The Daily Roundup for Sept 12

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OMG! TROY DAVIS HAS 1 WEEK AND HALF TO LIVE…THE END IS NEAR

Georgia corrections officials Wednesday set a Sept. 21 date for the execution of Troy Anthony Davis for the 1989 slaying of Savannah police officer Mark Allen MacPhail.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens set a 7 p.m. time at the Georgia Diagnositc and Classification Prison at Jackson where the state’s execution chamber is located.

Chatham County Superior Court Judge Penny Haas Freesemann signed the death warrant for Davis on Tuesday, marking the fourth time since 2007 the state has scheduled an execution for Davis.

It set the execution date as between Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 but did not set the specific date. Executions usually are scheduled for the first day in the seven-day window.

Meanwhile, the state Board of Pardons and Paroles has scheduled a 9 a.m. Sept. 19 clemency appointment in Atlanta for Davis, board spokesman Steven Hayes said Wednesday.

That will give Davis’ legal team a last chance for delay of execution or clemency.

Davis remains at Jackson where he has eluded three earlier execution dates while his case meandered through the appellate court system.

U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. heard two days of evidence in June 2010 at the U.S. Supreme Court direction to take evidence and determine if any new evidence existed that would clearly prove Davis’ claims of innocence.

It was the first time in at least 50 years that the court had granted an American death row inmate such an innocence hearing.

Moore ruled in August 2010 that evidence presented before him was “largely smoke and mirrors” and not nearly strong enough to prove Davis’ innocence.

“Mr. Davis is not innocent,” Moore ruled.

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution in March by rejecting dual appeals by Davis.

Davis has exhausted his appeals, but his Washington, D.C.-based attorney Jason Ewart has said they plan to ask the parole board for clemency. The five-member panel has the power to commute or postpone executions, but rarely does so.

Meanwhile, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Wednesday strongly condemned the scheduled execution of Davis, citing what it called too much doubt surrounding the case.

“After reviewing the evidence, I am convinced that Troy Davis is an innocent man,” said NAACP President/CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “It is appalling to me that with so much doubt surrounding the case, Mr. Davis is set to be executed in 14 days. Justice will never be served by the state-sanctioned murder of an innocent man.”

He joined Amnesty International USA in opposing the execution. The amnesty group has urged the parole board to commute Davis’ sentence.

Davis’ case has become a focal point for the international anti-death penalty movement. The NAACP, Amnesty International and dignitaries such as former President Jimmy Carter and Pope Benedict XVI have all urged Georgia officials to spare Davis.

MacPhail, 27, was shot twice with a a .38-caliber pistol and slain Aug. 19, 1989, as he rushed to assist Michael Young, a homeless man under attack over some beer in the parking lot of the Greyhound Bus Terminal/Burger King Restaurant at Oglethorpe Avenue.

A Chatham County Superior Court jury took two hours to convict Davis of murder on April 28, 1991. It recommended the death penalty…..

THIS IS A TRAGDY. PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY!


Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles Begin Season With Big Win Over Rams

Week 1 NFL Scores And Results: Philadelphia Eagles Roll Over St. Louis Rams

Eagles top Rams, 31-13It was not crisp, it was not pretty, but the loaded Eagles were simply too much for the Rams and cruised past them, 31-13, on Sunday at Edward Jones Dome as they opened a season of promise with a victory.

The three-headed monster of Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy ran all over the Rams' defense as the Eagles defensive line hounded quarterback Sam Bradford, who eventually left the game with an injured hand.

What happened: Vick wasn't especially sharp throwing the ball, but he bailed the offensive line out time after time with long, often dazzling scrambles. Jackson finished with six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown that gave the Eagles a 24-10 lead early in the third quarter and McCoy iced the game with a 49-yard TD burst in the fourth. McCoy went over 100 yards for the fourth time in his three-year career. He also caught a 7-yard score in the first quarter.

Why it happened: The Eagles' superior talent was too much for a St. Louis team that often shot itself in the foot. Losing running back Steven Jackson, who opened the game with a 47-yard TD run, didn't help matters. But St. Louis abandoned the run early even though they were torching the Eagles D on the ground and then Bradford's receivers dropped pass after pass. The Eagles defense, though, made some adjustments and the Rams offensive line just could not contain the Eagles' front four that recorded five sacks.

What's next: The 1-0 Eagles head on the road again to face the Falcons, who were pounded by the Bears on Sunday.

Running back LeSean McCoy rushed for over 100 yards and had two touchdowns to lead the Eagles, while Michael Vick threw for two touchdowns and rushed for just under 100 yards. Here are the rest of this afternoon's NFL Scores and Results:

Green Bay 42, New Orleans 34
Chicago 30, Atlanta 12
Cincinnati 27, Cleveland 17
Buffalo 41, Kansas City 7
Detroit 27, Tampa Bay 20
Jacksonville 16, Tennessee 14
Baltimore 35, Pittsburgh 7
Houston 34, Indianapolis 7
Washington 28, NY Giants 14
San Francisco 33, Seattle 17
San Diego 24, Minnesota 17
Arizona 28, Carolina 21
NY Jets 27, Dallas 24

We’re in Business Folks! GO EAGLES!

THE LEGENDARY IMAN COVERS VIV MAGAZINE

F or their September/October issue, the all digital women’s magazine nabbed Iman for it’s cover. For the shoot she was clad in Michael Kors and Naeem Khan designs. In this issue Iman discuss reinventing herself as a business woman, her family, philanthropy and more. She talked about her work with Raise Hope for Congo, which fights to end the sexual violence against girls and women there. Iman also chatted about her cosmetics empire and her legacy in the fashion industry.

The fashion model has just launched her second fashion collection on HSN and remains the second highest selling designer on the HSN network.

DID BIRDMAN BUY MOST OF THE 964K Copies of Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV?

We told you previously that Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter IV album scored the second biggest sales debut of the year on the BILLBOARD charts recently, but some folks are accusing Birdman of "buying" most of those albums. Get the deets inside and find out what Birdman said in response....

Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter IV album hit #1 on the charts this week with 964K sold, and while most artists would be celebrating, Weezy and Birdman are on the defense. Especially since the two of the biggest rappers in the world--Jay-Z & Kanye--only sold about half that their first week on their collabo album Watch The Throne.

Birdman stopped by Sway Calloway's Shade 45 "Sway in the Morning" radio show to talk about the disc's success and to defend himself, after he was accused of "buying" up most of those albums and inflating sales. He told Sway,

"People doin' different numbers (referring to others saying the sales were inflated)....But this comes from Billboard. To me, that's a million; 964, we right there, so it's cool. We'll just keep grinding, I guess."

And when asked if Cash Money "bought" Weezy sales, he said,

"Nah, man, that really don't make no sense. Why would we do that? I press and distribute 'em. Ain't no need for me to buy 'em. That's hustling backwards; we ain't in it for that. I ain't ever been a part of that type of scheme to be buyin' records. We don't do that, homey.

We be working too hard to be — that don't go with what we do. We truly what we do. We're real about what we do, we work hard every day at it, and we work for the people. That's what we do music for: for people. And we appreciate the love they give us back. But no such thing as me buying no CDs. I wouldn't even play it like that."

And there you have it. But do you believe him?

Last Dragon Star Shot Twice in Harlem

Actor Leo O'Brien, who played Bruce LeRoy's little brother Richie in 'The Last Dragon', was shot in broad daylight in Harlem...

Leo, 40, was shot once in the arm and once in the stomach on a Harlem street around 11am. He was rushed to the hospital in stable condition. The shooter was apprehended and booked for attempted murder and criminal possession of a firearm.

Leo tells TMZ he knows the shooter but has no idea why he would shoot him.

DON’T MESS WITH “THE BOSS” MISS ROSS WHEN IT COMES TO HER KIDS!

Diana Ross is said to be none too pleased about her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross dating Akon's little brother Def Jam VP Abu 'Bu' Thiam...

Traccee and Bu have been quietly dating ever since Tracee moved to Atlanta to film her new scripted show for BET, 'Read Between the Lines' with Malcolm Jamal Warner

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Apparently Diana is concerned about Tracee ending up in a harem since Bu's brother Akon likes to brag about being a polygamist and how the custom is accepted in Senegal. Tracee and Bu have been laughing off Diana's fears and Tracee has assured her mom that she has no plans for marriage and that if she does marry Bu she will be his only wife.

WOULD BUY THIS QUEEN’S BOOK FOR YOUR CHILD?

Perez Hilton was a guest on The Today Show and I have to say he came across as much nicer than he has in the past. I’ve seen several interviews with him and he’s often defensive and obnoxious. This time, maybe because he had something to promote, he seemed friendly and like he really has genuinely changed. He was still a loudmouth for sure, but I was impressed with how decent he came across. Perez is promoting his new children’s book called, I sh*t you not, The Boy With Pink Hair. It’s got a cliched plot about a fat kid who used to scrawl anonymous graffiti on the walls of school about all popular kids, until they figured out who he was and then started to mock him mercilessly. Then he lost weight and said he was sorry and tried to get accepted in their club. Or maybe it’s just another book about an outsider kid. Whatever. Didn’t Madonna already do that?

Perez claimed he’s “the perfect person to write a children’s book,” not because he’s ever had children, worked with children, babysat children, said a kind word about someone else’s child, or has any nieces or nephews. Just because he used to be an asshole and changed.

I’m the perfect person to write a children’s book because I’m somebody who made mistakes in the past, acknowledged them, and has taken steps to no longer do that and I think that’s a great message for children.

In the past I was definitely meaner, nasty, give people unpleasant nicknames, draw lots of nice things on photos. But then, last year there were all these gay teenagers who were committing suicide… A lot of people were calling me a hypocrite and a bully myself. That’s not who I am in my heart.

They next showed some illustrations from the book, which were done by a professional illustrator and don’t feature crude penis drawings. Perez explained that “there’s a great message in it for parents about being accepting of your kids no matter how they are.” Kathy Lee clarified that “This is not a gay book, it’s not about your sexual orientation. It’s just about being uniquely different.”

Then Perez chimed in with “Everybody’s different, unless you’re Reese Witherspoon or Taylor Swift, who everybody loves.”

I believe that he’s changed for whatever reason, but I see it more as a public persona choice than a genuine personal awakening. It’s still really tough to buy that this guy is now putting out a children’s book. Even if you just look at the other books he’s released and aren’t that familiar with his website, there’s a mismatch there to say the least. It looks like he needed a new angle for a book and for his image.

MISS KERI Baby you’re not that Fab!..Got checked by your own assistant!

*Uh oh, someone pushed Keri Hilson’s buttons. Last week in Las Vegas, the singer supposedly had a “diva moment” after a performance at Haze nightclub. She was just finishing up when she realized her harem pants hadn’t been removed. She got back stage and went off on her assistant.

A source said, “Hilson lost it. She was screaming at her assistant for ‘not being able to do anything right.’ [She] railed that the assistant also forgot to ‘pack her eyedrops and throat spray.’”

But her assistant wasn’t going to accept that. She responded with, “Oh, hell no!”

The two nearly got into a physical fight, but security came out and broke the two apart before it all went down. That was the end of it.

Only part of the story was confirmed by Keri’s reps who said she did ask her assistant for eyedrops and throat spray because she was feeling under the weather, but there was no altercation. They denied it never got to the point where things boiled over.

She’s had the same road crew since day one.

NBC News' Andrea Mitchell reveals she has breast cancer

NBC News' Andrea Mitchell revealed on air on Wednesday that she has breast cancer, but said it hasn't spread and called her prognosis 'terrific.'

Mitchell made the announcement at the end of her MSNBC show, 'Andrea Mitchell Reports.'

She says the cancer was discovered during an annual screening 'just a short time ago.'

NBC's Andrea Mitchell announced at the end of her show on Wednesday that she has breast cancer, which she said was diagnosed early and for which she has an excellent prognosis

She had planned to spend her summer vacation hiking in Wyoming, she said, 'but instead discovered that I am now among the one in eight women in this country, incredibly, one in eight, who have had breast cancer.'

Mitchell has been married Alan Greenspan since 1997, the year this photo was taken

She said hers was caught early and reminded women that screening for breast cancer is key and is looking at this experience 'as another of life's lessons.'

'Mine was discovered during my annual screening just a short time ago,' she continued.

'Luckily for me, I'm one of the fortunate ones. We discovered it in the earliest stage, it had not spread, and I'm already back at work with a terrific prognosis.'

Mitchell has been married to former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan since 1997 and is a stepmother to two sons.

Besides hosting her show, she is NBC News' chief foreign affairs correspondent.

'For you women out there and for the men who love you, screening matters,' she told viewers.

'Do it.'

Larenze Tate and Eriq LaSalla are coming back to T.V!

Two of our good African American actors are returning back to T.V. check it out!

BET announced today that cutie Larenz Tate will start in an original film called Gun Hill for the network, which will soon begin shooting in NYC.

Written and directed by Reggie “Rock” Bythewood, the flick is described as a fast-paced, gritty cop drama involving identical twins, one is a cop, the other a con, whose lives become intertwined one fateful night when the cop is killed and the con assumes his identity. Hmmm......that storyline sounds enticing already.

Larenz Tate, who's currently starring in "Rescue Me" on FX, will pull double duty playing both the good twin and bad twin. Interesting....

And also Eriq LaSalle is back who starred as Dr. Benton on NBC’s ”ER,” is returning to both series television as well as a role set in a fictional hospital.

The actor has booked a multiepisode arc on CBS’ upcoming Patrick Wilson medical drama “A Gifted Man,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. La Salle will recur as neuropsychiatrist Evan Morrison, a physician who treats those with emotional and behavioral disturbances.

Morrison is described as a great medical detective who focuses on the nuances of human behavior. He’ll appear in at least four episodes of the series. The role reunites La Salle with “Gifted Man” executive producer Neal Baer, who also was an EP on “ER.”

“Gifted Man” revolves around Wilson’s Michael, a competitive surgeon whose world is turned upside down when his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle) begins teaching him the meaning of life from the hereafter.

La Salle, who helmed an episode of “ER,” also might direct at least one episode of the drama, which executive producers Baer and Sarah Timberman said will be equally about medicine and science with a touch of spirituality.

La Salle is currently directing an episode of the CW’s upcoming Sarah Michelle Gellar action drama “Ringer.”

Evelyn Lozada Quits Basketball Wives

Something messy this way comes. Evelyn Lozada, Basketball Wives Miami's resident uber-bitch, left a series of cryptic Tweets informing her fans that she was deleting her Twitter account and would not be back for another season Basketball Wives...

UGH!! Bye Bye Evey Boo!

2-Year-Old Boy Found Bound And Gagged In House After Triple Murder

A 2-year-old was located bound and gagged nearly three hours after the deceased bodies of a man and two women were reported in a Banning home in California

Authorities are searching for suspects after a 2-year-old boy was found bound and gagged at the scene of a triple homicide in Banning.

Three victims -- Demetrius Hunt, 42, Natasha Biggers, 33, and Yvonne Ward, 57 -- were discovered at around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday at a home on the corner of Phillips and Williams streets, police said. Hunt and Biggers were the boys' parents, police added.  

The boy was initially thought to be missing, and officers searched the house for him to no avail.

An officer outside the home heard crying and later found the child bound with tape and gagged in a room behind a converted bathroom. Police speculated that the suspects may not have wanted to hurt the boy but wanted to keep him quiet.

The child, who may have passed out due to the heat, was in good condition, police said. He was treated at a local hospital.

Police said the three victims lived together and were friends. 

Hunt was a known drug dealer and family members speculated that his line of work led to his death, investigators said.  

Martha Parra, 57, who lives across the street from the home where the bodies were found, said she recalled one of the women who died. "She came here very thirsty once, and another time she came in the winter and asked for socks."

Pastor Lillie Alexander, of God's Holy Hand Testimony Ministry said "I've ministered to [the victims] and pray for them," Alexander said. "I've helped them with food and counseling and prayer. I heard about this today and it's just a tragedy.

A Night to Remember’ Celebrates Bethann Hardison in Atlanta

Last week Judy and Michael Mauldin of R&B Hip Hop 4 Humanity along with Bentley Atlanta and The Atlantan hosted the star-studded “A Night to Remember” fundraiser and tribute to fashion pioneer Bethann Hardison and the late designer Willi Smith at Atlanta’s ever-popular Atlantic Station.

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Model Tyson Beckford and WSB TV’s Jovita Moore emcee’d the affair, which included a performance by singer Kenny Lattimore, a presentation to Hardison and Smith, and a stunning runway show featuring model and tv personality Cynthia Bailey.

Interior designer Michael Habachy of HGTV’s “Design Wars” transformed the vast loft space above Z Gallerie into a chic white wonderland washed in jewel-toned lighting.

Attendees included actress Jasmine Guy, former model Gail O’Neill, Anna Maria Horsford, Toya & Memphitz Wright, Trina & Towanda Braxton, Tameka Raymond (one of the show’s stylists), attorney/Real Housewives’ Phaedra Parks, singer/songwriter Crystal Nicole, choreographer Andrea Kelly, singer Dondria, entrepreneur Peter Thomas, Derek Blanks, Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, Roger Bobb, Kenny Burns (V103) and more.

Tyson Beckford on the mic

RHOA's Cynthia Bailey

Jasmine Guy

Kenny Lattimore

Toya and Memphitz

Trina & Towanda Braxton

“A Night to Remember” kicks off Atlanta’s celebration of Fashion’s Night Out which takes place Sept 8. Proceeds from “A Night to Remember” benefit the Mauldin Scholarship Fund at Savannah College of Art & Design and Invisible Beauty, a documentary by Bethann Hardison. For more information, visit www.antrfashion.org

DAME Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewels are up for Auction

Jewels are expected to net 20 Million

Elizabeth Taylor didn’t do things by halves. And even in death, that is still true, as proved by the auction of the Hollywood icon’s world-renowned collection of jewelry, recently announced

The two-day sale in December, expected to raise more than £20million, will be preceded by a three-month global tour that will also display couture, fine art and memorabilia belonging to the actress, who died aged 79 from heart failure in March.

A total of 269 diamonds, pearls, rubies, rings, necklaces and a tiara will be sold, with several of the most valuable pieces related to Miss Taylor’s lengthy and complicated relationship with Richard Burton, whom she married and divorced twice.

‘This is without a doubt the greatest private collection of jewellery ever assembled in one place,’ said Christie’s Americas chairman and president Marc Porter.

The collection includes everything ‘from her most jaw-dropping diamonds, gems and one-of-a-kind historic jewels to ... never-before-seen keepsakes’, he said.

Leading the gala evening sale of 89 top lots on December 13 and 14 is Taylor’s iconic, 33.19-carat white diamond ring, a 1968 gift from Burton after the actor purchased it at auction for $300,000.

The trustees of Taylor’s estate have renamed it The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, and it is estimated to fetch £1.57million to £2.19million.

But previous auctions of memorabilia belonging to celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Onassis have soared to many times their pre-sale estimates.

‘It is her depth of knowledge about fine jewellery that truly impresses,’ Francois Curiel, international jewellery director for Christie’s, said of Miss Taylor.

‘It was clear that she possessed an expert’s eye for craftsmanship, rarity, quality and history. She collected the best pieces from the best periods.’

Among the pieces is a 203-grain (equivalent to 55 carat) pear-shaped 14th-century pearl known as La Peregrina, once owned by England’s Queen Mary I and later passed on to Spanish queens Margarita and Isabel.

Burton bought it in 1969 at auction for £23,000, and Miss Taylor commissioned Cartier to design a new ruby-and-diamond necklace mount. It is estimated to sell for £1.25million to £1.88million.

At the other end of the spectrum, bidders will have a chance to buy Miss Taylor’s two, diamond-set wedding bands from her marriages to Burton, estimated to fetch only £4,000 to £6,000.

All that glitters: Along with her raven-haired beauty, Elizabeth Taylor was well -known for the fabulous collection of jewels

From Mike Todd, another of Miss Taylor’s seven husbands, there is an antique diamond tiara, which the star wore to the 1957 Academy Awards, that is estimated to fetch £40,000 to £60,000.

In keeping with the actress’s humanitarian work, a portion of the proceeds from exhibitions, events and publications related to the auction will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation, which the actress founded in 1991.

MR. SMARTWATER was smart is picking Idris Elba as it’s spokesman

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Smartwater never looked so good. The vitamin-ridden H20 drink company just officially announced that Emmy nominated actor, Idris Elba, is the face of its fall campaign.

I've got 1 (of 4) dapperific ads inside....

The campaign, which was shot earlier this summer, will consist of print executions in national magazines and other advertising markets. The ads, shot by noted fashion photographer Norman Jean Ray, feature 'Dris in four different scenes that depict his lifestyle and the importance of smartwater in his daily routine.

It's his first ad campaign with the company, but the "Luther" actor joined The Coca-Cola Company family (where Smartwater is housed) in 2010 when he accompanied 21 students from twelve HBCUs on a journey to South Africa as part of the 2010 Open Happiness Tour.

By the way, Captain Idris was also recently cast in Guillermo del Toro’s movie Pacific Rim, scheduled to be released in 2013.

Catch the Takers star at the Primetime Emmys on Sept. 18th as he's currently nominated for both the Outstanding Leading Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie for "Luther" and for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy for "The Big C."

Beyonce Starts Talking Back To Her Father Because She’s Pregnant

According the this weeks National Enquirer in print, Beyoncé’s recent pregnancy has helped heal things between her and her father. After recent allegations that Matthew Knowles was stealing money from Beyoncé (see here) the two stopped speaking to each other, he was also the last to know about Beyoncé being pregnant. The Enquirer also says the baby helped Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s turbulent relationship, basically calming down his partying ways.

Beyonce’s joyful baby news is shoring up her rocky marriage to rap mogul Jay Z, and smoothing over her troubled relationship with her estranged father, insiders say.

While Beyonce toured Europe this summer, Jay Z was spotted partying in the Big Apple with model Selita Ebanks on July 20 and at club 1Oak with a bevy of beauties on July 8.

“When she was on a break, Beyonce called Jay out on his party-boy behavior,” the source said. “He tried to slough it off as part of the music business, but she told him that as a father-to-be he needed to act like a family man. After a heart-to-heart, Jay Z committed himself totally to Beyonce and their baby.”

“Mathew was the last of Beyonce’s inner circle to learn about hte pregnancy, and he was furious” said the source. “But he’s come around, and Beyonce believes the baby news has brought them back together.

Will Jay-Z stop partying wildly? How long will Matthew and Beyoncé’s make-up last?

MENS PUSS & BOOTS: CINZIA ARAIA MEN’S 2011 FALL COLLECTION

Cinzia Araia releases her unique and elaborate Men’s 2011 Fall Collection. The Venice, Italy born designer began to work within the family shoe business and presented her first collection in 2010. Her shoes are the result of a personal vision, in which she combines different materials, splitting the soles and deconstructing styles, offering cutting-edge, hand-crafted shoes.

Check out the collection

The 2011 collection spirit remains the expression of the fantastic game of decomposition and composition; continues the research on shapes, volumes and designs through the overlapping of different and outdated materials. …fab boots!

Rick Ross And Maybach Music Group Party At Greenhouse NYC

Rick Ross and his Maybach Music team were spotted in NYC where they partied at Greenhouse Nightclub.

As previously reported, Ross and his entire Maybach collective are featured on the cover of XXL Magazine and talk the individual talents they bring to the MMG team.

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Now with a fall cover story under their belt, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Pill and Stalley took over Greenhouse NYC where they posed for pictures and popped bottles of what else? Rosé.

And finally from “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

“Huge Heffer”

Maybe after Hugh Hefner had his heart broken along with his engagement, he has decided to look past superficial beauty and concentrate on inner beauty….I sure as hell wouldn’t buy that magazine, but whatever.

MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK ALL!!

EFREM