There is speculation that Rihanna may be engaged to her "boyfriend" Chris Brown. The Umbrella singer was spotted at London’s trendy nightclub Movida sporting a huge ring on her wedding finger. Things are definitely serious because Riri spent the Christmas holiday with Chris Brown's family.

Pals said Chris, 19, popped the question over the New Year.

Rihanna, 20, showed off the bling after performing with her fella at the O2 in London.

Despite the cold, she wore fingerless gloves and held her hand to her chest so people could clock the rock.

A source said: “Rihanna was wearing the biggest diamond you can imagine. The 20-year-old Bajan babe was recently named Diva of the Year by Entertainment Weekly. The mags says, “For a pop star who was once dismissed as being incapable of yielding more than one hit song per album, Rihanna’s newfound staying power is nothing short of remarkable–and proof that there’s room for more than one diva in this game.”  WHAT DO YOU THINK of Rihanna’s gloves? They look like they have zippered edges and of all the fingers, just the pointer finger is covered up!  Rihanna has reportedly spent the Christmas holiday with Chris Brown's family in Goochland, Virginia. Donning a sweater, she was photographed sitting on couch with him while his family members are standing behind them. source source source

The beautiful First family moved into their new temporary home in Washington D.C. at the famous Hay-Adams hotel.

In keeping with his commitment to make this inaugural celebration open and accessible to all Americans, President-elect Barack Obama will host the first-ever "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball" during this year's inaugural celebration.  The ball will be the premier event of inauguration evening on January 20^th and will take place at the Washington Convention Center.

With tickets available free or at an affordable price, it is the first official inaugural ball of its kind to be held during a presidential inauguration. A portion of tickets for this event will be set aside for District of Columbia residents. The ball will also feature a robust interactive component, including webcasting and text messaging, to link neighborhoods across the country with the new President and this premier event.   The PIC will release more details soon about using technology to allow Americans who are attending neighborhood balls across the country to participate actively in this celebration.

"This is an Inauguration for all Americans," said President-elect Obama.  "I wanted to make sure that we had an event that would be open to our new neighborhood here in Washington, D.C., and also neighborhoods across the country.  Michelle and I look forward to joining our fellow Americans across the country during this very special event."

Photos of President Barack Obama and his lovely wife Michelle have been viewed over 4 million times on flickr.

Obama Got 'choked Up' Leaving Chicago Home

Mr Obama's wife and their two daughters arrived first at the Hay-Adams Hotel, which overlooks the White House. Mr Obama later flew in from Chicago.

Malia, 10, and seven-year-old Sasha are due to start classes at the exclusive Sidwell Friends School on Monday.

The Obamas will move to the official presidential guest home on 15 January.

Blair House, which is located opposite the White House and has previously housed presidents-elect before their inauguration, is booked solidly until then, Bush administration officials said.

The Obamas arrived back at their home in Chicago early on Friday, following a 12-day family holiday in Hawaii, and began the move to Washington less than 48 hours later.

The Hay-Adams Hotel, built in 1928, stands across Lafayette Square from the White House, where the Obama family will take up residence following the inauguration ceremony on 20 January. source

Global protests continue against Israel as the death toll in Gaza hits 500 including civilian casualties. As the number of people killed in Israeli military invasion of Gaza rose to 500 yesterday, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has insisted that the offensive in  the contentious strip will continue
He also hinted that  Palestinian militant group, Hamas, suffered a "hard blow in the course of the military attack. Barak also yesterday told Israeli Members of Parliament that the country is yet to achieve its objective in the strip.

People across several continents have staged rallies to protest against Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

Thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, after calls by Hamas for a "day of wrath".

"We will sacrifice our soul and our blood for Gaza," chanted the demonstrators, shouting pro-Hamas slogans and calling on fighters to "hit Tel-Aviv".In Jerusalem, protesters clashed with police after Friday prayers.  With a view to curb protests, Israel sealed off the West Bank for the day as well as key parts of Jerusalem. Men aged under 50 years were prohibited from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Protests were also held in other Indonesian cities after Friday prayers. source

Singer Annie Lennox spoke to Skyy News against the attacks by Israel on the Gaza strip and said she was "shaken to the core" by the deaths of innocent women and children from Israeli bombing.

Mideast Crisis: Annie Lennox tells Sky News her views Singer Annie Lennox tells Sky News why she is lending her support to human rights campaigners calls for an end to the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians.

High-profile campaigners have called for an immediate end to the Israeli operation in Gaza. Annie Lennox, Ken Livingstone, Alexei Sayle and Bianca Jagger were among the speakers at a news conference on the issue. Ms Lennox accused Israel of "slaughter".

An almost tearful Annie Lennox described the sadness she felt when she watched news of the Israeli strikes on Gaza - attacks which Israel says were in response to rocket fire by Hamas and its allies.

"I was thinking as a mother and as a human being - how was this going to be a solution to peace?" she said.

"How are we going to find the answer in this way?"

She went on: "There has to be a place, ultimately, where people come to the table.

"The reason I'm here today is to use my freedom of speech, my right as an individual in a free world, to encourage people to get together and protest against this means of 'conflict resolution' which will never work."

Lennox's emotional plea was followed by comments from Liverpudlian writer and comedian Alexei Sayle, who has a Lithuanian Jewish background.

He said: "It is important that Jewish people who have a public profile speak out to say that this has not been done in our name.

"I think that Israel has an idea of itself as being noble. "When you attack somebody but you have this idea of yourself that you're the good guy - you think 'how can this be?'

"What you do is blame the people you have killed - and you hear all the time from Israeli spokespeople that they are angry with the people that they have murdered, for making them murder them.

"It is the psychologist of the murderer, the rapist, the bully. And that's what Israel is in this situation."

War on Gaza: Annie Lennox 'Shaken To The Core'

Israeli forces consolidated their hold on parts of Gaza's north Monday, pounding the territory from the air, land and sea and killing at least seven children and six other civilians in a bruising campaign against Hamas militants. (Jan. 5)

Israel has taken its barrage of airstrikes in Gaza to the Web, creating a YouTube channel this week to post footage of its air force dropping bombs on Hamas targets.

An initial message by the Israel Defense Forces posted on the channel, youtube.com/user/idfnadesk, said Israel wanted to use YouTube to "help us bring our message to the world" with "exclusive footage showing the IDF's operation success" in Gaza.

An IDF spokesman said YouTube was a way to get that message "to as many as we can," though he declined to comment further.

The YouTube channel is just one multimedia platform Israel is using to spread its message on the recent campaign in Gaza, which began Saturday.

The Israeli Consulate in New York also launched a Twitter feed Monday, which it has used to solicit questions from users for a virtual press conference.

The YouTube posts started Monday, with black-and-white aerial military video of Israeli aircraft striking "rockets in transit" and "terrorist smuggling tunnels." Another video in color showed what are identified as Israeli trucks transporting aid into Gaza.

The statement, still posted as of Tuesday night, said YouTube had taken down some of the IDF videos but, "due to blogger and viewer support, YouTube has returned some of the footage they removed."

The statement was removed sometime Wednesday, replaced with one that reads in part, "We thank you for visiting us and will continue to update this site with documentation of the IDF's humane action and operational success in operation 'Cast Lead.' "

By Wednesday afternoon, the channel had 5,600 subscribers and 16 videos posted. The most popular was a video titled "Israeli Air Force Strikes Hamas Government Complex," which shows a large compound with three structures methodically leveled in an air assault Tuesday. Another video shows a building identified as the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya in crosshairs before disappearing in a dark cloud of smoke.

According to its Web site, YouTube has a policy that prohibits "inappropriate content," including violent images. While YouTube wouldn't specifically address the IDF statement, a company official said the site relies on its subscribers to flag videos considered inappropriate.

"We review all flagged content quickly, and if we find that a video does violate the guidelines, we remove it, on average in under an hour," said Victoria Grand, YouTube's policy chief. "Occasionally, a video flagged by users is mistakenly taken down. When this is brought to our attention, we review the content and take appropriate action, which may include restoring videos that had been removed."

The New York Israeli Consulate's Twitter feed has picked up more than 2,600 followers since it launched Monday to share its point of view with a younger demographic, said David Saranga, consul for media and public affairs.

"We saw that there is a big debate, a very vivid debate about the situation in Gaza, and we wanted to bring our point of view, we wanted to share it with people on Twitter," Saranga said. source

The Awards season officially kicked off with the New York Film Critics Awards in New York CIty. Penelope Cruz was named Best Actress for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Sean Penn won Best Actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's film "Milk".  Milk was also named Best Film by the New York Film Critics. Click here for more celebrity photos. Read the complete list of winners below. source

2008 Awards Winners

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins

Happy-Go-Lucky    

Best Screenplay

Jenny Lumet

Rachel Getting Married    

Best Cinematographer

Anthony Dod Mantle

Slumdog Millionaire    

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin

Milk    

Best Animated Film

WALL-E

 

Best Director

Mike Leigh

Happy-Go-Lucky    

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz

Vicky Cristina Barcelona    

Best First Film

Courtney Hunt

Frozen River    

Best Foreign Film

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

 

Best Actor

Sean Penn

Milk    

Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary)

Man on Wire

 

Best Picture

Milk

Former President George H.W.Bush announced that he hopes to see his other son Jeb Bush in the White House. Poppa Bush needs to keep dreaming. According to several polls including the CNN poll President George Bush is the most unpopular president in modern American history.

Former President George H.W. Bush said his son Jeb should run for president and blasted the New York Times for its "grossly unfair" criticism of another son, President George W. Bush.

During an interview on "FOX News Sunday," the nation's 41st president said Jeb, the former governor of Florida, is "as qualified and as able as anyone I know in the political scene" to be president.

"I'd like to see him run," Bush said. "I'd like to see him be president some day.

"As president, it's about service, service for the greatest country on the face of the Earth and the honor that goes with it," Bush said. "I think Jeb fits that description."

He added: "I mean, right now is probably a bad time, because we've got enough Bushes in there."

In the meantime, Jeb could take another job, his father suggested.

"If Jeb wants to run for the Senate from Florida, he ought to do it," Bush said. "He'd be an outstanding senator. This is a guy that really has a feel for people, the issues in Florida and nationally. And his political days ought not to be over, says his old father."

But the current President Bush's political days will soon be over, prompting the former President Bush to unburden himself about what he calls unfair criticism of his eldest son.

"It's been tough on his father and his mother," the ex-president said. We're not very good sports about sitting around and hearing him hammered, I think, unfairly.

"Now, there were some things that clearly he deserved criticism for," he said. "But I think the idea that everything that's a problem in this country should be put on his shoulders -- I don't think that's fair. And I'm not trying to get back in game by criticizing people, for example, the New York Times, but you know, it's just grossly unfair."

Bush said "it burns me up" when critics suggest he and his son are presidential rivals.

"There isn't any such competition," Bush said." We're very close, and we remained close for many, many years. People don't quite get that. But we are very close as father and son."

On Wednesday, Bush will join his son for a White House lunch that will also be attended by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as President-elect Barack Obama. Bush does not know the incoming commander-in-chief well, but spoke highly of Obama.

"I talked to him right after the election and... assured him that he was my president," Bush said. "I've very impressed with his style on the campaign and his coolness and his articulate nature. I think he can give a sentence and it'll sound like it's been thought out by Shakespeare or something." source

Image via Wikipedia

“GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND PRESENTS: DOCS ON THE SHORTLIST”

A Survey of Documentaries from Tribeca Film Festival Alumni on the 2008 Feature Documentary Academy Award® Shortlist

2 Day Series to Take Place January 8 and January 10, 2009 at Tribeca Cinemas

The Tribeca Film Institute and Gucci announce a two day series “Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund presents: Docs on the Shortlist.” Presented by the Fund which offers finishing funds to documentaries of social significance, the new series offers filmgoers the opportunity to see a selection of the documentary contenders shortlisted for the nomination for Best Feature Documentary for the 81st Academy Awards®. This series is also supported by media sponsor indieWIRE, the start page for independent and specialty films.

Launching on Thursday, January 8 and continuing on Saturday, January 10, the two day series brings together filmmakers who have been part of past Tribeca Film Festivals to screen their new documentary films, which are currently being recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Six of the 15 documentaries under consideration for nomination will be screened; the films in the series are: At the Death House Door, The Garden, I.O.U.S.A., Man on Wire, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, and They Killed Sister Dorothy.

The series will be hosted by three Oscar® nominated documentary filmmakers and Tribeca alumni Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp) and Marshall Curry (Street Fight) and last year’s Oscar® winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side), also a Tribeca alumnus. All of the screenings will feature special appearances by the filmmakers and will be followed by Q & A’s moderated by Curry, Ewing, Gibney, or Grady.

“This series emphasizes our commitment to supporting filmmakers in every stage of the filmmaking process,” said Brian Newman, CEO of Tribeca Film Institute. “We are happy to provide this opportunity for audiences who are interested in quality documentary films, as well as for those that may have missed these movies the first time around or can’t wait to see them again.”

"Tribeca has been a great booster for documentaries, showcasing them at the festival, supporting them with the Gucci fund, and now with this series," says Marshall Curry, whose documentary, Street Fight, won the Audience Award at Tribeca, and went on to be nominated for an Oscar®.  "Like a lot of documentary filmmakers, I appreciate everything Tribeca has done for me and the filmmaking community.”

Two of the selections received an award and/or critical praise at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival: James Marsh’s Man on Wire had its New York premiere at TFF and Gini Reticker’s Pray the Devil Back to Hell world premiered at 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and took home the Best Documentary Award.

Submissions for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund offering finishing funds of $100,000 for 2009 are currently open. www.tribecafilminstitute.org/documentary

Public Information:

Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street (corner of Laight), New York, NY 10013

The public may call 212/941.2001 for further information. Visit us on the Web at www.tribecacinemas.com

Subway:  A, C, E – Canal Street/6 Avenue; 1 – Canal Street/Varick Street

Admission: Admission for each film screening is $8 regular tickets; $5 for members of the Guilds, members of BAFTA East Coast, DocuClub, IDA, IFP, and/or Shooting People, and full-time students with current I.D.; free for Academy Members.

SCREENING SCHEDULE

Thursday January 8th:

5:30pm

Man on Wire, directed by James Marsh

Running time: 94 minutes

On August 7th 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, then the world’s tallest buildings. After nearly an hour dancing on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally released.

Following six and a half years of dreaming of the towers, Petit spent eight months in New York City planning the execution of the coup. Aided by a team of friends and accomplices, Petit was faced with numerous extraordinary challenges: he had to find a way to bypass the WTC’s security; smuggle the heavy steel cable and rigging equipment into the towers; pass the wire between the two rooftops; anchor the wire and tension it to withstand the winds and the swaying of the buildings. The rigging was done by night in complete secrecy. At 7:15 AM, Philippe took his first step on the high wire 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan…

James Marsh’s documentary brings Petit’s extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of Philippe himself, and some of the co-conspirators who helped him create the unique and magnificent spectacle that became known as “the artistic crime of the century.”

World Premiered at Sundance, New York Premiered at Tribeca Film Festival.

7:30pm

Pray the Devil Back to Hell, directed by Gini Reticker

Running time: 72 minutes

Pray the Devil Back to Hell tells the remarkable but little-known story of a small band of unarmed women who risked their lives to bring change to Liberia, reconstructing the moment through interviews, archival footage and striking images of contemporary Liberia. This incredible story has earned awards at the Tribeca Film Festival (Best Documentary Feature), Silverdocs (Witness Award), Jackson Hole Film Festival (Audience Choice: Documentary), Traverse City Film Festival (Special Jury Prize: Non-fiction Filmmaking), and Heartland Film Festival (Best Documentary).

Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, a coalition of Christian and Muslim women confronted cruelty and corruption, taking on Charles Taylor and the warlords and bringing peace to their country after decades of war.  Their demonstrations brought about the exile of Charles Taylor and the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state – and mark the vanguard of a new wave of people taking control of their political destiny around the world.

World Premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Documentary award.

Saturday January 10th:

3pm

At the Death House Door, directed by Peter Gilbert and Steve James

At The Death House Door follows the remarkable career journey of Carroll Pickett, who served as the first death house chaplain at the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. From 1982 until 1995, Pickett ministered to 95 men who were executed, including the very first lethal injection done anywhere in the world. “Your job,” the warden told Pickett before the first execution, “is to talk to the inmate, comfort him, and win his trust and seduce his emotions so he won’t fight on the gurney at midnight.” After each of the 95 executions, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day.

No inmate’s execution would haunt Pickett more than that of Carlos De Luna, a young man who claimed to be innocent of the murder of a convenience store clerk.  In 1989, during the final hours of his life, 27 year-old De Luna came to trust Pickett so much he called him “daddy.” 17 years later, two Chicago Tribune reporters turn up evidence that strongly suggests De Luna was innocent.  The film tracks their investigation and the impact Carlos continues to have not just on Pickett, but on Carlos’ sister and a television reporter who had befriended the young man on death row.

At The Death House Door is a film about the failures of the criminal justice system; about one man’s spiritual and moral journey; and how this very final act of punishment does not bring closure.  As often as not, it just brings more suffering.

From award-winning directors Steve James ("Hoop Dreams") and Peter Gilbert ("Vietnam: Long Time Coming").

World Premiered at SXSW. Peter Gilbert’s with All Deliberate Speed played in the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. Steve James participated in the 2006 with War Tapes.

5pm

They Killed Sister Dorothy, directed by Daniel Junge. An HBO Documentary Film
Running time: 94 minutes

On February 12th, 2005, A 73-year old nun from Ohio was shot 6 times and left to die on a muddy road deep in the Amazon.

Her murder shocked the world and revealed a sordid battle in the Brazilian rainforest. Who was she? What are the complex factors that led to her murder? And what will be done about it? The answers may hold the key to the future of the rainforest itself.

They Killed Sister Dorothy follows the powerful real-life courtroom drama at the trials of her accused killers and explores the conflicts in the Amazon that led to that fateful day.

World Premiered at SXSW. Premieres on HBO in March 2009. Daniel Junge’s Chiefs screened at the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival.

7pm

The Garden, directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy

Running time: 80 minutes

The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community. But now, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis.

The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the

polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers: Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public?

And the powers-that-be have the same response: “The garden is wonderful, but there is

nothing more we can do.” If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?

World Premiered at Silverdocs. Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s OT: Our Town screened in the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival.

9pm

I.O.U.S.A., directed by Patrick Creadon

Running time: 85 minutes

Wake up, America! We're on the brink of a financial meltdown. I.O.U.S.A. boldly examines the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the United States and its citizens. Burdened with an ever-expanding government and military, increased international competition, overextended entitlement programs, and debts to foreign countries that are becoming impossible to honor, America must mend its spendthrift ways or face an economic disaster of epic proportions.

Throughout history, the American government has found it nearly impossible to spend only what has been raised through taxes. Wielding candid interviews with both average American taxpayers and government officials, Sundance veteran Patrick Creadon (Wordplay) helps demystify the nation's financial practices and policies. The film follows former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker as he crisscrosses the country explaining America's unsustainable fiscal policies to its citizens.

With surgical precision, Creadon interweaves archival footage and economic data to paint a vivid and alarming profile of America's current economic situation. The ultimate power of I.O.U.S.A. is that the film moves beyond doomsday rhetoric to proffer potential financial scenarios and propose solutions about how we can recreate a fiscally sound nation for future generations.

Creadon uses candid interviews and his featured subjects include Warren Buffett, Alan Greenspan, Paul O'Neill, Robert Rubin, and Paul Volcker, along with David Walker and Bob Bixby of the Concord Coalition.

Pointedly topical and consummately nonpartisan, I.O.U.S.A. drives home the message that the only time for America's financial future is now.

World Premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Patrick Creadon’s Wordplay played in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

There are rumors that Lindsay Lohan and her gal pal Samantha Ronson had another major public fight on New Years. It sounds like the couple decided to ring in the New Year with their own relationship fireworks on display. Lilo and Samron are rumored to have had a nasty fight in Dubai during the launch of a lavish hotel. Hopefully 2009 will he a good rehab free year for Lindsay Lohan. UPDATE: Read more details about the Lilo Samantha Ronson throw down.

The ladies were in our hometown to host a New Year's bash at the club Mansion. And, according to multiple eyewitness reports, it was there that things took a turn for bat shizz crazy for the sapphic duo. During the NYE celebration, tension between Lindz and saMAN got so heated that they screamed at one another in full view of partygoers. The fight apparently spilled out into a bum-infested alley behind the club. A source said LezLo was "really unstable and flipping out" and screeched at saMAN, "When I storm off, you are supposed to follow me!" After ringing in the New Year the fighting continued on at their hotel. Several sources say they heard 'crashing sounds and screaming' coming from the lovers' room until the fight made its way out into the hall at about 11 a.m. An eyewitness said, "They were punching each other - it was bad. And they were doing this in front of all of us. It was scary." And, at one point, Linsanity allegedly dropped to her knees and cried, "Why are you doing this to me?" To that, Man supposedly responded, "I don't know you." WTF?!?! Hotel security eventually intervened and proceeded to take photos of the lovers' "trashed" room. "Mirrors were broken and it was a complete mess," said a snitch. Will they use their NYE "hosting" money to pay for the damages?! source

By contrast, hooking up with Lindsay appears to have done wonders for Sam's career.

It was reported this week that since she began dating the Mean Girls star, her DJ fee rocket from around $1,500 to as much as $25,000 per appearance. source

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson had their second major spat in a week at the extravagant launch of a Dubai hotel last night. Sam took to the decks at the afterparty but left Lindsay in tears after they had yet another row. A source said: 'At one stage Lindsay approached Sam in the DJ booth and screamed at her, 'How many more songs? How long is it going to take for you to pack up?"'. It would appear the couple are going through a major rough patch. According to one US report, the pair are currently undergoing counselling to resolve their escalating problems. They had a screaming match at Boujis on Tuesday night when Sam spotted Lindsay dancing with Calum Best, and had to be pulled apart after almost coming to blows. A source told US newspaper The New York Post, 'Lindsay and Sam are fighting like cats and dogs.They fight every day, screaming, crying and yelling at each other. 'Sam and Lindsay are still very much together and very much in love, but drama just seems to follow Lindsay, and Sam hates it. 'She deals with Lindsay every day. And every day for Sam means questioning, "Is this worth it?"' Last night it was fashion designer Matthew Williamson who played the role of peacemaker between the pair.

source

Soulja Boy's reps confirmed the rapper and hip hop star was assaulted at gunpoint.  The alleged assailants posted a youtube video laced with n bombs where they brag about their crime and explain the details of the gun attack. Is it just us or do these two masked men look like a couple of publicity stunt thugs in a Chapelle show skit? Soulja Boy recently apologized to parents and promised to clean up his image.

The brilliant Soulja Boy who has thanked the slave masters for bringing Africans to America to earn bling recently mentioned his theory about accusations within the rap community that he was killing hiphop with dance rap songs like "Crank Dat Superman". Soulja Boy confessed in a leaked youtube video that it never occured to anyone that he killed hiphop until his feud with rapper Ice-T.  Soulja Boy want's the world to know that Nas was the first one the say "Hip Hop Was Dead" so he is the one to blame. Listening to professor Soulja Boy's backwards logic and reasoning makes our heads spin.

A representative for SOULJA BOY has confirmed reports the rapper was the victim of assault earlier this week (29Dec08).
Unconfirmed reports alleged the star - real name DeAndre Ramone Way - and several of his friends were robbed at gunpoint after six men invaded his Georgia home on Tuesday (30Dec08).
Speculation heightened on Wednesday (31Dec08) after two masked men posted a video, in which they took responsibility for the crime, online. They also boasted of stalking the star at a release party for his new album iSouljaBoyTellem before following him home.
In the two-minute video, the duo blasted reports the hip-hop star was held-up by six attackers, armed with pistols and AK-47s, claiming they burgled the star with a single weapon between them.
A spokesperson for Soulja Boy has now confirmed that "a serious situation" did occur.
The representative refused to provide further details. source

Image by bananawacky via Flickr

We are sad to report that John Travolta and Kelly Preston's 16 year old son, Jett Travolta, died in the Bahamas. Jett reportedly died from a rare disease called Kawasaki  syndrome and a fall in the bathtub on his holiday vacation in the Bahamas. John Travolta and Kelly Preston are making funeral arrangements and awaiting autopsy results. There were rumors Jett Travolta suffered from the brain development disorder called Autism. However, John Travolta has publicly denied the rumors and stated that his son never had the disease. The Church of Scientology has a controversial stance against the practice of psychiatry. Update : There are inconsistent conflicting reports about Jett Travolta's death.

A few years ago, Hollywood, Interrupted published a plea from Hollywood for the Travoltas to open their hearts regarding Jett. That page doesn't seem to load properly anymore, so I'm re-posting the plea below.

A PLEA FROM HOLLYWOOD: JOHN TRAVOLTA - OPEN YOUR HEART! - April 10, 2006

On Friday, April 7th, Hollywood, Interrupted was treated to the Los Angeles premiere of "Normal People Scare Me" - a feature-length documentary about autism, co-directed by the high functioning autistic teenager Taylor Cross and his mother, Keri Bowers. The event was sponsored by an organization called Cure Autism Now (CAN) and the new magazine, The Autism Perspective (TAP).

This enlightening film was produced by b-movie actor/director/producer and former special education teacher, Joey Travolta. Joey's brother and sister-in-law, "Battlefield Earth" co-stars John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, were not present. Too bad...

...Had John and Kelly been at the screening, they might have a better understanding of the disorder reportedly affecting their 14 year-old son, Jett. Sadly, the Scientology couple cannot even publicly admit that their son is afflicted with a neurological disorder, lest - according to the incontrovertible doctrine of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard - he be labeled a "degraded being" that brought his affliction onto himself. Instead, the Travoltas have long blamed their son's disability on Kawasaki Syndrome-related "environmental toxins," specifically carpet cleaning chemicals.

   

Rumors about Jett Travolta's disability have been floating around for years, but when no less than five sources (including a media rep from the Autism Society of America (ASA), an executive from Cure Autism Now, a major Hollywood producer and parent of an autistic child, and a Hollywood actor-parent) reported that Jett Travolta was afflicted did we decide to deliver this story. Scientology will not even recognize the disability, let alone the myriad therapies for treating it.

    The CAN and ASA officials that spoke with Hollywood, Interrupted credited Sylvester Stallone and former pro football greats Doug Flutie and Dan Marino as celebrity parents of children with autism that have helped raise awareness of the malady. These celebs reportedly share their frustration with what they perceive as Travolta's "denial" stemming from Scientology's rabid hatred of psychiatry and judgment of those with psychological problems as lesser humans responsible for their own maladies.

    The Hollywood actor interviewed describes having autism as "like being trapped within yourself, and having difficulty letting normal people know who you really are." Now, imagine being trapped inside a mind-control cult that prohibits you from availing your child to the treatment available. No wonder Scientology has long been plagued by suicides, and wrongful deaths.

    The movie producer that spoke with Hollywood, Interrupted reports: "Kelly Preston, in her heart, wants to do the right thing for her son." "I bet it rips her heart out," says the actor. "But," says the producer," John Travolta has so far, done nothing to help raise awareness about autism." source

John Travolta's 16-year-old son has died, Basil Rahming, the Chief Superintendent of the Grand Bahama Police, confirmed to Usmagazine.com Friday. Travolta's lawyer, Michael Ossi, told TMZ.com, which first reported the news, that Jett suffered a seizure Friday morning at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island. He was taken to Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, Rahming told Us. An autopsy will be performed at the hospital. Police spokesperson Loretta Mackey told TMZ that Jett hit his head on the bathtub. A caretaker named Jeff Michael Kathrain found Jett found unconscious in the bathroom around 10 a.m., Rahming told Us. Jett's body will be transferred to Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium in The Bahamas on Monday, a Restview rep told TMZ. It's been reported that Jett had autism, which Travolta has denied -- instead saying Jett is inflicted with Kawasaki Syndrome (the six-year-old son of Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell has the same diagnosis), which can lead to heart disease. Travolta called Jett "my baby" in an interview with the Australian media several years ago. "He's my first, and he's my heart. And he's a very special boy," Travolta said. "He's Daddy's boy. And...we spend a lot of time together even though I'm pretty busy. He loves the outdoors and he loves to travel. "He loves being on the plane. We fly in the ultralight together," he continued. "And...he likes to climb trees and swim." Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are also parents to daughter Ella, 8. The family arrived to The Bahamas on Dec. 30. source