Keepingitreal

Obama Calls Kanye West a ‘Jackass’

President Obama called musician Kanye West a “jackass” during an interview Monday with CNBC, an ABC News anchor reported to his followers on Twitter. But the tweet caused some red faces at ABC, and the network soon apologized for publicizing what had apparently been an off-the-record comment. “Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a ‘jackass’ for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT’S presidential,” “Nightline” co-anchor Terry Moran wrote Monday evening. Moran has more than 1 million followers on the microblogging service. CNBC objected to the post, which was apparently from a portion of the interview that was supposed to be off the record. Moran quickly deleted the comment (although it still can be accessed online), and an ABC spokesperson apologized for the tweet in a statement first posted on Politico. (Continue Reading…)

Scorned rapper West apologizes again to Taylor Swift

LOS ANGELES — Rapper Kanye West apologized for a second time on Monday after celebrities and fans poured scorn on his hijacking of teen country star Taylor Swift's moment in the spotlight at the MTV Video Music Awards. West was booed loudly when he leaped on stage and grabbed the microphone from Swift, 19, as she was accepting the trophy for best female pop video for "You Belong With Me" at the awards ceremony on Sunday. West declared it should have gone to Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video, which he called "one of the best videos of all time." The outburst on the live telecast was seen by some 27 million viewers -- the largest TV audience since 2002 for the annual MTV Video Music Awards, MTV said on Monday. Video of the incident was seen by some 2 million times on the MTV.com web site alone. "I feel like Ben Stiller in (the movie) 'Meet the Parents' when he messed up everything and Robert De Niro asked him to leave...That was Taylor's moment and I had no right in any way to take it from her. I am truly sorry," West wrote on his blog on Monday. West had earlier written that he was "soooooo sorry", adding "Welcome to the real world!!!! Everybody wanna booooo me but I'm a fan of real pop culture!!!". He will get a chance to speak publicly about the incident in a previously scheduled appearance on comedian Jay Leno's TV show on Monday evening. Swift, the biggest-selling artist of 2008 in the United States with more than 4 million albums, said little on Sunday about the outburst. "I've been getting so many text messages and everybody's been really nice. So I've had a really, really fun night. It's been interesting definitely. It's definitely been an interesting night," she said. Swift is to appear on Tuesday on daytime chat show "The View".

Patrick Swayze Dies at 57

LOS ANGELES — Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into moviegoers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57."Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement released Monday evening by his publicist, Annett Wolf. Swayze died in Los Angeles, Wolf said, but declined to give further details. Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer. He kept working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting "The Beast," an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot.  Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making "The Beast" because they would have taken the edge off his performance. The show drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season. When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was "considerably more optimistic" than that. Swayze acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease."I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters in early 2009. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it." C. Thomas Howell, who co-starred with Swayze in "The Outsiders," "Grandview U.S.A." and "Red Dawn", said: "I have always had a special place in my heart for Patrick. While I was fortunate enough to work with him in three films, it was our passion for horses that forged a friendship between us that I treasure to this day. Not only did we lose a fine actor today, I lost my older `Outsiders' brother." CONTINUE READING...

Whitney Spills on Drug Use

Obama: I've every reason to get health care right

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says he'll be held responsible for any problems once a health care overhaul becomes law, so he has every reason to get it right. "I have no interest in having a bill get passed that fails. That doesn't work," he told CBS' "60 Minutes" in an interview to air Sunday night. Heading to a rally Saturday in Minneapolis, the president used his weekly radio and Internet address to focus on government figures showing that nearly half of all Americans live without health insurance in a 10-year period. He said the situation will worsen without the changes he wants and that losing coverage can happen to anyone. "I intend to be president for a while and once this bill passes, I own it. And if people look and say, You know what? This hasn't reduced my costs. My premiums are still going up 25 percent, insurance companies are still jerking me around.' I'm the one who's going to be held responsible. So I have every incentive to get this right," he said in an excerpt of the CBS interview released Saturday. While the president cleared out of town, thousands of people marched along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol to protest Obama's health care plan and what they say is out-of-control federal spending. A new Treasury Department analysis found that 48 percent of all people under age 65 go without health coverage at some point in a 10-year period. The data came from a study that tracked the insurance status of a sample of people from 1997-2006. The report also found that 57 percent of those under 21 will find themselves without insurance at some point during a span of 10 years and that more than one-third of Americans will be without coverage for a year or more. "I refuse to allow that future to happen," Obama said in his weekend message. "In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they'll go without health insurance — not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. CONTINUE READING...

Sad display by NBA king

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The tears tumbled, flooding his face and Michael Jordan had yet to march to the microphone at Symphony Hall. He had listened to the genuine stories and speeches of a remarkable class. He had watched a “This is Your Life” video compilation of his basketball genius. Everything flashed before him, a legacy that he’s fought with body and soul to never, ever let go into yesterday. Yes, Michael Jordan was still fighting it on Friday night, and maybe he always will. Mostly, he was crying over the passing of that old Jordan, and it wouldn’t be long until he climbed out of his suit and back into his uniform and shorts, back into an adolescent act that’s turned so tedious. This wasn’t a Hall of Fame induction speech, but a bully tripping nerds with lunch trays in the school cafeteria. He had a responsibility to his standing in history, to players past and present, and he let everyone down. This was a night to leave behind the petty grievances and past slights – real and imagined. This was a night to be gracious, to be generous with praise and credit. “M.J. was introduced as the greatest player ever and he’s still standing there trying to settle scores,” one Hall of Famer said privately later.

Jordan didn’t hurt his image with the NBA community, as much as he reminded them of it. “That’s who Michael is,” one high-ranking team executive said. “It wasn’t like he was out of character. There’s no one else who could’ve gotten away with what he did tonight. But it was Michael, and everyone just goes along.” Jordan wandered through an unfocused and uninspired speech at Symphony Hall, disparaging people who had little to do with his career, like Jeff Van Gundy and Bryon Russell. He ignored people who had so much to do with it, like his personal trainer, Tim Grover. This had been a moving and inspirational night for the NBA – one of its best ceremonies ever – and five minutes into Jordan’s speech it began to spiral into something else. Something unworthy of Jordan’s stature, something beneath him. Jordan spent more time pointlessly admonishing Van Gundy and Russell for crossing him with taunts a dozen years ago than he did singling out his three children. When he finally acknowledged his family, Jordan blurted, in part, to them, “I wouldn’t want to be you guys.” Well, um, thanks Dad. He meant it, too. If not the NBA, he should’ve thought of his children before he started spraying fire at everyone. No one ever feels sorry for Isiah Thomas, but Jordan tsk-tsked him and George Gervin and Magic Johnson for the 1985 All-Star game “freeze-out.” Jordan was a rookie, and the older stars decided to isolate him. It was a long time ago, and he obliterated them all for six NBA championships and five MVP trophies. Isiah and the Ice Man looked stunned, as intimidated 50 feet from the stage, as they might have been on the basketball court. The cheering and laughter egged Jordan on, but this was no public service for him. Just because he was smiling didn’t mean this speech hadn’t dissolved into a downright vicious volley. CONTINUE READING...

Real Housewives ATL - Drama at the Fashion Show

Fall music preview: Divas, reunions, returning superstars and American Idols on tap for autumn.

Can a deloused Whitney Houston trounce fellow diva Mariah Carey? Will a one time mega-selling band like Creed make a comeback after nearly a decade away?And could the most buzzed-about up-and-comer of the summer, Kid Cudi, become the next pop-rap sensation? Such questions highlight the many dramas of this fall in music. Every leaf-blowing season, the music industry brings out its biggest names, or most promising contenders, in hopes of milking as many back-to-school, and pre-holiday, dollars as possible. Even in the industry's enfeebled state, fall still accounts for roughly one-third of yearly music sales, according to Nielson/SoundScan. With that in mind, here's a look at the stars most likely to inspire significant chart action — or at least plenty of chatter this cooling season:

Divas:

Word has it that Mariah keeps pushing back the release date of her new "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" CD so as not to go head-to-head with the first album from fellow scream-queen Whitney in seven long years. While Houston's CD, "I Look to You," will definitely hit stores tomorrow, as of this moment, Mariah's much-delayed, bitch-slap back won't arrive until Sept. 29.

Odd Couples:

Power-pop god Pete Yorn made a pact with the devil (or at least with actress Scarlett Johansson) on a CD, titled "Breakup," arriving Sept. 8. There's an intriguing concept behind this strange match. Yorn and Johansson mean to channel the classic, decadent recordings of French legend Serge Gainsbourg and his '60s muse, actress Brigitte Bardot. Good luck.

Sting takes on an equally unusual partner for his new CD, "If on a Winter's Night" (Oct. 27). It pairs the ex-Police chief with lullabies, carols and chants meant for the snowy season. In other words, it's an intellectual's version of a Christmas album.

Speaking of Christmas albums, the initially Jewish Bob Dylan is rumored to be readying his own shock disk of churchy songs to arrive before the holiday. Then again, being Jewish didn't stop stars like Barbra Streisand and Kenny G from putting out their own smash Xmas works.

Also, speaking of Streisand, some listeners will surely think the singer formed an odd couple on her latest CD, "Love Is the Answer" (Sept. 29). It's her first ever jazz CD. Then again, Babs' earliest recordings definitely had a jazzy swing, back when she swooned at clubs like The Bon Soir. She'll return to those downtown roots with a special, fan-only show Sept. 26 at the Village Vanguard, though you'd need a crate full of "buttah" to grease your way into such a snug spot. SOURCE:NYDAILYNEWS.COM

JANET'S HARPERS BAZAAR QUOTES REVEALED: Singer opens up about losing Michael; talks about efforts to move on.

Janet Jackson admits she hasn't watched television or read a newspaper in the two months since her brother Michael's sudden death on June 25. In a new interview with Harpers Bazaar, her first since Michael's passing, the singer/actress opens up about her relationship with Michael and their last day together, and how she's coped by immersing herself in a new album and book. Janet remembers being 14-years-old and tasked with the job of taking care of her superstar brother. "I would shop for him. I washed his clothes and cleaned his room," she said. "When mother would go out of town, she'd say, 'I'm leaving you in charge. Take care of Michael.'"  She learned early on that her brother was drawn to clothes that made a grand statement. For the 25th Anniversary of Motown special, Michael grabbed his famous sparkly black jacket from his mother's closet. "If it was shiny, if it had any kind of bling, he loved it," Janet said.  But his shoes were another story. "He would wear his shoes all the way down," remembered Janet. "His penny loafers would have huge holes in the bottom."  As for their 1995 music video "Scream," Janet recalls, "We had so much fun back then. We would organize our days together."  She also fondly remembers the last time she saw Michael -- a month before his death.""The last time we were together, he'd laugh so hard, he'd just start crying."  Janet is currently writing a book that chronicles her periodic binge eating – a habit she says has returned amid the stress of Michael's death. "I can be an emotional eater," she says. "Of late, I have been doing that, yes. It started when I was very little. My brothers were gone on tour a lot, and I would miss them so much." SOURCE:NYDAILYNEWS.COM

Rep. Wilson heckles Obama 0:46

Show Invite / Common & Questlove Interview!

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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)

Shop around for the best cheap checking accounts

The news that Wal-Mart's going to cease cutting paper checks for employees who don't have direct deposit has prompted all sorts of reactions -- applause for reducing paper waste, debates over whether ATM fees are more or less ruinous than check-cashing fees and confusion over why people just don't have bank accounts into which to deposit their checks. The short answer: Because free bank accounts usually come with strings attached. In poking around bank options in the Bay Area, here are the terms for "free" checking from the big ones:

Bank of America -- The MyAccess checking account waives its $8.95 monthly fee if you either have a "qualifying" direct deposit made to your account once a month, or you maintain an average daily balance of $1500 in the checking account. Otherwise, it'll cost you $107.40 per year for the privilege of keeping your money here. However, if you take advantage of the online-only Charitable Causes accounts, you can open a free checking account with no minimum balance, no direct deposit and no fees.

Bank of the West -- Its free checking program doesn't list a minimum average daily balance -- all you apparently need is $100 to open the account.

Citibank -- Its EZ Checking account requires $100 to open, and in order to waive the $9.50/month fee, users have to do one of three things: make two monthly bill payments online; maintain an average minimum balance of $1500 across any linked checking and saving accounts; use direct deposit for the account.

Chase Bank -- While the website claims there are currently no products available in California until they finish the Washington Mutual takeover, when I popped in a Washington State zip code and took a quick visit to their Chase Checking page, here were the terms I found. For free checking, you'd need $25 to open an account. To avoid the $6/month fee, you've got to make five different debit card purchases or have direct deposit; there's no stated minimum average monthly balance.

First Republic -- According to their site, this bank offers an "ATM Rebate Checking" account, and that appears to be it. This interest-bearing checking account charges $15 per month in fees ($180 per year) unless you maintain a minimum average monthly balance of $2500. You need $500 minimum to open the account. I downloaded and read through their account disclosure statement and it appears that the big perk to this account is that First Republic won't charge you fees for using non-network ATMs. That doesn't mean other banks won't tack on their own fees, though.

US Bank -- Its free checking requires $50 to open the account, but there's no required minimum average daily balance.

Wells Fargo -- The bank's most basic checking account requires a $100 opening deposit, and it'll waive the $5/month fee if you maintain a $1000 minimum daily balance or you've got direct deposit.

And then there's the issue of bank fees: Bank of America's upped its overdraft fees, as have Citibank and Wells Fargo, and according to Bankrate.com, banks have boosted their ATM fees.

Here's how the main banks around here shake out for fees:

Bank of America -- Overdraft fees will run you $35 per transaction (with a limit of 10 overdraft items per day, or $350), and ATM fees will run you $2 per each non-BofA transaction.

Bank of the West -- Use your Bank of the West card at a non-bank ATM and they'll charge you $1.50 per use. Overdraft fees are $26 per day for the first insufficient-funds transaction and $35 per each item after that.

Citibank -- For overdraft protection: "Citibank will charge an Overdraft Protection Transfer Fee of $10 each day we cover an overdraft by transferring money," and that's on top of its $34 overdraft fee per item. Citibank's pretty cagey about whether they'll charge customers fees for using non-Citi ATMs, choosing to focus instead on the possibility that they might reimburse you the fees other banks charge for using their machines.

Chase Bank -- ATM fees are $2 per transaction from Chase if you use any non-Chase ATM. According to the site, you have to choose to sign up for overdraft protection; their overdraft fees are tiered -- $25 for the first occurrence, and more from there. (Also, good luck trying to read through the disclosures -- all the download links are broken.)

First Republic -- There is no overdraft fee listed, only a $30 fee for "insufficient funds."

US Bank -- US Bank will charge you $2 for using your ATM card at non-US Bank location. Their overdraft fees are tiered: $19.00 for the first overdraft, $35.00 for two to four, and $37.50 after that; the continuous overdraft fee (charged each day the available balance is below zero beginning, as of the fourth calendar day you're overdrawn) is $8 per day. According to the website, overdraft protection is an opt-in program with an unstated monthly fee.

Wells Fargo -- According to the fee schedule, Wells Fargo will charge you $2.50 if you withdraw money at a non-Wells Fargo ATM. Their overdraft fee is $25 for the first overdrawn occasion in a 12-month period, then $35 per each occasion after that. Wells Fargo defines an occasion as "a day in which your account does not have enough money to cover the transaction," so if you've got one overdrawn check but your account doesn't have sufficient funds for three days, you're out $90 in overdraft fees alone.

ATMs, choosing to focus instead on the possibility that they might reimburse you the fees other banks charge for using their machines.

Chase Bank -- ATM fees are $2 per transaction from Chase if you use any non-Chase ATM. According to the site, you have to choose to sign up for overdraft protection;

their overdraft fees are tiered -- $25 for the first occurrence, and more from there. (Also, good luck trying to read through the disclosures -- all the download links are broken.)

First Republic -- There is no overdraft fee listed, only a $30 fee for "insufficient funds."

US Bank -- US Bank will charge you $2 for using your ATM card at non-US Bank location. Their overdraft fees are tiered: $19.00 for the first overdraft, $35.00 for two to four, and $37.50 after that; the continuous overdraft fee (charged each day the available balance is below zero beginning, as of the fourth calendar day you're overdrawn) is $8 per day. According to the website, overdraft protection is an opt-in program with an unstated monthly fee.

 

Wells Fargo -- According to the fee schedule, Wells Fargo will charge you $2.50 if you withdraw money at a non-Wells Fargo ATM. Their overdraft fee is $25 for the first overdrawn occasion in a 12-month period, then $35 per each occasion after that. Wells Fargo defines an occasion as "a day in which your account does not have enough money to cover the transaction," so if you've got one overdrawn check but your account doesn't have sufficient funds for three days, you're out $90 in overdraft fees alone. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

RICK FOX MOVES INTO 'MELROSE PLACE': Former NBA star takes recurring role on CW drama.

 Rick Fox is the newest tenant to nab a spot on "Melrose Place," reports Reuters.The former Los Angeles Lakers star has been cast in a recurring role on the CW series, which is being resurrected from its original run in the 1990s The athlete-turned-actor will play the owner of the restaurant where all the aspiring actors on the show work. Fox's television resume includes "Oz," "One Tree Hill," "The Game" and "Ugly Betty," where he was featured alongside his ex-wife and series star Vanessa Williams.

Hearing on whether to toss Bart Cop murder charge

The lawyer for a former Bay Area transit police officer accused in the New Year's Day fatal shooting of an unarmed man on a train platform is arguing that the murder charge should be tossed out.

On Friday, defense attorney Michael Rains said at a hearing that Alameda County Judge C. Don Clay's ruling to have Johannes Mehserle stand trial for murder is "arbitrary, capricious and patently absurd." Rains says Clay excluded key evidence during Mehserle's preliminary hearing.

Judge Thomas Reardon did not render a ruling Friday, telling Rains and prosecutors that he could issue one early next month.

Mehserle shot in the back Oscar Grant after he was pulled off a train for allegedly fighting.

Mehserle has pleaded not guilty. Rains has said Mehserle had intended to use his stun gun but accidentally pulled his handgun.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/04/state/n122149D96.DTL#ixzz0QFnEv8Kr

In a Private Service, Last Goodbyes for Jackson

GLENDALE, Calif. — More than two months after he died, and following a steady trickle of gossip over how and where he would be laid to rest, Michael Jackson was entombed Thursday night at a highly guarded mausoleum in a Los Angeles suburb.About 200 people, including Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Marie Presley, Macaulay Culkin, Quincy Jones and many other celebrities, attended the nearly 90-minute ceremony behind the gates of the heavily guarded Forest Lawn cemetery here, several miles north of downtown Los Angeles. With closed streets, nervous guards, restricted airspace over the grounds and family and friends arriving in a multi-vehicle motorcade, the proceedings took on the feel of a presidential visit. Small clusters of fans of Mr. Jackson, one of the biggest-selling entertainers of all time, gathered at blockaded streets around the cemetery, with one group unfurling a large white banner that read, in part,  Gone too soon.” Members of the news media — 460 people from the around the world received credentials — far outnumbered the fans, and they greeted every car turning into the gated grounds with a bouquet of camera flashes and quizzical looks. Was that Ms. Taylor? Joe Jackson, the family patriarch? Corey Feldman? It was. They and other guests were shown for a short time on a video feed from the invitation-only service before it ended abruptly as Mr. Jackson’s brothers, wearing single white gloves in homage to their brother, opened the back door of a hearse. After the service, the family released a statement, saying, “Michael Jackson reached his final resting place tonight at 9:43 pm PST in  The Great Mausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park.” “The pallbearers were Michael’s five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy Jackson,” the statement continued. “At the beginning of the ceremony, Michael’s children placed a crown on their father’s coffin to signify the final resting place of the King of Pop.” Gladys Knight sang the gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” the statement said, and songwriter Clifton Davis sang “Never Can Say Goodbye,” the hit he wrote for the Jackson 5. Afterward cars streamed out, and the family planned a private reception at a restaurant in Pasadena. A memorial service attended by several thousand fans, family members and friends had already been held for Mr. Jackson, 50, who died June 25. The memorial, on July 7 at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, took place in the arena where he had been rehearsing for a series of London concerts expected to revive his career.  But the family never announced burial plans, and news station helicopters lost track of the hearse carrying his gleaming gold coffin after it left the arena. Representatives of Mr. Jackson inquired about a burial at the Neverland Ranch he lived in for several years until after his acquittal on child molesting charges in 2005, but that proposal would have entailed months of red tape, local and state officials said. CONTINUE READING..

Bio about Executed Texas Inmate Uses Terror, Sadness to Teach Important Lessons

In September 1992 a violent inmate named James Demouchette was executed in Texas for the shooting death of an assistant manager and another man at a Houston pizza restaurant on Oct. 17, 1976. Now in 2009, his youngest brother, Jermnine Demouchette, has released a book that not only chronicles his brother's life but offers hope for young people that might be prone to follow in his violent footsteps. James Demouchette vs. the State of Texas is a revealing look into the mind of a violent man whose reputation in and out of prison earned him the moniker of being "Texas' meanest death row inmate.""There is no question that James was an evil man," says Jermnine. "The account I give in the book attempts to take the reader into the mind of this sociopath, recounting key events in his violent history. There is also a comprehensive section of documents that shed light on his existence in prison."In addition to the 1976 murders, James Demouchette was convicted of fatally stabbing a fellow death row inmate in 1983 and was sentenced to 15 years. According to reports, he was disciplined for beating and raping other inmates, stabbing at least two other offenders, twice set fire to his cell and stabbed two guards searching his cell.To help get the message of the book out to the public, Jermnine Demouchette enlisted the services of publicist Cyrus A. Webb. "I am pleased to help share the message that Jermnine has outlined in his bio about his brother," says Webb,34. "The story is so personal, but I know that there are many people across the country that will be able to relate to some part of it and pick up on the lessons it conveys." (Webb also serves as the Lead Publicist for authors Norma LaVonne Smith "Hope, Change & Obama", Mark Eller "Traitor", T. C. Alexander "Consequences of Adultery", Grandmaster Eric O'Neal "The Legend of Lionman", Sherry Hill "The Marquise Hill Story" as well as t.v. personalities Derrick Hargrove & Nikki Shallwani from MTV's 50 CENT: The Money & The Power, and author/recording artist/actor Tray Chaney from HBO's The Wire. Webb was also the lead publicist for Corey "C-Murder" Miller's book tour DEATH AROUND THE CORNER.) Webb is quick to mention, however, that the book is in no way glorifying the life and actions of James Demouchette. Jermnine explains this way: "The book will show young kids this is not the way you want your life to be, using drugs and hurting people. You will end up in jail are on death row like my brother for the rest of your life. I hope that they will learn from my family's experience, take control of their lives and be productive young men and women." Jermnine Demouchette is also speaking from personal experience. After having his own run-ins with the law he looked at his life and saw that he wanted something better for himself and those around him. He believes that by sharing his story others will be inspired to take a second look at themselves as well. The book can be purchased on Amazon.com or ordered at your local bookstore. Demouchette will join Webb in an event called ART, BOOKS & BEATS at the Comfort Suites Near The Galleria (6221 Richmond Ave. * Houston, TX 77057) on Sat. September 12, 2009 beginning at 2p.m. Admission is free.)

Usher’ Ex, Tameka Foster-Raymond, Breaks Silence About Divorce

EXCERPT FROM BALLERSTATUS.COM ~ It's been almost three months since Usher filed for divorce from Tameka Foster-Raymond, but both have been pretty quiet about the whole ordeal, with nothing but speculation and hearsay circulating among gossip circles.

Usher's ex has finally broken her silence, recently sitting down with Upscale Magazine for an exclusive interview, where she talks about the marriage falling apart among other things.

Below are a few of the excerpts from the interview:

"This Oakland Native is a walking contradiction. She's sophisticated yet around-the-way; Tough but vulnerable. She's serious minded but always joking and laughing. On blogs she's ripped apart for unflattering pictures; in person she's attractive and chic."

"As a world renowned celebrity stylist she's created memorable looks for Lauryn Hill (bangles, boots, Balenciaga), Jay-Z (the button-downs), Toni Braxton (the barely there Richard Tyler) and Usher (the magnificently fitted coat he donned at the inauguration was her ode to a retiring Valentino.)"

"She takes me on a tour of her luxurious trilevel condo (no it's not her home). It's more like a boutique hotel than headquarters for her design and styling company, Swanky Image Group. The entire third floor has a living room, kitchen and bedroom – is fragrant with Jo Malone and Acqua Di Parma candles. Lanvin and Axil Vervoordt books adorn the coffee table. Her almost floor to ceiling bookshelf boasts titles like Terry McMillan's "Waiting to Exhale," "The Way of the Wizard" by Deepak Chopra and Robin Norwood's "Women Who Love Too Much.""

"Though the blogosphere reports that the couple has been separated since July 2008, Tameka says her husband threw her an elaborate party to celebrate her birthday this year which logically counters the separation reports."

"I understand where all the negativity comes from", she says. "Unfortunately I think that some black women are – subconsciously – not in love with the image they see in the mirror. Therefore in turn they do not love someone like me. I look too much like them. They would definitely have preferred my husband marry someone more exotic looking. I was not given a fair shot. People passed judgment without getting to know me. How can you get the entire concept of who I am from a blog?"

"The dissolution of marriage is always upsetting. You have the expectation that it will work. But, you know what? it didn't work. But he's (Usher) a great guy. I will always love him."

Tameka and Usher married in August 2007. Throughout their relationship, both seemed to be in each other's corners, despite the blogosphere reporting otherwise on a constant basis. In the end, there were rumors of infidelity, gold digging and more.

Maybe her Upscale interview can clear things up.The issue, featuring the exclusive with Tameka, hits newsstands this week. SOURCE

Wendy Williams Apologizes To Drag Queens

The Wendy Williams Show has issued a formal apology to drag performer Erickatoure Aviance, who was told that she would be removed from the audience if she tried to appear on camera.

According to The Advocate, Aviance was standing in line for the show when an executive told her that she was in violation of a “no-costumes” dress code policy.  She was allowed to stay, but was moved to be seated out of camera view and was advised her that she would be asked to leave if she drew any attention to herself or tried to ask Wendy Williams (read our interview here, Wendy responds to criticism that she mocks the gay community) a question from the audience.

Aviance noted that she wasn’t even rocking the most outlandish of all audience members:  “I was wearing a ponytail piece and a bang piece. It was much less hair than Wendy was wearing and, p.s., much less hair than any of the other black women in the audience. There were big blond bouffants, lots of church makeup, party dresses, blue mohawks — and I’m made to feel like some sort of clown? No, it definitely wasn’t about what I was wearing. It was because I was a man in a dress.”

They show tried to make nice  with the following statement that Lonnie Burstein, executive vice president of programming and production for Debmar-Mercury (the company behind The Wendy Williams Show) issued to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation:

“Much of the success of The Wendy Williams Show is due to our incredibly diverse and colorful audience and we all agree that fashion is a true form of self expression. But in an attempt to explain and enforce our show’s dress code, I was not as sensitive as I could have been to Ericka, the LGBT community, or drag’s long history of being a target of discrimination. And for that, I sincerely apologize as it was never my intention to offend in any way.”

That’s a start, but hopefully Wendy checks her staff!  As many times as Wendy has joked about being a drag queen herself (with her huge wigs and attention-grabbing fashions), there’s no reason why this sould’ve ever gone down on her show. SOURCE OF THIS POSTING