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Sean Bell gets a $7million Justice
NEW YORK (AP) — The city of New York has agreed to pay more than $7 million to settle a civil lawsuit stemming from the fatal 50-bullet police shooting of an unarmed man on his wedding day.
The settlement filed in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday pays $3.25 million to the estate of Sean Bell, who was killed in 2006 outside a strip club in Queens while leaving his bachelor party. As part of the settlement, the city agreed to pay $3 million to Joseph Guzman and $900,000 to Trent Benefield, both of whom were wounded in the shooting that killed their friend.
The lawsuit had accused the city of wrongful death, negligence, assault and civil rights violations.
“We hope that all parties can find some measure of closure by this settlement,” the city’s attorney, Michael A. Cardozo, said in a statement.
An attorney for the plaintiffs, Scott Rynecki, said the settlement was hard-fought over two days and that the plaintiffs felt it was the best outcome possible.
“I think it was all about closure at this point,” Rynecki told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
Three police officers were acquitted of manslaughter and other charges in 2008. Federal authorities in February declined to bring civil rights charges against them.
The officers remain on modified duty and are facing departmental charges that could result in their dismissal.
The Bell settlement follows other multimillion-dollar payouts in high-profile civil lawsuits involving the police department.
In June, the city agreed to pay a record for a civil rights lawsuits when it agreed to settle for $9.9 million with Barry Gibbs, an innocent man who spent 19 years in prison after being framed by a police detective.
In 2001, the city and police union agreed to pay $8.7 million to Abner Louima, who was beaten and sodomized with a broomstick in a police precinct by officers. After legal fees, Louima was left with about $5.8 million.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
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Is Hip Hop out of the Closet? What is Sissy Bounce?
I came across an interesting article on one of my favorite sites, THE GRIO. Writer Ronda Racha Penrice, provides an in depth look at homophobia in hip hop and why Nicki Minaj’s bisexuality is nothing new to hip hop. Sadly, there is a double standard for men in hip hop. Women in hop hop are accepted as being bi-sexual because they are still linked to men and are apart of their fantasy but men bear another burden.
Penrice writes,
Twenty years ago, it would have been almost unfathomable for any group to insist publicly that a female celebrity, let alone a rapper, come out of the closet. Yet, Minaj has received quite a bit of criticism for not publicly announcing her sexual preference. Despite also appearing in a previous ménage á trois song, “Girls Kissing Girls” from her own 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scott featuring recently released Atlanta-area rapper Gucci Mane, Minaj has generally refused to address her sexuality, even when baited by well-known hip-hop figures like DJ Whoo Kid. Times have certainly changed but does the curiosity surrounding Nicki Minaj’s sexuality mean that hip-hop, often singled out for its homophobia, is also changing with them?
She also introduces us to a new generation of homosexual sexual hip hop with Katy Read, a transgender artist, dominating the new genre of sissy bounce music. Penrice writes,
On the local level, there have been some breakthroughs however. In New Orleans, where bounce music is a distinctive sub-genre of hip-hop whose energetic influence can be heard in the music of Lil Wayne and other artists from the area, there are several popular “sissy rappers”, as some people call them. Of them, Katey Red is the most recognizable name.
Katey Reed has been written about before. Writer Brett Berk talks about his first “sissy bounce” experience on VanityFair.com. He writes,
during the start of my six-month sojourn here, a friend took me to my first Bounce show—a local form of hip-hop characterized by a machine gun-beat and na-asty lyrics—it was not that surprising that it featured openly gay artists toasting about big dicks, butts, and lots of oral. Thus began my indoctrination into the church of what folks refer to locally, but not derogatorily, as Sissy Bounce.
It’s a great article. Glad The Grio is keeping us informed and current.
GET YOUR FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF SISSY BOUNCE from BRETT
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“Shame on You”, BP executive gets a tongue lashing
CALVIN WOODWARD,Associated Press
FREDERIC J. FROMMER,Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Channeling the nation’s anger, lawmakers pilloried the boss of the company that caused the Gulf calamity Thursday in a withering day of judgment. Unflinching, BP chief executive Tony Hayward said he was out of the loop on decisions at the well and coolly asserted, “I’m not stonewalling.”
That infuriated members of Congress even more, Democrats and Republicans alike.
Testifying as oil still surged into the Gulf of Mexico and coated ever more coastal land and marshes, Hayward declared “I am so devastated with this accident,” ”deeply sorry” and “so distraught.”
Yet he disclaimed knowledge of any of the myriad problems on and under the Deepwater Horizon rig before the deadly explosion, telling a congressional hearing he had only heard about the well earlier in April, the month of the accident, when the BP drilling team told him it had found oil.
“With respect, sir, we drill hundreds of wells a year around the world,” Hayward told Republican Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas.
“Yes, I know,” Burgess shot back. “That’s what scaring me right now.”
Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., told the CEO: “I think you’re copping out. You’re the captain of the ship.” Democrats were similarly, if more predictably, livid.
“BP blew it,” said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., chairman of the House investigations panel that held the hearing. “You cut corners to save money and time.”
The verbal onslaught had been anticipated for days and unfolded at a nearly relentless pace.
But in a jarring departure that caught fellow Republicans by surprise, Rep. Joe Barton, top GOP member of the panel, used his opening statement to apologize — twice — for the pressure put on the company by President Barack Obama to contribute to a compensation fund for people in the afflicted Gulf of Mexico states.
Barton said the U.S. has “a due process system” to assess such damages, and he decried the $20 billion fund that BP agreed to Wednesday at the White House as a “shakedown” and “slush fund.” He told Hayward, “I’m not speaking for anybody else. But I apologize.”
He later retracted his apologies to BP, then apologized anew — this time for calling the fund a “shakedown.” ”BP should bear the full financial responsibility for the accident,” he said, and “fully compensate those families and businesses that have been hurt by this accident.”
He’s received at least $100,470 in political contributions from oil and gas interests since the beginning of 2009, the second-highest amount among all the committee members.
With multiple investigations continuing and primary efforts in the Gulf focused on stopping the leak, there was little chance the nation would learn much from Hayward’s appearance about what caused the disaster. Yet even modest expectations were not met as the CEO told lawmakers at every turn that he was not tuned in to operations at the well.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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What does the Afghan surge really mean?
Assessing the Afghan surge
The U.S. surge of soldiers to Afghanistan is only making the situation worse–and there’s no end in sight, according to Iraq war veteran Phil Aliff.
WITH THE final units of President Barack Obama’s surge arriving in the next few weeks, the U.S. military is preparing for its largest assault yet in the nine-year war on Afghanistan–and news from the battlefield is getting worse by the day.
As forces amass outside the southern city of Kandahar, 23 U.S. and 11 NATO troops have been killed so far in June, largely attributed to the increase in soldiers on the ground. And Secretary of Defense Robert Gates admits that the U.S. and its allies are running out of time to show results.
This sentiment was made clear in Helmand Province, where the U.S. military launched a “clear, hold and build” offensive in the district of Marja a few months ago. Far from being able to roll out the “government in a box” that Gen. Stanley McChrystal talked about during the February operation, widespread corruption and the return of Taliban forces to the district have made it more difficult for the military to gain trust with Afghan locals.
Instead, McChrystal has been surprisingly honest about the results so far, calling Marja a “bleeding ulcer” in the continued war effort.
Marja, a district of 35,000 people, was invaded by a force of 15,000 NATO soldiers. According to Gen. David Petraeus’ counter-insurgency strategy, there should be one soldier for every 50 civilians. In Marja, there was nearly one soldier for every two civilians, but NATO forces have still been incapable of rooting out Taliban influence. This shows the extent to which the strategy put forward as a justification for the troop surge has failed.
And if the realities on the ground weren’t bad enough, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released in early June, 53 percent of Americans believe that the war in Afghanistan is “not worth fighting.” It seems that with all the bad news coming from the battlefield, the war in Afghanistan may quickly be turning into a “bleeding ulcer” for the Obama administration.
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THE MARJA experiment, like so many other supposed turning points in U.S. military efforts in the last decade, has proven once again that the U.S. will cause resistance anywhere in the world as long as its soldiers are being used as an occupation force.
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Kelly Rowland Previews her new Album with the help of Gayle King
When Gayle King comes to moderate your listening party, the album must be something special. When Kelly Rowland previewed four tracks for us from her new album, we knew she was not kidding around. The evening was a dose of what can be described as the new “Grown Ass Woman” Kelly Rowland. With simply stunning good looks, easy demeanor and a certain honesty, Kelly is coming back to the music industry to show us what she has got. Rowland’s voice is full on every track and allows it to morph with dance beats and ballads.
Everyone’s head was bobbing and Kelly kept smiling throughout. She knows that she is back. She first reared her head with Nelly a while back with D the song, Dilemma, but we really didn’t know what to expect. Then, she worked with David Guetta on “When Love Takes Over” and while the song had a good response, her voice really didn’t shine. Kelly’s new tracks, the honest “Grown Ass Woman”, the beautifully written “Heaven and Earth”, the fun “Shaking Haters Off” and the vulnerable “Rose Colored Glasses” are all tracks which reflect a woman that has moved on from the Destiny’s Child persona into discovering her own self. There is a certain confidence in those tracks which I hope continues throughout the album.
They are IPOD Ready.
Hear the tracks for yourself and from Kelly what it took for her to grow up and what a perfect day is like in the world of Kelly Rowland. Don’t miss Kelly Rowland’s self titled album coming to you soon.
Kelly previews ROSE COLORED GLASSES and talks about starting over with a new manager
Gayle King’s talks about how Kelly’s rebirth has changed her perspective.
Kelly previews GROWN ASS WOMAN
Kelly previews SHAKING HATERS OFF. She talks about how this song became one of her favorites.
Kelly Rowland’s new video, COMMANDER
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Rhianna’s Te Amo Sizzles but Fizzles
Rhianna is moving in a familiar direction and I am not sure whether to get excited or not. Firstly, I am confused about her intentions with this song. Is this a trend? Is she trying to push the envelope? All I know is that after Christina Aguillera’s over the top video, I wish someone would do something a little more tame. Seriously? No, really. We have to give it to Rhianna, this video is sexy but where did the random French theme come from if we are speaking Spanish.
Elle- July 2010 shoot
Te amo, te amo, she say’s to me.
I hear the pain in her voice.
Then we danced underneath the candleabra, she takes the lead.
That’s when i saw it in her eyes, it’s over.Chorus:
Then she said Te amo, then she put her hand around me waist.
I told her no she cried Te amo,
i told her i’m not gonna run away, but let me go.
My soul has arrived, without asking why.
I said Te amo, wish somebody would tell me what she said.
Don’t it mean I love you.
I think it means I love you.
Don’t it mean I love you.Verse 2:
Te amo, te amo, she’s scared to breathe.
I hold her hand, i got no choice, uhh.
Pulled me out on the beach, danced in the water, I start to leave.
She’s begging me and asking why it’s over.Chorus:
Then she said Te amo, then she put her hand around me waist.
I told her no she cried Te amo,
i told her i’m not gonna run away, but let me go.
My soul has arrived, without asking why.
I said Te amo, wish somebody would tell me what she said.
Don’t it mean I love you.
I think it means I love you.
Don’t it mean I love you.Bridge:
Yes we can dance.
But you gotta watch your hands.
Watch me all night.
I move under the light because i understand.
That we all need love, and i’m not afraid.
I feel the love but i don’t feel that way.Chorus:
Then she said Te amo, then she put her hand around me waist.
I told her no she cried Te amo, i told her i’m not gonna run away, but let me go.
My soul has arrived, without asking why.
I said Te amo, wish somebody would tell me what she said
Don’t it mean I love you.
I think it means I love you.
Don’t it mean I love you.
I think it means I love you, I love you.Te amo, te amo, don’t it mean i love you.
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Hot in Cleveland brings the ladies back to the sitcom
I haven’t been quite excited about regular sitcoms. My last orgasmic TV experience was Modern Family. Although Damages is still one of the best written shows on TV. I am really exited about about Hot in Cleveland. The media has been buzzing with love for Betty White and she has returned with some of the most talented women in comedy. Betty White’s co-stars include Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick. The three women play characters who decide to rent in a home after their plane makes an emergency landing in Cleveland. Hot in Cleveland is written by Suzanne Martin (Frasier, Ellen) and is produced by Emmy Award-winner Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions. The sitcom has been picked up for ten episodes.
Now who says Women aren’t funny?! Ha! Ha!
Visit http://www.tvland.com/shows/hot-in-cleveland/full-episodes/pilot to watch the first episode.
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Wale Talks Hip Hop and Gays
Wale headlined at DC Pride and had a lot to say after his performance. Wale says that ” I cannot be scared of a gay person because most of the designers I wear are gay…The common denominator is that we have a heart and a soul.” Wale gets a SERIOUS RBC CERTIFICATION ON THIS ONE. Don’t miss the beginning and end of the video. He speaks his mind.
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another video for you!
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Lena Horne Tribute
Lena Horne June 30, 1917 – May 9th, 2010
Firsts for Lena
First black entertainer to play New York’s Copacabana Club.
First black performer to be signed to a long-term contract by a major Hollywood studio
First Black Actress to Win an Oscar for Best Actress
In 1957, reached the Top 10 with “Lena Horne at the Waldorf Astoria” and became the best-selling album by a female singer in RCA Victor’s history.
Touring Army camps for the U.S.O., Ms. Horne was outspoken in her criticism of the way black soldiers were treated.
Horne spent much of the 1960s as an activist, including participating in the Aug. 28, 1963, March on Washington, D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech.
Thank you Ms. Horne for fighting for equality!
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FELA! receives RECORD NOMINATIONS for the TONY AWARDS
The Revolutionary play about the revolutionary man has earned a sweeping 11 award nominations for it’s A+ production. It opened in November 23rd 2009 to rave reviews and have been going ever since. QuestLove says, “I have never seen a Broadway Play as loud as FELA!. Every musician should check it out. It is certainly a REVOLUTION on BROADWAY honoring African Music and Revolution. The nominations:
BEST DIRECTION
Bill T. JonesBEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bill T. JonesBEST LEADING ACTOR
Sahr NgaujahBEST FEATURED ACTRESS
Lillias WhiteBEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
Jim Lewis & Bill T. JonesBEST COSTUME DESIGN
Marina DraghiciBEST SOUND DESIGN
Robert KaplowitzBEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Robert WierzelBEST SET DESIGN
Marina DraghiciBEST ORCHESTRATIONS
Aaron Johnson
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