B4U India

AAEA President and Sheryl Lee Ralph on Congress Panel

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:43:00 -0400

AAEA President Norris McDonald, left, and actress/activist Sheryl Lee Ralph, right, have been invited by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) present testimony at the Science and Technology Braintrust panel on September 26th during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference.

Original DREAMGIRL, Sheryl Lee Ralph is an acclaimed veteran of film, television and the Broadway stage. Her award winning body of work includes creating and originating the role of Deena Jones on Broadway in the landmark musical Dreamgirls, which earned her both a Tony and Drama Desk Award Nomination for Best Actress. After Dreamgirls, Ms. Ralph turned her attention to music, television and film. She scored a top-ten selling dance hit in the mid-eighties and again in the nineties.

Actress, Activist, Social EntrepreneurAward-winning actress, singer, and producer Sheryl Lee Ralph has embraced the role of AIDS activist. In 1990, she founded The Diva Foundation, a national not-for-profit 501C(3) charitable organization as a memorial to the many friends she had lost to HIV/AIDS. Diva Foundation's goal is to focus on generating resources and coordinating activities to create awareness of and combat the pressing issue of HIV/AIDS. The DIVA Foundation utilizes music and entertainment as a vehicle to inform, educate and erase the stigma still attached to this deadly disease. The organization’s first production was Divas Simply Singing, a star-studded, fundraising extravaganza, produced by, and featuring Ms. Ralph and a host of committed Divas, the likes of Chaka Khan, Stacey "Fergie" Ferguson, Miss Nancy Wilson, Loretta Devine, Melissa Manchester and Raven Symone. This annual event has helped raised millions and put the Diva Foundation on the map as one of the pre-eminent AIDS-awareness organizations.

Ralph is a graduate of Rutgers University, and is a member of the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni. She holds the distinct honor of being the first woman to graduate from Rutgers College, a once all-male institution, and an accomplishment she achieved within just three years at the age of nineteen. In 2004, Ms. Ralph was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. because of her steadfast commitment to arts, community and women's well being. Ms. Ralph resides in California with her children and is married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes.

Stefani's Kid

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:10:00 -0400

Gwen Stefani popped out her second kid today according to E! No one knows whether it's a boy or a girl or what, but whatever it is, the kid is going to have to go through life with the name Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale. Yes, Gwen and Gavin named their kid after a lesser Neil Young album. Things could be worse I guess - they could've named the kid Trans Rossdale or Sleeps With Angels Rossdale or, God forbid, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere Rossdale. I'm sure the moniker will be a matter of immense pride for little Zuma when he/she grows up and has to explain the origins of it to the other people in the lunatic asylum.

This Oughta Be Good...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:00:00 -0400

Iran has announced its intentions to put a man in space within the next 10 years. Yes, that Iran. The country that can't even get a basic nuclear reactor going. How long have we been hearing that Iran is "this close" to going nuclear? What's the point of sanctioning or bombing the dumb-asses when they can't even do what Enrico Fermi did with 1930s technology? Just let them build their little reactor - it'll probably blow up in their faces. And if it does work, it won't even have enough juice to light up the bulb in an Easy-Bake Oven. It's gonna be a hoot watching these dirtbags try to shoot a guy into orbit. They'll probably start with an animal though - a goat would be appropriate. Then they can shoot up a man. Then a man and a goat - so the man won't be lonely. Who am I kidding? They won't even get off the ground. In 50 years they'll still be firing 2-liter Diet Coke bottles fueled by Mentos. "We almost hit the top of that telegraph pole!" And to think this was once the mighty Persian Empire.

Update: Jean Reno Has Heart Attack...Or Not

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:23:00 -0400

Jean Reno, a French actor who became something of a cult figure in America after the success of his action film Leon, has suffered a massive heart attack while on vacation in St. Barts and is currently in intensive care after being airlifted to the hospital. Reno was with his wife Zofia Borucka at the home of French rock star Johnny Hallyday when the cardiac event occurred. I consider myself a movie buff but I have to confess, I've never seen Leon. Somehow I've always missed it. What this has to do with Jean Reno being in intensive care, I have no idea. Going off on even more of a tangent - I'm amazed Gerard Depardieu hasn't died of a heart attack yet. He's a pig-boat.

Update: Jean Reno has not had a heart attack according to his reps. They say the actor experienced some heart burn and went to the hospital as a precaution. So how the fuck does that end up as "he had a massive episode and was airlifted out and is now in intensive care waiting for the Pearly Gates to yawn open?" I'm not a journalist - don't pretend to be - but the people at these newspapers and their websites are supposed to be. Don't they check shit out?

Then again...Bernie Mac's reps kept saying for days that he was okay. So maybe it's disinformation again.

Jean Reno Has Heart Attack

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:23:00 -0400

Jean Reno Has Heart Attack

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:23:00 -0400

Jean Reno Has Heart Attack

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:23:00 -0400

Overdoing It

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:18:00 -0400

Someone painted the word "slut" on the wall of Sienna Miller's house. It's one thing to call someone that over the internet, quite another to emblazon the word on their residence. Sienna must feel pretty bad right now. Not as bad as Balthazar Getty's wife, but pretty bad...

Uh-Oh

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:29:00 -0400

Jake Gyllenhaal will reportedly star opposite Aussie siren Abbie Cornish in a new science fiction movie set to drop in 2010. This would be just another casting byte if only Jake were not involved with Reese Witherspoon, who already had ex-husband Ryan Phillippe stolen from her by Cornish. The fates aren't honestly giving Cornish a second stab at ruining Reese's life are they? This is too wonderful. I hope Abbie totally seduces Jake, and Reese takes out a hit on her. I want to see a headline: Abbie Cornish reported missing. Reese Witherspoon questioned by the police. She denies everything. A decomposed body turns up. Reese flees. I already have a hard-on.

Panty Birthday

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:38:00 -0400

Hayden Panettiere turns 19 today. This makes her relationship with Milo Ventimiglia a tiny bit less disgusting.

(Hey Dirty Disher...how's that birthday cake taste? I know you baked one for Panty. You looooooooooooove her.)