Ivan Dixon died at 76
Although The Spook caused controversy and was soon pulled from theaters, it later gained cult status as a bootleg video and in 2004 was released on DVD. At that time Mr. Dixon told The Times that the movie had tried only to depict black anger, not to suggest armed revolt as a solution.[2]
Occasionally returning to acting, he played a doctor and leader of a guerrilla movement in the controversial 1987 ABC miniseries Amerika, set in post-Soviet invasion Nebraska.
Ivan Dixon died on March 16, 2008, aged 76, Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina due to complications from kidney failure.[5]
Did you know this Weird Al trivia?
Did you know he was born 23 October 1959, Lynwood, California?
Did you know his birth Name is Alfred Matthew Yankovic?
Did you know his nickname The Weird One, The Boneless Boy?
Did you know his height is 6′?
Did you know his parents are Nick and Mary Yankovic?
Did you know that polka king Frankie Yankovic (no relation) inspired him to play the
accordion.?
Did you know that as a child and young teen, Al watched a lot of TV, which gave him much inspiration for his later work. He also became a fan of such musician/comedians as Allan Sherman and Spike Jones?
Did you know that Al became especially acquainted with these musicians through the radio show of Barry Hansen, aka “Dr. Demento”, which would later become a great source of publicity for his talents?
Did you know that Al graduated as valedictorian at Lynwood High School, at the tender age of 16?
Did you know that he attended the California Polytechnic State University that Al had a radio show and earned the nickname “Weird Al”?
Did you know that after graduating college, he applied to work at McDonald’s, but was rejected for being overqualified?
Did you know that it was at Cal Poly where he recorded his first real published piece, a parody of the popular “My Sharona” by The Knack, called “My Bologna”?
Did you know that “My Bolognia” to be known as the “bathroom recording” as it was recorded in the acoustically perfect mens’ room?
Did you know that Al phenomenal career has spanned twelve albums, numerous compilations, a box set, movies, videos and edible underwear?
Did you know that his wife name is Suzanne, and they have one child?
Did you know that his Trade Mark was a Hawaiian Shirt and canvas shoes, his trademark look used to be glasses and a mustache, (until 1997)?
Did you know that in 1997 he shaved off his mustache and underwent LASIK surgery to correct his nearsightedness, but his publicists insisted that he wear costume glasses and a fake mustache?
Did you know that in 1999 he decided that the costume was too annoying, and revealed his “new” look (reasoning that “if Madonna can change her look every time she puts out a new album, I can certainly change my look every ten years or so”). He still wears the costume glasses and mustache during some of his performances when he wants to recreate the “classic” Weird Al look?
Did you know that he often features a celebrity guest appearance in his music videos (such as Florence Henderson in “Amish Paradise”, Ruth Buzzi and Pat Boone in “Gump” and Dick Van Patten in “Smells Like Nirvana”?
Did you know that Displays his remarkable flexibility in many videos, performing feats like putting his leg behind his head or the “boneless dance” where his elbows appear to bend both ways?
Did you know that as of March, 2000, he has had four gold and four platinum records in the US, five gold, two platinum, and one double platinum record in Canada?
Did you know that he has also won two grammys and been nominated for eight more?
Did you know that there was once a bi-monthly Al fanzine called “The Midnight Star.” This title is taken from the second song on Yankovic’s album “…In 3-D.” (The song itself, incidentally, is a satirical homage to supermarket tabloids.)?
Did you know that he directed some of his music videos, such as “Amish Paradise”, “Gump,” “Headline News,” and “Bedrock Anthem?”
Did you know that he got his first accordion lesson on 22 October 1966, one day before his 7th birthday?
Did you know that Al gives a special thanks to Dr. Demento (Barry Hansen) on each of his albums, since the radio DJ was the first to play his songs on the air?
Did you know that he also claims to have started a club called “The Volcano Worshippers,” so he could get his picture onto even more pages in the school yearbook?
Did you know that he has jokingly said that he was born in an elevator on the way to the delivery room?
Did you know that he produced the album “Babalu Music”, a collection of musical numbers from the TV series “I Love Lucy” (1951), and includes a Yankovic-edited medley of Desi Arnaz melodies?
Did you know that Al fell under the disfavor of rap star Coolio, who claimed that Yankovic’s “Amish Paradise” (a parody of “Gangsta’s Paradise”) was disrespectful of his song which he felt was too serious to parody? Yankovic said that his record label had been given permission by Coolio to parody the song but the rapper denied giving that sanction (the confusion appears to have been caused by a breakdown in the chain of communication, where a “yes” was given by his record label without Coolio’s knowledge).
Did you know that Yankovic wrote Coolio a letter of apology to which he has (to date) not responded? No legal action has been taken. Ironically,
Did you know that “Gangsta’s Paradise” is itself a sampled reworking of Stevie Wonder’s “Pasttime Paradise”?
Did you know that he appeared in all three “Naked Gun” films” The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)?
Did you know that since 2001, his song ‘Christmas at Ground Zero’ has been banned at some radio stations due to content. Although the song is about Nuclear war at Christmas and was recorded in 1986 (from his album “Polka Party”), those stations have feared that “Ground Zero” has recently become synonymous with the World Trade Center buildings collapsing?
Did you know that daughter Nina Yankovic born to Al and Suzanne on February 11, 2003?.
Did you know that Yankovic wrote the song “One More Minute” after being dumped by a then-girlfriend. He sought to remake this song as a duet with Frank Sinatra, but Sinatra declined Yankovic’s invitation?
Did you know that His album “Poodle Hat” won a Grammy for Best Comedy album. Al has also won Grammies for “Eat It” and “Fat”?
Did you know that Al’s parents Nick Yankovic and Mary Yankovic were killed on April 9, 2004, when a closed fireplace-flue caused their home to fill with carbon monoxide?
Did you know that in 1999 VH-1’s did a documentary called “Behind the Music” on Al?
Did you know that he has been a vegetarian ever since 1992?
Did you know that a girlfriend at the time gave him the book “Diet for a New America”, and Yankovic said he felt it made some compelling arguments to be vegetarian. He currently eats no meat and tries also to avoid dairy and egg products?
Did you know that as a rule, all parody ideas are his, with one exception: “Like a Surgeon” came about from a comment Madonna made asking when he was going to turn “Like a Virgin” into that parody?
Did you know that he is an only child?
Did you know that he knew he’d made it as a famous musician when he went to a party, saw Paul McCartney and before he could introduce himself to the former Beatle, McCartney recognized him and said, “Hey! It’s Weird Al!”?
Did you know that one of the few artists to consistently turn down Yankovic’s requests to do parodies has been Prince?
Did you know that originally, Yankovic envisioned the centerpiece “Beverly Hillbillies” song in the movie UHF (1989) to be a parody of “Let’s Go Crazy” and reportedly also wanted to do parodies of “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain.” After years of asking, Yankovic tried a different tactic: he requested permission to parody one of Prince’s videos (but not the song itself); to his surprise, approval was granted. Thus, the video for the Weird Al original song “UHF” includes a segment parodying Prince’s bathtub sequence in the video for “When Doves Cry”. Incidentally, Weird Al’s song “Amish Paradise” contains the lyric “So tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1699”, a reference to Prince’s hit “1999”?
Did you know that another artist to have denied parody permission is Paul McCartney. Yankovic wrote a parody of “Live and Let Die” called “Chicken Pot Pie”, but McCartney (a staunch vegetarian) denied permission. As a result, Yankovic has never released the song, but has performed it in concert?
Did you know that he has directed music videos by other artists, notably “Only A Fool” by The Black Crowes, and “The River” by the boy-band Hanson (which was itself a parody of Titanic (1997)?
Did you know that his most frequent question by reporters is “Do you write any original songs?” The irony is that roughly half of his material (since his very first album) is original–sometimes parodying the *style* of an artist, but not based on any existing melody or lyrics?
Did you know that along with his trademark song parodies, most of his albums include a track in which Al and his band perform polka-style (but lyrically faithful) renditions of popular hits (he is an accordionist, after all). Most of these have been eclectic medleys of recent hits, although the “Hot Rocks Polka” (from the UHF (1989) soundtrack) was a collection of The Rolling Stones hits, and the “Alapalooza” album featured a complete polka version of Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody”, called “Bohemian Polka”?
Did you know that his offical website, WeirdAl.com, is maintained by his long-time drummer, Jon Schwartz (a.k.a. “Bermuda” Schwartz)?
Did you know that when he asked Nirvana for permission to parody “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, their first question was, “Will it be about food?”. When Yankovic explained that “Smells Like Nirvana” would be about how nobody could understand their singing, they agreed that it sounded funny and granted permission?
Did you know that hs album covers are frequently parodies as well: Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album was spoofed as “Even Worse” (Yankovic even hired the same photo, artwork, and wardrobe team to replicate the cover precisely); Nirvana’s “Nevermind” became “Off The Deep End” (with Al replicating the naked baby in the pool photo himself); and the Jurassic Park (1993) soundtrack was turned into “Alapalooza”?
Did you know that his video for “Fat” was filmed in the same parking garage as Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, and included several of the same actors and dancers. The “fat suit” he wore (which weighed 40 pounds) caused him to lose weight, not only because it made him sweat profusely, but the sight of himself as being grotesquely obese made him want to eat less?
Did you know that he used the money he earned from “My Bologna” to found his own short-lived record label, Placebo Records, which released his second record (an “EP” record with only 4 songs). Copies of the record are hot collector’s items?
Did you know that the contract that allows his records to be released by record companies outside the US also grants permission for those companies to use other cover artwork. As a result, some truly bizarre covers have been produced, particularly in Japan and other non-English-speaking areas?
Did you know that during the height of his “Eat It” fame, he spoofed Michael Jackson’s Pepsi sponsorship by appearing briefly in a Diet Coke commercial. The spot showed a figure from the back, in a “Thriller”-style jacket, who then turned to reveal it was Al?
Did you know that was offered the opening spot for the European leg of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” tour. However, he was involved in the production of his movie UHF (1989) at the time, and respectfully declined?
Did you know that has released his own version of “Peter and the Wolf”; this is a collaboration with electronic-music-pioneer Wendy Carlos?
Did you know that the Star Wars (1977) movies have inspired two of Yankovic’s best-known and best-loved parodies: “Yoda,” taken from “Lola” and Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980); and “The Saga Begins,” taken from Don McLean’s “American Pie” and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)?
Did you know that his music video collection, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection (2003) (V) went Platinum. [October 2005]?
Did you know that he wrote “Yoda” (a parody of The Kinks’ “Lola”) as far back as 1980, but couldn’t release it until 1985 with his 3rd album, “Dare to Be Stupid”, because Ray Davies considered the song too personal for parody. However, after the massive success of “Eat It”, Davies was convinced that Yankovic could successfully perform the parody while respecting the original?
Did you know that contrary to popular belief, Yankovic is not under any explicit obligation to obtain permission from the composers of the songs he parodies — courts in the U.S. and other countries have consistently given great latitude to parody, almost always ruling that it is protected under the tenets of free expression and social critique (the exceptions are generally cases where the resulting work violates principles of good taste). Out of respect for his peers in the entertainment industry, however, he has always asked permission, and (the Coolio controversy notwithstanding) has consistently abided by the artists’ wishes. While permission isn’t mandatory, he *is* obligated to pay royalties for any direct parodies?
Did you know that when he requested permission to parody Dire Straits’ song “Money For Nothing”, authorization was granted — with the stipulation that Mark Knopfler (a fan of Weird Al) be allowed to play lead guitar on the song. Thus, “Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies” (featured on the UHF (1989) soundtrack) is one of the few Yankovic songs in which Jim West *doesn’t* play lead guitar?
Did you know that he wrote a parody of James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” called “You’re Pitiful”. After Blunt’s record company, Atlantic Records, granted permission, Al recorded the song, but then permission was revoked. Although he abided by the decision (the song isn’t on his new album), Al responded by putting the song on his MySpace page for free download, and there’s a not-so-subtle snipe at Atlantic Records in the new “White And Nerdy” video?
Did you know that he is of Serbian descent?
Did you know that Bill Mumy was a mutual friend of Al and his wife, and introduced them?
Did you know that another person who turned down Weird Al’s request for a parody was Yoko Ono. Al approached Paul McCartney about parodying the Beatles song “Free as a Bird” with “Gee I’m A Nerd”. McCartney turned the decision over to Ono, who told Al she didn’t feel comfortable with his parodying the song. “Gee I’m a Nerd” has since become a concert-only song (as have many Weird Al songs that never received a full blessing), and Al has said that if he knows before hand that Ono will be in the audience, then out of respect for her they won’t play it?
Did you know that shortly after the release of the “Straight Outta Lynwood” album, it was noted that Al’s trademark number 27 could be seen in the license plate on the car on the cover. Al revealed that the number 27 is actually a homage to his mother, who was born on Feburary 7, 1923 (or 2/7/23)?
Did you know that the late George Harrison, whom he respected as a singer and songwriter. Yankovic wrote a parody of “Got My Mind Set On You,” called “This Song’s Just Six Words Long.” Harrison even accepted his permission, therefore, it was released as a song off his “Even Worse,” album?
Did you know that “Weird Al” Yankovic has been making us laugh for more than 25 years?
Did you know that there’s still one accomplishment that Al hasn’t achieved yet? — a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Did you know that Jessic Cox is the world’s first pilot to fly with just feet
Did you know that Jessica Cox has become the first person to pilot a plane with her feet. Jessica Cox has overcome her fear of flying and a profound disability to become the first person ever to pilot a plane using only her feet.
The 25-year-old graduate was forced to improvise after a genetic defect resulted in her being born without any arms.
But Ms Cox, who holds a double black belt in tae kwon-do, has never let that hold her back. more
Did you know that a New York has been fighting the same parking ticket for more than two years?
Did you know that a New York man said he has been fighting the same parking ticket for more than two years, causing the fine to nearly double.
Simon Belsky, 61, said he was issued a $115 fine Nov. 3, 2006, for allegedly blocking a fire hydrant with his parked 1990 Chrysler van. But he claims the only hydrant in sight when he parked was a good distance down the block, the New York Post reported Monday.
The fine has since increased to $200 with penalties, but Belsky said he does not plan to give up the fight.
“I got nothing else to do. I’m retired,” Belsky said.
He said he filed a petition in state Supreme Court in August suing the New York City Department of Finance. However, during his court appearance last week, the city’s attorney was granted an adjournment — the second in the case — until Feb. 2. more
Robber Suspect Flees to the Ohio State Highway Patrol training center.
Print StoryE-mail StoryCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A man suspected of robbing a north side gas station early Monday was arrested outside the Ohio State Highway Patrol training center.
Police said two men robbed the Speedway gas station, located at 3974 Cleveland Avenue, at about 3 a.m., 10TV’s Tino Ramos reported.
They fled the scene in a pickup. Police put out a description of the vehicle and an officer spotted it on Interstate 71 near Weber Road. more
Police officer ‘wannabe’ arrested
Ryan William Churchill investigated numerous burglaries, did traffic stops and even wrote tickets.
All good police work. But he wasn’t a police officer.
Real law enforcement officers have since arrested Churchill, 23.
A judge Friday ordered him held in lieu of $10,000 bail, and he was released from the Palm Beach County Jail later that day.
Churchill told people “he was a millionaire, he owned a gas station, he owned a Palm Beach mansion, and that he had a Lamborghini,” according to a Palm Beach County sheriff’s report.
It said he told one woman he was a federal law enforcement officer and told her son he was a sheriff’s deputy and had cancer and had once planted 2 kilograms of cocaine on a person who was bothering a friend.
The son said Churchill had bragged “he had rammed a car off the road that wouldn’t stop for him when he tried to pull it over,” the report said.
A person has since confirmed the incident to investigators, saying he was riding with Churchill, who kept going.
The witness said a dash camera taped the whole thing, but a search of Churchill’s car did not uncover the tape, an investigator said.
Investigators also have seized a laptop and, after viewing files in it, “more charges are expected,” Detective Alfredo Araujo said. He would not elaborate.
Investigators were led to Churchill after receiving complaints, the detective said.
“Everybody kept saying the reason the person we were looking at kept not getting arrested was he had a cop on the inside,” Araujo said.
Churchill, who has no criminal background save some traffic charges, “was a wannabe” who was unable to be a law enforcement officer and so apparently decided to do the next best thing, Araujo said.
First he went to an auction and bought a surplus sheriff’s cruiser right out of central casting: a Ford Crown Victoria. more
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich is in hot water
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.
Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both men were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich, a Democrat, was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:
A substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
Promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich is in hot water
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.
Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both men were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich, a Democrat, was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:
A substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
Promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and
Letter carrier stole more than 100,000 letters
MONTREAL – A Montreal letter carrier pleaded guilty Monday in what is being called the biggest case of mail theft in Canadian history.
Eric Belley, 34, stole more than 100,000 letters and packages over a six-year period.
The letters themselves were left untouched, and that’s the problem – the prosecutor believes Belley was simply too lazy to do his job.
Instead of delivering mail to his customers the Montrealer brought entire bags of letters home, hiding them in his Montreal-area apartment or at his cottage north of the city.
“It was a shock. We had never seen such a thing, 75,000 or 100,000 pieces of mail,” said Catherine Lortie, of Canada Post.
On Monday the former postman pleaded guilty to mail theft. It appeared he had little choice after being caught in the act red-handed.
In the corporation’s investigation of Belley, he was filmed removing bags of mail from the trunk of his car and bringing it inside his home. He now faces up to 10 years in jail.more
Did you know that a frugal farmer leaves fortune to church
Did you know A pastor in Hopewell, Pa, says he was stunned to learn a frugal parishioner left his tiny church an estate worth $2.2 million.
Burrell farmer John F. Ferguson was known as an unpretentious man who wore faded overalls and lived in a mobile home surrounded by old farm equipment, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday.
No one in the congregation had any idea Ferguson had money, apparently made from smart investments in stock and energy, said the Rev. Jason L. McQueen, pastor of the 80-member Hopewell United Methodist Church, which lacks even a telephone answering machine. more
Did you know that Student Was Beat Up By Security For Having Cell
Did you know that a high school in Queens is under fire after students said they were abused by school safety agents.
Now a teenager is suing.
Rojan Morgan is suing Hillcrest High School after he says several school safety agents assaulted him after he brought a cell phone to school.
“They took me to a back room, inside of the school and started to beat me,” Morgan said.
“When I came to the school I was ignored and shut out and that’s how this all started,” mother Trudyann Morgan said.
Morgan’s mother spoke at a rally outside the school, where the New York Civil Liberties Union and other community groups called for an investigation into what they say is a problem that’s been going on for years.
“We’re hearing stories about a separate room where children are taken into and then abused or roughed up by school safety agents,” said Monami Maulik of the groups Desis Rising Up And Moving.
Kumar Heeralall said he was assaulted by safety agents last year.
“The whole issue started with a cell phone,” Heeralall said. “They took me in a room they handcuffed me and started beating me up.” more
Indian woman gives birth at age of 70
Rajo Devi, who married 50 years ago, gave birth to a baby girl on November 28, and is now thought to be the world’s oldest new mother.
Dr Anurag Bishnoi, a doctor at the Hisar fertility centre in Haryana state, said: “Rajo Devi and (her husband) Bala Ram approached the centre for treatment and the embryo transfer was done on April 19.
“Both the mother and child are in good health.”
A 67-year-old Spanish woman who had twins in 2006 was thought to have been the previous oldest mother.
Devi’s husband, aged 72, had also wed his wife’s sister after 10 years of his first marriage did not result in children. His second wife also failed to become pregnant.
It was not clear whose egg and sperm were used in the successful treatment.
Dr Bishnoi, who helped the couple realise their dream, said both the mother and child were in good health.
“IVF has revolutionised the way we look at infertility,” said Mr Bishnoi. “Infertility is no longer a social taboo or a divine curse. It can be treated scientifically.”
“Adriana Iliescu, a retired university lecturer in Romania, was the oldest woman to have given birth. She delivered at the age of 66 in 2006. Maria Del, a Spanish woman, gave birth by the IVF treatment at the age of 67. And now, Rajo Devi has become the oldest woman to have given birth and the first woman in her seventies to do so,” claimed Dr Bishnoi.
“Another woman of her age is reported to have delivered a child at Muzzafarnagar, but she was previously fertile,” he added.
New mother Rajo Devi, “We longed for a child all these years and now we are very happy to have one in the twilight years of our life.”
Husband Ram said he wasn’t worrying over who would look after the child if they died.
“The upbringing of the child is not a problem. We have a joint family as is common in rural Haryana,” he said.
The couple said they were facing social stigma for being childless for the last 55 years.
“We used the usual intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique in her case. The ICSI method enables even poor quality sperms being used creating embryos,” said Dr Bishnoi. more
Supreme Court has turned down an emergency appeal about Obama being ineligible to be president
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has turned down an emergency appeal from a New Jersey man who says President-elect Barack Obama is ineligible to be president because he was a British subject at birth. The court did not comment on its order Monday rejecting the call by Leo Donofrio of East Brunswick, N.J., to intervene in the presidential election.
Donofrio says that since Obama had dual nationality at birth — his mother was American and his Kenyan father at the time was a British subject — he cannot possibly be a “natural born citizen,” one of the requirements the Constitution lists for eligibility to be president.
Donofrio also contends that two other candidates, Republican John McCain and Socialist Workers candidate Roger Calero, also are not natural-born citizens and thus ineligible to be president.
At least one other appeal over Obama’s citizenship remains at the court. Philip J. Berg of Lafayette Hill, Pa., argues that Obama was born in Kenya, not Hawaii as Obama says and Hawaii officials have confirmed.
Berg says Obama also may be a citizen of Indonesia, where he lived as a boy. Federal courts in Pennsylvania have dismissed Berg’s lawsuit. Federal courts in Ohio and Washington state have rejected similar lawsuits. more
High School Football Star Dies During Traffic Stop
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A George County High School football star died early Monday after being pulled over by authorities, a coach said.
Assistant coach Darwin Nelson said he was called to help identify the body of the teenager, who was a star running back at the school. Nelson said the wound appeared to be self-inflicted.
An official with the George County Sheriff’s Department said a statement was being prepared.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Charlie Cook said the sheriff asked the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to look into the death.
Nelson said the youth apparently took his on life after the deputy who pulled him over walked back to the patrol car to run a license check.
Fantasia Barrino is about to be evicted
American Idol’s third season winner, Fantasia Barrino, is about to be evicted from one of her two Charlotte, North Carolina, homes — according to the blog, realestalker.
Find out where Barrino and your other favorite American Idol stars are now.
According to property records, the 6-bedroom mansion has been foreclosed on. Unless the 8-time Grammy-nominated singer can make necessary payments, the 6,232 square-foot home will be auctioned off on Jan. 12.
Barrino, a single mother to daughter Zion, purchased the home, located on Bevington Place, in March 2007. The price was $1.3 million.
Check out American Idol’s hottest makeovers.
Her other house, also located in Charlotte, was purchased in July 2004 for $740,000 and records show it’s not in financial trouble.
Her recent tune, a duet with Jennifer Hudson called “I’m His Only Woman,” was just nominated for a Grammy.
Christie Hefner stepping down as chairman and chief executive.
NEW YORK — Playboy Enterprises says Christie Hefner, the daughter of founder Hugh Hefner, is stepping down as chairman and chief executive.
Playboy Enterprises Inc. has named Director Jerome Kern to serve as interim non-executive chairman while it looks for a replacement.
Hefner joined Playboy in 1975 and was named chairman and CEO in 1988. She will stay on as CEO until Jan. 31, 2009, and remain on the board until a new CEO joins the company.
In a statement, Hefner said the leadership change was her decision, but it follows signs of trouble for the Chicago-based publishing and entertainment company. In October, Playboy said it planned to cut 55 employees and eliminate 25 vacant positions due to the troubled economy.
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