Singer Rihanna has postponed her scheduled February 13 concert in Malaysia, a concert promoter said on Tuesday, following reports she was attacked by boyfriend and singer Chris Brown this past weekend. Los Angeles police investigators have identified Rihanna as the victim in Sunday's attack. Brown has been arrested and charged with making criminal threats and Rihanna is cooperating with detectives, the Los Angeles Times reported.
A group calling themselves, "Americans for Prosperity" has started a so-called no stimulus petition drive concerning the proposed economic stimulus package. Does this group involve concerned Americans in all financial categories or does it simply reflect the "haves" striving to hold down the "have not’s?"
Last month nearly 600,000 Americans lost their jobs, bring us a whopping three-and-a-half million loses during this recession. A recession, some have yet to even acknowledge.
I have a hard time watching John McCain (and others) urging everyone to run online and sign a silly petition. I don’t remember him doing that when Bush blindly announced the first bailout plan, Sure we all squawked when the CEO’s arrived in private jets and even giggled when they were asked if they couldn’t have “jet pooled” But I don’t remember any call for Americans to sign a petition!
And there were plenty of talks about how Bush’s invasion has set our Country into a spiral of debt. If ever there had been a need for Americans to ban together, it was then. But again, no petition was circulated and promoted by members of Congress!
In a time where Congress needs to come together, they seem bent on staying apart. One could argue they are simply setting the stage for their next election. On the other side, one could argue they are truly standing by what they think is right. But a petition, does anyone seriously believe that would have any impact?
And where was this group during the first bailout? Oh that’s right; it was mainly a bailout for the rich. So, maybe, just maybe if people promoting this petition were to lose one of their 7 (or was it 9) homes, they might be able to understand the need the average American. Remember, the idea here is to stimulate the economy which will in turn, help us all.
['Pac talking] Big Syke, Newt, Hank Beugard, Big Sur (yeah) Y'all know how this shit go (y'know) {All Eyez On Me} Motherfuckin O.G. Roll up in the club and shit (is that right?) {All Eyez On Me} {All Eyez On Me} But you know what?
[2Pac] I bet you got it twisted you don't know who to trust So many playa hating niggaz tryin to sound like us Say they ready for the funk, but I don't think they knowin Straight to the depths of hell is where those cowards goin Well are you still down nigga? Holla when you see me And let these devils be sorry for the day they finally freed me I got a caravan of niggaz every time we ride (every time we ride) Hittin motherfuckers up when we pass by (when we pass by) Until I die; live the life of a boss playa Cause even when I'm high, fuck with me and get crossed later The futures in my eyes, cause all I want is cash and thangs A five-double-oh - Benz flauntin flashy rings, uhh Bitches pursue me like a dream Been know to disappear before your eyes just like a dope fiend It seems - my main thang was to be major paid The game sharper than a motherfuckin razor blade Say money bring bitches, bitches bring lies One nigga's gettin jealous, and motherfuckers died Depend on me like the first and fifteenth They might hold me for a second, but these punks won't get me We got foe niggaz, and lowriders, in ski masks screamin Thug Life every time they pass {All Eyez On Me}
[Chorus One: 2Pac]
Live the life of a thug nigga, until the day I die live the life of a boss playa {All Eyez On Me} cause even gettin high.. ..{All Eyez On Me} Live the life of a thug nigga, until the day I die live the life of a boss playa, cause even gettin high..
[Syke] Heeyyy, to my nigga 'Pac.. So much trouble in the world, nigga Can't nobody feel your pain The world's changin everyday, times moving faaast My girl said I need a raise, how long will she last? I'm caught between my woman, and my pistol, and my chips Triple beam, got some smokers on, whistle as I dip I'm lost in the land with no plan, livin life flawless Crime boss, contraband, let me toss this Needy hookers got a lot of nerve, let my bucket swerve I'm takin off from the curb The nervousness neglect make me pack a tec Devoted to servin this, Moet and paaayyy-checks Like Akai satellite nigga I'm forever ballin It ain't right parasites triggers and fleas crawlin Sucker duck and get busted, no emotion My devotion is handlin my business nigga keep on coastin Where you goin I been there came back as lonely homie Steady flowin against the grain niggaz STILL don't know me It's about the money in this rap shit, this crap shit It ain't funny niggaz don't even know how to act - shit! What can I do, what can I say, is there another way? Blunts and gin all day, twenty-fo' parlay My little homie G, can't you see, I'm busta free Niggaz can't stand me - all eyes on me!
[Chorus Two: 2Pac]
I live the life of a thug nigga, until the day I die Live the life as a boss playa {All Eyez On Me} cause even gettin high {All Eyez On Me} I live the life of a thug nigga, until the day I die live the life as a boss playa {All Eyez On Me} cause even gettin high
[2Pac] The feds is watchin, niggaz plottin to get me Will I survive, will I die? Come on let's picture the possibility Givin me charges, lawyers makin a grip I told the judge I was raised wrong, and that's why I blaze shit Was hyper as a kid, cold as a teenager On my mobile callin big shots on the scene major Packing hundreds in my drawers; fuck the law Bitches I fuck with a passion, I'm livin rough and raw Catchin cases at a fast rate, ballin in the fast lane Hustle til the mornin, never stopped until the cash came Live my life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Live my life as a boss playa, cause even gettin high these niggaz got me tossin shit I put the top down, now it's time to floss my shit Keep your head up nigga, make these motherfuckers suffer Up in the Benz burnin rubber The money is mandatory, the hoes is fully strapped This criminal lifestyle, equipped with the bulletproof vest Make sure your eyes is on the meal ticket Get your money motherfucker let's get rich and we'll kick it All eyes on me!
[Chorus Three: 2Pac]
I live the life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Live the life as a boss playa {All Eyez On Me} cause even gettin high.. ..{All Eyez On Me} I live the life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Live the life as a boss playa {All Eyez On Me} cause even gettin high.. ..{All Eyez On Me}
['Pac talking] Pay attention my niggaz See how that shit go? Nigga walk up in this motherfucker and it be like "bing!" Cops.. bitches.. everymotherfuckinbody [overlap] Live my life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Live my life as a boss playa, cause even gettin high I got bustas hoes and police watchin a nigga y'know? [overlap] I live my life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Livin life as a boss playa, cause even gettin high {All Eyez On Me} Hehehe.. it's like what they think? I'm walkin around with some ki's in my pocket or somethin? {All Eyez On Me} They think I'm goin back to jail, they REALLY on that dope [overlap] Live my life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Live my life as a boss playa I know y'all watchin, I know y'all got me in the scopes [overlap] Live my life as a thug nigga, until the day I die Live my life as a boss playa, cause even gettin high I know y'all know this is Thug Life baayy-bay Y'all got me under surveillance huh? {All Eyez On Me} But I'm knowin
Blink-182 are back together, the reunion confirmed after the Grammys. The reunion of Blink-182 for 2009 was broke by David Kennedy earlier this weekend with word of a new album for 2009.
Thursday night, David Kennedy told fans that even as A&A is about to put out a new album for 2009, so too is Blink-182 to everyone’s surprise.
“I’m trying to write a statement about how Angels is all good while Blink is coming back”.
Asked if no A&A album would be released in replacement for Blink-182, Kennedy added
“No sir. … It will be a good creative year and I want to make sure that comes across.”
And just to make sure it was super clear, another fan said, hey is Blink-182 reuniting?
“Yeah, putting out a record.”
The three appeared this Sunday as presenters at the Grammy Awards. Now after the awards show , Blink-182 issued the following official statement Sunday evening from Los Angeles:
“Hi. We’re blink-182. This past week there’ve been a lot of questions about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.
Already the highest-paid player, Alex Rodriguez wanted to prove himself one of the greatest. Instead, he wound up atop another list: the highest-profile player to confess to cheating in baseball’s steroids era.
The All-Star third baseman, responding to a weekend Sports Illustrated report that he flunked a drug test, told ESPN on Monday he used banned substances while playing with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03 to justify his 10-year, $252 million contract.
“Back then, it was a different culture,” Rodriguez said. “It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know — and being one of the greatest players of all time.”
He said he didn’t do it before that and quit during spring training in 2003, before the first of three American League MVP seasons, because “I’ve proved to myself and to everyone that I don’t need any of that.” He was traded to the New York Yankees before the 2004 season and said he hasn’t used banned substances since.
The admission came two days after Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site that Rodriguez was among 104 names on a list of players who tested positive for steroids in 2003, when testing was intended to determine the extent of steroid use in baseball. The results weren’t subject to discipline and were supposed to remain anonymous.
“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day,” Rodriguez said.
“And I did take a banned substance and, you know, for that I’m very sorry and deeply regretful. And although it was the culture back then and Major League Baseball overall was very — I just feel that — You know, I’m just sorry. I’m sorry for that time. I’m sorry to fans. I’m sorry for my fans in Texas. It wasn’t until then that I ever thought about substance of any kind.”
Rodriguez said part of the reason he started using drugs was the heat in Texas.
“Can I have an edge just to get out there and play every day?” he said to himself. “You basically end up trusting the wrong people. You end up, you know, not being very careful about what you’re ingesting.”
Though Rodriguez said he experimented with a number of substances, he never provided details.
“It was such a loosey-goosey era. I’m guilty for a lot of things. I’m guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions,” Rodriguez said. “And to be quite honest, I don’t know exactly what substance I was guilty of using.”
Owner feels ‘betrayed’
SI reported Rodriguez tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone.
He said he stopped using during spring training 2003, when he sustained a neck injury. It was just as baseball started its drug-testing survey.
Rangers owner Tom Hicks said the admission caught him by surprise.
“I feel personally betrayed. I feel deceived by Alex,” Hicks said in a conference call. “He assured me that he had far too much respect for his own body to ever do that to himself. … I certainly don’t believe that if he’s now admitting that he started using when he came to the Texas Rangers, why should I believe that it didn’t start before he came to the Texas Rangers?”
During those three seasons, Rodriguez averaged 161.7 games, 52 homers, 131.7 RBIs and a .615 slugging percentage. In the other 10 full seasons of his career, he averaged 149.2 games, 39.2 homers, 119 RBIs, and a .574 slugging percentage, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“This is three years I’m not proud of,” Rodriguez said.
The 33-year-old Rodriguez ranks 12th on the career list with 553 homers, including 52, 57 and 47 in his three seasons with the Rangers. He is 209 behind Barry Bonds’ record 762.
U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat who sits on the House committee that brought Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and other baseball players to Capitol Hill in recent years, favored a congressional hearing with Rodriguez.
“It would be good perhaps for us to sit down and talk to him,” Cummings said in a telephone interview. “I would think that he would want to cooperate with us so that the Congress would have the information it may need.”
Rodriguez’s admission was in stark contrast to the denials of Bonds and of Clemens,Rodriguez’s former Yankees teammate.
Bonds, a seven-time MVP, is scheduled for trial next month on charges that he lied when he told a federal grand jury in 2003 that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. Another federal grand jury is considering whether to indict seven-time AL Cy Young Award winner Clemens on charges he lied when he told a congressional committee last year that he never used steroids or human growth hormone.
Questions remain
Rather than hold a news conference, as Giambi and Pettitte did for their confessionals, Rodriguez chose the controlled setting of an interview with ESPN, one of Major League Baseball’s television partners.
The interview left open many questions:
From whom did Rodriguez obtain drugs?
How did he pay for them?
Did anyone help him obtain them?
“You have nutritionists, you have doctors, you have trainers. That’s the right question today: Where did you get it? We’re in the era of BALCO,” Rodriguez said. “There’s many things that you can take that are banned substances. I mean, there’s things that have been removed from GNC today that would trigger a positive test.”
Monday’s ESPN interview directly contradicted a December 2007 interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” when Rodriguez said “No” when asked if he had ever used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing substance.
“I wasn’t even being truthful with myself,” he said Monday. “Today, I’m here to tell the truth.”
In his 2008 book, “Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball,” Jose Canseco claimed he introduced Rodriguez to a steroids dealer. Canseco, who has admitted using steroids, subsequently said he had no knowledge of any drug use by Rodriguez.
“They are looking in the wrong places,” Canseco said in a text message to The Associated Press. “This is a 25-year cover-up. The true criminals are Gene Orza, (union head) Donald Fehr and (commissioner) Bud (Selig). Investigate them, and you will have all the answers.”
SI said that Orza, the union’s chief operating officer, tipped off three players in September 2004 that they would be tested. Orza repeatedly has denied that he tipped off players, saying he merely reminded them late in the season that if they had not yet been tested, baseball’s drug agreement required them to be tested by the end of the regular season.
