Quietly released “Are You In,” De La Soul, the Amityville-based trio’s first new album in five years, today on iTunes – not through a major label, but through a partnership with Nike.
The album, which comes as a single 45-minute track meant to play as a soundtrack for a workout, was produced by Flosstradamus and features plenty for De La fans to enjoy. “When we first heard about this project we were psyched on the challenge,” says rapper Posdnuos. “We pride ourselves on being able to get bodies moving, so it was cool to do it with a specific goal in mind – giving runners the sonic fuel to clock some miles.”
Rhymes like “Run! Pick up the pace! Know that life is just a race, y’all!”, in the hands of lesser rappers, might not work, but when paired with a pounding, old-school Public Enemy-ish beat crossed with some electro, it turns into the mantra "We OD on F-O-O-D."
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Backstage Pass
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
New American Funding Says Hope for Homeowners Program Needs Change
tag: hope for homeowners
Due to current rising default rates, the banks simply do not want the added workload, risk and upfront cost associated with borrowers that have displayed a pattern of not paying their mortgage, regardless of the reason, Arvielo says. Even though a borrower's "loan" amount is ultimately guaranteed by Fannie, Freddie or FHA, the responsibility for the payment collections falls squarely on these major banks.
"Arvielo says he was very frustrated when Hope for Homeowners was introduced. New American Funding was anxiously anticipating a windfall of business opportunity when the guidelines were first released, but when Arvielo called his contacts at all of the large institutional lenders -- on which all mortgage banks rely to sell loans -- he was met with zero interest in cooperating with the program.
"Out of frustration, I went toe-to-toe with one of the major investors at the Mortgage Bankers meeting in San Francisco, where I even brought up the fact that they had just received billions in TARP money and weren't going to use any of it for the Hope for Homeowners program when this gentleman said something to me that stopped me in my tracks," Arvielo says. "He said, 'If we would agree to buy these loans from you, where you are on the hook for the borrowers' first four payments, the typical timeframe for a mortgage bank, or you would have to buy the loan back…what would you do?' Admittedly, I am no longer an advocate for the program."
Arvielo says the next time money and time is spent creating a program to help homeowners, the government needs to apply a little discovery to the systemics of actually originating and funding loans. The government might also do well to get the major banks to "sign off" on the program and agree to some level of support, Arvielo says.
"The Hope for Homeowners program should have included a 'First payment default' guarantee and money earmarked for the servicing of these loans. Then, it might have had a chance," Arvielo says.
For more information on New American Funding or president Rick Arvielo's position on the Hope for Homeowners program.
2nd UPDATE:US Govt Unveils New Mortgage Modification Incentives
tag: hope for homeowners
To mortgage servicers to help strapped U.S. homeowners, the Obama administration unveiled a fresh set of incentives Tuesday.
Under a new program, the government will pay mortgage servicers $500 up front and $250 a year for three years for successfully modifying a second mortgage, such as a home equity loan.
Second mortgages have complicated government efforts to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, up to 50% of at-risk mortgages have second liens and many properties in foreclosure have more than one lien.
Additionally, the administration unveiled a schedule of incentives for holders of second mortgages to extinguish those liens voluntarily.
The administration also announced a set of incentives for servicers and lenders participating in the Hope for Homeowners program, which aims to restore homeowners' lost equity by encouraging lenders to write down loan principal. The administration said it will take steps to incorporate Hope for Homeowners into its loan modification program. Servicers will be required to determine eligibility for a Hope for Homeowners refinancing and where it proves viable, the servicer would need to offer this option to the borrower.
While participation in the Hope for Homeowners program has been dismal, administration officials said they're expecting strong investor interest as the program is wrapped into the broader federal loan modification program. The administration also said it supports legislation to strengthen the Hope for Homeowners program so that it can function effectively as a key part of the administration's new housing efforts.
"With these latest program details, we're offering even more opportunities for borrowers to make their homes more affordable under the administration's housing plan," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a statement Tuesday. "Ensuring that responsible homeowners can afford to stay in their homes is critical to stabilizing the housing market, which is in turn critical to stabilizing our financial system overall."
During a conference call, senior administration officials said they are continuing to work on key elements of the president's plan to stem foreclosures and agencies will be developing more details and guidelines going forward.
Tuesday's announcements are expected updates. The issue of second mortgages has been dogging policymakers ever since the onset of the foreclosure crisis. A large share of troubled borrowers also have a second mortgage on their home, which is typically owned by a different investor than the first mortgage. Such borrowers may not be able to afford their monthly payments if only the first mortgage is modified.
The administration's effort on second mortgages is also aimed at soothing the concerns of investors, who have been crying foul over the Obama housing plan's incentives for servicers. They argue the first mortgage shouldn't be modified if the second one is left untouched. They also contend the banks that dominate mortgage servicing are conflicted because they own more than $400 billion of second mortgages. Such banks stand to gain from modifying the first mortgage because the second mortgage is more likely to be repaid once the homeowner is saved from foreclosure.
Some of the largest U.S. banks, including Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM), have already agreed to sign on to the program, the official said. The rest of the industry will be encouraged to participate.
Under the program, servicers must agree to modify all second mortgages where the first mortgage has already been modified. To qualify for payment, servicers must extend the term of the second mortgage and reduce the interest rate to match the first mortgage. Then, the government will share the cost with the servicer of reducing the rate down to 1% for amortizing loans and 2% for interest-only loans.
Borrowers will receive payments of up to $250 per year for as many as five years if they stay current on the loan. The payments will be applied to pay down principal on the first mortgage.
Changes to the Hope for Homeowners program are designed to place it in line with the taxpayer-assisted loan modifications. Launched last fall to help troubled borrowers refinance into more affordable government-backed loans, it has failed to gain traction due to onerous borrower requirements and the nagging problem of second liens.
The administration announced Tuesday a $2,500 up-front payment to servicers that refinance borrowers into the program. At the same time, if the loans stays current, lenders who originate the new loans will receive $1,000 a year for three years.
Obama seeks $1.5 bln for swine flu as cases jump
tag: swine flu april 28
On Tuesday President Barack Obama asked Congress for an additional $1.5 billion to fight swine flu as the confirmed caseload jumped to 65 people across six states in what doctors fear may become a pandemic.
Lawmakers convened an emergency hearing on Capitol Hill to assess the government's preparedness for a more severe outbreak.
"With a new infectious agent you don't sit back and wait and hope for the best. You take bold steps, and then you pull back if you need to," Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a news briefing.
The CDC total included 10 cases in California, 2 in Kansas, 45 in New York, one in Ohio and 6 in Texas. An additional case was reported by Indiana state authorities.
While the new flu strain has killed up to 149 people in Mexico, cases seen in the United States and elsewhere have been mild. CDC officials said only five U.S. cases have required hospitalization, but they have said they expect more serious cases -- and possibly deaths -- as surveillance expands.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency over the outbreak, enabling deployment of funds and personnel to fight the disease. Federal officials declared a national public health emergency on Sunday.
Worldwide, 79 cases have been confirmed in laboratories recognized by the World Health Organization.
MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY
Obama, in a letter to Congress, said the additional $1.5 billion would give the government "maximum flexibility" as it fights the disease, supplementing antiviral stockpiles, adding medical equipment and starting preparations for a vaccine.
As public health headlines gripped the country, senators prepared to approve the last of Obama's Cabinet nominees -- Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services secretary.
While Republican critics had delayed confirming Sebelius because of her stance on abortion, Senate Democrats said they believed they had the 60 votes necessary to push her through.
On Capitol Hill, health officials told an emergency hearing the funding would be crucial if the flu virus spreads.
"In the face of these cutbacks and layoffs and vacancies, we don't even have the workforce we had two years ago," said Dr. Paul Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
In California, Texas and New York City, authorities have ordered schools shut where students have tested positive for the swine flu virus.
In New York, most confirmed cases of infection were at a Queens private school where the virus has sickened at least 28 students. Officials had said earlier as many as 100 students might have been ill, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Tuesday officials have stopped testing more people because the symptoms are mild, with only two people going to the hospital.
"This is following the pattern of normal, seasonal influenza," Bloomberg told reporters at City Hall. "So far, nothing about the spread of swine flu has surprised us."
There were few signs of panic across the country -- although sales of flu medication and items like face masks -- were up in some places close to where cases have been confirmed.
"Everyone's a little leery of anyone coughing. Even though the news makes it seem really, really bad, it doesn't seem like it's actually that much of a concern," said Aaron Armelin, 33, a telecommunications technician in Los Angeles.
U.S. stocks rose as traders shook off some of the more immediate flu fears that hit the market on Monday.
Swine flu update, Tuesday, April 28
tag: swine flu april 28
Over the day yesterday, the number of swine flu cases doubled and we do expect increasing numbers as the laboratory tests are completed. HOWEVER, the cases remain in the same locations as previously reported: California, Texas, Ohio, Kansas and New York, specifically New York City. Cases are being reported in other countries around the world, which is not unexpected with the heavy airline traffic we have around the planet.
The United States did issue a travel advisory yesterday afternoon which states that non-essential travel to Mexico should be avoided for now.
The medication will not be given to individuals who just think they might be sick or want to take it to keep from getting the flu. That would be an inappropriate use of the medicine and, at the very worst, can cause resistance in the population later on.
The United States has issued a public health emergency notice but that is primarily so that funding and the antiviral medication can be released to the States. It is not so that everyone can be worried and upset about the situation. There is no reason to be concerned on the local level at this time. Keep to practice the good health habits is the most important, and learn for the newest updates.
Nike recycling program gives old shoes new life
Monday, April 27, 2009
Niketown in Waikiki, the place where old shoes go to die — and then be reborn — for the fourth annual Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Campaign. Folks were driving up to and dropping off boxes of old shoes and sneakers as Honolulu firefighters dumped blue recycling bins full of shoes into a huge pile in front of the store. It was
Gail Izumi of Mililani, a student services coordinator at Wahiawa Elementary School, brought 20 pairs.
"It's a good cause, playgrounds, things for children," she said.
Niketown employee Char Kahele had a demonstration set up at the Reuse-A-Shoe booth and explained how old shoes can help the environment and build playgrounds:
The shoes are first disassembled at a recycling plant in Beaverton, Ore. The bottom of the shoe, known as the outsole, is then ground up into rubberized pellets to be used in playgrounds and running tracks.
The midsole, the next level up from the outsole, is turned into grind foam used in the construction of tennis courts and weight rooms.
Which leaves the uppers, which can be converted into layers of fabric padding used beneath the wooden floors of basketball courts.
Honolulu Fire Chief Ken Silva was on hand to boost the effort, which included recycling bins where people could drop off their old shoes at O'ahu fire stations.
"It's all about wellness, fitness ... I got two kids who go through shoes like water. So instead of dumping them into the landfill, we can recycle them," Silva said.
Publicist Mona Wood said this was the first year that Neighbor Islands had participated — and those totals were still coming in — so the final count would be more that the total of 19,867 shoes announced yesterday.
2009 NFL Free Agent Signings List
tag: nfl free agent signings
BALTIMORE RAVENS_Signed Chris Carr, CB/KR; Domonique Foxworth, CB; and L.J. Smith, TE. Agreed to terms with Matt Birk, C; and Ray Lewis, LB. Re-signed Samari Rolle, CB.
BUFFALO BILLS_Signed Dominic Rhodes, RB; Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB; Drayton Florence, CB; Geoff Hangartner, OL; and Terrell Owens, WR. Re-signed Kirk Chambers, OL; and Corey McIntyre, FB. Agreed to terms with Pat Thomas, LB.
ARIZONA CARDINALS_Signed Anthony Becht, TE; Mike Leach, LS; Rodney Leisle, DT; Keith Lewis, S; Bryant McFadden, CB; and Donovan Raiola, C. Re-signed Ben Graham, P; Clark Haggans, LB; Brian St. Pierre, QB; Kurt Warner, QB; and Dan Kreider, FB. Agreed to terms with Bertrand Berry, DE; Elton Brown, OL; Ralph Brown, CB; and Jason Wright, RB.
ATLANTA FALCONS_Signed Mike Peterson, LB; and C Brett Romberg. Re-signed Chauncey Davis, DE; Jamal Fudge, S; Tony Gilbert, LB; Jason Jefferson, DT; Justin Peele, TE; Ben Wilkerson, OL; and Coy Wire, LB.
CAROLINA PANTHERS_Re-signed Jordan Gross, OT; Nate Salley, S; James Anderson, LB.
CHICAGO BEARS_Signed Josh Bullocks, S; Glenn Earl, S; Marcus Hamilton, DB; and Frank Omiyale, OL. Agreed to terms with Kevin Jones, RB; Kevin Shaffer, OT; and Orlando Pace, OT.
CINCINNATI BENGALS_Signed Laveranues Coles, WR; J.T. O'Sullivan, QB; and Jeremi Johnson, FB. Re-signed Cedric Benson, RB; Darryl Blackstock, LB; Chris Crocker, S; DeDe Dorsey, WR; and Jamar Fletcher, CB. Agreed to terms with Tank Johnson, DT, and Brandon Johnson, LB.
CLEVELAND BROWNS_Signed Eric Barton, LB; David Bowens, LB; Noah Herron, RB; Corey Ivy, CB; C.J. Mosley, DT; David Patten, WR; Hank Poteat, CB; Robert Royal, TE; John St. Clair, OL; and Floyd Womack, T. Re-signed Mike Adams, S.
DALLAS COWBOYS_Signed Keith Brooking, LB; Igor Olshansky, DE; Gerald Sensabaugh, S; and Matt Stewart, LB. Re-signed Miles Austin, WR; Alonzo Coleman, RB; Rodney Hannah, TE; Cory Procter, G; and Stephen Bowen, DE.
DENVER BRONCOS_Signed Brandon Gorin, OL; J.J. Arrington, RB; Correll Buckhalter, RB; Andra Davis, LB; Brian Dawkins, S; Ronald Fields, DT; Jabar Gaffney, WR; Andre' Goodman, CB; Renaldo Hill, S; LaMont Jordan, RB; J'Vonne Parker, DT; Lonie Paxton, FS; Kenny Peterson, DL; Darrell Reid, DT; and Scott Young, OL. Re-signed Jeb Putzier, TE. Agreed to terms with Chris Simms, QB.
DETROIT LIONS_Signed Terrelle Smith, FB; Ronald Curry, WR; Phillip Buchanon, CB; Grady Jackson, DT; Bryant Johnson, WR; Eric King, CB; Maurice Morris, RB; Will Heller, TE; and Cody Spencer, LB. Agreed to terms with Daniel Loper, OL. Re-signed Aveion Cason, RB; Damion Cook, OL; Jason Hanson, K; and Stephen Peterman, G.
GREEN BAY PACKERS_Signed Duke Preston, OL; and Anthony Smith, S. Agreed to terms with Mike Montgomery, DE. Re-signed Tory Humphrey, TE.
HOUSTON TEXANS_Signed LB Buster Davis; LB Cato June; Shaun Cody, DT; Darrell McClover, LB; Dan Orlovsky, QB; and Antonio Smith, DE. Re-signed Joel Dreessen, TE; Nick Ferguson, S; Chris White, C; Eugene Wilson, S; and Rashad Butler, T.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS_Signed Adam Seward, LB. Re-signed Matt Giordano, S; Lance Ball, RB; Kelvin Hayden, CB; Jeff Saturday, C; Tyjuan Hagler, LB, Dan Federkeil, OL.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS_Signed Sean Considine, S; and Tra Thomas, T. Re-signed Brad Meester, C; Scott Starks, CB; and Joe Zelenka, LS.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS_ Signed Zach Thomas, LB; Monte Beisel, LB; Bobby Engram, WR; Mike Goff, G; Terrance Copper, WR; LS Tanner Purdum; Rodney Wright, WR; and Tony Curtis, TE. Agreed to terms with Travis Daniels, CB; C.J. Jones, WR; Corey Mays, LB; Jon McGraw, S; and Darrell Robertson, LB.
MIAMI DOLPHINS_Signed Joe Berger, G; Eric Green, CB; and Jake Grove, C. Re-signed Yeremiah Bell, S; Vernon Carey, OT; and Channing Crowder, LB.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS_Re-signed Heath Farwell, LB; Jimmy Kennedy, DT; Jim Kleinsasser, TE; Benny Sapp, CB; Otis Grigsby, DL; and Fred Evans, DT. Signed Cedric Griffin, CB; Glenn Holt, WR; and Karl Paymah, CB.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS_Signed Chris Baker, TE; Leigh Bodden, CB; Joey Galloway, WR; Nathan Hodel, LS; Al Johnson, C; Shawn Springs, CB; and Fred Taylor, RB. Re-signed Matt Cassel, QB (f), and traded him to Kansas City; re-signed Eric Alexander, LB; Wesley Britt, OL; Chris Hanson, P; Russ Hochstein, OL; James Sanders, S; Ray Ventrone, S; Mike Wright, DL; and Tank Williams, S.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS_Signed Darnell Dinkins, TE; Heath Evans, FB; Jabari Greer, CB; Nick Leckey, C; Pierson Prioleau, S; Paul Spicer, DL; Rod Coleman, DT; Darren Sharper, S; and Dan Campbell, TE. Re-signed Joey Harrington, QB; Devery Henderson, WR; Courtney Roby, WR-KR; Jon Stinchcomb, T; Jonathan Vilma, LB; and Troy Evans, LB.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS_Signed Byron Leftwich, QB; Angelo Crowell, LB; Mike Nugent, K; and Derrick Ward, RB. Re-signed Michael Clayton, WR; Cortez Hankton, WR; Luke McCown, QB; Jermaine Phillips, S; and Jerramy Stevens, TE.
TENNESSEE TITANS_Signed Jovan Haye, DT; Mark Jones, WR/KR; Patrick Ramsey, QB; and Nate Washington, WR. Re-signed Rob Bironas, K; Kerry Collins, QB; Vincent Fuller, DB; Justin McCareins, WR. Agreed to terms with Craig Hentrich, P.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS_Signed Derrick Dockery, G; Dominique Dorsey, KR; Albert Haynesworth, DT; Dirk Johnson, P; Dave Rayner, K; and Renaldo Wynn, DE. Re-signed Ethan Albright, LS; Phillip Daniels, DE; Reed Doughty, S; Alfred Fincher, LB; DeAngelo Hall, CB; and Shaun Suisham, K.
NEW YORK GIANTS_Signed Rocky Bernard, DT; Michael Boley, LB; C.C. Brown, S; Chris Canty, DE; and Lee Vickers, TE. Re-signed David Carr, QB; and Brandon Jacobs, RB (f). Agreed to terms with Kevin Dockery, CB.
NEW YORK JETS_Signed Marques Douglas, DE; Howard Green, DT; Larry Izzo, LB; Jim Leonhard, S; Bart Scott, LB; and Donald Strickland, CB. Re-signed Ahmad Carroll, DB; Jay Feely, K; Brandon Moore, G; and Tony Richardson, FB.
OAKLAND RAIDERS_Signed Jeff Garcia, QB; Khalif Barnes, T. Re-signed Nnamdi Asomugha, DB; Cooper Carlisle, G; Isaiah Ekejiuba, LB; Shane Lechler, P; and Justin Miller, CB.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES_Signed Stacy Andrews, OT; Rashad Baker, S; and Sean Jones, S. Re-signed Tank Daniels, LB; Joselio Hanson, CB; and Nick Cole, OL. Re-signed Hank Baskett, WR. Agreed to terms with Leonard Weaver, FB.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS_Re-signed Charlie Batch, QB; Keyaron Fox, LB; Willie Colon, T; Chris Kemoeatu, G; Max Starks, T (f); Andre Frazier, LB; Trai Essex, T; Fernando Bryant, CB; and Arnold Harrison, LB.
ST. LOUIS RAMS_Signed Kyle Boller, QB; Jason Brown, OL; James Butler, S; and FB Mike Karney. Re-signed Ron Bartell, CB; and Mark Setterstrom, G.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS_Agreed to terms with Kevin Burnett, LB. Re-signed Kynan Forney, G.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS_Signed Demetric Evans, DE; Damon Huard, QB; and Brandon Jones, WR; and ; Marvel Smith, T. Re-signed Moran Norris, FB; Allen Rossum, CB-KR; and Takeo Spikes, LB.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS_Signed Colin Cole, DT; T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR; and John Owens, TE. Re-signed Ray Willis, OL. Agreed to terms with D.D. Lewis, LB; Justin Griffith, FB; and Ken Lucas, CB.
An early look at Bears' free-agent signings incluces Cal FB Will Taufoou
tag: nfl free agent signings
We have put together a list after a series of phone calls across the league, of the free agents the Bears have agreed to terms with on contracts. A three-day rookie minicap starting Friday and they like to have it run as close to a normal camp setting as possible, so that means lots of players on the field. With only nine draft picks, expect for dozens more to show up at Halas Hall. Some come on a tryout basis, some are priority free agents and some get nothing to sign.
Here are the eight names we have tracked down this far:
Eric Peterman, WR, Northwestern. Peterman had a terrific pro day back in March and ran himself into an opportunity with a 40-yard dash time under 4.5 seconds. He'll look to punch his ticket by proving he can make a difference on special teams.
Mike Rivera, LB, Kansas. Rivera didn't perform as well during his senior year at Kansas as he did in previous seasons but he had a good showing at his pro day when Bears scout Teddy Monago was in attendance. At 6-2, 245 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds and his 38 1/2 inch vertical jump was eye opening. Rivera had interest from other teams but chose the Bears for the opportunity. Perhaps he could get in the mix on the strong side if he really excels.
Dahna Deleston, SS, UConn. Deleston isn't going to solve any issues at free safety but agent Ed Wasielewski said he has the ability to make an impact on special teams quickly.
Will Taufoou, FB, Cal. The Bears landed one of the better fullbacks that was in this draft. Taufoou had interest from more than half of the teams in the league, including some with money offers, but chose the Bears because he liked the opportunity on the roster. Check out this video of him catching a pass out of the backfield.
Dennis Conley, G, Hampton. The Bears did not select an offensive lineman in the draft unless San Diego State's Lance Louis is moved inside. The Bears called him a tight end but how many 303-pound tight ends do you know?
Johan Asiata, G, UNLV. Played right tackle and left guard for the Rebels. How many NFL players have been born in New Zealand?
Kevin Malast, LB, Rutgers. Malast is a little undersized at 6-foot, 236 pounds, but he ran well at his pro day. Here is a little reading on him.
Tyrell Fenroy, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette. He is a former all-Sun Belt Conference performer.
Eastern Illinois OLB/DE Pierre Walters will sign with Kansas CIty as a free agent. The Bears had brought him in on a pre-draft visit. The Bears reportedly lost out on signing South Dakota State wide receiver JaRon Harris to Green Bay. He's related to Jerry Rice.
On pre-draft visits, Rivera and Conley were both brought in.
Scheana Marie Jancan Is John Mayer’s New Girlfriend (Photos)
tag: scheana marie
It is reported that Scheana Marie Jancan, the 23 year-old model, is dating John Mayer. It didn’t take long for John to forget about his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Aniston and move on to a much younger, gorgeous prey.
John and Scheana met while she was serving drinks at The Grand Havana Room in early April. According to Star Magazine, John started flirting with her and ended up asking her out. No one can resist John Mayer!
“Scheana was shocked and thrilled when John asked her out. She always thought he was hot, and said yes right away, writing down her cell number on a napkin. They flirted the whole time, and he told her she was cute.
“There is always food and beer around. Scheana is having loads of fun there; it’s like spring break!”
As an aspiring actress modeled for Ed Hardy and Doritos and was a runner-up in a Hawaiian Tropic Pageant.
John Mayer Sort of Comments on Scheana Marie
tag: scheana marie
Given that when he was with Jessica Simpson he said the same thing, though, Is he telling the truth? The reasoning, as told to X17:
"If I had a girlfriend, she would be incredibly offended by me saying, 'I don't have a girlfriend.' That's how you can be sure," Mayer said.
"I could say, 'I'm not with anybody.' That'd be a death wish if you were the woman."
Ever the practical joker, the douchebag then went and kissed a random lady fan who just happened to be passing by and asked her to be his girlfriend.
In conclusion, Mayer has probably tapped that, but isn't about to be roped into the whole commitment thing just because the former aspiring Hooters girl wants some attention. Either that, or she's just cool with him denying it.
John Mayer engages the celebrity gossip media more than most. In fact, the singer seems eager to talk about himself even when saying little about himself.
Recently, Mayer has been linked to aspiring actress Scheana Marie, also known as Scheana Marie Jancan. The two have supposedly "hung out" for months.
But is Scheana Marie - who has an upcoming role as a pizza delivery girl on the Jonas Brothers' Disney show - just using her connection to Mayer for PR?
Mayer is saying that she's not his official girlfriend, though she's out there telling people what a great guy John is and how it's a dream come true.
Feroz goes home to his pets
Sunday, April 26, 2009
tag: feroz khan
On April 21, Feroz Khan wanting to visit his pets at his farmhouse in Bangalore. Loving son Fardeen has done just that. Yesterday, once Feroz was given a go-ahead by his doctors, he flew to Bangalore to his first love, his horses.
Actor-filmmaker Feroz Khan passes away at 70
The veteran actor-filmmaker passed away at his Bangalore residence today at his age seventy, battling cancer for over a year.He is survived by his two children Laila and Fardeen Khan.He appeared in an English-language film Tarzan Goes to India in 1962 opposite Simi Garewal. His first big hit was in 1965 with the release of Oonche Log followed by strings of memorable appearances.In 2007, he starred in the superhit film Welcome which was going to be last performance.Feroz Khan was identified with the character name Rajesh or Rakesh in in most of the movies.
FilmographyKkurbani Remake of Qurbani 1980 (2006) (announced) Inspector Amjad Khan Welcome (2007) ... Ranbir Dhanraj Xata (RDX) Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena (2005) ... Jehangir Khan (Special Appearance) Chitappa (2005) ... Raman Janasheen (2003) ... Saba Karim Shah Yalgaar (1992) ... Rajesh Ashwini Kumar Meet Mere Man Ka (1991) Dayavan (1988) ... Shankar Waghmare Janbaaz (1986) ... Inspector Rajesh Singh Kachche Heere (1982) ... Nephew of Kamal Singh Khoon Aur Paani (1981) Qurbani (1980) ... Rajesh Kumar/Kailash Nath Chunaoti (1980) Darinda (1977) Jadu Tona (1977) ... Dr. Kailash Nagin (1976) ... Raj Qabeela (1976) Sharafat Chod Di Maine (1976) Dharmatma (1975) .... Ranbir Aa Jaa Sanam (1975) ... Dr. Satish Kala Sona (1975) ... Rakesh Rani Aur Lalpari (1975) ... Gulliver International Crook (1974) ... SP Rajesh Anjaan Raahen (1974) ... Anand Bhagat Dhanna Jatt (1974) ... Ramu Geeta Mera Naam (1974) Khhotte Sikkay (1974) ... Horseback rider Kisan Aur Bhagwan (1974) Kashmakash (1973) Apradh (1972) ... Ram Khana Upaasna (1971) Ek Paheli (1971) ... Sudhir Mela (1971) Safar (1970) ... Shekhar Kapoor Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) ... Jai Kishan/J.K. Pyaasi Sham (1969) ... Ashok Aag (1967) ... Shanker Aurat (1967) CID 909 (1967) Raat Aur Din (1967) ... Dilip Woh Koi Aur Hoga (1967) Main Wohi Hoon (1966) ... Vijay Tasveer (1966) Arzoo (1965) ... Ramesh Ek Sapera Ek Lootera (1965) ... Mohan/Vijay Pratap Singh Oonche Log (1965) ... Rajnikant Teesra Kaun (1965) Char Dervesh (1964) ... Qamar Bhakt Suhagan (1964) ... Shankar Bahurani (1963) ... Vikram
Alabama QB McElroy Sizzles, Nabs Share Of MVP
In the Crimson Tide's spring game over the weekend, Greg McElroy staked his case to be Alabama's starting quarterback next season with flashes of brilliance.
McElroy rode the pine last season in backing up John Parker Wilson. Saturday against the white team, the signal caller threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns while making 16 of 30 passes for the crimson team.
His heroics earned him a share of the MVP award. He also gained the nod of confidence from coach Nick Saban, who later said that McElroy is the team's best quarterback at present.
He found Julio Jones from 50 yards out for one of his scores. Later on, McElroy lofted a 10-yard pass to Mike McCoy.
Star Jackson struggled to a 4-for-13 game with two interceptions while fellow quarterback candidate Thomas Darrah went 8-of-22 for 113 yards.
Aside from McElroy, wide receiver Marquis Maze also earned the MVP honors after finishing with 87 yards on five catches. More than 84,000 fans came to the Bryant-Denny Stadium to watch the spring game.
The Case For John Parker Wilson
The draft a quarterback must be on the mind of Josh McDaniels, rookie head coach with 5 days.
So much so that it must drive him crazy. Whispers around the NFL have the Broncos moving up to get the much hyped Mark Sanchez from USC who has become the poster child of this year's draft class.
I take a different perspective; a more conservative approach.
The sacrifice of ousting Jay Cutler for draft pick must go to re-shaping the worst defense in Denver Broncos history. With five picks in the first three rounds of the draft the Broncos have the potential to change the entire landscape of the defense for the next five years.
So why should anyone be talking about drafting a first-round QB?
Good question and it's one I can't answer. I hope McDaniels has his thinking cap on come draft time cause if he doesn't he wont have a job next year.
Denver needs a QB but they don't need to take one in the first three rounds. They don't even need to take one in the fourth or fifth. In the "projected" sixth round there lies a hidden gem by the name of John Parker Wilson hailing from the University of Alabama.
Some of you have a pre-concieved notion that Wilson is soft, un-athletic, and can't take a hit. When you search John Parker Wilson on YouTube.com the first video that comes up is LaRon Landry's monster hit on Wilson in 2006.
What they don't show you is the 121.53 passer rating his senior year as well as leading his Alabama squad to a 12-2 record. Now his stats aren't Heisman worthy but he was a great starter at Alabama for three years and set almost every significant pass record throughout his tenure there. Straight up, the kid is a winner.
Most "experts" have him being a 3rd rate QB that doesn't posses the adequate athleticism to play the part of a starting QB but the growing trend around the NFL is to conform the QB to fit the coaches system. This is a kid you could shape and mold to whatever you wanted him to be.
And you don't have to move up to get him.
The next franchise QB taken late in the draft, to be sitting with patient amongst the sixth and seventh rounders waiting for his opportunity.
Pacquiao to wear special Nike shoes for Hatton fight
There were actually two pairs of “MP shoes,” with color variations of red and white, made for the Filipino boxing icon courtesy of sporting apparel company Nike.
The Nike management said Pacquiao, one of the firm’s biggest endorsers, will be using one of these MP shoes on fight night.
They added that the “MP shoes” were exclusively designed for the pound-for-pound king and will not available in the market.
Pacquiao fans can purchase the limited edition of the “Manny Pacquiao Air Trainer (Nike Trainer 1)” which will be available Saturday morning in the US.
The Nike Trainer 1 will be available in four Nike stores in the US along with other Pacquiao memorabilia, including t-shirts, jackets and jogging pants.
Most Pacquiao fans in the US are already excited to buy the items.
"We are gonna be the first one there, I’m are gonna get off at around midnight,” said Fil-Am Pacquiao fan Chris Bermudez. “We are gonna go out with friends from California then I’m going to go straight to Nike Town and be there at five oclock or six o clock in the morning.”
"As you can see, the UK fans are not as committed as or they think they’re committed because they sing songs and stuff. But shirts and memorabilia, they all say it all the stuff is gonna be worth millions of dollars one day, not like Ricky Hatton's stuff where its gonna be worth couple of pounds," said Luis Mora, another Pacquiao fan.
The shoes will also be distributed by Nike Philippines for P5,209 each at the Manny Pacquiao pop up store, Magnet Café Bonifacio High Street, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig on May 2.
The next day, Limited pairs made will also be available at Nike Park BHS (The Fort).
Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski uses a minimalistic approach in nearly every aspect. Notably, the normally fat tongue found on SB’s is replaced with a flat tongue a la Chuck Taylors. Janoski and Nike SB have created a new “For Daily Use” label which is also far from the the collector-happy SB Dunks. A unique feature on the Janoski is the middle panel, which actually wraps around the heel area and comes to completion onthe opposite side of the sneaker.
Skinny model storm rages in Australia
Prison gang activity must be top priority
In our society today, and particularly the inner cities, the moral fiber of our country is showing signs of deep erosion. As the youth of these cities are searching for the path to the future, some seem to be slipping deeper into an abyss of hopelessness and despair.
In these same communities, there is little memory of a time when both a father and mother were present in the household. Who then provides the nurturing, supervision, discipline and direction?
Many inner-city children spend their early years surrounded by violence and little sense of a normal life, in neighborhoods that are infested with drug dealers who have no past work history listed on their rsums.
Many crimes go unchallenged in these neighborhoods, because witnesses don't want to be depicted as lowlife snitches, or are in great fear for their personal safety.
All of the above ingredients serve to create an environment that is attractive to the development of gangs.
Gangs are created by individuals seeking a place to belong. Somewhere to fit. A commitment is made and an initiation completed, which often includes criminal activity. Then a lasting relationship is formed. A criminal lifestyle, drug trafficking and other delinquent behaviors are characteristics of the group.
It's easier to get in than to get out. The mentality of the group takes priority over one's ability to think for one's self. It's a very controlling membership prone to violence and criminality.
As gangs increase in the communities, law enforcement resources must also be increased. The taxpayers must assume the cost of these resources.
When law enforcement resources improve, arrests and convictions will also increase and the prison populations will grow.
In my early prison career, we dealt with some gangs and associated problems. Today, however, the prisons are engrossed with the gang situation and related management issues.
Some of these gangs include the Bloods, DMI (Dead Man Incorporated); the Cripps, MS 13, Aryan Brotherhood, Black Gorilla Family and many others too numerous to mention for this article. Some of the radical religious groups, too, serve as a cover for gang activity.
The recent large disturbance at the Metropolitan Transition Center and flare-ups and small riots at the local prisons, I suspect, are all gang related. As the gang numbers increase, the problems to include violence will increase.
The Department of Public Safety budget exceeds $1 billion and there are almost 24,000 inmates currently in the system. Many of these individuals are gang members who flourished in the streets.
Controlling these numbers and the behavior of gang members should be the priority of the system. Without identifying that priority, and controlling the same, all other potentially good programs, to include RESTART, will be seriously compromised.
The Maryland Division of Correction has been identifying gangs and their respective members for the past six to seven years.
Now is the time to develop a system to address the gang problem that exists throughout the Maryland prisons before it gets totally out of control. Some possible ideas might include:
Revamp the current classification system of inmates, so you might better separate those individuals and gang members not interested in programming and direct those valuable resources accordingly.
Separate members of gangs in different housing areas. Be creative in housing schemes for the sole purpose of managing these gangs.
Isolate and restrict those gang leaders and problem inmates in a separate institution in a lock down status (i.e., 23 hours a day) until that individual displays an attitude to participate in programs.
Apply appropriate security staff in adequate number who are properly trained in the issue of gangs. Training staff as you did 30 years ago will not work with today's problems.
Look at the gang membership closely during the parole process and do not support releasing an individual early unless substantial behavioral improvements have occurred.
If gang members involve themselves in gang activities, eliminate all earned credits for this behavior.
When one incident occurs in a prison, it has the potential to affect the entire system through retaliation and violent attacks among the different groups.
Summer arrived on June 21 and it appears temperatures are already beginning to rise in "the joint" between several gang factions.
Without a strong approach and direction to handle the various gangs within the prisons, many more ongoing disturbances can be expected. Handling these problems with an increasingly young and inexperienced staff, often frazzled by working so much overtime, is going to be a tough task at best.
With recruitment problems for correctional officers looking dismal, and few, if any, retired employees taking advantage of Del. LeReoy Myers' legislation to return them to the cell block, some creative thinking is needed to address the gang issue. This should be the Department of Public Safety's No. 1 priority if any other programs are to succeed, and violence is to be reduced in the Maryland prison system.
What is the DMI gang about?
Die schwierige Jagd auf die Piraten
NÜRNBERG - Am Strand von Mombasa machen ein paar findige Geschäftsleute Geld mit der Piraterie – und niemand würde ernsthaft auf die Idee kommen, ihnen das Handwerk legen zu wollen. Doch dabei handelt es sich nur um einen Kneipenwirt und seine Mitarbeiter, die in Kenia eine Freiluft-Bar namens «Pirates« aufgebaut haben und Touristen sogar zu bestimmten Tageszeiten – zur Happy Hour – Getränke zu besonders günstigen Preisen anbieten.
Ganz anders sind die Dinge an den Stränden von Somalia gelagert. Einmal ganz abgesehen davon, dass dort nicht einmal die abenteuerlustigsten Touristen Urlaub machen. Und das, obwohl dort in Strandnähe mancherorts der Lebensstandard viel höher ist als in Kenia. Wer dort mit Piraterie Geld macht, meint es bitterernst und schreckt vor Gewalt keineswegs zurück. Was die internationale Gemeinschaft zunehmend erschreckt: Es ist nicht allein die immense Gefahr, die seit Jahren von der somalischen Küste für die Schiffe sämtlicher großer Handelsnationen ausgeht – darunter ist Deutschland eine der größten. Es ist auch der enorme Wohlstand, den sich die Gangsterbanden durch Schiffs-Entführungen und hohe Lösegeld-Forderungen geschaffen haben. Wo früher strohbedeckte Hütten standen, blitzen heute weiße Villen in der Sonne, und wo sich früher arme Fischer mit selbst gezimmerten Holzbooten begnügen mussten, stehen ihnen jetzt modernste Schnellboote, gefährliche Waffen und nagelneue Jeeps zur Verfügung. Auch wenn davon nur ein geringer Teil der Bevölkerung profitiert.
Der FDP-Verteidigungsexperte Rainer Stinner fordert deshalb im Gespräch mit der NZ, diese Lösegeldzahlungen einzustellen: «Denn dadurch wird nur eine Spirale in Gang gesetzt: Die Piraten können sich noch besser bewaffnen, sich schnellere Schiffe leisten und sehen, dass ihr attraktives Geschäftsmodell immer attraktiver wird.« Die Lösegeldzahlungen hätten «nicht dazu geführt, das Piratenproblem zu reduzieren, sondern es zu maximieren«, so der Bundestagsabgeordnete aus München, der gebürtiger Bremer ist und seinen Wehrdienst bei der Marine geleistet hat. Michael Stehr, Piraterie-Experte beim Deutschen Marine Institut (DMI) hält es hingegen für wenig praktikabel, Lösegeldzahlungen von Reedereien verbieten zu wollen. «Ich wüsste keine rechtliche Handhabe dagegen,« sagt er der NZ. Befreiungsaktionen auf hoher See und großen Schiffen, «wo man die Geiseln an ganz verschiedenen Orten verstecken kann«, seien «äußerst schwierig und gefährlich«. Denn es sei nie auszuschließen, dass die Piraten Geiseln auf dem Schiff töten. Trotzdem ist natürlich auch Stehr bewusst, dass die Millionen-Lösegelder nicht nur in Luxusvillen fließen, sondern fatale Folgen haben können. «Dadurch werden kriminelle Strukturen gestärkt, die Ausrüstungen der Piraten werden immer besser und gefährlicher, die Opposition gegen die somalische Zentralregierung wird gestärkt, und der Bürgerkrieg verlängert.« Dennoch hält er es für schwer durchsetzbar, Reedereien dazu zu verpflichten, generell auf Lösegelder zu verzichten. Denn dies könnte bedenkliche Folgen für ihren Ruf haben. «Wer heuert dann dort noch an?« fragt sich der Fachmann, der zum Thema Piraterie bereits im Jahr 2004 ein Buch veröffentlicht hat.
Einig sind sich Stinner und Stehr, dass man die militärischen Maßnahmen gegen die Piraterie kurzfristig weiter verstärken muss. So schlägt Stehr neben den bisherigen Einsätzen auf hoher See «eine enge Seeblockade direkt an den Piratennestern« vor. Konkret sei damit gemeint, dass man an den bekannten Häfen, von denen aus die Piraten in See stechen, Boot für Boot kontrollieren müsse. «So kann man den Kriminellen das Geschäft schwermachen.« Unmöglich werde das Treiben dadurch zwar nicht gemacht, «aber es würde zu starken Verzögerungen führen. Denn die Piraten müssten sich anderswo neue Strukturen aufbauen.« Will heißen: Beziehungen zu Clanchefs und Warlords in anderen Hafenregionen aufbauen und diese in ihre Machenschaften mit einbinden – inklusive der «Abgaben« an diese Mitwisser, die ebenfalls von Lösegeldern profitieren.
Eine andere Möglichkeit ist laut Stehr, bewaffnet an Land zu gehen und die Piratennester auszuheben. Allerdings sei dies mit hohen Risiken für die Zivilbevölkerung verbunden. Stinner sieht zunächst noch erhebliches Potenzial im Atalanta-Einsatz und fordert, diesen «endlich in vollem Umfang« wahrzunehmen. Denn es sei nicht genug, nur den Teil des Mandats umzusetzen, in dem der Begleitschutz von Schiffen vereinbart ist. «Im Mandat ist auch der aktive Kampf gegen die Piraten mit militärischen Mitteln festgeschrieben,« sagt der FDP-Politiker. Und die Erfüllung dieser Aufgabe sieht er momentan noch nicht gegeben. Außerdem verweist er darauf, dass Deutschland das Recht hat, gefangene Piraten vor ein deutsches Gericht zu stellen.
Tune into Nike and stay in vogue!!!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
London, April 21, 2009 — It is customary to think that shoes are the last thing that people pay attention to. But, as a matter of fact, it is the first thing that attracts attention of the opposite sex. So to stay in vogue and keep rocking, one can always bank on the Nike brand of shoes. Smart looking and
attractive is the middle name of Nike. Nike dunks are known for their low profile outer soles and lightweight and are designed to comfort the requirements of basketball players. Nike has signed up with over 8 universities and sponsored them with shoes that match their uniforms. Nike dunks were reintroduced in 1998 with nylon tongue and arch supports which sky-rocketed its fame over night. The cost range starts from 99 dollars and goes up to 199 dollars. Style and durability comes the Nike Dunk which as said are Low Men's Shoe with supportive fit to keep your feet grounded to the board. Features like leather, suede (leather with a velvety nap on one side) and nubuck with skate overlays. Along with optional internal lacing system integrated with mesh tongue with perforations for ventilation along with Full-length EVA midsole for cushioning is an integral part which supplements the rubber outsole with full cupsole stitch for durability.
Nike Dunk SB, the most popular shoe in the skateboarding class, is a trendy product. It includes all the high quality design features that NIKE can possibly offer. The specialty of this brand of shoe is that it comes in a mind boggling 65 different color variations and cool styles. No other skateboarding shoe can offer such a breathtaking combination. They are also more long and narrow and hence more comfortable than any other skateboarding shoe in the market. So, what are you waiting for?? Go and grab one of these in next to no time!!!
1980’s, the decade of fashion fiasco saw the birth of arguably the coolest trainer shoe in the history of the fashion world. The NIKE AIR JORDAN, with the classic trademark of Nike swoosh was the most innovative of its time and its building upon its legacy day after day. Named after the basketball legend, Michael Jordan, one thing that has remained unchanged even after so many years is that the shoes consistently present a reflection of the legend himself. Jordan was a champion in his game and this brand is a winner in its own way. The clear soles, the synthetic Duraback leather, lace locks are some of the chic features of the shoe. There is also a provision for ventilation allowing the foot to breathe easier. For better traction, these shoes are a boon as the presence of a circular sole pattern assists traction in a huge way. So, en bloc, this shoe proffers a complete package.
Nike brand has enjoyed the support of millions and millions of people all over the world and that is no means by chance. The class and panache that the brand has created for it is palpable by all and to have a good deal on the Nike shoes, one can drop in on to Street Clothing Shop, the place where trust meets quality! For more details visit www.dunk.123netshopping.com
Woman Charged With Stalking Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry's No. 1 frenemy is facing some serious trouble.
A Georgia woman has been charged with stalking the Madea mogul days after allegedy barging into his Atlanta-based production studio.
Wilson apparently had a face-to-face confrontation with Perry during her illicit visit last Wednesday, when she managed to get into Perry's facility by posing as an extra. That was a blatant violation of a restraining order the Diary of a Mad Black Woman mastermind had previously taken out against her for making threats.
The 36-year-old woman faces one count of aggravated stalking and currently remains held without bail in a Fulton County jail.
Wilson's next court date is scheduled for April 30. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in the slammer.
Perry, 39, is in the middle of shooting the latest comedy based on one of his plays, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, starring Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige and Gladys Knight. It's slated to unspool in September.
Gladys Knight
Early life
Gladys Knight was born to Merald Woodlow Knight and Sarah Elizabeth Woods in Loachapoka, Alabama. She first achieved minor fame by winning Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show contest at the age of 7 in 1952. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest formed a musical group called The Pips, (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). By the end of the decade, the act had begun to tour, and had replaced Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with Gladys Knight's cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George.
Knight discovered she was pregnant in 1960, and married her high school sweetheart James Newman. After a miscarriage, Knight returned to performing with the Pips. In 1961, Bobby Robinson produced the single "Every Beat of My Heart" for the group, which became a #1 R&B and #6 pop hit when released on Vee-Jay Records. In 1962, Langston George left the group, which at that time renamed itself Gladys Knight & the Pips and continued as a quartet.
In 1962, after scoring a second hit, "Letter Full of Tears", Knight became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, Jimmy III, that year. She retired from the road to raise her child while The Pips toured on their own. After giving birth in 1963 to a daughter, Kenya, Knight returned to recording with the Pips in order to support her family.
Success with The Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips joined the Motown roster in 1966, and, although regarded as a second-string act, scored several hit singles, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," (also recorded by Marvin Gaye), "Friendship Train" (1969), "If I Were Your Woman" (1970), "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" (1971), the Grammy Award winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (1972), and "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" (1973). In their early Motown career Gladys Knight and the Pips toured as the opening act for Diana Ross and The Supremes. Gladys Knight stated in her memoirs that Miss Ross kicked her off the tour because the audience's reception to Knight's soulful performance overshadowed her. Berry Gordy later told Gladys that she was giving his act a hard time.[3]
The act left Motown for a better deal with Buddah Records in 1973, and achieved full-fledged success that year with hits such as the Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia" (#1 on the pop and R&B chart), "I've Got to Use My Imagination," and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me." In the summer of 1974, Knight and the Pips recorded the soundtrack to the successful film Claudine with producer Curtis Mayfield. The act was particularly successful in Europe, and especially the United Kingdom. However, the Buddah hits all followed a number of years after their success in the U.S.. For example "Midnight Train to Georgia" hit the UK pop charts Top 5 in the summer of 1976, a full three years after its success in the U.S..
During this period of greater recognition, Knight made her motion picture acting debut in the film Pipe Dreams, a romantic drama set in Alaska. The film failed at the box-office, but Knight did receive a Golden Globe Best New Actress nomination.
Knight and the Pips continued to have hits until the late 1970s, when they were forced to record separately due to legal issues, resulting in Knight's first solo LP recordings--Miss Gladys Knight (1978) on Buddah and Gladys Knight (1979) on Columbia Records. Having divorced James Newman II in 1973, Knight married Barry Hankerson (future uncle of R&B singer Aaliyah), then Detroit mayor Coleman Young's executive aide. Knight and Hankerson remained married for three years, during which time they had a son, Shanga Ali. Upon their divorce, Hankerson and Knight had a heated custody battle over Shanga Ali.
In the early 1980s, Johnny Mathis invited Gladys to record two duets – "When A Child Is Born" (previously a hit for Mathis) and "The Lord's Prayer".
Spoiler alert! Live blogging tonight's "American Idol" results show Edit
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
And it's also the return of David Archuleta to the Idol stage! Woohoo!
You know the drill by now: If you want to get the scoop on the results before it airs in the West, click through on the "continue reading" link when it shows up below.
"This ... is 'American Idol.'"
9:02 p.m. ET: A vignette on preparing the Idols for the group performance, with Paula Abdul doing the choreography! She's makin' 'em work up a sweat!
9:04 p.m.: Here's the group performance: They're dancing -- and lip-synching -- to "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground." They don't even have microphones this time. Look at the Top 7 groove out! Fun stuff. A little too much Paula worshiping going on though.
9:12 p.m.: Every time Ryan mentions David Archuleta the screams begin anew from the mosh pit. And then the Ford video is shown.
9:14 p.m.: Ryan says it's time to get to the results. Ryan asks Lil Rounds to stand up first. Then he sends her to stage. I was expecting some king of group set-up but instead Ryan comes right out with it. Lil Rounds is sent home. She's singing her song again, but without quite the same amount of energy she had last night. Paula says she sang it better. Oh well.
9:21 p.m.: Time for the disco guest performances. First up is Freda Payne, with "Band of Gold." Classy.
9:24 p.m.: Next up is Thelma Houston signing "Don't Leave Me this Way." Now this song I remember.
9:28 p.m.: And now the moment we've been waiting for: Harry Wayne "KC" Casey (of KC and the Sunshine Band) sings "Get Down Tonight." Getting older is sometimes not a pretty thing. But it happens to all of us. His voice is straining. A nice salute to a legend though.
9:34 p.m.: Kris Allen is asked to stand up. Ryan says Kris is safe.
9:35 p.m.: Adam Lambert is next (cue roar from crowd). Adam is safe.
9:36 p.m.: Danny Gokey is next. After a bit of a grumpy exchange between Ryan and Simon about what "clumsy" means, Danny is safe.
9:39 p.m.: Anoop Desai stands up. Ryan sends Anoop to the stools of doom, the bottom three.
9:40 p.m.: Allison Iraheta and Matt Giraud stand up together. Matt is safe in a shocker! Allison goes over to the stools of doom. So it's the end of the road for either Anoop or Allison. Wouldn't it be a shocker if it was Allison?
9:45 p.m.: Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta returns to the Idol stage to sing his new single, "Touch My Hand." Although he didn't write this song, the concept was his idea. On his recent solo tour it was the opening song of his show. His voice sounds deeper than last year! I think he may still be suffering the effects of a cold he had recently -- His voice wasn't quite as sharp as when I saw him last month in Reno. It was a nice touch to have him give advice to Anoop and Allison after his performance.
9:52 p.m.: Time for the moment of truth. No shocker tonight: Anoop is sent home. Anoop reprises "Dim All The Lights" as his swan song.
So were you happy with the results tonight?
Two go home from 'American Idol' tonight; say bye to Lil Rounds and Matt Giraud
To me, this week it simply came down to the singing.
Lil Rounds was the worst. Again. By far. I think Kara DioGuardi was a bit harsh the way she delivered her judgment to Rounds' version of "I'm Every Woman" on Tuesday night, but I agree with the sentiment whole-heartedly. America kept waiting for Rounds to get better, and she never did. ("It wasn't worth the wait," is the way DiGuardi put it. Ouch.)
Matt Giraud didn't capitalize on the judges' save from last week by taking a big chance to change the voters' perception of him. Instead he went for irony with The Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive."
OK, he wore a hat. But his soul-man gravel voice came out the same as it ever was. He, too, failed to expectations. Yet I still think his earlier game was much stronger than Rounds'.
I think Danny Gokey deserves to be in the final three with them for his take on "September," but I truly wonder if America's love affair with him will allow that to happen.
Anoop Desai out-sang Gokey with "Dim All the Lights" on Tuesday night.
Kris Allen's retooling of disco "She Works Hard for the Money" to a gritty yet folksy alt-rock style was the best performance of the night. The man took a chance and hit a homer.
Allison Iraheta with "Hot Stuff" and Adam Lambert with "If I Can't Have You" were stellar once again.
All in all, disco night far outshone last week's movie-song night.
Here's a youtube clip of Giraud and Lambert.
Nike Dunk SB
The Nike SB line rode on the back of the Nike Dunk SB. At first the line had plain colors, like the Lodens, Gino 1, Paul Brown Highs, and wheat lows, but with a zoom air insole, stuff tongue and extra padding, that alone sold well.
The Nike Dunk SB Low and Nike Dunk SB Highs, but with all the hype of the shoe, plus stores “wanting” more money, prices have been upped to anywere and sometimes more.
Some what collectors call “Holy Grails” are Nike Dunk SB Heineken, Supreme Low and High, Calis, Supas, Chocolate, Zoo Yorks and Paris.
Only certain stores with a Nike SB account can get Nike Dunk SBs or any Nike SB. Rules were you had to be an established Skateboarding store for 2 years before Nike SB would consider making a contract with you.
Madlyn Primoff is a Mom Who Means Business
This is a story I wish could have happened when I was a kid, so I could tell my mom her threats were useless.
A mother from White Plains, New York, ordered her 10- and 12-year-old bickering daughters out of her car and drove off and left them there, officials said Tuesday.
Madlyn Primoff, a Manhattan lawyer, pleaded not guilty to child endangerment on Monday. Her lawyer, Vincent Briccetti, said “Madlyn is a great mother connected with a great family, and she is grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and family.”
Bad Economy, Desperate People Buying More Lottery Tickets? Not Really
The Great Recession is taking its toll all over the place. People are desperate to make money.So they must be gobbling up lottery tickets, right?Not so much, really.Robyn Smith of the Texas Lottery tells Hair Balls that her organization hasn't seen much of a change in sales since the economy hit the crapper."Some people play more, some people play less," she says. "Unfortunately, we don't have a good answer on whether the economy is helping or hurting sales."Gross sales of tickets are down slightly from a year ago, she says, but net profits -- the amount of money transferred to the state -- is up.
The lottery tends to make more of a profit on the big games that involve drawing numbers, as opposed to the scratch-off games. Two big jackpots in the drawing games helped spike sales a bit this year.If you compare equal lengths of time in fiscal 2008 and 2009, the money transferred to the state has jumped by about $3.4 million. Which isn't all that much of a jump when you're talking about a total of $533 million. (And the 2008 figure of $530 million was a drop from the year before.)The gross-ticket-sale figures have dropped 1.9 percent from 2009 to a similar period in 2008.So are people getting smarter? Probably not, even though actual tickets sold are down."There are so many factors that go into it," Smith says. "It's hard to point to just one thing."
Bad Economy, Desperate People Buying More Lottery Tickets? Not Really
The Great Recession is taking its toll all over the place. People are desperate to make money.So they must be gobbling up lottery tickets, right?Not so much, really.Robyn Smith of the Texas Lottery tells Hair Balls that her organization hasn't seen much of a change in sales since the economy hit the crapper."Some people play more, some people play less," she says. "Unfortunately, we don't have a good answer on whether the economy is helping or hurting sales."Gross sales of tickets are down slightly from a year ago, she says, but net profits -- the amount of money transferred to the state -- is up.
The lottery tends to make more of a profit on the big games that involve drawing numbers, as opposed to the scratch-off games. Two big jackpots in the drawing games helped spike sales a bit this year.If you compare equal lengths of time in fiscal 2008 and 2009, the money transferred to the state has jumped by about $3.4 million. Which isn't all that much of a jump when you're talking about a total of $533 million. (And the 2008 figure of $530 million was a drop from the year before.)The gross-ticket-sale figures have dropped 1.9 percent from 2009 to a similar period in 2008.So are people getting smarter? Probably not, even though actual tickets sold are down."There are so many factors that go into it," Smith says. "It's hard to point to just one thing."
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