Saturday, September 12, 2009

MTV Video Music Awards-MJ Tribute

La Toya opens up to Barbara Walters on 20/20



Michael Jackson's middle sister, La Toya Jackson appeared last night in an interview with Barbara Walters on 20/20. La Toya gave a long and rambling interview full of controversial and sometimes inflammatory statements.

La Toya asserted again she thinks Michael was murdered and claims Michael told her, “La Toya, they’re going to murder me. If I die, they killed me.” She did not clarify who "they" were. Despite Michael's own statements about his estrangement from his abusive father, La Toya insists Michael and Joseph Jackson had repaired their relationship and that Michael's three children had a very good relationship with him.

As far as the children, La Toya says Katherine Jackson has made arrangements for the care of the children in the event of her passing, but she would not discuss those plans. She said even though Michael placed his friend Diana Ross second in line for guardianship of the children they do not know her at all; supposedly Ross and Mrs. Jackson have spoken about the guardianship issue, but said only Katherine knows the details of what was said.

Of course, La Toya took the time to speak about herself. She claims her ex-husband, Jack Gordon, used to lock her in a closet for eight hours at a time, and, said Walters, “forced her to pose for Playboy and several pornographic videos.” Snippets of La Toya's latest single aired during the interview.

La Toya said that Michael "looked fabulous," and that his body was clothed in white with lines of pearls across his jacket and a “big gold belt like a prizefighter would wear...his hair was done beautifully. His makeup was done beautifully.” She said he looked like he had paused to say a prayer just before going on stage to perform. Instead of one white glove, he was wearing two black leather gloves. He was, however, buried with a white sequined glove, shades, and notes and beads from his beloved children.

In a fitting closing, La Toya said of her younger brother, “He wasn't God, but he was godlike. He was the closest to a god that I know.”

ABC's report on the interview ends with a line that says La Toya requested they inform the public she was NOT paid for the interview.

Friday, September 11, 2009

September 11, 2001 Never Forget




People I knew died in the September 11th attacks.
Never forget.
Work tirelessly for peace and freedom.


"We Don't Roll That Way"

i don%2527t think so Pictures, Images and Photos

I swear this isn't the Ellen blog; I really just wanted an excuse to use this picture.

Representatives from 17 record companies are suing the Ellen DeGeneres Show claiming copyright infringement for more than 1000 songs producers play during Ellen's opening dance segment on the show. For those of you who haven't seen Ellen's daytime talk show (lucky you!), Ellen has a short segment where her black DJ Tommy (?) spins dance, R & B, and hip hop records while the audience dances. Ellen, herself, dances off the stage, through the aisles, and back up to her set. A lot of the songs he plays are pretty good, by the way. Some of the songs cited include "Stronger" by Kanye West and "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder.

Anyway, the record companies gave the show a chance to explain themselves before they filed suit, but the producers just told them, "we don't roll that way." Say what? "We don't roll that way?" I think that's going to be my new anthem.

Client: 'Safari, I know this is 2pm on the Friday before a three day weekend, but I'm going to need you to get this project to me within 72 hours."
Wild Safari: 'I'm sorry. I don't roll that way.'
Client: 'Safari, you know we bring you a lot of business. We'll pay you double. Just submit an invoice after you turn in the project and I'll personally make sure you get the bonus.'
Wild Safari: 'You lie!'

Representative Wilson's career-ending outburst during Obama's Congressional address the other night is my other new anthem. I've been going around all week just yelling out "you lie!" as a non sequitur. It's a good way to get out of awkward conversations. Try it.

The record companies filed suit yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Music City, USA (Nashville, Tennessee). In part, the filing states, "As sophisticated consumers of music, Defendants knew full well that, regardless of the way they rolled, under the Copyright Act, and under state law for the pre-1972 recordings, they needed a license to use the sound recordings lawfully." Can you imagine the clerk that received that filing? Oh-em-gee!

source

Tidbit Roundup



Allen Iverson twittered he's joining the Memphis Grizzlies.



Mike Epps will host this year's BET Hip-Hop Awards show from Atlanta.



Keyshia Knight Pulliam will NOT be posing for Playboy.




Diddy's band Dirty Money covers the latest Rolling Stone magazine.

Michael Jackson "This Is It" Film Poster

Michael Jackson's Rehearsal

The results are in: Caster Semenya is a....



An Australian newspaper, the Sydney Daily Telegraph, is reporting a confidential source leaked the gender test results for South African world champion runner Caster Semenya. According to the paper, the source says Miss Semenya "is a hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries." Reportedly she has internal, undescended testes, but she still possesses external female genetalia.

The IAAF urges caution when accepting the Australian paper's claims because the IAAF has not released any offical statement, nor have they concluded their investigation; weeks of testing and expert evaluation lay ahead. The IAAF will discuss its findings with Miss Semanya prior to releasing any findings to the public.

Last Week the South African magazine YOU asked Miss Semenya about the uproar over her gender. She replied, "I see it all as a joke. It doesn't upset me. God made me the way I am and I accept myself. I am who I am and I'm proud of myself. I don't want to talk about the tests. I'm not even thinking about them."

It should be noted that modern medicine considers gender to be a continuum with an astonishing array of hormonal and genetic conditions resulting in individuals with ambiguous genetalia and/or apparent gender conflicting with internal anatomy and chromosomal makeup. Normally the sex chromosomes XX denote female and XY denote a male; in some extremely rare circumstances there have been XY females and XX males. Some individuals have, like the Australian paper claims Semenya has, internal anatomy that is at odds with their external anatomy. Some individuals are born with both ovaries and testes internally, though it is almost unheard of for an individual to have both male and female external genitals.
The question becomes, 'what actually determines a person's gender?' Semenya's birth certificate lists her as female, she was raised as a female, and she considers herself to be female. Do her heretofore unknown of testes make her male? Does the perception of many who meet her determine her gender? Is she neither female nor male or both? This is the assertion of some intersex advocates, 'intersex' being the preferred term for individuals formerly called 'hermaphrodites.'
Semenya stands to be stripped of her medals depending upon the decision of the IAAF even though they admit there was no cheating involved in her win. South Africa has lodged a human rights complaint with the United Nations alleging racism and gender discrimination over the flap. What do you think? Should Semenya keep her medal? Should the world be allowed to know what gonads and chromosomes she possesses? Is she really a man or a woman?

Lebron is a free agent in 2010


There's a rumor going around that since the Knicks are owned by Cablevison, they are prepared to circumvent NBA salary cap rules by offering Lebron his own cable channel to lure him to the Knicks in 2010. On the other hand, if he can't recruit a couple other superstars to join him it'll be just him and Spike.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The day the internet died


A version of a Senate bill would give Pres. Obama and the administration emergency power over the internet in the event of a cybersecurity emergency. The bill, which has gone through several drafts, proposes to allow the government to commandeer and disconnect private non-governmental networks during certain events and to require those networks to be run by certified "cybersecurity professionals" at other times. For details on the bill, visit here.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I can afford that!


Representatives for Forest Lawn Cemetery say Michael Jackson's burial there has ended the real estate recession--at least for their line of work. Plots in the Great Mausoleum where Michael was buried are now going for upwards of $9,900 and the owner of one double unit is now asking $34,000.

The EriAm Sisters are the next big thing



The EriAm sisters are members of a close-knot Eritrean family who have taken the internet by storm since they first started appearing on America's Got Talent this summer. The lead singer Haben is just 11 years old, but she is a clear leader with her strong vocals and charisma. The middle sister is a fresh-faced 13 year old named Salina. The oldest sister, 15 year-old Lianda, could be mistaken for a budding supermodel. Together they make stage magic not seen since the likes of Destiny's Child over 10 years ago. If you like what you hear, please visit their website www.eriamsisters.com and show them some love.

Designer takes over Michael's last home


Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier says he will take over Michael Jackson's Holmby Hills estate when Michael's lease is up in December. He intends to make the $90 million estate the headquarters for his fashion company. He and Michael were planning to launch a clothin line at the time of Michael's death. Audigier is also rumored to be purchasing Neverland Ranch but Planet Jackson could not confirm that at the time of this post.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Janet to Perform Tribute to Her Brother at MTV Video Music Awards


This coming Sunday, September 13 at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

The tribute will include and all-star lineup of 20 backup dancers 'which is being put together by some of the best choreographers in the world, including Frank Gatson and Travis Payne.'One of the dancers Kryiss Grant, said 'some of the rehearsals have lasted up to 15 hours and there won't be a dry eye in the house.'

Somebody please tell me what the hell is going on with his hair?


Jermaine Jackson held a news conference in Vienna, Austria, today to announce a tribute concert for his late brother, Michael Jackson. The concert will be held on the grounds of the former imperial Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna on Saturday, Sept. 26 2009. "The Tribute" concert will be presented by Jermaine and World Awards Media. Jermaine will also produce the concert along with Halima Rashid and Georg Kindel. The show will feature a headline performance by Chris Brown. Brown hasn't performed publicly since his spat with Rihanna after the Grammys. Natalie Cole and Mary J. Blige are also among the slated performers.

It is amazing how I can't turn on my television or fire up my laptop without seeing his face when I hadn't heard boo from Jermaine since the Victory tour. Would somebody please tell me what the hell is going on with his hair?

I know I have a single glove somewhere in my closet...


One of Michael Jackson's white sequined gloves just sold at Australian auction house Bonhams and Goodman for $57,600 Australian (US$48,400), almost twice the estimated selling price. The glove was put up for auction by the estate of Bill Hibble, a fan who caught the glove Michael tossed to the crowd after the Australian premiere for his short film "Ghosts."

Kanye explains the details of his businesss arrangement with Amber


Kanye considers his relationships to be a contractual business arrangement. He told the French magazine Liberation, “Real rock stars, he said one day, get married and have rock stars babies...Of course women are attracted by celebrity, money, the illusion of 'love me for who I am' is stupid/an idiocy, we are no longer in college, I am fcuking Kanye West."

Fucking Kanye West he is. The same divo who reportedly declared after Michael Jackson's passing:

"You know everyone loves and respects Michael but times change. It's so sad to see Michael gone but it makes a path for a new King of Pop and I'm willing to take that on," he told Scrape TV. "There's nobody who can match me in sales and in respect so it only makes sense for me to take over Michael's crown and become the new King." He concluded, "First there was Elvis, then there was Michael, now in the 21st century it's Kanye's time to rule. I have nothing but respect for Michael but someone needs to pick up where he left off and there's nobody better than me to do that. I am the new King of Pop."

Kanye later denied making the statements after a huge internet backlash arose after his remarks circulated for a few weeks. However, the title has resurfaced as a caption on his cover shot for--you guessed it--Liberation magazine. Since Kanye is such a might rock star you know his people had final approval over his feature. Evidently Kanye really does believe he can step up to the throne. Just which throne he really belongs on is debatable...

Sudanese reporter arrested for wearing trousers


Lubna Hussein, a Sudanese reporter for the United Nations, was arrested for public indecency for wearing trousers in the culturally and religiously divided nation. Hussein, who was wearing professional trousers women in most parts of Asia, Europe, the U.S., and other western nations take for granted, was found guilty and fined by a Sudanese court.

10 of the other 11 women arrested with Hussein have already plead guilty and been whipped, but Hussein says she refuses to pay the fine and is prepared to go to prison to prove her point. Her attorney maintains the indecency laws are unnecessarily vague and broad. There is a large divide between the mostly Islamic Arab-oriented north and the mostly Christian, sub-Saharan oriented south.

Hussein's case has galvanized the women's movement across the Sudan where thousands of women and girls have been beaten and harrassed under the guise of public indecency laws since the 1990's.

I wonder what you would get for wearing this?


(Tamar Braxton, Toni's sister.)

Source: Reuters

Cadillac Sales Decrease 55% During Cash For Clunkers SO...



GM releases a new fragrance-
smells like new car, those evergreen things that hang on
the rear view mirror, patchouli oil and NY City cab driver...

Legally Hood-Rat



While GM can't give them away, LAPD has a little more luck...it's raining escalades

Diva's Got to Eat Too...



She couldn't make it to MJ's burial service, maybe because she was already "running for the border"...

Monday, September 7, 2009

So Much For That Fractured Foot-Bone



Mya performing at Dusk in Atlantic City...

From This...To This - Maia Campbell Chips and Flips


A supposed ‘crack video’ of 32 year-old actress, Maia Campbell, has surfaced online showing the former star actress of the popular 1990s television show “In The House” which also starred rapper LL Cool J, sitting, apparently prostituting herself, in a car having an explicit, mature, and graphic conversation with a man filming the entire talk with Campbell, who was not at all pleased about being filmed. Regardless of the speculation behind the intent of the video and whether Campbell is mentally ill, or if any of this is true, the whole episode is a cautionary tale...

Erykah Badu on Parenting and Twitty Milk


Not only does Erykay Badu try to send her fans a message through her music, now she is handing out parenting advice, too. Badu has three children; Seven (11 years), who is her son with Andre 3000 of Outkast; Puma (5 years) her daughter with rapper The D.O.C and Mars(7 months),her daughter with rapper/producer Jay Electronica.

She cites “parents not participating in kids’ schooling,” as her biggest parental pet peeve. She thinks parents need to be deeply involved in the information being fed to their children. Food for thought isn't her only concern: Erykah adheres to a vegan lifestyle both for herself as well as for her three children. She is quick to point out that she did not “in any way force them to have the same lifestyle..I think they should know the benefits of having a healthy body.” Apparently smoking herb does not run counter to that healthy body philosophy.

The diet is sometimes a challenge, however. When asked about whether her children ever request hot dogs or just some damn chicken nuggets, Erykah replies, “they joke about it,” and admits, “I’m sure as children they feel left out sometimes.” To counter junk food cravings, she tries to have alternatives available.

Her friend ?uestlove of the Roots was the one that dared her to "twitter" while in labor with baby Mars. Her mother boasts, "she’s the first Twitter baby, and she’s breastfed on Twitty milk.”

WMS/ws

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Merriman Has Too Many Shots of Tequila


San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was placed under citizens arrest Sunday by television reality show hostess and model Tila Nguyen, and accused of choking her, a spokeswoman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.

Deputies responded around 3:45 a.m. to the 6'4", 25-year-old Merriman's house in the 12000 block of Sage Crest Drive in Poway, after a 4'11" woman called to say she was choked by the player and physically restrained when she had tried to leave, said Jan Caldwell of the Sheriff's Department.

Nguyen, who has also appeared on pornographic Web sites as Tila Tequila, signed a citizen's arrest complaint accusing Merriman of battery and false imprisonment. Nguyen, 27, was the hostess of "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila" for two seasons on MTV, and photo spreads of her modeling have appeared in a number of men's magazines.

The woman was taken to Pomerado Hospital, and Merriman was taken into custody. His status at Central Jail was not released by authorities, pending a news conference at noon Sunday.

Merriman was the 12th overall pick out of the University of Maryland in the 2005 draft, and had 39.5 sacks in his first three years. The three-time Pro Bowler is considered the linchpin of the Bolts defense, and his absence last year was a major reason behind the 8-8 regular season record.

If you had any doubt about Nene's scrippa past...


let's just say she knows how ta get them dollas.

Randy airs out disrespectful members of the press


“As a family, we are all aware of how Michael’s life, and his death, touched so many around the world. It is why we held a public memorial in my brother’s honor.
And it is the reason we chose to release a small amount of footage leading up to yesterday’s ceremony at Forest Lawn.
I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael. We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight.
Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organizations decided to ignore our wishes. They employed helicopters that not only surreptitiously recorded our private family ceremony, but also severely disrupted it.
I therefore ask today that media organizations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future.”

I-D Magazine's Supermodel Cover