HAPPY NEW YEAR

START THE CAR, WOOOOOOOOOOOOO

LOVE this Ikea commercial, sad to say I do a wonderful impression of it...

Start the car, start the car, START THE CAR.....

The Queen's Speech - Christmas Day

Yes, we did watch her speech every Christmas whilst growing up.

This year the Queen spoke about the importance of friends and family and remembers members of the Armed Forces serving overseas at Christmas.

They also feature an original broadcast from back in the day..

Click HERE to watch

Flashback: The Jets - Crush on You

Loved this song, got the CD free in my Smash Hits magazine back in the day.

Video: Fat Joe - I Won’t Tell - Feat. J. Holiday

Snapshot of the Day..

Will Smith was immortalized on Tuesday in Hollywood @ The Grauman's Chinese Theater.

If you know your Hollywood history then you'll know that only a VERY few are invited to cement their hands AND feet in front of the legendary theater.

Congrats Will.

R.I.P IKE TURNER

Two-time Grammy winner Ike Turner, who helped launch the rock 'n' roll era but later found his career overshadowed by allegations of drug addiction and spousal abuse, died today at his San Marcos home.

He was 76.

Mr. Turner's death was confirmed by his manager, Scott Hanover, but the cause was not announced. Investigators from the county Medical Examiner's Office spent the afternoon at the home.

Dreamgirls - Asian Style

I was forwarded this yesterday, the gal is BRILLIANT, nearly had a heart attack when she opened up her mouth...

Jennifer Hudson who???

FLASHBACK: Michael Sembello - Maniac (Flashdance)

Ok, totally in flashback mode at the moment.

Andrew (my partner) has never seen Flashdance and never wants to.. Anyhoo he's always pretty disturbed when without warning I burst in song (the chorus cos that's all I know) and start flinging myself across the room doing my 'fast feet' and swinging my hair like Alex (Jennifer Beals)

Yeah, I suppose that could be kind of disturbing..

"She's a maniac, maniac on the floor, and she's dancing like she's never danced before"

Enjoy..

FLASHBACK: Alexander O'Neal - Our First Christmas - Music Video

MAJOR Flashback, OMG.

Seriously this song gives me goosebumps! He was so big in London, could have sworn he was a British artist, lol.

Anyway in the spirit of the season, enjoy

Snapshot of the Day...

Omarion and Bow Wow @ 106 & Park yesterday...

Love the hair and funky chicken move O.

OPRAH BACKS BARACK OBAMA

Check out some of Oprah's speech in Iowa on Friday as she joined presidential front runner for 2008, Senator Barack Obama.

Vick hit with 23-month prison sentence

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison today for his role in the inhumane treatment of dogs he owned for a dog fighting club. Despite the sentence, he could be out of jail in as few as three months for good behavior.

After Vick apologized to the court and his family, Hudson told him: “You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you.”

“Yes, sir,” Vick answered.

The 27-year-old player acknowledged using “poor judgment” and added, “I’m willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions.”

Vick was denied any credit for taking responsibility for his crime. Hudson agreed with a federal probation officer’s finding that Vick had lied about his hands-on killing of dogs and about his drug use. Vick tested positive for marijuana Sept. 13, violating conditions of his release while he awaited sentencing.

Full story HERE

Snorting 50?? Say it aint so

This is funny, well not really...

Currently making it's rounds all over the net, a vid of 50 "apparently" snorting some unknown substance as a Croatian host and his camera guy walks into the room for an interview. His crew quickly wave the host away and block his view, 50 then comes outside to join the host...

Question's of the Day:
Is it him? Do all black people really look the same???

I'm not saying anything, judge for yourself.. I personally think they were praying, lol

Memories...

Today for some reason I’ve been having vivid flashbacks of me about 6 years old, sitting under one of the huge apple blossom trees at my school and making daisy chains. What can it mean I wonder???

Just thought I’d share…

Pimp C Found Dead!

OMG

Pimp C, real name Chad Butler — and one half of the rap duo UGK, was found dead in a hotel room this morning. He was 33.

L.A. County Fire responded to a 911 call at the Mondrian Hotel, located on trendy Sunset Strip in Hollywood. They arrived to his sixth floor hotel room to find him dead in bed.

UGK is best known for appearing on the Jay-Z track “Big Pimpin’” in 2000, and more recently with Outkast on the song “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You).” Pimp C had just performed with fellow rapper Too Short at the “House of Blues” in L.A. on Saturday night.

Source: TMZ

FLASHBACK: Another Bad Creation - Iesha - Music Video

For those who really really know nothing about the last post, here's a flashback.. Loved this song back in the day.

Background
Another Bad Creation (aka ABC) from Atlanta Georgia, discovered by Michael Bivens (New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe) in the late 80's early 90's and served as the manger and producer of the group.

Remember these cats?????

Ok, the clues... They sang about a girlie called "Iesha", and they hung out at the "Playground", oh yeah last clue, they were mini boppers (literally 3ft tall) when they did this..

Yes indeedee, it's Another Bad Creation..

Couldn't believe it when I saw this video, they're all grown up and apparently making a comeback...

Here you go, interested to hear your comments..

Politics, well sort of...

So sorry, but I had to post this... It's so not funny that it's HILARIOUS.. What's up with everybody using Rhi's Umbrella though???

Enjoy..

Hilary & Obama - Obama (MadTv Umbrella Parody)
Uploaded by yardie4life

Usher becomes a daddy...

The Grammy-winning R&B singer and his wife, Tameka Foster, welcomed a newborn, his publicist confirmed today, declining to say whether it was a boy or a girl. It's the 28-year-old's first child and Foster's fourth.

"Yes, I can confirm that Usher had a baby," Patti Webster told The Associated Press in an e-mailed message. It wasn't clear what day the baby was born.

According to PEOPLE magazine, their first child is a BOY and was born yesterday... CONGRATS

R.I.P Sean Taylor

Such a senseless death for a young, talented man.
-----

Washington Redskins NRL player Sean Taylor died early this morning after being shot at his home in Miami yesterday.

The 24-year-old defender died in a Miami hospital where he underwent nearly six hours of emergency surgery to repair a severed femoral artery.

Mary J Blige - iPod

iPod+iTunes ad: Work That-Mary J. Blige
Uploaded by todoapple

FLASHBACK: Kashif - Lover Turn Me On - Music Video

Speaking of Kashif, I HAD to post this up.. This was a fav song of mine for years (still is)

I didn't actually know who Kashif was and he was hot when I was too young to appreciate good music.. This song was randomly on a Soul CD that I still have and I used to play the hell out of it

Bit of a bootleg video (stills) but enjoy the music..

Malcolm Jamal Warner and UNE’ @ The Aqua Lounge

Snapshot of Une', legendary artist Kashif, me and Ernest Thomas (What's Happening) @the Beverly Hills VIP function on Tuesday...

Check out Eugenia Wright's full coverage of the event @ Celebrity Extra

Ne-Yo, R Kelly Drama...

What's up with the drama? I've personally seen Ne-Yo perform twice and he was sensational BOTH times.. The first time I literally left the venue DEAF due to the screaming girlies directly around me... Second time around I was more prepared, but then even the fools in the VIP section still act crazy...

Anyhoo... If it's a case of sour grapes on R Kelly's part due to new blood, which would result in Ne-Yo being kicked off the tour for no apparent reason, then that's very very sad..

Just recently, Kelly's longtime publicist resigned, citing serious "lines being crossed" as the cause of the split. Somebody is a straight-up diva -- and it ain't Ne-Yo!

Black Friday

Was this you this morning???

Sharing is Caring...

Hi all, something that was passed to me today that I wanted to share.

The good things in life do not create happiness.
The good things in life arise from happiness.

We were born in this world to live, to do, and to
be happy, not just merely observe and complain.

So, if you wish to be happy, then throw away all the
drama and be happy now. It really is as simple as that.

There's no need to wait until you acquire this or achieve
that. If you constantly place conditions on your happiness,
you'll prevent yourself from experiencing it altogether.

Go ahead and be happy now, today, this very moment.
Be happy for no reason at all, and you will find that you
become more productive, more creative and more fulfilled.

Indeed, happiness is a powerful state of mind that is
available to you when you allow it to be, and thebest
reason for being happy is because you really can.

Being genuinely happy is a powerful way to express
your confidence that good things will come your way.

And when you confidently expect the best, that is
precisely what happens, and what you get.

So, give thanks for being happy and alive, because your
feeling of joy and inner happiness is what creates all the
astonishing goodness and beauty of life around you.

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

History Lesson: Saartjie Baartman

Hi all,

This video was forwarded to me by my friend Lila.

I not only found the video shocking, but was also angry at myself that I as a black woman had never heard of Sara Baartman, and considering her trials happened in my hometown of London I was even more disgusted with myself. After further researching her story on the web, I felt I had to share my new found knowledge.

What happened to Sara could have easily happened to you or I, had we been born in a different time and place.

Below is a brief synopsis of Sara’s story, please view the video, listen to the narration, and if you don’t already know, get to know.

------

Sara is the short-name used these days for Saartjie Baartman, a Khoisan slave woman who at the tender age of 20 was taken from Cape Town to London and then on to Paris to be displayed naked in their streets and at their circuses like an animal her European audiences viewed her to be. Her story is a tearful and moving one. It is at once the story of an everyday woman, a human being, one of us, treated in the most grotesque ways, used as "scientific proof" of "European white superiority."

Her biography can be read HERE

Rapper Lil' Romeo signs to play basketball at USC

Lil' Romeo is headed to Southern California to play basketball.

The teenage hip-hop performer signed a national letter of intent to attend USC on Monday at a news conference held at a posh hotel near Beverly Hills.

Lil' Romeo, an actor and rapper whose full name is Percy Romeo Miller, is currently a senior guard at Beverly Hills High. He averaged 13.9 points and 5.6 assists last season. His father, hip-hop mogul Master P, had tryouts with two NBA teams in the 1990s.

"This is the most important thing I've had to do and hopefully it sends a message to kids across the country that education is more important than money," Miller said at the news conference. "Getting a college scholarship is more important than winning an American Music Award, and I plan to be the best student-athlete I can be at USC."

One recruiting service ranks Miller, a 6-0, 170-pounder, among the top 15 prep point guards in the country.

Source: Yahoo News

Alicia Keys - No One Live Reggae ReMix - 2007 AMA's

Lovvin it, Lovvin it, Lovvin it...

2007 American Music Awards Red Carpet - Photoblog

Sophie Anderton busted - Entrappment???

Model Sophie Anderton was entrapped by a News of the World reporter in an undercover sting offering sex for $24,000 a session. The clandestine journalist posed as a rich businessman.

The setup also included a call to her drug dealer, cocaine and photos of the lingerie model topless wearing only a G-string and Christian Louboutin stilettos spread out on a bed.

Anderton was featured on the cover of Maxim magazine and numerous underwear catalogues. The 30 year-old dark beauty also appeared in the British television series I'm A Celebrity.

She apparently wanted to earn some extra cash to pay for her recently purchased house. Since Anderton’s part-time licentious activities were reported she was dropped by tanning firm Fake Bake from a $200,000 a year contract.

Hmmm not really sure what to make of this, but the "sting" as they've been calling it paid off..

Jail and the two Mikes...

Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson could have received more than four years in prison. He left the courtroom having to serve all of one day in an open-air jail. The former heavyweight champion was sentenced Monday for cocaine possession and driving under the influence.

The 41-year-old boxer will serve his day in jail Tuesday for DUI. He received three years of probation for the cocaine charge and also will have to pay a fine, submit to drug testing and serve 360 hours of community service.

Michael Vick
In an apparent attempt to speed his return to football, Michael Vick began serving time in prison yesterday, more than three weeks before he is scheduled to be sentenced after pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges.

Vick, the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, turned himself in to United States marshals and was brought to the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va.

Spice Girls performing STOP, London, UK

Spice Girls performance on BBC's Children in Need Special on Friday...

WATCH OUT FOR...

Event's you don't want to miss..

The 35th annual American Music Awards, taking place this Sunday @ The Nokia Theatre, LA LIVE. Performance line up includes: Mary J Blige, Lenny Kravitz, Will.I.Am, Duran Duran, Avril Lavigne, Chris Brown, Maroon 5, Chris Brown, Queen Latifah, The Jonas Brothers and Rihanna to name a few..

People Magazine’s Official Grammy Kick-Off Party on December 6^th, @ Avalon Hollywood. Fergie to host, performances by Ne-Yo, Natasha Bedingfield and Fall Out Boy. The first party of the 50 anniversary events leading up to presentation of the Grammy’s on Feb 10^th 2008.

The one night only screening of the Beyonce Experience on Monday 19^th November. The two hour show which includes performances from Destiny’s Child and Jay-Z was shot at the Staples Center in September. For listings check out www.TheBiggerPicture.us

Celebs on the Picket Line - The Writers Strike in Pictures...

From top to bottom

Actors Robin Williams and David Duchovny joined strikers at the Time Warner Centre in New York.

Ugly Betty cast members marched outside Raleigh Studios to support the strike, prompted by a row over royalty payments.

Actor Ben Stiller supported writers in Los Angeles.

Jay Leno stopped by the picket line. His talk show has been off the air since the strike began on 5 November.

Milk Mustache Celebrities

Oprah, NBC, Discovery -- What's the Deal with the Dr.?

If you watched the piece on Donda West's Dr on TMZ tonight..

Honestly I'm baffled that something like this could have slipped through the cracks, that's what researchers and the production team are for...

-----
The doctor who performed surgery on Kanye West's mother was booked on some big TV shows, but it appears none of the producers knew about his malpractice suits, allegations of sexual battery and physical assault, DUI convictions and pending disciplinary action before the Medical Board of California.

It took TMZ three hours to turn up the goods on Dr. Adams. So why were Oprah, Discovery Health, NBC and others in the dark?

Courtesy reprint of TMZ

Happy Birthday...

To me.... thanks for all your cards, emails and wishes... I'm finally 21, yaaaay.

Video Post - The Smurfs

Sorry, another video blog.

For some reason I work up humming the Smurfs song this morning, la la la la la la..

The ultimate flashback…

FLASHBACK: Ice Cube feat George.Clinton - Bop Gun - Music Video

This is a tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuune, as we would say in London.

My flashback of this song was when I first visited LA many many many years ago when the old 100.3 the Beat was playing this non stop...

Enjoy..

Video: Victoria Beckham / Ugly Betty...

If you missed Thursday's episode, HILARIOUS.. Damn I was laughing so loud, loved Posh's cameo, so her, totally MAJOR.

Video: Spice Girls Holiday Commercial

Check out the new Spice Girls holiday commercial for Tesco, love it.

Kanye West's Mother Dies

Condolences to Kanye West.

-----

Donda West, mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department, has died, a spokesman for the rapper said.

Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles, said the spokesman, who asked for anonymity because not all family members had been notified.

“The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief,” the spokesman said.

A cause of death has not been released.

Source AP

MJ Does Ebony Magazine

Speaking of Michael Jackson, check him out in the December issue of EBONY Magazine, on Newsstands this Monday.

Snapshot of the Day

Michael Jackson @ Jesse Jackson’s 66th b-day party at the Beverly Hills Hilton

Celebs Do Lunch....

One-hundred plus iconic celebrities from the entertainment, fashion, art, music, literary and culinary worlds, remind us that food matters, by creating personalized lunchbox art to be offered for online auction to benefit two hunger relief organizations – Food Bank for New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa.

Celebs include: Michael Stipe, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mike Myers, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kanye West and The Beastie Boys to name a few.

Each lunchbox is reflective of the artists personal expression and no two lunchboxes are alike. Each lunchbox will be signed and numbered.

The Lunchbox Auction will go live on Friday, December 7th @ 12am EST during a star-studded invitation only fundraiser preview party hosted by Michael Stipe at Saatchi & Saatchi in Manhattan.

The auction will run through Friday December 21st.

www.thelunchboxauction.org

English Gal invites you to check out UNE' at England's Soul Choonz....

From Londoners to Angelenos

CHECK OUT THE SCOOP HERE

UNE' the most talked about new R&B Soul Artist is featured in London's Soul Choonz.

From England to Los Angeles capturing all countries and continents in-between, UNE' is the most exciting voice in R&B on the planet today.

UNE' will be the featured guest performer, opening for TV icon Malcolm Jamal Warner with UNE's special celebrity guests,

Lee Bailey (Founder of RadioScope, Music Producer Ollie E. Brown, BET Comic Comedienne Annie McKnight and television & film actor Ernest Thomas), at the Acqua Lounge in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, November 20th @ 7:30PM

For tickets contact: Marc Gaspard at starz2006@hotmail.com .

For celebrity and or media clearance, contact: Eugenia Wright @ ISA PR kleopatragirl117@hotmail.com

Halloween Carnival 2007

Halloween, the one time of the year that lots of females have an excuse to walk around with literally no clothes on...

This post is really for my London readers mainly because I want you to see that Los Angeles REALLY REALLY celebrates Halloween. Seriously, I've never seen anything like it, it was a shock when I first moved out here and it still is. I still haven't come around to how seriously people take this event, from decorating the outside/inside of their houses to the elaborate costumes, the mind boggles.

Anyhoo, last night I attended the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival which thankfully is walking distance from where I live, getting there by car would NOT have been an option.

The carnival attracted over 300,000 people last year and is well attended by those who I swear spend all year thinking of and designing their "Halloween" outfit and practising how to act in character all night long.

Check out some of the snapshots below, bear in mind this is only a pinhead of what was on display last night. Click on the image to enlarge..

Enjoy

Happy Halloween Everybody

In all honesty Halloween actually reminds me that it's the end of October and there are only 8 weeks left until the New Year, aaaaggghhhh..