Obama backs Bush: No rights for Bagram prisoners

via Google

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration, siding with the Bush White House, contended Friday that detainees in Afghanistan have no constitutional rights.

In a two-sentence court filing, the Justice Department said it agreed that detainees at Bagram Airfield cannot use U.S. courts to challenge their detention. The filing shocked human rights attorneys.

“The hope we all had in President Obama to lead us on a different path has not turned out as we’d hoped,” said Tina Monshipour Foster, a human rights attorney representing a detainee at the Bagram Airfield. “We all expected better.”

The Supreme Court last summer gave al-Qaida and Taliban suspects held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the right to challenge their detention. With about 600 detainees at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and thousands more held in Iraq, courts are grappling with whether they, too, can sue to be released.

Three months after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Guantanamo Bay, four Afghan citizens being detained at Bagram tried to challenge their detentions in U.S. District Court in Washington. Court filings alleged that the U.S. military had held them without charges, repeatedly interrogating them without any means to contact an attorney. Their petition was filed by relatives on their behalf since they had no way of getting access to the legal system.

The military has determined that all the detainees at Bagram are “enemy combatants.” The Bush administration said in a response to the petition last year that the enemy combatant status of the Bagram detainees is reviewed every six months, taking into consideration classified intelligence and testimony from those involved in their capture and interrogation.

After Barack Obama took office, a federal judge in Washington gave the new administration a month to decide whether it wanted to stand by Bush’s legal argument. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd says the filing speaks for itself.

“They’ve now embraced the Bush policy that you can create prisons outside the law,” said Jonathan Hafetz, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who has represented several detainees.

The Justice Department argues that Bagram is different from Guantanamo Bay because it is in an overseas war zone and the prisoners there are being held as part of a military action. The government argues that releasing enemy combatants into the Afghan war zone, or even diverting U.S. personnel there to consider their legal cases, could threaten security.

The government also said if the Bagram detainees got access to the courts, it would allow all foreigners captured by the United States in conflicts worldwide to do the same.

U.S. Congressman Visit Gaza, Urge Immediate Relief and Change of Policy

via House.gov

Washington, D.C. – Two members of Congress, Brian Baird (D-WA-03), and Keith Ellison, (D-MN-05), visited Gaza on Thursday to view firsthand the destruction from recent Israeli air and ground attacks and to meet with international and local relief agencies. This visit, which did not have the official sanction of the Obama Administration, is the first time anyone from the U.S. government has entered Gaza in more than three years.

Prior to Gaza, both Congressmen met with the chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority, Dr. Saeb Erekat, as well as with Dr. Riad Malki Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority. On Friday, Baird and Ellison will tour the Israeli towns of Sderot and Ashkelon, which have been the target of numerous rockets before and throughout the recent attacks launched from within the Gaza strip.

“Staff from the U.S. State Department advised us of security concerns for our own safety, and we are well aware of the sensitive political issues involved in this visit,” said both Congressmen in an official release.

“We believe it is important to be here to see what happened for ourselves, to meet with people who have been affected, and to express our concern and support,” said Congressman Baird.

“We also want to better understand what can and must be done to recover from the destruction, address the underlying issues, and work toward a lasting, just and peaceful resolution,” added Congressman Ellison.

After spending the day visiting various locations within Gaza and meeting with civilians and relief workers, Baird and Ellison were deeply affected by what they had seen and heard.

“The stories about the children affected me the most,” said Ellison. “No parent, or anyone who cares for kids, can remain unmoved by what Brian and I saw here.”

Suspend military aid to Israel, Amnesty urges Obama after detailing US weapons used in Gaza

via Guardian UK

Detailed evidence has emerged of Israel’s extensive use of US-made weaponry during its war in Gaza last month, including white phosphorus artillery shells, 500lb bombs and Hellfire missiles.

In a report released today, Amnesty International detailed the weapons used and called for an immediate arms embargo on Israel and all Palestinian armed groups. It called on the Obama administration to suspend military aid to Israel.

The human rights group said that those arming both sides in the conflict “will have been well aware of a pattern of repeated misuse of weapons by both parties and must therefore take responsibility for the violations perpetrated”.

The US has long been the largest arms supplier to Israel; under a current 10-year agreement negotiated by the Bush administration the US will provide $30bn (£21bn) in military aid to Israel.

“As the major supplier of weapons to Israel, the USA has a particular obligation to stop any supply that contributes to gross violations of the laws of war and of human rights,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa programme director. “To a large extent, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza was carried out with weapons, munitions and military equipment supplied by the USA and paid for with US taxpayers’ money.”

For their part, Palestinian militants in Gaza were arming themselves with “unsophisticated weapons” including rockets made in Russia, Iran and China and bought from “clandestine sources”, it said. About 1,300 Palestinians were killed and more than 4,000 injured during the three-week conflict. On the Israeli side 13 were killed, including three civilians. Amnesty said Israel’s armed forces carried out “direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects in Gaza, and attacks which were disproportionate or indiscriminate”. The Israeli military declined to comment yesterday.

Palestinian militants also fired “indiscriminate rockets” at civilians, Amnesty said. It called for an independent investigation into violations of international humanitarian law by both sides.

Amnesty researchers in Gaza found several weapon fragments after the fighting. One came from a 500lb (227kg) Mark-82 fin guided bomb, which had markings indicating parts were made by the US company Raytheon. They also found fragments of US-made white phosphorus artillery shells, marked M825 A1.

On 15 January, several white phosphorus shells fired by the Israeli military hit the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza City, destroying medicine, food and aid. One fragment found at the scene had markings indicating it was made by the Pine Bluff Arsenal, based in Arkansas, in October 1991.

Marijuana — Safer Than Aspirin and Other Legal Drugs

via Wise Perception

Cannabis is a safer drug than aspirin and can be used long-term without serious side effects, says a book by a leading Oxford scientist.

The Science of Marijuana, by Dr Leslie Iversen of Oxford University’s department of pharmacology, found many “myths” surrounding marijuana use, such as extreme addictiveness, or links with mental illness or infertility are not supported by science.

He also found cannabis is an inherently “safe drug” which does not lead to cancer, infertility, brain damage or mental illness. Legalisation of the drug for medical conditions should be considered, he says.

Dr Iversen’s findings will increase pressure on the Government to reopen the debate about the decriminalisation of marijuana.

The author, a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society, found cannabis was far less toxic than other drugs and had “an impressive record” compared with heroin, cocaine or tobacco and alcohol.

His study showed that the active element of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ), which made users high, had a lot of potential as a safe drug to treat Aids patients and people suffering severe pain.

He also found “stoned” drivers were less dangerous and able to co-ordinate than people who were drunk. “By any standards, THC must be considered a very safe drug both acutely and on long-term exposure,” he writes. “The available animal data are more than adequate to justify its approval as a human medicine, and indeed it has been approved by the FDA [American drug authority] for certain limited therapeutic indications.”

The book says “alarming claims about the harmful effects of long-term exposure to cannabis” should be “put to rest”, and there “is no evidence the drug causes any impairment in fertility or sexual function in men or women”. He says people who stop using cannabis do not suffer long-term side-effects.

“Cannabis does not cause structural damage to the brains of animals as some reports had claimed, nor is there evidence of long-term damage to the human brain or other than slight residual impairments in cognitive function after drug use is stopped.” The author says many adverse effects of cannabis are related to smoking the drug.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ wins eight Oscars, including best picture

via IHT

LOS ANGELES: “Slumdog Milllionare” swept the Academy Awards with eight prizes, including for best picture, capping an unlikely trajectory for a movie about a young man’s rise from the slums of Mumbai to television stardom.

Heath Ledger posthumously won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in “The Dark Night” and Penélope Cruz won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her portrayal of the fiery ex-wife of an amorous artist in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

“Has anybody ever fainted here?” Cruz said in accepting the award. She then dedicated the award to her parents, and told how as a child she watched the Oscars, calling her art “the world’s universal language.” And then in Spanish, she thanked the people of Spain, saying she shared the award with her homeland.

Ledger’s family was on hand to accept the award, with his father, Kim, and other family members addressing the ceremony. Ledger died in his Manhattan apartment on Jan. 22, from what was ruled an accidental drug overdose.

Overall, Sunday evening’s Oscar show was something of a struggle between the ambitions of a producing team — headed by the veteran film producer Laurence Mark and the filmmaker Bill Condon — that aimed for an evening full of surprises and the apparent determination of 5,810 voters in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to bestow honors largely where they were expected to go.

A much-discussed new format for the show found Hugh Jackman, the evening’s host, performing a comical tribute in song to the five best picture nominees as the event began at 5:30 p.m. in the Kodak Theater here. He then wandered into the audience to tease the nominees, telling Mickey Rourke that “If you win, we do a 20-minute delay.”

Britain faces summer of rage – police

via Guardian UK

Police are preparing for a “summer of rage” as victims of the economic downturn take to the streets to demonstrate against financial institutions, the Guardian has learned.

Britain’s most senior police officer with responsibility for public order raised the spectre of a return of the riots of the 1980s, with people who have lost their jobs, homes or savings becoming “footsoldiers” in a wave of potentially violent mass protests.

Superintendent David Hartshorn, who heads the Metropolitan police’s public order branch, told the Guardian that middle-class individuals who would never have considered joining demonstrations may now seek to vent their anger through protests this year.

He said that banks, particularly those that still pay large bonuses despite receiving billions in taxpayer money, had become “viable targets”. So too had the headquarters of multinational companies and other financial institutions in the City which are being blamed for the financial crisis.

Hartshorn, who receives regular intelligence briefings on potential causes of civil unrest, said the mood at some demonstrations had changed recently, with activists increasingly “intent on coming on to the streets to create public disorder”.

(Update #1) Nude Carnival Queen, Viviane Castro, Bodypaints Obama On Her Leg

via HuffPost

Brazilian carnival queen Viviane Castro parades with an image depicting President Barack Obama painted on her left leg during carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Castro’s stomach reads in Portuguese “for sale,” a message she said represented the sale of Brazil’s Amazon to the U.S.

[video] Saturday Cartoons Presents “Officer Ricky: Welcome To Death Row Right Now Na Na Na”

The hilarity which is the 5o CENT vs. RICK ROSS “beef” goes into its umpteenth week and as promised a new SATURDAY CARTOON has dropped and of course there’s new names being added to the hitlist. Joining Chris Brown and Rihanna as co-stars in 50′s weekly rants and spoofs is none other than T.I., Akon, Suge and the dude who gave him the bizness.  And of course returing for hosting duties is DJ Khaled and Officer Riccckkkkyyyy.  50 needs to step to Cartoon Network and get a slot for these, they are ingeniously hilarious.

[video] Hip Hop Chronicle Interviews Elliot Wilson Part I & II

Here is a thorough interview with literary heavyweight Elliot Wilson. An accomplished journalist and editor who helmed the ship over at XXL, where his alter-ego YN was introduced to the world, he sheds some light unto the profession of Hip Hop journalist, the emergence of the Hip Hop blog as a force to be reckoned with and hbow he is still able to keep his pen game proper in the midst of a Hip Hop journalist recession.

Not since the days of Bonz Malone and Harry Allen was Hip Hop so enthralled by the written interpretation of the game and its conjoining culture.  Even though some were appalled by the brashness of a YN commentary you can be more than certain that there would be some raw truth tucked away in his editorial.  Often imitated but rarely duplicated we present to you, Elliot Wilson.

[audio] T-Pain & Kanye West- FLIGHT SCHOOL

T. PAIN & KANYE- FLIGHTSCHOOL

CLICK [HERE] for AUDIO@ nahright

[video] ‘Gay N Tight’ answer to men wearing skinny jeans

Via Corentin (This50)

Does this even need any explanation?

China Giant rat caught in China

via Telegraph UK

The rat, which weighed six pounds and had a 12-inch tail, was caught at the weekend in a residential area of Fuzhou, a city of six million people on China’s south coast.

The ratcatcher, who was only named as Mr Xian, said he swooped for the rodent after seeing a big crowd of people surrounding it on the street.

He told local Chinese newspapers that he thought the rat might be a valuable specimen, or a rare species, and had to muster up his courage before grabbing its tail and picking it up by the scruff of its neck.

“I did it, I caught a rat the size of a cat!” he shouted out afterwards, according to the reports. Mr Xian is believed to still be in possession of the animal, after stuffing into a bag and departing the scene.

The local forestry unit in the city identified the nightmarish creature as a bamboo rat from initial photographs, but said that it would need to examine the rat more closely before making a final identification.

Chinese bamboo rats rarely grow beyond ten inches and are found throughout southern China, northern Burma and Vietnam.

However, the Sumatra bamboo rat, usually found in the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan and in the Malay Peninsula can grow up to 30 inches long, including tail, and can weigh up to eight pounds.

A “Giant Rat of Sumatra” is mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes tale: The Adventure of a Sussex Vampire.

All bamboo rats are slow-moving and usually spend their time in underground burrows, feeding on bamboo. Chinese bamboo rats are often sold for meat in Chinese markets. The largest rats in the world are thought to be African giant pouched rats, which can grow up to 36 inches in length.

The Roots To Play 3 Month Residency In NY

via XXL

Just as The Roots will begin their gig as house band for Jimmy Fallon when he takes over “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” on NBC, the band will be playing a residency at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, beginning on March 5.

“The Roots Presents: The Jam” will run through the end of June, covering a total of 12 shows, as confirmed thus far by Pitchfork Media. The stint will be the group’s last live shows for the foreseeable future as a result of their decision to retire from touring in the wake of their new TV duties.

?uestlove will also host a weekly DJ night, entitled “the FANtastic,” every Thursday at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, starting March 26 and lasting 10 weeks.

The drummer also revealed the title of the band’s next album will be How I Got Over through his Twitter account, qoolquest.

DJ Khaled Officially Named Prez Of Def Jam South, Stays Out Of Rick Ross/50 Cent Beef

via XXL

Rumors began swirling around over the last few months that Miami radio personality DJ Khaled was appointed president of Def Jam South, but until now those claims were never confirmed. According to MTV the gossip is true.

He was like, ‘We should bring Khaled on board. He makes hits, he has relationships.’ I got a team of producers and we go in hard. My job is to bring hits to the table and work with new artists and work with established artists. I’m bringing new energy to the game and to the building.” [Watch Below] Under the new position Khaled – who also produces under the alias Beat Novacaine -will be responsible for records by Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Ace Hood and of course Rick Ross.

The Boss’ forthcoming album, Deeper Than Rap, will be the first release under Khaled’s watch. He also A&R’d the project. While Ross is currently involved in a heated battle with rival 50 Cent, Khaled opts to stay out of the back and forth. “I don’t deal with negative energy, it’s a waste of my time and my time is valuable,” he said. “I keep negative away and stay positive.”

“At Def Jam, we promote music,” he added. “We promote hit records. That’s what I respect. I’m always going to represent the music; Rick Ross is gonna represent the music. If controversy comes with it, it comes with it. And boy, ‘Magnificent’ — Rick Ross featuring John Legend, that’s Ricky Ross’ first single — it’s a monster. It’s gonna be on and poppin’.”

Deeper Than Rap hits stores on March 24. The album will feature appearances by Nas, Mary J. Blige and Lil Wayne.

50 Cent Presents Pimpin’ Curly “The Fast Lane” – Episode #3

T.I. & Kanye named GQ’s 10 Most Stylish Men

via WoooHa

T.I. & Kanye x G.Q. The way Kanye has been going these days this is just more to add to his ego. Regardless, both T.I. and Mr. West have just been announced on this year’s list of GQ’s 10 Most Stylish Men. They join a list that includes Justin Timberlake, Mark Ronson and a bunch or rich old white dudes.

Aside from looking pretty (Kanye more than T.I.), both artists have gotten into fashion design as well. T.I. launched his AKOO clothing line earlier this year and Kanye is putting the finishing touches on his long awaited Pastelle clothing line…but has been distracted by “other things” lately.

Diddy’s Plans To Drop A Concept Album, “Last Train to Paris,” In September

via RealTalk NY

Sean “Diddy” Combs has revealed new details of his sixth LP. The album, titled “LAST TRAIN TO PARIS,” is slated to arrive on September 22nd. The LP features what Combs describes as electro-hip-hop soul funk — welcoming in an unexpected mixture of sight and sound. “I’m ushering in a new movement called ‘train music,’” says Combs. “LAST TRAIN TO PARIS” is Diddy’s follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2007 release, “PRESS PLAY.”

“‘LAST TRAIN TO PARIS’ is deeper than any of the other stuff I have ever made. It’s a profound love story. It’s me with my shades off. It’s the truth,” says Combs. Diddy is collaborating with hit-making producers The Dream, Tricky, The Neptunes, Mario Winans, T-Pain and Rodney Jerkins.

I see concept albums are getting more popular, he is even shooting a movie to go along with the CD. I’m expecting a lot of features and autotune on this album along with some hot beats. The rest of the press release is below.

“I have been a businessman for the past two years. It’s time for me to focus on being an artist again,” explains Combs. “I am going to show the world a new refreshing side of me. Get on or get off!”

For the past 16 years, Sean “Diddy” Combs has used his artistic vision and entrepreneurial drive to capture and express the sentiments of a generation. As a producer and a performer, he not only created a new musical genre of hip-hop soul, but also catapulted the music and style of African-American youth into the American mainstream. Today, as founder and CEO of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group, Diddy oversees one of the world’s preeminent urban companies, encompassing a broad range of businesses, including recording, music publishing, artist management, television and film production, fashion, and restaurants.

5 Things You Didn’t Know: Iron Man 2

via AskMen

The sequel to Iron Man was announced before the studio could even finish counting the over $300 million in domestic box office earnings. Now the challenge is making the new franchise a sustainable one that doesn’t burn out by the third film (think Spider-man or X-Men). Iron Man 2’s producers had to act fast since their leading man is over 40, so the release date was set for May 7, 2010. So, while director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr. are hard at work on one of the most anticipated sequels in years, we’re hard at work bringing you five things you didn’t know about Iron Man 2.

1- Don Cheadle is the new Terrence Howard

Due to salary disputes, the character of Jim Rhodes (Tony Stark’s best friend and ally) will no longer be played by Terrence Howard. He’s been replaced by fellow Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle. Apparently when the first film was being made, Howard was the first actor to sign on to the project, and he was rewarded with the cast’s highest up-front salary. He balked when the producers asked him to take a pay cut for the sequel, so Cheadle replaced him. The character of Jim Rhodes will prove to be a crucial one in the coming films, as he eventually dons his own “supersuit” to become War Machine.

2- Over 600 issues of the Iron Man comic went into Iron Man 2

Justin Theroux is one of the screenwriters of Tropic Thunder — a film that garnered Downey Jr. an Academy Award nomination this year — and he will be scripting Iron Man 2 along with a team of co-writers. To prepare for the task of writing the sequel, Theroux apparently immersed himself in all of the Iron Man comic books — four decades’ worth of them.

We’ll give you three more things you didn’t know about Iron Man 2 coming up…

3- Tony Stark will be hitting the bottle

Fans of the comic know that Tony Stark was the first alcoholic superhero, long before Hancock graced our screens. The filmmakers touched on Tony’s fondness for drink in the first film, but it will definitely be explored more fully in the second one. Favreau has said that he doesn’t want the film to be like Leaving Las Vegas, but with recovering addict Robert Downey Jr. playing the part, we’re sure he’ll give this topic its appropriate due in Iron Man 2.

Shepard Fairey & OBEY Team Up For J. Dilla

via Smoking Section

Everybody loves J Dilla…Shepard Fairey is back at it, immortalizing another legend.

50 Cent wants to get into comedy films

It was only a matter of time…

via Woooha

50 Cent x Cheetah Vision. More tips coming in from my studio contacts. Word now is that 50 Cent is currently on the prowl for comedy scripts to produce under his Cheetah Vision film production company. Curtis is no stranger to action and drama flicks but comedy is a whole new ball game. Our tips were validated when Drew Reports reported that 50 wants to team up with actors Martin Lawrence and Sean William Scott for a comedy movie. There is no stopping 50 but a comedy? Maybe that’s what all those wigs and role playing in them Rick Ross videos is preparing him for.

[video] Kid Cudi- DAY N’ NITE

Take a one-on-one to this…I thought Roger Rabbit was gonna pop outta the cut

UPDATE: New York Post Apologizes For Controversial Cartoon

via CBSTV

Protests over a controversial New York Post cartoon drew people from all walks of life Thursday — as activists outlined a detailed plan to show their outrage and demand changes from the spirited tabloid.

It was a huge demonstration, one that clearly got the attention of The Post.

The newspaper came under fire Wednesday after a cartoon was published that critics said links President Barack Obama to a raging chimpanzee shot dead by police in Connecticut. But the newspaper also said the image was exploited by its longtime antagonists.

On Thursday night the tabloid newspaper apologized “to those who were offended by the image,” in an editorial on its Web site.

The editorial also said some media and public figures who have long-standing differences with the paper saw the cartoon “as an opportunity for payback.”

The editorial called them “opportunists” and said: “To them, no apology is due.”

The drawing shows a dead chimp, with the caption reading: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

That set off a swarm of controversy, culminating in The Rev. Al Sharpton-led protest Thursday afternoon outside The Post’s Manhattan headquarters.

Sharpton, who planned another rally for Friday, released a statement, saying he’s not satisfied with simply an apology.

“The New York Post statement will be discussed by all of the leadership of the various groups that have mobilized and we will respond to it at the rally at 5 p.m. tomorrow outside of the New York Post.

“At this point there will be no cancellation of the rally and though we think it is the right thing for them to apologize to those they offended, they seem to want to want to blame the offense on those of whom raised the issue, rather than take responsibility for what they did.

EXCLUSIVE: TMZ Releases Rihanna photo- “Face of a Battered Woman”

Here goes that damning piece of evidence that will ultimately turn the world even more bitter towards Chris Brown. Damn, not a good look at ALL!!

From TMZ:

Law enforcement sources have now gotten specific with us… police took pictures of Rihanna’s injuries and they are “horrific.”

As we reported, the photos show major contusions on both sides of the singer’s face — there is serious swelling and bruising. Her lip is split and her nose bloody. We have now confirmed there are bite marks on one of her arms and on several fingers.

And we now know this… Rihanna claims Brown struck her with his fists and that’s what did the damage. There was no object used in the alleged attack.

Rihanna refused treatment at the scene, but before she left cops took photos. We’re told the photos alone are “devastating proof of abuse.”

And we’ve learned it was not Rihanna who called 911. Someone in the area heard her screams and called.

GOP head Michael Steele promises PR blitz in ‘hip-hop settings’ and for ‘one-armed midgets’

via Daily News

WASHINGTON — New GOP party chief Michael Steele is promising an “off the hook” public relations blitz into “urban-suburban hip-hop settings” in hopes of wooing Latinos and African-Americans.

Steele, the first African-American Republican boss, is searching for Americans of all stripes to join his Grand Old Party. “We need to uptick our image with everyone, including one-armed midgets,” he joked.

Steele told the Washington Times that he aimed to revive the party by breaking out of the South and Southwest and to “reach beyond our comfort” zone to expand in Democratic strongholds like the Northeast and Midwest.

“We missed the mark in the past, which is why we are in the crapper now,” he said. “We had the White House, the Senate and the House and were not building a farm team over the last years.

He said he’s planning a massive advertising outreach online, on TV and on the radio that will “surprise everyone.”

“We need messengers to really capture that region – young, Hispanic, black, a cross section ,” he explained. “We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-suburban hip-hop settings.”

Last week at a GOP meeting in Virginia, Steele said “As a black, Roman Catholic conservative from Washington D.C. and Maryland, I know how to lose elections.” But now, Steele said, “I’m in the business of winning elections.”

Sony Ericsson Unveils Mobile Movies, Smartphones

via Information Week

Sony Ericsson has been facing some tough business months because of the staggering economy, and it will be looking to its entertainment divisions to help spur a comeback. 

At the Mobile World Congress, Sony Ericsson unveiled its “Entertainment Unlimited” strategy, which will try to provide customers with cross-platform entertainment experience. The PlayNow content store will add full-length movies that can be side-loaded to handsets for watching videos on the go. Executives said the catalog will be full of movies from various studios, and the company said it has not ruled out a subscription-based model.Additionally, the company introduced the Media Go software, which will transfer audio and video files into the appropriate format for Sony Ericsson handsets.

“With Media Go there’s no need to worry about format, resolution, and frame per second anymore,” said Alexandre Cardon, Sony Ericsson’s global marketing business manager, in a statement. “No longer will the video you transfer from your PC to your phone play in low resolution or bad quality.”

Sony Ericsson introduced the Walkman W995 handset to show off these media features, and it features Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, assisted GPS, and an 8.1-megapixel camera. The midlevel phone also will have a YouTube application and software to edit the pictures, and the memory can be expanded via a Memory Stick Micro slot.

[pics] Tiger Woods shows off new cub to the public

Is it me or does this dude have some weak genes? His kids look totally white without an ounce of his bi-racial DNA.

via Yahoo

Ladies and gentlemen, Sam and Charlie Woods, the two luckiest kids on earth. If you look really closely, you can see the Nike swoosh tattoos.

Charlie Axel Woods was born on Feb. 8 to Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren (well, mostly to Elin), and these photos from Golf magazine are the first public appearance of the lil’ duffer.

“Both Charlie and Elin are doing great, and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts,” Woods wrote on his website when Charlie was born. Woods, of course, has been out of the game since the U.S. Open in June 2008, but expects to return to competition in the next few weeks … just in time to dodge the majority of diaper-changing duty.

Indeed, Charlie is a lovely and precious kid. Now, Chuck, tell your daddy to get back to work!

Jim Jones To Pre-Release “Pray IV Reign” Tracks

Smart marketing?

via HipHopDX

As many artists know all too well these days, leaked tracks and albums online have caused a disparaging decrease in sales. With that in mind, Dipset capo Jim Jones is looking to combat these cyber leaks with a method of his own.

Over the next month leading up to the release of his upcoming album, Pray IV Reign, Jones will be pre-releasing a handful of tracks exclusively on iTunes for purchase. His second single, “Na Na Nana Na Na,” [click to listen] has been up for download since yesterday, and “Precious” and “Frienemies” will be available March 3 and March 17 respectively.

Coined the “Countdown to ‘Pray IV Reign’,” iTunes will allow purchasing users to choose “Complete My Album” when the album is officially released, without charging for tracks already bought.

Pray IV Reign will be released in stores and online March 24 through Columbia Records.

[audio] TOPLESS- Dr. Dre feat T.I. & Nas

via Nahright

TOPLESS- Dr. Dre feat T.I. & Nas

CLICK [HERE] for AUDIO

Nasir spazzed on this one…

Flo Rida Topples Single-Week Download Mark

via Flo Rida

Flo Rida breaks his own record for most weekly digital song downloads as “Right Round” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs chart with 636,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The total smashes the mark he set with “Low” (467,000) in the January 12, 2008, issue, which took into account sales from that season’s post-Christmas week. The tally for “Round” also surpasses the opening-week download record set just last week by “Crack a Bottle” from Eminem, 50 Cent & Dr. Dre (418,000).

On the heels of its record-breaking sum, “Round,” which is based around Dead Or Alive’s 1985 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),” will move 58-1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart to be posted tomorrow (Feb. 19) on Billboard.com.

The track will be Flo Rida’s second to top that list, following “Low” which spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1. “Round” precedes Flo Rida’s second Poe Boy/Atlantic album, “R.O.O.T.S.,” due April 7.

Shakur Biopic At Center Of Legal Battle

via Billboard

A legal turf war has broken out between production company Morgan Creek and the estate of Tupac Shakur.

Morgan Creek has sued Amaru Entertainment, the company run by Afeni Shakur, the late rapper’s mother and executor, alleging in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing that the company has backed out of an agreement to sell his life rights for a film adaptation.

Negotiations between Morgan Creek and Amaru began in November for life rights that would form the basis of the untitled project. According to the complaint, a written contract was in place for life rights, with Morgan Creek claiming that Amaru is “refus(ing) to honor and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur.” The company seeks damages and other relief.

But late Wednesday, Amaru’s lawyers denied the existence of a deal. “There is no agreement with Morgan Creek, there never was, and there never will be,” said Amaru attorney Skip Miller, adding that the court filing is an attempt to force his client’s hand.

Miller said negotiations for a biopic on the controversial rapper were underway at several studios and that Morgan Creek attempted to sabotage those talks with threats of litigation. “They have scared away Paramount, Fox and others, and we are going to sue them and recover millions (in damages),” Miller said.

Morgan Creek and lawyer Patricia Glaser declined comment. The timeline laid out in the company’s complaint presents a complicated series of events, but the key moment came in December, when Morgan Creek said it requested a term sheet from Amaru and was given a counterproposal that “set forth, in meticulous detail, the precise comprehensive terms, including material terms, that (Amaru) required to enter into a contract for the project.”

UPDATE: Facebook backs down on policy changes

via Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Facebook’s efforts to build a business model around its online social network have hit another roadblock, as a backlash by its users forced the company to reverse a new policy.

The dispute involves changes that Facebook had made to its terms of service agreement. Some critics said the changes appeared to give the company a perpetual right to content that users post on the network.

People Against the new Terms of Service, a Facebook group created to oppose the changes, counted more than 88,000 users on Wednesday.

The about-face by Facebook underscores the sensitivity that many consumers have about their personal data, even on sites where they freely share information about their lives with online friends.

And it reflects the challenges facing Facebook as it seeks to squeeze money out of its network of 175 million users and to offset the costs of its rapid growth.

Facebook is quickly burning through its initial funding, said Sanford Bernstein analyst Jeffrey Lindsay. Among other things, the social network needs to pay for the computers and equipment that host its online service around the world.

“That’s real money,” said Lindsay. “They’re realizing that they have to get a business model.”

Small fire at Tracy Morgan’s NYC apt.; no injuries

via Breitbart

NEW YORK (AP) – Tracy Morgan says a faulty fish tank light apparently sparked a fire in his New York City apartment, but no one was hurt—not even the fish. Firefighters were called to the comedian-actor’s Manhattan apartment Wednesday morning. It’s unclear whether the “30 Rock” star or anyone else was there.

In a statement, Morgan says the fire was contained to the area around the aquarium. He says sprinklers went off, and “even the fish are OK.”

The Fire Department says the blaze was brought under control in less than half an hour.

The 40-year-old former “Saturday Night Live” actor is thanking firefighters for “their quick action.”

Ludacris Apologizes To John McCain

via XXL

Ludacris, the self-proclaimed “mouth of the south,” made nice with former presidential hopeful John McCain over this past weekend, after making some disparaging remarks about the Republican Arizona senator on record last year.

The rapper/actor reportedly apologized to McCain and his wife Cindy during last Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game according to E! Online.

Luda made headlines last year when his track, “Politics (Obama is Here)” was publicly panned by President Barack Obama for using such lines as “McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed.”

Riding Grammy Wave, Lil Wayne Goes Triple Plat

via XXL

Many rappers experienced a bump on this week’s charts following the 51st annual Grammy Awards.

According to the Nielsen SoundScan, The Lonely Island – the comedic project fronted by SNL’s Adam Sandberg – lead the rap pack. The album, Incredibad, which features cameos by E-40, T-Pain and Justin Timberlake, landed at the no. 13 spot, moving 47,510 units in its debut week.

Falling seven spots to no. 16 is Kanye West. While he slipped on the charts the Louis Vuitton Don sold more copies of 808s & Heartbreak this week, selling 36,780 discs. After three months Ye has a tally of 1,328,000.

Two slots down is Atlanta rap giant T.I. at no. 18. Clifford Harris, Jr. also benefited from the Grammy Awards, enjoying an almost 10,000 sales bump. The Paper Trail sold 33,330 copies this week- making his overall sales stand at 1,694,520.

At no. 29 is rap superstar Lil Wayne. The New Orleans bred rapper sold almost 7,000 more copies of Tha Carter III this week compared to last. Officially gaining triple platinum status this sales cycle, Weezy has scanned 3,012,110 units after 36 weeks on the charts, selling 26,960 this week alone.

Rounding out the Top 40 is New Jersey-bred singer Akon, who sits at no. 36. Kon’s Freedom sold 23,240 discs this week compared to last week’s 22,790. After 11 weeks the hip-hop hookman has yet to reach gold stats, selling 489,770 overall.

Attorney General Holder Calls America a “Nation of Cowards

It’s been quite an explosive day in racial politics.  On the same day that the New York Post reverted to the worst kind of humor, Eric Holder used his first speech to lambaste America’s reluctance to deal with it’s ugliest legacy. The mere fact that the media refuses to call for the resignation of the cartoonist that went to great lengths to parody the President of the U.S. is a telltale sign that race is still a touchy toxic topic in this country.  Interested to see what comes out of this.

via Breitbart

WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Eric Holder described the United States Wednesday as a nation of cowards on matters of race, saying most Americans avoid discussing unresolved racial issues.

In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives.

"Mothaf*ckin' cowards! Yeah, I said it!!"

“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards,” said Holder, nation’s first black attorney general.

Race issues continue to be a topic of political discussion, Holder said, but “we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race.”

He urged people of all races to use Black History Month as a chance for frank talk about racial matters.

Bye Bye Caller ID:New service unmasks blocked telephone calls

via Breitbart

TelTech Systems is offering mobile telephone users the power to unmask callers who block their numbers or names from being displayed.

The US-based firm launched a TrapCall service this month with an online posting thanking its development team and declaring “Get ready for the site to go ballistic.”

To use the service, people register mobile telephone numbers at a TrapCall.com website without having to download software to devices.

Calls from unidentified sources can then be bounced to TelTech computers, which reveal points of origin.

Mobile telephone users can then decide whether to accept the calls.

“All the while the caller hears a normal ring tone, oblivious to the fact that you know exactly who they are,” TrapCall maintains at its website.

A basic version of TrapCall is available for free.

‘Suge’ Knight Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanour Battery

via Breitbart

LAS VEGAS – Marion (Suge) Knight has pleaded guilty to misdemeanour battery for beating a woman in a Las Vegas parking lot last year.

The 43-year-old rap producer entered the plea in Las Vegas Justice Court Tuesday in a deal that dismissed two felony drug charges and one felony coercion charge stemming from the August incident.

Police said officers witnessed the co-founder of Death Row Records striking Melissa Isaac while holding a knife in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip. They said Knight was carrying Ecstasy and hydrocodone when they arrested him.

Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman ordered Knight to receive counselling and pay a $340 fine. He’s due back in court in August for a status check.

[video] Brawl Erupts at HS Basketball Game

unbelievable

NY Post Under Fire For Obama Cartoon; Rev. Sharpton Threatens Ad Boycott

Once again, we find ourselves gravely disrespected by the blatantly racist bastards over at the New York Post.  This, of course is nothing new. One has to ask oneself why do they continue to get away with these violations? I’ve never heard anyone mention Rupert Murdoch on wax, and this is the owner of not only the Post but also Fox News, you know that other bastion of disrespectful banter aimed at “Black” folk.  This comes on the heels of America’s first “Black” president, right in the middle of Black History Month nonetheless. Would a boycott be sufficient? I guess we have to wait for them to call 50 a monkey so they can feel the full brunt of a Hip Hop backlash. This will be stale news in a week, just in time for them to take another unwarranted swipe at a people to weathered to defend themselves against the real enemy.

via Allhiphop

The Reverend Al Sharpton has condemned a cartoon in today’s New York Post (February 18), which features two policemen shooting a monkey and making a comment on the recently passed stimulus package.

The imagery, created by cartoonist Sean Delonas, features two police officers, one holding a smoking gun over a blood-spattered monkey that has been shot two times.

The caption above the cartoon reads: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

A sign in the background reads “beware of dog.”

[pics] Las Vegas’ Most Profilic Prostitutes

Source : PH

I guess in a recession these broads look like Halle Berry & Megan Fox. What kills me is that they look twice their age and that is a compliment.

For more of this beauty fest click here