Week of April 8, 2009
Aftershocks from the earthquake that has killed at least 260 people in central
Italy sent new fears through the tent camps that shelter thousands of survivors,
and Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that he would visit the shocked and
injured people of the area as soon as possible. As rescue teams pressed ahead
with their searches in the crumbled buildings, some of the almost 28,000 left
homeless emerged from tents after spending a second night in chilly mountain
temperatures.
The crew of a U.S.-flag ship
seized by pirates off Somalia is
believed to have retaken the
vessel, the Pentagon said
Wednesday, even as a shaken
national security establishment
confronted troubling questions
about the hostage-taking at high
sea. Capt. Joseph Murphy, an
instructor at the Massachusetts
Maritime Academy, said his son
Shane, the second in command
on the ship, had called him to say the crew had regained control. It was reported
that Somali pirates had hijacked the U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 20 American
crew members onboard, hundreds of miles from the nearest American military
vessel in some of the most dangerous waters in the world.
New jobless claims fell more than expected last week but are stuck at elevated
levels, while the number of people continuing to receive unemployment
insurance approached 6 million, setting a record for the 11th straight week.
While acknowledging that the recession makes the political battle more difficult,
President Obama plans to begin addressing the country’s immigration system
this year, including looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal, a
senior administration official said on Wednesday.
A suicide bomber rammed his
explosives-laden truck into a
wall around a police
headquarters in northern Iraq on
Friday, killing five American
soldiers and two Iraqi policemen
in the single deadliest attack
against U.S. forces this year,
Week of April 8, 2009
the U.S. military and Iraqi police said.
U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American
captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-
seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday. The pirates were pointing AK-47s at
Capt. Richard Phillips and he was in "imminent danger" of being killed when the
commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to
order his men to shoot, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said.
Pope Benedict XVI sought to give a message of hope on Easter Sunday to
victims of wars, poverty and financial turmoil, saying it was urgently needed to
overcome the miseries that are plaguing Africa, the Middle East and other parts
of the globe.
China released its first human rights action plan Monday, pledging to improve the
treatment of minorities and do more to prevent the torture of detainees but said
that raising living standards would remain a central goal.
China has been criticized by other governments, the United Nations and activists
for aggressively promoting economic reform over the past few decades while
falling short on basic human rights such as freedom of speech, religion and the
right to a fair trial.
Despite recent defeats against the U.S. and French navies, Somali pirates
hijacked three more vessels in the Gulf of Aden. The latest seizures include a
Greek-managed bulk carrier and two Egyptian fishing boats. In Washington,
President Barack Obama said the U.S. will work with other nations to fight these
bandits. Options currently under consideration include adding Navy gunships
along the Somali coastline and launching a campaign to disable pirate "mother
ships."
Mr. Pop Gossip - Looks like Jessica
Simpson’s 's country crooning days are over.
The singer, 28, is no longer with the Sony
Nashville label. Earlier today, blogs were
abuzz that Simpson was dropped from the
label after her name was noticeably missing
from both the Columbia Nashville and Sony
Music Nashville websites. Simpson also
skipped Sunday's Academy of Country Music
Awards, even though she announced the
nominees earlier this year. A spokesman said
- "She was on loan to Sony Nashville for her
country album."
Week of April 8, 2009
Hugh Jackman says he is heartbroken" his new film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine ,
was leaked on the web a month before its official release. It's a serious crime and
there's no doubt it's very disappointing," he said this week while promoting the
film in Sydney, Australia. "Obviously, people are seeing an unfinished film. It's
like a Ferrari without a paint job."
After a magnitude-6.3 quake rocked the Abruzzo region of Italy on Monday, the
mayor of the hamlet of Pacentro asked the world to send help - and Madonna
answered his call. According to, the pop singer - whose paternal grandparents
lived in Pacentro until 1919 - has made a "substantial donation" to help with the
relief effort. I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are
from," Madonna said in a statement. "My heart goes out to the families that have
lost loved ones or their homes."
American Idol Update - Adam Lambert - the
frontrunner in the competition, performed last on
the show. And though the now hour-long show
ran into overtime and the judges' comments were
shortened, Simon managed to express the impact
Adam made with his version of the 1982 song,
"Mad World." "Words are unnecessary, but I want
to give you a standing ovation," Simon said as the
entire judging panel stood up to pay the 26-year-
old Californian his dues.
Next show - After much clamoring from the
judges, the competition is over for Scott MacIntyre
on "American Idol." The 23-year-old piano player
from Scottsdale, Ariz., who crooned Survivor's
"The Search is Over" in hopes of being saved by
the judges, received the fewest number of viewer votes Wednesday on the
popular Fox singing competition. "This is really tough," judge Simon Cowell said
after MacIntyre reprised his performance sans electric guitar. "I really, really like
you, Scott. I'm looking over there, and I think there's a bunch of talented singers.
This decision isn't just based on you. It's whether I think — or we think —
someone is more talented over there. This is the problem."
Bo? No jest. The first family has settled on a first pet — a 6-month-old
Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo.
The selection was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets.
Week of April 8, 2009
President Barack Obama's daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha,
picked a black and white pup, a White House official speaking on the condition of
anonymity told The Associated Press Saturday night.
The dog is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who owns several
Portuguese water dogs himself.
Sports - Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart
was among three people killed in a crash at an
intersection, just hours after the 22-year-old
rookie made his first start of the season. The
pitcher, a 20-year-old woman and a 25-year-
old man were killed, according to police. The
deceased and a fourth person, who was
critically injured, were in a silver Mitsubishi
Eclipse that was struck by a van, whose driver
tried to flee, but was caught 30 minutes later.
Just hours before at the ballpark Wednesday
night, Adenhart did his job. He scattered seven
hits over six scoreless innings and escaped
twice after loading the bases in just his fourth
major league start. "I battled early and it felt
good to get out of some jams," he said.
Adenhart left with a 4-0 lead before the bullpen
gave away what would have been his second
major league win. Police say the man in custody, Andrew Gallo, had a
suspended license because of a drunken driving conviction.
Music news -
Top Rock -
Lifeline - Papa Roach
Cyanide - Metallica
Dead Memories - Slip Knot
Hate My Life - Theory of a Dead
Man
Brother - Pearl Jam
The Night - Disturbed
37 Stitches - Drowning Pool
Do What You Do - Mudvayne
Two Weeks - All That Remains
Second Chance - Shinedown
Week of April 8, 2009
Something In Your Mouth - Nickelback
Careless Whisper - Seether
100 in a 55 - Pop Evil
Death of Me - Red
Up All Night - Hinder
Rescue Me - Buckcherry
Hip Hop/Rhythmic
Blame It - JAMIE FOXX FEAT. T-PAIN
Kiss Me Thru The Phone - SOULJA BOY TELL'EM FEAT. SAMMIE
Dead And Gone - T.I. FEAT. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Right Round - Flo Rida
Day ‘N’ Nite - Kid Cudi
Poker Face - Lady GaGa
Turning Me On - KERI HILSON FEAT. LIL WAYNE
Boom Boom Pow - Black Eye Peas
Mad - Ne-Yo
Television news - It was only 20 years ago, in
November of 1988, that women were allowed into
the New York Friars Club before 4 PM, when the
Club would host its roasts. Now Comedy Central
has taken over the roasting business, or at least
theirs are the most high-profile regular comedy
roasts. And they announced this week that they
will be roasting one of the first seven women
admitted to the Friars in 1988 - Joan Rivers. The
Roast will take place July 26 and air Sunday,
August 9 at 10 PM (TVS).
Top movies this week in 2009 -
Hannah Montana The Movie (debuts) - $34 million
Fast & Furious
Monsters and Aliens
Observe and Report
Knowing
I Love You, Man
The Haunting In Connecticut
Dragonball Evolution
Adventureland
Duplicty
Race to Wich Mountain
Sunshine Cleaning
Week of April 8, 2009
A Lesson - Hip Hop of Yesterday (NYDN) - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five, led by the Barbados-born, Bronx-raised Joseph Saddler, have the
distinction of being the first hip-hop act to gain Rock Hall honors. Besides being
known for their biggest hit, 'The Message,' they're credited with coining the term
'hip-hop.' The group split up in the early '80s.
The Sugarhill Gang (Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright, Guy "Master Gee" O'Brian
and Henry "Big Bank Hank" Jackson) hailed from Englewood, N.J., and rose to
fame with their infectious hit "Rapper's Delight" in 1980. The song is arguably
hip-hop's first-ever hit, peaking at #36 on the U.S. pop charts.
Doug E. Fresh helped pioneer the art of beat boxing, earning him the nickname
'the Human Beat Box'. He collaborated with another former member of the Get
Fresh Crew, MC Ricky D (who later became known as Slick Rick) on one of hip-
hop's most famous records, 'The Show' (which famously samples the 'Inspector
Gadget' theme song) and its B-side, 'La Di Da Di.'
New York’s Kool Moe Dee
got his start in the group The
Treacherous Three in the
late '70s. As a young rapper
he participated in one of the
most famous rap battles ever
against fellow New York MC
Busy Bee, trouncing him with
a nearly five-minute freestyle
dis that set the tone for many
hip-hop feuds to come.
Earlier this month, Run-
D.M.C. became the second
hip-hop group to be inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame. And it's about time,
according to many fans of
the legendary rap crew from
Hollis, Queens. Joseph 'DJ
Run' Simmons, Darryl
'D.M.C.' McDaniels and Jason 'Jam-Master Jay' Mizell helped form the shape of
hip-hop today - along with many of its other early stars.
Week of April 8, 2009
One of the first high-profile female rappers, MC Lyte (a.k.a. Lana Michelle Moorer
of Brooklyn) burst onto the scene in the mid-'80s and released her first album,
'Lyte as a Rock,' in 1988. From admonishing drug-addicted boyfriends to calling
out rival female MCs, Lyte's catchy tunes helped prove hip-hop wasn't just for the
boys.
The Beastie Boys - Brooklyn-born Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock - have their roots
in the New York hardcore scene of the early '80s, but took a new direction with
the release of a rap single, 'Cooky Puss,' in 1983 (based on a prank call they
made to a local Carvel shop). They established themselves based on two
subsequent albums, the irreverent 'Ill Communication' (which spawned their first
big hit, 'Fight For Your Right') and the more sophisticated 'Paul's Boutique.'
Mel Gibson’s wife Robyn has filed for divorce after 28 years of marriage.
In the papers -- signed Apr. 9 -- she cites "irreconcilable differences."
"Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the
privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so," a rep for Gibson,
53, tells Usmagazine.com in a statement.
Rock music producer Phil Spector was convicted Monday of second-degree
murder in the shooting death of a film actress at his mansion six years ago, a
verdict that will send him to prison for at least 18 years barring a successful
appeal. A Superior Court jury returned the verdict after about 30 hours of
deliberations. The jury had the option of choosing involuntary manslaughter, but
did not do so.
Snapshot of Hip
Television - Monday
night (TVS)…
At 8, ABC has a new
Dancing with the
Stars , followed by
new episodes of
Surviving Suburbia
and Castle .
CBS has a new Big
Bang Theory at 8,
then new episodes of
How I Met Your
Mother , Two and a
Half Men , Rules of
Engagement , and
Week of April 8, 2009
CSI: Miami .
NBC has a new Chuck at 8, followed by new episodes of Heroes and Medium .
FOX has new episodes of House and 24 .
PBS has a new Antiques Roadshow at 8, then a new American Experience .
There's a new Greek on ABC Family at 8, followed by a new Roommates .
USA has a new Monday Night RAW at 8.
TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8.
At 8:30, Food Network has a new Will Work For Food , then a new Unwrapped .
At 9, HBO has three new episodes of In Treatment .
At 10, TNT has a new Saving Grace .
Food Network has a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives at 10.
History Channel has a new Ax Men at 10.
MTV has a new episode of The Hills at 10.
Also at 10: A&E has a new Paranormal State
Week of April 8, 2009