Bo Jackson Bikes Bama for tornado victims

Bo Jackson was as good a two-sport athlete as there ever was, and now he's trying to do a good deed on two wheels.

Jackson will show that Bo knows bikes from April 24-28, when he bicycles across Alabama in an effort to raise funds for victims of the tornadoes that swept across his home state a year ago.
Jackson, who turns 50 in November, plans to ride about 50 miles a day, and for a $200 (tax deductible) donation individuals can sign up for one of the stages. The itinerary follows the paths of destruction, and the money raised will go to the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund.
The Auburn Heisman winner already has raised nearly $200,000 toward his goal of $1 million, and told GQ magazine that:
"We have different celebrities riding with me each day. From Scottie Pippen to Picabo Street, from Cam Newton to Lance Armstrong, from Ken Griffey Jr. to Eddie George. And I got a lot of my ex-teammates from Auburn, and ex-opponents from the University of Alabama are gonna ride with me. Each day I'll have from 25-100 people riding with me. Not just celebrities, but corporations that want to sponsor their employees to come ride."
Added Jackson:
"People in the affected areas are happy that somebody is out there putting their town on the map. Maybe this will jump-start the insurance companies to get off their butts to do more, to process claims faster, to get these people some help. Because it's my job to make them look bad. If they look bad on a national level, somebody will start calling."
Details and signups are available at his BoBikesBama.com website

Swedish Minister Of Culture Partakes In Cutting Of ‘African Cake’

Sweden’s Minister of Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth partook in the cutting of a cake that depicts a naked African woman, sparking accusations of racism from the African community in Sweden.


Sweden’s English language newspaper “The Local” reports that the cake cutting took place during an art installation at Stockholm’s Moderna Museet in connection with World Art Day on April 15th.

As part of the installation, which was reportedly meant to highlight the issue of female circumcision, the culture minister began cutting a large cake shaped like a black woman, symbolically starting at the clitoris.

Makode Aj Linde, the artist who created the installation and whose head is part of the cake cut by the minister, wrote about the “genital mutilation cake” on his Facebook page.

“Before cutting me up she whispered, ‘Your life will be better after this’ in my ear,” he wrote in a caption next to the partially eaten cake.

What the video below and go to The Local to read more.

Tell me, what do you think of this? 

George Zimmerman to seek bond in Trayvon Martin case

The attorney for George Zimmerman will try to get his client out of jail on bail in the start of what is likely to be a lengthy legal battle against a second-degree murder charge in the death of Trayvon Martin.

Criminal defense attorney Mark O'Mara has requested a hearing for April 20 before Seminole County Circuit Judge Jessica J. Recksiedler at which he will argue that the 28-year-old Zimmerman should be allowed to post bail and remain free pending trial.

Zimmerman, the community watch volunteer accused of murdering Martin, an unarmed black teenager, spent a second night in jail after making his first court appearance Thursday before a Seminole County judge.

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Zimmerman spoke only once during the hearing, responding "Yes, sir" when asked if he had an attorney.

Experts: Zimmerman expected to testify in Trayvon Martin case

After the brief hearing, O'Mara told reporters outside his Orlando office that people should respect his client's right to a fair trial.

"He needs to be safe, but he doesn't need to be in a jail to be safe," O'Mara said. "He just has to be left alone and let the process work."

Zimmerman, whose mother is Hispanic and father white, says he shot Martin in self-defense after he was punched and slammed against the ground during a confrontation in a gated community in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26. The encounter came after Zimmerman called police to report seeing what he called "a real suspicious guy.”

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The special prosecutor in the case, Angela Corey, hasn’t specified what evidence she has to back up the second-degree murder charge. But in an affidavit released Thursday, prosecutors said Zimmerman “profiled” the hooded teen, continued to follow him after being told by a dispatcher that he shouldn't, and "confronted him." A struggle ensued and Martin was shot in the chest.

To prove second-degree murder, prosecutors must show that Zimmerman committed an "imminently dangerous" act that showed a "depraved" lack of regard for human life. The charge carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life.

The case has been assigned to Judge Recksiedler, a former assistant state attorney from Sanford who was elected to the bench in 2010. Arraignment is scheduled for May 29. 

Meanwhile, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Friday shows most Americans support the right to use deadly force to protect themselves.

Most of the 1,922 people surveyed nationwide Monday through Thursday said they support laws that allow citizens to use deadly force to protect themselves from danger in their own home or in a public place.

"Americans do hold to this idea that people should be allowed to defend themselves and using deadly force is fine, in those circumstances," pollster Chris Jackson said, according to Reuters. "In the theoretical ... there's a certain tolerance of vigilantism."

reference: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/13/11182597-george-zimmerman-to-seek-bond-in-trayvon-martin-case?lite 

Check out the letter Beyonce wrote to our First Lady

hile her husband JAY-Z boasts about not ever having to write anything down, BEYONCE does the opposite. Last night, Beyonce posted  a short but sweet, handwritten letter on her site Beyonce.com, thanking First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA for simply being – GREAT!!

We wonder if Beyonce thought about this idea while on her Easter family vacation in St. Barth. Well, whenever she did it, Beyonce sent her warm regards – in advance – for Mrs. Obama being one of the best role models that her daughter Blue Ivy will witness growing up. And, she also shouted her out and empathized with her having to deal with the spotlight every moment of her life, but continuing to remain level-headed.

Aww!! How cute! We couldn’t agree with Beyonce any more. Props to First Lady Michelle Obama for truly serving as an inspiration.

Take a look at the heartfelt, self-penned letter from Bey below:

http://allhiphop.com/2012/04/12/beyonce-composes-ultimate-fan-letter-to-first-lady-michelle-obama/

DEDICATED TO JUSTICE!!! New music by @JueMusic Come Together As One:

Zimmerman to be charged in Trayvon Martin case

(CBS/AP) CBS News has confirmed that neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman will be charged in the February shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla.

State Attorney Angela Corey is scheduled to hold a news conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the state attorney's office in Jacksonville, Florida related to the Martin investigation.

According to a senior law enforcement official, Corey is expected to announce that Zimmerman will face state charges. The number or nature of the charges was not immediately known.

Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense after following the teenager in a Sanford gated community outside Orlando on Feb. 26. He said he was returning to his truck when Martin attacked him and that he shot the unarmed teen during the fight. He was briefly held by police but was not arrested, in part because of Florida's "stand your ground" self-defense law.

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The lack of an arrest has led to protests across the nation and spurred a debate about race and the laws of self-defense. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is Hispanic. Martin was black.

On Tuesday, Zimmerman's attorneys announced they were no longer representing him and that they had not heard from him since Sunday, although he had contacted talk show host Sean Hannity and the special prosecutor.

"As of the last couple days, he has not returned phone calls, text messages or emails," attorney Craig Sonner said. "He's gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to."

However, the person with knowledge of the case said law enforcement knows where Zimmerman is. His former attorneys have said he is in hiding and suffering from high levels of stress from the intense public scrutiny he is under.

Earlier Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the Justice Department will take appropriate action in the killing of Trayvon Martin if it finds evidence that a federal criminal civil rights crime has been committed.

17 Photos

Fla. Teen killed by neighborhood watch volunteer

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Holder said the department will conduct a thorough and independent review of the evidence in the Martin matter. One of the department's top priorities, said Holder, is preventing and combating youth violence and victimization.

The Justice Department launched an investigation of the Martin killing three weeks ago.

"I know that many of you are greatly — and rightly — concerned about the recent shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a young man whose future has been lost to the ages," Holder told the 14th annual convention of the National Action Network, three days of discussion on race issues. Martin's parents were scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon at the meeting.

"If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action," said the attorney general. "I also can make you another promise: that at every level of today's Justice Department — preventing and combating youth violence and victimization is, and will continue to be, a top priority."

refererenced: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57412535/zimmerman-to-be-charged-in-trayvon-martin-case/

Q-Tip signs to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam

Legendary New York City rapper Q-Tip has found a new recording home with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music.

Left to Right: Phife Dawg, Q-Tip and Jarobi White. (Photo by Robert Benavides - PHOTO BY ROBERT BENAVIDES)Barry Weiss, chairman and CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam, the parent company for G.O.O.D., announced Wednesday that West has signed the hip-hop veteran. Q-Tip’s fourth solo album, tentatively titled “The Last Zulu,” will be released through the label in 2013.

The former leader of A Tribe Called Quest is now label mates with hip-hop and R&B artists such as Big Sean, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, and John Legend.

“I’m excited to be a part of the great iconic Def Jam label,” Q-Tip said in a statement. “I’m humbled to be part of such a storied history.”

This will not be the first time that Q-Tip has worked with his new boss. He has produced tracks on West’s 2010 album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” and his most recent joint album with Jay-Z, “Watch the Throne.”

“As far as G.O.O.D. Music, I’m excited to solidify my working relationship with Kanye,” Q-Tip said, “and I look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead in our partnership. I will do my best to present the most cutting edge music I can.”

Q-Tip’s move to the record label is trending on Twitter. Here are a couple of Tweets with what fans are saying:

1. Kanye West signs Q-Tip to G.O.O.D. Music. At this rate he should call his label GREAT Music... (RT IF YOU FEEL ME!)

   Rap Genius

   3 hours ago

   ReplyRetweet
2. Share
   RT @blackvoices: Kanye adds more G.O.O.D. music to his label. huff.to/I4Ivlt

   M∆K3 1T N4$TY

   2 hours ago

   ReplyRetweet
3. Share
   I'm not sure if I like Q-Tip being signed with G.O.O.D music, well see how this one turns out.

   LeDuke

   2 hours ago

   ReplyRetweet
4. Share
   Q-Tip Signs To G.O.O.D. Music bit.ly/Is8Vj4 (Kanye's essentially creating a fantasy label - wonderful news)

   Jamaal Thomas

   2 hours ago

   ReplyRetweet

reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/q-tip-signs-to-kanye-wests-good-musicdef-jam/2012/04/11/gIQAKHvhAT_blog.html