Keepingitreal

Today's News Highlights 06.20.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
McIlroy captures history at Congressional
Rory McIlroy posts the lowest mark in tournament history, shooting a final-round 69 for a total of 16-under 268, as he runs away with the 111th U.S. Open.
(By Barry Svrluga)

CEO Pay: What the area’s executives make
Hefty stock awards and bonuses drove total compensation up over 20 percent for Washington’s highest-paid chief executives last year, reflecting a nationwide trend among the largest public companies.
(By Danielle Douglas)

With executive pay, rich pull away from America
A mounting body of economic research indicates that the rise in pay for company executives is a critical feature in the widening income gap.
(By Peter Whoriskey)

Rise in charitable giving may signal economic rebound
Charitable giving in the United States rose last year for the first time in two years, signaling a rebound in the economy.
(By Annie Gowen)

Hospitals courting primary-care doctors
The push is forcing doctors to make decisions about how to deliver care to patients.
(By Lena H. Sun)

POLITICS
PROMISES, PROMISES: No action yet from Obama on guns despite call for steps
WASHINGTON — More than five months after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, the White House has yet to take any new steps on gun violence, even though that’s what President Barack Obama called for in the wake of the shooting.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Black slaves, freedmen risked their lives to work as Union spies down South during Civil War
WASHINGTON — In the Confederate circles he navigated, John Scobell was considered just another Mississippi slave: singing, shuffling, illiterate and completely ignorant of the Civil War going on around him.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

PROMISES, PROMISES: No action yet from Obama on guns despite call for steps
WASHINGTON — More than five months after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, the White House has yet to take any new steps on gun violence, even though that’s what President Barack Obama called for in the wake of the shooting.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Michelle Obama aims to inspire youth leaders during upcoming visit to South Africa, Botswana
WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama is fond of saying there’s no magic to her being first lady.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

First lady departs for trip to to Africa
First lady Michelle Obama, along with her two daughters, left for Africa on Sunday, her second official solo journey abroad.
(, The Washington Post)

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STYLE
Ask Amy: Words of love, uttered and ... forgotten?
During a weekend outing, her boyfriend told her he loved her, would marry her “in a week” and wanted her to have his baby. The next day, he couldn’t remember what he said. Yes, there was drinking involved.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Special guest request
Heloise asks: Is it fair to ask for unusual, specialty or hard-to-find food items when you are a guest in someone’s home? Readers, what do you have to say?
(, King)

Why a mom may have stayed with an abusive husband
Mom didn’t leave her abusive husband and now a daughter won’t forgive her. Did Mom have a good reason for staying — such as loss of her children?
(, The Washington Post)

Calm by the green, crazed by the pitch
At the U.S. Open and the Gold Cup, vastly dissimilar cultures were on display — entirely different, yet very much the same.
( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)

FTC vs. National Gallery
Republican lawmaker’s push to have the National Gallery take over the historic FTC building has sparked a turf battle in Washington.
( by Ned Martel , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Giants fan beating suspect up for parole revocation hearing at Los Angeles jail
LOS ANGELES — The main suspect in the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium in March faces a court hearing to determine whether he should remain in jail for violating terms of his parole.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Sunday's Sports In Brief
BETHESDA, Md. — On another brilliant day of golf, Rory McIlroy ran away with the U.S. Open title, winning by eight shots and breaking the tournament scoring record by a whopping four strokes.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Franchitti wins in Milwaukee, pulls even with Power in IndyCar points standings
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — With Sunday’s win in Milwaukee, Dario Franchitti pulled even with Will Power in the IndyCar Series points standings.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Even with White Sox, Cubs under .500, crosstown series could provide some drama
CHICAGO — Ozzie Guillen’s kidney stone just might be the perfect metaphor for this baseball season in Chicago.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ticket to Augusta: Kevin Chappell's strong US Open comes to a Masters-ful conclusion
BETHESDA, Md. — The top eight finishers at the U.S. Open qualify for next year’s Masters, and that’s a big deal for someone like Kevin Chappell.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Reports: Japan's prime minister under pressure to resign next month
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, criticized for his handling of the tsunami disaster and the country’s sluggish economy, is under pressure to resign next month if budget bills are passed by parliament, reports said Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Syria’s president: ‘Saboteurs’ are trying to exploit a movement seeking legitimate reforms
Syria’s embattled president says “saboteurs” are trying to exploit legitimate demands for reform in the country.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

British foreign secretary says Syrian leader Assad must reform or go, asks Turkey's help
LUXEMBOURG — Britain’s foreign secretary said Monday that Syria’s leader must reform or go, as the country’s regime continues a brutal crackdown on dissent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Greek power company workers start strikes against privatization, potentially causing shortages
ATHENS, Greece — Greece faces potential power outages as employees at the main power utility strike to protest the company’s privatization, part of austerity plans essential for the country to avoid a default.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Handful of Melbourne-Sydney flights canceled as volcanic ash moves over southern Australia
SYDNEY — Qantas and Virgin Australia plan to cancel flights into and out of the southern city of Adelaide on Tuesday, when an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano is expected to again move into Australian airspace. Some service on a budget carrier between the country’s two largest cities was also suspended.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS

Outlook: Faux lesbians and anonymity online
Join Washington Post bloggers Melissa Bell and Elizabeth Flock as they discuss the quest to unmask the real blogger behind the "Gay Girl in Damascus" blog.
(, vForum)

D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

Outlook: Faux lesbians and anonymity online
Join Washington Post bloggers Melissa Bell and Elizabeth Flock as they discuss the quest to unmask the real blogger behind the "Gay Girl in Damascus" blog.
(, vForum)

From devoted, to deadbeat, to cannibal: How animal fathers survive in the wild
Join Dr. Stephen Vessey as he chats about the various ways animals choose to rear their young. How different are they from human dads?
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
‘Reminder: Call Dad,’ Another Notch In Google’s Belt Of Social Fail

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Adobe Software Updates To Help Devs Build iOS, PlayBook And Android Apps

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

The Bitcoin Trials Continue: Mt. Gox Exchange Collapses Due To Compromised Account

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

VillageVines Relaunches As Savored, Expands Discount Dining To 10 Cities

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Yup, YouTube Counts Video Ads As Regular Views

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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EDITORIAL
More questions about those erasures
D.C. school officials wonder why the popular Singapore math program hasn’t worked at an elementary school.
(, The Washington Post)

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BUSINESS
Athens will get loan to avoid default, but must act on spending, privatization laws
LUXEMBOURG — The markets were in jittery mood once again Monday after eurozone finance ministers failed to agree to release the next bailout loan installment to Greece — money that is needed to prevent a debt default that could trigger financial chaos.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Athens will get loan to avoid default, but must act on spending, privatization laws
LUXEMBOURG — European stocks and the euro slipped Monday after eurozone finance ministers came up short of a final deal to get Greece its next installment of bailout money that is needed to prevent a default that could cause financial chaos.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Airbus superjumbo A380 grounded at Paris Air Show after clipping a wing
LE BOURGET, France — Airbus’ star jet has been grounded after clipping a wing on a taxiway structure, the latest in an embarrassing string of incidents for the European jet maker at the aviation industry’s premier showcase.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Japanese exports drop 10.3 percent in May as impact from quake and tsunami lingers
TOKYO — Japan’s exports dropped for the third straight month in May, hit by massive production losses in the auto sector following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disasters, the government said Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

‘Reminder: Call Dad,’ Another Notch In Google’s Belt Of Social Fail

Today's News Highlights 06.15.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
A tough mission in Afghanistan 
A low-key Marine, Gen. John R. Allen, is set to take over the war at high-stakes moment.
(By Craig Whitlock) 

Nuclear waste dump is mired in inertia 
Yucca Mountain is a case study in government dysfunction and bureaucratic inertia. The project dates back three decades. It has not solved the problem of nuclear waste.
(By Joel Achenbach and Brian Vastag) 

Bachmann basks in newfound momentum 
Rep. Michele Bachmann enjoyed a day of fundraising, media exposure and glowing analysis of her newfound momentum on Tuesday, following a strong presidential debate performance.
(By Amy Gardner and Sandhya Somashekhar) 

States seeking to save on Medicaid 
Republican governors step up their resistance to rules requiring states to maintain current levels of health-care coverage for the poor and disabled under Medicaid.
(By Michael A. Fletcher) 

Graduating from elementary school? 
Dozens of elementary students in the D.C. area are celebrating what some critics call graduation inflation, the growth of ceremonies to mark the end of elementary school. 
(By Steve Hendrix) 

POLITICS 
Ambassador post blocked as US adoptive families fight for release of Vietnamese orphans 
HANOI, Vietnam — Marsha Sailors painted the nursery pink and green at her Missouri home, put up princess pictures and built a crib for her new little girl. They hadn’t yet met, but she already was in love with the smiling 6-month-old in a photo sent from Vietnam. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Detainee who provided key information about bin Laden courier rejoins al-Qaida 
WASHINGTON — The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA secret prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current U.S. intelligence officials. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

House Democrats hoping pressure from colleagues and wife's return will prod Weiner to resign 
WASHINGTON — House Democratic colleagues of scandal-scarred Rep. Anthony Weiner are looking for him to step down this week amid a growing chorus for him to resign. Even President Barack Obama has suggested he should leave. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Detainee who provided key information about bin Laden courier rejoins al-Qaida 
WASHINGTON — The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA secret prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current U.S. intelligence officials. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

New era sees more, bigger wildfires, echoing blazes a century ago as control policies change 
WASHINGTON — The fires searing parts of the West are an eerie echo of the past, a frightening reminder of a once terrible danger that had been held largely at bay for decades. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

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STYLE 
Group lists Coltrane house, Chicago hospital among endangered sites; Charleston on watch list 
WASHINGTON — Jazz musician John Coltrane’s home on Long Island, N.Y., a cloverleaf-shaped Chicago hospital building and a Pillsbury plant in Minneapolis that once was the world’s most advanced flour mill are among America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Ask Amy: Military couple failing basic training 
A military couple who live in separate states, decided to set up joint checking and savings accounts to strengthen their bond. Alas, one side didn’t practice complete transparency. 
(, Tribune Media Service) 

Hints From Heloise: A change in dishwasher detergent 
After years of using the same dishwasher and the same detergent, a white film developed on a baffled reader’s dishes. 
(, King) 

Carolyn Hax: The ‘other woman’ first needs to face the truth 
She’s in love with a guy who’s seeing someone else. He won’t take her out in public and bad-mouths the woman he’s with. Ditch him? Well . . . 
(, The Washington Post) 

U.S., Russian actors connect without words 
President Obama’s reset of relations with Russia takes center stage, this time with California students in a Moscow theater. 
( by Kathy Lally , The Washington Post) 

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SPORTS 
Defending champion Serena Williams seeded No. 8 at Wimbledon; Nadal and Wozniacki both No. 1 
WIMBLEDON, England — Defending champion Serena Williams was seeded No. 8 for Wimbledon on Wednesday and will avoid playing the highest-ranked players until at least the quarterfinals. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

JOC president Takeda says Tokyo nearing a decision on whether to bid for 2020 Olympics 
TOKYO — Japanese Olympic officials expect to know within weeks if Tokyo will bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Tuesday's Sports In Brief 
NEW YORK — An end to the NFL lockout might not be imminent, but it does appears much closer than at any point in the last three months. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Singaporean faces 20 years in prison after being charged in Malaysia for match-fixing 
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian prosecutors have charged a Singaporean man with match-fixing at a youth football tournament. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Earning spot in Gold Cup quarterfinals with sloppy 1-0 victory can't disguise US problems 
Less than a year after Spain won the World Cup, it’s already time to kick off qualifying for the 2014 tournament in Brazil. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

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WORLD 
South Korea's capital turns ex-military command with painful past into modern art museum 
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is trying to make peace with its painful past by turning a building once allegedly used as a torture center into a modern art museum. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

New flooding kills 7, leaves 7 others missing in China as torrential rains continue 
BEIJING — More flooding in central and south China has killed another seven people over the past three days, the government said Wednesday, as the country continued to be battered by seasonal rainstorms. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Former Bahrain editor claims outside plot to plant false stories 
MANAMA, Bahrain — The former chief editor of Bahrain’s main independent newspaper says he has evidence of an apparent effort to plant false news stories during Shiite-led protests for greater rights in the Gulf island kingdom. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Attack on Afghan governor’s office kills 8 
MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded four in a strike Wednesday on the governor’s office in a northeastern province, while a mortar targeted a building where NATO and Afghan officials were attending the inauguration of the country’s largest police training center in central Afghanistan. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Putin says Russia's economy has two-thirds recovered from global financial crisis 
GENEVA — Russia’s prime minister says his nation’s economy remains well below the level it was at before the global financial crisis. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS 
Parenting advice: Help for raising children of all ages 
Family Almanac columnist Marguerite Kelly discusses the ups and downs of parenting, and tips for helping children through challenging times. 
(, vForum) 

Tuesdays with Moron: Chatological Humor Update 
Gene Weingarten brings you an update to his monthly Chatological Humor live chat. 
(, vForum) 

D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (Video) 
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for. 
(, vForum) 

Real Wheels Live 
Live online discussion with Real Wheels columnist Warren Brown about car-buying and the auto industry.
(, vForum) 

Campus Overload Live with Jenna Johnson 
Jenna Johnson answers your questions about college life, on and off campus. 
(, vForum) 

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TECHNOLOGY 
Crowd-Source Your Night In The City With The AreaNow iPhone App (TCTV) 

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com) 

Exposed: Facebook’s Secret iPhone Photo Sharing App (Which Looks Amazing) 

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com) 

Could Efficiency 2.0 Eclipse Solar? CEO Tom Scarmellino Thinks So (TCTV) 

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com) 

On BizSpark And Bubbles: Q&A With Microsoft VP Dan’l Lewin (Video) 

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com) 

Internet radio service Pandora delivers latest IPO hit as strong demand drives shares to $16 
SAN FRANCISCO — Pandora Media Inc. sold its initial public offering of stock at $16 per share late Tuesday, fetching twice as much as the popular but unprofitable Internet radio service expected less than two weeks ago. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

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BUSINESS 
Crowd-Source Your Night In The City With The AreaNow iPhone App (TCTV) 

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com) 

Oil falls below $99 in Asia as traders eye mixed signs on US economy 
SIGNAPORE — Oil prices fell below $99 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as traders eyed mixed signs about the strength of the U.S. economy and crude demand. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

World stock markets down as investors anticipate rate hikes in India, China 
BANGKOK — World stock markets mostly slipped Wednesday as investors anticipated growth-denting rate hikes by central banks in India and China to contain stubbornly high inflation. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

UK unemployment rate holds steady at 7.7 percent as wage growth remains moderate 
LONDON — Official data show Britain’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.7 percent in the three months ending April, matching the rate reported a month ago. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

UK government to back proposals to separate banks 
LONDON — The British government intends to force banks to insulate their retail operations from their more volatile investment banking, a Treasury source confirmed Wednesday. 
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP) 

Morning News 06.06.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Yemen’s Saleh flies to Saudi Arabia
President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s departure raised the prospect that a key U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda had lost his grip on a nation tumbling into chaos.
(By Ernesto Londono and Sudarsan Raghavan)

Redesigning Metro’s map
Lance Wyman, the creator of the transit system’s colorful map, has the challenge of redesigning the map more than three decades later.
(By Dana Hedgpeth)

Wireless Net access, GPS on collision course
Two of 21st-century America’s favorite gadgets — the smartphone and the GPS device — are on a collision course, according to a report delivered Friday to the FAA.
(By Ashley Halsey III)

Housing bust still hurts in Fla.
Once a booming area, Flagler County, Fla., illustrates the problem President Obama faces in politically pivotal places hit hardest by the recession.
(By Michael A. Fletcher)

Egyptians say economy is top concern
A U.S. government-funded poll finds most Egyptians say they backed the revolution because of their economic difficulties, not a lack of democracy.
(By Mary Beth Sheridan)

POLITICS
AP Interview: Huntsman's not yet in 2012 White House race, but he's mapping campaign strategy
NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — Toeing the 2012 line, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman sounded like a full-fledged White House candidate Saturday set to join the field this month as he mapped out a campaign strategy that bypasses early-voting Iowa to focus on New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Lawrence Eagleburger, career foreign service officer who rose to secretary of state, dies
WASHINGTON — Lawrence S. Eagleburger, the only career foreign service officer to rise to the position of secretary of state, died Saturday, according to two of his one-time bosses, former President George H.W. Bush and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Cut the costs, cache the cash
A new cost-cutting effort by Montgomery County is encouraging employees to come up with ways to save taxpayers money.
( by Michael Laris , The Washington Post)

Sulaimon Brown shows money orders
The former D.C. mayoral candidate says they were given to him by Howard Brooks as part of payments he says he received to disparage Mayor Fenty during the campaign.
( by Nikita Stewart , The Washington Post)

Waiting for the promise of high-speed rail
Critics say Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell missed an opportunity when his administration decided not to apply for federal funds.
( by Anita Kumar , The Washington Post)

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STYLE
Miss Manners: Overwhelmed by photo requests
I seem to be the only person in the last several years who has taken a camera to parties, family gatherings, school plays, etc.Afterward and sometimes during the event, I am asked to take pictures and “send” them to several people.
(, United Media)

Ask Amy: This mom has had it with gift tradition
Dear Amy:How can I (or should I?) tactfully end obligatory gift-giving among relatives who barely know one another? I suggested a couple of times that we end this tradition, but it was poorly received each time.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Carolyn Hax: Can she get over husband’s ‘emotional affair’?
Last month I found out that my husband of four decades had an “emotional affair” for the past year.
(, The Washington Post)

Honduras, on the rise
The view from Honduras’s Lenca Trail is of a country back on the right path.
( by Nancy Trejos , The Washington Post)

Terrific summer toys for outdoors and on the go
Here are some great toys to make playing outdoors more fun this summer, along with five fun games to take along on vacation.
(, The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Marcos Mondaini scores in 70th minute, Chivas USA beats expansion Timbers 1-0
CARSON, Calif. — Marcos Mondaini scored in the 70th minute off a pass from Paulo Nagamura and Chivas USA won for the second time this year at home, beating the expansion Portland Timbers 1-0 on Saturday night.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Asia hails Li Na's French Open win, China urges others to follow her example
BEIJING — Li Na’s landmark French Open victory sparked celebrations and recognition throughout Asia on Sunday, while China’s state media told its athletes to learn from her as they prepare for the London Olympics.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Josh Parr had 3 RBIs, Illinois eliminates Kansas State 5-3 in Fullerton Regional
FULLERTON, Calif. — No. 9 hitter Josh Parr had a two-run triple and an RBI double to help Big Ten champion Illinois beat Kansas State 5-3 on Saturday in an elimination game in the NCAA Fullerton Regional.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Florida, Baylor join Tide, Sun Devils in Women's College World Series semis
OKLAHOMA CITY — With Whitney Canion putting an endless line of zeros on the scoreboard and unlikely heroes providing extra-inning homers, the Baylor Bears are getting just enough to stay alive in the Women’s College World Series.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

NCAA Tournament Capsules
AUSTIN, Texas — David Lyon hit a grand slam to key Kent State’s six-run sixth inning and the Golden Thrashers stunned Texas 7-5 in the Austin Regional on Saturday night.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Defense chief Gates meets with US troops in farewell tour of Afghan war zone
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WALTON, Afghanistan — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed his concern about pulling troops out of Afghanistan too soon as he embarked Sunday on two days of farewell visits to remote U.S. bases in this war-weary country.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Syrian television reports 2 killed, 5 wounded in Israeli gunfire along the border
BEIRUT — Syrian television reports 2 killed, 5 wounded in Israeli gunfire along the border.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

NATO jets target military barracks in Tripoli, following on from first helicopter strikes
TRIPOLI, Libya — British jets hit a military barracks in the Libyan capital early Sunday, further intensifying NATO pressure on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi nearly four months into an uprising to end his erratic 42-year rule.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Pope denounces 'disintegration' of family in Europe, urges couples to marry, not live together
ZAGREB, Croatia — Pope Benedict XVI denounced the “disintegration” of family life in Europe on Sunday and called for couples to make a commitment to marry, not just live together, as he reaffirmed traditional Catholic family values during his second and final day in Croatia.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Qatar bans imports of cucumber, tomato, lettuce from Germany and Spain over E. coli outbreak
BERLIN — The Gulf nation of Qatar has temporarily banned imports of fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuces from Spain and Germany because of concerns about a deadly strain of E. coli.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Recovering from the 2011 Post Hunt
The Washington Post Hunt is a game of brainteasers, humor, puzzles and family fun dreamed up by Dave Barry, Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder. The 2011 Post Hunt is set for June 5 in downtown Washington, D.C.
(, vForum)

Outlook: Are 'SlutWalk' protests the future of feminism?
Author Jessica Valenti will be online Monday June 6 at 2 p.m. ET to chat about her recent Outlook piece "SlutWalks and the future of feminism."
(, vForum)

The 2011 Post Hunt: Are you ready?
The Washington Post Hunt is a game of brainteasers, humor, puzzles and family fun dreamed up by Dave Barry, Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder. The 2011 Post Hunt is set for June 5 in downtown Washington, D.C.
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Thursday, June 9)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

Over-harrumphing, pregnant teens, quadruple weddings, and more: Carolyn Hax Live
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
A TechCrunch Disrupt Proposal

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

When Facebook Captured Beluga, They May Have Harpooned It In The Head

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Hornik on VC’s Secondary Mania: “If It’s Just Money, We’re All Fungible” (TCTV)

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Why The Groupon IPO Feels Like A Swindle

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

OMG/JK: iCloud, gWallet, and tPhotos

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
Economically struggling Belarus to get $3 bln Russia-led loan in exchange for privatizations
MOSCOW — The financially struggling former Soviet republic of Belarus is to receive a $3 billion loan from a Russia-dominated group in exchange for privatizing a large chunk of its state-controlled economy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Oil storage tank attacked in southern Iraq, officials say
BASRA — Iraqi officials say an oil storage tank has been attacked in the southern province of Basra.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Nintendo says it was targeted in recent online data attack, reports no data loss
TOKYO — Nintendo was targeted in a recent online data attack, but no personal or company information was lost, the Japanese maker of the Wii game console said Sunday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

US agency allows restart of Canadian oil pipeline; oil flow could resume as soon as Sunday
WASHINGTON — U.S. regulators have allowed a Canadian company to restart its Keystone oil pipeline after completing repairs and safety tests.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

A TechCrunch Disrupt Proposal 

iphone news buzz 05.11.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Bin Laden’s focus on U.S. vexed followers
Officials familiar with the review of materials seized from his compound say some of the al-Qaeda leader’s followers favored plots against safer targets.
(By Greg Miller and Karen DeYoung)

Family visits at Guantanamo?
The Pentagon is considering allowing family members to visit detainees for the first time.
(By Peter Finn and Julie Tate)

Can Gingrich turn ideas into presidential appeal?
Newt Gingrich has been the Republican Party’s idea generator for decades. Will that overcome his liabilities as he seeks the White House in 2012?
(By Dan Balz)

E-mails: Key Gray advisers guided hiring
A trove of documents appears to contradict statements by Lorraine Green’s attorney that she did not vet or interview people for top-level appointed positions.
(By Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart)

Galleon billionaire convicted
Raj Rajaratnam was convicted on all 14 counts Wednesday in the biggest insider trading case in a generation.
(By David S. Hilzenrath)

POLITICS
Lesson learned last time, Romney tackles bedeviling issue of health care early in campaign
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney waited until weeks before GOP primary voting began in 2008 to address a big vulnerability in his quest for the presidency — his Mormon faith. Advisers now say that was too late to answer voter skepticism.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Census: Growing age gap among US regions, sharpening divides over Medicare and immigration
WASHINGTON — Driven by immigrants and young people moving to the South and West and older Americans who stay put elsewhere, the age gap between regions in the U.S. has grown to its widest level in decades, sharpening the divides on hot-button issues such as immigration and changes to Medicare.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Oil CEOs head to Capitol Hill for verbal flogging by Senate Dems over high prices, tax breaks
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are calling top executives from the five biggest oil companies before a congressional hearing to flog them verbally for high gasoline prices, big profits and generous tax breaks that Democrats would like to end but don’t have the votes to stop.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Officials: Bin Laden journal and letters show he eyed small cities, wanted a big body count
WASHINGTON — Though hunted and in hiding, Osama bin Laden remained the driving force behind every recent al-Qaida terror plot, U.S. officials say, citing his private journal and other documents recovered in last week’s raid.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

House panel approves defense bill that limits Obama
WASHINGTON — A House panel has approved a defense bill that would delay President Barack Obama’s new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military. It also would limit the commander in chief’s authority on slashing the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

STYLE
Relationship scorekeeping and a girlfriend’s ‘fun, crazy’ side
One reader wants a husband who does what makes her happy; another is dating the “fun, crazy girl.”
(, The Washington Post)

Aging parents becoming a headache
Parents in their mid-80s lead a lifestyle that worries their children.
(, Tribune Media Service)

The White House jams
Poetry and the spoken word were celebrated despite uproar over a rapper’s presence.
( by Dan Zak , The Washington Post)

Hoosier awaits vote of confidence
Indiana first lady Cheri Daniels may be the deciding factor in whether husband Mitch Daniels runs for president.
( by Jason Horowitz , The Washington Post)

Morning News 05.09.11

Why Won't Pakistan Let the US Talk to Bin Laden's Wives? ' Mistrust and tensions grow as Pakistan refuses access to the captured Bin Laden family. ' READ FULL STORY

Apple Tops List of World's Most Valuable Brands iPad maker ends Google's four-year reign atop rankings. READ FULL STORY

Cairo's Sectarian Clashes Turn Deadly ' Violent disputes between Christians and Muslims leave at least 10 dead and nearly 200 wounded. ' READ FULL STORY

iphone news buzz 05.02.11

The Skinny: Do yourself a favor and buy a newspaper today and throw it in your closet. It will have more meaning 25 years from now than a screen grab of some blog aggregator. A slow weekend until Sunday night. Then media scrambled to cover the Bin Laden news. Then some media scrambled away as quickly as possible and back to entertainment programming. At the box office, "Fast Five" blows away the competition.

Racing to the top. Universal's "Fast Five" cruised to first place at the box office, taking in $83.6 million in the U.S. No, that's not a typo! Part of me wants to attribute the huge opening numbers to people going to see the car chase/heist flick as a goof on a weekend when there wasn't much else playing at the multiplex. If you think you had a bad prom, that was nothing compared to Disney's "Prom," which took in only $5 million in its opening weekend. The long-awaited sequel to "Hoodwinked" also flopped. Box office coverage from the Los Angeles Times, Variety and New York Times. Here's a summer preview from USA Today.

Hope they can carry a tune after all that. MTV is finally putting on "The Electric Barbarellas," a reality show about an all-female band that was championed by none other than Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone. The involvement of the almost 90 year-old Viacom chief in a show about an all-girl band was first broken by then-Daily Beast writer Peter Lauria, whose coverage of all this irritated Redstone to no end. Let's hope Lauria is having a good chuckle today. Details on the show from Variety.

NFL latest to push iPad access. The NFL Network, the league's cable channel that could be pretty dull if the labor dispute isn't solved by this summer, is talking with distributors about offering the network on iPads and other tablet devices. NFL Network is the latest programmer to want to put itself on iPads. The challenge is reworking deals with distributors so they don't risk losing subscribers. In other words, the cable guys have to be the gatekeeper to iPad access. More from the Wall Street Journal.

Morning News 01.18.2011

1. Tunisia Forms New Government
   But is it enough of a change to satisfy protestors?
   Read original story in BBC | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

2. Giffords Gives Husband a Neck Rub
   She may still be in the ICU, but Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is showing signs of a swift recovery.
   Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

3. Obama Targets "Excessive" Regulation
   The president took to the pages of the businessman's bible, the Wall Street Journal, to roll out his effort to cut away regulations that "stifle job creation."
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

4. Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave
   Apple's leader sent an e-mail to employees Monday saying he will remain as the company's CEO and continue to be involved in major strategic decisions. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will be running the daily operations.
   Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

5. Goldman Scraps Facebook Offer in U.S.
   The investment bank's exclusive share offer went bust after a media frenzy threatened to put Goldman in violation of U.S. law.
   Read original story in The Guardian | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

6. Palin Defends "Blood Libel" Remark
   She also admitted her infamous map's "surveyor symbols" were really crosshairs.
   Read original story in Politico | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

7. Starbucks Introduces New Drink Size: The "Trenta"
   Fans of the coffee chain's nonsensical drink size names can now order a 31-oz "Trenta" iced coffee.
   Read original story in The National Post | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

8. Americans' Views on Guns Unchanged After Arizona
   For America's gun control debate, it's plus ca change...
   Read original story in CNN | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

9. Study: Undergrads Learn Nothing for First Two Years
   Professors just want to research. Students just want to party. The result is an education fail for U.S. universities.
   Read original story in USA Today | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

10. Loughner Trial Will Probably Take Place in California
    It seems almost certain that the alleged gunman who killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will be tried somewhere other than Arizona. Doctors upgrade Giffords' medical condition.
    Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

11. The Meanest Golden Globes?
    The Social Network and Glee were the big winners of the night but all anyone can talk about is host Ricky Gervais and whether he went too far in his jokes aimed at the stars and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
    Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

12. First Challenge for RNC Leader: Tea Party
    Reince Priebus will have to figure out how to best strike a balance between the conservative activists and the party.
    Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

iPhone Music Chatter 08.27.10

Even if Fantasia Barrino hadn't tried to commit suicide two weeks before her latest album was released, Back to Me would have been an album worth hearing. But in the wake of her suicide attempt, many people will be listening to the album on a deeper level as they look for clues in her lyrics as to why she'd want to try ending it all. But with or without the subtext of what's gone down in her personal life in recent weeks, Back to Me, which was released in the U.S. on Aug. 24, 2010, is a good, solid album that manages to properly harness Fantasia's formerly wild and raw voice. For more, click the link for the full review of Fantasia's Back to Me....For whatever reason, Cleveland-area R&B songstress Conya Doss has never become a household name in the music world, despite being a very strong vocalist. Usually when an indie artist fails to hit it big, it because they simply aren't talented enough, or good looking enough or charismatic enough. But that's definitely not the case with this lovely woman, who has consistently put out great, mostly self-released, music since her debut album, A Poem About Ms. Doss, dropped in 2002. And her latest single, "All in You," a lovely testimony about finding the love of your life is evidence of that. If she was on a major label and worked with veteran producers and song arrangers, there's no doubt that she'd be a bigger star. But since that isn't the case, your R&B Guide is spreading the word about Conya and her mellow, soothing brand of R&B. "All in You," which will be on her upcoming album, Blu Transition, can be streamed by clicking the link below....Read Full Post

It's official: R&B superstar Usher Raymond IV has regained his mojo. After struggling with lower than expected sales and fan disappointment with his more mature 2008 album, Here I Stand, Usher made a strong comeback with his March 2010 album, Raymond v. Raymond. But even though that album spawned five hit singles, Usher didn't rest on his laurels. And on Aug. 24, 2010 - just five months after Raymond v. Raymond hit record stores - Usher has dropped a nine-song EP of mostly-new music called Versus. And fortunately, Versus isn't just a collection of remixes, outdated material or mediocre songs that weren't hot enough for Raymond v. Raymond. For more, click the link to read the full review of Usher's Versus....Read Full Post

Today's Papers 01.05.10

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Pakistan sees trouble in U.S. buildup
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN -- As 30,000 U.S. troops begin to deploy to Afghanistan, fears are rising in Pakistan that a stepped-up war just over the border could worsen the increasingly bloody struggle with militancy here.
(By Karin Brulliard, The Washington Post)

Bomber of CIA post was trusted informant
DEVOTED TO JIHAD
Jordanian had promised information about al-Qaeda leaders
(By Joby Warrick and Peter Finn, The Washington Post)

Yemen walks fine line in aiding U.S.
Officials fear backlash in nation where many align with al-Qaeda
(By Sudarsan Raghavan, The Washington Post)

Third uninvited guest to state dinner came with Indian delegation
(By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, The Washington Post)

IRS to regulate paid preparers of tax returns to reduce errors
Starting with 2011 season, registration and competency tests will be required

POLITICS
GOP retirements may affect party's gains in November
While the recent political chatter in Washington has focused on Democrats retiring from Congress, Republicans are leaving the House in greater numbers, a trend that could blunt the party's momentum heading into the November midterm elections.
(By The Fix, The Washington Post)

Nation Digest
(The Washington Post)

Criteria expanded for travelers to get more scrutiny
Foreigners from certain regions or groups face additional screening
(By R. Jeffrey Smith and Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post)

WORLD
Bomber of CIA post was trusted informant
The suicide bomber who killed seven CIA operatives in Afghanistan last week was a Jordanian informant who lured intelligence officers into a trap by promising new information about al-Qaeda's top leadership, former U.S. government officials said Monday.
(By Joby Warrick and Peter Finn, The Washington Post)

Pakistan sees trouble in U.S. buildup
FALLOUT FROM AFGHAN FIGHT
Rush of militants from across border feared
(By Karin Brulliard, The Washington Post)

With ancient books, Timbuktu looks to turn a page
(By Karin Brulliard, The Washington Post)

We're jihadists, not terrorists, men say
At Pakistan hearing, suspects deny contact with extremists
(By Jerry Markon, Pamela Constable and Shaiq Hussein, The Washington Post)

iphone daily blog buzz 12.07.09

The amount of women claiming to have had affairs with Tiger Woods literally doubled over the weekend, jumping from three to six. If you thought Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman was the ideal actor to take on the role of anti-apartheid activist and first black President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, you are not alone. In fact it was Mandela himself who mentioned Freeman's name for such a role. R&B producer Danja thought Whitney Houston's comeback album "I Look To You" could've scored at least one Grammy nomination this year, but it wasn't to be. R&B producer Danja thought Whitney Houston's comeback album "I Look To You" could've scored at least one Grammy nomination this year, but it wasn't to be.Jazz icon Count Basie, Olympian Carl Lewis and baseball pioneer Larry Doby join 12 other famous natives of the Garden State in this year's New Jersey's Hall of Fame, reports the Associated Press.It was reported Friday that Katt Williams had been arrested in Georgia after a 911 call claimed the comedian, or someone in his entourage, pulled out a shotgun in a Walmart parking lot. Despite the death of Michael Jackson, his brother Jermaine says long-gestating plans for a Jacksons reunion concert are still being considered for next year, but you'll have to watch their upcoming A&E reality series to find out more details.The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Oscar winner Halle Berry at its Women in Entertainment breakfast, where she received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, previously given to such luminaries as Barbara Walters, Jodie Foster, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep. With controversial new talk of mammograms being inadequate for women under 40, the Grammy Foundation has put together an event to support breast cancer awareness among ladies within the age group. The plot of David Mamet's new play Race has finally been revealed in advance of its Dec. 6 opening on Broadway. Stage and screen star Avery Brooks has joined the cast of Baltimore Centerstage's production of Kwame Kwei-Armah's Let There Be Love, reports Playbill News.

iphone Blog Buzz 12.02.09

President Barack Obama's national security team heads to Congress today to address concerns from skeptical lawmakers on expanding the war in Afghanistan by sending another 30,000 troops.In a statement Wednesday on his Web site, Woods says he has not been "true to my values and the behavior my family deserves." He offered his "profound apology" to his supporters.The urban drama "Precious" and the Leo Tolstoy period piece "The Last Station" have each collected a leading five nominations for the Spirit Awards that honor independent film.Police in Atlantic City plan to file charges against several bouncers who were videotaped beating two men outside Jay Z's 40/40 night club early Saturday.Nicole Richie, who shot to fame as Paris Hilton's BFF on the Fox/E! reality series "The Simple Life," will return to television as the star of a scripted comedy in development at ABC.Rapper 50 Cent recently discussed his disastrous relationship with Vivica A. Fox six years ago, and the motivation behind their recent reconciliation, which apparently took place when it was time for the artist to film a video.A judge in Florida has put the kibosh on any attempt by Dwight Howard's ex Royce Lyndsay Reed to profit from his name - either financially or in boosting her own celebrity.Two months after Lil Wayne's son with actress Lauren London was born, another baby boy fathered by the rapper and another starlet has come into the world.Fantasia's anticipated VH1 reality show, "Fantasia for Real," will premiere on Jan. 11, 2010 at 10 p.m. and follow the "American Idol" champ as she juggles single motherhood with the recording of her third album.Defensive end Carlos Dunlap of the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators was arrested early Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence, just days before the biggest game of Florida's season against No. 2 Alabama.Prosecutors have accused the daughter of Rev. Al Sharpton of cursing out a police officer and cutting him off in traffic because she was in a rush to get to a theater, reports the Associated Press.Booted from track-and-field for lying about performance enhancing drugs, former Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones is seeking to earn a living in another sport - professional women's basketball.Giant Magazine, owned by Radio One's Interactive One subsidiary, has suspended its print publication and will now publish online only, reports Washington Business Journal.

iphone text talk 11.16.09

1) Supreme Court refuses to hear Redskins' naming case

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive a lawsuit on behalf of Native American activists who claimed that the Washington Redskins' team name is so offensive that it does not deserve trademark protection.

2) Shepard Smith, leaning against prevailing winds on Fox News

NEW YORK -- Shepard Smith had barely started his program when a Fox News producer told him that their reporter had snagged an interview with Chris Christie, the challenger locked in a tight race with New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine.

3) Cleric says he was confidant to Hasan

SANAA, YEMEN -- In his first interview with a journalist since the Fort Hood rampage, Yemeni American cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi said that he neither ordered nor pressured Maj. Nidal M. Hasan to harm Americans, but that he considered himself a confidant of the Army psychiatrist who was given a glimp...

4) Arrest at Walmart leads to charges of racism

ST. LOUIS -- Nearly three years after Heather Ellis switched checkout lines at a southeast Missouri store and touched off what she calls a racially charged dispute with white customers and authorities, the young black schoolteacher faces a trial that could send her to prison for 15 years.

5) Boomers see views relaxing on marijuana

Smoking pot isn't what it used to be for Joe Lee, a 62-year-old vintage-record dealer in Rockville.

6) Obamacare: Buy now, pay later

Obamacare is not "reform" -- given what it would do to spending, it's more like malpractice.

7) Taxpayers on hook as some bailed-out firms prove frail

NEW YORK -- A year ago, the financial system was tottering and government officials arranged a $2.3 billion emergency cash infusion into CIT Group, a troubled lender to small businesses.

8) Better, by a mile

For one Indian summer afternoon at FedEx Field on Sunday, the Redskins let Washington put on rose-colored NFL glasses that, for now, alter the hue of a dismal season. With a 27-17 win over Denver, full of battering runs by Ladell Betts and a trick-field-goal touchdown bomb by a punter named Hunte...

9) A sign of positive change

"We can do this," Phillip Daniels said. Do what? "We did it before."

10) Death through a closed door

First, there was a single bang. Then, the screams.

iphone text talk 11.05.09

ABC is expected to announce today that "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts will interview Janet Jackson for a special to air on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 10 p.m.Chris Brown will finally discuss in detail what drove him to beat up his ex-girlfriend Rihanna on that February night in a new MTV News special "Chris Brown: The Interview," which airs Friday, November 6, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.Whitney Houston will spend part of the holiday season in Russia headlining a pair of concerts that will launch a tour of Europe and Asia, the Russian Entertainment Academy announced Tuesday.s fully expected, Michael Jackson's "This Is It" album enters the Billboard 200 albums chart with an impressive 373,000 copies sold, the fifth-best sales week for an album in the U.S. this year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. contingent of Kansas City Chiefs fans are fed up with running back Larry Johnson.At least she's working! Kirstie Alley is ready to lose the weight (again!) and this time, she's planning to channel her crazy into a reality show! The currently untitled series, which follows the former TV star as she struggles to get her weight under control while raising two teenagers in LaLaLand, is set to debut [...] Lou Jing, a contestant on China’s version of “Idol,” is a recent victim of racial discrimination. The beautiful, gifted, Shanghai…Precious Premiere “This is a golden, carved, sculpted face. I really wanted to accent her gorgeous dress and since she wore minimal…They were thrilled when he came to Utah. Now Jazz fans are eager to say goodbye to Carlos Boozer. What's changed? Not Boozer.Will the pairing of Drake and Jay-Z be as powerful as the pairing of Drake and Lil Wayne? Drizzy talks to us about his latest collaborator, in Mixtape Daily.Tom Cable, the controversial head coach of the Oakland Raiders, should be suspended immediately for acknowledging on Sunday that ...CC Sabathia will start Game 4 of the World Series for the New York Yankees on three days' rest. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said ...TV News: Thesp set to star, exec produce telepic for cabler -- Gabrielle Union is set to co-star and exec produce upcoming Lifetime movie "The Vow."If you hadn't heard, the Soooooooooul Train Awards made a comeback in 2009 after being missing in action the past couple of years. This year's show was taped at the Georgia World Congress Center on Tues., Nov. 3, but won't air until Sun., Nov. 29 on both BET and Centric (the channel formerly known as BET J). (Check your local listings for air times.) If you can't wait that long to know who wins, then have a peek at the full list of nominees and winners of the 2009 Soul Train Awards. If you didn't know by now, music producer Ryan Leslie's serious about a singing career. Unlike many of the other producers who have crossed over to become performers (Diddy, Sean Garrett and others come to mind), R-Les actually has the chops to make people forget that he started out helping create hits for others.  His sophomore album, Transition, which was released in the U.S. on Nov. 3, 2009, is his second album this year; his self-titled debut came out back in February. And the two albums have the same strengths and weaknesses: the music production is hot of course, but Ryan suffers from a lack of star power and charisma. For more, check out the full review of Ryan Leslie'sTransition.

• Review: Ryan Leslie - Transition
• Review: Ryan Leslie - Ryan Leslie
• About.com interview: Ryan Leslie

iphone blog buzz 10.28.09

Andy Cohen, the network's Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development and host of every Bravo reunion show, says he is pushing for Michelle Obama to wear an item from "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Sheree's clothing line. As Indiana University prepares to name an atrium after PBS host Tavis Smiley, another institution of higher learning has decided to remove his name from a building on its campus.Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has apologized for using a gay slur to describe a Twitter follower and members of the press on Monday, and the team has punished the athlete by keeping him off the practice field. Alicia Keys was supposed to drop her upcoming "The Element of Freedom" album on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. But the singer announced Sunday that the release date has been delayed for two weeks. The New York Yankees' run toward the World Series last weekend threatened to eclipse Jay-Z's first order of business over the weekend -- to promote his participation in the new DJ Hero Renegade Edition video game. Chris Brown took to his Twitter page Monday to announce that his next album, "Graffiti," will be released ten days before Christmas.The man accused of assaulting singer Leona Lewis during a London book signing has been ruled not fit to attend court and has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, reports NME.com. Idris Elba, the British actor who starred in seven episodes of “The Office” last season, is staying in business with NBC. Elba will serve as an executive producer of an untitled legal drama about a vigilante lawyer who uses any means necessary to defend his clients against a corrupt district attorney and city establishment. It was written by feature scribes Sean O’Keefe and Will Staples. David Eick (”Battlestar Galactica”) will also executive produce. (Continue Reading…)

The Republican National Committee came under fire after a user posted a controversial photo on its Facebook page. The RNC “fan” upload features a picture of President Obama eating fried chicken with the slogan: “Miscegenation Is a CRIME against American values… Repeal Loving v. Virginia.” Loving v. Virginia is a milestone civil rights case that led the Supreme Court to rule that prohibiting interracial marriage violates the Constitution. Though the “miscegenation” post was removed from the RNC’s Facebook page after provoking outrage, Newsweek points out that the slip-up is not an isolated incident: (Continue Reading…)

After seeing previews and reading numerous reviews on the Internet, I finally got to see for myself what Chris Rock’s Good Hair buzz was all about. Overall, I thought the film was very entertaining. It was informative, laugh out loud funny and even sad at times.A new season is fast approaching and you need you know, nay — you demand to know! Who’s the best at each position in the league on a nightly basis in the ‘09-10 NBA season. So with your mind and excel sheet ablaze trying to figure out that riddle to no end. I’ve decided to take one for ...

LOY's PLACE a celtics green blog found this 22 hours ago on hoopeduponline.com

Find more top sports news, videos, and blogs on BallHype: NBA, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Josh Smith

iphone blog buzz 09.30.09

LisaRaye's publicist has denied rampant reports across the black blogosphere that the actress is dating Rev. Al Sharpton. The rumors started flying after the two were photographed holding hands at various events over the past several days. Moved by the senseless beating death of a 16-year-old honor student by gang members in Chicago, rapper Nas has written an open letter to teens who throw away their future by battling each other.TMZ.com is reporting that the quickie marriage of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian is not even valid, and won't be unless a prenuptial agreement is signed. Good Morning America" co-host and breast cancer survivor Robin Roberts will be the guest announcer this Friday during a special Grand Ole Opry show promoting research about the disease. Past and present staffers at New Jersey's Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office are taking the witness stand as part of an investigation into whether the case against former NBA star Jayson Williams, who is black, has been racially biased.Comedienne Luenell will hit the road in a new comedy tour dubbed "More Hustlin'," a follow up to her previous stint on the Pimp Chronicles Tour with Katt Williams, Red Grant and Melanie Camacho.The very smart and very sexy James Franco is attending graduate school at NYU and is supposedly enrolled in Queer Cinema, an undergrad course in the Cinema Studies department. Here's a sample of the syllabus: Week 1: “You Don’t Know Dick: The Courageous Hearts of Transsexual Men” (1997 documentary) [...]

THE UK’s 100 most powerful people of African and Caribbean heritage are unveiled this week in the second annual edition of The Powerlist: Britain’s 100 Most Influential Black People. The list, compiled by a high-powered panel chaired by the British High Commissioner to Australia, Baroness Amos, smashes stereotypes by featuring business leaders, entrepreneurs and people from the arts, media, science and engineering – most of whom the average Briton will probably never have heard of, yet all are leaders in their field. (Continue Reading…) The US Secret Service is trying to identify the people who launched an online poll at Facebook asking whether US President Barack Obama should be assassinated. Facebook on Monday shut down the user-generated poll, which was titled “Should Obama be killed?” and offered answer choices of yes, no, maybe, and “If he cuts my health care.” “Once we found out about it, we worked with Facebook to have it removed,” Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley told AFP. “ CONTINUE READING..

You're looking at what was the main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo, in the main town area in American Samoa. A towering 15-fooot tsunami triggered by a massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake swept ashore on American Samoa and the neighboring...By a vote of 8 to 15, the Senate Finance Committee rejects Rockefeller's (WV) public option amendment. This was considered the strongest Senate proposal for public option in health care reform. Four "Democrats" joined all ten Republicans to defeat the amendment: Baucus (MT), Conrad (ND), Lincoln (AR), Nelson (FL) and Carper (DE).

A host of big-name artists are releasing albums this week, starting with Madonna’s double-disc collection dedicated to her entire tenure on Warner Music, Celebration. Packing 34 hits and two new songs onto two discs, Celebration is a dizzying, non-chronological journey through the Material Girl’s hits, from “Burning Up” to “Dress You Up” to “Hung Up.” “Her hitmaking genius is unmatched and — with the new Eurocheese blast ‘Celebration’ and the Lil Wayne duet ‘Revolver’ — undiminished,” Rob Sheffield writes in his four-star Rolling Stone review of the collection. CONTINUE READING... While initially downplaying any possibility of joining Eminem's Shady Records, Royce Da 5'9 has now said a deal to bring Slaughterhouse to the Interscope imprint may be in the works. Tony Yayo recently spoke on G-Unit's current status and said despite The Game's early claims of the group shattering upon his departure, the Unit is here to stay. Written By Archie Fucque As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. For Caption Diss SOHH is asking you, the reader, to tell us what those words are...just keep it short. The person who coins the wittiest caption wins. Swizz Beatz's estranged wife, Mashonda, has inked an open letter to Alicia Keys requesting the singer to come clean about her alleged affair with the Ruff Ryders producer.Nick Cannon is going hard attempting to squash rumors that his wife Mariah Carey is the sole reason he landed a hosting position on NBC’s hit TV show “America’s Got Talent”. Nick wants all of you to know that Mariah didn’t help his ass get a job. He tells Zap2It. Once upon a time it was the norm on major pop albums for an artist to work with one producer or team of producers throughout an entire album. However, in recent years it has become more common to create an album as a hodgepodge of sometimes mismatched tracks recorded with various producers.

For Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, Mariah Carey has collaborated primarily with the team of The-Dream and "Tricky" Stewart for songwriting and producing throughout the entire album. The result is a unique, cohesive musical glimpse of the inner life of Mariah Carey.

For fans of Mariah Carey, the quality of her singing and direction of her vocal arrangements are one of the first things looked for in a new album. As has become common since The Emancipation of Mimi, she spends most of her time singing in a midrange that eliminates much of the vocal acrobatics of earlier in her career. However, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel does insert enough moments of vocal fancy to keep most fans happy. CONTINUE READING THE REVIEW...

iphone Blog Buzz 09.09.09

In what will be his first performance since the legal woes surrounding his beating of Rihanna, Chris Brown joins Mary J. Blige and Natalie Cole as headliners for the Sept. 26 Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna, organizers announced Tuesday.Word has it that Janet Jackson has been busy rehearsing a performance for the upcoming MTV Video Awards that will honor her late brother Michael.Less than a week after Jay-Z's entire album "The Blueprint 3" leaked online, the set's initial Sept. 11th release date was scrapped and pushed up to yesterday. Also, dates for the rap mogul's fall tour and "Oprah Winfrey Show" episode were announced on Tuesday.As Mo'Nique prepares for the Oct. 5 launch of her BET talk show, industry buzz has the comedian a clear front-runner to pick up a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her forthcoming role in "Precious."Singer-songwriter Deborah Cox will portray the late, legendary Josephine Baker in the new Broadway-bound musical Josephine, based on the life of the iconic entertainer who dazzled Paris audiences.Jennifer Hudson has been booked to perform at the "VH1 Divas" concert, to be televised live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn on Sept. 17 at 9 p.m.A Sudanese woman was convicted Monday of public indecency for wearing pants at an outdoor cafe and sentenced to jail for one month when she refused to pay a fine. It must be tough being South African track star Caster Semenya.Instead of carrying yourself like a sex goddess (like so many in the limelight), Caster is under the inverse predicament: Track and field officials apparently think she’s a man. CONTINUE READING... Supermodel Jessica White wants you to know she’s more than just a beautiful face and far from the desperate woman that “The T.O. Show” portrayed. Besides serving as a Maybelline spokesmodel, the Buffalo, New York, native has catwalked national and international runways for some of the most elite designers including Victoria’s Secret. ESSENCE.com caught up with the jet-setting beauty in Europe to get the nitty gritty on her future with T.O., surviving sexual abuse, and how she’s putting her angel wings to good use. (Continue Reading…)

X Factor favorite Danyl Johnson has been barred from appearing on Oprah and television in the America. The 27-year-old bisexual singer and YouTube sensation had been lined up to appear on Oprah Winfrey's show but ITV producers "refused to allow him on over fears it will give him an unfair advantage."CONTINUE READING..Just when you thought Miami Dolphins fans couldn't endure another horrifying embarrassment ... along comes their brand new fight song, courtesy of T-Pain and friends. The "fight" song is a remake of the classic tune from 1972 -- and now Miami ... R&B legend Teena Marie released her latest album, Congo Square, back in June 2009, but up until now only one single from it had been released, "Can't Last A Day," which features Faith Evans. Well, Lady Tee is finally about to deliver a second single, a fun, upbeat track called "You, Baby." The song, which Teena wrote and produced herself, harkens back to her music of the '80s, yet at the same time manages to still sound somewhat fresh and new. You can hear the song for yourself by clicking the link below.

• "You Baby" audio stream (Windows Media)

iPhone Mobile Chatter 09.01.09

For the first time in 40 years, a new medicine to treat lupus has proved effective in a large clinical trial. The drug Benlysta, developed by Human Genome Sciences (HGS) in Rockville, Md., is promising, particularly for African American women, who are three times more likely than white woman to develop the disease, experts say. Additionally, black women tend to get the disease at a younger age and have more severe symptoms than their white counterparts. CONTINUE READING... After three years in the studio, Whitney Houston will release her sixth studio album, 'I Look to You,' on Aug. 31. Already being streamed online, the album is creating award buzz and could be the makings of a strong comeback for the six-time Grammy-winner. So could a much-anticipated appearance on the upcoming season premiere of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Vibe magazine seems to be rapidly rising from its proverbial ashes with new owners, who this week announced that Jermaine Hall will helm the resurrected title. A native of St. Lucia, raised in Queens, Hall is the former editor-in-chief of King magazine, and previously served stints as a music editor of The Source, and a webmaster of Vibe. The Justice Department is moving forward with plans to expand its civil rights division, pursuing cases of discrimination in the workplace, housing and voting rights. From his first day on the job, Attorney General Eric Holder has pledged to strengthen the Civil Rights Division he inherited from the Bush administration.> Full Coverage A large piece of tape covered Christopher Bates's mouth as he In both People magazine and on the "Larry King Live" interview airing Wednesday on CNN, Chris Brown says he has no recollection of brutally beating his ex-girlfriend Rihanna and claims he is still in love with her. The NFL Network has hired Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin as an analyst for its Sunday programs, reports Variety.Scott Storch, the visionary music producer responsible for such hits as Fat Joe’s “Lean Back,” and “Baby Boy,” by Beyonce has fallen on hard times. Storch is reportedly homeless after his bankruptcy claim was denied and he lost his home, a $700,000 mansion in Florida.“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Lisa Wu Hartwell recently opened up about her custody battle with ex-husband Keith Sweat. In an interview with Star Magazine, Lisa said she really wants her two older boys (She appears on the show with husband, Ed Hartwell, and their 2-year-old E.J.) on the show.The Atlanta mayoral race went into overdrive Thursday when two of the leading candidates held dueling press conferences to talk about race. Sen. Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) and City Council President Lisa Borders were responding to a letter that has been circulating through the city calling for a black agenda. Specifically, the letter strongly implies that the city would be better off electing a black mayor. More specifically, the letter endorses Borders. Reed urged the Borders campaign to denounce the email, which he called “divisive,” and “racist.” (Continue Reading…) R&B crooner Mario is gearing up to release his fourth studio album, D.N.A. on October 13th via J. Records. The newest material he’s offering up for is title “Thinkin’ About You.” The new track was produced by Miami natives, The Runners and was penned by none other than Rico Love. The rest of the album features productions from Bangladesh, The Dream, Sean Garrett, Eric Hudson and more.Brooklyn might not be able to get the MTA to honor Michael Jackson at a subway station, but Kings County can still throw down for the King of Pop. As many as 10,000 people are expected at the Nethermead meadow in Prospect Park -- rain or shine -- on Saturday to honor MJ on what would have been his 51st birthday. Complete story at source>>> In a new interview with Billboard magazine, Kem talks about his long awaited third album, Intimacy.  While not committing to a release date, the Detroit-based singer/songwriter says he has "15 or 20" songs written and is working hard to create an album "that people won't soon forget."  To see the entire article, CLICK HERE. Trey Songz has been inconsistent his whole career. Some of his songs, like "Can't Help But Wait," off his second album, Trey Day are compelling, well-sung tracks that properly displaying his considerable singing talent. But for every great song of his, there's weaker tracks like "Wonder Woman," (off Trey Day) and "LOL :)" off his new, third album, Ready, which was released in the U.S. on Aug. 31, 2009. On Ready, Trey continues to straddle the fence between being a horny boy and ladies' man. The bad news is that he hasn't completely mastered the balancing act; the good news is that this is his best attempt so far. For more, check out the full review of Trey Songz' Ready. XOXO

iphone blog buzz 07.31.09

The police officer at the center of a national dispute over race and law enforcement says a much-anticipated meeting at the White House was productive and all parties are looking forward, reports the Associated Press. Michael Jackson's 79-year-old mother Katherine will receive full custody of his three children per a deal that was reached on Thursday, her lawyer announced. Michael Vick says he is getting close to signing with an NFL team but had no other details for reporters following a bankruptcy hearing in Virginia, according to the Associated Press.A battle over music royalties has pitted members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) against the owners of black radio stations, sparking a rare public fight between African-American powerbrokers that could work against lawmakers used to easy reelection, reports The Hill.Damn! He went there. He really went there! Eminem has just released a track called The Warning, completely eviscerating Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. He claims to have naked pictures of Mimi, which he threatens to release, and he calls Nick the F word, amongst other things. meone get me a cage right now. I love love love Shakira's dance moves in the video for She Wolf. I just don't understand why she had to ruin her sexy new look with that little number and hairdo in the end.HBO scores the highest among 15 networks for its representation of gay characters last season, according to a report by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. In its third annual Network Responsibility Index, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against...Eminem has released a new diss song targeting both Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon which appears to be his response to the singer's "Obsessed" music video. Released Thursday (July 30) evening, Em's song landed online and was reportedly recorded over a Dr. Dre beat.President Obama on Thursday announced 16 "agents of change" as recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilan honor. The list included several black pioneers, from the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery to actor Sidney Poitier. It also included South African Bishop Desmond Tutu. Also receiving awards were several women and openly gay pioneers. For the first time ever, the White House recognized former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and former tennis star Billie Jean King, both openly gay. The president also recognized Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland. SOURCE:THE DAILY VOICE

iPhone Blog Buzz Chatter 07.17.09

Rapper Rakim – best known as half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim – sat down with Billboard to discuss the fall release of his anticipated new album, "The Seventh Seal," a project he says is fueled by "consciousness and spirituality." The rapper signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001, but later parted ways without having ever released an album. In fact, Rakim has not released a new studio project since 1999's "The Master," save for 2008's mostly live set, "The Archive: Live, Lost & Found," which included four previously unreleased songs.The new album is being released on Rakim's Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment. Its first single, "Holy Are You," will hit shelves July 28.An attorney for Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe on Tuesday angrily denied a New York Post report that she had agreed to take millions of dollars to give up parental rights to her two children with the entertainer.Two weeks after the death of her brother Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson is reportedly back in Atlanta to begin work on Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married, Too?"Actor Levar Burton was involved in a car accident that took place Monday evening in Los Angeles but he was not seriously injured.The executive producer of A&E's upcoming Jackson family reality project says she has "months and months" of recent footage -- possibly including never-before-seen scenes with Michael, according to the Hollywood Reporter.Grammy-winning music producer Quincy Jones argues in a controversial Details magazine interview - that we assume was done before Michael Jackson's recent death - that Jackson "obviously didn't want to be Black" and suggests that his psychological problem may have resulted from some childhood trauma.Chico's Tacos is about to feel the gay wrath -- a gay wrath that demolished the careers of Carrie Prejean, Tim Hardaway and Isaiah Washington. Chico's Tacos kicked out two gay men for a simple peck on the lips, spat homophobic slurs and the cops okayed it. Read the story.In all, five men were ordered to leave the restaurant. They say they were forced out by homophobic guards."It was a simple kiss...CONTINUE READING US President Barack Obama on Monday named rural southern doctor Regina Benjamin as his pick to be the country’s surgeon general. “I am honored and I am humbled to be nominated to serve… this is a physician’s dream,” the Alabama doctor said after being introduced by Obama in the White House Rose Garden as his choice for the post, which oversees 6,000 staff charged with informing US citizens about questions of health.It seems as though African-American women have come under increased fire as of late. The stereotype of the Angry Black Woman goes hand in hand with the pervasive undertone of hostility towards us as a whole. The imposed cliché of “the b*tch” seems at times inescapable, where even a mere hint of tension from a sister is interpreted as classic ABW behavior. CONTINUE READING... In the rise of natural hairstyles, the Afro aka ‘Natural’ fashionably called, ‘Curly Fro’, ‘TWA’ (teenie-weenie-afro) and ‘Puff’ has made a comeback. Today, there are several singers and entertainers who sport Afros such as Angie Stone, Jill Scott, Algebra Blessett and my personal favorite, although not in the spotlight as of late, Lauryn Hill. I remember searching the bookstore and grocery store magazine racks for pictures of a closer look at Ms. Hill’s ‘knot-out’ fro right after The Fugees, The Score was released in 1996.CONTINUE READING... Yeah, we thought they broke up too - but we all know how that goes. Check out some candids of singers Dawn Richard and Q (from Day 26) hand in hand on the streets on NYC on Monday afternoon. In related news, Dawn is currently writing for Cassie and Diddy at Bad Boy Records and working [...]Whitney Houston arrives at a London hotel on Tuesday night. The legendary singer is set to make a comeback with the release of her highly-anticipated new album in September. Her new single, “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” was just released a couple of weeks ago. Looking good Whitney!!! ( Photos: WENN ) It's been exactly 180 years to the day since the death of African Prince Abdul Rahman. Through exclusive interviews with author Terry Alford (Prince Among Slaves), Emmy Award-winning writer/director Andrea Kalin and Okolo Rasheed (Co-Founder of the International Museum of Muslum Culture), Cyrus A. Webb of Conversations LIVE! Radio talks about the life, struggles and lessons of the man who kept his dignity through incredible challenges.  San Antonio Spurs star Richard Jefferson left his bride hanging last Saturday, stopping cold a posh Manhattan wedding that reportedly cost $2 million to prepare, reports the New York Post. CONTINUE READING... Comedian Dave Chappelle delivered a free stand-up performance Tuesday night at the packed Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon that was advertised solely through Twitter, Facebook and text-message alerts.Tito Jackson has confirmed that he and several siblings had an emotional intervention with Michael Jackson before his death in an attempt to end his addiction to prescription drugs.Eastman Kodak Co. has agreed to pay $21.4 million to settle legal action brought by black workers who claim the photography products maker paid and promoted them less than their white co-workers. The deal was given preliminary approval by a federal judge last month, according to court documents. It would have the Rochester-based company, while admitting no wrongdoing, pay amounts ranging from $1,000 to $75,000 to 3,021 past and current workers.Sudanese police arrested 13 women in a raid on a cafe and flogged 10 of them in public for wearing trousers in violation of the country’s strict Islamic law, one of those arrested said Monday. The 13 women were at a cafe in the capital, Khartoum, when they were detained Friday by officers from the public order police, which enforces the implementation of Sharia law in public places.With four simple words — “Give it to me!” — President Barack Obama took possession of the economy. For months, the White House and Obama’s economic team have laid the economic crisis at the feet of President George W. Bush. But there comes a point in a presidency when inheritance becomes ownership.At a time when good economic news is scarce, it’s encouraging to hear about three businessmen, all Rutgers alumni, staking a claim to the future in Newark’s West Ward. Victor Baker, Hassan Keith and Jeffrey Montgomery are constructing houses on five empty lots on South 9th Street between 11th and 12th avenues.In his first speech before the nation's oldest civil rights organization since taking office, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the NAACP as it celebrated its centennial and also delivered a rousing sermon telling black America to become more responsible. Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z recently spoke on the creation of his record "Death of Autotune" and why its controversy and success is mainly due to Kanye West's involvement.Wendy Williams gets interviewed, speaks on Oprah, the Omarosa incident, and Botox.Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are working on a movie together, so the rumors that they are going around in a romantic were bound to happen. But Gerard is not happy about it. In fact, all the rumors are more annoying than 120 "I LUVZ u PlZ luvz me" text messages from Aniston in a 20-minute period. That's really annoying.The surge in sales of Michael Jackson's music catalog continued Wednesday with the announcement that his recordings dominated the pop charts for the third consecutive week, and a source told The Times that more than 9 million of Jackson's albums have been sold worldwide since his death June 25. As Tom Petty once sang, the waiting is the hardest part. And if you've been anxiously awaiting an upcoming R&B release only to find that it keeps getting delayed and pushed back with no explanation, your Guide to R&B feels your pain. And to keep track of album delays, record deal cancellations, etc., every quarter yours truly keeps you up to speed by compiling a list of the top upcoming albums that have been delayed, pushed back or rescheduled. So if you're wondering about the long-delayed new albums by R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Pretty Ricky, Tweet and others, check out the Summer 2009 list of delayed albums. Summer 2009 Delayed/Pushed Back Albums Jaicko Lawrence (his first name's pronounced jay-ko) is a performer from Barbados, the same island that gave us the singers Rihanna and Shontelle. According to his Capitol Records bio, he's 17 (although he looks at least a couple of years older to yours truly) and began his career in music after dropping out of high school. He started out as a rapper, but switched to singing when he realized he was better at it. He's already released one independent album in his homeland, and is now looking to break into the American market. Check out his current single, "Oh Yeah," which will be on his U.A. debut album, coming out later this year. You can stream the song by clicking the link below, and please feel free to leave a comment with your opinion. "Oh Yeah" streaming audio (Windows Media)In the past year, Justin Timberlake has become as well known as a comedic foil to "Saturday Night Live" cast member Andy Samberg as he is for being a singer. (There's also his ever expanding golf empire.) He's snagging plenty of recognition, as he found out this morning that he has been nominated for two [...]After a nearly eight year hiatus from music, singer Maxwell comes back ina big way to beat out all albums this week and top the Billboard 200. There's also debuts by the Alchemist and Cage.Making a spelling mistake on a cover letter or resume can be costly.
It could cost you a job, for example, according to a new survey that found that 76% of 150 executives in a telephone survey wouldn't hire someone with one or two mistakes. Forty percent said a single typo could cost a potential employee a job."The resume is an applicant's first chance to impress the hiring manager," said Kathryn Bolt, president of Accountemps' Canadian operations, in a Reuters story. "Mistakes on one's application materials may prompt employers to assume there also will be mistakes on the job."Continue reading Hope to hear from you shorty. Typos on resume can cost you a job THAT'S A WRAP XOXO...

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