Cedric Brooks, a Jamaican saxophone player and influential roots musician lauded by many as a reggae great, has passed away at the age of 70. One of his sisters, Paulette Keise, said Brooks died Friday of cardiac arrest in Queens. He fell ill years ago, she said, losing his ability to speak. Brooks began his quietly legendary music career in the late 1960s as a studio musician, playing in songs such as Burning Spear’s “Door Peep.” He had hits with trumpeter David Madden including “Money Maker” and “Mystic Mood” and was part of the Jamaican ska band The Skatalites. He is survived by seven children and four sisters.
Who is the mystery man on the roof? That’s what Twitter and Boston bombing conspiracy theorists want to know in the wake of yesterday’s explosions. A photo credited to Suffolk University junior Dan Lampariello shows the instant of two Boston Marathon bombings that occurred near the finish line Monday. The photo, and with it Mystery Man on Roof, went viral. Lampariello told ABC News Monday “I was about 200 feet from the finish line … right in front of the Mandarin Hotel. My aunt was running in the marathon.” “We were out there to cheer her on. We thought maybe it was fireworks at first, but when we saw the second explosion we knew something was wrong.” As if the Internet weren’t going berzerk enough over blasts that killed at least three people and injured more than 170 more, many gravely, there’s this. Police say they have no suspects yet, and no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which only feeds interest in the MMOR. A lack of real leads – the alleged suspect in custody is not believed to have been involved, and his name has not been released – breeds speculation. Here’s what is happening on the investigative front: Last night, agencies raided a unit in a high-rise apartment on Ocean Drive in the seaside Boston suburb of Revere, according to local police officials. Several bags, including what appeared to be a large duffel bag, were removed from the scene. Details are scarce, but the search was related to the case. Boston police also issued a BOLO for a yellow Penske rental van that apparently attempted to access the race course area shortly before the blast. They are also looking for a “black man wearing a black hoodie and a black backpack” who was turned away from a secure area shortly before the bombings. As for Mystery Man on Roof? He could be the perpetrator of this senseless act of terrorism … or just a guy looking for an awesome vantage point for one of the city’s coolest events. Probably the latter … but don’t let logic stop you, Twitter.
My name is Kathrin, I’m 19 years old and from Germany . I can’t believe I’m finally writing my own Bieber Experience. Everything started in summer 2012, when I was in the USA for a vacation. It was the day when meet and greet tickets were going on sale. On that day, my internet wasn’t working and I was so sad because I worked really hard and saved the money for meet and greets. When the internet started working again all the m&g’s were sold out. I was about to cry. 3 weeks later when I was back in Germany, I randomly checked the page where they were selling the tickets and there was only one meet and greet so I bought it! April 5th 2013 was the day I met Justin. I drove 4 hours to Dortmund to meet my idol and my inspiration. When I arrived at the arena I had to wait a little bit, until I finally was allowed to go inside to check-In. I got my wristband and went inside a huge room. We had to wait there for Justin. After half an hour DJ Tay James came. He was super nice and he took pictures with everyone. After another hour of waiting Dan Kanter came to say hi, he is also super nice. The meet and greet started late because they said Justin was stuck in traffic. I was the 7th person in line to get a picture with Justin. Then Dustin (Justin’s bodyguard) was there and he told us that we are not allowed to hug Justin because he doesn’t feel well. Then it was finally my turn. I walked up to Justin. He looked so flawless, but he seemed so tired. I got my picture with him and the whole meet and greet was already done. It was so quick, I didn’t even got the chance to say “Thank You” to him. Even though it was so quick and I wasn’t able to talk to him or hug him, it was perfect. The moment when I stood next to him, the moment when he touched my shoulder, the moment when I touched him….it was totally worth everything. Then we where allowed to go inside the arena. I was second row and the whole concert was so perfect. When Justin was performing he looked so much more happier! I don’t think that there will ever be an artist who makes such an amazing show. I never thought that I would ever meet Justin. But it happened. Never Say Never, everything is possible. Thank you Justin for everything. I love you. -@drewsaffect Read more: My name is Kathrin, I’m 19 years old and from Germany. I…
Must be nice ! Donor Pays Of Woman’s Student Loans Via NewsOne reports: When mom of five Starlie Becote (pictured with her children) was interviewed by USA Today back in December about how she lacked the funds to buy her children Christmas gifts, an anonymous donor came to the rescue in a major way. The Rhode Island single mother, who only makes $13.65 an hours as a case manager for a community mental health facility, was deep in debt. Becote owed $35,000 in student loans and just could not afford to pay the whopping $400 a month loan payment with incurring $6-per-day interest, in addition to her other monthly expenses. As a matter of fact, when Becote was on her way to the USA Today interview, she ran out of gas and had to borrow money in order to fill her tank. Last month, a businessman who had read the USA feature on Becote was so touched by her story that he decided to not only pay off her student loans; he wired her an additional $5,000 to help with her financial difficulties. The man asked that his name not be released, as he wanted to remain anonymous. Becote, who had hoped to put away the extra $5,000 for a rainy day, had to use much of the funds sooner than expected when her 2-year-old son contracted pneumonia and the potentially deadly staph bacteria, MRSA. The child remained in intensive care for two months and has recovered. Becote would have had to default on the loan if she could not pay it. The loan’s nonpayment would have put the kibosh on her chances of ever enrolling in grad school. Since Becote wants to become a licensed social worker, grad school is mandatory and thanks to the generous stranger with the huge heart, she is on her way to realizing her dream. Always pay it forward folks!
Bikram Choudhury – the founder of a type of popular type of Yoga – is being sued by Sarah Baughn, a former student of the icon, for sexual discrimination and harassment. The lawsuit alleges that Bikram made numerous unwanted advances against Baughn and that she “fought him off when he sexually assaulted her.” She claims she was subsequently “punished and threatened” for her actions. Baughn – who has won many competitive Yoga championships – has included Bikram’s wife Rajashree (the president of USA Yoga, the organization that governs competitive Yoga) and Bikram’s Yoga College of India, because its staff repeatedly pushed her to keep quiet about their boss’ behavior. Baughn also claims that she was not Choudhury’s only victim. Her lawsuit details how the entire Bikram community has been forced to keep quit regarding their mentor’s behavior, writing as an odd example: “Some of the women were chosen to brush his hair and massage his body,” She adds that two other female Yoga champions slept with Bikram before winning titles. In any case, between this alleged scandal and Lululemon’s see-through yoga pants recall, it’s been quite the month for the wildly popular pastime.
Bikram Choudhury – the founder of a type of popular type of Yoga – is being sued by Sarah Baughn, a former student of the icon, for sexual discrimination and harassment. The lawsuit alleges that Bikram made numerous unwanted advances against Baughn and that she “fought him off when he sexually assaulted her.” She claims she was subsequently “punished and threatened” for her actions. Baughn – who has won many competitive Yoga championships – has included Bikram’s wife Rajashree (the president of USA Yoga, the organization that governs competitive Yoga) and Bikram’s Yoga College of India, because its staff repeatedly pushed her to keep quiet about their boss’ behavior. Baughn also claims that she was not Choudhury’s only victim. Her lawsuit details how the entire Bikram community has been forced to keep quit regarding their mentor’s behavior, writing as an odd example: “Some of the women were chosen to brush his hair and massage his body,” She adds that two other female Yoga champions slept with Bikram before winning titles. In any case, between this alleged scandal and Lululemon’s see-through yoga pants recall, it’s been quite the month for the wildly popular pastime.
Deadline’s report that Sony Pictures and Scott Rudin plan to turn the 1970s sitcom Good Times into a feature film reminded me that there are still quite a few sitcoms from that era that are substantial enough to translate to feature films. Here are three: 1. Sanford and Son : Redd Foxx’s character, junk dealer Fred Sanford, was initially touted as a black Archie Bunker, and the show’s writers certainly did explore racial and cultural issues, but the real genius of the show was the give and take between Foxx and a great supporting cast of comedians that played his family and friends, including LaWanda Jackson (Aunt Esther), Whitman Mayo (Grady Wilson) and Slappy White (who inspired one of Tom Hanks funniest appearances on David Letterman’s NBC Late Night Show.) There’s only one funny guy who could adapt this to the big screen and make it count, and that’s Dave Chappelle. He could make a Sanford and Son feature relevant, find roles for Charlie Murphy and other cast members from his Comedy Central show and pull in some impressive hip-hop cameos like the RZA. 2. Barney Miller: I see Hal Linden’s salt-and-pepper mustache and I can’t help thinking Will Ferrell would be great as the captain of that series multicultural squad of plain-clothes detectives in chaotic 1970s Greenwich Village. Ferrell would get to stretch comedically by playing more of a straight man role and you could cast J.B. Smoove against type as the natty, urbane Sergeant Ron Nathan Harris, rewrite the Sergeant Nick Yemana role for Korean-American actor John Cho and feature David Koechner as Detective Stan “Wojo” Wojciehowicz. The best part: Abe Vigoda, who played Det. Philip K. Fish in the original series (and briefly had his own spinoff) is still around to make a cameo. 3. The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are too original and ambitious to ever attempt a straight parody film, but since Fey has cited The Mary Tyler Moore as inspiration for 30 Rock, I can still fantasize about the feminist fun she and Poehler would have with this landmark sitcom. Entertainment Weekly once even drew parallels between MTM and 30 Rock characters, but, unlike that publication, I’d rather see Alec Baldwin in the Ted Baxter weatherman role. [ Deadline , USA Today , EW.com ] Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Valerie Harper may have incurable brain cancer, but she says she’s feeling great. “I’m alive. I’m feeling good. I’m trying to live every moment as much as I can.” Harper tells USA Today “the phone has not stopped” since her announcement. “Or the texts, or the e-mails. It’s incredible.” But she worries people “have a picture of me in a bed or a wheelchair or in trouble. Three months may be accurate, but it is not the whole truth.” “I could have a seizure within a week,” or, she says, she could live much longer. “I can’t say it’s terminal. I’m saying it’s incurable so far, but we’re all terminal. No one is getting out of this alive. The key is, don’t go to the funeral until the day of.” The star of the classic sitcoms Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show , Valerie Harper says that even during chemotherapy, she is feeling good these days. “I feel better now than I did when I first started feeling symptoms,” she said, noting that she hopes the chemo will slow the spread of the disease. “My husband says if we can slow it down, more stuff may come up,” possibly new cures or treatments. “They are working fast and furiously for all of us.” “They’re not doing this for Valerie Harper. They are doing this for cancer patients.” “It could a be a week, it could be three months or perhaps six months or a year. I’m already at eight months from first symptoms. I’m trying to get ready to say goodbye.” “Miracles occur,” she says, “or people die the next day.”
Missing Florida Man Swallowed And Consumed By Sinkhole The laws of nature can sometimes be fatal …. According to USA Today: Crews with heavy equipment on Sunday began the demolition of a Florida home over a huge sinkhole where a man is presumed dead after being swallowed by the earth. The search for Jeff Bush, 37, was called off Saturday, and a heavy machine with a large bucket scoop was moved into position Sunday. Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said he had talked to the Bush family on Sunday. Crews, Merrill said, would try their best to move the structure forward, toward the street, so the family can briefly enter to get belongings. “We don’t know, in fact, whether it will collapse or whether it will hold up,” he said. He said crews’ goal for Sunday is to knock down the house, and on Monday they will clear the debris as much as possible to allow officials and engineers to see the sinkhole in the open. On Saturday, Jessica Damico, spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, said the sinkhole could stretch to as much as 100 feet across directly beneath the surface and plummet up to 60 feet deep into the earth. Bush, 37, was in his bedroom in the one-story home on Faithview Drive in Seffner, Fla., at about 11 p.m. Thursday when the sinkhole yawned directly under him, taking him, his bed and the rest of his bedroom furniture as well, Damico said. His brother jumped into the hole to try to save Bush but had to be rescued himself by a sheriff’s deputy. Five other residents, including a small child, made it out of the home unharmed, Damico said. Bush could not be rescued and is presumed dead. Two adjoining houses — one on either side of Bush’s — were evacuated by rescue workers. Sinkholes are common in Florida, but it’s rare when one opens up under a home and takes a person with it, Damico said. “I can’t think of anywhere in the country where this has happened before,” she said. “This is very unique.” Florida is highly prone to sinkholes because there are caverns below ground of limestone, a porous rock that easily dissolves in water. “You can almost envision a piece of Swiss cheese,” said Taylor Yarkosky, a sinkhole expert from Brooksville, Fla. “Any house in Florida could be in that same situation.” Wow. Crazy…and for those of you unsure of what sinkholes are exactly…via Merriam-Webster: sinkhole Depression formed as underlying limestone bedrock is dissolved by groundwater. Sinkholes vary greatly in area and depth and may be very large. The two main varieties are those caused by the collapse of a cavern roof, and those caused by the gradual dissolving of rock under a soil mantle. Collapsed sinkholes generally have steep rock sides and may receive streams that then flow underground. Soil-mantled sinkholes are generally shallower; they may become clogged with clay and hold a small lake.
Here’s Miranda Kerr at Global Green USA ‘s Pre-Oscar party, looking her usual awesome supermodel self. Hopefully she’ll bust out a better outfit for the actual Oscars though, like say, a pair of super tight jeans or lingerie . I know the show’s this Sunday, but if any girls out there are wondering, yes, I’m still available as a last-minute wardrobe consultant. And I personally guarantee positive results — for me and my readers, at least. » view all 22 photos Related Articles: Miranda Kerr Topless In Jalouse Miranda Kerr In The Hottest Red Dress Ever The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2008 Miranda Kerr And Her Awesome Breasts Photos: WENN.com
