AAEA Hollywood

Out Of Africa – Great Safari Tours in the USA

2012-05-23T13:27:00.001-07:00

Nowadays, you don't have to travel out to the African wilderness to see beautiful creatures such as lions, elephants, buffalo and rhinos. The wonders of safari can be experienced in safari parks closer to home. Many tour operators now offer affordable holidays to safari parks in the US.

Unlike visiting a zoo, a safari park offers people the opportunity to experience a more realistic wildlife environment. Usually modelled on scaled versions of a natural habitat, safari parks allow animals to roam free within the confines of the perimeter fences.

Africa is arguably still the best place to go on safari holidays because the animals are in their indigenous environment. However, there are many good safari parks around the world that offer a similar experience. Below is a selection of some of the best safari parks in the US.

Everglades Safari Park, Florida
If you are interested in adventure tours, check out the Everglades Safari Park in Florida. This is one of the most popular attractions in the area. Visitors can take an air-boat tour around the Everglades and see the native wildlife such as American crocodiles and alligators. For those who are feeling brave, the park offers visitors the chance to hold a baby crocodile.

Safari West, California

This 400 acre safari park is located in the centre of California's wine country. It is home to over 800 animals including zebra, antelope, buffalo, rhinos and giraffe. The park offers private adventure toursfor up to 10 people, including a guide, wine and snacks. The tour involves a three-hour drive through the park on an authentic safari vehicle. Visitors to the park can also spend a night in a traditional African tent overlooking one of the lakes.

Wild Side, Ohio

Wild Side safari park is a must-see attraction for those eager to be up close to rhinos. The park is an authentic landscape where many grazing African animals are free to roam around. On the shuttled tours you can see giraffe, zebra, cheetah, wild dogs and, of course, rhino. The Wild Side safari park has a selection of safari-style lodges where visitors can spend the night on the park game viewing and experiencing the 'next best thing' to an African safari.

Disney's Wildlife Kingdom, Florida
Some people would not consider Disney's Wildlife Kingdom as a safari park; instead, they would describe it as an animal-themed park. However, this park contains over 250 species of animal and one of its areas is themed on Africa. Therefore, for an 'African experience', it is the ideal place to enjoy as a family. The Wild Trek Africa experience is a private tour that includes a guide and visits the crocodile and hippo enclosures. You can also travel on a traditional safari vehicle and see elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, lions and more.

Virginia Safari Park, Virginia
Home to over 1,000 animals from 6 different continents, this safari park is situated on 180 acres of land. The park has a safari drive-through zoo and a safari walk-through zoo. The drive-through safari is made up of 3 miles of road through the Shenandoah Valley. Here you will see llamas, camels, deer, bison, ostriches and zebras. The safari village walk-through area is a series of paths that visitors can leisurely stroll down and find goats, pot belly pigs, giraffes and baby llamas. Children will enjoy the opportunity to feed and pet these animals in this area of the park.

Safari parks are the perfect alternative to experiencing the real thing in Africa. They provide people of all ages and budgets with the next best thing: an African wildlife adventure in a realistic cage-free habitat.

AUTHOR BIO: Claire Jones writes regularly on safari holidays for a range of travel websites and blogs. Claire has spent a number of years reviewing national and international safari parks. She has also visited the Masai Mara, one of Africa's most iconic parks to experience 'the real thing' for herself.

Compton To Catalina Program Launches

2012-05-17T08:19:00.001-07:00

1st Trip A Complete Success

The African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA) established a partnership with the Greater Union Baptist Church (GUBC) to operate an environmental tour called the “Compton To Catalina Program,” which takes students and other young people from Compton, California to Catalina Island. The Center and the California Center for Economic Initiatives (CCFEI) are also partnering under the Compton To Catalina Program to expose Compton youth to boat repair and to provide technical training services.

"Our Weekly"

AAEA initiated its Compton-To-Catalina Program on Saturday, April 21, 2012, which is the day before Earth Day. The program began with a press conference at the Greater Union Baptist Church in Compton, California. Participants then traveled to Long Beach, California to board the Catalina Express to make the one hour trip to the island. Once on Santa Catalina Island, the participants boarded the Emerald submersible to observe underwater life around the island. Finally, participants toured Southern California Edison's electricity generating plant at Pebbly Beach, the island's primary electricity generation source.

Long Version

The purpose of the program is to expose young people from Compton to the Pacific Ocean and an incredibly beautiful island. People take it for granted that the vast majority of these kids never get on the water and many people live their entire lives without directly experiencing the Pacific Ocean even though they live within five or ten miles of it. We believe that such early exposure to this environment could lead to a lifelong environmental stewardship ethic.

The Compton To Catalina Program is being operated thanks to a grant from Southern California Edison.

GUBC recruits people to participate in the Compton To Catalina (CTC) Program. AAEA makes arrangements for the tours and facilitates educational experiences for the students. Each is a daylong affair that includes transportation to Long Beach, where the tours originate. Participants have escorts at all times and activities on the island are arranged to maximize the environmental experience.

We utilize the transport services of Catalina Express. Passengers on board Catalina Express can expect to arrive in Catalina in about an hour from Long Beach. The Catalina Express fleet consists of eight high-speed vessels including four catamarans. The largest vessel in operation, the Catalina Jet has the capacity to carry nearly 500 passengers across the channel. Catalina Express offers up to 30 round trips daily

There are numerous activities available on Catalina Island, including: an Eco Tour Zip Line, hiking, biking, camping, swimming, snorkeling, diving, sightseeing, dining, shopping or relaxing, to name a few. Our main activities include a submersible ride to view submerged vegetation and fish species and an electricity power plant tour.

AAEA, GUBC and CCFEI are providing important environmental and technical services to the youth of Compton, California. This partnership provides a rich environmental experience for participants. The Center will engage institutions and individuals to support the program.

Short Version

Magic Johnson Led Group Buys Los Angeles Dodgers

2012-03-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Basketball legend Magic Johnson led a group that won an auction for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team Tuesday night, marking the final chapter in a soap-opera-style saga for the legendary franchise.
With a bid of $2.15 billion, including the surrounding land, Mr. Johnson, controlling partner Mark Walter and partners Peter Guber, Stan Kasten, Bobby Patton and Todd Boehly beat out a group of some of the wealthiest businessmen in the country to land a team that is one of Major League Baseball's flagship franchises.

We like how they are putting Magic out front as the face of the purchase. The sales figure shatters the previous record sales price for a U.S. sports franchise, Steve Ross's purchase of the Miami Dolphins for $1.1 billion three years ago. (WSJ, 3/28/2012)

African Americans and Mobile Entertainment.

2012-02-29T18:57:00.004-08:00

The Mobile Consumer: African Americans, Movies & Mobile

A New Report by MocoSpace and Briabe Mobile

More than any other ethnic demographic, African Americans use mobile phones to make movie plans

African Americans are not only an important demographic of the US movie going population, but they are at the forefront of a new trend of using mobile phones to guide movie selection.

African Americans attend movies more frequently than other ethnic demographics, including Hispanics and Caucasians. Now, research from a new study is showing that African Americans are more active than other demographics in using their mobile devices to find theaters, movie times and reviews. This insight comes from a survey of more than 1100 Americans who participated in research for a new report titled The Mobile Consumer: African Americans, Movies & Mobile. The study was conducted on MocoSpace’s diverse network of users, in partnership with multicultural mobile agency Briabe Mobile.

Based on the results from a June 2011 survey, the study revealed that 66% of African Americans go to the movie theater at least once a month, and 19% see movies three times a month - and they are relying on their mobile phone in the movie selection process. The vast majority - seventy percent - of African Americans surveyed used their phone to help choose a movie within 8 hours of actually attending the movie.

Another key finding of the survey is that African Americans use their phones for almost every part of the film-discovery process. Sixty-eight percent use their mobile devices for overall movie planning. Of those:

o 69% use their mobile devices to find show times and locations;

o 35% use it to view trailers;

o 34% use it to get reviews; and

o 28% use it to discover movies.

The study also revealed that mobile ads are extremely effective with this demographic. African American consumers are more likely to take action as a result of mobile advertising than any other ethnic group. Survey participants were asked: ‘When using your mobile device what influences you to see a movie?’ and 41% of African Americans reported that that mobile ads influence their decision. Comparatively, 40% of Hispanics claimed that mobile ads influenced them, while only 31% of the general market said the same.

Of the mobile ad types, mobile search ads saw the greatest response; 45% of African Americans said mobile search ads influenced their decision, with mobile banner ads coming in second at 39% and 28% saying SMS ads made them want to see a film.

As movie studios look to boost their box office, this data illustrates that African Americans are a driving force for ticket sales. The mobile device and mobile media is a huge opportunity for advertisers and marketers to engage this audience and drive them to theaters.

About Briabe Mobile
Briabe Mobile, Inc., is an award-winning full-service, multicultural mobile marketing agency. Since 2005, Briabe Mobile has been the leader in innovative, targeted mobile marketing and advertising campaigns that help brands capture and engage their diverse consumer audiences – including Hispanic, Asian and African American ethnic groups – using mobile devices. Briabe Mobile helps brands leverage mobile platforms to connect with their target customers via unique solutions and campaigns that complement their existing marketing efforts.

About MocoSpace
MocoSpace is the largest HTML5 mobile gaming community in North America, with twenty-five million registered users. Every day, users spend more than one million hours on MocoSpace, and one million games are played. For a young, multicultural, on-the go generation, MocoSpace is the mobile community of choice for playing games, making friends, having fun and staying connected. MocoSpace is free and available on any Web-enabled mobile phone in the world. Launched in 2005, MocoSpace is based in Boston, Mass., and is backed by General Catalyst and Softbank Capital.

Contacts:

MocoSpace:

Rachael Himsel Nunez
415.677.9125 x 257

Briabe Mobile

Meeta Chawla
310.694.3283

If You Are A Black Actress and Want An Oscar, Play A Maid

2012-02-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

Hattie McDaniel

Prior to Sunday's Academy Awards, only 13 black actors had won in the Oscars’ 84-year history. Only Halle Berry had been chosen best actress, for playing a wounded soul who finds solace in the arms of a white man in “Monster’s Ball.” The best supporting actress victory of Octavia Spencer, who played another maid in “The Help,” shows that maid roles are responsible for two of the six Oscars won by black actresses.

In 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Oscar, for a supporting role as a maid called Mammy in the Dixie-glorifying “Gone With the Wind.” Since then, a high percentage of black Oscar nominees and winners have played characters such as slaves, African despots, welfare recipients, dysfunctional mothers, drug-addicted musicians or drug-dealing cops.

Of the 5,765 people who vote on the Oscars, nearly 94 percent are white and 77 percent are male, according to a new Los Angeles Times study. The median voter age is 62. (Associated Press, Black News, 2/28/2012)

Urban Internet News

2012-02-28T17:14:00.002-08:00

Urban Internet News (UINews) is dedicated to daily, national news that pertains to people of color. As the nation’s only daily, audio newscast, UINews.net is the premier online programming source to offer access to daily Black national news. With easy access from almost anywhere–and now with technology, even your mobile phone,Urban Internet News covers every aspect of news for people of color.

UINews.net hopefully fills the void of black news in an age where other networks have arguably fallen by the wayside. UINews.net serves an ever expanding audience that utilizes the Internet as a primary news source. UINews.net offers the latest news and information as it occurs and is updated on a regular basis.

UINews.net offers both full newscasts and briefs on a daily basis, Monday through Friday. UINews.net reports the top stories and events including business, politics, technology, entertainment and sports, all specific to the black community. UINews.net also features segments covering Caribbean and African news.

UINews.net will offer listener’s unmatched access to highly produced news programming, helping to keep their finger on the pulse of the news and information that is relevant.

DJ Benjamin Jones will be on the music side (Spirit & Soul) from 7pm til midnite on Saturday nights. It is their desire to lift spirits higher with inspirational Gospel, R&B, Jazz and inspiring words and scripture. Call or email them with encouraging words: 1(877)522-6285 spiritandsoulonline@gmail.com

Spirit & Soul

Sly Outdoes Original 'Thank You' With New 'Thank You'

2012-01-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

By Environment Man

I never would have thought that anyone could or would try to top Sly & The Family Stone's "Thank You." Then again, what better person to achieve it than the originator of "Thank You," Sly Stone himself. In his 2011 release, "I'm Back! Family & Friends," Sly revamps "Thank You" and ramps it up at least 33%. Everything is firing more potently.

The energy level is raised on the new version as to render the original version as just an incredible Top 10 hit. The new version lifts the 60's hit to a cult like status. In other words, there is 'the Stone sound,' but Sly got back on his game by elevating his own greatist hit, "Thank You."

Oh. And there is that unadvertised "Music Lover" at the end of the Dance To The Music Extended Version. Sly has left a lasting legacy if this is to be his last disk. Put out your best stuff while you're still alive, Sly. Cause you know they are going to put it out after you are gone.

Melissa Harris-Perry Gets Show On MSNBC

2012-01-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

MSNBC contributor Melissa Harris-Perry is the latest addition to MSNBC’s expanding weekend lineup. Her new program, set to air Saturdays and Sundays 10a-noon ET, will debut on MSNBC February 4th. The announcement was made by MSNBC President Phil Griffin. Chris Hayes will continue to lead off MSNBC’s weekend programming with his popular roundtable program ‘Up,’ which will begin airing from 8-10am ET on both Saturdays and Sundays. MSNBC anchor Alex Witt will expand MSNBC’s live news coverage in both the morning and the afternoon, with “Weekends with Alex Witt” airing 7-8a ET Saturdays and noon-2p ET on Saturdays and Sundays.

Harris-Perry, a long-standing political analyst and contributor to MSNBC, is a frequent guest of “PoliticsNation” with Rev. Al Sharpton, and also serves as occasional host of “The Rachel Maddow Show” and “The Last Word.” A highly accomplished author, scholar and speaker, Harris-Perry’s new program will continue MSNBC’s trend of bringing intelligent, informed voices to the cable channel’s weekend programming.

Ms Harris-Perry, a political science professor at Tulane University, is also a columnist for The Nation magazine, and will continue to write her monthly column, titled Sister Citizen. She'll continue to teach and write her monthly column, in addition to this new MSNBC gig. (MSNBC Press Release)

Environment Man: The Movie

2011-12-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

By Alan Smithee

The Hollywood rumor mill has it that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are teaming with the Wachowski Brothers to produce and direct "Environment Man: The Movie." I used my connections to get a peek at the super secret preproduction script.

It appears to be a combination of "The Matrix" meets "Purple Rain." Eman is working on the sound track and Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga are rumored to be romantic leads in the film.

The 3-D sci-fi action thriller has a $200 million production budget and will be distributed worldwide. Environmental Man has committed to a world tour to support the film.

Eman Linked To Nicki Minaj?

2011-12-24T20:13:00.000-08:00

By Susie Centsativ

Onika Tanya Maraj, better known as Nicki Minaj, is being linked to Environment Man. The hip hop world rumor mill is not confirming whether the link is professional or romantic. Reps for both would not comment for the record. Their fans want to know if they will perform together in 2012.

Minaj achieved commercial success after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 and being signed to Young Money Entertainment in August 2009. Minaj released her debut album, "Pink Friday" in November 2010. It quickly became a commercial success, peaking at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release.

Reality Weekly Names Omarosa Manigault West Coast Editor

2011-12-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

Omarosa O. Manigault

David J. Pecker, President, Chairman and CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI) today announced that Omarosa O. Manigault has been named West Coast Editor of Reality Weekly, the first weekly magazine devoted exclusively to the hottest reality shows on TV and their stars.

As West Coast Editor, Ms. Manigault will be responsible for breaking news and exclusives on the west coast. Omarosa will serve as the brand's West Coast ambassador with access to exclusive red carpet events, show premieres and press junkets. In addition to editing for the weekly, Omarosa will appear on behalf of Reality Weekly as the authority on all topics providing insider information to various news outlets.

The weekly celebrity magazine, which launches its premiere issue on January 2, will feature glossy pages splashed with photos of reality TV's biggest stars with news, recaps, tidbits, and scoops including exclusive columns penned each week by various celebrities, and will also include a companion website realityweeklymag.com.

Ms. Manigault is perfectly positioned to help Reality Weekly become an instant hit on newsstands. Omarosa has solidified her place as a reality TV stalwart by appearing in more than 20 reality shows including the "Celebrity Apprentice", "Surreal Life", "Fear Factor" and "Girls Behaving Badly". She has also served as co-producer with business mogul and reality TV tycoon Donald Trump on her own show "Ultimate Merger".

Prior to her reality career, which has spanned nearly a decade, Omarosa served as Education and Research Director for NVLP, a production company owned by Dr. Bill & Camille Cosby. She has worked in the CNN Washington, D.C. newsroom and held various political appointments at the White House with President Clinton. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master's of Mass Communication degree.

Ms. Manigault will begin her duty as West Coast Editor effective immediately and will report to Mr. Spencer.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI's titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Country Weekly, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI's publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions. Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services.

"This Week With Donna Brazile"

2011-12-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

AAEA Calls on ABC to Give Donna Brazile a Chance At Hosting "This Week."

Donna Brazile

AAEA believes Donna Brazile would be a great host of the show. We called for her to get the hosting job when George Stephanopoulos left to host Good Morning America (GMA). Now George evidently has two jobs because he is coming back to "This Week" while still hosting GMA. Evidently ABC got impatient with Christiane Amanpour inability to move out of 3rd place (2.3 million viewers) behind "Meet The Press" (2.92 million) and "Face The Nation" (2.86 million). Amanpour left her post as CNN's chief international correspondent after 27 years to host "This Week," but is now returning to CNN.

GIVE DONNA A CHANCE. There is no better political mind Inside the Beltway (or Outside the Beltway). She brings that New Orleans 'flavor' to the airways and is a no-nonsense political tactician. Donna has a unique 'look' and is clearly a personality (and we know she has been holding back). At a very minimum, give Donna the same 16 months given to Christiane. Donna also has a certain 'flair.' She recently made a special guest appearance on "The Good Wife."

When the suits at ABC see this article, we hope they will take our advice and give Donna a chance. We also think the ratings would overtake both "Meet The Press" and "Face The Nation."

Romantic Link Between Eman & Michelle Rodriguez?

2011-11-19T17:56:00.001-08:00

Eman is being romantically linked to hot tomboy actress Michelle Rodriguez. Eman is very reclusive and has a strict policy of not talking about his private life. Maybe that is why the paparazzi have not captured the rumored couple together. Regardless of the situation, Michelle would be a great mate for Eman.

Michelle Rodriguez was in the epic 3D film, Avatar, playing the role of a Marine helicopter who is stationed on the planet of Pandora. Her character Trudy Chacon is in the same vein as most of her characters from past films, the hot tomboy or the bombshell with muscle. Michelle Rodriguez has perfected this particular brand of feminine machismo.

Rodriguez also appeared in the blockbuster hit The Fast and the Furious (2001), and Resident Evil (2002).

Actors Adrian Grenier & Don Cheadle Receive Eco Award

2011-11-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

Opportunity Green awarded Actors Adrian Grenier & Don Cheadle as Eco Mavericks

Karen Solomon, Peter Glatzer, Adrian Grenier & Mike Flynn

The Fifth Annual Business Conference Opportunity Green awarded the 2nd Annual Eco Maverick Awards to Adrian Grenier, Peter Glatzer and actor, Don Cheadle. They were honored because of their exemplary service and commitment to environmental sustainability as well as human rights.

Don Cheadle

Over 900 professionals from Fortune 500 powerhouses to inventive startups from around the globe gathered this past week at Los Angeles Center Studio's for the Fifth Annual Opportunity Green Business Conference. The conference presents global business visionaries showcasing the most sought-after opportunities, profound innovations, technologies and trends accelerating the new green economy.

Lex Heslin, Gov Shumlin, Simran Sethi & Karen Solomon

The "2011 Green Governor of the Year" was awarded to Governor Peter Shumlin of Vermont. Vermont is one of 13 states which have voluntarily adopted California’s vehicle emissions standards. Governor Shumlin signed a renewable energy bill into law in 2011 to expand renewable energy and efficiency projects in the state of Vermont. Governor Shumlin also created a ‘Climate Cabinet’ which will function as an advisory body on all matters bearing on climate issues.

The OG after-party was hosted by SouthWest airlines offering a Taste of LA with LA's best sustainable fare from local restaurants such as Border Grill, Veggie Grill, La Poubelle and organic cocktails by locally made GreenBar Collective.

Opportunity Green Business Conference offsets 100% of carbon emissions and diverts 85% waste from landfill making in one of the lowest conference footprints.

2011-11-14T17:35:00.001-08:00

Donna Brazile Appears in "The Good Wife"

2011-10-25T20:17:00.001-07:00

Race As Subtext In NBA Negotiations

2011-10-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

By Korben Dallas

The NBA has race as an undeniable subtext in the current lockout and negotiations about profit sharing. Just look at the negotiating table: On one side sit the owners, all Caucasian males apart from Jordan, ranging from mid-40s to soon-to-be octogenarians. Across from them sit their 20- and 30-something employees, almost 84 percent of whom are African American males. The older white men are now asking the young black men to take a pay cut in order to cover their purported losses, upward of $280 million a year. Given that, it’s almost ridiculous they call “basketball-related income” the elephant in the room.

Once race becomes a factor in the discussion, it begins to tinge perceptions of everything and everyone. Just pick an area of American society and race CAN become the elephant in the room. The White House might have finally integrated, but the marketplace is still a bastion of White-ownership and Black lack of ownership. So a stalemate is going on in the NBA. The one thing that will solve this problem will be when both sides lose so much money that it hurts. Or a competitor threatens both sides. (Wash Post, 10/21/2011)

Lisa Jackson on "Real Time With Bill Maher"

2011-10-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

REAL CLEAR POLITICS VIDEO

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson appeared on HBO's Bill Maher Show last night [October 21, 2011] and she aggressively represented the importance of EPA regulations. Administrator Jackson talked about the politicization of our environment under the House Republican's pseudo-jobs plan, “Too Dirty to Fail,” which she discusses in her oped in the LA Times. Jackson noted that "Pollution affects red states and blue states alike, and it is time to stop politicizing our air and water." LPJ was last on Real Time on Oct 2 2009.

Post Show Discussion on Overtime

The Original 7ven band formerly known as The Time

2011-10-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

The original members of The Time are now known as The Original 7ven: Morris Day, Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson, Jerome Benton and Monte Moir. This is their first new album together in 21 years. Condensate, due October 18th on SRR Records, features 14 brand new tracks. The album name Condensate is taken from Morris Day’s tongue-in-cheek comment, “I don’t sweat, I condensate.”

EMan & Phoenix Jones To Team Up To Fight Pollution & Crime?

2011-10-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

The self-proclaimed Seattle superhero who goes by the name Phoenix Jones unmasked himself Thursday morning at a court hearing. Jones, 23, whose real name is Benjamin John Francis Fodor, appeared in a court wearing a charcoal-colored mask and a superhero uniform under a black and gray striped shirt. A court officer asked him to remove the mask and he complied but put it back on after the hearing to speak with reporters — at which point, he dramatically removed it again to reveal his true identity.

Fodor was arrested Sunday after police say he pepper sprayed a group of people downtown as they left a nightclub. Fodor said he was trying to break up a fight when he was attacked. He spent about seven hours in jail before posting $3,800 bail.

Jones said he's the leaderof the Rain City Superhero Movement, which has conducted late-night patrols in Seattle since last year. (MSNBC)

Dick Gregory 80th Birthday Celebration Oct 9 at Riot Act Theater

2011-09-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Riot Act Comedy Theater was chosen by Mr. Dick Gregory to host his 80th Birthday Celebration on October 9th at 7pm. Mr. Dick Gregory, a leading civil rights activist and comedian, is mentor to AAEA President Norris McDonald.

Congrats Dick. And thank you for helping our president during his deadly asthma episodes in the 1990's.

Mr. Dick Gregory is brilliant as a comedian, but he is recognized for much more. Besides providing audiences with conscious comedy, Mr. Gregory's credits include renowned author, television and film personality, nutritionist and recording artist. Mr. Gregory has worked alongside prominent figures in history such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, President John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Being one of the few members of The Movement still alive, Mr. Gregory is a walking history book. His candor combined with his world class political satire and humor make him one of the most celebrated and respected comics and activist of our time....and a must see show.

Dick Gregory entered the national comedy scene in 1961 when Chicago’s Playboy Club (as a direct request from publisher Hugh Hefner) booked him as a replacement for white comedian, “Professor” Irwin Corey. His tenure as a replacement for Corey was so successful — at one performance he won over an audience that included southern white convention goers — that the Playboy Club offered him a contract extension from several weeks to three years. By 1962 Dick Gregory had become a nationally known headline performer, selling out nightclubs, making numerous national television appearances, and recording popular comedy albums. (More)

Eddie Murphy To Host The Oscars

2011-09-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that Murphy, 50, would host the 84th annual Academy Awards, live on ABC on Feb. 26.

Eddie Murphy received his first and only Oscar nomination in 2007 for Dreamgirls.

Eddie Murphy

Mellody Hobson and George Lucas

2011-09-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

This power couple brings a unique combination to Hollywood. And Chicago too. The financial brain and the Hollywood movie maker are quite the cute couple. Mellody Hobson and George Walton Lucas Jr. have been together since 2006.

Melody is the president of Ariel Investments, LLC, a Chicago investment firm managing over $3 billion in assets. It is also one of the largest African American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the United States. She is also the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Ariel Mutual Funds. Hobson is a regular contributor on financial issues to ABC's Good Morning America.

George is a film director, producer, screenwriter and founder of Lucasfilm, Ltd. George has three children. Hobson has never been married and has no children.

Riot Act Comedy Theater

2011-08-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

Riot Act Comedy Theater is a state of the art comedy club and event facility located in the heart of Penn Quarter, on the back of the Spy Museum and one block from the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

Riot Act features the nation's greatest comics while also providing a work place and open mic for local and aspiring comics.

202-697-4900

801 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

get directions »

Re-recording: "Hot Fun In The Summertime" w/ Bootsy Collins

2011-08-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Bootsy's bass kills on this cut. Larry we love ya but Bootsy definitely served noticed that Sly would have been successful with a Bootsy. Ummmm. But Bootsy aint no Larry. Let's be clear about that. But come on Larry, you know you have to give him props on his thumping here. Bootsy went way down on the fret board WITH the mutron peddle. I mean Larry your fuzz did the same thing back in the day (think "Sex Machine").

Sly's production genius is in clear view if you listen down into the mix of the music. A close listen to his best stuff reveals his artistic genius. Freddie Stone was one of Sly's master painters. And Bootsy's vocals are nowhere near Larry's power. Yet Bootsy raps, which puts the Woodstock Nation genre up to date.

You have to listen to this. It lets you know that when Sly is trying, can't nobody touch him.

A re-recording of "Hot Fun In The Summertime" featuring Bootsy Collins.

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME

Bootsy Collin, George Clinton, Sly Stone