Keepingitreal

Summer Issue 2011 Swagga Digital Magazine

Heat puts Mavericks through the grinder in 92-84 win in Game 1 of NBA Finals

Miami shoots only 39% but limits Dallas to 37%. LeBron James (24 points) and Dwyane Wade (22 points) lead the Heat to its fifth straight postseason win.

 

After five grueling games against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals, the Miami Heat thought it was done with ground-and-pound basketball.

Instead, these NBA Finals, even against the previously high-scoring Dallas Mavericks, well could prove to be more of the same.That certainly was the case Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena, when the lowest-scoring first quarter in a Finals opening game in the shot-clock era yielded a grueling 92-84 Heat victory.

"It was a grind. It's tough," Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That's a very skilled offensive team. We didn't get into much of an offensive flow the entire game."

But with Dwyane Wade rekindling memories of his effort against the Mavericks in the 2006 Finals that gave the Heat the franchise's lone NBA title, and with LeBron James again working as the perfect complement, the Heat moved to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"That's kind of the way we've been winning games lately," Wade said. "We've just got to stay with it, can't get frustrated when not it's going in. Just have to keep going at it."

Persevere the Heat did.

What started with Dallas closing the opening period with a 17-16 lead ended with the Heat at 39% shooting and the Mavericks at 37%.

"For a while there," Spoelstra said, "it was tough for us to put points on the board."

Through it all, the Heat gained the initial advantage in a series that continues Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena, before shifting to Dallas for the middle three games of the series.

Game 1 winners have gone on to win 11 of the last 14 NBA Finals, that .786 winning percentage identical to the series win percentage of Game 1 winners in the playoffs overall since 1996-97.

"Shots are going to be hard to come by," Mavericks CoachRick Carlisle said. "Both teams are really locked in."

Rebounds also were hard to come by for Dallas, which was outrebounded 46-36, allowing 16 Heat offensive rebounds.

"They were more opportunistic than we were," Carlisle said.

Little came easily in this one for extended stretches, not for Wade in the first half, not for Heat power forward Chris Boshfor most of the game, and not for Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki to the degree he thrived in the Western Conference finals.

Wade, who shot three for 10 in the first half, eventually came around to close nine for 19 for 22 points. Bosh, whose best work came on the boards, with his nine rebounds helping the Heat close with its sizable edge, shot five for 18. And Nowitzki, while closing with 27 points, shot seven for 18.

The truest shooting stroke of the night was offered from distance by James, who converted three third-quarter three-point shots on as many attempts on the way to 24 points.

"We're two playmakers," Wade said of himself and James, "Guys that can get shots for ourselves and get them for our teammates.

"But this was a total team win; we got one."

Ultimately, a gritty game required a gritty performance by a gritty performer. Heat forward Udonis Haslem, having gone 2 1/2 games without a basket, came through on that front, with seven points and six rebounds.

A three-point play by Haslem with 6:36 to play staked the Heat to a 76-69 lead. Wade, who singlehandedly lifted the Heat to the 2006 championship over the Mavericks by averaging 34.7 points, then converted a jumper for a 77-70 Heat lead. Wade made a three-pointer with 3:06 to play for an 82-73 Heat lead. A driving dunk by James followed, effectively ending it.

The Mavericks led 44-43 at halftime.

The good news? The Heat entered 5-0 when trailing at halftime this postseason.

Both teams entered 12-3 in the postseason. At 8-0, the Heat entered as the league's only undefeated team at home this postseason. The Mavericks entered 5-2 on the road this postseason.

Friends, family mourn Scotch Plains model/actor with Plainfield ties, a heralded figure in urban LGBT community

By MARK SPIVEY
STAFF WRITER

PLAINFIELD - Maurice Murrell’s mother says she knew from an early age that her son was gay.

What she couldn’t have known then was that he would grow up to become a renowned model and actor, not to mention a popular figure in the urban LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. Or that it just might have been her love, acceptance and nurturing that helped get him there.

It’s part of what made it so difficult for Sheryl Murrell and her son’s many fans when he died this week at the age of 32.

“I knew before he was four years old what his sexuality was,” Murrell, a Piscataway resident, said. “We love him. And if you love your child, you have to love them the way they are.”

An illness that remained undiagnosed to the end claimed her son’s life, Murrell said, adding that he died in a local hospital surrounded by family members and friends.

“Everything they (doctors) thought it possibly could be was ruled out,” she said. “But he was extremely tired and was not the same person for the last two years. He was still smiling, he would stay positive, he would say he was OK, even though you could see he was not.”

Fans flocked by the hundreds to Murrell’s Facebook page this week to express shock and dismay about his death, which interrupted a career on the rise. Murrell appeared on the cover of the popular LGBT magazine Clik in 2006, then in 2009 starred in “Finding Me,” a film about a young gay man living in New York City and struggling to come to terms with his father’s homophobia. Murrell also starred in the film’s sequel, which is slated for a September release.

“I still have all this footage behind the scenes, with pictures and audio,” said Roger Omeus Jr. of Jersey City, the writer and director of both films. “I’m still hearing his voice, seeing him interact with people.”

Omeus called Murrell a “larger than life” personality who still came off as accessible.

“It’s funny, because the perception of Maurice after he played the character in my film was that he was very catty and mean, even vicious in certain ways,” Omeus said. “He played the part so well that people wanted to tag Maurice as that, when he was actually the complete opposite of that character.”

“He lifted your spirit just by his presence,” agreed Maurice Jamal, president of GLO TV, which is marketed as the nation’s first urban LGBT television network.

“In a community that faces so many challenges … Maurice reminded you that being gay was OK – that it could be fun, that it could be loving, that it could be joyous,” Jamal said. 

Family members recalled Murrell as having seemingly endless reserves of energy as a child, a characteristic that clearly carried over into his adult life – in addition to modeling and acting, he also worked as a personal trainer and bartender, and enjoyed baking and traveling in what little spare time was left over.

“We had a stationary bike and as a child he would get on that thing and stay up there pedaling it all day,” recalled Geneva McCleod of Piscataway, Murrell’s aunt.

“He was always very artistic, too … he could really draw and paint,” added Ebony Sacenda, Murrell’s cousin who works in a Plainfield charter school. “He could dance, he acted – he always put on shows for the family, just making up routines.”

One of those routines carried Murrell and Sacenda to a 1996 performance at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater, she recalled. They were booed off the stage when their musical accompaniment faltered, Sacenda said, but it didn’t even seem to bother him.

“He wanted to go back on,” she said. “I refused.”

Later in life Murrell would become known perhaps best for his statuesque physique, but he wasn’t always so sculpted, friends said. Eric Jones, a Plainfield native who now works for the city’s school system, said he was a junior at The College of New Jersey when he met Murrell, an incoming freshman at the time.

“He was very meek, shy, even scrawny at first,” Jones said. “He just reinvented himself. He went to Bally’s on Route 22 every day working out.”

Jones recalled Murrell’s kindness first and foremost, describing him as someone who would help strangers home from bars if they appeared too intoxicated to drive.

“The very first thing that ever caught my eye about him was that everybody just loved this guy. Everybody wanted to be around him,” Jones said. “He had this ability to truly accept himself for whoever he was and to help you embrace whoever you were.”

“I don’t think I could say a bad thing about him,” agreed Eugene Turner, an actor who co-starred with Murrell in “Finding Me.” “Maurice was probably one of the sweetest people on the planet.”

Murrell’s funeral is scheduled for Tuesday morning at St. John’s Baptist Church in Scotch Plains.

“Maurice lived a good, exciting life,” Sheryl Murrell said of her only child. “He was just a beautiful human being, but he had an old soul. I don’t know what it was about me to be so blessed to have him.” 

Oakland gets dissed on “So You Think You Can Dance

The two-hour opening episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” Thursday night was largely devoted to open auditions held last fall in Oakland, but you never would have known it.

There were lovely shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars and Coit Tower, and the show’s host Cat Deeley repeatedly referred to the “San Francisco auditions.”

Funny, I could have sworn I spent a chilly October morning interviewing hordes of nimble-footed dancers as they lined up outside Oakland’s Paramount Theatre on Broadway. San Francisco? This is the stuff of which civic inferiority complexes are made.

The word “Oakland,” in fact, wasn’t even uttered until late in the show when Deeley introduced viewers to an exciting brand of dancing called Turfing, which originated in the East Bay city. They even brought on wiry Oakland teen Levi “I Dummy” Allen to demonstrate the gliding, spinning, contortion-filled dance.

The judges, including Nigel Lythgoe, all claimed to be blown away. They used words like “exciting” and “spectacular” … and then they balked at sending any of the Turfers onto the next round.

Ouch.

Ironically, none of the area dancers — good or bad — featured in Thursday’s episode were even from San Francisco. Most of them, in fact, were from the East Bay, or elsewhere.

On the plus side, there was Livermore’s Danielle Ihle, 18, who brought a somber back story (She and her mom were homeless after her father lost his job and abandoned the family). Then there was Morgan Hill’s Ryan Ramirez, 18, who was back after making it into the show’s Top 24 last season. Also very impressive was Ashley Rich, 22, of Emeryville, who according to judge Tyce Diorio, moved “like a deer flying and jumping through the forest.” All three women advanced to the Las Vegas round.

Providing comic relief for the night were Oakland’s Leshia Moss, 25, a former stripper who called herself “The Black Barbie,” and Richmond’s Don-que Addison, 22, who couldn’t stop crying after his overwrought performance. Moss did little more than vigorously shake her booty and Addison was a great big blubbering wreck.

East Bay pride, indeed.

 

Man drowns after walking fully clothed into bay off Alameda beach

Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle to be released from jail soon

OAKLAND -- A year after facing a lifetime in prison for killing an unarmed BART passenger, former transit police Officer Johannes Mehserle will be released from jail in a couple of weeks.

With credits for time served and the leniency of a Los Angeles County judge, Mehserle will be set free after serving 11 months of a two-year sentence issued after the 29-year-old was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of Hayward resident Oscar Grant III.

Mehserle's release from Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail, most likely in the middle of June, should not come as a surprise because the date was determined when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry declined last year to issue a harsher penalty.

For Grant's family, the release is a bitter reminder of the tragedy that occurred in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2009, and how, in their minds, the criminal justice system failed. "We really don't feel like there has been accountability for his actions," said Cephus Johnson, Grant's uncle and a family spokesman. "We were totally let down by the judicial system."

For Mehserle, being freed from jail offers a chance to begin anew but not in the profession he had chosen when he became a BART police officer more than three years ago. And while Mehserle's release closes a chapter in the highly publicized saga, the story of Grant's death and its implications will continue for years as both a federal civil suit and an 

Mehserle's conviction remain active in the courts.

 

"Things are still unsettled," said Michael Rains, Mehserle's defense attorney. "(Mehserle) would just as soon fade into oblivion, find a job, support himself and his family and do so without fanfare."

Mehserle was charged with murder for killing Grant on the Fruitvale BART station platform in Oakland. The killing made national headlines and sparked several destructive demonstrations after videos captured by BART passengers recorded the shooting.

The videos showed an unarmed Grant being shot in the back as he lay prone on the station platform with another BART police officer holding him down.

Mehserle refused to speak to investigators immediately after the killing and eventually was charged with murder by now-retired Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff.

Publicity surrounding the shooting and the frequent protests in downtown Oakland forced a relocation of the trial to Los Angeles, where Mehserle testified in his own defense, saying the shooting was an accident caused when he mistook his gun for his Taser.

A jury appeared to believe Mehserle, finding him guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

That verdict and a decision made by Perry during a sentencing hearing to throw out a complicated gun enhancement charge reduced Mehserle's possible term in jail from 25 years to life to two years.

It also angered Grant's family members, who continue to believe Mehserle purposely killed Grant and that he has not paid enough for the crime.

"The sentencing was a slap in the face," Johnson said. "We are hurt and angry."

 

After months of slow business at the box office, Hollywood's headache may finally be subsiding. Audiences showed up in droves to see a bawdy comedy, an animated family film and even art-house fare over the holiday, making it the biggest Memorial Day

After months of slow business at the box office, Hollywood's headache may finally be subsiding. Audiences showed up in droves to see a bawdy comedy, an animated family film and even art-house fare over the holiday, making it the biggest Memorial Day weekend on record for ticket sales.

"The Hangover Part II," the sequel to the 2009 surprise hit about three friends trying to piece together a wild night out, grossed a phenomenal $137.4 million from Thursday to Monday in North America, according to an estimate from distributor Warner Bros. The weekend's other new movie in wide release, the 3-D animated film "Kung Fu Panda 2," raked in a so-so $68 million. Those grosses were enough to help push the overall weekend tally to $280 million, breaking the 2007 Friday-through-Monday record of $255 million and blowing by 2010's paltry $192.7 million take. 

"The Hangover Part II" passed some milestones of its own, as it had the biggest debut of any R-rated comedy ever. Even the film's three-day gross from Friday through Sunday was far higher than 2008's "Sex and the City: The Movie," which collected $56 million on its first weekend in theaters.

The film, this time set in Bangkok instead of Las Vegas, was produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures for about $80 million, meaning it is off to an excellent start. As expected, the movie attracted a young crowd -- a segment of the audience that so far this year has not been eager to rush out to the cinema. Of those who saw the second "Hangover" film, 54% were under 25, and 41% were between the ages of 18 and 24. Those who saw the filmed enjoyed it, giving it an average grade of A-minus, according to market research firm CinemaScore. That bodes well for the movie, as the first "Hangover" film received an A grade and went on to gross $467.5 million worldwide largely due to its strong word-of-mouth.

Overseas, the movie opened in 40 countries and grossed $59 million, a strong take for a comedy abroad. The film performed best in the United Kingdom, where it had $16.4 million in ticket sales. The sequel will open in Germany and Russia next weekend, where it will continue its attempt to surpass the $190 million international tally of the original "Hangover."

Medicare Plan for Payments Irks Hospitals

  WASHINGTON — For the first time in its history, Medicare will soon track spending on millions of individual beneficiaries, reward hospitals that hold down costs and penalize those whose patients prove most expensive.

The administration plans to establish “Medicare spending per beneficiary” as a new measure of hospital performance, just like the mortality rate for heart attack patients and the infection rate for surgery patients.

Hospitals could be held accountable not only for the cost of the care they provide, but also for the cost of services performed by doctors and other health care providers in the 90 days after a Medicare patient leaves the hospital.

This plan has drawn fire from hospitals, which say they have little control over services provided after a patient’s discharge — and, in many cases, do not even know about them. More generally, they are apprehensive about Medicare’s plans to reward and penalize hospitals based on untested measures of efficiency that include spending per beneficiary.

A major goal of the new health care law, often overlooked, is to improve “the quality and efficiency of health care” by linking payments to the performance of health care providers. The new Medicare initiative, known as value-based purchasing, will redistribute money among more than 3,100 hospitals.

Medicare will begin computing performance scores in July, for monetary rewards and penalties that start in October 2012.

The desire to reward hospitals for high-quality care is not new or controversial. The idea can be traced back to a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress in 2005, when Democrats and Republicans were still working together on health care. However, adding in “efficiency” is entirely new and controversial, as no consensus exists on how to define or measure the efficiency of health care providers. SOURCE:NYTIMES.COM

Union City mother one of two people killed in East Oakland shooting

OAKLAND - A Union City mother of two and a man were killed and another woman critically wounded Sunday night when a shooting erupted during an East Oakland "sideshow," police said Monday. The dead woman was identified as Latoya J. Kenny, 28. The name of the dead man, a San Leandro resident who turned 29 on Saturday was not released pending notification of relatives. The name of the wounded woman, a 28-year-old San Leandro resident, was not released by police. Homicide investigators said the three people did not know each other. The shooting happened about 9:21 p.m. Sunday in the 8700 block of International Boulevard. Sgt. Sean Fleming said Monday police believe the three shot had been part of a large group that attended a barbecue at a park a few miles away earlier Sunday and had come to the International Boulevard site for a possible after-party. Kenny was with several relatives and friends, police said. Police said several hundred people were in the area when a sideshow involving vehicles and motorcycles began. Sideshows have been notorious in Oakland for decades for reckless driving, speeding, fatal wrecks and acts of violence including killings. But there have been very few sideshows in the last year. Fleming said shots erupted during the sideshow and the three, who were standing near each other on the north side of the street, were hit by gunfire. Kenny and the man were pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was in critical condition Monday at a hospital but was expected to survive, police said.Fleming said despite the large number of people present the majority fled before police arrived and could not be questioned about the shooting. He said police don't have a motive yet and no arrests have been made.Police said Kenny was the mother of two daughters, 10 and 8. She was a graduate of James Logan High School in Union City and Chabot College and was working at the Valley Health Rehabilitation Center in Santa Clara, police said. The killings brought the number of homicides in Oakland this year to 47. Last year at this time there were 35 homicides in the city.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $25,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the killer. Anyone with information can call police at 510 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 510 777-8572 or 510 777-3211.

Fragrance Foundation's FiFI Awards Fete Fergie, Halle Berry

Gucci may have taken top honors at this year’s Fragrance Foundation’s FiFI Awards -- scooping up the Luxe Fragrance of the Year award for Guilty -- but the focus was squarely on celebrity fragrances at this year’s event, which took place at Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center.  

Halle Berry won the Elizabeth Taylor Celebrity Fragrance of the Year award and the Broad Appeal award for her fragrance Pure Orchid. Fergie won the New Fragrance Celebrity of the Year award for her scent Outspoken, which she created in conjunction with Avon. She told us her reason for launching a fragrance: “I just want women to feel comfortable in their own skin. A great fragrance just gives women that extra boost of confidence before they walk out the door each day.”

 

Of course, the fact that Outspoken has become the top selling scent in the Avon roster doesn’t hurt either. She said of the process, "They [Avon] would give me candles to take home and I’d put them in different room in the house. Twenty minutes you walk in and the essence is there. Just a lot of details and nit-picking went into it."

 

Mary J. Blige, who won the Direct to Consumer award for her fragrance, My Life, accepted the award by saying, "It’s not just a fragrance, it’s a movement -- a movement of women who want to be better." My Life, available on HSN, sold over 60,000 units in just a few hours during its debut.

 

Even celebrity attendees that weren’t up for awards were hinting that they wanted to get into the highly lucrative fragrance business themselves. Trey Songz told us, “[A fragrance] is definitely in my future. I’m a guy who loves women and the essence of a woman is her scent. That will be my inspiration."

 

Willie Garson, of Sex & the City fame, had a simple reason for never having done a fragrance: “No one’s ever asked me!” He admitted to just having gotten off of the phone with Sarah Jessica Parker, who has found her own success in the fragrance world. “She told me to make sure you tell people that you are wearing musk oil from Morocco that I got you!”

 

Other big winners from the night were Issey Miyake, who took the Fragrance Hall of Fame Award, and Chanel’s Bleu de Chanel which won the men’s Luxe Fragrance of the Year Award.

Miami Heat closes out Chicago Bulls, advances to NBA Finals

CHICAGO -- Bring on Dallas, again.

The Heat won the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday at United Center with an 83-80 victory against the Bulls. Miami now plays an old foe, the Mavericks, in the NBA Finals, which will begin Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat ended the Bulls’ season in dramatic fashion Thursday, clinching the best-of-7 series 4-1. A wild comeback in the final minutes lifted Miami to its first NBA Finals series since breaking the Mavericks’ hearts in six games in 2006. Miami broke the hearts of thousands in Chicago on Thursday, outscoring the Bulls 18-3 in the final three minutes. The Heat trailed by 12 points with 3:03 left in the game before Wade made four consecutive points to begin the rally. Favoring his left shoulder, Wade struggled mightily for the majority of Thursday’s game but, along with LeBron James, was spectacular in the clutch.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the Heat’s comeback “pretty emblematic” of his team’s entire season.

“We’ve been through a lot together, and we had to go through the fire again tonight,” Spoelstra said. “The majority of the game was not going our way but this team has built up a lot of resiliency and toughness to be able to still hang in there.”

Tight finish

The United Center crowd deflated with 25 seconds left when Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the youngest MVP in NBA history, missed the second of two free throws to tie the score at 81. James’ midrange jumper with 29.5 seconds left gave the Heat its lead.

Heat forward Chris Bosh made a pair of free throws with 16.8 seconds left, and James blocked Rose’s desperation three-point attempt to tie the score at the buzzer. James and Udonis Haslem, who doubled-teamed Rose on the play, hugged after capping the unlikely finish.

“We don’t even know what happened,” Wade said. “I’m not going to lie to you and say we do.”

Added James: “We want to watch the final four minutes of the game to see exactly what happened.”

For the majority of Thursday’s game, the Heat played some of its worst basketball of the season. Wade played poorly for three quarters but came alive at the end.

Wade, who was taken out of the game midway through the third quarter, received treatment on his shoulder before reentering the game with 10 minutes left in the fourth. He finished with 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting but perked up with the game on the line. His four-point play with 1:30 left cut the Bulls’ lead to three points. Rose fouled Wade in the act of shooting just his second three-point attempt of the game.

“He’s got something different — a different makeup inside,” Spoelstra said of Wade. “He’s able to rise up to the occasion no matter what’s happened. When it’s winning time, there’s no one better than him.”

Wade’s brilliance was sandwiched by a pair of three-pointers by James. His second three tied the score at 79 with 1:01 left. His midrange jumper gave the Heat the lead for good. James finished with a game-high 28 points on 8-of-19 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds and six assists. Bosh finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The United Center was a cauldron of noise with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter after Ronnie Brewer’s three-pointer to give the Bulls a 12-point lead but was silent in the final seconds as the Heat took a moment to celebrate before refocusing for the Finals.

The Heat shot just 33.3 percent in the third quarter but managed to outscore Chicago 19-17. The period highlighted the physical nature of the series. Carlos Boozer clotheslined James during the quarter and was whistled for a flagrant foul. The Bulls shot just 23.8 percent in the period but managed to hold onto their lead with an inspired defensive effort.

Poor start

Wade was called for a traveling violation with 6:20 left in the first half. The turnover was the Heat’s fifth of the game and led to a midrange jumper from Boozer that gave Chicago a 12-point lead. On the Heat’s next possession, Wade again was whistled for traveling. The turnovers highlighted a difficult three quarters for Wade. He had nine turnovers, which tied a franchise record in the postseason.

The Heat defeated Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago in five games to advance to the NBA Finals..

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/26/2237643/miami-heat-closes-out-bulls.html#ixzz1NZ3mGZ1u

Morning News 05.27.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
CIA to search bin Laden compound
The arrangement would allow the CIA for the first time to enter a complex that it had previously scrutinized only from a distance.
(By Greg Miller and Karen DeYoung)

Serbia arrests Ratko Mladic on war crimes charges
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general charged with orchestrating the largest mass killing of civilians in Europe since World War II, was arrested Thursday in Serbia, ending a nearly 16-year manhunt.
(By Colum Lynch)

Chinese Communist Party focuses on its history
A new official history of the Chinese Communist Party ventures into treacherous territory from a tumultuous past.
(By Andrew Higgins)

Online letters claim innocence in Md. slaying
An interest in yoga brought a businessman-poet and AU professor together. Now he’s accused in her death. In online letters, the man — believed to be in Mexico — says he’s not guilty.
(By Dan Morse)

Mitt Romney launching campaign on June 2
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will formally announce his presidential campaign next Thursday, June 2, in New Hampshire.
(By Chris Cillizza and Rachel Weiner)

POLITICS
Obama signs Patriot Act extension; will continue anti-terror surveillance powers
WASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress passes four-year extension of roving wiretaps, other government anti-terrorism powers
WASHINGTON — Congress passes four-year extension of roving wiretaps, other government anti-terrorism powers
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress approves extension of Patriot Act provisions
Racing against the clock, Congress passed an extension to key provisions of the USA Patriot Act that allow investigators to keep using aggressive surveillance tactics.
( by Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)

Gingrich casts self as ‘comeback kid’
The roughly 600 people who came to see Newt Gingrich during his two-day campaign swing through New Hampshire were largely uninterested in his purchases at Tiffany & Co.
( by Nia-Malika Henderson and Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)

Romney to announce presidential bid next Thursday in New Hampshire
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney said Thursday he planned to formally join the GOP race for president during an appearance next week in New Hampshire, a state that is central to his White House strategy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
29 million tune into ‘Idol’ finale
About 29 million people watched Fox’s “American Idol” finale Wednesday, when Scotty McCreery was crowned the winner.
(, The Washington Post)

Spaceport America taking shape, officials renew commitment to commercial space industry
SPACEPORT AMERICA, N.M. — The wind is still whistling through the massive unfinished steel hangar doors at Spaceport America. The exterior is waiting to be clad with custom metal panels, and the hangar floor, where a pair of sleek spacecraft will one day sit, is still dirt.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Wildwoods are top NJ beaches again; Cape May County takes 5 of top 10 spots
WILDWOOD, N.J. — Need more proof that New Jerseyans hate having to pay for beach badges?
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings and campgrounds reopening for holiday weekend
SILVER CITY, N.M. — The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Gila National Forest campgrounds are reopening for the Memorial Day weekend.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Paul and the Other Paul
The most memorable moment of Paul Simon’s concert comes with the star attraction happily observing.
( by David Malitz , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Tillman’s tactics help Terps
The Final Four-bound Maryland men’s lacrosse team has responded to first-year Coach John Tillman’s team-building techniques.
( by Christian Swezey , The Washington Post)

Luke Donald opens with 64, leads Lee Westwood by 8 shots in battle for No. 1 at Wentworth
VIRGINIA WATER, England — Luke Donald shot a 7-under 64 on Thursday to take the lead in the suspended first round of the BMW PGA Championship, leaving him eight stroke ahead of No. 1 Lee Westwood in their battle for the top spot in the world ranking.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Pay to play? Hunter-Reay's deal to drive No. 41 for Foyt shows role sponsors play in IndyCar
INDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti watched the number of Indianapolis 500 qualifying spots dwindle in the final minutes of Bump Day last weekend, and the Andretti Autosport teammates knew one of them could end up knocking the other out of the race.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

AL Capsules
DETROIT — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer in a five-run second inning, and the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox went on to rout the Detroit Tigers 14-1 in an eight-inning, rain-shortened game Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Danica has been Indy's saving grace, but time for the open-wheelers to stand on their own
INDIANAPOLIS — Danica Patrick was holding court at the Brickyard and, as always, no one had more reporters crowded around them.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Rights group says extrajudicial killings by Venezuela's police officers escalating
CARACAS, Venezuela — Unjustified killings by police officers are escalating and occurring across Venezuela, a human rights group charged Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Libya calls for cease-fire
Prime minister’s offer stops short of saying all military personnel would be returned to barracks
( by Michael Birnbaum , The Washington Post)

British government puts Apache helicopters at NATO's disposal
LONDON — The British government has given clearance for the use of its attack helicopters in Libya, putting the final decision on deployment in NATO’s hands.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Scientists claim they've found farthest-ever explosion more than 13 billion light years away
LONDON — A group of researchers claim they’ve found the most distant explosion ever detected, a pulse of high energy radiation sent by a disintegrating star near the very edge of the observable universe.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Under intense international pressure, Libyan premier says he's ready to talk with rebels
TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s government pushed a cease-fire proposal Thursday and said for the first time it was prepared to speak with its rebel adversaries, signaling that months of fighting and NATO bombardment may be closer to forcing some concessions.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Goodbye Oprah, hello Scotty, and congrats Hines Ward: Lisa de Moraes' TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes will be chatting about Oprah Winfrey's final three episodes of her popular TV show.
(, vForum)

Sports talk with David Sheinin
Usually Tracee Hamilton goes weekly with her chat about sports, life and everything else. This week David Sheinin will be subbing in for her.
(, vForum)

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

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes!
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, June 3)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Facebook hires 2 former Bush aides as lobbyists, stepping up efforts to friend Washington
NEW YORK — Facebook said Thursday that it hired two aides of former President George W. Bush as lobbyists. The world’s largest online social network is stepping up efforts to friend Washington as it grows.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

EcoMotors Chief Don Runkle: “Electric Vehicles Are Not Zero Emissions”

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Facebook hires 2 former Bush aides as lobbyists, stepping up efforts to friend Washington
NEW YORK — Facebook is hiring two aides of former President George W. Bush as lobbyists. The world’s largest online social network is stepping up efforts to friend Washington as it grows.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Gmail’s ‘People Widget’ Takes On Rapportive, No Browser Plugin Required

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Now You Can See Twitter The Way I See Twitter

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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EDITORIAL
Ed Schultz suspended from MSNBC after calling Laura Ingraham a ‘right wing slut’
MSNBC suspended host Ed Schultz after he called rival pundit Laura Ingraham “a right-wing slut” during a radio broadcast Tuesday.
(, The Washington Post)

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BUSINESS
8 manufacturers recall pool, in-ground spa drain covers due to incorrect ratings
WASHINGTON — Eight manufacturers have voluntarily recalled about one million pool and in-ground spa drain covers because of incorrect water flow ratings.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Supreme Court upholds Ariz. law punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sustained Arizona’s law that penalizes businesses for hiring workers who are in the United States illegally, rejecting arguments that states have no role in immigration matters.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Competing plans on job growth
President Obama and Congressional Republicans unveil competing plans to reduce the cost of doing business for U.S. companies.
( by Zachary A. Goldfarb , The Washington Post)

War-weary lawmakers send Obama a message by narrowly rejecting accelerated Afghan withdrawal
WASHINGTON — War-weary Republicans and Democrats on Thursday sent the strongest message yet to President Barack Obama to end the war in Afghanistan as the commander in chief decides how many U.S. troops to withdraw this summer.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ex-Nasdaq exec pleads guilty to fraud
Former executive traded on confidential information about companies listed on the Nasdaq, reaping more than $755,000 from 2006 to 2009.
( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade works late

Looking to break out of a shooting funk, Heat guard Dwyane Wade drove to American Airlines Arena on Sunday night for a late-night workout.

Wade shot 41 percent from the field in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals one game after going 8 for 16. He said Monday morning that he “was just trying to work on some kinks in my offensively flow — just trying to work on things I normally get in a game.”

Late-night workouts are common among NBA players. Many view them as a necessary practice sessions. Heat forward LeBron James said he worked out until 4 a.m. before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant put in extra work at night long after team practices have been completed.

While Nowitzki was crushing the hearts of thousands in Oklahoma City on Sunday night, Wade was in AmericanAirlines Arena running through one of his exhaustive shooting workouts. Wade said he left his house while Oklahoma City still had a 15-point lead on Dallas. He was shocked to see the score after his drill work was completed. The Mavericks defeated the Thunder in overtime.

“I was like, ‘What?’ ” Wade said after seeing the score. “So, I was here long enough to see a total different outcome of the game when I got off the court.”

Wade has put in late-night work during each round of the playoffs. He emphasized that he wasn’t frustrated with his offensive game but only because the Heat had a 2-1 series lead against the Bulls going into Tuesday night’s game. His feelings would be different under other circumstances, he said.

“I don’t have to be frustrated with my offensive game because I have a team, I have help,” Wade said. “So, [if] you [asked] me this last year, yes, I would have been frustrated at this point. But now I’m just trying to do what I can to make sure this team wins.”

West reaction

Wade wasn’t the only Heat player shocked by Sunday night’s outcome between the Mavericks and Thunder. James and Udonis Haslem said they felt badly for the Thunder, considering the way the team blew such a large lead on its home court.

“I wouldn’t have never thought Dallas would have been able to come back,” Haslem said. “I almost felt bad for Oklahoma City, but Dirk was unbelievable. But it just goes to show you that it’s a 48-minute game and you got to play until the last buzzer.”

James shared Haslem’s disbelief but also questioned the Thunder’s late-game execution.

“I think it’s unfortunate for [Oklahoma City] to be up 15 on their home floor with less than five minutes to go to lose that game in overtime,” James said. “I don’t want to sit here and be the coach of [the Thunder,] but [I’ve] seen a lot of things that could have been done better.”

Jones hurting

Spoelstra said Tuesday that forward James Jones was “dealing with some toe and foot issues,” but indicated that wasn’t the reason why he isn’t playing. With Haslem and Mike Miller back in the fold, the Heat has gone to an eight-man rotation and Jones is the odd man out.

“Right now, it’s circumstantial with who we’re playing more than anything,” Spoelstra said.

Essentially, Spoelstra has chosen Miller’s defense over Jones’ shooting. But Spoelstra said his rotation could change.

New True Blood Trailer Preaching For Tolerance ... Vampire Tolerance!

Meet The African Dance Inspiration Behind Beyonce's 'Girls' Video

Beyonce has always been open about the fact that she incorporates elements of pop-culture--not just from America, but the world--in her performances (hence the Fosse inspired "Single Ladies" dance), so it should come as no surprise that her post apocalyptic themed video for "Run The World (Girls)" was also a nod to African dance. Meet her inspirtion, the Tofo dancers from Mozambique:

HIV/AIDS Awareness, Honored For Philanthropy

NBA players get a lot of negative press but there are those who do the right thing. Shawn Marion of the Dallas Mavericks is known for his philantropic work via the Shawn Marion Foundation. The 12-year NBA veteran typically assists single-parent families through vocational training and adult scholarships but his next community endeavor is helping to spread HIV/AIDS awareness.

Shawn  has partnered with Until There’s A Cure® (UTAC) to help spread awareness and educate people to get more involved in HIV/AIDS testing regardless of age. Until There's A Cure is a national organization dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to
combat the pandemic.

“I am very excited to partner with UTAC and lend my hand in the fight to help inform our nation about HIV/AIDS,” said Shawn in a press release. “I encourage everyone to go out and get tested, purchase a bracelet and help spread the word.”

Marion joins a long list of celebrities who have endorsed Until There’s A Cure by wearing The Bracelet in the campaign ad, including Jessica Alba,  Kim Kardashian, Laila Ali, Tony Hawk, Carmelo Anthony and many others.

In other news, Shawn will be honored alongside Magic Johnson and Jamie Foxx next month, for his philanthropic efforts.

Visit ShawnMarionFoundation.com for more information.

Today's News in Brief

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

Looking for answers down tornado alley
The latest tornado in Missouri has experts asking why 2011 has spawned so many deadly storms, with many blasting through heavily populated areas.
(By Brian Vastag and Ed O’Keefe)

A costly ‘special relationship’?
Obama visits London at a time when Britain is debating whether it can afford its global role.
(By Anthony Faiola)

U.S., allies weigh Yemen options
Officials, however, acknowledge that any action they pursue to force Saleh’s resignation poses risks in this strategic but turbulent and fragile country.
(By Karen DeYoung)

High court upholds order to reduce Calif. prison population
The Supreme Court says prison conditions there are “incompatible with the concept of human dignity.”
(By Robert Barnes)

Report tracks earnings among the majors
Over a lifetime, the earnings of workers who have majored in engineering, computer science or business are as much as 50 percent higher than the earnings of those who major in the humanities, the arts, education and psychology.
(By Peter Whoriskey)

POLITICS
Congress races to extend Patriot Act, send to Obama in Europe before Friday deadline
WASHINGTON — The tortoise-like Senate is under uncommon pressure to pass a four-year extension of the anti-terrorist Patriot Act before key provisions expire Friday. But the deadline is even tighter, because President Barack Obama is in Europe.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Advocates to military: Keep evidence in rape cases to enable prosecution, disability claims
WASHINGTON — The military too quickly destroys records from the hundreds of rapes and sexual assaults reported confidentially each year, say victims’ advocates and some members of Congress.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Top Supreme Court lawyer says WWII-era predecessor hid key information on Japanese internment
WASHINGTON — Nearly 70 years after the Supreme Court upheld the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, the government’s top high court lawyer says one of his predecessors concealed critical information that could have tipped the cases.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

In reminder of al-Qaida's strength without bin Laden, Yemeni bomber leaves fingerprint behind
WASHINGTON — The FBI has a fingerprint and forensic evidence linking al-Qaida’s top bomb maker in Yemen to a trio of explosive devices used in recent attacks on the United States, tangible reminders that Osama bin Laden’s death has not eliminated the threat from the group’s most active and dangerous franchise.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Despite his worries about cutting US military strength, Gates sets path for lower budgets
WASHINGTON — One of Robert Gates’ final tasks before retiring as defense secretary is to set the Pentagon on a budget-cutting course he had spent much of his 4 1/2-year tenure trying to avoid — a path that could shrink the military’s role in the world.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

STYLE
Ask Amy: Adults stuck on childhood favoritism
Dear Amy:During childhood, my husband’s parents blatantly favored him at the expense of his siblings.For the 25 years we have been married, he, I, and our two children have been the target of his brother’s resentment, acted out at their family’s frequent gatherings.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Does tip include alcohol?
Dear Heloise: I read the restaurant tipping hint in the Houston Chronicle. The reader suggests doubling the tax as an easy way to figure out the tip. This will work only if you don’t order alcoholic beverages. (Heloise here: This is not the case everywhere and in every situation.)
(, King)

Miss Manners: Artist doesn’t want to give away personal information
Dear Miss Manners:I live on a disability pension for a condition that is not readily apparent. I also occasionally sell works of art. When I am asked what I “do,” I usually state that I am an artist. Few are willing to leave it at this and persist with comments like “But you certainly can’t pay the rent with THAT!”
(, United Media)

Frank Stewart’s Bridge: See declarer’s hand

(, Tribune Media Service)

Take time to adjust to newly single status
Getting divorced, and have reconnected with a 20-years-ago lost love. We’ve hit it off great, but she wants to be neither the rebound nor the transitional person.
(, The Washington Post)

SPORTS
A's shut down by Weaver, get runner thrown out at plate by Hunter in 4-1 loss to Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Josh Outman did the job in his first major league outing in almost two years. The Oakland Athletics offense didn’t. Of course, Jered Weaver had something to do with that.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Hunter throws out runner at plate, drives in go-ahead run for Angels in 4-1 win over A's
ANAHEIM, Calif. — If given a choice of cutting down the potential tying run at home plate or delivering a tiebreaking hit late in the game, Torii Hunter would always go with the clutch defensive play.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

All Night Long: Florida State League game goes 23 innings, Jupiter beats Clearwater 2-1
JUPITER, Fla. — A minor league game in the Class-A Florida State League lasted 23 innings Monday night before the Jupiter Hammerheads finally beat the Clearwater Threshers 2-1.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Padres lose again as Pujols ends longest HR drought with solo shot in 3-1 win
SAN DIEGO — Hours after shaking up their lineup by demoting light-hitting leadoff batter Will Venable, the San Diego Padres went out and lost again with little offense.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Pujols ends longest HR drought with solo shot as Cardinals beat Padres 3-1
SAN DIEGO — One ball left the yard and another one didn’t, both providing highlights for the St. Louis Cardinals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

WORLD
Palace says Prince William and the former Kate Middleton to meet Obamas during state visit
LONDON — Palace says Prince William and the former Kate Middleton to meet Obamas during state visit.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ash cloud from Iceland volcano reaches western Norway and Denmark, disrupting air traffic
OSLO, Norway — Authorities say the ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland has swept over western Norway and Denmark, stalling air traffic in part of Norway and causing delays in Copenhagen.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, resists pressure to reform in PM comments
MBABANE, Swaziland — The prime minister of sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarchy says Swaziland will resist pressure from the West over democratic reforms.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Roadside bomb kills 10 Afghan laborers
A roadside bomb hit a truck packed with laborers, killing at least 10 of them onTuesday in Afghanistan’s restive southern Kandahar province, a doctor at a local hospital said.
( by Sayed Salahuddin , The Washington Post)

Moscow court hears Khodorkovsky appeal on 2nd conviction, oil magnate calls charge 'absurd'
MOSCOW — A Moscow court is expected to decide whether to overturn imprisoned oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s conviction for stealing from his company and laundering the proceeds.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Fix Faceoff: 2012 Presidential Election
Political blogger Chris Cillizza's fast-paced video Q&A about the 2012 presidential election.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

Talk about Travel
Have a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel section's editors and writers are at your service.
(, vForum)

D.C.'s big 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)

TECHNOLOGY
Twitter Buys TweetDeck For $40 Million

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Yahoo's giving email service long-promised facelift in bid to widen appeal, attract more users
SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo Inc. is giving its popular email service a long-promised facelift in an attempt to make it more appealing to people who are increasingly using Facebook, Twitter, Google and other online alternatives to communicate.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Jeff Jarvis: When It Comes To New Journalism, ‘Transparency Is The New Objectivity’

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Symantec Continues Move Into eDiscovery, Acquires Clearwell Systems For $390 Million

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Happy Toy Machine Allows You To Build Your Own Plush Toys

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

BUSINESS
Ford sees chance to woo Japanese buyers as rivals battle production delays
TOKYO — Ford sees a big chance in coming months to snatch buyers away from the Japanese automakers that are battling production delays caused by the March earthquake and tsunami.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Investor decides to sell Va ethanol plant, lays off majority of workers
HOPEWELL, Va. — Osage Bio Energy says it’s throwing in the towel on plans to brew ethanol from Barley at a plant in Hopewell.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Malaysia to export durians to China in July, but faces tough task breaking Thai dominance
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia will start exporting durians to mainland China from July, challenging Thailand’s virtual monopoly on shipments of the spiky, stinky delicacy that many Southeast Asians hail as “the king of fruits.”
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

DNA evidence said to link ex-IMF leader with NYC hotel maid who says he sexually assaulted her
NEW YORK — DNA taken from former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn matches material on the uniform of a hotel maid who says he sexually assaulted her, two people familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Brazil's Congress debates changes to forest law that environmentalists say threatens Amazon
SAO PAULO — Brazilian legislators are pushing to resume debate Tuesday on changes to an environmental law that watchdog groups warn will speed destruction of the Amazon rain forest.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)   

Twinkie Clark - With Humility

When an artist such as Elbertina “Twinkie” Clark uses the ultra modern production tool like auto tune – which she employs on her new album With Humility – it’s bound to raise a few eyebrows. After all, Clark is the daughter of legendary choir leader and spiritual leader Mattie Moss Clark and her uncle is Bill Moss of the group The Celestials. Clark herself has long been associated with The Clark Sisters – gospel legends in their own right. Clark’s organ playing earned her the nickname Queen of the Hammond B 3. Of course, Twinkie Clark and her three sisters can be viewed as a bridge between the music of her mother and uncle and work done by her niece, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard and her nephew James ‘J-Moss’ Moss. Both Sheard and Moss excel at fusing the contemporary R&B and hip-hop sound in their uncompromising style of gospel music.

It’s worth remembering that Twinkie Clark and other members of The Clark Sisters (Dorinda Clark-Cole, Jacky Clark and Karen Clark Sheard) proved to be pretty adept crossover artists in their own right. The Clark Sisters released the super soulful “Is My Living in Vain,” in 1980, and the group had a bona fide crossover hit in the mid 1980s with “You Bought the Sunshine.” That tune received radio play on R&B stations and reached number 23 on the dance chart (I remember hearing it in the club back in the day). So it’s clear that Twinkie Clark is someone who has her ears open to the latest sound. You can debate as to whether the cut in which Clark used auto tune – “Did Not Have to Do It” – could have done without that particular flourish. However, that’s as much as matter of personal taste as anything else. At any rate, the track which tells the story of how God stayed with the singer despite her imperfections definitely shows that Clark still knows how to create radio friendly crossover jams that never let the listener forget that her goal is to save souls. Besides, listeners who want to hear numbers featuring choral singing and Clark’s signature organ playing will have plenty to choose from. With Humility includes the appropriately titled “Shout (A Touch of B 3),” where Clark engages in two minutes of rollicking spiritual improvisation. The song “God’s Got a Blessing” is one of those high tempo call and response pieces that will find its way into the playlists of church choirs and praise and worship teams.

Gospel albums are judged by some pretty high standards. First and foremost is whether the songs minister to the listener and effectively spread the gospel. Choir directors, pastors and praise leaders listen to each track to determine how if any of the numbers will be heard from their church’s choir stand. Twinkie Clark will always been on solid ground on the first criteria because her lyrics remain firmly rooted in the bible and often include personal testimonies of God’s power. With Humility more than holds its own when it comes to being choir and praise team ready. Clarke even reaches into her memory to resurrect “For You I Am Praying,” the benediction tune often sung by her late father.

So if you need a song for praise and worship, the choir, the offering or the benediction, Elbertina “Twinkie” Clark can say  - with humility – it’s in there.  Recommended  By Howard Dukes

Read more: With Humility | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews

New Music: J.Cole

 

J. Cole – Return of Simba

ALTERNATE LINK 

 Check out the new record from North Carolina native, J. Cole. The track, “Return of Simba”was released via J. on his twitter Sunday Night. J. Cole is currently untitled debut album, which before, we thought was titled Cole World, with the lead single “Disgusting,” being chosen. However, it seems like he has changed plans, announcing that the name of the album will be announced when the official release date is solidified. We can expect that his debut album will take some time, considering that he doesn’t want any inconsistencies and is waiting for Jay-Z to appear somewhere on the album. Does that mean we have to wait until the fall for J. Cole’s release?

Billboard Music Awards: Best & Worst

The 2011 edition of the Billboard Music Awards -- the first time the show has been held since 2006 -- opened with Rihanna sitting provocatively on a silver chair. The sparse stage, torture imagery and cold beats lent the feeling of a stripper performing in a jail cell. Yet that may have been the point, because Rihanna's "S&M" doesn't leave much to the imagination.

Nor did Britney Spears' tiny leather outfit.

Spears, who can lip-sync with best of 'em and awkwardly dance like no other, strutted and grinded, all while backup dancers poked their hands out from the floor. While the backing crew was clearly trying to lay their hands on the stars, it looked more like they were making finger puppets.

Or perhaps that's some new dance move ("The Periscope"?).

RELATED:

Billboard Music Awards: Arrivals