The Chronicle, U.S.A.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Mummies of the World Exhibition at California Science Center

Mummies Arrive in Los Angeles 
Under Heavy Security; Motorcade 
Accompanies Rare Collection
to California Science Center 
for World Premiere of Mummies 
of the World Exhibition

American Exhibitions, Inc. Brings the Largest-Ever Exhibition of Mummies To the California Science Center July 1, 2010 for a Limited Engagement


LOS ANGELES, May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The largest collection of mummies ever assembled will travel nearly 6,000 miles to make its highly anticipated arrival in Los Angeles on Friday, May 28. The mummies are traveling to the United States for the first time as part of the Mummies of the World exhibition, set to make its world debut at the California Science Center on July 1.
American Exhibitions, Inc. (AEI), will bring the priceless,
 carefully guarded mummies and related artifacts on an 11-hour journey from Germany and land at Los Angeles International Airport, where a security-detailed motorcade will escort the treasured mummies along a 13.5-mile route to the California Science Center.
There, security will unload its precious cargo, and experts will spend the month of June unpacking and preparing Mummies of the World for its opening. This must-see exhibition premieres on July 1, launching a limited engagement at the California Science Center and a three-year, seven-city tour around the country.

"Inside every mummy is a story waiting to be told," says James Delay, vice president of American Exhibitions, Inc., who is traveling with the mummies as they make their journey to the U.S. "Using state-of-the-art scientific research, the secrets of the mummies are now revealed."

Mummies of the World is a highly distinguished project that has been years in the making for AEI, working with 15 world-renowned museums in seven countries to bring to the U.S. a never-before-seen collection of mummies and related artifacts from South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Egypt. Its treasures include one of the oldest mummy infants ever discovered; a mummified family; a German nobleman discovered by his own descendants; and intentionally preserved Egyptian animal mummies.

-- The Detmold Child is a remarkably preserved Peruvian child mummy,
radiocarbon dated to 4504-4457 B.C. - more than 3,000 years before the
birth of King Tut.
-- The Orlovits family - Michael, Veronica and their son Johannes - was
part of a group of 18th-century mummies found in a long-forgotten
church crypt in Vac, Hungary in 1994.
-- Baron von Holz is a 17th-century nobleman believed to have died in
Sommersdorf, Germany during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), who was
discovered in the crypt of his family's 14th-century castle still
wearing his boots.
-- Egyptian cat mummies, elaborately wrapped in painted linen bandaging,
date to the Ptolemaic period, and show how Egyptian cats were
intentionally preserved to accompany their royals into the afterlife.

This important exhibition dispels the notions and misconceptions about mummies and uses science tools to reach across time, demonstrating how scientific methods can illuminate the history of people and enhance our knowledge about cultures around the world. It also shows that mummification - both through natural processes and intentional practices - has taken place all over the globe, from the hot desert sands of South America to remote European moors and bogs.

Mummies of the World is a ticketed event and requires a timed-entry. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Tickets can be purchased online beginning June 6 at www.californiasciencecenter.org or by calling 323-SCIENCE (323-724-3623). Group reservations are available at 888-MUMMY TIX (888-686-6984)

More information about the exhibition is online: www.mummiesoftheworld.com.

American Exhibitions, Inc. is one of the leading exhibition producers in the United States, specializing in world-class touring exhibitions for science centers and museums. please visit our website at www.californiasciencecenter.org.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Black & White: Kids on Color CNN Special

Please don't show it. Please don't tell!
Sitting and watching TJ Holmes present CNN's Black & White: Kids on Color, Tuesday morning,
I hoped that after the commercial break, I would not hear a discussion on blacks still being color struck.
But it happened anyway.
I guess it doesn't matter how wide a range of skin colors exist in American families.
The tester in the segment asked again and again: Which child is the pretty one, smart one, bad one, etc.
Most of the children chose darker skinned pictures as bad or ugly children and the lighter one as good or pretty. Only a few opted out of complexion stereotyping or as old folks say, being color struck.
The CNN series examines complexion-based internalized racism in school aged children from white and black races. The study mimics the 1939-1940 doll studies conducted
by two black psychologists.
First, the white children were asked questions about the cartoon pictures of asexual dolls, nearly hairless, arranged in a range of complexions from light to dark.
Most chose the lightest ones as a representation of good and the darkest ones of bad.
Then comes the African American children's responses. I held my breath. I tried not to watch. I didn't want to hear the truth.
"Why is this one pretty?" a tester asked after a child pointed to the lightest example as pretty.
"...because she is light-skinned," a pretty dark-skinned girl said.
"Bias towards white is still a part of our culture." A voice over said.
Don't fret Blacks because Whites have the same color struck conversations in their households. A
pinkish hue is still favored over ruddy or olive complexion--as long as there is still an ability to tan reasonably well.
But one needs only to look throughout their own friends and family to see these hurtful stereotypes repeated and reinforced.
It is a good thing that stunning beauty is held in the facial bone structure of an individual and not the skin color.
I wish someone would tell the kids the truth about beauty because skin color stereotypes are perpetuated through the generations, maintained in the home and reinforced in society. (Oh, good hair counts too.)
Read more: http://ping.fm/g7yZ4

ChiStepper.com Soul Series Phase I

PRESS RELEASE
May 16/2010

For Immediate Release
"Marcell and The Truth"
ChiStepper Interview and Live Performance

Soul Series Phase I

CHICAGO, IL: ChiStepper.com interviews Marcell and The Truth for the first time in two years. Log on today to read the full interview. Also, as you can see from the banner above, Marcell is performing at ChiStepper.com, Dre & Company, and Ken Bedford's "Summer Soul Series" on Sunday, June 13th at the 9 million restaurant and nightclub, Alhambra Palace located at 1240 W. Randolph. Tickets can be purchased at www.chisteppercom/soulseries. If you haven't made up your mind yet, here are 10 reasons why you should definitely be there:

10. Embrace The Dance - The Soul Series caps off Sistas In Sync's "Embrace The Dance" weekend, so you'll have plenty of Out-of-Towners and locals to hang out with.

9. Good Music - DJ Cross is DJing so you know you're getting the best new and old school Steppin' music.

8. Party Like a Rockstar - Party like a millionaire, but on a budget at the 9 million dollar state-of-the-art night club located just a block from Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios. Advance tickets only $10, Door tickets only $15, and VIP Floor Seating for only $25.

7. Be Seen - ChiStepper will have a photographer there to capture your cool and sexy outfits for the ChiStepper photogallery.

6. Have Fun - The Heavy Hitters will be in the building as usual for good dancing before, during, and after the performances. ChiStepper.com, Dre and Company, and Ken Bedford Productions is bringing in Marcell and The Truth.

5. Great Networking - Meet the who's who of the Steppers and business community. With T. Pratt, Ken Bedford, Dre & Company, and Akkeem "The Dream" Berry Sr., you never know who's going to show up.

4. Be In The Know - You'll be the first to learn who's up next as we'll present the lineup for the Soul Series Phase II live at the event.

3. Our Track Record - ChiStepper, Dre & Company, and Ken Bedford all have terrific track records for throwing great parties. By combining forces, we hope to continue this tradition.

2. DJ Markey G - DJ Markey G is opening up by performing tracks from his new album "Stepmentalz." He'll be performing the popular Steppin' track "I Wanna Go Steppin" and his Steppers classic "I'm The Man."

1. Marcell and The Truth - Marcell will be singing all of his Steppers classics: Maybe I'm Not The Man; Hopes Too High; Breathe Love; and Cold Rain from the "Hopes Too High" album, and "Seed You Water," from the new album "Symbols" for the first time at a Steppers event EVER! Marcell will have his new CD "Symbols" with him and he'll be selling autographed copies at the event.


* Note to the Steppers - This IS NOT A CONCERT! This will be a Steppers party, where you all are encouraged to dance while the entertainers sing. They'd have it no other way.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

What I Should Have Said Is...

I think if Black Leaders were seen as well connected to the Black Community, they would have a better chance at holding an audience with the President, I think.
Courting The People is a good idea. You never get to know what is really going on if you are not there in person, often times. I'd like to see an enriched relationship between Black Leaders and The Community-at-Large.
Yeah, that's what I meant to say.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

What About the Kids, Arizona Legislators?

Arizona was the last state to sign the Martin Luther King Day bill into law. I took note of that then and I take note with parts of their anti-ethnic education bill.
Why is it that the people of Arizona feel the way they do about minorities? What are they going through every day that makes them not accepting of minorities and why can't they handle their frustrations any better than they have been doing?
Granted, if a politician runs for office and is elected by the people for the people he or she should serve the people completely. More qualified people should have run for office if the people wanted a smarter legislature. However, why stop the African American education curriculum in public schools? Really.
Every ethnic race, Eastern European, African, Hispanic, Dominican, Italian etc. deserves to be highlighted for their race's achievements in American history. The culmination is that we have all contributed in making this country great, so why cull those parts out? It is not a good solution to the problems in Arizona. Students in Arizona won't know or understand who they are or where they come from when they are not taught about European immigrants and what they did to establish their place in American history and culture. Damn shame. There are a lot of European immigrants in this country.
Read more: http://ping.fm/pfjAZ
http://ping.fm/wfRMD

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Seth MacFarlane on FG Controversy

Family Guy Transgender Episode or Quagmire's Dad Gets a Sex-Change Operation

I saw the Family Guy transgender episode and I just have to say: Please don't act as if we don't already know and understand prejudice exists in America. Seth just did it in a funnier way.
Really. You who support or are GLAAD didn't know that people laugh behind your back and make fun of you? Right. Well, I never heard a racist black joke either. Or a fat joke.
SMH at the whole matter. Seth MacFarlane is in the business of comedy. He is the Equal Opportunity Offender and so the f what. He makes me laugh and I thought the episode was funnier than anything.
Along the lines of GLAAD, I should have expressed similar dismay and agitation at the "My Black Son," cut away. ..."and also he's a Ninja!" Really now, we knew what he was edging at but I was so shocked and stupefied, I laughed because it was funny and we all have a turn at the wheel with the FG creator. So what. He pokes fun at the inhabitants of the Northeast every time FG airs. Look at how he portrays these folks and they're not complaining. They are laughing. Maybe they don't take themselves as seriously as everyone else does. Seth grew up in this Northeastern environment and he is only conveying a portion of what he experienced growing up. There are not many of our generation who bother to participate in our Pop Culture Renaissance. They point out more things we have in common on the show than what they point out as different. Watch the episode in question. Notice how Peter, Lois and Brian interact when Brian makes an announcement about a trip. Listen to that dialogue. And the "can of pennies?!" That is comedy gold and it hits so close to home. The indifference in which we all treat each other in families is a common strand. Trying to get a family member who is so not interested in what you are doing to be interested in you and what you are doing, is an every day challenge for those of us who still bother to interact with our families. I laughed so hard at that. Gold, Seth baby, gold.
I support Seth and the FG team. They're great and they make me laugh and think at the same time. I personally think folk should stop being so fn sensitive and Chicken Little-ish. Save the fight for when it really matters so that you'll have supporters for your cause when you really need it. Also be glad that the issue has been placed before relevant portions of the American public rather than be ignored and shoved out of every one's mind!
More information on the issue: http://ping.fm/e9ZDF
http://ping.fm/OwiVg

Monday, May 10, 2010

FOX on Demand - The Cleveland Show clip with Kanye West and Cleavland Jr. Lyric Battle

FOX on Demand - The Cleveland Show

Reversal of Fortune: A documentary on Showtime

I saw a good portion of this documentary on Mother's Day and found it quite interesting. First off, I would like to know where the filmmaker got $100,000 to give to a homeless man?
Obviously, the guy had some personality disorders, delusions, etc.
He does not know the right thing to do and as he stated, his mother was a "bar whore." He said that on the weekends, he found a different man his mother would bring into his home as a child. I wonder what types of abuse he experienced as a child and if he is a result of one of his mother's trysts? No one asked him any follow up questions.
Maybe that is why he frequented bars. Then again he also said he had not had a woman in years and that most of the woman he meets found him undesirable for either his lack of teeth in the front of his head or other reasons. (Check out how he argued with that woman at the recycling center. Really.)
After one's basic needs are met they are supposed to climb Maslow's hierarchy of Need, not just stop at the basics, safety, food, clothing, shelter, emotional needs. But he did not know that and he is obviously not self-actualized. Many are not and that is the basic problem with society.
In his defense however, he has a kind heart and gave the ones close to him some of his treasure. He gets big points for that. I think at least one of them should have convinced him to use the financial counselor. With discipline, that money could have lasted quite a while. But self-discipline is a quality many people do not own. His outlook on life is to live without restraint so the very nature of giving him a large sum of money could have led to his death. Then what would the filmmaker do? That money could have gone to a socially well-adjusted but struggling family. I wonder what they would have done?
http://ping.fm/x9iMm
http://ping.fm/7CzhH

Monday, May 03, 2010

Seth is a Comedic Genius

The Bank Vault episode was Seth's best ever idea. I was immediately drawn into the dialogue. I could not believe what Brian did! I cannot believe Seth got away with that. It was stellar!
Every season, Seth MacFarlane surprises me with even more of his scathingly deep, genius. I have to buy the season DVD. I just have to.
This man Seth, has the humor market cornered!
("Seth" does mean "the anointed one," after all...)

I posted this on the Yahoo message board and on Seth's Facebook page.
I listened to Seth explain this episode on Larry King a week or so ago but I had no idea the episode would be so intense.
Kudos, Seth. I guess you will never run out of comedic genius. The feelings and emotions of the characters leaped toward me and drew me into their minds. I had not watched anything so intently in a while.
There is a lot thought and emotion rambling around in Seth's head and a bit of it was released in that Bank Vault episode.
A study in excellence, it was.
(now you have to write a novel, Seth)

Saturday, May 01, 2010

I Want to Touch TJ Holmes' Thigh Too

Fitness guru Denise Austin and Actress/Director Debbie Allen appeared on CNN weekend morning edition with news anchor TJ Holmes Saturday. It was lively and informative. Near the end of the segment, Denise stood up and invited TJ to touch her rock hard stomach. He did. Then, she touched his leg. OK, she open-palm, grabbed his thigh and felt him up. She said he was fit. TJ declined to open his suit jacket so that she may feel his rock hard abs, to the disappointment of many audience members around the globe.
Basically, the ladies said consume fewer calories and increase calorie burn and weight loss will occur. Or, simply put less food on your plate and stop overeating.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Oklahoma to Become Fourth Retail Market for Honda's Natural Gas-Powered Civic GX

Dealer network expands for retail sales of nation's only natural gas-powered vehicle sold by an OEM

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., recently announced that dealers in Oklahoma will now have the option of selling the compressed natural gas (CNG) powered Honda Civic GX to customers on a retail basis. There are 13 Honda dealers in Oklahoma, three of which are already selling the Civic GX as a fleet vehicle.

"Expanding Honda's Civic GX retail program along with the continued success of fleet sales expresses our commitment to the environment and natural gas vehicle technology," said Elmer Hardy, senior manager of Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales & Marketing. "Honda seeks market opportunities for the Civic GX where strong natural gas refueling infrastructure exists, and we continue to see its promise as a clean, sustainable, domestically-sourced alternative fuel."

Honda is the only OEM currently selling a CNG-powered vehicle on a retail basis in the United States. Additionally, the Civic GX is the only OEM-built, CNG-powered passenger car assembled in America. The Civic GX is built on the same assembly line as the gasoline-powered Civic 4-door models at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana manufacturing facility.

In 2006, the Civic GX became available for the first time to retail customers in California. Since then, retail sales have expanded to New York, Utah and now, Oklahoma. Currently, 43 dealers in California, 19 in New York and eight in Utah have added Retail Sales Addendums to their Honda Sales Agreements that enable them to sell the Civic GX on a retail basis. When including dealerships that sell fleet vehicles, there are a total of 134 Civic GX dealers in 33 states.

Oklahoma is an ideal market to expand retail sales of the Civic GX with its low refueling costs, a generous state tax incentive toward the purchase of a new Civic GX and solid fleet sales. As the second largest natural gas producing state in the U.S., Oklahoma already has a strong existing CNG station infrastructure with robust plans to expand the network over the next several years.

The 2010 Civic GX achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 24/36** miles per gasoline-gallon equivalent and is the only vehicle certified by the EPA to meet both Federal Tier 2-Bin 2 and Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) zero evaporative emission certification standards. Additionally, the Honda Civic GX is the cleanest internal combustion vehicle ever tested by the EPA, and for the seventh straight year, the Civic GX NGV was named "Greenest Vehicle" by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Steppers Soul Series (Phase I)


Steppers Soul Series (Phase I)
Presents
"Marcell and The Truth" &
"DJ Markey G"
Hosted by ChiStepper.com, Dre and Company, & Ken Bedford Productions



Soul Series Phase I


CHICAGO, IL: The summer is looking a little sexier, as ChiStepper.com has partnered with Dre and Company and Ken Bedford Productions to bring you the "Steppers Soul Series." ChiStepper prides itself on creating outlets for those Steppers, both New and Old Skool, who appreciate a classy mature party, with great music, and good dancing.

On June 13th, 2010 (2nd Sunday), capping off Sistas In Sync's "Embrace The Dance" weekend, ChiStepper.com, Dre and Company, and Ken Bedford Productions is bringing in Marcell and The Truth. Marcell will be singing all of his Steppers classics: Maybe I'm Not The Man; Hopes Too High; Breathe Love; and Cold Rain from the "Hopes Too High" album, and "Seed You Water," from the new album "Symbols" for the first time in Chicago. Marcell will have his new CD "Symbols" with him and ChiStepper.com will be giving away a few FREE CD's on ChiStepper.com to Elite Advantage Members and some regular readers also.

In addition, we have DJ Markey G opening up, who just released his new album "Stepmentalz," and features the popular Steppin' track "I Wanna Go Steppin'." Markey G will also be performing his Steppers classic "I'm The Man." Don't get it confused though, this IS NOT A CONCERT! This will be a Steppers party, where you all are encouraged to dance while the entertainers sing. They'd have it no other way.

It has been a dream of mine to bring a live element to Steppin' ... and to do it downtown in the summer at the 9 million dollar "Alhambra Palace" is going to be awesome. By the way, this is only Phase I of the "Steppers Soul Series." On July 18th, 2010 (3rd Sunday) we're bringing you two more popular artists with tracks that we love, who have never ever before performed in front of the Chicago Steppin' audience. Then, we'll wrap up the Soul Series up on Sunday, August 15th (3rd Sunday) with two more Steppin' artists.

Steppers, you asked from something fresh, classy, and unique and here it is. DJ Cross will be in the booth spinning the best of New and Old Skool Steppers music. Come out and party with T. Pratt, Dre Blackwell, and Ken Bedford on June 13th as we cap off Sistas In Sync's "Embrace The Dance" weekend.
Upcoming Events

Stay tuned in to the hottest events in the nation and view the full flyers by clicking on ChiStepper's Upcoming Events page, located at: http://www.chistepper.com/Upcoming-Events

Send an email to ChiStepper@yahoo.com inquire about prices to post banners and or advertise on the Upcoming Events page!
ChiStepper.com is the Nation's Home For REAL Steppers. Tune in daily to stay up on the latest happenings on the national Steppin' scene.

# # #

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sade's smooth return a decade later - CNN.com

Sade's smooth return a decade later - CNN.com
"Solider of Love" was released February 9th to the delight of her fans.
CNN Entertainment reviews her new song, her 10 year hiatus and her multi-platinum CDs.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

torontofilmcritics.com » Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2009

torontofilmcritics.com » Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2009
Nicolas Cage named Best Actor December 2009 for his role in Bad Lieutenant.
About time he was recognized (again)!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

R&B singer goes from homeless to Grammy nominee :: Entertainment :: Post-Tribune

R&B singer goes from homeless to Grammy nominee :: Entertainment :: Post-Tribune
Gap Band's Charlie Wilson tells he Associated Press how he rebounded from homelessness during the mid 1990s to be nominated for Billboard Artist of the Year and double Grammy nominee.
He said the downward spiral began when the group asked their manager to split profits from the publishing rights of their music catalog. Wilson claims the Gap Band was dropped by the manager and then blackballed in the industry.

Editor's Note: Charlie Wilson is one of my favorite singers.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Lasik Eye Center in New York

Lasik can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. Lasik is the most often performed surgery in the US. Lasik vision recovery can be as little as a few hours, but most see well in about a day or two. Lasik normally has no pain. US Lasik results data is available at usaeyes.org/Lasik General Lasik information and surgery video available at usaeyes.org
Stahl Eye Center has been serving patients for more than 35 years. The Stahl Eye Center doctors’ patient outcomes have been independently verified by nonprofit Lasik patient advocacy USAEyes to meet or exceed the national norms for Lasik results. Fewer than 100 doctors nationwide have attained this certification.
Stahl EyeCenter doctors are graduates from top universities such as UCLA, John Hopkins and Yale. Doctor information is available at
Stahl Eye Center has three locations in New York including Manhattan and Long Island.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Los Angeles Office Movers

Moving Companies Los Angeles offer a wide variety of local moving services that are designed to get you from point A to point B with as little headache as possible. If you're in the process of moving, give Los Angeles Office Movers
a call today for a free estimate. Customers can call 1-800-431-3920 toll free to get moving quote in Los Angeles.
Support My Sponsor Code Of Ethics

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Please help free the tourists!

TransGriot: Free The Antigua 6
Read this blog post. Tell as many people as you can because they need help.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

BBC iPlayer - BBC Proms: 2009: Prom 22 - MGM Musicals

BBC iPlayer - BBC Proms: 2009: Prom 22 - MGM Musicals Seth MacFarlane is a singer in this particularly wonderful string of show tunes. I almost hate to say "show tunes" it's too abbreviated for music that brings back childhood memories of days spent in front of the tele dancing and singing along with the actors--and of course a couple days thereafter. (Over The Rainbow elicited tears.)
The whole series is comprised of indoor and outdoor concerts in England.
Every voice was melodic and captured the idea of each film. As a child, I rarely knew the titles of each film, i like musicals.
I'm listening to it now and it sounds gorgeous! Seth is singing songs from "High Society". Goodness that man's voice is fabulous and rich and expansive. It even fluttered and soared. It takes up the whole theater. Jeez he's talented. Shaboopie!
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ (arr. Conrad Salinger & Nelson Riddle)
Kim Criswell, Seth MacFarlane vocalists
‘You’re Sensational’ (arr. Nelson Riddle)
Seth MacFarlane vocalist
‘Well, Did You Evah?’ (arr. Conrad Salinger & Nelson Riddle)
Seth MacFarlane, Curtis Stigers vocalists

And who hasn't sang "Singing In the Rain" and performed a quick soft shoe? Okay just me. What a perfect song for Seth to sing.
Nacio Herb Brown (music)/Arthur Freed (lyrics)

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (arr. Conrad Salinger)
Seth MacFarlane vocalist


I'll be happy when he cuts a CD.

Well, the rest of the back story is here: What's On: Prom 22 2009

E! News Now _ Michael Jackson's Long-Lost Son

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

This is why athletes should never marry - FOX Sports on MSN

This is why athletes should never marry - FOX Sports on MSN
I understand that this article is an oversiplification of the facts but parts of it ring true. Just hire someone to cook meals and take care of you and date whomever you like until you find that right Mrs. Ballplayer. Getting love right the first time takes time and thought outside of heart pounding love and out-of-sight sex.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Michael Jackson had something for everyone--no need to blame Jamie

Well, I went to the Jamie Foxx web site and there is a virtual race war-of-words going on there. Some are accusing Mr. Foxx of being a racist after viewing the Black Entertainment Television Awards Show last week.
If any of you watched Michael Jackson’s memorial on Monday and heard Al Sharpton entire speech, then maybe you will get the hint that Mr. Jackson was indeed a black man. Don’t blame Jamie Foxx for that, for he too is a black man. There are some things relatable across the races and some things relatable to the races. Mike’s last CD was a testament to the love he felt for his community. His entire music catalog is a testament to how he loved music and his fans.
Invincible was played at every stepper’s set for years and still got some play before he died just because it was gooooood! We like and appreciate that Mike, so thanks. We liked all of his songs but some of those syncopated beats scream foot work and some scream other dance moves--stuff I‘m too old to do. We all like some things more than others. That is just the way people are made up. No one calls Foxx a racist when he is hosting the Country Music Awards. He is just as funny and shocking as ever. So I think the rub in all of this is that Foxx reminded folk that Michael Jackson was a black man.
Some of his fans do not want to take this fact into consideration. He was everything but to them. The truth is that he was a little black boy from Gary, Indiana--which is 85 percent African American--who grew up in Los Angles using his talent to his advantage. Was he more than just a black man? Yes, just as all black men are more than just a black man and just like all white men are more than just white men,
et cetera. We are all more than just our race. However, it seems being black sticks under the craw of many. I don’t know why but it just seems to make a difference. As assimilated as we are, it should not be but it is and it takes a great effort on a black person’s part to downplay anything that gets in the way of acceptance. Mike proved that. As blacks we are still making and counting firsts. Mike proved that too.
Let us not find a blame in all of this surrounding MJ’s death but take entertainment at face value and not make it a political action committee. If you want to fight for rights or anything else good that helps the human race, President Obama has several very fine outfits people can join.

P.S. Ladies no one will care if you work, are on government assistance, have had children out-of-wedlock or whatever. Those things are your personal choices and do not give nor take away your right to speak out. So please stop prefacing comments with ”I am a single mother…” No one cares and we are not giving out awards for choosing to birth and/or raise children. We used to but not anymore because everybody’s doing it.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Invisible Man's Band - All Night Thing 1979 DISCO

According to a discography on You Tube, "Curtis Mayfield, The Invisible Man's Band consisted of:

Clarence Burke Jnr. b. 1951, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (lead and acoustic guitar)

James Burke b. 1952, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (vibes)

Kenneth (Keni) Burke b. 28th September 1953, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (bass guitar)

Dennis Burke b. 1953, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (rhythm guitar)..."
Keni Burke wrote my fav steppin' song, "Indigenous Love"
Alllllright!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Seth MacFarlane on Bill Maher--May 8 2009

Bill signed up to be a talking cow on Family Guy.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Leslie Jones McCloud's Gas Station Divas Confront!


Characters from my new in-progress book, "Gas Station Divas" confront each other during a scene at Chi-Chi's place of work--a gas station convienence store named Red, White and Blue Country.
Marion, whose only fault was choosing that particular gas station, decided to get down with it and ditch her uppity ways.
Who will get the man?

Monday, April 20, 2009

KANYE WEST’S FLOW IS COMEDY GOLD ON “THE CLEVELAND SHOW”


Academy Award Nominee Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) Also Guest-Voices

International hip-hop superstar and 12-time Grammy Award winner Kanye West and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson get animated when they lend their voices to THE CLEVELAND SHOW, the highly anticipated FAMILY GUY spin-off set to debut this fall on FOX. West will appear as KENNY WEST, an all-around cool kid and the archenemy of CLEVELAND JR. (Kevin Michael Richardson), and the two will engage in a “rap battle” for the affection of high school hottie CHANEL (Henson).

THE CLEVELAND SHOW is a new animated series that follows everyone’s favorite soft-spoken neighbor CLEVELAND BROWN (Mike Henry) to his hometown in Virginia, as he settles down with his high school sweetheart, DONNA (Sanaa Lathan); her unruly kids; and his own 14-year-old son, Cleveland Jr. (Richardson). Once in Virginia, Cleveland has a few surprises in store for him, including ROBERTA (Reagan Gomez-Preston), a rebellious new stepdaughter; RALLO (Henry), a 5-year-old stepson who loves the ladies; and a collection of neighbors that includes a loudmouth redneck, LESTER (Richardson); a hipster wanna-be, HOLT (guest voice Jason Sudeikis); and a pious pair of talking bears, TIM (Seth MacFarlane) and his wife ARIANNA (guest voice Arianna Huffington).

Kanye West’s fourth consecutive chart-topping album, “808s & Heartbreak,” was released in November 2008 and has sold over 1.5 million copies to date. He has received numerous accolades for his latest album, and his hit single “Heartless” has been at the top of the charts for 16 weeks and counting.

Taraji P. Henson earned an Academy Award nomination in 2009 for her supporting role opposite Brad Pitt in the critically acclaimed film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Henson has appeared in “Hustle & Flow” with Terrence Howard and “Talk to Me” opposite Don Cheadle. Her upcoming films include “Hurricane Season” opposite Forest Whitaker, “Once Fallen” with Ed Harris and Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” Her television credits include “Boston Legal” and “Eli Stone.”



THE CLEVELAND SHOW is a 20th Century Fox Television production. Seth MacFarlane, Rich Appel and Mike Henry are executive producers and co-creators of the series.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Seth MacFarlane interview with Adam and Jack


Seth MacFarlane interview
I think it is his voice that kept me listening in combination with his mind/conversation on Jack. Love it, love the show.
Pretty Good!
(they actually meantion "Jabba Jaw" and Hanna Barbara, Rubic's Cube, Grape Ape etc.) Remember those cartoons? And yes he does the Peter voice.
Dag!
Photo curtesy of Adam Carolla Podcast

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Just for Laughs: Jamie jokes on Miley

Jamie Foxx makes crude radio rant on Miley Cyrus...
Read more

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Go See the film Knowing right away!


This is one of the best movies I have seen this year. I actually paid the matinee price and dragged my two children along with me to watch this film. I didn't wait for it to come out on video. My daughter is Autistic--this will tell parents of special needs kids how much I wanted to see Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage.
The previews looked really exiting but I didn't know if that would be it for the movie or what. It was not. The entire film moved along well: explaining, unraveling, following, back story, character definition. Mr. Cage explored fully the main character-who was a professor of cosmology. His star gazing led to him understanding of the importance of the page of numbers his character's son brought home from the time capsule at his school. The film transcends this world's obsession with petty differences based on race, gender and age and speaks to the audience as they stand naked and helpless before nature itself. Knowing spoke to me as a human. The action was heart-stopping. I covered my eyes at some points. It was so real and believable.
This film was frightening, mind opening and humbling all at once.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Nicolas Cage Interview – KNOWING

"Cage: Well, I have a movie called 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' coming out. Werner Herzog directed that. I have a movie called 'Season of the Witch' coming out that Dominic Sean directed and now this week I'll be doing, commencing photography on 'Sorcerer's Apprentice'. Plus, I have two animated features coming out which hopefully make the kids smile."

Nicolas Cage Interview – KNOWING

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Saturday, March 07, 2009

Dr. Zag gives the thumbs up to Cage's 2009 thriller Knowing

Hey Harry -

I just got back from a screening of KNOWING and wanted to share my reaction since I’ve been hearing a lot about the movie and haven’t read any reviews yet. I'll start off by prefacing this that it way exceeded my expectations. Yes, it was Alex Proyas so I should have been more excited, but it had been 10 years since his last movie that I loved -- actually one of my top sci-fi of all time -- Dark City. On top of that, it was a new Nic Cage movie, which meant it had a 50% chance of sucking. I was hoping for the Nic Cage from action movies like The Rock or Face/Off, not Ghost Rider or Next Nic.

So imagine my surprise when I walked out of the theater with the initial thought that I'd just seen a brilliant thriller. I'm going to try to keep this as spoiler free as possible, b/c the trailers are doing a great job of concealing some of the shocking (and pleasant) surprises of this movie. It's an intense experience - the movie is filled with a pervasive sense of dread (compounded by the spectacular disaster sequences - Roland Emmerich should take note - this is how you create disaster sequences with shock and consequences while investing people emotionally -- not just empty spectacle). But the turns that this movie takes produce a surprising ray of hope, and not in the Deep Impact or Armageddon kind of way where people improbably save the day in the nick of time.

The movie begins with Cage's son receiving a string of hand written numbers from a time capsule that his (and Nic's former) elementary school unearth. Cage is an astrophysics professor and he is raising his son by himself - his wife died years earlier - and in his opening classroom scenes you get the sense that this loss and his academic philosophy have left him believing that he's living in a world without meaning, where everything happens at random. The discovery that the numbers may have predicted every major disaster (the numbers list date/total deaths/longitude-latitude location) throws this entire belief system into chaos.

He doesn't come full circle until a horrifying plane crash matches one of the three number sequences left to happen. It's an insane sequence - shot all in one take (reminded me of those crazy ass action scenes from Children of Men that were done in one unbroken camera shot). After this he becomes a true believer and sets out on a quest to find out who wrote the numbers.

The end of the film is bold - definitely not what I was expecting - especially for a mainstream Hollywood film. I appreciate the fact that Alex Proyas decided not to go the easy way out and give everything a supernatural explanation - it's all readily explainable and it really ties in the theme of spirituality/meaning vs. science/randomness in some unique ways. It's emotional and it will leave you thinking and debating the outcome with your friends. I still can't shake it.

Some gripes -- it sags in the middle a bit after going at a break neck pace for the first half. There are some Cage moments that are a bit cringe-worthy, but all tolerable within the overall journey of his character.

The good - incredible tension throughout most of the film. A threatening sense of dread and a true mystery was unraveled that I didn't see coming. The disaster sequences - jaw-dropping. And the relationship between father and son was particularly affecting.

Overall I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10. Alex Proyas is back folks and Nic Cage can chalk one up to "good" 50% column. He's safe until National Treasure 3.

If you decide to use this review, please call me Dr. Zag.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail tops box office

The Jonas Brothers are a genuine sensation - in all seriousness, they might just be the biggest act on Earth.

And the Jonas Brothers had a film out on Friday. So what’s the number one movie at the weekend box office this week? You guessed it - it’s Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail.

Monday, March 02, 2009

Ebony & Jet on the brink of ruin

This e-mail was sent to me from my friend, Toni:

One of the MOST notable permanent fixtures in EVERY black household (back in the days), was the Ebony, along with Jet magazine.

If you wanted to learn about your history, the plight of black america, current issues facing black americans, how the political process of america affects you, how politics works, who the hottest actors were, what time a particular black television show aired, who got married recently, who were the most eligible bachelors, and bachelorettes in your town, what cities had black mayors, police chiefs, school superintendents, how to register to vote, what cars offer the best value for the buck, who employed black americans, how to apply for college scholarships, ect, MORE THAN LIKELY, the Ebony, or the Jet magazine could help you find answers to those questions.

We have recently been informed that the Johnson Publishing Company organization is currently going through a financial crisis. The company is attempting a reorganization in order to survive. Many people have already lost their jobs with a company that has employed thousands of black americans during the course of it's existence.

In order to support this effort to save OUR magazine, my friends and myself have pledged to get a subscription to both, Ebony, and Jet magazine, starting with one year. We are urging EVERY other person who comes across this plea, to do the same. Please post, repost, and post again, to any blog that you may own, or support. Please email this to EVERY person that you know, regardless of their background. Let them know that Ebony, and Jet magazine has been part of the black american culture for 3 quarters of a century, and that there is a lot that they can learn about black american culture from reading them.

We are currently discussing the idea of throwing an Ebony/Jet party, where people can eat, drink, and sign up for their subscription on the spot. Please spread this idea around to all that you know. Your sororities, fraternities, lodges, VFW posts, churches, civic groups, block clubs, caps meetings, book clubs, ect.

It would be a crying shame, to lose our historic magazine, during the same year of such an historic event as the election of our FIRST BLACK President of the US.

May our Father continue to bless us, in the name of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Fence & Fog

Jerry Seinfeld hosts new comedy reality show

NEW YORK - Jerry Seinfeld is headed back to NBC as the producer of a comic reality series about marriage.

The series, called "The Marriage Ref," will feature a real-life couple involved in a marital spat.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Jamie Foxx "Blame It" video premiere

A star-studded study in human nature...

Everyone grown has been here at one time or another. Can you squeeze another big name in this vid, Jamie? I love this video and this song!
I love when songs examine human nature and motives and all.

Friday, February 20, 2009

CNBC Tantrum too little, too late

Translation: This is what I wanted to say last year but was afraid to do so.

See, I was too busy filling my pockets to notice that the economy was going to hell in a hand basket WAY BACK THEN. I feel it is appropriate to yell and scream at a president who has been on the job for about a month.
This is what fear does to a man. It keeps his mouth shut until he feels as if he has nothing to fear anymore.

The horse has left the barn and the barn is on fi-ya. The man with the fire hose who is busy putting out the fi-ya should be yelled at because he is the only adult on duty right now.

Seems about right to me.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Worth Reading

I found this book while searching for representation. It sounds interesting.
Writer's Representatives

This is what a musical genius sounds like, looks like

This is standing applause. Keep making that music, Ye.


KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Nic Cage is Al Capone in Untouchables Prequel

May 12, 2007
Source: MTV
by Alex Billington

Remember that great 1987 mafia movie The Untouchables that won Sean Connery an Oscar and brought the great performances of Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro to light, as well as a wonderful score from Ennio Morricone? Sticking with the Hollywood trend of sequels (and prequels) these days, they're bringing it back from the dead and making a prequel tentatively titled The Untouchables: Capone Rising, and they've already got their star - Nic Cage. Cage will play Al Capone, the role that Robert De Niro played in the original, but no other major roles have been cast yet.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Urotherapy Works?

LA PAZ, Bolivia – A Bolivian woman has died from an injection of urine allegedly administered by her friend as a form of health therapy, a prosecutor said Tuesday. Investigating prosecutor Oscar Flores told The Associated Press that 35-year-old Gabriela Ascarrunz died Saturday of an "infection caused by urine that was injected by fashion designer Monica Schultz."
I cannot imagine how this works but apparently it does. I would like to know why it did not work in this woman's case but it did work in the clothing designer who allegedly gave her the fatal dosage.
I read a little on this topic and saw on Wikipedia that Madonna used it to cure athelet's foot fungus.
Apparently this urotherapy has been around for thousands of years.
Growing up I have heard old wives tales that say wipe your face or the baby's face with infant urine for healthy skin. I saw the end results of this but the person was not using cloth diapers but the modern kind. Maybe that was a factor but the baby's face was rash upon rash. Maybe as time went on it cleared up--I dunno.
Anyone else know about urotherapy?

Look What I Can Do!

Watch this preview and tell me it is not funny. Amy is funny and the writing seems off the chain! (And it is set in Indiana)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Black Milk-Give the Drummer Some

Kanye West, T.I. React To Chris Brown's Arrest - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

Kanye West, T.I. React To Chris Brown's Arrest - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Chris Brown's Songs, TV Appearances Yanked From Air - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

Chris Brown's Songs, TV Appearances Yanked From Air - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Rihanna Is 'Fine,' According To Her Grandmother - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

Rihanna Is 'Fine,' According To Her Grandmother - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Text Message Might Be Behind Chris Brown/ Rihanna Fight - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

Text Message Might Be Behind Chris Brown/ Rihanna Fight - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Chris Brown's Family Has History Of Domestic Abuse - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

Chris Brown's Family Has History Of Domestic Abuse - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Monday, February 09, 2009

List of Grammy winners (the collab was tight)

For recordings released during the Eligibility Year
October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008
Note: More or less than 5 nominations in a category is the result of ties
.


Now back to the collaborative performance "Swagger". Just about everyone who I Twittered with said they want to see a tour with all of them.

As written on one of the Grammy blog posts:"...The newly-formed Rap Pack emerged with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, T.I, and a very pregnant M.I.A. who seemed to fully let loose on stage rolling and riffing with the hip hop gentlemen for "Swagga Like Us."

Twittering while watching the Grammys was the best thing ever but it depends on who you follow. I have good Twitter taste.
Overall, I was completely impressed with the show and its guests and overjoyed with the interactive presence this year with the Grammys. Keep up the good work.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Kanye at the Grammys

Caption this! on TwitPic

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

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!