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The Chronicle, U.S.A.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Whitney Houston back on top

Read the AP story
"I've got it, I've got it!" Houston, looking glamorous in a skintight leopard dress, sang early Sunday morning as she belted a line from one of her classic hits, "I'm Every Woman." But more than a lyric, it summarized to the crowd of A-list superstars and top industry execs that the superstar _ whose drug use and erratic behavior had caused a shocking fall from grace just a few years ago _ was back in top form.

"We all crossed our fingers that her beautiful story would end (happily)," said Jamie Foxx, who stood at the front of the stage and took video of Houston like he was just another fan in the crowd. "This is a new begining."

Friday, February 06, 2009

Spotlight 29 Casino Laughs It Up With Rita Rudner

March 5 Concert is Benefit for Gilda's Club Desert Cities

"Comedian of the Year" Rita Rudner likes to shop. "I love to shop after a bad relationship. I don't know. I buy a new outfit and it makes me feel better. It just does. Sometimes I see a really great outfit, I'll break up with someone on purpose." Now the top Las Vegas headliner is coming to Spotlight 29 Casino on March 5 for a one-night-only concert benefiting Gilda's Club Desert Cities.
Tickets for Rita Rudner are $125, $75 and $50 and are available now at Spotlight29.com and at the Spotlight 29 Casino Gift Shop. Tickets are also available at StarTickets.com or by calling (800) 585-3737, or at Gilda's Club. Proceeds benefit Gilda's Club Desert Cities.

Rudner began her career as a dancer and appeared in the original Broadway productions of "Follies" and "Mack and Mabel." While appearing in "Annie," she realized there were many more female dancers than there were female comics, and she began to study the New York comedy scene and comic structure of Woody Allen and Jack Benny. Her work resulted in countless television appearances, four books, plays, sell-out concerts all over the world and one of the most in-demand shows on the Las Vegas Strip.

She is married to husband/manager Martin Bergman. Rudner has said, "Before I met my husband, I'd never fallen in love. I'd stepped in it a few times. When I eventually met Mr. Right I had no idea that his first name was Always."

Rudner and Bergman spend their time between their homes in Las Vegas and southern California. "In Hollywood a marriage is a success if it outlasts milk," Rudner has said.

Gilda's Club Desert Cities is part of the national Gilda's Club network. The organization's mission is to provide a place where people with cancer and their families and friends join with others to build social and emotional support as a supplement to medical care. Free of charge and nonprofit, Gilda's Club offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events in a non-residential, home-like setting. For information or to join Gilda's Club, call (760) 770-5678.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

As Chicago wraps up Kanye West week, I have been delighted with more Kanye music than normal. This is a good thing for me. I like his music because it is reflective of hip hop as a whole and the generation of a woman who knows the lyrics to both "Top Billin'" (college hip hop) and "Rappers Delight."(the beginning of rap as we know it today) I encourage all of you who are interested to enroll in a music history class to learn more. Kanye West is a musical genius. Thank you, Chocolate Jock of Power 92 FM, for delighting us with Kanye's music this week.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

My Fellow Citizens...Thank You Father!

I am so moved. I am listening to "Air and Simple Gifts" and Barack and Michelle Obama are President and First Lady as of noon eastern time.
I have teared up.
I have waited so long for this moment and I am so grateful and thankful.
Thank You Jesus, for blessing America, for blessing this country that you love!
God is Good! Praise You Father!
Mr. President is now giving his acceptance speech. I must watch.
As I see it...
Now comes the end of the Era of the Sellout,
says so my President.
The real work and sacrifice is not a glamorous thing, as the President pointed out in his speech and many more times, it brings not with it wealth and fame but temporary, bearable pain with the end result of progress for the good of all humankind.
But who will stand on the front lines of "remaking America?"
Will it be you? I know that it has been me. Before it was popular and the thing to do. I did it because it was right and I am the only one who has to live with me and look me in the mirror. And I wanted to be able to do that without fear and shame.
And I have been beaten down and back, seemingly for naught but in time, its wisdom was revealed to me and made it all worth it and I saw growth--real God-given growth.
It was not easy and many times I asked God "why?"
and "what should I do now?"
Only those who know The Struggle understand my words.
I was comforted and I lived through it.
We will follow our newly appointed leader now. He is someone many of us in this country have placed out hopes upon and look to God to move in His direction.
And we will be comforted, and we will grow.
But it cannot be just him, our newly elected President or just me or just them--it must be (honestly) most of us.
I know that some of us cannot any longer bear the burden because you have been the rock and pillar the majority of your lives; worked for the community earnestly and gave from your hear, to others. Those who need rest now will take it and those who are right minded and strong and able, will take The Struggle upon them and win it for all of us.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year 2009!

EVENT GUIDE FOR TIMES SQUARE 2009, NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES SQUARE
You may want to git down wit the git down, at this point.


For 104 years, Times Square has been the center of worldwide attention on New Year's Eve, ever since the owners of One Times Square began in 1904 to conduct rooftop celebrations to greet the New Year. The first Ball Lowering celebration occurred in 1907, and this tradition is now a universal symbol of welcoming the New Year.



THE EVENT



4:00 p.m.

The Revelers

Revelers start arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 4:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. Revelers are directed by the NYPD to gather in separate viewing sections. As one section fills up, the revelers are directed by police to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers continue to fill the Times Square neighborhood along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to as far as Central Park.



6:00 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies - Lighting and Raising the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

The celebration begins with Univision host Raúl de Molina assisted by the actress Angelica Vale lighting and raising the brand new New Year’s Eve Ball atop One Times Square. Raúl and Angelica will be joined by representative of the Philips Lighting Company to flip the giant switch which lights the New Year’s Eve Ball and begins its ascent accompanied by special pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.

6:05 p.m. to 6:17 p.m.

Musical Performance by Parachute

The Times Square New Year’s Celebration gets started with a musical performance by Parachute from the Nivea Countdown Stage at Duffy Island in Times Square between 46th and 47th Streets.



6:17 p.m. to 6:19 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Practice Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform located on Fence Island between 45th and 46th Streets practicing their best midnight kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



6:58 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Carson Daly

As we approach the New Year, Carson Daly will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.

7:10 p.m.

Times Square 2009 Hats, Balloons, Pom-Poms, Confetti Bags and Scarves

The Times Square Alliance sanitation crews clad in bright red uniforms begin to distribute tens of thousands of fun handouts to the Times Square revelers for cheering in the New Year. Nivea is providing festive blue New Year’s Eve hats and blue balloons tied with silver mylar ribbons along with useful Nivea Lip Care product to keep our lips looking and feeling beautiful for that unforgettable kiss at midnight. 3 Musketeers is providing pom-poms to cheer in the New Year, confetti bags, and their delicious chocolate mini- bars. Pepsi is providing New Year’s Eve scarves to keep the revelers warm and happy.



7:25 p.m. to 7:35 p.m.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly: Musical Performance by Ludacris

Ludacris performs “Stand Up” and “One More Drink” on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



7:45 p.m. to 7:47 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Special Anniversary Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform for a special anniversary kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



7:58 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Ryan Seacrest

As we approach the New Year, Ryan Seacrest will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



8:45 p.m. to 8:47 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Welcome Home Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform for a long overdue Welcome Home kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



8:58 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Surprise Guest

As we approach the New Year, a surprise guest will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year", read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share her personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



9:40 p.m. to 9:55 p.m.

Times Square Sing-Along Featuring the Liberty Bells

The USO’s Liberty Bells lead the annual Panasonic Sing-Along from the Nivea Countdown Stage. The Times Square revelers will join the Liberty Bells singing “America the Beautiful”, “Shout”, and “We Are Family”.

9:58 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Anderson Cooper

As we approach the New Year, Anderson Cooper will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



10:12 p.m. to 10:18 p.m.

ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: Musical Performance by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs a medley of her hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



10:47 p.m. to 10:54 p.m.

ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: Musical Performance by Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie performs a medley of his hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



10:58 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina

As we approach the New Year, Raul de Molina will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



11:11 p.m. to 11:13 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Practice Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform practicing their best midnight kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



11:42 p.m. to 11:48 p.m.

ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: Musical Performance by Jonas Brothers

Jonas Brothers perform a medley of their hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



11:55 p.m.

Pepsi Balloon Release

1,000 3-foot balloons featuring the words JOY, HOPE, and 2009 will gently drift down from setback roofs throughout Times Square onto the revelers below as they prepare to countdown the final seconds to the New Year. Pepsi is energizing the revelers by bringing back the big bouncing balloons that were last seen in 1999 as part of the 24-hour millennium celebration.



11:59 p.m.

The Sixty-Second Countdown

The Times Square 2009 Special Guest and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg push the Waterford crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball, and lead the final sixty-second countdown to the New Year at the Nivea Countdown Stage.



The New Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

The lighted Ball descends 70 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, twelve feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with 2668 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.



12:00 a.m. -- New Year's Day

2009 Sign

At the stroke of Midnight, the lights on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year “2009” burst to life shining high above Times Square.



Times Square Confetti Release and Pyrotechnic Effects

The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square creating a celebratory blizzard of colorful confetti as revelers welcome the New Year accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects.



12:15 a.m. - End of Show

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Dissing the Dog

My friend told me that I should post this because it reminds him of how he is forced to interact with me to get me to do anything.
(Naw muthafucker, Alpo ain't good enuf fo me. You right.)

Friday, December 12, 2008

How SNL Works

Backstage: Political Cold Open

Backstage: After the Show


Thursday, December 11, 2008

Amy & Fred Backstage SNL

Fred Armisen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

I can't wait to see this concept on late night. Fred should be on often. He is a comedic genious and he's cute.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Watch Me Discuss Soapy Goodness - Made with Coconut Oil

Feel the Soapy Goodness on your skin

Feel the Soapy Goodness on your skin
Lathery, Creamy, Soapy Goodness - Made with Coconut Oil!