuart Ramson) Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area. TURNER’S TWO CENTS: Clippers announcers foul out By Cameron Turner
Lawler and Smith went into Archie Bunker mode as the Grizzlies closed in on their 106-90 defeat of the Clippers. Haddadi got up from the Memphis bench and was met by this innuendo-laced banter: Smith: "Look who's in." Lawler: "Hamed Haddadi. Where's he from?" Smith: "He's the first Iranian to play in the NBA." Lawler: "There aren't any Iranian players in the NBA?" Smith: "He's the only one." Smith: "Yes." It’s worth noting that throughout that entire dialogue, Lawler and Smith repeatedly mispronounced the name of Haddadi’s homeland. Now, I realize that “Eye-ran” can be a colloquialism, but it can also be a deliberate dis. Either way, it’s incorrect and hearing it annoys Iranians and Iranian-Americans greatly. As broadcasters, with the responsibility to be accurate, Lawler and Smith should have known this. Maybe they just didn’t care? <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XfYpsM8__Vg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XfYpsM8__Vg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
That Iran? The real Iran? What were those remarks meant to suggest? The Iran that’s led by a dictator who harbors ill will toward Israel and apparently wants to develop nuclear weapons? The Iran that took over the U.S. embassy back when Jimmy Carter was President? The Iran that’s been cracking down hard on anti-government protesters? But none of that has anything to do with Haddadi. He isn’t an envoy for Mahmoud Amadinejad. He’s a dedicated athlete who earned the right to play in basketball’s most elite league. He should be allowed to do that without facing ethnic ridicule and implied suspicion. As Haddadi entered the game, Lawler and Smith spoke not a word about his achievements as an athlete, or the unlikely journey that brought him to the Grizzlies. They said nothing about how Haddadi’s presence in the NBA proves that the United States is the Land of Opportunity, or how having an Iranian in the league could help smash cultural stereotypes, build bridges of understanding and perhaps help thaw relations between Washington and Tehran. Rather than celebrating all of the extraordinary, uplifting and incredibly cool things embodied by Hamed Haddadi, Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith went on a jingoistic, anti-Iranian rant disguised as humor. They became Ugly Americans, carelessly and unnecessarily throwing around inflammatory comments about another nation and its people. Lawler and Smith dove into the gutter and dragged their viewers, Fox Broadcasting, the Clippers and the NBA with them. Make no mistake, there was nothing harmless about Lawler and Smith’s on-air exchange. Whatever their intentions, their thinly-masked attack on Haddadi’s Iranian heritage is precisely the sort of thing that stokes the prejudice and xenophobia which can so easily ignite more vicious name-calling and even acts of violence. So, the Fox network did the right thing by suspending Lawler and Smith for one game. The duo should also be required to apologize publicly. For they did not merely insult Haddadi and the Iranian-American Clippers fan who complained; they insulted all of us. Racial and ethnic attacks damage the entire human family for they sow the seeds of fear, anger and division, preventing us from following our natural inclination to identify with one another and coexist peaceably. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/22/ralph-lawler-michael-smit_n_367007.html Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents. THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL…YET! Read more “Turner’s Two Cents” on www.UrbanThoughtCollective.com, and www.PasadenaJournal.com. In Los Angeles, watch Cameron Turner on “The Filter with Fred Roggin” selected weeknights at 7:30 on KNBC’s digital companion station, NBC Plus (available on your local cable system). THE SOCIALIST’S JOURNAL: The Unveiling of Glenn Beck *Weeks ago in this space, I questioned the usefulness of Glenn Beck and his ubiquity. I labeled him a demagogue and was convinced that he was more harmful than helpful to contemporary political discourse because he was more likely to pick at society’s scabs and wounds rather than apply or suggest any healing balm. Alas, this is changing. Beck, in conjunction with promoting his new book, is touring the country and producing a series of lectures and encouraging voter registration. Beck has decided to participate in the political process more substantially. There are only two possible sequences that can unfold from this decision both leading to the same conclusion. Beck can select effective speakers, do a good job of rallying folks to his side of the political aisle, and enact real political change. Alternatively, Beck can select less effective speakers, do a poor job rallying people, and engender political apathy. In either event Beck is beginning to lay his cards on the table. In going on this book/political tour Beck is taking steps to show if and how libertarianism can help Americans. The only problem is that libertarianism is not the answer. It is a great philosophy but a terrible governing system. Since the Declaration of Independence people have tried to install a system of limited government. Yet new issues consistently dictate government’s expansion. Beck’s answers for this country are the wrong answers. His tour gets us that much closer to seeing exactly what he has to offer and as a result, that much closer to being rid of him. Trevor Brookins is a free lance writer in Rockland County, New York. He is currently working on a book about American culture during the Cold War and he maintains a blog called This Seems Familiar. You can reach him at thesocialistsjournal@yahoo.com Today’s ‘Live Better With Willie Jolley’ Tip: Settling For The Leftovers Most people go to their graves with their dreams still inside of them. Most of us act like the man who was told to go into a bank and take whatever he wanted. He took a penny and left because he didn’t think he could handle any more! He thought it would be too hard to keep the wealth. Ladies and gentlemen, we are what we think about. Think big! Visit my website at www.williejolley.com free motivation and make every minute count! CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS Nov. 24: Bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. and the MG's is 68. Record producer Terry Lewis is 53. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK BLACK HISTORY Nov. 24, 1874: Robert B. Elliott elected Speaker of the lower house of the South Carolina legislature. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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