Wednesday, April 7, 2010
NICKI MINAJ TALK OF THE WORLD
BARBIE DOLL IMAGE NICKI MINAJ IS THE TALK OF THE WORLD, HARAJUKU BARBIE, AND IS KNOWN FROM MANY OF HER MIXTAPES SOON AN ALBUM - HER NEW SONG MASSIVE ATTACK featuring SEAN GARETT, should be on HER NEW ALBUM COMING AS RUMOR HAS THIS YEAR. IS NICKI THE NEXT LIL' KIM
JANET JACKSON BEST ACTRESS ON WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?
Monday, March 15, 2010
JILL SCOTT ON JET MAGAZINE
Jill
“Chances are when Jill Scott looks back on the last year she’ll be both grateful and thankful. She’ll be grateful because she was blessed with the birth of her first child, Jett Robert Hamilton, who will turn 1 next month. She’ll be thankful because, even though she broke off her engagement with her son’s father just weeks after her son’s birth, she learned a very valuable lesson that will enhance any future relationships. “The most important thing I learned is that you have to be truly equally yoked,” she said emphatically. “Not kind of, not partially, but fully and completely equally yoked.” (JET)
As previously reported, Scott reunites with Tyler Perry in ‘Why Did Get Married Too ?,’ the sequel to ‘Why Did I Get Married (2007). Her next album, “Light of the Sun,” is due in stores this summer (2010).
Sunday, March 14, 2010
CELEB LOOK ALIKE WEEKLY
A CELEBRITY LOOK ALIKE
WILLIAM L. JOHNSON LOOKS ALOT LIKE THE RAPPER WALE FOLARIN, COULD THEY BE RELATED?
I WONDER
Lil Wayne's Manager Speaks About Drake Karu & Y Concert That Won't Occur
No young rapper in the game is hotter than Drake right now, and no segment of his fan base is more hot-headed currently than those in South Florida. It was with great consternation that New Times confirmed that an upcoming date featuring the clean-cut Toronto native -- a March 12 show at Miami's Karu & Y -- was not happening.
According to Drake's manager, Cortez Bryant, the scheduled concert was the latest in a series of bogus promoters hoping to grab money out of unwitting music fans' pockets. "They're playing like they're people from our camp," says Bryant, who also counts South Florida-based Lil Wayne among his clients.
Unfortunately, it's no surprise that Aubrey Drake Graham's star would get swiped for nefarious purposes. After getting started as an actor on Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001-09, Drake's now a near ubiquity on pop radio singles outside the Ke$ha-sphere. "Best I Ever Had" from his So Far Gone mixtape turned EP reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 last year, and an ever-lengthening string of collaborations with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Eminem, and the Weezy-led Young Money collective ensure that a guy who has yet to release an official full-length album still can build a following with musicians and music fans alike.
Promoter Natalie Refuse of Bossladyz Production Inc., who posted the March 12 flier boosting a Haiti benefit featuring Drake as the headliner, plus Mac Maine, Nikki Minaj, and DJ Khaled, says her company is not to blame for the faulty date. According to Refuse, she signed what she thought was a real contract for a Haiti orphanage benefit back in December, before the January 12 earthquake upped the event's gravitas. She says that a local booking agent set up several fake shows and that a group of angry promoters reportedly caught up with the man at Miami Beach club Mansion in late February.
"They tried to duct-tape him and put him in the trunk of a car and knocked his tooth out," Refuse tells New Times. Local police put the kibosh on the violence, but the man didn't press charges, Refuse says. Now, Bossladyz is trying to regroup and regain confidence with R&B star Mario as the Haiti benefit performer at Karu & Y on the same night. "I was in tears for days," Refuse says. "I was trying to do this charitable deed but got swindled. Every single person who bought a ticket, I refunded 100 percent."
Bryant shares in her frustration. "I don't want the fans to think that it's us doing these things," he says. "These things put a bad taste in the market. People start second-guessing. We're not here to let down the fans." Although Bryant makes it clear that Drake loves visiting South Florida, there's no date on the rapper's upcoming solo tour, which hits college campuses throughout April and early May. "We'll be back in Miami close to Memorial Day," Bryant says, which coincides with tentative plans for the release of Drake's debut album, Thank Me Later. "But we don't have a solid date yet."
Lloyd set free with Interscope deal
Former Murder Inc singer Lloyd is free to wreak havoc on the charts and radio thanks to a new deal with Interscope Records !
Known best for the singles "You" and "Get It Shawty," Lloyd was close to signing a deal with Young Money/Cash Money but opted out due to Lil Wayne, Birdman, Drake and Jay Sean camp's affiliation with former distributor Universal/Motown.
'The problem is that Young Money/ Cash Money is exclusive to Universal/ Motown. As you and I know, that's where I did my last two albums," Lloyd told MTV last week. "I wasn't excited about going back. I tried to do a Young Money/ Cash Money deal through another distributor, but it couldn't be done. At the end of the day, I'm still family, though."
Kicking things off, Lloyd debuted a single titled "Set Me Free" Friday, March 12.
Featuring recently released Grammy nominated rapper, Mystikal, "Set Me Free" follows Lloyd's Young Money collaboration and chart-topping single "Bedrock".
While "Set Me Free" is currently in rotation on music related blogs, Lloyd is in no rush to release his next album.
"Signing with Interscope was just a small step," says Lloyd. "This year I'm really focused on a classic album and staying in the public eye with more guest features. I have a few surprise collaborations coming."
Since 2004, Lloyd has released three albums, including 2007's Gold-certified "Street Love". He has also worked with top Hip Hop recording stars, including Lil Wayne, Ja Rule, Rick Ross, Lil Scrappy, Young Money, Fabolous, Chamillionaire, and Ace Hood.
Tiger Woods' daily searches: What people want to know
"Tiger Woods' prenup" is also still a top search item, with approximately 22,000 daily searches occuring for that topic.
Tiger Woods scandal
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latest on Tiger Woods
MTO WORLD EXCLUSIVE: BEYONCE ADMITS SHE HAS A PRE-NUP WITH JAY Z . . . SAYS SHE FEELS PRESSURE IN HER MARRIAGE TO STAY BEAUTIFUL!!!
Interviewer: Is your life easier since you are multimillionaire?
Beyonce: The fear of the student, have no future, being dependent on her boyfriend, objectively weigh heavier than the fears that torment me. Only music from subjective feeling arises - and subjective fears, many musicians have lost. We feel pain and depression, just like other people. What separates us, is perhaps the price of butter. But all that is essential, I feel like every hard working woman.
Interviewer: For example?
Beyonce: For example, I believe that in my relationship with Jay-Z – as in any genuine relationship – not everything is easy. I want children – not now, later. He’s entirely not aware of that fact yet. I want to sit around at home, also times in a tracksuit pants. He assumes and believes that women even wear high heels just to go to the bathroom.
Interviewer: Apparently Jay-Z has to pay you ,in the case of a separation after two years of marriage, ten million dollars, for each additional year of marriage is added an additional one million.
Beyonce: Anyone who thinks so because of what? I do not deny that there is a marriage contract. I would encourage any woman getting married to put on such a treaty, it will gain more influence on self-esteem. For details, I don't express myself . I am not here on trial.
Review: Jay-Z goes electric at Nassau Coliseum
Deep into his Nassau Coliseum show, Jay-Z called an audible.
"We're going into overtime here," he said, to roars of approval. Why not? Jay was having a grand time, bobbing and weaving between the well-crafted rap that built his reputation and the pop-leaning stuff that built his bank account. He was also clearly in awe of the hero's welcome he received, as many of his fans shouted along with...
Lady Gaga and Beyoncé "Telephone" music video: The fashion revealed
The highly anticipated and long awaited TELEPHONE music video has been released starring Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. This 9 minute video had a team of professionals who worked to coordinate each segment and every look from head to toe and you know if Gaga is involved the fashion is sure to "WOW" us. The looks were styled by Nicola Formichetti. Nicola has quite an impressive resume working as the Fashion director of VOGUE HOMMES JAPAN, Creative director of DAZED & CONFUSED and Contributing fashion editor of V, V MAN, ANOTHER ,ANOTHER MAN. He was joined by make-up artist Billy B and hair stylist Danilo. Jonas Akerlund directed the video.
Lets take a closer look at the fashion worn by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé in the hit song Telephone on the CD Fame Monster available for purchase on I Tunes.
The wardrobe styling has multiple references and influences. Some obvious inspirations include Batman, Wonder Woman, Madonna mixed in with some bad girl version of the movie Thelma & Louise.
As you watch the video see how many brand names you can catch. The product placement acts as an advertisement built into a video.
Michael Jackson's furniture offered in Planet Hollywood auction
You have the chance to bid on some of Michael Jackson's opulent furniture from his 32-bedroom London mansion that he was renting while prepping his This Is It world tour.
At the three-day auction on June 25, buyers can make bids on 22 pieces of furniture that Jackson owned.
How about a wooden-carved, red velvet sofa with 24-carat gold leaf that seats 9 (estimated at $150,000)?
How about his iconic jeweled Swarovski crystal glove (estimated at $30,000)?
Or in the more affordable category -- a pair of sunglasses (estimated at $4,000)?
The collection will be offered along with other items from famed musicians at Planet Hollywood.
Jackson's furniture, which will tour Ireland in an exhibition designed to show what his home looked like, will then head to Las Vegas.
The sale is expected to take in over $1 million, some of which will be donated to charity.
Posted by R.C. Clark on March 14, 2010 3:47 PM | Permalink
50 Cent's Body Guard Attacks the Cameraman
Video Shows 50 Cent Bodyguard Attacking Cameraman
The NY Daily News reports the arrest of a bodyguard for 50 Cent for “assaulting a group of photographers” outside the rapper’s hotel in Copenhagen. The story quotes one of the photographers as saying, “The next thing I knew, he grabs my throat and tried to strangle me.”
Video on YouTube seems to verify the allegations. So far, we can’t tell if 50 Cent has released any statement.
Now, we are hardly TMZ, or the type of site that likes to focus on the gossipy side of hip hop, so, to justify posting this story, we’ll also show a short, recent interview with 50 Cent, as he discusses a new album he’s working on. That way, we satisfy the gossip mongers, AND the folks who care about his actual artistry.
50 Cent
Video Shows 50 Cent Bodyguard Attacking Cameraman
The NY Daily News reports the arrest of a bodyguard for 50 Cent for “assaulting a group of photographers” outside the rapper’s hotel in Copenhagen. The story quotes one of the photographers as saying, “The next thing I knew, he grabs my throat and tried to strangle me.”
Video on YouTube seems to verify the allegations. So far, we can’t tell if 50 Cent has released any statement.
Now, we are hardly TMZ, or the type of site that likes to focus on the gossipy side of hip hop, so, to justify posting this story, we’ll also show a short, recent interview with 50 Cent, as he discusses a new album he’s working on. That way, we satisfy the gossip mongers, AND the folks who care about his actual artistry.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
FREDDY IS BACK BUT IS HE BETTER THAN EVER
Freddy Krueger is Back On Elm Street (New )Nightmare On Elm Street Trailer
Freddy Krueger is back on Elm Street, a contemporary reimagining of the orignial classic. A group of suburban teenagers share one common bond and all of them are being stalked by Freddy. Will this Nightmare on Elm street compare to the original one? IDK. Will you go see it? I was a fan of the old Nightmare Of Elm street.Open 04/30/10
ISNT IT SUSPICIOUS, A DINOSHARK what SUCH THING
Wale to play RFK for D.C. United
Having already played Cowboys-Redskins at FedEx, Wale is now ready for the main event: D.C. United-New England Revolution at RFK.
"We are thrilled to have Wale perform at our home opener on April 3," United President Kevin Payne said in a release. The performance is at 6 on the west side of RFK, and it's free and open to the public. Still waiting to see how the dude works "Ben Olsen's chest hair" into his lyrics. And United deciding to showcase D.C.-bands and artists this season proves once again why it makes sense for us to send them up to Baltimore. Sigh.
Other things that happened:
* It's time to help Gilbert Arenas choose a new nickname. Yes, about 400 people have suggested "Six Shooter" already. And no, Hibachi shouldn't really count as "new." (Ball Don't Lie)
* All eight of JaVale McGee's Thursday night dunks, in one place. (Bullets Forever)
* That was more dunks than Juwan Howard or Nick Young have all season. (Ball Don't Lie)
* Manchester United is cracking down on fans carrying anti-ownership banners. Hmmm. (Guardian)
* Bill Clinton on the Hoyas' quarterfinal win: "It wasn't like Syracuse folded. I mean, Georgetown just played out of their minds....I think that win will help Georgetown more than it will hurt Syracuse for the tournament." (Star-Ledger)
* Dorenzo Hudson puts himself on the all-time all-ACC team, and Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison on the second team. (D1scourse)
* Inside the Redskins' revamped weight room. Plus lots of pilates talk. (Skins Blog)
* Extensive talk from Andre Carter about his current situation with the Redskins. Doesn't sound disgruntled, but nor does he sound gruntled. Plus, he says "You've got to come correct," which is always true. (Homer McFanboy)
* Caps fans are asked not to honk their horns so much when leaving the Verizon Center. (WTOP)
WHY PEOPLE THINK JAY-Z IS AN ILLUMANTI
WHY PEOPLE THINK? SEAN JAY-Z CARTER IS A DEVIL WORSHIPER, they claim his Dynasty(so called) SIGN of Roc La Familia is the PYRAMID based on the DEVIL's sign. And they claim his song LUCIFER was based on him talkin about THE DEVIL AS HIM has being 666 as the DEVIL WORSHIPERS HAVE IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK...!!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
THE CHRONICLES OF TK
So it Goes that TYNISHA KELI is the best new upcoming Pop singer of our time. THE CHRONICLES OF TK is her very first debut album of last year, Rumor has it that her next album which is due this year will be titled "5th Element" coming soon.
JOANNA "JOJO" LEVESQUE new Album
How the Oscars suffered their very own 'Kanye West moment'
They're calling her Lady Kanye, but she has very little in common with the eccentric hip-hop star except a healthy sense of self-righteousness and a tendency, when her hackles get raised, to flout the saccharine conventions of showbusiness.
A writer, film producer, and former journalist called Elinor Burkett was yesterday coming to terms with overnight celebrity after making a brief but memorably combative appearance on the winner's podium at Sunday's Academy Awards.
In one of the night's strangest incidents, Ms Burkett barged fellow Oscar-winner Roger Ross Williams off the microphone, midway through his acceptance speech, and accused him of trying to steal the limelight.
"Isn't it just like the man to never let the woman talk?" she declared, before launching into a series of unintelligible remarks about their film, Music by Prudence, which had just been named Best Documentary (Short Subject).
Although the flummoxed-looking Williams made occasional efforts to interrupt, Ms Burkett refused to surrender the microphone until the band began playing.
It soon emerged that the film is at the centre of a delightfully petty dispute which has seen the pair on non-speaking terms for almost a year. This meant they had not agreed who would make a speech if the film won.
Burkett therefore said she'd been highly upset to see him "race up there to accept the award". The director's elderly mother even used a walking stick to delay her arrival on stage, she alleged.
Williams, meanwhile, claimed that he was merely following instructions given to him by the Academy in making the speech. On Monday, each duly began courting public sympathy via the chat-show circuit.
Speaking to CNN's Larry King, Mr Williams claimed they had fallen out last May, for creative reasons: he'd wanted the film, about disabled musicians in Zimbabwe, to focus on Prudence Mabhena. Ms Burkett was adamant that it should instead be about Ms Mabhena's entire band.
They were unable to reach a compromise, so HBO, which was backing the film, had Burkett removed. A lawsuit was settled by giving her the co-producer credits, which entitled her to the Oscar.
"She has nothing to do with the movie. She just ambushed me. I was sort of in shock," said Williams. Asked whether his mother had attempted to hijack Ms Burkett's progress to the stage, he added: "That's ridiculous. She got up to hug me. My mother is 87 years old and has bad knees. She was just kind of excited."
Burkett was meanwhile described as a long-standing controversialist. "She is extremely bright, a gifted writer and an unabashed self-promoter," said Ellie Brecher, a former colleague on The Miami Herald, where she once worked.
Janet Jackson Sits Down With Oprah Winfrey
A MOVIE BASED ON AALIYAH
CHARLIE'S ANGELS 3
IS WALE THE GREATEST NEW UPCOMING RAPPER
Sunday, March 7, 2010
MONTREAL — Canadian director James Cameron might have Oscar's golden touch at the box office, but when it comes to video games he appears to have lead
His movie "Avatar" is the highest-grossing film of all time and could take home up to nine Academy Awards, including best picture, on Sunday night.
But his two-year project to produce a video-game version of "Avatar"? He's lucky they don't hand out Razzies for games.
Ubisoft, a game-maker with operations in Montreal, says Cameron saw the project as an extension of his film and worked closely on it to create new scenarios not used in the movie.
Despite those efforts, the father of box-office blockbusters like "Titanic" and "The Terminator" has helped produce the video-game equivalent of "Ishtar" -- a memorable flop.
Current sales of Avatar, the game, stand at 2.5 million copies, according to Xboxygen, an online magazine. This falls far short of Ubisoft's initial goal of five million.
Ubisoft has specifically cited Avatar as a reason its 2009-10 fiscal targets are being revised downward, and says the company is going to reduce its involvement with movie tie-ins.
"I don't know if it was because maybe James Cameron and his team did not know a lot about video games, or they just didn't have a good idea," said Erik Leijon, a video-game critic at the Montreal Mirror newspaper.
While Avatar, the video game, used successful innovations from other role-playing games, such as stronger weapons and magical powers, hardcore gamers expected more.
"Although visually impressive the game just didn't have any interesting new ideas for gamers," Leijon said.
One expert gamer agreed.
"It's a generic game with a few things tacked on that are not very well done," said David Pittaro, a professional video-game tester.
Like the movie, the game uses 3-D technology.
While that technical tour de force was a hit on the big screen, it did not translate to two-dimensional TVs, the kind most consumers own.
As a result, the same images repeat themselves and the experience becomes boring to video-game enthusiasts who like to play a game for hours, according to Leijon.
It also suffered from its appeal to a middle-of-the-road audience.
"I would think 80 per cent of the people I saw buying it 1/8Avatar the game 3/8 were moms," according to Ghalem Namiche, who manages EB Games, a Montreal video-game store.
In the world of gaming enthusiasts, that's not a good thing.
"Gamers knows those products are there to market the movie," Namiche added.
Louisville: Kyle Kuric Paces the Cardinals
Kuric had a performance for the ages Saturday in the final game played in Freedom Memorial Hall, scoring all 22 of his points in the second half on an array of 3-pointers and dunks to lead Louisville over top-ranked Syracuse.
Recommendation:
The sophomore came into Saturday's game averaging just 3.5 points in 27 games this season, but started the second half following an injury to Jerry Smith and hit 9-of-11 shots.
Friday, March 5, 2010
INSIDE MICHAEL JACKSON'S HOME
A shocking video taken in the home where Michael Jackson’s children live shows a cycle of violence that gives the children little chance at a normal lifestyle, a medical expert tells RadarOnline.com.
As a California Department of Children and Family Services investigation unfolds around events in the Encino, California home where Michael’s children live with many others, RadarOnline.com exclusively obtained video showing disturbing violence.
In the video, Jermaine’s son Jermajesty, 9, is brutally slapped in the face to the ground by his brother Jaafar, 13. This follows an incident where Jaafar reportedly ordered a stun gun and threatened Michael’s son Blanket. (Jackson family lawyers deny Blanket was threatened.)
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Shocking Violence Inside Jackson Home
With at least 14 people living in the Jackson house, and Jaafar at the center of two disturbing incident, one medical expert told RadarOnline.com, “Jaafar’s behavior toward his younger brother suggests he is a bully and he probably bullies the other cousins as well.”
Those are the words of Joseph S. Haraszti a California psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents.
Michael Jackson's Ex Debbie Rowe "Concerned About Blanket"
Haraszti believes the violence may be adversely effecting Michael’s three children and stems from a lack of guidance and disturbing family history.
“It shows a cycle of violence, knowing about the family history, when he hits brother so hard that he falls flat out, it looks like he knocks him out. There may have been violence towards him to make behave that way.” says Dr. Haraszti, who has not treated any member of the family.
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Inside Michael's House
“The stun gun incident shows lack of supervision. It’s premeditated intent to use it, so if he did, he shows poor judgment and it suggests internalized rage.
“I think it is pretty obvious that there are a lot of kids living in the house and because of this, there is a lack of guidance. It seems that the children are out of control. Which begs the question, where are the adults? Who is in charge?”
PHOTOS: Michael Jackson's Kids & Elizabeth Taylor
Katherine Jackson has legal custody of Michael’s three children. But ABCnews.com reported that as many as 14 people live in the house at any given time, including Alejandra Oaziaza, the mother of Jaafar and Jermajesty and also the mother of Randy Jackson children Genevieve, 20, and Randy Jr, 18, both of whom also live at the house.
“There are so many people living in that house and with most of the kids home schooled there is very little chance of any normal semblance of life,” Dr. Haraszti told RadarOnline.com.
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson's Kids Considering Attending Regular School
Thursday, March 4, 2010
TUPAC SHAKUR (1971-1996)
Known as 2 Pac or Pac, he was THE American Rapper, Actor, & Social Activist, selling over 75 million albums & is rated one of the best selling music artists in the world.
Tupac portrayed music that was full of violence & showed lyrically the hardships of the ghetto & the racism faced everyday. Tupac started off his career as a roadie & backup dancer. He became by exquisite self force the solo premier of all his work.
Tupac was the target of lawsuits & was shot 5 times, robbed in the lobby of a recording studio in New York City. After this experience he grew more suspicious that other people in the rap industry had prior knowledge of the shooting & did not warn him. This controversy sparked the East Coast - West Coast Hip Hop rivalry.
Unfortunately later after he was back on his feet, Tupac was convicted of a sexual assault & sentenced to 1 1/2 - 4 1/2 years in prison. He was released from prison on an appeal financed by Marion 'Suge' Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records. In exchange for Knight's assistance, Tupac agreed to release 3 albums for the Death Row label.
Tupac was shot 4 times in a drive by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 7th, 1996 & passed away 6 days later of respiratory failure & cardiac arrest.
ALBUMS:
2 Pacalypse Now - 1991
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. - 1993
Me Against the World - 1995
All Eyez on Me - 1996
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory - 1996
RU Still Down? - 1997
Until the End of Time - 2001
Better Dayz - 2002
Loyal to the Game - 2004
Pac's Life - 2006
Shakurpeare - 2010
FILMOGRAPHY:
Nothing But Trouble - 1991
Juice - 1992
Drexelli's Class - 1992
A Different World - 1993
Poetic Justice - 1993
In Living Color - 1993
Above the Rim - 1994
Murder Was the Case: The Movie - 1995
Bullet - 1996
Gridlock'd - 1997
Gang Related - 1997
Tupac: Resurrection - 2003
Notorious - 2009
Live 2 Tell - 20--?
Tupac was born in New York City & grew up in Harlem. Moving from there, to Baltimore, Maryland, to Oakland California - his career started in 1991 when he became a member of the group Digital Underground.
His fame spread as a leading figure of the 'gangsta rap' revolution. He continued to voice his disparing violence both in his music & unfortunately in his life style.
As his film career took off as an actor, Tupac was beginning to be known for his sharp acting talent, always a stand out performance & he made the screen small as he appeared larger than life. He held a charisma that made you want to notice him.
As much as Tupac was praised for his music & acting talent - he was also condemned for his explicit violent lyrics. His aggressive gangster rap persona became his image to young adoring fans near & far.
At the time of his passing he was just beginning to tap into a reflective soulful part of his character; which would have proven his career to be up with the major musicians & actors of his time. We only received a glimpse of what could have been for Tupac.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Obama and health care: Wants an up-or-down vote 'in the next few weeks'
President Obama said today that health care is a politically challenging issue, but struggling Americans deserve a vote as soon as possible on a package designed to address the system's many problems.
"I have therefore asked leaders in both of houses of Congress to finish their work and schedule a vote in the next few weeks," Obama told a group of health care professionals gathered at the White House. "From now until then, I will do everything in my power to make the case for reform."
Shortly after his 20-minute speech, the White House announced that Obama will travel to Philadelphia on Monday and St. Louis on Wednesday.
In touting his health care plan today, Obama did not used the word "reconciliation," the legislative process congressional Democrats may try to use to avoid a Senate Republican filibuster.
But he did demand an up-or-down vote, and recited a list of programs that have passed as part of reconciliation bills, including ones devoted to children's health care, unemployment insurance, welfare reform, and the George W. Bush tax cuts -- "all of which had to pass Congress with nothing more than a simple majority."
Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said the public opposes the Democratic health care plan because "it spends too much, taxes too much, increases premiums too much and increases the deficit too much."
Camp also described reconciliation as "the nuclear option," and that "big social policy changes should have bipartisan support."
Obama pointed out that both the House and Senate passed health care plans last year by substantial margins, including 60 votes in the Senate.
House and Senate Democrats were in the process of merging the bills in January when Republican Scott Brown won a special election for a U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts. That win gave Republicans the numbers to filibuster a Democratic-only health care bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Republicans have called on Obama to scrap Democratic attempts to forge a comprehensive health care bill, and pursue an incremental approach to address specific problems.
In his White House remarks, said the challenges of health insurance are interrelated, and "health reform only works if you take care of all these problems at once."
Obama promoted the revised health care plan he proposed last week by saying it is designed to give individuals more control over their health care, not the government and not insurance companies. He added, "I don't believe we can afford to leave life-and-death decisions about health care to the discretion of insurance company executives alone."
The plan's goals: Block insurance companies from dropping coverage of people who are sick or have pre-existing conditions, lowering the costs of premiums by expanding the insurance pool, and increasing he choices for all Americans. Obama said he would finance his plan by eliminating waste in the system, and raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
The revamped plan excises "provisions that were more about winning individual votes in Congress than improving health care for all Americans." Those include the Senate provision that basically exempted the state of Nebraska from Medicaid costs.
It also incorporates Republican ideas, Obama said, including efforts to root out waste and fraud, and rule changes on medical malpractice lawsuits.
Whether people oppose or support the comprehensive health care plan, Obama said, the time for talk should be over, however, he said.
"Every idea has been put on the table," Obama said. "Every argument has been made. Everything there is to say about health care has been said and just about everyone has said it."
The "long and wrenching debate" over the sensitive topic of health care should not be decided on sheer political decisions, Obama said.
"We can't just give up because the politics are hard," Obama said. "I know there's a fascination, bordering on obsession, in the media and in this town about what passing health insurance reform would mean for the next election and the one after that."
Instead, Obama cited stories of cancer patients who face high medical bills, but no insurance.
Health care has now become a test of the U.S. political system.
"At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem," Obama said. "The American people want to know if it's still possible for Washington to look out for their interests and their future. They are waiting for us to act."
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too
Tyler Perry directs this comedy-drama about four couples whose relationships are challenged on an annual vacation.
Genre
:
Comedy
MPAA
Rating:
Starring:
Michael Jai White, Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Tasha Smith, Louis Gossett Jr., Sharon Leal, Richard T. Jones, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba, Denise Boutte
Director:
Tyler Perry
Release Date:
Opens Apr 2, 2010
Who would Michael Vick like to play for? 'Probably be the Carolina Panthers'
Eagles QB Michael Vick seems to be becoming increasingly vocal about his desire to play elsewhere even though Philadelphia seems inclined to bring him back for the second year of his two-year contract in 2010.
Responding to a question over the weekend on the Atlanta radio program "Gangsta Grillz," Vick revealed where he'd most like to play in the NFL: "If I could play for any team in the league, it would probably be two teams, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be the Carolina Panthers."
And here's why: "It's close to home. I like the uniforms. You get to play against Atlanta twice a year," said Vick. "Ain't nothing better than playing against your former team, right? So, yeah, that would be a good look."
Vick played for the Atlanta Falcons for six years before his federal conviction for operating a dogfighting ring put him in prison and out of the league for two years. Vick hails from Newport News, Va. -- Nate Davis
Hat tip: The Charlotte Observer
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
HAITI 500 Times More Powerful
Though Chile's earthquake was 500 times more powerful than the one that hit Haiti, Chile was better prepared because of better building codes and infrastructure. Guest columnist Richard Stearns writes that Chile certainly needs support to recover, but Haiti's recovery will take years of investment.
Special to The Times
THE earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday morning was 500 times more powerful than the one that ravaged Haiti less than seven weeks earlier. Yet the difference in death tolls and damage is even more striking: More than 200,000 Haitians perished in a matter of minutes, while the body count in Chile likely will not exceed 1,000.
Many people are wondering why.
Numerous scientists have been interviewed in recent days laboring to explain "subduction zones" and "tectonic plates." But in a commentary for CNN, Dr. Colin Stark of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University demonstrated he grasps another, more significant reason for the shocking number of deaths in Haiti.
"Poverty is what ultimately kills most people during an earthquake," he writes. "Poverty means that little or no evaluation is made of seismic risk in constructing buildings and no zoning takes place. It means that building codes are not written, and even if they do exist they are difficult, or impossible, to enforce ... Haiti is a tragic illustration of this."
On Jan. 12 Haiti had few government safety nets for the poor, a substandard health-care system in most of its communities, and a nearly nonfunctioning economy.
More than half the population in Haiti lives on less than $1 a day; the average annual income among Haitians is $1,300. The desperation just to survive day-to-day means Haitians have been forced to cope by:
• Stripping bare many of the nation's trees to use the wood to make charcoal, and as a result, heavy rains or full-blown hurricanes cause mudslides and kill more Haitians than they should;
• Scavenging for food with little understanding of the implications of poor nutrition on the growth and development of infants and children. As a result, nearly one-quarter of Haitian children suffer from malnutrition, which can cause permanent physical and brain damage, especially in children under 2.
• Building homes from wood, scrap metal, or other materials they can salvage, without understanding the implications — until an earthquake levels their residences — that poor people can't afford to "build to code."
And, regrettably, only half of Haitians over the age of 15 can read and write, two-thirds of Haitian children attend primary school, and less than 30 percent reach the sixth grade.
The result is that countries like Haiti are more vulnerable to all forms of natural disaster, including hurricanes, floods, pandemics, famines and earthquakes.
In stark contrast, Chile has a literacy rate greater than 95 percent among its residents over age 15. Boys and girls, on average, are in school 14 years. In addition, only 2 percent of Chile's people are living on less than $2 a day; the average Chilean earns nearly $15,000 annually.
Moreover, in Chile, electricity has already been restored to some parts of the country. Government authorities are assessing damage and soon will begin rebuilding. Police have cordoned off rubble for clearing, and, businesses are reopening. Chile's Public Works Minister estimates the government's response will take months; in Haiti, it likely will take years.
Both earthquakes have brought immeasurable tragedy in peoples' personal lives. I visited Port-au-Prince a few days following the earthquake, and met many individuals whose lives were changed forever. The stench of death was as pervasive as the concrete dust still settling among the open encampments of people whose homes either were destroyed or unstable.
I left four days later with a mixture of sadness and anger, the latter because most of the deaths would have been prevented — if Haiti hadn't been so very poor.
In the aftermath of these tragedies, Chile will need support, but Haiti will need intensive investment, not for months, but years. Years of economic development, years of building and staffing clinics and schools, years of enforcing the rule of law and good governance. And with Haiti's renewal and revival, I'm sure effective building codes will follow.
Bellevue resident Richard Stearns is president and CEO of the U.S. offices of World Vision, the international Christian humanitarian organization, based in Federal Way.