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Mike Tyson to be Inducted in Boxing Hall of Fame

December 9, 2010, 1:34 am
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Mike Tyson to be Inducted in Boxing Hall of FameMike Tyson, whose boxing career in the '80s and early '90s was one of the most prolific in the sport's history, has been selected to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum in Canastota, New York.

Tyson will be joined by Mexican three-division champion Julio Cesar Chavez, junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu, Mexican trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, referee Joe Cortez, and Sylvester Stallone for bringing more attention to the sport of boxing in his Rocky films.

"I am honored," Tyson said of being elected. "The sport of boxing has given me so much, and it is truly a blessing to be acknowledged alongside other historical boxing legends because they paved the way for me, as I hope I have inspired others in this great sport."


Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians. The ceremonies will be held on June 12, 2011 and will also posthumously induct bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root, and middleweight Dave Shade in the old-timer category, British heavyweight John Gully in the pioneer category, promoter A.F. Bettinson, and broadcaster Harry Carpenter.

Chavez retired just five years ago, but is honored to be among the inductees.

"I feel humble," Chavez said. "At this moment in my life, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is very special. I feel great to know that my name will be inscribed with the best of the best, to join some of my heroes and to leave a mark for my family and my country."


 

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Joseph Bramlett, First Black Man to Graduate From PGA Golf School

December 9, 2010, 2:05 am
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Joseph Bramlett, First Black Man to Graduate From PGA Golf School
To say that Tiger Woods was an influence on golfer Joseph Bramlett is an understatement.

Bramlett, a biracial kid who hung posters of Tiger Woods on his wall, is the first Black man to graduate from the PGA Tour's qualifying school to earn a spot on the 2011 PGA Tour. The top 25 scores of the qualifying school tournament earns a spot on the PGA tour and Bramlett started the day in 33rd place but was able to secure a spot by working his way up to a tie for 16th place.

"It's an honor. It truly is an honor," the 22-year-old Bramlett told the Associated Pressabout being the first African American to make the PGA tour through the school. "Like I've said before, it's been a long time. I'm just thrilled to see it start to change."

Even Tiger Woods is excited about the achievement. He commented on Bramlett's accomplishment through Twitter.


"Congrats to Joe Bramlett for making it through Q School," Tiger wrote. "Amazing feat considering he sat out a whole year with wrist injury. Can't wait to play with him next season."

According to the Associated Press, Bramlett grew up in just outside of San Jose with a Black father and white mother. His parent used to usher him around the local golf courses among the stares and wonderment of a mostly white environment.

"I never doubted it would happen," he said. "This has been my dream since I was a little kid."


 

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Lawrence Taylor Tries to Get Rape Case Dismissed But Fails

December 9, 2010, 2:13 am
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Lawrence Taylor Tries to Get Rape Case Dismissed but FailsFootball Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was in court this week to see if he could get his recent rape indictment dismissed. Taylor and his defense argue that his arrest was illegal because police didn't have a have a warrant to enter his New York hotel room back in May. In addition, the defense claims that any statements made by Taylor during that arrest are inadmissible.

Taylor is accused of having sex with a 16-year old prostitute he paid $300 for and faces charges of third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute, sexual abuse and endangering a child. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.


State Supreme Court Justice William Kelly denied the dismissal of the indictment but is allowing a pretrial hearing to see if Taylor's statements made when he was arrested are admissible as evidence.


"There will be police officers testifying and being cross-examined to determine whether the circumstances under which Mr. Taylor gave his statements were constitutional," said Taylor's attorney Arthur Aidala said.

The pretrial hearing is set for January 6, but prosecutors believe that everything that happened on the day of Taylor's arrest was legal and all the evidence obtained that day is admissible to the court when the trial begins. Prosecutors claim constitutionality even with police bursting into the hotel room where Taylor was staying.

"Everything that occurred was done properly and in full accordance with the law," prosecuting attorney Arthur Ferraro told the Associated Press. "There was probable cause to believe that Lawrence Taylor had just had sex with a girl under 17 in that room."


 

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Hollywood Publicist Ronni Chasen's Killing, Police Confirm Murder Weapon

December 9, 2010, 2:44 am
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Ronni Chasen, Harold Martin Smith



Hollywood "it" publicist Ronni Chasen (pictured right), who was gunned down three weeks ago, was probably the victim of a robbery gone bad, according to Beverly Hills Police Department investigators.


The Chasen murder case has been a roller coaster of conspiracy theories. The famed behind-the-scenes wheeler and dealer, who was best known for directing the Academy Award campaigns of more than 100 films in her career, including 'Driving Miss Daisy' and 'The Hurt Locker,' was shot five times in the chest in the wee hours of Nov. 16, crashing her Mercedes-Benz sedan into a light pole.

Harold Martin Smith (pictured) was a "person of interest" whom police wanted to question about Chasen's murder. Investigators were informed about Smith by a tipster who viewed the show 'America's Most Wanted.'

They were led to Smith at his Los Angeles apartment. When police arrived at the residence of the career criminal, who had been arrested seven times including two felonies, they received the unexpected. Before they could question 43-year-old Smith about Chasen's death, he pulled out a gun and fatally shot himself.

Detectives now suspect Smith may have been the killer who gunned down Chasen, and they believe he used a bicycle to commit the act, which was his only mode of transportation. Police investigators also speculate Smith acted alone, and they have discarded the possibility that the crime was a professional hit.

Neighbors informed police that they heard Smith brag about how he was paid $10,000 to kill Chasen, but investigators state this is not true. Sgt. Michael Publicker, of the Beverly Hills Police Department said at a press conference held outside of the BHPD headquarters on Wednesday, "It appears that he did act alone. Whether Mr. Smith knew Mrs. Chasen, it does not appear, at this time, there's any connection between the two."

It has been confirmed that the gun Smith used to shoot himself is also the same murder weapon that was used to kill Chasen. At Wednesday's press conference, Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad stated, "While the case is not fully resolved, all we know is that the gun matches the bullet." The final ballistics report will not be released for approximately two weeks, but there is speculation that there is little chance that the final report will differ from the preliminary report.

Since police said the case is 60 to 70 percent incomplete, reporters asked why the BHPD believe that Smith was the only shooter? Sgt. Lincoln Hoshino replied, "BHPD will not divulge that information, other than the fact that's what we believe."

And the plot thickens.

 

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Tony Saved His Own Life by Losing Over 100 Pounds

December 9, 2010, 3:00 am
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Our sisters over at That's Fit have done it again with another inspiring story of weight loss. Meet Tony Singleton, who started his journey at a startling 354 pounds. Here's what he had to say about his wake up call:

In February 2009, after a disagreement of sorts, I didn't feel good. Something was very, very wrong. I had my blood pressure checked at a fire station -- it was 260/150. They almost took me to the hospital. I was 354 pounds with a waist at 46. My shirts were 3XL.

I was eating at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC -- and I never met a rack of ribs I didn't like. I ate pizza by the pie. Every meal was "value sized" with a dessert.


Check out his amazing story and see how Tony looks now @ That's Fit.

 

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Republicans Vote Against Financial Relief for Senior Citizens

December 9, 2010, 3:18 am
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Republicans Vote Against Financial Relief for Senior Citizens

Dr. Martin L. King Jr. once made a powerfully insightful statement:

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

Regrettably, the Republican Party is guilty of both.

Threatening to block an extension of unemployment benefits for citizens crushed by the recession, the GOP forced President Barack Obama to bow to its tenacious defense of tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, originally bestowed by good ole George Dub-yah.

So I guess it makes sense then, after throwing away nearly $130 billion to ensure that the wealthiest Americans have their cake and eat it too, $250 for senior citizens was an expense that the Republican Party could not accept.

Why?

Because it's just not fiscally responsible.

House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday thwarted Democratic efforts to award $250 checks to Social Security recipients facing a second consecutive year without a cost-of-living increase (COLA).

Barbara Kennelly, president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said it was a "cruel irony" that while Congress and the White House were negotiating a deal extending huge tax cuts to wealthy Americans, "today we're told that providing $250 for America's seniors and their families is considered too generous."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the financial aid was critical to seniors facing rising costs and falling home values and was fiscally responsible, "but, unfortunately," she said, "congressional Republicans overwhelmingly chose to oppose it."

Twenty-six Republicans voted for the bill, while 141 opposed it. Democrats were in favor, 228-12.

If this is all the Democrats are capable of now, when the Republican takeover happens in January, they don't stand a chance.

Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas, the top Republican on the Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee, had the perfect rationale for throwing "grandma under the bus":

"Increasing our nation's crushing deficit on the backs of our children by an additional $14 billion is wrong."

I'm no economist, but it seems as if the best way to alleviate the tax burden on future generations -- while continuing to care for our golden one -- is to have allowed the Bush-era tax cuts for citizens making more than $250,000 annually to expire.

COLAs are set automatically each year by an inflation measure that was adopted by Congress in 1975. More than 58 million retirees, disabled people and surviving family members receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income checks. The average monthly check is $1,072.

The COLA increase for 2009 was 5.8 percent, the largest in 27 years. It was triggered by a sharp but short-lived spike in gas prices to more than $4 a gallon in the summer of 2008. By law, the next increase in benefits won't come until consumer prices as a whole rise above what they were that summer.

So how are our senior citizens coping with this news?

"They are absolutely livid that Congress has bailed out banks, bailed out Wall Street, bailed out big car manufacturers and they didn't get a COLA," said Mary Johnson, a policy analyst for the Senior Citizens League. "Their costs are going up, and they cannot understand the government's measure of inflation. They feel it's rigged."

I would agree. With the costs of gas, medicine, housing and food skyrocketing since the recession, the formula used to track inflation is outdated to say the least, and criminal to say the worst. Social Security has long been bandied about as a possible means to solve America's deficit ills.

From the lack of a COLA to possibly raising the Social Security age, it no longer is a safe haven for recipients; it has become a source of anxiety as those affected wonder how much longer it will last.

No other culture treats our elderly and disabled with as much disregard as America.

"Basically, they have their benefit levels flatlined at a time when they're encountering higher costs, reducing their quality of life experience and disappointing them greatly about Social Security," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), a member of the subcommittee.

More than one-third of older Americans would be living in poverty if it weren't for Social Security benefits, according to an AARP study.

While many people accuse the Republican Party of racism, this latest move has proven once and for all that they are equal opportunity capitalists. It doesn't matter a person's age, race, sex or creed. No one, and I mean no one, deserves assistance from the American government in their opinion.

So senior citizens need to just man up and sell the china, because those conservative representatives who have infested Congress would rather have them starve than spend a dime to actually assist citizens who truly need it.

Among those who relied on Social Security retirement benefits for at least half of their family income in 2008:
  • 53 percent were women
  • 51 percent were white
  • 50 percent were African American
  • 44 percent were Hispanic
  • 28 percent were Asian American
African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to receive Social Security income than were whites. Eighty-four percent of African Americans and 78 percent of Hispanics received it as part of their family income, compared with 91 percent for whites.

And they thought the Republicans were just there to save the world from welfare recipients and illegal immigrants. Let's see what happens when elderly white women across the country can't afford to attend their Tea Parties.

The Republican Party has proven to be heartless, hypocritical and calculating in its political decisions. It could possibly be believed that this was purely ideological, and they were only doing what was best for the economy, if they hadn't just threatened to take their ball and go home if their rich friends didn't get their tax cuts.

The GOP is attempting to turn this country into a plutocracy, and while our senior citizens are sitting in nursing homes and small apartments across this country, counting out pills and paying for half prescriptions just to ensure they have enough money to stay alive, the wealthy continue to thrive.

This is what we voted for, America. Who else has to suffer before we realize that the current conservative philosophy is only conservative as it pertains to assisting the less fortunate?

While the president has shown he knows how to stand with the Republican Party, hopefully on this issue, he'll prove that he can also stand up to them. We cannot continue to allow the most vulnerable in our society to be ignored and mistreated.

There can be no compromise.

 

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Banks, Mortgage Giants to Have Foreclosure Freeze for the Holidays

December 9, 2010, 4:48 am
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Mortgage Giants to Have Foreclosure Freeze
This holiday season, America's largest home-finance giants and lenders have two words for struggling homeowners behind on their mortgages - and it's not "bah humbug!"

Actually, it's more like: "Happy Holidays."

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-owned mortgage agencies, say they'll put a freeze on foreclosures in the next few weeks to avoid evicting homeowners over the upcoming holidays.

The foreclosure freeze is slated to run between December 3, 2010 and January 3, 2011.
"If the property is occupied, our foreclosure attorneys will suspend the eviction to provide a greater measure of certainty to families during the holidays," said Anthony Renzi, executive vice president of single family portfolio management at Freddie Mac. Big lenders, including Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo also won't be pursuing foreclosures around Christmastime.


Having increased "certainty" - as Renzi put it - about having a roof over your head, albeit temporarily, is something for which cash-strapped homeowners will no doubt be grateful. But it won't stop the foreclosure blitz from resuming in full swing after the holidays.

Banks are taking back homes at a pace of about 100,000 repossessions a month. So when January rolls around, it apparently will be back to business in terms of dealing with delinquent homeowners.


Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'

 

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Syfy Picks Up New Superhero Series 'Alphas' With Malik Yoba

December 9, 2010, 4:50 am
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The Syfy cable channel has picked up the superhero series 'Alphas,' which stars David Strathaim, Ryan Cartwright, Laura Mennell, Azita Ghanizada, and Malik Yoba.

With a 90 minute pilot episode already completed, 'Alphas'" will begin shooting 11 episodes in Toronto in early 2011, with a summer debut planned for the show, states Deadline.com.

Written by Zak Penn ('X-Men: The Last Stand,' 'The Avengers,' 'The Incredible Hulk') and Michael Karnow, 'Alphas' follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities.

Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Lee Rosen (played by Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able or willing to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.

Yoba plays Alphas team member Bill Harken, a former FBI agent from working class roots. Harken's Alpha skill allows him to intentionally activate a "fight-or-flight mechanism" producing a power surge of adrenaline giving him increased strength, speed and immunity from pain.

The 43 year-old Bronx, NY native was last seen on the big screen in Tyler Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married Too?,' opposite Janet Jackson and Michael Jai White.

 

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Who Wore What: 40 & Up

December 9, 2010, 5:00 am
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Another night, another event; there's always a function to attend when you're in the spotlight. And that doesn't end when you get older. Check out what some of our fave 40+ ladies putting the twenty-somethings to shame.

Naomi Campbell wore a lovely Alexander McQueen gown when she was honored at the British Fashion Awards for her successful 25 year career. The dress - beaded bodice and sheer train - was designed by Sarah Burton for the supermodel.


Shaun Robinson looked hot in a low-cut cozy chic gray dress. We love the color on the television personality and the knee high boots!


Vanessa Williams was honored at the 30th Annual New York Women in Film & Television Muse Awards and wore a figure hugging black dress with beaded shoulder details and boots. While we're not loving the look (Williams' usually goes for more flattering a-line dresses) we love her and she still looks better than most women half her age. Take note, twenty-somethings!

 

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Memphis Students Get 'Urkeled' for Sagging

December 9, 2010, 5:21 am
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Memphis Students Get 'Urkeled' for Sagging

Administrators at a Memphis middle school have developed an interesting way of battling students with sagging pants: making them look like television nerd Steve Urkel.

When Westside Middle School Principal Bobby White or a staff member sees a student with his or her pants hanging too low on their butts, they apply a plastic zip tie to tighten the pants at a proper (or slightly high) level.



The too-tight zip tie creates a fashionable "high-water" affect on the pants hem that resembles the look worn by Family Matters character Steve Urkel.

The plan started last week, and about 80 students a day are now getting "Urkeled."

Now sagging pants is said to have dropped 80 percent in the school.

I'll give the school administrators an A for creativity. This is a cute way of drawing attention to the issue of sagging pants among young people. It isn't exactly the worst thing going on in our community (try our youth killing each other in droves), but it is a problem because it conditions the students to both dress and act unprofessionally.

Unfortunately, as the embarrassment and novelty fades, it will probably become cool to get "Urkeled" in the school. So be it.

 

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Porn Star Says Tiger Woods Paid Her Not to Release Sex Tape

December 9, 2010, 5:37 am
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Devon James is both a porn star and yet another woman who claimed that she slept with Tiger Woods. She is also a person who may be delusional, at least if you ask some of her friends. While it might be old news by now that Tiger likes to spend quality time with porn stars, the not-so-old news is that James claims that Tiger paid her a significant sum of money in order to avoid releasing their sex tape. By the way, she is also the one saying that she and Tiger have a love child.

James and her husband have been selling pre-orders of the tape for $19.99 through a website. The orders were to be shipped on December 1 of this year, but never arrived. There were also no explanations regarding why the tapes were never shipped. James says it's because she and her hubby were waiting for a settlement to come through from Woods' team, and that the settlement finally arrived (perhaps Tiger, like Obama, wanted to make sure that those in need received their benefits before Christmas).

The problem for Devon James is that even her family members say she's a liar. They say that her claims of having a child with Tiger and owning a sex tape are attempts at self-promotion. To date, there has been no evidence of the tape's existence: not a screen shot, video snippet or even a saucy trailer to pique the interest of potential customers. This is hardly a sound business model for a seasoned porn star.

James and her husband claim that they are telling the truth: "We haven't lied. We did have high demand. We had 180,000 buys. We didn't really know what to do. That was our reason. I didn't want to cancel our orders and not have a settlement, so that's what we decided to do," he said.

James' former manager, Gina Rodriguez, says that there is no tape. She claims that everything that James has said and done since the scandal broke is a complete lie. I guess that settles it: Judgement is for Tiger on this one. James has as much credibility as Sarah Palin at a Black Panther rally.

I honestly feel sorry for Tiger Woods, even though he's wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. In addition to the great advice his father Earl gave him in life, I only wish Earl had spoken to Tiger about some of the things my dad shared with me. One thing my father told me a long time ago is that a man who has everything to lose shouldn't be spending much time around people who have nothing to lose.

The truth is that a celebrity, especially a wealthy one, becomes a once in a lifetime opportunity for those with whom he interacts. While the celeb might be looking for a one night stand, such an event is probably the highlight of someone else's life. Because of this disturbing asymmetry in perspective, men like Tiger Woods usually understand that you must be very careful about what kind of volatility you allow to enter into your life. Some people simply never let go.

For many of the women Tiger slept with, being near Woods was the stuff dreams are made of. The fact that many of them were porn stars only made it worse, given that they would have no problem going public with details about his sex life. In fact, not only were they willing to go public, some were willing to sell videos or even recreate the relationship with Woods in a pornographic film (i.e. the movie, "Tiger's Wood"). Reports that Tiger may have been having unprotected sex with these women are even more disturbing, since there is a chance that he may have given Elin Nordegren "a parting gift" that even $100 million dollars can't fix: I don't forgive Elin if she was trying to hit Tiger in the head with a golf club, but I can certainly understand the depth of her betrayal. Perhaps this is a good "Financial Lovemaking" lesson for all of us: all that glitters ain't gold, and when choosing a partner, we can't be blinded by the bling, a person's looks or any other superficial traits. I have a hard time believing that Elin didn't see signs that Tiger might be a serious sexual deviant.

Also true about this scandal is that Tiger Woods hasn't been back to old form since the scandal began a year ago. This is the first year he hasn't won a single PGA Tour event, and watching him on the golf course is like watching senior citizens play basketball. He simply isn't the old Tiger, he's lost his focus, and he seems to have even lost his purpose in life.

I hope Tiger gets it together and shuts this circus down. For a man who was notoriously protective of his private life, this whole situation is the last thing I ever would have ever expected. Tiger has to be a bit more disciplined.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Haiti Election: Time to Throw a Giant Net Over Haiti

December 9, 2010, 5:43 am
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Haiti Election



If Haiti were a human being, this would be the time to throw a giant net over the patient. It is time to put a straight jacket on and take him in a padded truck and drive to the nearest asylum for some mental help.

Blame the decades of wrenching poverty, coupled with depleted natural resources and the near total absence of qualified political leadership for setting the stage.

Now it seems the January earthquake, which killed a quarter of a million people, and a series of crises have pushed Haiti over the mental edge, and here is the proof: Haitians are setting fires and barricading streets, because carnival singer Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly hasn't been named president.

"We want Martelly. The whole world wants Martelly," protester James Becimus told the Associated Press. "Today we set fires; tomorrow we bring weapons."

Other in Haiti told reporters that they would fight nonviolently for their candidate, but the fact remains the same: Haiti is so desperate for a savior, it is looking to a singer linked to corrupt President Rene Preval and ex Port-au-Prince Police Chief Michel Francois, who was convicted of drug charges in the United States.

Martelly, 49, is wildly popular among the masses but lacks the political experience needed to pull Haiti from the depths -- plain and simple. It's not a bad idea for Martelly to serve as a government adviser or undersecretary, so he can use his fame to rally the people toward policies that will help.

Occupying the presidential palace, though, is something completely different.

In addition, the fact that young Haitians have taken to the streets to fight UN peacekeeping troops, forcing the closure of the international airport, is inexcusable.

Martelly lost his spot in a runoff election to another political unknown, Jude Celestin, leading many to believe the election was stolen. Reports of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and other election misdeeds marked the primary election.

It's impossible to see how the mess that is Haiti will play out. It seems that every day there is a new calamity to deal with and another crisis to heap additional misery on the poor people of Haiti.

But Haitians see a knight in shining armor that will rescue them -- and he is a carnival singer.

　



 

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Check Out 'Reel Steel' Teaser Trailer With Hugh Jackman, Anthony Mackie

December 9, 2010, 5:55 am
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Walt Disney Pictures has released the teaser trailer to the sci-fi film 'Real Steel,' starring Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo, Kevin Durand, Phil LaMarr, James Reborn and Anthony Mackie.

Directed by Shawn Levy, Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (played by Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

The film will open in conventional and IMAX theaters on October 7, 2011.

 

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Catching Up With ... 'Men of A Certain Age' Star LisaGay Hamilton

December 9, 2010, 6:22 am
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This week, TNT premiered the second season of their drama 'Men of A Certain Age' earlier this week. And for the show's leading black actress, Lisa Gay Hamilton, she's grateful to be working on a series that doesn't force her to exaggerate who she is.

The Julliard-trained thespian tells BlackVoices.com that she's happy the basic cable network hired her for the gig.e

"I was thrilled that I got the role because TNT initially did not want me and I say that with pride," Hamilton revealed. "The executive producer Mike Royce fought for me. They now understand what it was to have Andre and I together because I think we are a very unique couple on television and a unique presence in our community."On 'Men of A Certain Age,' the Los Angeles native stars as Melissa Thoreau, the wife of Owen Thoreau, Jr, a role played by Andre Braugher. Her character remains simple and understated, something she fought for in the smallest of details.
"When we started the show and had our first meeting with the hair people, she had her hair book and I said 'Before you open your book, I'm wearing my hair like this - natural,' and no one ever said anything different. They were like, 'Ok,'" she laughed.

"I'm able to be me and I'm a black woman and they bought into that and I love that for TNT. I've been allowed to see me figuratively and literally on television."

"I'm not Hollywood," she added. "I'm not glitzy. I always say when you hire me 'it's not because you're going to make a lot of money. You're hiring me because you know I'm damn good and know what I'm bringing to the table.'"

Though she concedes 'Men of a Certain Age' will "never be a political show or talk about black issues," it is easy to understand her belief that her mere presence on the series is huge.

"Are scripts falling out of the sky? Absolutely not. Am I making a lot of money? Absolutely not. But, I am here," Hamilton said.

Her best known role to date was as attorney Rebecca Washington on the ABC legal drama 'The Practice.' Hamilton also gave a critically acclaimed performance as young Sethe in Jonathan Demme's film adaptation of Toni Morrison's 'Beloved'.and appeared as rapper Ludacris's character's mother on a series of episodes of 'Law and Order: SVU.'

A few years ago, Hamilton won her second Obie Award for her role as Suzanne Alexander in the play, 'The Ohio State Murders.' She also starred in the August Wilson plays 'Gem of the Ocean' and 'The Piano Lesson.' Hamilton is open to returning to The Great White Way in the near future, but has recently begun dedicating her time to teaching drama at The California Institute for the Arts.

"It is my responsibility that if I don't teach, I can't blame anybody. Of course this is what I should be doing because half the people don't know what acting is," she proclaimed.

"Everybody is just coming off the street and everybody is a rapper, everybody is a hip-hop singer [and] it becomes a profession where anybody can do it. Anybody can do crap and that's the sad part."

"I think black people have become irrelevant in this country - even though we have a black president. We're not particularly relevant right now. We economically are worst off now than we were twenty years ago - that's a fact. How are we going to make it? When you ask what about black people on television, that's not relevant. We can't even survive?," she vented.

The actress continued, "You don't hear anybody talking about how there are no black women on television. We do not exist. Does anybody really care? No."

Still, at age 46, Hamilton is extremely optimistic about her career path.

"I've been fortunate in my life to do the kind of work that I like to do," she acknowledged. "My career is really up to me."

'Men of A Certain Age' airs on Mondays at 10 pm EST on TNT.


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What To Watch: 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,' 'Inception' Blu-ray

December 9, 2010, 6:47 am
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Coming out this week is 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,' the third installment of the 'Narnia' franchise, based on the books by C.S. Lewis.

Directed by Michael Apted, the film stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Gary Sweet, Bruce Spence, Arthur Angel, Shane Rangi, and Liam Neeson as Aslan.

Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that will test their hearts and spirits, the trio will face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan's Country - a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader - can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate.

Out on home video is the Blu-ray/ DVD/ Digital copy release of 'Inception.' This psychological action thriller, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was a massive hit this summer despite its enigmatic premise and complex plot.

Also starring in the film are Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine.

Dom Cobb (played by DiCaprio) is a professional thief with a difference: the spoils he goes after are not material objects but the thoughts, dreams and secrets buried in the minds of other people. This rare talent has cost him dear, rendering him a solitary fugitive stripped of everything he ever really cared about. When he is offered a chance for redemption by reversing the process and planting an idea rather than stealing it, he and his team of specialists find themselves pitted against a dangerous enemy that appears to pre-empt their every move.

In Mexico City, five real-life "social wrestlers" have capitalized on the popularity of Mexico's larger than life Lucha Libre wrestlers to fight for social justice rather than trophies. Wearing custom masks, costumes and capes like the wrestlers who inspired them, these anonymous grassroots superheroes protect their metropolis against injustice.

Super Animal challenges bullfighters to leave the bulls alone and fight him instead. After a savage beating kills his boyfriend, Super Gay becomes a champion of gay rights, fighting rampant homophobia. Ecologista Universal battles environmental destruction of every kind, all on foot. Super Barrio is the defender of poor tenants, helping them resist evictions by slumlords cashing in on gentrification.

With a mixture of live action, comic book-style animation and a surf guitar soundtrack inspired equally by mariachi music and Batman, the documentary 'Super Amigos' shows that with a little imagination, a good heart and the right mask, anyone can activate their communities to triumph over evil.

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Wesley Snipes Reports to Prison

December 9, 2010, 6:57 am
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Wesley Snipes Reports to Prison

Action-adventure star Wesley Snipes is officially behind bars. He reportedly checked into a medium security prison in Pennsylvania on Thursday shortly before noon to begin his three-year sentence for neglecting to file tax returns.


Snipes, who failed to file tax returns for at least a decade and owed $2.7 million in taxes on $13.8 million in income from 1999 to 2001 alone, self-surrendered to the federal prison camp at the Federal Correctional Institution McKean in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

The prison facility reportedly houses 300 nonviolent male offenders. A typical day for Snipes at McKean would be a 6:35 am wake up. Breakfast is announced soon thereafter and he will be given ten minutes to decide if he wants to go to the cafeteria. The menus consist of a well-balanced diet and there are also religious, heart-healthy and "no flesh protein" alternative diets.

Work assignments for the day are handed out at 8:00 am. If a prisoner is late for work, he is subjected to a disciplinary action.

Snipes will don a uniform that consists of khaki pants, khaki shirt, belt, safety-toed work shoes, and an ID card. The star of 'White Men Can't Jump' and the 'Blade' series will be required to be in full uniform when at work, on a call-out, at a scheduled program, or in the visiting room.

If Snipes wants to make a call to friends or family, phone usage is restricted to 15 minutes and he will not be able to conduct any business whatsoever. If anyone comes to visit, contact in the prison's visitors room is limited to "a kiss," according to their handbook.

The 48-year-old actor may be able to perhaps catch himself in an old role since the prison does allow its convicts to watch double-feature movie showings Friday through Sunday, but the films cannot have a NC-17, R or X rating.

Being a box office super celebrity will not get Snipes any preferential treatment according to prison spokesperson Shirley White who recently told the Associated Press, "We recognize that he [Snipes] is high profile, but we treat all our inmates the same."

"Hey Wesley, you'll be out before you know it, hang in there!"

 

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Former Hitmaker Keith Washington Broadcasts Private Conversation With Ailing Aretha Franklin

December 9, 2010, 8:04 am
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Yesterday (Dec.8) news broke that Aretha Franklin is suffering from pancreatic cancer. The Queen of Soul has been resting and recovering from an unspecified medical surgery last week, but one of her close friends took it upon himself to broadcast a private conversation with Franklin on the radio and internet.

Former chart-topping R&B crooner Keith Washington, whose hit single, 'Kissing You,' earned him a Grammy Award nomination in 1992, hosts his own local Detroit radio show 'Kisses After Dark' on WDMK/105.9 Kiss FM.

A YouTube clip was serviced by the radio station, which is dated Dec.8, and shows Washington having a phone conversation with the multiple Grammy Award-winning Queen of Soul.



"Is there any possible way that I could, at your discretion, just get a brief interview with you because all of your fans have just been calling the station, so concerned," he asked Franklin.

She responded, "When I feel better, Keith."

When probed, "But, you are OK?"

The 'Chain of Fools' singer replied, "We're waiting for confirmation from the doctors."

A source close to Franklin tells BlackVoices.com that Washington and Franklin are friends. "He obviously had access to her and was on the phone with her," the insider snitched. "He calls himself a friend of hers. It was wrong Aretha didn't know she was getting taped.""

The two are also seen in pictures together on his Facebook page.

After the former Warner Bros. recording artists hung up the phone with Franklin, he is heard telling someone in the studio, "Just talking to her right now and hearing her say they are waiting for certain things is kind of touchy and becomes sensitive to me because if there was nothing wrong, they wouldn't be waiting on results."

"I love her unconditionally and she's like a sister and always has been," he added.

Washington then also appeared on Detroit's FOX2 local news to report the status on Franklin's health.

"I know everyone has been concerned with Aretha, but she's doing good, man. We just need everyone to really pray," he said on the clip below.

Neither Washington nor radio station brass at WDMK/105.9 Kiss FM responded to queries to BlackVoices.com at by deadline today. Franklin's current spokeswoman Tracy Jordan would not comment on the debacle.

As previously reported, an unnamed family member told a local television news outlet that Franklin has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Another relative said the family is very concerned.

The controversial clip has been restricted on YouTube but is still available on the web.



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Obama's Tax Cuts Actually Raise Taxes For The Poor: Say What?

December 9, 2010, 8:34 am
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Obama's Tax Cuts

UPDATE: House Democrats Reject Obama Tax Cut Deal In Non-Binding Vote, Demand Changes

There's really no point in continuing to pile on to the criticism of President Obama's tax-cut compromise with the GOP. That's been discussed ad nauseum, and me adding further quips would just be demeaning, cruel and unnecessary. However, I must say that given the President's awesome negotiation skills, I'd sure love to buy a new car from him.

Zing!

While the "rich get even richer" nature of the compromise has been well documented, one obscure provision that adds insult to injury to those at the other end of the economic spectrum has been largely overlooked. That's right, some poor folks are actually going to end up owing more in taxes:

The deal to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for two years includes a bevy of additional credits and deductions that will reduce the burden on nearly all households. But the tax benefits will flow most heavily to the highest earners, just as the original cuts did when they were passed in 2001 and 2003. At least a quarter of the tax savings will go to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population.

The tentative deal includes a two-year patch for the alternative minimum tax, a reduction in the payroll tax and a plan to reinstate the estate tax with lower rates and higher exemptions than in 2009 - all of which will offer far more savings for high earners than those in the low- or middle-income bracket. The wealthiest Americans will also reap tax savings from the proposal's plan to keep the cap on dividend and capital gains taxes at 15 percent, well below the highest rates on ordinary income.

That is good news for hedge fund managers and private equity investors, who appear to have withstood an effort to get them to pay more by eliminating a quirk in the tax code that allows most of their income to be taxed at just 15 percent.

In fact, the only groups likely to face a tax increase are those near the bottom of the income scale - individuals who make less than $20,000 and families with earnings below $40,000. The proposal does not include an extension of Mr. Obama's signature tax cut, the Making Work Pay credit, which provided a credit of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for families of low and moderate income.

Although the $120 billion payroll tax reduction offers nearly twice the tax savings of the credit it replaces, it will nonetheless lead to higher tax bills for individuals with incomes below $20,000 and families that make less than $40,000. That is because their payroll tax savings are less than the $400 or $800 they will lose from the Making Work Pay credit.

"It will come to a few dollars a week," said Roberton Williams, an analyst at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, "but it is an increase."


Wow. Just. Wow.

Folks -- what more can I say about how raw a deal this was? I simply can't see anything good that came of these negotiations. Obama added to the deficit. He caved in to the right. He walked back on a campaign promise. This is a textbook lose-lose.

This won't help the jobs forecast, because tax cuts for the rich have repeatedly proven to have no tangible economic impact for the good. He could have just as easily separated the unemployment benefits issue from the tax cuts and forced the GOP to cave in. They've only done this whole "posturing about the deficit, then voting for unemployment benefits anyway" thing about, oh, three-four times already this year. Why allow them to highjack one issue (unemployment) by attaching an unrelated one (tax cuts for the rich), when neither solves what's presumably the biggest issue (jobs! jobs! jobs!) facing the economy?

Sure, this tax hike for the poor is relatively minor, but it's merely a reflection of the bigger issue.

The rich will get richer. And the poor will get poorer. On President Obama's command. Not a good look.
Jay Anderson is a freelance writer from Washington, DC, whose work has been featured in the Washington Post and on NPR. When he's not busy talking smack here, he runs the award-winning blog AverageBro.com. Follow him via Twitter @AverageBro.


 

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Why Wesley Snipes Should NOT Be Going to Prison

December 9, 2010, 9:04 am
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I've been sitting on the sidelines during the tax trial of actor Wesley Snipes, primarily because I didn't quite know what was going on. I wasn't sure if Snipes was guilty or innocent, since I've seen a lot of wealthy folks who've lived as if they were above the law. Part of me wants to believe that the justice system works if you're rich, so I figured that nature would simply take its course.

I took the time to watch Wesley appear on CNN to plead his case to the public. I was honestly skeptical, since I've rarely met a man on his way to prison who didn't try to convince me that he was innocent. In fact, I've received countless letters from prison inmates, many of whom want me to believe that they didn't do it. In most cases, I choose not to judge, but I know the game quite well.

But there was something different about Snipes' CNN appearance. I expected that his words would translate to "blah blah blah....I didn't do it.....blah blah blah." Instead, I heard some really compelling facts. The facts were intriguing enough for me to open up my laptop and share my thoughts, because I still cannot, for the life of me, figure out why this man is being sent to the penitentiary for what he was convicted of doing.

First of all, Snipes was convicted of MISDEMEANORS. By definition, misdemeanors are not as serious as felonies. Given that there are so many people getting nothing more than probation for more serious charges, why is Snipes getting prison time? Why not force him to pay back taxes, along with a significant penalty? It seems this would make more sense.

Secondly, one of the jurors in the case admitted that some of the other jurors decided that Snipes was guilty before they even heard his case. Frank Tuttle, a member of the jury, sent a letter to Larry King Live with this statement, as he mentioned that three jurors already had their minds made up before the trial, and the other jurors had to strike a deal with them:

"That's when a deal was made to find him guilty on the failure to file taxes and not guilty on the federal tax evasion charges. We did not think he would go to jail."

Let me get this straight: Was Wesley Snipes "guilty until proven guilty?" Wouldn't such a series of events constitute a violation of this man's civil rights? In fact, the jurors who decided that Snipes was guilty before hearing the evidence should themselves be put on trial for sending a man to prison without having just cause. At the same time, Tuttle said in his statement that he and other jurors didn't expect Snipes to go to prison, so I have to wonder who was determined to send him there.

Third, there is the case of billionaire Igor Olenicoff. Olenicoff was convicted of a single felony for lying about his offshore finances. He was then allowed to pay $52 million in back taxes and given nothing more than probation. I personally can't figure out why we can allow such a glaring inconsistency to go unaddressed: Snipes got the maximum sentence on each of his three misdemeanor counts, yet a man gets probation on a felony conviction involving $52 million in taxes?

This all stinks to high heaven. I find myself personally in agreement with Judge Joe Brown and others who don't think Snipes should be sent to prison for this incident. This case is yet another serious warning about the assault on individual liberties and the increasing power of the state, particularly when it comes to the IRS. Given that our nation is experiencing unprecedented financial difficulties, we can only expect it to get worse, especially if you happen to be black. Wesley Snipes got a raw deal, and the judge, prosecutor and jury should all be under investigation by the Justice Department. But given that the IRS is part of the federal government, that would be like the fox watching the hen house. Justice was not served in this case.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Last Tenant Moves out of Cabrini-Green Projects in Chicago

December 10, 2010, 2:36 am
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It's been 58 years, but we can consider today to officially be the end of an era. The last tenant has finally moved out of the infamous Cabrini Green Housing Projects in Chicago, IL. Annie Ricks was the last holdout, a mother of seven children who'd previously refused to leave the community she loved so much. Ricks was eventually persuaded to move to an apartment on the South Side.

Cabrini-Green once consisted of 23 high-rises and 15,000 tenants. The community became nationally-known after a young girl was raped, beaten, poisoned and left for dead in 1997. Also, 7-year old Dantrell Davis was shot in 1992 as he walked to school. These tragedies came to define the community where outside observers felt a person couldn't even drive by without being in harm's way.

Hollywood even got in on the act by making the TV show "Good Times" based on a family that lived in a set of projects with a striking resemblance to Cabrini-Green. Also, the hit film "Candyman" featured a ghost killer who haunted the projects. Overall, the good residents of Cabrini-Green, who formed the majority of its citizens, were typically overshadowed by the bad elements. Most references to Cabrini-Green were not uplifting in any way.

My stomach turns when I think about some of the terrible things that have happened in Cabrini-Green, as well as similar events that have taken place in other low-income housing locations all throughout the country. It was a good decision to tear down the projects, which have become a symbol of the pain that comes with living urban America. Housing projects became the urban reservations created to congregate black people together in a land of lawlessness, hopelessness and fear.

While there is part of me that will be glad to see the Cabrini-Green era come to an end, there is another part of me that wonders what buildings will soon replace the projects. Gentrification looms large in every major city across America, after people in the suburbs realized that there is something good about being close to the city. One might hope that opportunities will exist for residents of Cabrini-Green to own their own homes and find ways to live in peace, pride and prosperity. The projects should not define you as a human being.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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