Keepingitreal

iPhone Daily Blog Buzz 06.30.09

On Friday, BET CEO Debra Lee told reporters that Usher and Justin Timberlake would be last minute additions to Sunday's BET Awards telecast, which was being "overhauled" to honor Michael Jackson in the wake of his passing. Neither performer made it to the ceremony on Sunday. The reason for Timberlake's no-show remains a mystery, but Usher explained in a statement released Sunday he was overseas and unable to make it to Los Angeles in time. "It is with regret that I [was] unable to participate in the BET Awards Tribute to Michael Jackson on June 28,” Usher said. “When the BET Awards producers and organizers reached out to me to participate in the tribute, I was extremely flattered and humbled by the opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s greatest musical icon,” the statement continued. “Unfortunately, I am currently overseas and would not make it back in time to the Awards show.” Though Usher was not able to celebrate Jackson on Sunday, the singer revealed he has a tribute honoring the late singer in the works.“I look forward to seeing the show and I plan to work on a tribute to Michael Jackson when I return,” Usher said. Entertainment columnist Roger Friedman says a Michael Jackson tribute tour featuring his sister Janet and his brothers is "on the table for consideration" in the wake of his death.Coolio will avoid jail time after taking a plea deal Friday on drug charges.The rapper pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to felony cocaine possession in a deal that requires him to spend 18 months in a drug rehabilitation program.Tyler Perry called Q100's The Bert Show in Atlanta Friday morning to discuss his thoughts on Michael Jackson's passing and to urge fans and the media to give the Jackson family "respect and room to grieve."Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson's three children on Monday, and filed additional papers seeking to be named administrator of her late son's estate to ensure that his kids are its beneficiaries. USA Today has published two commemorative products recognizing the life and death of Michael Jackson: a 96-page glossy-format commemorative edition titled "Michael Jackson: King of Pop," and a 40-page tabloid sized special edition titled "Michael 1958-2009." Both are on newsstands now.It's been close to 30 years since she starred in the original film and TV series, and now with an updated version starting production, Debbie Allen will be returning to the cast of the new 'Fame' film. Although it hasn't been stated, but Allen may... Read more  VH1 is giving two female hip-hop artists their own reality series — Sandra “Pepa” Denton of Salt-N-Pepa and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas from TLC. The as-yet-untitled series are scheduled to premiere in 2010. Eight half-hour episodes have been ordered for each. The “Pepa” series follows Denton as she begins her to search for love after living a celibate life for years. “Chilli” from R&B group TLC is also searching for romance and has enlisted the help of Brooklyn relationships expert Tionna Smalls. The network has also renewed “Celebrity Fit Club” for a seventh season and “Sober House with Dr. Drew” for a second season. (Continue Reading…) A small gay pride gathering that took place Saturday evening in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was interrupted" by riot police, according to Blabbeando's Andrés Duque, who offers a rough translation of the report "Democratic Modernity and Homophobic Repression in the...CONTINUE READING.."A small gay pride gathering that took place Saturday evening in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was interrupted" by riot police, according to Blabbeando's Andrés Duque, who offers a rough translation of the report "Democratic Modernity and Homophobic Repression in the...CONTINUE READING...After 16 years on newsstands, Vibe magazine, the biggest urban music magazines, has ceased publication. 50 Cent recently spoke on the success of Soulja Boy Tell Em, while reacting to Charles Hamilton's now infamous video tape wherein Hamilton takes one on the chin from his girlfriend.  Skull Gang leader Juelz Santana recently weighed in on Chris Brown's no-show at last weekend's BET Awards and said Jay-Z was largely responsible.Grand Hustle's DJ Drama has addressed recent rumors on T.I. being infected by a virus which hit his prison earlier this month and updated fans on the "King's" well-being. Many BET Awards viewers were outraged when Lil' Wayne and Drake were joined on stage by several pre-teen girls during the performance of their hit song "Every Girl".[Visit SOHH.com for more information] Former Jay-Z signee being held without bail… The 2009 BET Awards may have been originally conceived as a venue to hand out some award statues, but after the King of Pop, Michael Jackson died, the event was reconfigured to be part awards ceremony, part tribute. This 2009 BET Awards photo gallery is of some of the best on-stage moments during the show, including shots of Beyonce, Keri Hilson, New Edition and of course, the show's host, Jamie Foxx.

• 2009 BET Awards Photo Gallery
• 2009 BET Awards Red Carpet Photos
• 2009 BET Awards Winners & Nominees

2009 S.F. Pride Celebration Highlights

Jackson’s Children Go to His Mother

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, has been granted temporary guardianship of the three children left behind by the pop star, who died of undetermined causes last week at the age of 50.Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff of Los Angeles County Superior Court also has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 3 on whether Mr. Jackson’s mother can become the children’s permanent legal guardian, the court’s public information director, Allan Parachini, said. Ms. Jackson, 79, had also petitioned to be named administrator of the children’s estates, but Judge Beckloff did not grant that request, Mr. Parachini said.Mr. Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7.Ms. Jackson filed another petition Monday seeking control of her son’s estate, according to The Associated Press, which cited as its source an unnamed person close to the proceedings. Mr. Parachini said he did not yet know if such a petition had been filed.The doctor who cared for Mr. Jackson as he lay stricken told investigators he did not give the singer any medication that would explain his sudden death and described a vigorous effort to revive him, his lawyer said on Monday.The doctor, Conrad Murray, 56, said he discovered Mr. Jackson, 50, unconscious after he checked on him, as he periodically did, said Edward Chernoff, a Houston lawyer who accompanied Dr. Murray to the interview with police investigators.Dr. Murray, Mr. Chernoff said, began a “desperate” effort to save Mr. Jackson, doing chest compressions so vigorously that he apparently cracked one or more of his ribs in the process, though that had no bearing on his death, Mr. Chernoff said. He said the CPR was performed correctly. “It was desperate,” Mr. Chernoff said. “Somebody you did not expect to be in that condition all of a sudden is not breathing.”It is still unclear what caused Mr. Jackson to slip into unconsciousness. Dr. Murray, who has offices in Las Vegas and Houston and met the singer a few years ago, said that when he discovered the singer’s still body he immediately ordered a member of the staff to call 911, according to Mr. Chernoff. Mr. Jackson arrived at the U.C.L.A. Medical Center in cardiac arrest and was declared dead a short time later.SOURCE:NYTIMES.

BART 'N-word' bombshell waiting to go off

 (06-28) 17:20 PDT -- Overlooked in the court hearing that ended in former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle being ordered tried for murder in the slaying of Oscar Grant was testimony about another officer's explosive outburst just 30 seconds before Grant was shot. One of the videos made by riders at the Fruitvale Station in Oakland early New Year's Day caught Officer Tony Pirone standing over the prone Grant and yelling, "Bitch-ass n-."  Pirone and his attorney say he was parroting an epithet that Grant first hurled at him - though Grant's voice is not audible on the tape.The sound-enhanced tape shows Pirone delivering a shoulder chop to Grant and bringing him to the ground. Pirone can be heard saying twice, "Bitch-ass n-, right?" Prosecutors showed the tape in court on the last day of Mehserle's preliminary hearing, but the headlines went to the judge's decree hours later that there was enough evidence to send Mehserle to trial for murder. Under questioning from Mehserle's attorney Michael Rains, Pirone insisted it was Grant who had first "called me a bitch-ass n-." Asked if he had repeated the slur to Grant, Pirone testified: "I don't remember, but it very well may have happened." "Is that something you would have initiated on your own, calling him names?" Rains asked. "No, I don't talk like that," Pirone said. Oakland attorney John Burris, who is representing Grant's family in a lawsuit against BART, called Pirone's words "shocking and disturbing."Pirone was out of control," Burris said, "assaulting Oscar Grant and taunting him with racial slurs, and none of the other officers seemed to put him in check."SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

In the Spotlight: Bosko The Good Life Movement

MICHAEL JACKSON 911 CALL TO PARAMEDICS

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_entertainment/jackson_911/index.html?SITE=CAFRA&SECTION=MULTIMEDIA&tsp=1

Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says determining the cause of Michael Jackson's death will require further neuropathology and pulmonary tests that will take four to six weeks. Harvey says there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body during the three-hour autopsy. He also says Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medications.The spokesman says Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter is with Jackson's family.Harvey says the police department has requested a security hold on the investigation which limits how much the coroner's office can say about the case. He says the death became a coroner's case because there was no doctor to sign the death certificate. Harvey says the body will be released once the family selects a mortuary. Michael Jackson, who was with a cardiologist when he collapsed at his rented home in Los Angeles, appeared to have suffered a heart attack, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, said Jackson suffered a heart attack, which is a blocking of the arteries that deprives the heart of adequate blood. That can lead to cardiac arrest, an interruption of the normal heartbeat.Jackson's brother Jermaine said Thursday that it was believed the pop singer went into cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County coroner's office, which completed its autopsy Friday, said determining the cause of death will require further tests that will take six to eight weeks. The possibility of a heart attack could be a key clue as to why Jackson had a cardiologist at his home while he went through vigorous training for an upcoming series of concerts in London: Heart attacks can indicate a long-term problem, such as heart disease. It would not necessarily rule out another factor, such as drug use, however. Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said Jackson was taking some prescription medications, but did not specify what they were. Police earlier today seized the car of Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who practices in California, Nevada and Texas, who was with Jackson at the time of his death. Police said they believed the car may contain drugs or other evidence.When autopsies are performed on cardiac arrest victims, as many as three-fourths show signs of heart disease, such as clogged arteries, said Dr. Douglas Zipes, an Indiana University heart specialist and past president of the American College of Cardiology.Finding signs of a heart attack would not rule out drugs playing a role. For example, injections of the powerful painkiller Demerol can depress normal breathing or cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and trigger a heart rhythm problem, said Dr. Lance Becker, a University of Pennsylvania emergency medicine specialist and an American Heart Association spokesman.If that occurred in someone who already had clogged arteries, it could make the situation much worse, he said. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM, AP NEWS, LATIMES

Brother Announces Michael's Death

Reports: Michael Jackson has died

POP MUSIC ICON MICHAEL JACKSON IS DEAD!

The pop star is pronounced dead by doctors after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources tell The Times.A person with knowledge of the situation said that Michael Jackson has died after being rushed to a Los Angeles Hospital on Thursday, The A.P. reports.

He was 50.

L.A. Times Reports Jackson Is Dead | 6:24 p.m. The newspaper cited “city and law enforcement sources.” The networks and CNN are also broadcasting the news, citing the Times story.

Reports: Jackson in a Coma | 6:15 p.m. Several news organizations including the Los Angeles Times reported that Mr. Jackson “is in a coma.” The newspaper attributed the news to one law enforcement source. CNN is also citing “multiple sources” as saying that Mr. Jackson is in a coma.

Update | 6:11 p.m. LOS ANGELES – An unconscious Michael Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center on Thursday afternoon by paramedics who performed C.P.R., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Early reports indicated cardiac arrest, but a hospital spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Mr. Jackson, 50, has been renting a mansion in the Bel Air neighborhood, a short distance from the hospital, and rehearsing for a series of 50 sold-out shows in London.

Joe Jackson told to E! News, an entertainment Web site and cable channel, that the singer’s family was scrambling to determine his condition. “I am in Las Vegas, but yes, people in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital,” Mr. Jackson told E! News. “His mother is on her way to the hospital now to check in on him.”

Mr. Jackson is scheduled to perform in a series of concerts in at the O2 arena London, beginning next month and continuing into 2010. The shows have been widely seen in the music industry as an important possible comeback for him, with the potential to earn him up to $50 million, according to some reports. But there has also been worry and speculation that Mr. Jackson, who is 50, was not physically ready for such an arduous run of concerts, and Mr. Jackson’s postponement of the first of those shows from July 8 to July 12 fueled new rounds of gossip about his health.

A member of the pop group The Jackson 5 as a child, Mr. Jackson was a pint-size musical dynamo. He under the aegis of Joe Jackson, spent years in talent shows and performing in seedy Midwestern clubs his dictatorial and ambitious father. Joe Jackson and Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, were the singer’s twin mentors during his early career.

Mr. Jackson eventually broke with his father and the Jackson 5, a move toward creative and financial independence marked by his collaborations with Quincy Jones on a trio of albums. The most memorable of those is 1982’s “Thriller,” which eventually racked up sales of 51 million copies globally, according to the Guinness World Records, making it the best-selling album in history.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department told CNN that rescuers were called to Mr. Jackson’s home at 12:21 p.m. Pacific. “When paramedics went on the scene, they treated the patient, then they immediately transported the patient to UCLA,” the spokesman told CNN. Mr. Jackson’s home is located only a few minutes from the hospital center.

Cable news channels almost immediately started showing paparazzi shots from TMZ, X17Online.com and Hollywood.TV of Mr. Jackson’s entourage arriving at the hospital. By mid-afternoon, television news helicopters were hovering above the medical center. SOURCE:NYTIMES, LATIMES, CNN.COM

Shaquille O’Neal Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers

For the third time in four years, Shaquille O’Neal is on the move, rumbling across the N.B.A. landscape, forcing adjustments, reassessments and revisions from coast to coast.The Cleveland Cavaliers, in a bold stroke aimed at winning the championship, acquired O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns, in a multiplayer trade that will have ramifications across the league.O’Neal, a 15-time All-Star, will join LeBron James, the league’s reigning most valuable player, to form one of the most powerful tandems in the league. The Cavaliers were already an elite team — winning an N.B.A.-best 66 games last season — but one that was missing any star power, or reliable scoring, beyond James.That will no longer be a problem. Even at 37, O’Neal remains a fearsome threat in the low post. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds for the Suns last season, played in 75 games — his highest total in four years — and was named to the all-N.B.A. third team.With O’Neal, Cleveland now has an answer to Orlando’s Dwight Howard, who bulldozed through the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.James’s championship dreams were crushed in Game 6 of that series, and he left the arena in a deep funk, without congratulating the Magic or speaking to the news media.The depression that settled over Cleveland in late May has now cleared.The Suns and Cavaliers had been discussing parameters of a deal since before the February trading deadline. At the time, it was deemed too great a risk by the Cavaliers, given their dominant season and their enviable chemistry. What appeared like a gamble then looks essential now.Although the Suns initially held out for a better package, they settled for a deal that gives them financial relief, and little else. Phoenix will receive two marginal rotation players, the past-his-prime center Ben Wallace and the swingman Sasha Pavlovic, plus $500,000 and a future second-round pick.If the Suns waive Pavlovic, whose contract is only partially guaranteed, they can save around $9 million in salary and luxury-tax payments. They could save millions more if Wallace decides to retire and accept a buyout, a possibility he has entertained. SOURCE:NYTIMES.COM

Farrah Fawcett Dies of Cancer at 62

Farrah Fawcett, an actress and television star whose good looks and signature flowing hairstyle influenced a generation of women and, beginning with a celebrated pinup poster, bewitched a generation of men, died Thursday morning in Santa Monica, Calif. She was 62. Her death, at a Santa Monica hospital, was announced by her spokesman, Paul Bloch, The Associated Press reported.Ms. Fawcett had been battling anal cancer since late 2006, and to an extraordinary degree the fight was played out in public, generating enormous interest worldwide. Her face, often showing the ravages of cancer, became a tabloid fixture, and updates on her health became staples of television entertainment news.  In May, her cancer battle was chronicled in an NBC prime-time documentary, “Farrah’s Story,” some of it shot on home video. An estimated 9 million people viewed it. Ms. Fawcett had initiated the project with a friend and producer, Alana Stewart, after she first learned of her cancer.  Ms. Fawcett’s doctors declared her cancer-free after they removed a tumor in 2007, but her cancer returned later that year. She had been receiving alternative treatment in Germany and was hospitalized in early April for a blood clot resulting from that treatment, according to her doctor, Lawrence Piro. Her cancer had also spread to her liver, Dr. Piro told The A.P. Ms. Fawcett’s career was a patchwork of positives and negatives, fine dramatic performances on television and on stage as well as missed opportunities. She first became famous when a poster of her in a red bathing suit, leonine mane flying, sold more than twice as many copies as posters of Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable combined. SOURCE:NYTIMES.COM

Today's Papers: Obama Changes Tune On Iran

The New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal's world-wide newsbox lead with, while the rest of the papers off-lead, President Obama delivering his harshest criticism of Iran's post-election crackdown of protesters. After days of criticism from Republican leaders who said the president wasn't showing enough support for the Iranian demonstrators, Obama said he was "appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings, and imprisonments of the past few days." Despite the tough words, Obama only took it so far. While stating that there are "significant questions about the legitimacy of the election," he emphasized the United States has no way of judging who really won. He also didn't mention any possible sanctions against the regime if it continued down its current path and, more importantly, refused to state that his administration was giving up on its goal to have talks with Iranian officials.The Washington Post leads with news that the Metro subway train that crashed into another on Monday had its emergency brakes activated. Investigators also said the train was in automatic mode, which means that the train's computers should have stopped the train long before it got close to the stationary train. The paper also reports that the first two cars of the striking train were two months overdue for scheduled maintenance on its brakes. The Los Angeles Times leads with a look at how a significant portion of the tactics that California's lawmakers and governor are proposing to deal with the state's fiscal crisis involve gimmicks that will only ensure the problem gets kicked down the road. What kind of gimmicks? Well, one proposal would have state employees receiving their June 2010 paychecks at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 so California would only have to meet 11 months of payroll in the new fiscal year.To continue reading, click here.

The Hotlanta Housewives are BACK!

Ego (featuring Kanye West)

♫ HOT OR NOT: CHRIS BROWN - “NOT MY FAULT“

♫ Chris Brown feat. Pharrell Williams - Not My Fault

♫ ALTERNATE LINK ♫

While others may think it’s over for Chris Brown’s career after his sentencing, he is still putting the finishing touches on his third studio album, Graffiti, which Chris is slated to release a single for this summer.

Of the new material from Chris is the Neptunes-produced “Not My Fault.” Although the track sounds a little unfinished, it seems as though Chris is pulling in the best and brightest to stay afloat with this next album.

Ginuwine: Inside His Mind

EXCERPT FROM CLUTCH MAGAZINE.COM ~By Arlice Nichole -- Like a bottle of fine wine Ginuwine is back with new music and smoother, sexier moves than before. No longer is he trying to “get up in those jeans,” he wants you to get inside his head and heart. His forthcoming album, A Man’s Thoughts, on store shelves this month; boasts the talents of many like R.L. from the group Next, producer Bryan Michael Cox and collabos with artists like Keyshia Cole and Brandy. Clutch sat down to talk to this heart stopper. Find out what he’s been up to, what’s kept him busy, and why he’s been M.I.A.

Clutch: Where you been and why’d you stay gone so long? We missed you!
Ginuwine: I’ve been doing my thing! I’ve still been doing shows, performing over seas and that kind of thing. When I finished the deal with Sony I think in 2004, I really wanted to take a break because I had been going constantly from 1996 to 2004 day after day, year after year. I missed out on a lot of things with my kids and I just wanted to spend some time and try to catch-up. Some things you can’t get back, so the day when my kids started school, I made sure I was there for that. I think that it was something that was needed and everything is great now. Now they don’t care when I’m home. They’re in school now, they’ve got their friends, and so I said all right, I’m going back to work.

Clutch: How does it feel getting back in the game?
Ginuwine: It’s definitely hard work, but certain things I really miss. The thing I miss the most is being on stage. That’s where I express myself the best. I’ve never really liked the studio because I don’t like how I sound. People are like “are you crazy?” I’m my worst critic. But I’m back, and I’m ready to do what I do best.

Clutch: There have been a few new artists enter the music scene in your absence. Do you have any favorites?
Ginuwine: As far as new artists, I like a couple. I like Ne-Yo and Avant. I got to give respect to all the guys that have kept real and true R&B alive. I’m always a fan of anybody that keeps R&B relevant.CONTINUE READING...

Chris Brown Pleads Guilty to Assault

LOS ANGELES — It was going to be another highly anticipated, media-clogged celebrity courtroom showdown, pitting pop singer Rihanna against her erstwhile boyfriend, R&B star Chris Brown. But it fizzled Monday when Brown accepted a deal in which he pleaded guilty to felony assault but avoided a trial and jail time.The plea agreement, under which Brown, 20, will serve 180 days of community service and undergo domestic-violence counseling, was announced at the start of a preliminary hearing here."Do we have a deal?" Judge Patricia Schnegg asked after calling the hearing into session.Rihanna, 21, had been prepared to take the stand to testify about what happened when the couple drove home from a pre-Grammy party in February.Brown, dressed in a black-, white- and grey-checkered suit, entered the courtroom flanked by five sheriff's deputies. Nearly a dozen members of his family filled two courtroom rows behind him and his attorney, famed celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos."I want Mr. Brown to be treated as any other person of this type of charge," the judge said.Dozens of media outlets were there to record the courtroom confrontation that didn't happen. Rihanna, wearing a black dress and pearls, appeared in court only after Brown had left. Rihanna — born in Barbados, real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty — listened as Schnegg explained the stay-away order she issued: Brown can't contact Rihanna and she can't contact him at least until Aug. 5, when Brown will be formally sentenced. Later, Rihanna's attorney, Donald Etra, said Rihanna didn't think the terms of the stay-away order were necessary. Etra would not comment on the current state of Brown's relationship with Rihanna. Brown's plea deal includes five years of supervised probation, plus Brown must pay court restitution and contribute to a domestic violence fund. Brown could have been sentenced to up to four years in prison. He will be allowed to do his community service in his home state of Virginia since he doesn't own any property in Los Angeles. Brown spoke softly as he told the judge he understood the terms and conditions of his plea. "I think it's commendable that you took responsibility," Schnegg told Brown. "I hope this will have some meaning for you." Once known for a squeaky-clean image, Brown has already suffered fallout from the case; he was dropped by some sponsors and had to cancel several appearances. Because violence was involved in the case, it may be tougher for the singer to rebound, but not impossible. "What happened today will have less impact than people thought," says Jason Adams, Entertainment Weekly assistant managing editor. "(It) pretty much sets both of them up to continue with their careers without turning a blind eye to what happened. … When it's all said and done, he's a young man, and this stuff will be over pretty quickly." SOURCE:USA TODAY

Today's Papers: Iran's Guardian Council: Election Was Kosher

The New York Times leads with Iran's powerful Guardian Council announcing that it found some irregularities in the June 12 polls. The council said that the number of votes in 50 districts was greater than the number of eligible voters by three million, not enough to overturn the supposed landslide victory of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Los Angeles Times catches late-breaking news that the council rejected demands that the vote be annulled, saying it found no evidence of "major" irregularities. "Fortunately, in the recent presidential election we found no witness of major fraud or breach in the election," said the council's spokesman. The Wall Street Journal leads its world-wide newsbox with security forces quickly breaking up protests in Tehran yesterday, which were much smaller than recent demonstrations. The Washington Post leads with the collision between two Metro subway trains that killed six--authorities have since increased the death toll to nine--people during rush hour yesterday. One Red Line train crashed into the back of another between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations. The impact was so powerful that one subway car was fully on top of the other train. It was the deadliest accident in Metrorail's history. USA Today leads with numbers that show the foreclosure crisis is spreading. According to the paper's analysis, the "foreclosure rates in 40 of the nation's counties that have the most households have already doubled from last year." This latest increase in foreclosures is due more to the recession and increasing unemployment than subprime mortgages. The LAT leads with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's announcement that he will not be competing in the 2010 race for California governor. To continue reading, click here.

Video: DJ JS-1 – Live With Regis And Kelly / Album Drops Today

The Video: June 23rd is finally here, and what better way to celebrate the release of DJ JS-1's brand new album, Ground Original 2: No Sell Out, than with a fun video featuring the Queens, New York DJ and producer making a live appearance on the Live With Regis And Kelly morning show. JS-1 gets things started performing a flawless DJ set, showing off some of the skills that continue to make his talents sought worldwide. Closing out the show JS-1 gives Regis a DJ tutorial, teaching him the basics of scratching. The high point of the clip comes at the 5:05 mark as we witness Kelly rapping along to Mims' "This Is Why I'm Hot;" comedic material for any hip-hop fan. DJ-JS-1's Ground Original 2: No Sell Out is available today via Fat Beats Records.

Also make sure to check out DJ JS-1's new track, "Clear 'N Present Danger" feat. Canibus and KRS-One: http://media.audibletreats.com/DJ_JS-1-Clear_N_Present_Danger_feat_KRS-One_and_Canibus.mp3
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=318095246&s=143441

Egypt's golden boy king back in S.F.

Renee Dreyfus fell under the spell of Egyptian art at the age of 3, when her parents took her to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Decades later, she's still enthralled by the power and mystery of those exquisitely carved statues and gilded funerary masks."I remember looking up at those monumental sculptures that seemed all powerful and strong. There was something haunting about them," says Dreyfus, the curator in charge of ancient art and interpretation at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She's installing the much-anticipated "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibition that opens Saturday at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum.It arrives 30 years after the first blockbuster Tut show dazzled crowds that packed the museum in record numbers to see the eye-popping objects from the tomb of the "boy king" who ascended the throne of Egypt around 1332 B.C., at the age of 8 or 9, and died mysteriously a decade later.Dreyfus installed that show, too, and its success led to her establishing the museum's department of ancient art. Over the years, she's put together a series of splendid Egyptian exhibitions, among them "Eternal Egypt" in 2002 and the 2005 show "Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh."The big Tut show that opens this month - organized by National Geographic and other cultural entities with the cooperation of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities - has been seen by 5 million people worldwide since it first hit the road in 2005. It features about 50 objects from Tut's tomb, which was discovered intact by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, and 80 from the tombs of his royal predecessors - among those of Amenhotep III and his in-laws, Yuya and Tjuya - from the 18th Dynasty, during Egypt's golden age.The objects range from the magnificent coffinette, made of gold, carnelian, obsidian, rock crystal and glass, that held Tut's viscera, to Tjuya's gilded funerary mask; a life-size gray-granite statue of Tuthmosis IV and his mother discovered at the Temple of Amun at Karnak; and an intricately carved and inlaid mirror case in the shape of an ankh, made of wood, gold and silver leaf, from the tomb of the boy king. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM