First images of Chinook wreckage revealed as Pentagon names all 30 heroes who died at site - while roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan kills five more troops
The first images of the Chinook wreckage were revealed today, at the same time five more American troops were killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb that exploded in the southern part of the country.
The news was confirmed as the Pentagon released the names of the 30 soldiers who died when the Chinook they were flying in was shot down by Taliban militants.
The U.S. military and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) did not give details regarding the five troops who were killed in the roadside bomb other than it happened in the south of the country.
The news was confirmed as the Pentagon released the names of the 30 soldiers who died when the Chinook they were flying in was shot down by Taliban militants.
The U.S. military and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) did not give details regarding the five troops who were killed in the roadside bomb other than it happened in the south of the country.
A Pentagon spokesman in Washington said all the victims were Americans.
It means that at least 50 foreign troops have been killed so far in August.
Coalition forces finished recovering the victims' remains and big sections of the Chinook wreckage yesterday. Yet small, twisted pieces of the CH-47 remain scattered on both sides of a slow-flowing river in Wardak province where it crashed before dawn on Saturday.
Eye witnesses to the crash describe seeing the chopper burst into flames and break apart before falling from the sky.
Farhad, a local resident, said that the helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a nearby knoll as it was preparing to land.
'As soon as it was hit, it started burning,' he said, standing in a field still littered with small pieces of the chopper, including a part of a scorched rifle stamped 'Made in Germany' and a piece of charred paper with typewritten first aid instructions.
'After it started burning, it crashed. It came down in three pieces,' he added. 'We could see it burning from our homes.'
Gul Agha, another resident of Tangi Valley, also said that after the helicopter crashed, parts were burning on either side of the Tangi River. Some of the debris also ended up on a nearby hillside, he said.
'When the helicopter came at night, the Taliban were hiding in the bushes around the area,' he said.
He said coalition forces worked several days to remove victims' remains. Then they blew up sections of the helicopter into smaller pieces, loaded them on trucks and took them from the site, he said.
It means that at least 50 foreign troops have been killed so far in August.
Coalition forces finished recovering the victims' remains and big sections of the Chinook wreckage yesterday. Yet small, twisted pieces of the CH-47 remain scattered on both sides of a slow-flowing river in Wardak province where it crashed before dawn on Saturday.
Eye witnesses to the crash describe seeing the chopper burst into flames and break apart before falling from the sky.
Farhad, a local resident, said that the helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a nearby knoll as it was preparing to land.
'As soon as it was hit, it started burning,' he said, standing in a field still littered with small pieces of the chopper, including a part of a scorched rifle stamped 'Made in Germany' and a piece of charred paper with typewritten first aid instructions.
'After it started burning, it crashed. It came down in three pieces,' he added. 'We could see it burning from our homes.'
Gul Agha, another resident of Tangi Valley, also said that after the helicopter crashed, parts were burning on either side of the Tangi River. Some of the debris also ended up on a nearby hillside, he said.
'When the helicopter came at night, the Taliban were hiding in the bushes around the area,' he said.
He said coalition forces worked several days to remove victims' remains. Then they blew up sections of the helicopter into smaller pieces, loaded them on trucks and took them from the site, he said.
Violence is at its worst in Afghanistan since U.S.-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban government in late 2001, with record civilian casualties and high levels of foreign troop deaths during the first half of 2011.
On Wednesday, a NATO service member died in a roadside bomb blast and five Afghan policemen were killed when their checkpoint was attacked by Taliban insurgents, the coalition and Afghan police said.
The Chinook attack was the deadliest single mission of the Afghanistan war and the names.
The troops came from two dozen states and all corners of the nation, mostly young men in their twenties and thirties. Florida, Minnesota, Hawaii and Massachusetts are just some of the states represented.
Some of the names of troops killed in the helicopter crash were already known because their families have spoken about them since the Saturday downing of their helicopter by insurgents. Eight Afghans also died.
On Wednesday, a NATO service member died in a roadside bomb blast and five Afghan policemen were killed when their checkpoint was attacked by Taliban insurgents, the coalition and Afghan police said.
The Chinook attack was the deadliest single mission of the Afghanistan war and the names.
The troops came from two dozen states and all corners of the nation, mostly young men in their twenties and thirties. Florida, Minnesota, Hawaii and Massachusetts are just some of the states represented.
Some of the names of troops killed in the helicopter crash were already known because their families have spoken about them since the Saturday downing of their helicopter by insurgents. Eight Afghans also died.
There had been internal discussion over whether to identify those who were covert special operations troops. The Special Operations Command had asked officials to withhold the names because of security worries.
The majority of the dead were special operations forces, including members of SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden. Military officials said none of the crash victims were on that mission in Pakistan against the al-Qaida leader.
The majority of the dead were special operations forces, including members of SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden. Military officials said none of the crash victims were on that mission in Pakistan against the al-Qaida leader.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta decided to hold to Pentagon policy of releasing names.
Those killed were 17 members of the elite Navy SEALs, five Naval Special Warfare personnel who support the SEALs, three Air Force Special Operations personnel and an Army helicopter crew of five.
The crash comes amid fears that the country is far from stable even though U.S. and NATO forces have begun to leave Afghanistan. U.S. military officials have tried to counter those fears, saying that while the downing of the Chinook was a tragic setback, one crash will not determine the course of the war.
Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said Wednesday that F-16 fighter jets killed the insurgents responsible for the crash. But the military provided few details to back up the claim.
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La.,
Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California;
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas;
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas;
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina;
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah;
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska;
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah.
The following sailors assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed:
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California, and
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California;
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas;
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas;
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana;
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina;
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah;
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska;
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah.
The following sailors assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed:
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California, and
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The soldiers killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colorado. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora;
Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas;
Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Nebraska;
Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Washington. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas; and
Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.
Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colorado. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora;
Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas;
Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Nebraska;
Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Washington. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas; and
Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kansas. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas.
The airmen killed were:
Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida;
Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, California; and
Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pennsylvania.
All three airmen were assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, North Carolina.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida;
Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, California; and
Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pennsylvania.
All three airmen were assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, North Carolina.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
Indiana State Fair Stage Collapses: 5 Dead
A stage collapsed during a powerful storm at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, sending steel scaffolding into the terrified crowd below and killing at least four people among fans awaiting a performance by the country band Sugarland.
The collapse came moments after an announcer warned of the advancing storm and gave instructions on what to do in event of an evacuation. Witnesses said a wall of dirt, dust and rain blew up quickly as a gust of high wind toppled the rigging. People ran amid screams and shouts, desperate to get out of the way.Hundreds of concert-goers rushed afterward amid the chaos to tend to the injured, many with upraised arms seeking to lift heavy beams, lights and other equipment that blew down onto the crowd. Many of the injured were in the VIP section closest to the stage. Emergency crews set up a triage center in a tunnel below the grandstand at the Indianapolis fairgrounds.About 40 people were injured, including at least one child, WTHR reported. Witnesses reported seeing many people with head and neck injuries and broken bones.
Todd Harper, spokesman for Wishard Memorial Hospital in the city, said later Sunday that at least 18 patients were brought in. He said their problems ranged from head injuries and bone fractures to lacerations and other cuts and bruises. He said those injuries were not life-threatening and conditions ranged from fair to critical.One was a 7-year-old child, he said, but didn't elaborate further.
video:
"We set up a command center and a page was sent out to staff to call the command center," he said, adding the hospital hadn't seen such a sudden influx of patients since a tornado outbreak in 2000. "This was unusual. We can't think of an incident that compared to this mass of people" arriving.
Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said the number of injured could rise because some people may have taken themselves to hospitals.
Bursten said the injuries ranged from cuts and scrapes to "very serious injuries" and that it was a "very likely possibility" that the death toll could also climb.
Emergency crews continued to search the fairgrounds early Sunday to ensure there were no other injured concert-goers who might have wandered off after the collapse, Bursten said.Fair officials canceled all activities Sunday. The fair, which runs through Aug. 21, was expected to resume Monday with a service honoring the victims, he said.
Bursten said emergency personnel and fair officials were monitoring the weather because a severe storm had been expected to hit the area around 9:15 p.m. But the storm hit shortly before 9 p.m.
He said preparations were being made to evacuate the facility but that the "significant gust of wind" struck the stage rigging that holds lights and other equipment before the evacuation plan was activated."As we all know, weather can change in a very rapid period of time," he said.
Concert-goers said the opening act by Sara Bareilles had finished and the crowd was waiting for Sugarland to take the stage. They said an announcer had alerted them that severe weather was possible and gave instructions on what to do if an evacuation was necessary. But the same announcer said concert organizers hoped the show would go on, and many fans stayed put.The wind that toppled the rigging came just minutes after that announcement, fans said.
"It was like it was in slow motion," concert-goer Amy Weathers told the Indianapolis Star. "You couldn't believe it was actually happening."Associated Press photographer Darron Cummings was in the audience attending the concert as a fan shortly before the collapse. He said he and his companions sought shelter in a nearby barn after seeing the weather radar and eyeing dark clouds approaching."Then we heard screams. We heard people just come running," Cummings told the AP. "When you see dark clouds like that if there's going to be bad weather, there's going to be mass chaos on leaving."
Witnesses told WTHR that some of the injured were in a VIP section in front of the stage known as the "Sugar Pit." The witnesses said the dirt, dust, rain and wind came up the main thoroughfare of the fairgrounds just before the collapse."Panic kicked in when they seen the dust bowl coming in from the Midway," concert-goer Darryl Cox told the television station.
Another person at the concert, Emily Davis, told the station that there was lightning and the sky had gotten dark but it wasn't raining when the wind suddenly toppled the rigging."It was horrible, people were running and going crazy," she said.Jessica Alsman told the AP the towering, metal stage scaffolding "kind of wobbled at first." Then pandemonium set in as it fell."As soon as we saw the wind gust, the wind was in our faces," Alsman said. She said and three friends grabbed each other and formed a chain."You can't imagine - we just thought it was going to rain or something," Alsman said.Sugarland tweeted about the incident about an hour after it happened."We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you'll join us. They need your strength," the band said.Indiana's position in the Midwest has long made it prone to volatile changes in weather. But even Wishard Memorial Hospital's spokesman, Harper, said he was surprised how things blew up without warning."I was at home watching a movie and I looked outside and all of a sudden the wind picked up. It had been a beautiful day up until then and then it started raining - and then I started getting calls on the pager."In April 2006, tornado-force winds hit Indianapolis just after thousands of people left a free outdoor concert by John Mellencamp held as part of the NCAA men's Final Four basketball tournament.And in May 2004, a tornado touched down south of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, delaying the start of the Indianapolis 500 and forcing a nearly two-hour interruption in the race. UPDATE: A fifth person has died as a result of the stage collapse, the AP reports:"The Marion County Coroner's office identifies the victims as 23-year-old Alina Bigjohny of Fort Wayne, 29-year-old Christina Santiago of Chicago, and three Indianapolis residents: 42-year-old Tammy Vandam, 49-year-old Glenn Goodrich and 51-year-old Nathan Byrd. It was Byrd who died overnight."
Pastor Zachery Tims Succumbs at 42
*According to NYPD, Pastor Zachery Tims was found dead at the W Hotel in Times Square on August 12. The cause of death is unknown.
Orlando news station WFTV released the following statement on their website that will clarify previous reports that Tims’ body was discovered Sunday:The New York City Police Department confirmed Tims died on Friday, August 12, 2011. Tims’ body was found in room number 3711 at the W Hotel in New York’s Times Square at approximately 6 p.m.The Police Department reports Tims was found unresponsive on the floor in the room. Emergency responders pronounced him deceased. The New York City Medical Examiners office is awaiting results of an autopsy.Tims escaped a life of drugs and violence on the streets of his home-town, Baltimore, MD to eventually lead a mega church that began with six members and grew to over 7,500.
“He was a great man,” said Shirley Jackson, as she drove into the Apopka, Florida church property Sunday where dozens of people had gathered in the parking lot, many with tears in their eyes.New Destiny had a growing membership of more than 7,500 worshipers. And the congregation was very active in the community, longtime Apopka Mayor John Land said. “He’s going to be missed,” Land said about Tims. “I’m very sorry to hear that.”Nationally known, the 42-year-old father of 4, co-founded/pastored New Destiny Christian Center in Orlando with his ex-wife Riva before their 15-year marriage ended in 2009 after he had an extra-marital affair.
Jay-Z, Kanye New Video – “Otis”
Jay-Z and Kanye West’s big week just keeps getting bigger. The rap duo just released the video for their new single, “Otis,” today. The clip will make its debut at 8:56 p.m. Eastern on MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV.com, and BET. Immediately following the premiere, the video will air on MTV Jams and MTV Hits. Fans will also be able to catch an encore airing at 11:00 p.m. Eastern on MTV2.
“Otis” is featured on Jay-Z and Kanye’s new album, “Watch The Throne.” The record was released exclusively at iTunes on Monday, and will drop at other digital retailers and record stores on Friday.
video
“Watch The Throne” is expected to make a big impression when it arrives on the Billboard charts next week. Industry insiders are projecting that the album will sell more than 500-thousand copies during its first week out. Is it me or does Jay-Z who is 41 seem to be getting younger as the years go by ?
Someone of my black Female friends are kind of upset saying “Hove and Ya, were the back girls at” ???? I told her its bigger than a back girl white girl thing… LOL watch the video and tell me what you think?
Why Is Former ATL Housewife Lisa Wu-Hartwell Kissing Another Man?
It's all for a good cause! Former "RHOA" star Lisa Wu Hartwell hit the stage in Atlanta recently in the stage play "Stripped" to benefit the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition and we have the deets inside.
Lisa Wu Hartwell was among the Atlanta celebs who graced the stage in former Superbowl champ Dorsey Levens’ stage play “Stripped,” benefitting the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition of Atlanta, GA.
Lisa Wu Hartwell was among the Atlanta celebs who graced the stage in former Superbowl champ Dorsey Levens’ stage play “Stripped,” benefitting the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition of Atlanta, GA.
Former NFL baller Karon Joseph Riley, hubby to actress Terri Vaughn, also appeared in the play with Lisa.
Lisa also posed with co-star Ryan Stewart and the play's producer Dorsey Levens.
Media personality Rashan Ali appeared in the play.
The play told the stories of football players from "their" perspective and touched on issues like prostate cancer, early onset Alzheimer’s disease, and the impact multiple concussions NFL players often suffer from on the field. And Ed Hartwell (Lisa's husband) probably wasn't too concerned about Lisa kissing her co-star...
At the conclusion of the performance, Dorsey was awarded the prestigious Phoenix Award by Mayor Kasim Reed’s office who said, “Your desire to produce quality plays that challenge our theatre artists, inspire and provoke audiences to thought and dialogue, and push the physical, visual and design elements of production, will not only resonate in the theater arena, but also your place within it. The City of Atlanta applauds you for accepting this bold charge."
Tavis: Obama is First President Who Hasn’t Invited Me to White House
'Obama won't touch him with a 10-foot pole' - Cornel West
'Obama won't touch him with a 10-foot pole' - Cornel West
*Not too long ago Princeton educator Cornel West told the Huffington Post that President Obama has a problem with journalists like Tavisd Smiley who offer tough critiques of him.
“Obama won’t touch him with a 10-foot pole,” the professor said.
Well whataya know. On Wednesday Tavis went on C-SPAN to discuss the Smiley/West 16 city poverty tour and reiterated what Cornel said.
“Prior to his being elected, he came on my radio programs and TV programs with regularity,” Smiley said. “Once he got elected and my critique of him — about holding him accountable to various things didn’t sit so well with him or the people around him — he has not, at this point, come on my TV or radio programs one time since he’s been in this White House.”
Well whataya know. On Wednesday Tavis went on C-SPAN to discuss the Smiley/West 16 city poverty tour and reiterated what Cornel said.
“Prior to his being elected, he came on my radio programs and TV programs with regularity,” Smiley said. “Once he got elected and my critique of him — about holding him accountable to various things didn’t sit so well with him or the people around him — he has not, at this point, come on my TV or radio programs one time since he’s been in this White House.”
The PBS TV and radio talk show host went on to say that Obama, whom he’s known for years: “is the first president in my professional career that hasn’t invited me to the White House.”
EXCUSE ME BUT BULLSHIT! Forbes Names Beyonce Most Powerful Black Woman in the U.S.
According to Forbes:Beyonce Knowles tops Forbes most powerful Black Woman in the U.S. list ahead of both Michelle Obama and Oprah.
1. Beyonce Knowles
2. Oprah
3. Michelle Obama
4. Ursula Burns
5. Debra Lee
6. Halle Berry
7. Condoleezza Rice
8. Tyra Banks
9. Ruth Simmons
10. Venus & Serena Williams
11. Robin Roberts
12. Whoopi Goldberg
2. Oprah
3. Michelle Obama
4. Ursula Burns
5. Debra Lee
6. Halle Berry
7. Condoleezza Rice
8. Tyra Banks
9. Ruth Simmons
10. Venus & Serena Williams
11. Robin Roberts
12. Whoopi Goldberg
She is more powerful than The First Lady of The United States of America???? I’ll repeat BULLSHIT!
In Too Deep: 50 Cent And Young Buck's Dillemma
“For a deal got a quarter mil / Shot back to the house on the hill / And blowed some dough to show it’s real / Flossed his wheels and lost his deal / But it’s just a setback / Your boy got get back / Kept that ball rollin’ / God blesses G’s / Invest some cheese / And now they all rollin’” –Casual, “Make Your Move” by Hieroglyphics.
At some point, the artist 50 Cent was destined to contradict the crude businessman 50 Cent. The millions he’s made off of investments in both artists and brands, has officially crossed paths with the success he had as an artist. It’s a two way street that sees his bank account flooring it in one direction and his control as an artist going in another. The artist who made his introduction to the world with “How to Rob” has spent a significant portion of his time lately asking Interscope for the support that he once was able to just take.
Look no further than the week of July 24th to see 50’s disgruntled tweets about Interscope’s lack of proper promotion (game plan), leaks of singles, and threatening to do the label harm via other artists. For one of Hip Hop’s wealthiest, it’s a sobering reminder just how dependent G-Unit Records is on a major label like Interscope and how desperate 50 is for complete creative control. Lupe fought this fight last year and ultimately released a commercially successful, but critically disappointing album in Lasers. Fif’s vows to not walk the same path—with negotiations of where he’ll sign next and blatant disrespect towards Interscope—sound strikingly similar to one of his own signee’s, Young Buck.was kicked off the label in 2008 we’ve heard 50 releasing private conversations, the two exchanging words on records, pleas for a public reconciliation and yes, Twitter. It has been a whirlwind three years with the underlining fact always being 50’s ability to control, if, when and how Buck releases new material. So when 50 tweeted “Man I'm not releasing a album I can't believe Interscope is this f*cked up right now. I apologize to all my fans,” one has to imagine that Buck somehow both empathized with and possibly laughed at 50 at the same time.
Few would have ever thought that the two’s relationship would have deteriorated to this point. In 2004, during the height of 50’s popularity his G-Unit roster was arguably the most sought after roster in Hip Hop. The nine shots 50 took only solidified the label’s reputation of representing the listening audience. So when Young Buck made national headlines for stabbing a man who was trying to attack Dr. Dre at the Vibe Awards, the world collectively thought that 50 and Buck were a perfect match. Nearly a decade later, that false assumption has seen both men take drastically different paths despite the fact that both are fighting for the same thing as artists.
The ironic paths see the two sharing more than just hashtags. When 50 said, “Ok I tried to be cool with my record company. I went to the meeting talk to everyone and shit feels like there [sic] moving in slow motion,” it could have easily been a Young Buck sound bite. In fact, in a February 2009 interview, Buck said that he sat down with Jimmy Iovine’s people and they told him, “We will do another Young Buck album. [So] we was pretty much told that we was going in [to begin work on the album] right around New Years. [I was told], After the new year, [once] the holidays is over with, you’ll hear from us. I aint heard from them [yet].” Both instances see an artist playing the part professionally but getting frustrated with the pace or lack of follow through. Young Buck and 50 Cent are no longer hungry artists who came from nothing, but grizzled veterans who know when the system is putting on the brakes.
50 Cent And Young Buck's Shared Major Label History“Juvie left me in California / I don’t respect that / I love him to much to beef / So I’ma accept that / But I’ma just step back and focus on Buck / Tired of riding in yours / I’m bout to buy my own truck / Gotta try my own luck / Get rich or die tryin’ / It’s G-Unit til I’m gone / Lord knows I ain’t lyin’…” –Young Buck, “Footprints” by G-Unit.
Interscope isn’t Buck or 50’s first go around on a major. Young Buck’s failed Cash Money endeavor was a waste of time by his own account. He left the label the same time as Juvenile, only without an album, let alone a guest feature. And 50’s Columbia years led him right back to the streets that he thought he left behind. They both came back for more. And while they tasted platinum success, ultimately they are creatively back where they started. These days, 50 cent is certainly in a much better position financially since Forbes.com reports he brought in a record $150 million in 2008, largely fueled by his nine-figure Vitamin Water deal. But despite that enormous sum, he is still completely dependent on a record label to clear, release, and promote his work. While no one is certain exactly what 50 would need to put down to buy out his contract at Interscope, one would have to conclude that it is less than a percent of his fortune. That’s where their paths differ, because once they start counting zeros, Buck’s lane becomes all the more urgent.
While the duo has waited for their projects to come to light, which both have promised would change the game; they’ve also promised to invest into their artists. One of 50’s more recent tweets about cancelling his album and working with other artists on theirs, sounds like Buck when he discussed putting all his energy into Ca$hville Records. With the exception of a 50’s guest appearances and Lloyd Bank’s gold-selling single in “Beamer, Benz or Bentley,” neither label has shown much promise in a difficult market. Don’t get it twisted, the success of both the labels rely solely on the shoulders of the label head. If 50 Cent’s sales continue to decline, his G-Unit Brand will continue to suffer as well. A financially depleted Ca$hville’s only chance is for a Young Buck project to save it from its predicted fate. While the two have remained in the headlines via Twitter, movie roles or, in Buck’s case bankruptcy, the lack of music has slowly allowed the doubt of their viability on a major to be discussed.
While we’re all pretty certain that Interscope will never release a tape of 50 pleading for a release date or a certain type of promotion. But is 50 holding his album back also a move made out of desperation? If Buck had to call 50 and pour his heart out to get his point across, 50 had to threaten to release a Dre single and withhold his album to make his. In both cases the desperation just highlights the fact that neither Buck nor 50 holds creative control of any of the processes. Buck just wants to make a living, and 50 is coming to grips with Interscope no longer making him a priority. So when 50 went in spin mode after his tweets caused a firestorm, he settled with this final tweet on the issue, “I hate when I can't present my music the way. I feel like it should be.” Meanwhile Buck was sorting through the pieces of his career which 50 did irreparable harm to and he probably feels the exact same way. All they want to do is put out music and allow it to be heard the way that they envision it.
Predicting Buck And 50’s Next Move
“You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label / Not able / Because you signed at the table for a pretty cash advance / Now they got a song and dance / That you didn’t recoup / More soup with your meal / Cause this is the real / When you sign a record deal…” –Lord Jamar “Show Business” by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Brand Nubian & Diamond D
“You ask for slack and wanna get cut loose from the label / Not able / Because you signed at the table for a pretty cash advance / Now they got a song and dance / That you didn’t recoup / More soup with your meal / Cause this is the real / When you sign a record deal…” –Lord Jamar “Show Business” by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Brand Nubian & Diamond D
But 50 praising Jimmy Iovine in one tweet and criticizing his label in another sounds eerily similar to Buck’s viewpoint a few years back. Buck found out the cruelty of what happens when you allegedly bite the hand that feeds you, and 50’s ruthless businessman approach to the situation may have either set Young Buck’s career back five years or potentially destroyed it. One would think a man with his business savvy would know better than to do the same thing to the man that signs his checks. Meanwhile, 50 has publically negotiated his next deal with EMI. He has made it no secret that he isn’t happy with Interscope, and in return Interscope has made no efforts to appease him. Surely the reckless taunts, threats and criticisms will certainly have a lasting impact on the relationship he has with Interscope. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Jimmy Iovine allows him to move on to the next (like other former Shady/Aftermath artists) or keeps him trapped like Young Buck.
The messy breakup between the two makes Suge Knight and Snoop Dogg seem like a common domestic dispute. Buck owes 50 quite a chunk of change outside of music, and his legal team was present during all bankruptcy hearings in June of this year. No matter what Buck tries to sell you, it’s not just about the music. But with that said, 50’s bank accounts annaully accumulate as much interest as Buck’s total debt to him. Both sides have intent to harm, and Interscope has watched it all unfold. I’m sure the label has second thoughts on letting Buck sit despite a platinum debut and a follow up which sold 160,000 copies in the first week. Two years later, 50’s Before I Self Destruct failed to live up to the numbers that Buck the World did. Hindsight will plague all parties, and only Buck has come to grips with it. In a 2010 Nashville Scene article Buck said, in regards to 50, “[He wants] to pretty much destroy my life from a silent-sided way of doing things. That's his angle, and my contracts allow him to be able to do that.” It’s a sobering comment from an artist that fully understands his financial and contractual limitations. The past containing various diss records, recorded conversation and pleas; those conversations are mentally and financially bankrupt. Yet a mum Interscope has watched an impulsive 50 shoot off tweets threatening their biggest project, disrespecting their brand, but yet they still remain silent on a release date. It’s an insane 360 with radically different implications that sees two artists fighting against a business that can ultimately control their next move.
Sister 2 Sister Presents a Star-Studded ‘Ladies Night’ Hosted By Toya Wright, Kandi, The Braxton Sisters & More
The Mason Murer Fine Arts Gallery was the stage for Sister 2 Sister magazine’s Ladies Night. The party, thrown by Chicago-born magazine publisher and socialite, Jamie Foster Brown, including a number of celebrities, vendors and lots of black female professionals.
A number of popular female celebrities and influential women came to the event, Meeka Claxton of Basketball Wives, Ne-Yo’s fiance, Monyetta Shaw, and Michael Vick’s fiance, Kijafa Frink.
Toya Wright of Toya: A Family Affair promoted her new book, “Priceless Inspirations,” which recently made number 1 on the NY Times Best Seller list.
Rapper Diamond made an appearance, posing here with Trina and Towanda Braxton of Braxton Family Values.
R&B newcomer T’melle performed at the end of the night. D. Woods of Danity Kane was also present and R&B crooner Bobby Valentino made a surprise cameo.
Vendors sold everything from high end designer clothes and shoes, to black hair products to wheat grass pills to free massages. The majority of the vendors were black female entrepenuers and offered high quality goods and services; Lamik’s provided the free makeovers and Ultimate Vodka provided the drinks.
Vendors sold everything from high end designer clothes and shoes, to black hair products to wheat grass pills to free massages. The majority of the vendors were black female entrepenuers and offered high quality goods and services; Lamik’s provided the free makeovers and Ultimate Vodka provided the drinks.
Lisa Wu Hartwell was scheduled to make an appearance, but she was having plane trouble out in LA. But Kandi Buruss, former Xscape group member and co-star of Housewives of Atlanta, made an appearance in the final hour.
According to Centino Kemp! Stop calling me an accuser….
Here’s the tweet:
WERK Queen you like that church meat. So you didn't hardly feel like your were violated.
Again I say WERK QUEEN!
Again I say WERK QUEEN!
Zoe Saldana Graces Cover Of September 2011 Issue of EBONY
She's covering her umpteenth September issue of a magazine. Now 33-year-old Zoe Saldana is "Black, Latina, & Fierce" on the cover of the September 2011 issue of EBONY magazine.
The star of Colombiana, Zoe Saldana, is gearing up or her release later this month. And she's covering every magazine on the stands in the meantime.
The star of Colombiana, Zoe Saldana, is gearing up or her release later this month. And she's covering every magazine on the stands in the meantime.
She appears almost ethereal in an Oscar de la Renta coral and metallic sheer dress with a silver sparkling oversized belt on the new EBONY mag cover. And the fab chick is discussing being Black and Latina, her brand new movie, and everything else in between.
The cover story, written by Adrienne Samuels, tracks Zoe's Queens/Puerto Rican/Dominican roots as her path to get to superstardom. And she discusses how her hardcore background parallels overcoming the hardships of black Hollywood:
The cover story, written by Adrienne Samuels, tracks Zoe's Queens/Puerto Rican/Dominican roots as her path to get to superstardom. And she discusses how her hardcore background parallels overcoming the hardships of black Hollywood:
“When I go after a part, [people] better watch their backs,” she says. “Not because I’m going to crush everybody, but because I’m going to give the best that I can because I strive for excellence. When you don’t get a part, it is for a reason, and these pieces will fall into place soon. … We have a Black president right now, so why the f--- would I sit down and talk about how hard it is for Black women in Hollywood when there’s a Black president in my country?”
WERK!
REALLY? Corey Feldman: “The number one problem in Hollywood is pedophilia”
Corey Feldman is talking about pedophilia in a new interview with ABC’s Nightline, all for a special about child stars. I’ve just watched the video, and I have to say… Corey doesn’t seem cracked-out at all. He seems lucid and kind of paranoid, but he also seems like he’s trying to get to some deeper truth. Basically, I’m saying that I tend to believe the spirit of what he’s saying:
Here are some excerpts:
Sick, sad and twisted. Corey Feldman experienced the highs and lows of being famous and underage. In an interview with ABC’s Nightline that aired Wednesday, the 40-year-old former child star said that pedophiles were “like vultures” in the entertainment industry.
“The number one problem in Hollywood was, is and always will be pedophilia,” he said. “It’s all done under the radar… But it’s the big secret.”
“I was surrounded by [pedophiles] when I was 14 years old. … Didn’t even know it. It wasn’t until I was old enough to realize what they were and what they wanted … till I went, Oh, my God. They were everywhere,” Feldman, now 40, said.
Feldman went on to assert that pedophilia contributed to the early death of his friend Corey Haim, pointing the finger at one person in Hollywood, but stopping short of naming him.
“There’s one person to blame in the death of Corey Haim. And that person happens to be a Hollywood mogul. And that person needs to be exposed, but, unfortunately, I can’t be the one to do it,” he said. “There was a circle of older men that surrounded themselves around this group of kids. They all had either their own power, or connections to great power in the entertainment industry.”
Feldman said that Haim’s substance addiction was also a “symptom” of the molestation he experienced earlier in life.
“There’s a lot of good people in this industry, but there’s also a lot of really, really sick, corrupt people in this industry,” Feldman said. “There are people… who have gotten away with [pedophilia] for so long that they feel that they’re above the law. And that’s gotta change. That’s gotta stop.”
“The number one problem in Hollywood was, is and always will be pedophilia,” he said. “It’s all done under the radar… But it’s the big secret.”
“I was surrounded by [pedophiles] when I was 14 years old. … Didn’t even know it. It wasn’t until I was old enough to realize what they were and what they wanted … till I went, Oh, my God. They were everywhere,” Feldman, now 40, said.
Feldman went on to assert that pedophilia contributed to the early death of his friend Corey Haim, pointing the finger at one person in Hollywood, but stopping short of naming him.
“There’s one person to blame in the death of Corey Haim. And that person happens to be a Hollywood mogul. And that person needs to be exposed, but, unfortunately, I can’t be the one to do it,” he said. “There was a circle of older men that surrounded themselves around this group of kids. They all had either their own power, or connections to great power in the entertainment industry.”
Feldman said that Haim’s substance addiction was also a “symptom” of the molestation he experienced earlier in life.
“There’s a lot of good people in this industry, but there’s also a lot of really, really sick, corrupt people in this industry,” Feldman said. “There are people… who have gotten away with [pedophilia] for so long that they feel that they’re above the law. And that’s gotta change. That’s gotta stop.”
[From Us Weekly & MSNBC]
My biggest problem is that he doesn’t name names. Is he afraid of repercussions to his non-existent career, or does he simply not want to be sued for defamation? Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally buying that a major mogul is into kids. I’m also buying that more Hollywood players are either into children, or very young, underage women, than we’ll ever know. I would just like to know the name of the specific guy Corey is referring to, or at least some clue to form into some kind of blind item.
My biggest problem is that he doesn’t name names. Is he afraid of repercussions to his non-existent career, or does he simply not want to be sued for defamation? Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally buying that a major mogul is into kids. I’m also buying that more Hollywood players are either into children, or very young, underage women, than we’ll ever know. I would just like to know the name of the specific guy Corey is referring to, or at least some clue to form into some kind of blind item.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
“Deuces”
I can’t figure out if you pulled your shirt up on purpose or it’s simply trying to escape your body on it’s own. My “gut” reaction says you pulled it up, but the kid in me likes to think inanimate objects have thoughts of their own and if they did they would be smart enough to know when to cut and run.
SEE YA LATER!!!
EFREM
EFREM
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