If can't see first link click below

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=R7R08TsW-9E

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” -- Thomas Jefferson

TIM WISE ON THE CREATION OF WHITENESS (Must See Very Deep!)

http://www.redroom.com/video/tim-wise-creation-whiteness-clip

NICK CANNON EXPLAINS WHIRLWIND MARRIAGE: Artist says he and Mariah clicked from the moment they met.

     *In today's new issue of People magazine, Nick Cannon explains how he met, fell in love and married Mariah Carey – all within the span of one month.

      It all started in late March when Carey cast him as her love interest in the video for her new single, "Bye Bye."

      "From the first time we sat down to discuss the video at the Beverly Hills Hotel, we connected," Cannon said in the May 19 issue, which features exclusive photos from the wedding. "We had so much in common spiritually, and we laugh at the same things. I didn't have to put on my Mac Daddy suave mode. I was able to be myself with her. We are both eternally 12 years old."

      They began showing up at various events together, sparking talk that a romance may be afoot. Carey kicked the rumors into high gear at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her movie "Tennessee," where she sported a huge diamond on her left ring finger.

Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon

       Next thing you know, the 38-year-old singer and the 27-year-old actor were exchanging vows on April 30 at Carey's Bahamian estate. Were Carey's friends surprised?      

       "Some were, but some weren't," she told People. "One thing (few people) knew was we got tattoos a few weeks earlier. So anyone who saw my (Mrs. Cannon) tattoo wasn't surprised."

      Oprah Winfrey told her audience Wednesday that she saw the "Mrs. Cannon" tattoo when Carey appeared on her show about a week before the wedding, but thought nothing of it.

       Cannon said, "To me rings are special and exciting, but tattoos mean more than anything. They're forever and ever. They professed our love."      

       According to People, a dozen guests attended their sunset wedding, where guests feasted on Maine lobster and Dom Perignon champagne. The bride wore a gown by Nile Cmylo that showed off her curves and faded from off-white to pale pink.      

       "My pastor Clarence Keaton flew in from New York," Carey said. "The whole wedding was really beautiful and sweet. Being there with loved ones under the sky ... it was a spiritual moment."      

       Cannon said he was speechless watching Carey walk down the aisle: "I was elated, but I was thinking, 'Don't pass out.' ... (The pastor) said, 'The eyes are the window to the soul,' then gave us an entire minute to stare into each other's eyes. So I was saying, 'Don't cry.'"      

       The pair said they're already thinking about having kids. "It's part of the whole purpose of getting married," Carey said. "I'd just want our children to have the best childhood and upbringing they possibly could."

                             Tavis Smiley's $1 million dollar pledge to TSU

Vonda Paige
Executive Director

Subject:	RE: News from Tavis Smiley Foundation
Date:	Thu, 8 May 2008 06:03:10 -0700
From:	"Y2L" <Y2L@tavistalks.com>  Add to Address Book  Add Mobile Alert
To:	guybouldin@sbcglobal.net

That's not true. See the story below in the Houston Chronicle.
 
Vonda Paige
 
 Smiley reaches deal with TSU over donation
The school's new president says the broadcaster vowed to resume support

By JEANNIE KEVER
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle 

After talking with the school's new president, broadcaster Tavis Smiley
 agreed Thursday to resume his financial support of Texas Southern
 University.

John Rudley, who took over as TSU's leader three months ago, said he
 and Smiley spoke by telephone Thursday morning and Smiley "confirmed his
 pledge and commitment to work with Texas Southern in any way he could."

Smiley confirmed that he had spoken with Rudley but declined to say
 more.

He agreed in 2004 to give the school $1 million - $200,000 a year for
 five years - and to help raise another $1 million for its school of
 communications. He stopped payments in July 2005, a decision a spokesman
 for Smiley attributed to his concerns about financial management of the
 school under former president Priscilla Slade, who was later charged
 with using about $500,000 in school money for personal expenditures.

Rudley said they agreed to meet soon to work out the details.

The lag in Smiley's promised donation was just one financial hit the
 school has taken from Slade's tenure. Rudley noted Thursday the state has
 withheld $12.5 million a year in contingency funding for the past two
 years while it waits for the school to submit a plan proving its
 financial responsibility.

The first plan was rejected; a second has been submitted but Rudley
 said he has not yet heard whether it will be accepted.

 
 
 
 

________________________________

From: Guy [mailto:guybouldin@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wed 5/7/2008 10:22 PM
To: Y2L
Subject: Re: News from Tavis Smiley Foundation


Tavis has not made good on his pledge to TSU 

Tavis Smiley Foundation <vpaige@tavistalks.com> wrote:

Tavis Smiley Foundation	
Tavis Smiley Foundation News
	
Leadership Institute	
Leadership Institute 	May 2008	
	
	
	
 Dear Guy,


Summer is almost here and we're ready to meet some outstanding leaders
 at the 2008 Leadership Institute. 
 
You can find out all of the details in this issue and meet the new
 National Youth Advisory Council members who will help organize and plan the
 Institute.
 
We are proud to congratulate several previous Smiley Scholars winners
 who continuing to achieve as college students.  
 
We're committed to changing the negative images of our youth by
 providing opportunities for them to succeed and excel. It's working and with
 your support we can continue.
 
Best Regards,
 
Vonda Paige
Executive Director	
	
	
	
 LeadersService Projecthip Institute Heads West 
   
 
Join Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West for the 2008 Leadership Institute
 Aug. 14-18 on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. We're bringing the
 Institute home to Los Angeles this year. So get ready to head to the West
 Coast!
 
The registration deadline is May 31. The cost is $500 and includes
 meals, lodging and workshops. The fee deadline for students accepted is
 July 11. Sessions will include a Teen Town Hall, Hands on Community
 Service Project, a Mock Election, Talent Show, Project Team Competition and
 much more. Don't delay. Last year's conference sold out in four weeks.
 Start your registration now!

MORGAN FREEMAN TIRED OF BEING 'MR. GRAVITAS': Actor returns to the stage in role unlike any he's played before.

      *Morgan Freeman, 70, is looking to stretch his seasoned acting muscles into fresh territory with his new role in Broadway's "The Country Girl," a production of Clifford Odets' 1950 drama, directed by Mike Nichols.      

       After decades of playing such characters as the all-knowing cop, the principal with a heart of gold, the voice-of-reason sidekick and the ultra-cool president, the Academy Award-winner travels to the other end of the spectrum in "The Country Girl" to play an insecure man described as a "bleary bum," reports the AP.        

       Freeman plays Frank Elgin, a stage actor long past his prime who is battling both insecurity and an alcohol problem. When a juicy part in a Broadway-bound play comes along, a battle of sorts breaks out between his long-suffering wife (Francis McDormand) and a producer (Peter Gallagher) banking that Elgin will reclaim his acting chops.

      Freeman, who has twice played God on film, hopes the role will remind fans that he can also play characters with a less than noble core.

       "There's a finite number of characters who are like that before you start repeating yourself ad nauseam. I think that's the bigger danger than being Mr. Gravitas," he says.

"You look at your last work and say, 'That's four characters in a row that said, did, thought, acted the same. They're going to find me out any minute now.'"

ANTOINE FUQUA FLASHES HIS 'BADGE': Filmmaker teams with company to option book about undercover cop embedded in Cali drug cartel

      *Director Antoine Fuqua and his Fuqua Films, Inc. have teamed with Public Media Works, Inc. to option the life story of Jerry Speziale, a NYPD detective who details his undercover work with a drug cartel in the book "Without a Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization."      

       In the book, co-written by Mark Seal, Speziale details how he was able to infiltrate powerful drug distribution cartels by leading them to believe that he was a trustworthy member of the illegal drug importing network.       

       On "loan" to the DEA, Speziale proved to be a one man wrecking crew whose shrewd tactics undermined the very foundations of the cartels' code of honor. Once the web of distrust was spun the organization crumbled under its own weight as many members were killed by their drug over-lords.       

       "We are excited about the possibility of making a film detailing the authentic real world experiences of Jerry Speziale," stated Public Media Works company CEO Al Hayes. "And the prospect of doing so with Fuqua Films, which is the independent creative vehicle of noted director Antoine Fuqua, is a major leap forward for Public Media Works.       

       "Antoine has directed films such as 'Shooter,' 'Training Day' and 'Tears of the Sun,' all of which have been huge successes. We believe that being 50/50 partners in the book option with Fuqua Films is an important first step in developing a working relationship with him."

ISAIAH WASHINGTON REP QUESTIONS 'ANATOMY' MOVE: Says show has the nerve to use his image after they fired him.

      *Isaiah Washington is apparently upset over the use of his image in last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy," as well as in promos leading up to the airing.       

       The actor's face is pictured in a newspaper clipping that hangs on a wall in the show's hospital.       

       According to TMZ.com, Washington doesn't appreciate the producer's decision to use a picture of him on the program since they had a hand in his controversial firing last June for using a homophobic slur.       

       Isaiah's rep, Howard Bragman, tells TMZ.com: "Isaiah has no plans to go back to 'Grey's Anatomy' ... That being said, we were more than a little surprised that ABC used his likeness in a promo for the show, and indeed advanced his character's storyline. Mr. Washington's attorney has contacted the Screen Actors Guild and ABC as to the appropriateness of that action."      

       Washington is currently in New Orleans filming "Patriots" opposite Forrest Whitaker.

PORN COMPANY SAYS HENDRIX SEX TAPE IS LEGIT: Vivid Entertainment asks rock legend's estate to prove that it isn't.

     *Vivid Entertainment on Thursday began selling a video it believes shows Jimi Hendrix having sex with two women in a hotel room. The company moved forward despite allegations by the late rocker's estate claiming that it's not Hendrix on the tape.

      In a statement released this week, Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch said his company "is so confident of the authenticity of the 40-year-old footage in 'Jimi Hendrix The Sex Tape' that it recently offered $100,000 to Experience Hendrix, LLC, the family company of the legendary guitarist, if it can provide verifiable proof that Hendrix is not the 'star' of the tape."

       Hirsh said his company "took considerable time and spent a substantial sum of money to authenticate the footage and we are very comfortable that this is the real thing. We believe that those who say otherwise are relying on their emotions to make unsubstantiated claims. If Experience Hendrix can prove definitively that it's not Jimi Hendrix on this footage then we will pay them $100,000."       

       Consumers can view a trailer at www.hendrixsextape.com.   

JESSE JACKSON WANTS BLACK FOLKS INVESTING: Rev says prosperity and education are keys to civil rights.

     *Jesse Jackson was in Houston Wednesday speaking to local businesspeople and others about the need to involve minorities more in publicly traded corporations, and to urge parents to get more involved in their children's education.

      He spoke at the downtown Crowne Plaza during a symposium, "Building Capacity to Power America: Our Pipeline to Equanomics," organized by his Rainbow Push Coalition.

       According to the Houston Chronicle, Jackson told about 100 people at the luncheon that African-Americans battled through Jim Crow laws, earned the right to vote and gained other liberties, but now they must fight for economic equality.      

       He suggested that minorities buy stock in publicly traded corporations to have a say in the company's decisions. Rainbow Push Coalition, he said, is buying stock in the nation's largest public companies.      

       "We can be better, but not better off unless there are some economic securities," he said. "This is the fourth stage of our civil rights struggle. This stage of struggle is access to capital."

       Jackson also encouraged the participants to get involved with their children's education, including meeting their children's teachers, exchanging phone numbers with the teachers, picking up their children's report cards, turning off the television in their homes three hours a day and taking their children to their place of worship once a week.      

       His coalition, he said, hopes to enlist 20,000 parents in Houston and 2 million nationwide to make a greater commitment to their children's schooling.      

       "Nothing is more fundamental than the role of parents (in education)," he said.

WESLEY SNIPES WANTS FREEDOM DURING APPEAL: Actor asks if he can stay out of jail during appeal of tax conviction.

     *Wesley Snipes is hoping a judge will allow him to stay out of jail while he appeals his conviction and three-year prison term for failing to file income tax returns.  

      According to papers filed in U.S. District Court in Ocala, Florida, lawyers for the actor argued that his appeal raises "substantial" questions that are likely to result in a new trial or a shorter prison sentence, and that he isn’t a danger to the community.

      They also argued that he's not a danger to the community and he's too famous to be a flight risk.

      The 45-year-old star of "Blade" was convicted Feb. 1 on three misdemeanor counts. U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges sentenced him April 24 to the maximum three years in prison.

       He was acquitted of two felony charges of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service as well as three other misdemeanor counts of not filing taxes.

WALTERS COMES CLEAN ON STAR JONES DEBACLE: Read on for Star's biting response; She calls Barbara an 'adulterer'

      *Turns out Barbara Walters' secret affair with a black senator isn't the only juicy part of her new book "Audition," and it wasn't the only bombshell from the project dropped during Tuesday's appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."     

      The veteran television journalist finally spoke out about what really happened during the final two years of Star Jones' tenure as co-host of the ABC morning show "The View."

      Walters, 76, an executive producer and co-host of "The View," confirmed previous reports that viewers began to turn away from Jones after she got engaged to Al Reynolds and began using "View" airtime to promote her wedding vendors as part of a deal to use their various services for free.

Star Jones Reynolds

      As for Jones's sudden and dramatic weight loss, Walters told Oprah: "She decided to have a gastric bypass operation, but then she decided not to tell anybody. Then we had to lie on the set everyday because she said it was portion control and Pilates. Well, we knew it wasn't portion control and Pilates."

       Winfrey agreed, stating sarcastically: "We in the audience go, that's some damn Pilates teacher!"

UPDATE: in an exclusive statement to UsMagazine.com, Star Jones is slamming Barbara Walters as an adulteress in the "sunset of her life." Her full statement:

     "It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book. It speaks to her true character."

Alrighty then. And what is Barbara's response to Star? None, at least according to her rep said in a statement to UsMagazine.com:

      "I will not dignify this with a comment. Barbara's written words say it all!"

KARL MALONE IMPREGNATED 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL: Child grew up to be Buffalo Bills top draft pick.

      *Former NBA great Karl Malone – “The Mailman” - reportedly fathered a child with Gloria bell – a girl who was only 12 or 13 years old when she became pregnant.

      Malone was 20 years old at the time. Amazingly, the child Malone fathered is Demetrius Bell – a recent top draft pick for the Buffalo Bills football team.

      It appears Malone played no part in raising Demetrius.     

      Another amazing aspect of the story is how little media attention it has gotten.

      Based on a scan of media reports from around the country, the Washington, D.C.-based Taylor Media Services has been able to find one broadcast outlet (BET.com) and only two newspapers which have mentioned the story – the Buffalo News and the Los Angeles Times.

Demetrius Bell

      UPDATE:  ESPN.com's Jemele Hill just wrote a follow up piece with comments from  Bell. One of which was this doozy:

      "I treat it as if my mother went to the sperm bank. I don't hate him for [not being in my life]. It made me a better person."

BOOTSY TO HOST JAMES BROWN TRIBUTE TOUR: Bassist will travel with vets from Godfather's legendary JBs.

      *Funkateer bassist Bootsy Collins, who began his career as part of James Brown's band the JBs in 1970 and 71, is honoring his old boss with a star-studded tour dubbed "A Tribute to James Brown."      

       The trek will include alumni from The JBs, including Phelps "Catfish" Collins (who is also Bootsy’s brother) on guitar and drummers John "Jabo" Starks and Clyde Stubblefield, aka the Funky Drummer, reports Billboard.com.       

       Bart Byrd, the son of late J.B.'s keyboardist Bobby Byrd, is also on board, with Tony Wilson and Brown's daughter Venisha -- who Collins says "not only looks exactly like him but dances the way he does" -- providing vocals.

Bootsy Collins

       "It's Bootsy Collins’ tribute to James Brown," Collins says. "It's about James Brown's music, his legacy, what his music meant to me -- not only me but a lot of people, a lot of musicians and fans. So it's pretty much me paying [my] respect."       

       After his year with the Godfather of Soul, Bootsy went on to play bass for the House Band, Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band and the Sweat Band.