Eartha Kitt: Finally Home

The one, the only, the incomparable Eartha Kitt
Whatever that thing that superstars possess, she had it
She had a humble beginning amidst a South Carolina cotton field Abandoned by her parents, she set her mind on a better life and did not yield

Eartha had raging beauty… a style original, bold and keen
And a voice so singular and instantly recognized, it didn’t require
that she be seen
She was dubbed “the most exciting woman in the world” by Orson Welles
He realized she had the type of talent, allure and sex appeal that sells


Kitt landed a spot in the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe and moved on to cabaret
She did records, movies, TV, the concert stage and, of course, Broadway
The classy siren performed with stars like Sidney Poitier and Nat “King”Cole,to name a few
Christmas favorite, Santa Baby, still enchants and entertains Kitt
fans old and new

“The Original Material Girl” was blacklisted for her honesty back in 1968
But she never backed down, toured the world, and made the best of her fate
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter welcomed Ms. Kitt back to her homeland
Her career was no longer spectacular; still, the performer lived a life
fulfilling and grand




Concerts Alone with Me and I’m Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten sold out the Carnegie
She did the voice of Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove and wrote Thursday’s Child, her autobiography
Eartha Kitt succumbed to colon cancer on Christmas day, 2008. She was 81
Farewell to an enormously talented and infinitely fascinating lady who
was still as beautiful as she was when her life begun


Sunida E. York © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (2009)

DNA from skeletal remains match Caylee Anthony

The skeletal remains found in a wooded area just a mile or so from the Anthony home have been matched to the DNA profile of Caylee Anthony. Dr. Jan Garavaglia, of the television show, "Dr. G., Medical Examiner", confirmed that the test was conclusive. The child went missing in June. She was just two years old at the time. Her mother, Casey Anthony, never bothered to report her missing.

Police were made aware of the Caylee's disappearance by her grandmother, who had not seen her for at least a month. The grandmother also reported to police that Casey's car smelled as if something dead was in the trunk.

Case Anthony was arrested in October and charged with first-degree murder in the case. Pictures of her partying after her daughter went missing seemed to capture the 22-year-old's lack of concern for her missing child.

Click here for a link to the full article: Yahoo! News

This one's for you, Caylee.


Caylee's Destiny

Big brown eyes adorn a beautiful little face
You didn't have much time in this life, this place
Destiny had other plans for you, fair one
The impact you had on others has just begun
To manifest. But what an impact it will be
Your death will cause things to be done differently
People will stop assuming that every parent is "good"
And that they love and care for their child as they should
More people will step up when they see a child in need
When reports are made to authorities, they will take heed
Because people are going to remember your story, your adorable face
And someone will act when a child goes missing from their normal space
Caylee, your unspeakable demise would not have been in vain
If it spares one innocent child from a moment of pain
Now you can be an angel, like the ones who spirited your soul away
Enjoy the love and tranquility you wake up to in heaven each day

Sunida E. York © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Tyler Perry victorious in recent lawsuit

The jury listened as the script for the play, Fantasy of a Black Woman by Donna West, was read. They watched as the movie, Diary of a Mad Black Woman by actor and screenwriter Tyler Perry, played. The jury even heard the testimony of L.D. Dabney, a Dallas area arts buff and associate of West, who stated that he thought Perry's movie was based on West's play when he viewed the film. Still, in the end, the jury sided the with once-struggling playwright turned uber-successful entertainment mogul.

Perry took to the stand in his own defense and endured charges that he took material from other movies like Martin Lawrence's Big Momma's House. Aubrey Pittman, West's attorney, contended that Perry incorporated ideas from The Color Purple, An Officer and a Gentleman and Mrs. Doubtfire into his mega-hit movie as well.

Making eye contact with the jury, Perry responded unequivocally, "I never stole anything from anybody--- never."

West was seeking all proceeds from the movie which took in $50.4 million at theaters across the country.

Bobby Brown Tell All Book: "Whitney's No Punk"

Bobby Brown,formerly of New Edition, is opening up about his life, including his marriage to mega-talented singer and actress, Whitney Houston. "Bobby Brown: The Truth,the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth" is written by Derek Handspike and published by Down South Books. Released on December 9, 2008, the unauthorized biography is said speak frankly about Brown's drug use, sex and drama.

Brown reunited with former New Edition members Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill to form Heads of State. The trio began touring on September 27, 2008.

January issue of GQ has Jennifer Aniston Nude

With only a tie around her neck, actress Jennifer Aniston poses for the January, 2009issue of GQ magazine. In addition to showcasing her enviable physique, 39-year-old Aniston jokes about the ever present Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie issue, which, judging from her jokes, is only an issue for the press. Hey, whatever sells magazines and keeps the fans entertained!

Marley and Me Trailer

Veterans Affair Investigain in South Carolina

Veterans beware! A report by Military.com brings to light the investigation of a Columbia, S.C. employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who discarded as many as 95 case files of veterans in a shredder bin. For several years now, the VA has struggled with a backlog of veterans attempting to be evaluated for disability compensation. The actions of this employee will undoubtedly cause further delay for some South Carolina veterans. The employee attempted to allow the files to be destroyed on October 3, 2008. About 46 of the records were submitted for new claims for benefits or contained supporting documentation.

Regardless of where you reside, if you are a veteran who is concerned about your claim or your records, you may contact the Department of Veterans Affairs via the national toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000. You will be connected to your regional office through this number.

WeeWeeChu

This email was so cute, I had to post it.




It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, "Hey, mamacita, let's do Weeweechu."

Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.

Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.

"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon." replied Rosita.

Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."

Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do Weeweechu."

Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!


Thanks to N. Trevino and K. Hutchinson for sharing this!

Tyler Perry Sued for Copyright Infringement

Tyler Perry is defending against charges of copyright infringement in U.S. District Court in Texas. Donna West is claiming that Perry stole material from a play that she wrote based on her own life. West is accusing the phenominally successful writer, actor and producer of basing much of his runnaway hit film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman on her play, "Fantasy of a Black Woman". She states that she can no longer put on the play, performed in July, 1991, in Dallas, because no one is interested in seeing the same storyline acted out again. Perry's film hit the theaters in 2005. The case is expected to come to a close by next Tuesday.

Nothing Like The Holidays

Send a Soldier a Holiday Greeting Card

The Red Cross, with help from Pitney Bowes, is conducting it's campaign to send a million greeting cards to American service members, veterans and their families stateside and worldwide. Until Dec 10, the public can send cards without inserts, including glitter or money, to the address listed below. Care packages should not be sent, either. Please use the proper amount of postage. For additional details and instructions or to download and print a free card, please visit the American Red Cross website.


Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, Md. 20791-5456

Cards will be screened and sorted prior to being delivered in time for Christmas.

Links:

American Red Cross

ABC News

Yahoo Shine

Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Cadillac Records Movie

Starts Friday, December 5, 2008!


Etta James - At Last

A Website for Married Cheaters? Uh... yeah!

Tyra Banks is nothing if not interesting. She loves to bring something different to her show. How about this... a website dedicated to married people who want to cheat? That's right.

The Ashley Madison Agency's trademarked motto is: Life is short. Have an affair. It boasts having over 2,950,000 "like minded members" as the "World's premier discreet dating service."

And you can join for free! Oh, joy! But wait... there's also a 100% guarantee that you WILL have an affair. Well, all of the faithful, non-cheating spouses must love the hell out of that! They can just leave their tedious love-making duties to someone else. It's like having a sex maid. You probably won't know about it, though, with everything being so discreet and secretive.

Ashley Madison must be what every loyal spouse has always wanted... someone to help their presumably unhappy (or down right greedy and selfish) other half step out on them without them having a clue.

For the record, Tyra was appalled by this practice. According to the site, the agency has also been featured on Howard Stern, 20/20, Ellen, Dr. Phil, and Larry King. By the way, the owner is married and said he does not cheat. His wife said that she is not worried about him straying. In addition, the owner does not find anything wrong with providing this much needed service because the cheaters would do so without his help. And he is making a really good living from it. Ain't free enterprise in America grand? Yeah, baby. Do what you like! Don't worry about hurting your spouse, ruining your marriage, alienating your children, or setting a bad example for your children. None of that stuff will happen unless somehow the discreet factor fails and you get caught. Don't forget your raincoat!

Calisthenics Kingz

Check out this guy! My, how he moves. His name is George Richards, aka Calisthenics Kingz. His abs are chiseled to perfection. Well, he is a personal trainer who has been tagged the Bronx Born Hercules. And he says it's all without the use of weights, just calisthenics. I saw a video clip of him on Inside Edition today. Fan-freakin-tastic! Additional videos are posted on YouTube (search Calisthenics Kingz).

Thanksgiving: Dear Soldier

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. What are you thankful for? Many of us are truly grateful to have family and friends with us. Unfortunately, thousands of families have a loved one serving overseas who cannot be with them this holiday season. We should all be thankful for the men and women who are serving in the military, at home or abroad, in an effort to protect us.

The following poem is one I penned after a conversation with a dear friend who is on his third tour of duty in Iraq. I'm thankful for some lasting friendships I formed while serving in the U.S. Army as well as for the friendship with military members I've met elsewhere. The term "soldier" is used here to encompass members of all branches of the military. And thanks to FreedomTeamSalute.com, U.S. Army Veterans, a spouse, an employer or an entity that supports the Army can be given a commendation. Please visit their site for more details.


Dear Soldier

Thank you, dear soldier, for your service every single day
For making sure America is a lot less in harm’s way
Being away from home for so long undoubtedly takes its toll
You miss family, friends, everyday comforts… the Lazy Boy and remote control

But your resilient nature kicks in again and again
And you find ways to stay positive until your deployment comes to an end
So America is grateful that she can close her eyes and sleep peacefully at night
Without waking to a terrorist engineered, deadly and tragic plight

The old girl is admired and disliked all at once, curiously
From time to time, outside forces seek to challenge her, hoping to see
If she will be immobilized, struck down via the smallest weakness found
Because of you, dear soldier, she has been able to react, to stand, to rebound

People across this great nation appreciate you putting your personal needs aside
And jumping back into the Humvee and back into battle you ride
Never losing sight of your ultimate goal as you labor to set things right
Not only to keep America safe but to return in the same mental and physical
condition as when you joined the fight

You are also acknowledged, dear soldier assigned to the rear. Your work is
immensely important, too
For it’s your preparation and support that allows our troops serving abroad to
do what they do
We, the American people, want you to know that without you all, she would
fail the enemy’s test
And for that, dear soldier, we remain thankful and vigilantly pray that you are
always safe and forever blessed

Sunida E. York © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Webcam broadcasts Fla. teen's suicide

Abraham Biggs committed suicide at his Pembroke Pines, Florida home while viewers watched via his webcam. Some viewers encouraged the 19-year-old to end his life. Vile comments show that they were annoyed that he had threatened suicide on other occasions.

Biggs posted a note, alleged to have been copied from at least two other sources previously posted on the Internet. In photos on his MySpace page, the teen is posing with smiling women though he is not smiling in most of the pictures. The link to the thread on justin.tv, where the death by drug overdose was aired live, has been removed. Another link on bodybuilding.com where the young man was berated and told to make good on his threat after announcing his intentions to commit suicide has been removed as well.

Family members told police that the lethal combination of drugs that claimed Biggs' life were medications prescribed for his bipolar disorder.

If you think that someone is about to commit suicide, prevention assistance is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline via a 24-hour toll-free number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). The call is confidential and you may call for yourself or someone you'd like to help. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also offers assistance. Please visit the website.

Abraham Biggs' story is a sad commentary on how easily a young life can be lost when no one is paying attention or taking their issues seriously. Although it cannot be said with certainty that his death could have been prevented, it is certain that those who sat at their computers and watched during a 12 hour period could have acted sooner to alert authorities so that the necessary intervention could have been implemented in a timely manner.

I hope that this young man's soul is finally at peace. My condolences are extended to his family and friends.

Reggie Watts

I just stummbled across this guy on Youtube. He's unique and has MAD skilz!!


Out of Control



It's Over

5-year-old girl can really handle a ball... or three!

Milan Simon Tuttle



View article by Rod Benson

Gospel Classics

I grew up listening to Gospel music and I still love to listen to traditional Gospel to this day. Some of the best Gospel music is extremely difficult to find or simply no longer available. Thanks to kind folks who post it on Youtube, I am able to hear music that I haven't listened to in years. Here some classic for you to enjoy.

Myrna Summers - Uncloudy Day


The Rev. Reuben Willingham - New Walk


The Gerald Sister (Mullins, SC) Help Me To Bear These Tides


The Meditation Singers - Jesus, Be A Fence


Dorothy Love Coates - City Built Four Square


The Commodores - Jesus Is Love

Comedian Katt Williams Hospitalized

According to a published report, comedian and actor, Katt Williams, was in Sumter, South Carolina on Friday and ended up at the local hospital after family members urged him to seek psychiatric care. The 35-year-old funny man was in town to visit his daughter when his behavior became increasing bizarre. Police were called but they did not feel that he needed to be taken into custody. Williams allegedly consulted a local attorney because he was concerned about a possible violation of his rights. Williams has acted in several movies, including "First Sunday", "Norbit", and "The Perfect Holiday".

Link: The Item