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Today's Papers: Cheney to CIA: Don't Tell Congress About Program

The New York Times leads news that, under instructions from former vice-president Dick Cheney, the CIA deliberately failed to tell Congress about a secret counterterrorism program. The Washington Post leads news that Attorney General Eric Holder is considering whether to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations that CIA operatives tortured terrorism suspects. The Los Angeles Times leads a recap of President Obama's visit to Ghana, where he gave a speech exhorting the African continent to take responsibility for its own future. None of the papers provide any actual material details about the secret counterterrorism program, which apparently lasted from 2001 until early last month, when CIA director Leon Panetta learned of its existence and ordered it disbanded. Two unnamed sources told the NYT about Cheney's apparent involvement in covering up the program, which the CIA claims was never actually operational. To continue reading, click here.

Swim club president denies racism in pool controversy

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- The president of The Valley Swim Club on Friday strongly denied charges of racism after his club canceled the swimming privileges of a nearby day care center whose children are predominantly African-American."It was never our intention to offend anyone," said John Duesler. "This thing has been blown out of proportion."Duesler said his club -- which he called "very diverse" -- invited camps in the Philadelphia area to use his facility because of the number of pools in the region closed due to budget cuts this summer. He said he underestimated the amount of children who would participate, and the club's capacity to take on the groups was not up to the task."It was a safety issue," he said.

The Creative Steps Day Care children -- who are in kindergarten through seventh grade -- went to The Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley on June 29 after the center's director, Alethea Wright, had contracted to use the club once a week.During their first visit, some children said they heard club members asking why African-American children were there. One youngster told a Philadelphia television station a woman there said she feared the children "might do something" to her child.  Watch Wright react to comments allegedly aimed at the children »

Days later, the day care center's $1,950 check was returned without explanation, Wright said.

She was dismissive of Duesler's comments Friday."He knows what happened at the pool that day," Wright told CNN in a telephone interview. "I was embarrassed and humiliated."She called it an "unfortunate situation," adding, "I know what happened; the members know what happened and a higher power knows what happened."  Watch the club president say racism is not at play »

After news reports of the incident, the office of Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania) said Specter sent a letter to the club president asking him to reinstate the contract with Creative Steps, saying, "I think that you would agree that there is no place for racism in America today."Duesler said he appreciates the senator's concern, but the club's board has yet to make a decision of how it will proceed."If we're going to revise our policies here, we need to make it so for all the camps," he said. "I just don't think we're prepared for that." SOURCE: CNN.COM

iPhone Blog Buzz Mobile Chatter 07.10.09

It's over for House Resolution 600 - the legislation introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas that would have proclaimed Michael Jackson as an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian. Michael Jackson's widely televised memorial on Tuesday - carried live across an unprecedented 18 cable and broadcast networks - drew 31.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, with ABC and CNN attracting the highest number of viewers.A suburban Philadelphia swim club accused of kicking out a group of African American and Hispanic children visiting from the city is denying that their actions were racist. READ MORE Chrisette Michele has been chosen as the opening act for Maxwell during his sold-out 14-city U.S. tour in support of BLACKsummers’night, his comeback album that was released on July 7. The trek opens July 12 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and concludes at Miami’s Waterfront Theater on July 31. Ahead of a visit to Ghana at the weekend, he said: “Ultimately, I’m a big believer that Africans are responsible for Africa. “I think part of what’s hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we’ve made excuses about corruption or poor governance, that this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism – I’m not a big – I’m not a believer in excuses. Maxwell has said he used his sabbatical to clear his head and get a life. But it’s clear from his new CD, “BLACKsummers’night,” he also used the time to woodshed something esthetically unique. While the Brooklyn-based singer has always put an original stamp on soul, never has he devised work of this invention or erudition. (Continue Reading…) En Vogue marked their 20th anniversary as one of music’s most successful female groups with a reunion show that electrified the crowd at the Essence Music Festival.“I’m just glad we were able to connect with them.” “We’re just excited to be together again,” Robinson said. “It’s like we never missed a beat. It feels normal again.” Known for their hits “Free Your Mind,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) and “Don’t Let Go,” the group opened the final night of the festival. They performed a medley of tunes by female artists who inspired them, including Tina Turner, Anita Ward and Aretha Franklin. (Continue Reading…) Terrell Carter, the talented singer and actor who starred in a number of Tyler Perry's "Madea" productions, becomes the second black male celebrity outed in the last two weeks. Carter starred in Tyler Perry’s Class Reunion and Meet the Browns, as well as the screen adaptation of TP's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Carter was also in the "What's Done in the Dark" plays. The six foot five, dark and lovely actor with the phenomenal voice also has quite the phenomenal physique, which made him all the more popular among female audiences.CONTINUE READING..A pair of Kanye West-related videos that leaked after last week’s Island Def Jam spring party made their official debuts yesterday, as legit versions of The-Dream’s “Walkin’ on the Moon” featuring West, and West’s own “Paranoid,” starring Rihanna, hit the blogs. For “Walkin’ on the Moon,” off The-Dream’s excellent second album Love Vs. Money, the Atlanta CONTINUE READING.. The Game has continued his onslaught of disses towards Jay-Z with the Day Two: Jon Clettas Edition video blog where the rapper is seen taunting the rap mogul while traveling in Spain.Very disturbing developments in the case of August Provost, the 29-year-old black gay sailor found dead at Camp Pendleton. A Southern California congressman confirms the deceased was gay and killed in a horrific manner, and is calling for congressional and Defense Department investigations.T.I. couldn’t stand not seeing his baby moms for longer than three weeks so he finally broke down and requested for her to come see him in prison. Pop the hood for more Rap artist T.I. entered a minimum security federal prison in Arkansas on Tuesday (5/26) to begin serving a 366 day sentence on federal charges.ust like most summers, there isn't a whole of R&B or Soul music coming out in July '09. But as it turns out, some of the ones being released are huge. The most noteworthy is BLACKsummers'night, the fourth studio album by Soul man Maxwell. Another is Signature, the latest release from another sophisticated brother who makes the ladies swoon, Joe (aka Joe Thomas). Also dropping a new album is yet another heartthrob, Chico DeBarge, whose latest release, Addicted, will be competing for first-month sales with Exposed, the debut album by his  niece, Kristinia DeBarge. For the full details, check out the article on the new R&B/Soul albums of July 2009. Even after a breakout debut season at Pepperdine, most people don’t know about 6-3 Keion Bell. But with 11 clips on YouTube that include a dunk over a 7-footer and a poster on DeMar Derozan, he’ll soon become a household name. This summer Keion and his 41-inch vertical found his way to the Kobe Basketball Academy where he won the Camp Slam Dunk Contest judged by Kobe, Ice Cube and Josh Powell. READ MORE..The Black Eyed Peas are being accused of swiping a song from UK-based DJ and producer Adam Freeland without his permission. THAT'S A WRAP! HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND XOXO

Coach, teammates remember slain ex-NFL QB McNair

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Steve McNair's pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.McNair, who was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself."Drop your stone the next time you write about Steve McNair. Drop your stone the next time you text somebody. Drop your stone the next time you twitter. Drop your stone, those of you in the barbershops, the beauty shops. Those of you walking the streets on the corner, drop your stone," Bishop Joseph W. Walker III told thousands of people, among them family members, fans and more than 50 former teammates, gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church."What I do know about this man was that he loved God though he was just like us: imperfect," Walked said. "But he knew God."Among those in the audience was McNair's wife, Mechelle, who later left wearing sunglasses. Walker called her an amazing woman."You have inspired us all to endure hardship as a good soldier," he said.It was her first public appearance since her husband died, and press photographers were asked not to take pictures of her or other family members.Fans had lined up starting Thursday morning to view McNair's closed silvery-gray casket at a funeral home and later outside the church. A helicopter provided live TV footage as McNair's body was moved by hearse, and three of four local TV stations showed the memorial service live.McNair's casket was on display at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked by a large photo of him posing with his 2003 NFL MVP award on the right and another of him holding a football on the left.The program included a statement from the McNair family."Today in our loss, our hurt, and our pain we recognize our gains in you our friends and loved ones ... They have all been a source of strength and comfort at this time to our family," it read.Titans owner Bud Adams, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean all attended.SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

Police Conclude Sahel Kazemi Murdered Steve McNair, Killed Herself

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 8) -- A distraught Sahel Kazemi shot Steve McNair four times in his sleep, then turned the gun on herself, police confirmed on Wednesday.Kazemi "was spinning out of control" when she shot McNair on July 4, Police Chief Ronal Serpas said. Interviews with friends led detectives to conclude she was becoming increasingly upset over events in her life, including financial problems. Police said she also suspected McNair was seeing another woman. Police earlier had labeled McNair's death a homicide, but awaited further tests and investigation before saying for sure what happened.Kazemi told a friend on Friday that "My life is a ball of s--- and I should end it," Serpas said. Her friends also revealed to police that she was making payments on two cars and her rent was doubling, in addition to her concerns that McNair was involved in a second affair.McNair, 36, a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans most of his career, met Kazemi six months ago at a restaurant where she was a waitress and his family often ate. She seemed happy and eager to build a life with him, but something went wrong."We do know that she was clearly sending a message during the last five to seven days of her life that things were going bad quickly," Serpas said, though there was no indication she told anyone she planned to harm McNair. Serpas said detectives learned that Kazemi recently found out about another young woman she thought McNair was romantically involved with and even followed that woman home, though she did not confront her. Serpas said police believe McNair was asleep when he was killed because there were no defensive wounds. After shooting McNair in the head, Kazemi apparently shot him twice in the chest before shooting him in the head again. She then sat next to McNair's body and "tried to stage it so she would fall in his lap," Serpas said. She did, but her body slid to the floor and ended up at McNair's feet, Serpas said. The gun was found underneath Kazemi. CONTINUE READING

Video: K'Jon - "On The Ocean"

For R&B artist K'Jon, lately everyday means a new height of success. Upon its release, K'Jon's single "On the Ocean" became a massive hit. After spending five weeks at #1 on the Urban AC charts, "On the Ocean" helped launch K'Jon into a new level of his career. This, the music video for the hit single, only further helps relate K'Jon's universal story. The open-ended tale of K'Jon's struggle for success, as told in the song, is explicitly defined in the video. Directed by Rik Cordero (work with: Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Q-Tip, John Legend), the video displays the story of a laborer who is laid off only to find a greater career down the road. We also get to see K'Jon deliver his uplifting lyrics in quite a poetic manner: on the ocean (literally). Between clips of a well-off K'Jon cruising blue water and a more realistic K'Jon fighting to get a career off the ground, the message of "On the Ocean" becomes all the more clearer, and its never-give-up-on-your-goals theme all the more believable.The Background: Gettin' around? - No matter how you slice it, Universal Republic newcomer K'Jon has already arrived. He's just making it official on August 4, delivering his aptly titled debut album, I Get Around to stores and online platforms in time for summer, having been more than adequately introduced to urban music fans this past spring thanks to the album's soaring first single, "On The Ocean," which has become a radio/club classic. The magnetic hit sizzled on the nightlife grid for months as a popular 'steppers' hit in tastemaker cities like Chicago before rocketing last week to the top spot on the Urban AC radio chart. The inspirational song has also become the #1 Greatest Gainer at both the Mediabase and BDS charts. Often compared to stylish hit makers such as Ne-Yo and Robin Thicke, the talented K'Jon kept the production in-house on his debut effort, with the Detroit native guiding production and writing chores on a kaleidoscope of diverse songs that includes the passionate radio hit, as well as the mesmerizing "This Time," the cool flow of "After The Clubs," and some dynamo ballads - including the sweeping "Ill Never Forget," among others. Says K'Jon: "The goal with this album was to make a record that covered a lot of emotional territory - the kind of record you would be able to listen to from beginning to end and want to hear again." The imaginative songwriter even laid down a track that plays with the superhero mystique on the clever "Fly Away."
But the Detroit native's rise to stardom hasn't been a smooth trajectory all the way. He earned his stripes in the motor city's competitive underground urban music scene, launching various indie collaborations until his breakout 2004 cameo on the electric 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack with the hit "Miami." Soon, he was opening for established stars such asLudacris, even collaborating with the talented rapper - and subsequently - many other sought-after industry song-makers, like super-producers Cool & Dre, Ginuwine, Ne-Yo, T-Pain, and others.Video link - http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=60160894 K'Jon's latest release, I GET AROUND, will be available August 4th via Universal Republic. Check out the hit lead single, "On The Ocean" -http://umrg.edgeboss.net/qtime/umrg/_promo/kjon/kjon_ontheocean.mov

Thousands gather for final farewell to MJ

 Michael Jackson's body will be brought to the memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles today, sources said. A long motorcade of black vehicles left the home of Jackson's mother, Katherine, a short while ago and drove through the gates of Forest Lawn cemetery. Jackson's family and friends are attending a private gathering at the cemetery before the public memorial. LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's body will be brought to the memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, sources involved in the planning said. Jackson's family and closest friends attended a gathering at the Hollywood Hills' Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Tuesday morning before going to the public memorial.Teddy Riley, a singer who worked closely with Jackson on several albums, said Jackson family members told him the casket will be driven in a procession from Forest Lawn to the arena.A second source familiar with the planning also said the King of Pop's body would be delivered to the arena."It wouldn't be fair for the fans who are going to appear and be here at the Staples Center not to see his casket," Riley said. An army of fans poured in to Los Angeles from places far-flung, hoping to collectively mourn their idol in a massive ceremony. Parking lots in the area raised their prices, some as high as $30. Airports in Southern California saw a spike in bookings. And several movie theaters in the area announced special screenings of the event, which also will be carried live by some television networks and Web sites. Police put up concrete barriers around the center, allowing only fans with tickets to the star-studded event to enter. "It's overwhelming," Michelle Mann said outside the Staples Center. "We can't believe that we're here." Fans of Michael Jackson are arriving for the final farewell to the King of Pop. full story A marathon of stars, friends and family are coming on stage to praise Michael Jackson. Lists of accomplishments, personal stories and rousing hymns -- all to honor the King of Pop.(CNN) -- A host of entertainers and celebrities came out to pay tribute to Michael Jackson, the man called the "King of Pop," as the audience sat in rapt attention.Many gasped in heartbreak when Usher, after performing the Jackson song "Gone Too Soon," knelt to pay his respects to Katherine Jackson, the entertainer's mother, and the family.An obviously moved Brooke Shields, her voice occasionally cracking, called him "one of a kind." John Mayer played an alternately gentle, alternately soaring version of Jackson's "Human Nature."An opening hymn, Andrae Crouch's "Soon and Very Soon," was followed by elegaic addresses by Rev. Lucious Smith and Queen Latifah and a performance of the Jackson 5 hit "I'll Be There" by Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz.The packed audience cheered as single-gloved pallbearers wheeled Jackson's flower-laden, golden casket to a lighted spot just below center stage in Los Angeles' Staples Center as the Jackson memorial service began Tuesday. Gallery: Celebrities inside Staples »full story

Maxwell Calls 'Healthy' Eight-Year Hiatus a 'Luxury'

We live in a time where artists are created, rise and often fall right before our eyes, so it's no wonder why a celebrity would chose to remove themselves from the limelight in an effort to grow personally and artistically. In the music industry we call this [removal from the spotlight] a hiatus and the return is categorized as a comeback. In a recent interview, we chatted with the subject of the most recent comeback, discussed his new album 'BLACKsummers'night' and learned the story behind his hiatus, so to speak. "Being away from this, from the industry and from the music world, has been really good for me because I kind of feel like I'm, for the first [time], a full, hundred percent man," Maxwell explains. "A man that's not sort of like surmised by what he does but by who he is in the world, so that was a really great healthy thing for me to go through in the eight years that I've been away ... away from ears, I guess, but not away really." Not only does the singer consider his time away as "healthy," but Maxwell describes his ability to step away from it all as a luxury. "I know that's so strange for people to even presume that stepping away from the limelight is a luxury, because most people perceive it as the thing you must always reach for and constantly maintain, your public image and being out there and all that." So what brings someone who has no actual desire to be famous back out of seclusion? For Maxwell, it's quite simple. It's all about the music for the admittedly shy singer and songwriter, but sometimes fear gets in the way. "The pressure builds, and your expectations get really high, and that's probably what the hindrance was for me. Just anticipating the expectations of people and what they would want, and all of this time has passed and music has changed, and how do you stay current and how do you maintain who you are, stay true to what you've done, but still look like you're in 2009 with everybody else?" After eight years, the singer's prior concerns are pretty valid, but his comeback album, 'BLACKsummers'night,' will definitely satisfy a Maxwell craving. Keeping with the proposed theme of the first album in the 'BLACKsummers'night' trilogy, 'BLACK' features penetrating love songs with reflective lyrics like the album's first single 'Pretty Wings.' "Time will bring the real end of our trial/ One day there'll be no remnants/ No trace no residual feelings within ya/ One day u won't remember me," Maxwell sings in the song written about his last relationship. Maxwell struggles with "the power of fighting with peace" in the deftly titled 'Fistful of Tears.'  "It plays into my whole saga with the music industry and how its kind of a war right now to be appreciated creatively," Maxwell says while explaining the concept behind 'Fistful of Tears.' Poor timing and emotional struggles are a running theme on the album, but things are brighter on 'Love You' and 'Phoenix Rise,' an instrumental that acts as a "Thank You" to the musicians behind 'BLACKsummers'night.' Tossed back on the scene with the release of his new album, Maxwell is seemingly still an anti-celebrity. The singer wraps up the interview with the BoomBox with an interesting admission. He will most likely not read any of the interviews or watch his own television performances ... at least not until he's in his "heyday." "There's something about while you're in the middle of everything and while you're in the zone that you should be left conscious of yourself, and you should definitely be -- as much as you can be -- unaware of how people feel and how people perceive you," he explains. "It makes your actions much more real." 'BLACKsummers'night' is in stores now.  Download Maxwell Songs

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Jermaine Jackson: ‘I wish it was me’

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NETWORKS ANNOUNCE MIJAC MEMORIAL COVERAGE: Several will preempt regular programming to air service live.

ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment have already announced plans to carry live broadcasts of Tuesday's 10 a.m. memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Charles Gibson will anchor ABC's coverage, while Chris Jansing will man the desk for MSNBC. CNN will carry the live broadcast on the main network as well as HLN (formerly Headline News). Anderson Cooper, Larry King and Don Lemon will cover for CNN, and Robin Meade, A.J. Hammer and Jane Velez-Mitchell will anchor at HLN. CNN en Espanol will also broadcast live. E! Entertainment announced it will beam the ceremony on its television network as well as its Web site. As for the other broadcast networks, CBS has dispatched "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric to the Staples Center, but producers have yet to announce whether it will cover the service live.  NBC will not feature live coverage, but will wrap up highlights in a one-hour prime-time special to air Tuesday night. Fox News Channel hadn't announced its plans at press time. More than 1.6 million fans registered for tickets to the memorial during the two-day registration period that ended Saturday at 6 p.m. A total of 17,500 tickets were made available to the general public—11,000 for inside the Staples Center and 6,500 for across the street at the Nokia Center, which will be filled with huge-screen TVs streaming the live event. SOURCE: EURWEB

MAXWELL TO DO CBS 'EARLY SHOW': Look for the soul master's live performance Wed. morning.

Come to the CBS Early Show Studio Plaza to see a FREE live outdoor performance with Modern Soul Master Maxwell for the release of his latest album BLACKsummers'night. Fans should arrive by 10:30 AM on July 8, 2009 at the CBS Early Show Studio Plaza (located in front of the midtown Apple Store) to get the opportunity to experience the sounds of Maxwell's eagerly awaited fourth studio album, BLACK summers'night. BLACKsummers'night, the heavily-anticipated new studio album from Maxwell, will be released on CD, and in a Limited Edition Deluxe CD/DVD set, on Tuesday, July 7.This is the sensuous opening installment of the artist's monumental BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT trilogy. (The trilogy's subsequent chapters, blackSUMMERS'night and blacksummers'NIGHT, are slated for release in 2010 and 2011 respectively.) Maxwell's first single, "Pretty Wings" holds the #1 slot on America's Urban Adult radio stations. The single reached #1 in record-breaking time less than eight weeks after its release. With Walmart as the only physical retailer, "Pretty Wings" single also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Singles chart. Maxwell began redefining classic soul music for a new generation with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, in April 1996. Fueled in part by the RIAA gold single, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)," the Grammy-nominated Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was certified platinum in March 1997, less than a year after its release, and achieved double platinum status, in recognition of sales of more than 2 million copies in the US alone, in 2002. Maxwell followed up with his MTV Unplugged EP, released in July 1997 and certified gold in September 1999.

Berkeley: crime-infested and dangerous to know?

Berkeley -- the 43rd most dangerous city in the United States? Really? Go figure. But that is the case, according to recently released data by online relocation resource Neighborhood Scout.The university city is seen as being more dangerous than Palm Springs (which places 88th) and North Miami (99), but is beaten to the post for the number one spot by Edinburg, Texas, whose population is just 48,863 and where your chances of becoming a crime victim are 1 in 97, compared to 1 in 177 in the foodie destination on the Bay.You've got to wonder about these rankings though -- particularly given the notable absence within them of Berkeley's neighbors, San Francisco and Oakland. Granted they both have much larger populations, but is it really safer to wander some 'hoods in those two locations -- both of which struggle with higher than average reported crimes -- than in Berkeley?The "dangerous cities" league table shows no other Californian city with more than 25,000 residents as being more dangerous than Berkeley.It's all enough to make you pack your bags and flee to where Neighborhood Scout reports is the safest city in the country -- Jackson, New Jersey, where, according to the numbers, there is effectively zero crime and one's chance of encountering it is a mere 1 in 10,000.Failing that, if you want to stick to California, try Trabuco Canyon, ranked the 19th safest location in the nation -- and where the median home price is $614,700. The full results of the survey can be found here -- liberal pinches of salt advised.

Serena Williams beats sister Venus at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title. She wasn't facing just anyone, of course. She was playing her older sister Venus. And when the latest all-Williams final finished, when Serena wrapped up a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory for a third Wimbledon championship and 11th major title overall, she jogged to the net with her arm extended for a handshake. Venus pulled her close for a warm embrace, instead.``I didn't think about Venus at all today. I just saw her as an opponent,'' said Serena, who also beat her sister in the 2002 and 2003 finals at the All England Club. ``At one point, after the first set, I looked on the side of the court at the stats, and it was like 'Williams,' 'Williams.' I couldn't figure out which was which.''That also might have been because she was facing the only other woman who can equal her power and court coverage on grass courts. Monday's rankings will say Serena is No. 2, and Venus No. 3 - behind No. 1 Dinara Safina, a 6-1, 6-0 loser to the elder Williams in the semifinals - but it is clear who the best woman in the world is at the moment.Serena has won three of the past four Grand Slam titles and even poked a little fun at Safina, who is 0-3 in major finals.``If you hold three Grand Slam titles, maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour, obviously,'' Serena said. Then, alluding sarcastically to two less-than-major events won by Safina, Serena doubled over in laughter after saying: ``I see myself as No. 2. That's where I am. I think Dinara did a great job to get to No. 1. She won Rome and Madrid.''The sisters' father, Richard Williams, used to say his youngest daughter would be the better of the two, and the numbers back that up at this point: Serena leads in Grand Slam titles (11-7), in head-to-head matches (11-10), and in all-Williams major finals (6-2).It was the 14th Grand Slam final for each Williams; no other active woman participated in more than four. Serena is 11-3 in such matches; Venus fell to 7-7, with all but one defeat coming against her sister. Asked if it's easier or harder losing to a sibling, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus said: ``There's no 'easy' to losing, especially when it's so close to the crown.'' SOURCE:COMCAST.NET

Former NFL Star Steve McNair Found Dead

TODAY'S PAPERS: Jobs Crush Recovery Dreams

The Washington Post and New York Times lead with, while the Wall Street Journal banners, the unexpectedly grim unemployment numbers released yesterday. While the rate only increased slightly to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, from 9.4 percent, the raw numbers led many to warn that economic recovery isn't on the horizon. The U.S. economy lost 467,000 jobs in June, marking the first time the monthly losses increased after they had been steadily shrinking from the January peak of 741,000. "There's nothing in here to show that the economy and the market are pulling out of the grip of recession," an economist tells the NYT. Stock markets around the world decreased, with the Dow Jones industrial average dropping 2.6 percent. The Los Angeles Times off-leads the unemployment numbers and leads with news that California's controller began printing IOUs. It marked the second time since the Great Depression that the state had to resort to such an unusual action to meet its obligations. The controller decided to state the obvious and said the IOUs "are a sign that the state is being fiscally mismanaged." Most of the IOUs are going to go taxpayers who are still owed income tax refunds, but many others, including businesses and pensioners, will also be getting the check-like pieces of paper that have the words "registered warrant" emblazoned on them. Some banks say they will accept the IOUs, at least for the next few days. The NYT off-leads the move and says it "was seen as a warning flag to other states."To continue reading, click here.

Best in Blogs: Measuring the MJ Aftershock; Franken Rising; Sanford Falling

Top Stories for the Week of June 29- July 3, 2009 ~ There are plenty of ways to measure the impact of Michael Jackson. The extreme strain that news of his death put on the Internet is just the latest. "Web Collapses Under the Weight of Michael Jackson's Death," TechCrunch reported. What Google mistook for a Denial of Service attack amid an epic spike in searches related to Michael Jackson was "a different kind of DoS: the Death of Superstar," says Changing Way. Google's chart of MJ-related queries on the day of his hospitalization and death looks like a tidal wave; the search service even snubbed some MJ news seekers, saying their frenzy resembled the persistence of malicious bot-a-matons. Yahoo News set an all-time record with 16.4 million visitors, beating the old record of 15.1 million set last election day, says SearchEngineLand. The Yahoo report, "Michael Jackson rushed to hospital," was the highest clicking story in Yahoo's history with "a whopping 800,000 clicks within 10 minutes" says Business Insider. Twitter was besieged. Nine of the 10 trending topics on Twitter were MJ-related. SEOMozBlog has a tick-tock-timeline of the online deluge, which blew up last Thursday when TMZ.com went live with the breaking news. An email and Twitter link to TMZ hit a high of almost 42 clicks a second. Meanwhile Cover Awards has been gathering as many MJ magazine covers as it can find.  Jezebel assembled breaking news links of immediate reactions from celebrities and early speculation about drugs, money and more. HuffPo rounds up photos of fans in mourning and tribute. Facebook reported a tripling of status updates. Wikipedia froze (uh, "temporarily protected") its Michael Jackson page amid an "edit-and-delete-the-edits scrum" by citizen-editors, says Digital Media. SearchEngineLand says "the final word about this extraordinary day belongs to AOL, whose AIM messaging service was knocked offline for 40 minutes Thursday." Now the grim aftermath unwinds. "The DEA and LAPD are looking into MJ's doctors and their drug prescription habits," reports Popsquire: "This is starting to look more and more like a criminal investigation." Initial reports that Jackson may have bequeathed the Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney are in doubt. Young, Black & Fabulous says Michael's will from 2002 has been officially filed, and he expressly said his cash should go to provide for his three children, for whom he designated his mother Katherine as guardian—with Diana Ross as a backup.

LA braces for horde of Michael Jackson mourners

LOS ANGELES - City officials are scrambling over the holiday weekend to try to figure out how to accommodate a public memorial service for Michael Jackson at a venue that can hold no more than 20,000 people.The event has been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the downtown Staples Center, according to a statement from the Jackson family's publicist. The service is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators wanting to pay their respects to the King of Pop, who died June 25. How city officials will handle the massive crowd remains to be settled. Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson's promoter, said tickets would be free. He was not sure how they would be distributed. A press conference to announce further details was planned for Friday. Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine said plans for the memorial are clearly moving forward, but he wished there had been more time to work out the logistics."If you can imagine 100,000 people show up and you have 20,000 capacity, there is not sufficient room. Now you have a crowd-control problem," he said. With the July Fourth holiday weekend "it's the worst time ... to work something out." He also said he's concerned about the cost of police overtime for the cash-strapped city. Jackson's brother Jermaine told CNN's Larry King that there will be a private ceremony for family and some special guests before the public memorial. He added the family wants to have other memorials around the United States. Meanwhile, the future of Michael Jackson's children was thrown into question Thursday when his ex-wife emerged and won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides whether she wants to raise her two offspring. It was the first legal move from Deborah Rowe since the entertainer's death. Jackson's will asks for his 79-year-old mother, Katherine, to get permanent custody of his three. Rowe, who met Jackson as a receptionist in the office of his dermatologist, has characterized their relationship as strictly for the purpose of giving birth to Jackson's children. She is the mother of his two oldest children and received $8.5 million in their divorce, according to court records. His youngest child, 7-year-old Prince Michael II, was conceived with an unidentified surrogate. Rowe has spent little time with her son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11. But Rowe also has opposed the idea of Katherine Jackson getting custody of her children when it came up in the past. Rowe's attorney, Eric M. George, said his client had not decided whether to seek custody. A guardianship hearing was set for July 13 at the request of attorneys for Rowe and for Katherine Jackson, who has temporary guardianship of her son's children. SOURCE