UPDATE: It has been reported that Guru's surgery was successful.
Gangstarr MC, Guru, underwent successful surgery on Monday, according to DJ Premier. Premier, Guru's partner in the long-running hip-hop outfit, tweeted the news Tuesday morning (March 2), writing,
"Good news: Guru surgery was successful, keep sending him love."
Premier did not specify what the surgery was for or what the MC's current condition was, and spokespeople for Guru could not be reached at press time for further information on the rapper's medical condition.
Guru suffered what has been described as a massive heart attack over the weekend, and according to reports was in a coma as of Monday. Premier began offering updates on the surgery late Monday night, writing,
"Guru still in surgery, keep on praying people, he will make it."
An unnamed source says that the rapper was doing "fine" and is expected to make a full recovery.
"Guru is alive and recovering from his surgery. Doctors are expecting a full recovery luckily."
One of Guru's former collaborators, French MC Solaar, issued a statement on Monday in which he said,
"Guru is struggling with a serious health issue. We, the whole 7 Grand Records family, appreciate all your love and well wishes. We continue to hold out hope that Guru will make a full recovery from this. We ask that his privacy on this matter will be respected. Again, thank you for all your support through this trying time."
UPDATE: DJ Premier, the other half of Gang Starr called up an XM radio station and confirmed Guru's heart attack.
"Guru IS in a coma and will go under surgery tomorrow afternoon."
Per reports, Rapper Guru of Gangstarr suffered a heart attack and is in a coma, heard from several sources.
While details remain sketchy, the rapper apparently suffered the heart attack in New York City and is in serious condition.
Guru, real name Keith Elam, is a founding member of Gangstarr, which also features legendary producer DJ Premier.
While details remain sketchy, the rapper apparently suffered the heart attack in New York city and is in serious condition.
More recently, he was giving fans the opportunity to download his album Guru 7.0: Street Scriptures, which dropped on his label 7 Grand Records in 2005.
At press time, even Guru’s old partner DJ Premier was unsure of his comrade’s status.
"Hope this isn't true," DJ Premier said.
I SERIOUSLY GOT THE CHILLS AND GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER MY ARMS...I GOT A CHANCE TO REALLY KICK IT WITH GURU IN HIS "STEP INTO THE ARENA" PT 2 VIDEO (YOU CAN SEE ME FEATURED IN A FEW PARTS)
I HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST HERE, EVEN THOUGH THIS VIDEO WAS SHOT QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO, GURU WAS NOT LOOKING TOO HEALTHY TO ME. PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS. THANK YOU.
Yes, the quake that struck the coast of Chile this morning was about 100 times stronger than the quake that devastated Port-au-Prince in early January. But the death toll in the very low three digits—214 reported by CNN but we’ve seen in Haiti, where 230,000 are already dead. How can that be?
Per reports: There are a few reasons. First and most obvious, the construction in Chile is far better than construction in Haiti. A popular saying among seismologists is that “earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do.” Chile’s buildings are better built, with better materials, higher-skilled laborers, and an eye toward earthquake resistance. They are therefore more earthquake-resistant. Many fewer of them collapsed, so fewer people died.
Second reason is that, unlike Haiti, Chile is accustomed to earthquakes. It has what those who work in disaster preparedness call “earthquake consciousness.” The country sits at the boundaries of the Pacific and South American tectonic plates, and it experiences an average of one magnitude-8 quake a year. As several media outlets have already noted, the largest earthquake ever recorded, a 9.9, occurred in the same region. Globally, quakes of 8.8 or higher are pretty rare. But if there’s any country that would be expecting one, it’s Chile.
While watching CNN this guy explained it best to me here in this video...
I could not find his other explanation which was more detailed but I will try and explain in my own words. Yes, Haiti's earthquake was 7.0 which is less than Chile's 8.8 but a big difference is that Haiti's earthquake happened in a majorly populated area but in a smaller area than Chile. So think of it like this....Chile's earthquake hit a large area but not so populated of 8.8 but Haiti felt a 7.0 in a smaller place so it felt worse..especially that people felt the strongest points. Chile's strongest points were mainly in water. This is why the Pacific Tsunami Warning were called. Also, just like stated above, Chile's structure and the people in general are more equipt to handle such a disaster.
Here is another video I found explaining this as well...It's long though, but he talks about the difference in the beginning of the video...
If you are looking for a loved one in Chile, the State Department's Consular Affairs Bureau has a phone line set up at 1-888-407-4747. You can find further information on its website.
Google has also created a "person finder" to help find individuals in affected area in Chile.
Disaster relief organizations
Several international disaster relief organizations have already begun mobilizing resources for the earthquake-stricken region. Here are a few that have already launched campaigns for Chile:
The American Red Cross has already pledged $50,000 in aid for Chile and tsunami preparedness. You can make a donation through the American Red Cross' International Response Fund, and it will be allocated specifically for Chile relief efforts;
Habitat for Humanity is also seeking donations for Chile rebuilding efforts;
The Salvation Army is also sending personnel and supplies to assist in the relief effort and is in need of donations;
Samaritan's Purse, the international aid and development group headed by Rev. Franklin Graham, is working to help;
World Vision, a Christian humanitarian charity organization, is also working to help children and families devastated by the quake. To learn more about its efforts and to donate, visit its website.
11:30 PM ET -- Chile Navy "Committed an error in not alerting the tsunami."
The Associated Press reports from Santiago: Chile's defense minister said Sunday that the navy made a mistake by not immediately issuing a tsunami warning after a mammoth earthquake, a step that could have helped coastal villagers flee to higher ground sooner.
Francisco Vidal said, however, that an alarm was later sounded by port captains. He said that saved hundreds if not thousands of lives.
"The navy committed an error in not alerting the tsunami," Vidal said at a news conference.
Immediately after Saturday's magnitude-8.8 quake, President Michelle Bachelet played down the threat of a tsunami, saying large waves were expected but no tsunami.
However, several coastal communities were smashed into by what authorities later recognized were tsunami waves.
Vidal said that fortunately the navy has an emergency plan that allows navy officials in each port to sound alarms automatically when a rise in the sea is observed without waiting for an order from above. In this case, port captains sounded an alarm alerting coastal populations.
"With this system, in spite of the diagnostic error, the people could be warned to head to the hills," Vidal said.
Thirty minutes passed between the quake and waves that inundated coastal towns.
Many of the more than 708 known dead from the quake were in Chile's coastal regions swamped by the tsunami. Among those hit were San Juan Bautista village on Robinson Crusoe Island, the port of Talcahuano and Vichato in the BioBio region.
The surge of water raced across the Pacific, leading officials in 53 nations to post warnings. But the waves proved small as they moved past Hawaii and on to such places as Australia, Tonga, Japan and Russia.
5:30 PM ET -- Videos of the aftermath. AP has raw video from Constitucion of the scene that Chileans woke up to this morning.
This video report from Reuters looks at the damage done to the historic sites in Curico.
ITN News uploaded this report showing aerial footage of Chile's battered coast.
2:30 PM ET -- Death toll in Chile. CNN reports that it has passed 700.
11:32 AM ET -- Displaced in Chile. The National of Emergencies puts the number at 2 million.
11:30 AM ET -- Looting in Chile. AP has raw video of looting breaking out Sunday in Chile among what Reuters described as "desperate and hungry residents."
From Sky News:
Looting has also began in Concepcion, a day after the main quake hammered the country and killed at least 300 people.
TV images showed looters carrying away boxes of food, washing machines and plasma TVs from stores in the city of Conception before police intervened.
'We have to eat something,' an unidentified woman told a TV reporter.
8:45 AM ET -- Hillary Clinton heading to Chile. The Secretary of State leaves tonight for a week-long, five-nation tour, the AP reports. She is expected to arrive in Chile late Monday, where she will offer support for the relief efforts.
8:19 PM ET -- Chile quake stronger, but Haiti's was more destructive. The AP explains:
The U.S. Geological Survey says eight Haitian cities and towns — including [Port-au-Prince] this capital of 3 million — suffered "violent" to "extreme" shaking in last month's 7-magnitude quake, which Haiti's government estimates killed some 220,000 people and left about 1.2 homeless. Chile's death toll was in the hundreds.
By contrast, no Chilean urban area suffered more than "severe" shaking — the third most serious level — Saturday in its 8.8-magnitude disaster, by USGS measure. The quake was centered 200 miles (325 kms) away from Chile's capital and largest city, Santiago.
In terms of energy released at the epicenter, the Chilean quake was 501 times stronger. But energy dissipates rather quickly as distances grow from epicenters — and the ground beneath Port-au-Prince is less stable by comparison and "shakes like jelly," says University of Miami geologist Tim Dixon.
7:49 PM ET -- Tsunami warning issued for Japan. From Reuters:
A tsunami of up to 3 metres could hit Japan's Pacific coasts following the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central Chile, a government agency official said on Sunday.
6:50 PM ET -- Tsunami warning canceled for Hawaii. From the AP:
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has canceled its tsunami warning for Hawaii, with the state apparently escaping the roiling waves unscathed.
Gov. Linda Lingle says no damage has been reported in any county. Tidal surges were observed Saturday along the coasts but did not roar ashore. She's calling it "a great day now that it's over."
6:45 PM ET -- Chile death toll. CNN says its now officially at 214.
6:00 PM ET -- Hawaii "dodged a bullet." An official from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tells the AP that, at least so far, Hawaii has been lucky:
It still will be about an hour before officials will be willing to give an all-clear in Hawaii, but there were no immediate reports of major damage around the Pacific rim.
Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist for the tsunami center, defended the decision to urge evacuations of coastal areas, saying "better safe than sorry."
Meanwhile in California, the AP reports, the tsunami waves "barely registered a notice aid stormy weather."
5:20 PM ET -- Live video of the tsunami in Hawaii. Multiple streams here. From the AP:
A tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Chile has swept ashore in Hawaii. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. But the initial waves did not appear to be serious, looking more like an extreme fluctuation in the tide than a giant tsunami.
The wave began affecting Hilo Bay on the Big Island just before noon local time. Water began pulling away from shore, exposing reefs and sending dark streaks of muddy, sandy water offshore. Water later washed over Coconut Island, a small park off the coast of Hilo.
5:10 PM ET -- The moment the earthquake hit in Chile. Video from Terra.com that was shot as the earthquake struck Saturday morning:
5:00 PM ET -- Tsunami in American Samoa. NBC News reports that Pago Plaza was hit by a tsunami wave, according to NOAA.
4:50 PM ET -- Ground reports from Hawaii. My colleague Adam Clark Estes is gathering reports by HuffPost bloggers from Hawaii, which you can read here. Here's a sample.
I am sitting in a walmart in hilo hawaii. i just tried to get to the airport but they have closed it as its very close to the coast. the police have blocked off all beach access. downtown hilo is closed and being cleared. they have shut off all the water on the coast and have asked people to conserve what they have...
3:45 PM ET -- Chile devastation. NBC News reports that 400,000 people are homeless following the earthquake.
3:30 PM ET -- How Chile's earthquake compares. A list compiled by the AP of other earthquakes that also registered a magnitude of at least 8.8.
• May 22, 1960: A magnitude 9.5 earthquake in southern Chile and ensuing tsunami killed at least 1,716 people.
• March 27, 1964: A magnitude 9.2 quake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and ensuing tsunami killed 128 people.
• Dec. 26, 2004: A magnitude 9.1 quake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed 226,000 people in 12 countries, including 165,700 in Indonesia and 35,400 in Sri Lanka.
• Aug. 13, 1868: A magnitude 9.0 quake in Arica, Peru (now Chile) generated catastrophic tsunamis; more than 25,000 people were killed in South America.
• Jan. 26, 1700: A magnitude 9.0 quake shakes Northern California, Oregon, Washington and British Colombia and triggers tsunami that damages villages in Japan.
• Nov. 4, 1952: A magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka causes damage but no reported deaths, despite setting off 30-foot (9.1-meter) waves in Hawaii.
• Jan. 31, 1906: A magnitude 8.8 quake off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia generated a tsunami that killed at least 500 people.
The earthquake in Chile, Newsweek notes, was about 100 times stronger than the one that devastated Haiti in January.
3:20 PM ET -- The scene in Hawaii. A reader emails:
My husband and I are on the 30th floor of the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu on Oahu awaiting the expected 1137am tsunami surge. We're on vacation and got the first flight out of Maui this morning (just as the sirens were beginning). There are about 250 people up here. Most other hotels on the beach evacuated. Hotel staff just handed out playing cards.
2:55 PM ET -- Chile earthquake caught on camera. AP has video of surveillance footage that captures the shaking caused by this morning's earthquake. We've collected a bunch of videos covering the quake here.
2:30 PM ET -- Latest alert bulletins. Here's the latest Pacific Tsunami Warning Center bulletin for the Pacific Ocean region:
THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA... WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.
A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR
CHILE / PERU / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / ANTARCTICA / PANAMA / COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / PITCAIRN / HONDURAS / EL SALVADOR / GUATEMALA / FR. POLYNESIA / MEXICO / COOK ISLANDS / KIRIBATI / KERMADEC IS / NIUE / NEW ZEALAND / TONGA / AMERICAN SAMOA / SAMOA / JARVIS IS. / WALLIS-FUTUNA / TOKELAU / FIJI / AUSTRALIA / HAWAII / PALMYRA IS. / TUVALU / VANUATU / HOWLAND-BAKER / NEW CALEDONIA / JOHNSTON IS. / SOLOMON IS. / NAURU / MARSHALL IS. / MIDWAY IS. / KOSRAE / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / POHNPEI / WAKE IS. / CHUUK / RUSSIA / MARCUS IS. / INDONESIA / N. MARIANAS / GUAM / YAP / BELAU / JAPAN / PHILIPPINES / CHINESE TAIPEI
You can see the latest alert for Hawaii here. Here is info on tsunami waves that have already been observed. And here is a list of estimated arrival times for waves generated by this morning's earthquake in Chile for spots along the North American Pacific Coast.
2:25 PM ET -- Death toll in Chile. CNN says it's reached nearly 150.
2:10 PM ET -- Video of Obama's statement. The president spoke briefly just before 2pm ET at the White House.
AP report on Obama's statement:
President Barack Obama says the U.S. is preparing for a tsunami that could reach American shores and he wants people in Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam to follow the instructions of local authorities.[...]
Obama also is encouraging people along the West Coast to be prepared for the possibility of dangerous waves and currents.
The president says the U.S. is ready Chile with rescue and recovery efforts. He says the U.S. has resources that are in position to deploy should the Chilean government ask for U.S. assistance.
1:55 PM ET -- Info charts from the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.
This first one shows what the NOAA web site refers to as a "preliminary forecast model energy map," which illustrates the potential tsunami impact zone.
This second one shows the projected tsunami travel times following this morning's earthquake in Chile.
1:25 PM ET -- Reporter's first person account of Chile quake. TIME's Eben Harrell was in Santiago when the earthquake struck this morning. He filed a dispatch for the magazine about his experience. Read it here. An excerpt:
The city was plunged into darkness, but there was a general sense of calm. Within minutes, the traffic signals began to function again and traffic flowed normally. Several people, upon seeing me -- a clueless-looking tourist -- puzzling over a map, stopped to offer their assistance. One young man simply stopped, put his hand on my shoulder and smiled as he said, in heavily accented English, "Welcome to Chile."
1:10 PM ET -- Obama to make statement at 2pm. President will speak from the White House about the earthquake and tsunamis.
12:55 PM ET -- More video of the earthquake aftermath. Raw video from Reuters:
12:52 PM ET -- Earthquake aftershock count. Chile hit by number 34.
12:50 PM ET -- Earthquake data chart. An interesting look at the earthquake data, uploaded to flickr by Nick Bilton. See full size here.
11:55 AM ET -- 'The TV went flying'. AP speaks to an American tourist in Chile who describes the experience of being woken up by the quake.
11:50 AM ET -- Aftershocks in Chile. US Geological Survey reports that the country was just hit by its 30th major aftershock, this one of a magnitude of 5.5.
11:40 AM ET -- Video of the aftermath. Raw video from the AP in the wake of Saturday morning's earthquake.
11:30 AM ET -- Evacuations in Hawaii. From CNN breaking news email: "Sirens sound across Hawaii, warning of possible tsunami and signaling people in coastal areas to evacuate."
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, tsunami waves have reached as high as 7.7 feet off the coast of Chile.
11:27 AM ET -- Map of the Chile earthquake. From the U.S. Geological Survey web site.
11:25 AM ET -- Info from the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. Via their Twitter feed:
Americans in #Chile who need assistance should contact local authorities or US Embassy in Santiago (330-3476, email santiagoamcit@state.gov)
If you are concerned about a U.S. citizen in #Chile & have not been able to contact them email Chile Task Force: ChileEarthquake@state.gov
11:15 AM ET -- White House statement. From Robert Gibbs: "We are closely monitoring the situation, including the potential for a tsunami. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile, and we stand ready to help in this hour of need."
11:12 AM ET -- Looking for someone lost in the quake. Google has a person finder app set up here where you write in about someone you are looking for, as well as pass along information you may have about someone.
11:10 AM ET -- Latest death count. CNN has it at 122.
10:30 AM ET -- Tsunami warnings in effect. The following places have been listed:
CHILE / PERU / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / ANTARCTICA / PANAMA / COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / PITCAIRN / HONDURAS / EL SALVADOR / GUATEMALA / FR. POLYNESIA / MEXICO / COOK ISLANDS / KIRIBATI / KERMADEC IS / NIUE / NEW ZEALAND / TONGA / AMERICAN SAMOA / SAMOA / JARVIS IS. / WALLIS-FUTUNA / TOKELAU / FIJI / AUSTRALIA / HAWAII / PALMYRA IS. / TUVALU / VANUATU / HOWLAND-BAKER / NEW CALEDONIA / JOHNSTON IS. / SOLOMON IS. / NAURU / MARSHALL IS. / MIDWAY IS. / KOSRAE / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / POHNPEI / WAKE IS. / CHUUK / RUSSIA / MARCUS IS. / INDONESIA / N. MARIANAS / GUAM / YAP / BELAU / JAPAN / PHILIPPINES / CHINESE TAIPEI
Estimated arrival times in the US are here.
UPDATE: 8:25 a.m. -- 1,000 times more powerful than the Haiti earthquake. From the New York Times:
Phone lines were down in Concepcion as of 7:30 a.m. and no reports were coming out of that area. The quake in Chile was 1,000 times more powerful than the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that caused widespread damage in Haiti on Jan 12, killing at least 230,000, earthquake experts reported on CNN International.
UPDATE: 8:00 a.m. -- 78 and rising. AP now reports that the death toll is at 78 and rising. Officials have no information yet on number of injured.
UPDATE: 6:43 a.m. -- 47 dead. Reuters now reports that 47 people have died in the quake.
President Michele Bachelet has declared a "state of catastrophe," according to the Associated Press:
SANTIAGO, Chile - A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, collapsing buildings, killing at least 16 people and downing phone lines. President Michele Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in central Chile and said the death toll was rising.
Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.
"We have had a huge earthquake, with some aftershocks," Bachelet said, appealing from an emergency response center for Chileans to remain calm. "Despite this, the system is functioning. People should remain calm. We're doing everything we can with all the forces we have. Any information we will share immediately."
Bachelet said early reports were that 16 people had been killed, and "without a doubt, with an earthquake of this magnitude, there will be more deaths."
In the 2 1/2 hours following the 90-second quake, the U.S. Geological Survey reported 11 aftershocks, of which five measured 6.0 or above.
She urged people to avoid traveling in the dark, since traffic lights are down, to avoid causing more fatalities.
The quake hit 200 miles (325 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Santiago, at a depth of 22 miles (35 kilometers) at 3:34 a.m. (0634 GMT; 1:34 a.m. EST), the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The epicenter was just 70 miles (115 kilometers) from Concepcion, Chile's second-largest city, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river, and 60 miles from the ski town of Chillan, a gateway to Andean ski resorts that was destroyed in a 1939 earthquake.
In Santiago, the capital, modern buildings are built to withstand earthquakes, but many older ones were heavily damaged, including the Nuestra Senora de la Providencia church, whose bell tower collapsed. An apartment building's two-level parking lot also flattened onto the ground floor, smashing about 50 cars whose alarms and horns rang incessantly. A bridge just outside the capital also collapsed, and at least one car flipped upside down.
In the coastal city of Vina del Mar, the earthquake struck just as people were leaving a disco, Julio Alvarez told Radio Cooperativa in Santiago. "It was very bad, people were screaming, some people were running, others appeared paralyzed. I was one of them."
Bachelet said she was declaring a "state of catastrophe" in 3 central regions of the country, and that while emergency responders were waiting for first light to get details, it was evident that damage was extensive.
UPDATE: 5:56 a.m. -- 17 dead. At least 17 people have died in Chile's earthquake, according to radio reports from Santiago. Reuters:
Local radio said 17 people were killed and President Michelle Bachelet confirmed six deaths, saying more were possible. Telephone and power lines were down, making a quick damage assessment difficult in the early morning darkness.
"Never in my life have I experienced a quake like this, it's like the end of the world," one man told local television from the city of Temuco, where the quake damaged buildings and forced staff to evacuate the regional hospital.
UPDATE: 4:35 a.m. -- Tsunami warnings. Warnings from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
UPDATE: 4:32 a.m. -- 10 people confirmed dead. A report from a live broadcast in Santiago, Chile says that 10 people are confirmed dead.
Earlier this morning, Chile's president confirmed that six people were killed. Reuters:
President Michelle Bachelet said six people were killed and that more deaths were possible. Telephone and power lines were down, making a quick assessment of the damage difficult in the early morning darkness.
UPDATE: 4:21 a.m. -- Chile earthquake pictures, based in Santiago, Chile.
•••
A photo of Santiago, Chile after the quake.
UPDATE: 4:15 a.m. -- Tsunami generated. CNN International reports that the earthquake has generated a Tsunami. Warnings have been issued for Chile and Peru. A tsunami watch has been issued for Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Antarctica.
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)-- A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake capable of tremendous damage struck central Chile early Saturday, shaking the capital for a minute and a half and setting off a tsunami. Buildings collapsed and phone lines and electricity were down, making the extent of the damage difficult to determine.
The quake hit 200 miles (325 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Santiago, at a depth of 22 miles (35 kilometers) at 3:34 a.m. (0634 GMT; 1:34 a.m. EST), the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Here Lady Gaga covers Q Magazine with a handful...literally!
Take a look at how Gaga pokes fun (no pun intended lol) at the hermaphrodite rumors and buckles up with a strap-on for her latest photo shoot!
Were you expecting any less? ...got to love her creativity!
She said,“I want to wear a d**k strapped to my vagina. We all know that one of the biggest talking points of the year was that I have a d**k, so why not give them what they want? I also carry myself onstage in a masculine way and sing in a low register. This is not of nowhere, right? I want to comment on that in a beautiful, artistic way. How I wanna show it. And I want to call this piece ‘Lady Gaga Dies Hard’. Come on, come see me try to persuade everyone to let me wear a penis.”
In the Q magazine interview, Gaga admitted she had many emotional battles with her record label over her individual style.
"The last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself....My image was an issue at my record label. I fought for months and cried at meetings....I got criticised for being arrogant because if you're sure of yourself as a woman they say you're a bitch whereas if you're a man and you're strong-willed it's normal."
Opps I see a nipple in this one! And damn what a handful down there! lol
Have you ever wanted to keep Kim Kardashian in your pocket? Well, if you own an iPhone - you "virtually" can. Kim released a brand new iPhone application along with her new fragrance launch yesterday.
Want her to blow kisses, wave, or start flirting with you? Just tap the iPhone, slide your fingers across the screen, or shake the device to control her cyber-likeness’s every movement. The app will also include lifestyle and beauty tips, weekly Q&As with questions submitted by fans, easy access to Kardashian’s Twitter feed and more.
To keep up with this Kardashian, purchase the application for $1.99 on iTunes!
I guess it looks like her lol. Wow, Kim sure is everywhere lately.
50 Cent was sued on Wednesday over a sex tape featuring Florida woman Lastonia Leviston and boyfriend Maurice Murray.
Remeber those "Pimpin Curly" videos? lol Well, 50 modified this woman's sex tape by inserting himself into the video as Curly, wearing a curly, red wig and a bathrobe. He published the tape on his website Thisis50.com and it made its way to YouTube.
He makes side comments throughout the remake. "Ooh, she grindin', is she a grinder?" he comments at one point as Leviston, wearing white lingerie, straddles Murray on a couch.
It is purported that Jackson released the video as a new prank in the long standing feud he has with rapper Rick Ross. Leviston is said to be the mother of Ross' child. At several points in the 13-minute video he mocks Ross, "Ricky don't know how to do that!" he says when Murray, wearing red boxer shorts, smacks Leviston's butt.
Leviston says that she and Murray made the video in 2008 and that he agreed to destroy the evidence. But it turns out he sold the tape to 50 Cent. Murray's face is blurred out of the released version.
Leviston entered her lawsuit in the Manhattan Supreme Court seeking damages for emotional distress and the unauthorized use of her image.
On February 19, 2010 Kim Kardashian launched a line of vanilla cupcake mix through Famous Cupcakes. The mix costs $13 and makes 18 cupcakes. Included in the kit are cupcake liners, a frosting recipe, pink sugar crystal and Kim’s favorite vanilla cupcake mix. The mix is available for purchase at Famous Cupcake stores or online.
Beyonce and her father/manager, Mathew Knowles, are facing heat over song credits yet again.
In a recent interview, record producer Rob Fusari, accused the duo of taking credit for using Stevie Nicks riffs on the hit Destiny's Child single "Bootylicioius".
Claiming that he came up with the idea to use part of "Edge of Seventeen," Fusari says Mathew Knowles later told him sharing credit did "not sell records".
"I remember watching Barbara Walters interview Beyoncé about 'Bootylicious', and she told Barbara about how she came up with the idea for the track," Fusari told Billboard.
"I called Mathew which was a big mistake. I got emotional and I apologised after - but I called Mathew and said, 'Mathew, like, why," says Fusari. "He explained to me, in a nice way, he said, 'People don't want to hear about Rob Fusari, producer from Livingston, NJ. No offense, but that's not what sells records. What sells records is people believing that the artist is everything'."
"And I'm like, 'Yeah, I know, Mathew. I understand the game. But come on, I'm trying too. I'm a squirrel trying to get a nut too.'"
Well besides him trying to get a nut lol...We have heard of this time and time again, and not just with Beyonce. Many famous artists have stolen other people's songs before, some we hear about and some we don't. But remember how Beyonce spoke and took sole credit for the song "Irreplaceable" when Ne-yo really did. In the interview above what I found interesting was his comment about what sells records and that an artist has to be everything. We all know an image can sell, and Mathew hit it right on the nose with that....everyone wants to believe Beyonce is writing and going through all of her lyrics and I understand the biz side of it, but damn, like I am always saying....Beyonce does not have to be PERFECT all of the time...it seems as if her team is always "covering" something up.Give the guy his name credit! geez!
Rihanna is joining, well, almost every celebrity, and creating a fragrance that will be out later this year. And while she had reportedly initially named it Route 22, she's reconsidering the name—and asking you for suggestions.
If you think you can come up with something, comment below...
In case you missed it, Jay-Z recently spoke again on the issue of his religion...
“I don’t know where it started. I don’t know where it came from. I really think it’s really silly. For the record, I of course believe in God, but I believe in one God. If people must know my religious beliefs, I believe in one God. I don’t believe in religion. I don’t believe in Christians o Muslims. I think all that separates people. I think it’s one God. I think it’s all the same God, and I don’t believe in Hell. "Am I a part of some sect or cult? That sounds stupid to me. It’s ignorant to even say, and I guess that’ll be the last time I address that. It’s ignorant to me”.
Lol wow! So, the Animal-rights group PETA plans to unveil within the next few weeks a " spay-and-neuter" billboard featuring Tiger Woods — without the golfer's blessing...and I'm not sure if he will be too happy about it!
The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals is searching for a local advertiser to put up a billboard in Windermere, FL, which will include an image of Woods and text: "Too Much Sex Can Be a Bad Thing....For Little Tigers Too. Help Keep Your Cats (and Dogs) Out of Trouble: Always Spay or Neuter!"
It will be a challenge to find an advertiser to put up the sign, acknowledged Virginia Fort, a campaigner with PETA who is working on the project.
"It's a fun, tongue-in-cheek approach. We hope these billboard companies will understand," Fort said.
She said the billboard isn't meant to offend the golfer, his family or fans, but to prevent millions of cats and dogs from being euthanized at shelters each year.
"The world has been transfixed on Tiger's life after Thanksgiving. We're putting the focus where it needs to be," Fort said.
It's uncertain when the billboard would go up in Windermere but "the soonest would be in two weeks," she said.
Woods is not affiliated with PETA and has not endorsed the ad, Fort said.
"We're sure Tiger will appreciate our attempt — from a story that's distracted the world and followed Tiger — to turn it into something positive for little tigers," she said.
Woods' attorney, Mark NeJame, declined to comment. The golfer's agent, Mark Steinberg, and spokesman, Glenn Greenspan, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Damn, is PETA even allowed to use Tiger's photo without his permission?! lol I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing for Tiger, but I think PETA will definitely get tons of awareness with this one!!What do you think about the billboard?
TMZ 1st reported that Yung Berg was violently beaten and robbed at a house in Los Angeles this weekend ...
According to law enforcement sources, Berg -- real name Christian Ward -- was at a house party at around 2:00 AM Monday morning when four suspects entered the home and brandished firearms.
We're told the suspects pistol-whipped two people inside the party -- one of whom was Berg. Law enforcement sources say the suspects robbed eight people and made off with $10,000 in cash and jewelry.
A rep for Yung Berg said his client "has been in Vegas." When asked if Yung was in L.A. over the weekend -- the rep said he doesn't know anything about the incident.
Young Berg finally responded to the accusation, and did so on video! Check it out, he shows off his bruise-less body and face and promises fans he's "still gorgeous" -- adding, "whatchu got to know is I'm fine ... there's nothing wrong with nobody."
He's currently in Las Vegas and never mentions the incident specifically in the new video.
By the way, I beeeeeen heard about "Yung Berg" and his fake ways. I mean not to mention rapper Maino punching him for this same reason but first off, I've heard from some pretty good sources that Yung Berg used to be "Ice Berg." And that he turned on the sources and called the cops to tell on them. I can only assume that these tactics are the same ones getting his ass beat lol. No offense but he shouldn't act gangsta if he aint, otherwise real "gangstas" will test yours...believe that.
Check out the story and a witness account on video below:
SeaWorld Orlando has always known that Tilikum, a 12,000-pound orca that killed trainer Dawn Brancheau on Wednesday, could be a particularly dangerous killer whale.
SeaWorld trainers were forbidden from swimming with Tilikum, as they often did with the resort's seven other orcas.
Only about a dozen of 28 handlers, including Brancheau, had been specifically trained to work with him from the edge of SeaWorld's pools.
That was in part because of his size: At an average weight of nearly 6 tons, Tilikum — nicknamed Tilly — was the largest orca at any of SeaWorld's parks.
Dawn Brancheau's death came as a result of being pulled into the tank, reportedly by her ponytail, and gripped in the jaws of the whale, shaken, and dragged underwater. Spectators watched in horror as park workers sounded an alarm and rushed the tank with nets, but it was too late for the 40-year-old trainer. Workers could not jump in right away, or they may have been killed as well. The workers hurried to get onlookers away from the scene. Check out the video below...
MTV reported that jailed rapper Remy Ma was in good spirits when she phoned into a Connecticut hip-hop station recently, where the Bronx lyricist spoke about husband Papoose and her imprisonment and denied a romance with Lil Wayne protégé Nicki Minaj.
Remy responded to the video that appeared online last year of a woman claiming to have had an intimate relationship with the rapper..I know you remember that video right?! (click here if you missed it!) The woman was listed in the clip as Nicki from the Bronx, and rumors spread online that it was a pre-Young Money Nicki Minaj. The fodder intensified once the audio spread in which the Bronx woman listed details about their relationship.
The former Terror Squad member, however, denied the charge. "I haven't been with a girl ever in my life," she said. "I haven't had sex with Nicki anybody!"
Remy, though, had nothing but praise for Minaj, something she doesn't offer easily to her fellow femcees. "I'm happy for her," she said. "I'm actually really happy for her...Minus the gay stuff"
The rapper is currently serving out an eight-year jail sentence for shooting another woman during an argument after they both attended a mutual friend's birthday party. Remy said she's been working on an appeal, and in the process, she's been studying at the facility's education center. She's said she's a few credits shy of earning her associate's degree.
The rapper also said Papoose visits her frequently, although she admitted the trips aren't daily, as they were when she was first incarcerated. She said the visits occur every six weeks.
The two even have plans to expand their family soon, she said; she already has a son from a previous relationship. Remy noted Pap was ready to have a child now, however, Remy said she wants to get back to her normal life before she begins thinking about family additions.
"I wanna go shopping [first]," she said. "They just confiscated a pair of Ugg boots [I had]. It's so much not like my life. I really miss recording. It's so much of a burden the way I would have to go through. ... I'm used to having a studio at my house and recording. It's not just what I did for a living, but it's what I did because I loved it."
Wonder if this will clear up the rumors? lolll I think there are some people who will still believe that video!
Lil Wayne's getting ready to go to jail, but before he goes in, he had to get a few things situated. Not only did he have to get his teeth fixed, but he went and got completely new teeth. Now, EIGHT root canals later, check out his new pre-prison grill.
Lil Wayne is supposed to head to prison March 2nd.
Dutch suspect Joran van der Sloot has confessed to disposing the body of missing American student Natalee Holloway while on the Caribbean island of Aruba, a Dutch newspaper reported on Tuesday. He made the statements in front of an RTL television camera.
His father, who many believe was instrumental in covering up for his son, died suddenly in Aruba on February 10, 2010. Coincidence... I think not!
The Aruban newspaper Diario reported that Paul van der Sloot, 57, died of a heart attack on the Dutch island in the Caribbean. The paper's Web site says he collapsed late Wednesday after playing tennis and was declared dead at a hospital.
Van der Sloot's son Joran has been characterized by Aruban prosecutors as the only suspect in the case.
Natalie Holloway, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was 18 when she was last seen leaving a bar in the Aruban capital on the final night of a high school graduation trip. No trace of her has ever been found.
Did Joran confess because his father is now dead and can no longer help hide information??
Months before this, Joran van der Sloot had admitted being with Holloway on the beach the night she died. He told an undercover tv reporter that a friend had dumped her body at sea.
TV crime reporter Peter R de Vries, who has followed the case closely, says he is convinced Paul van der Sloot, Joran's dad, helped his son in covering up the crime.
'I am personally convinced he knew more [about the case] and helped his son that night.'
Well, Joran's dad is no longer here to "help" and now he has officially confessed "on the record."
The body of Natalie Holloway has never been recovered.
Having already conquered television, the Kardashians have revealed who they would want to play them in a big-screen version of their life and Kim is not settling for any less than an Oscar winner.
In a recent interview, the girls were asked about possibly taking the Kardashians to the big-screen and took to their blog with ideas. Kim revealed that she'd want Penelope Cruz to play the reality star.
"It was really difficult to think of people who had both the looks and personality to pull us off, but I think I chose well," Kim wrote on her blog. "As myself I would cast Penelope Cruz. Come on... it's my dream cast and she's gorgeous! Plus, I'd have that really sexy accent!"
Sister Kourtney disagreed, saying Cruz should play her and that Kim would be better suited to be played by none other than Jennifer Lopez. "Kim would obviously have to be played by Jennifer Lopez," Kourtney wrote. "She's an amazing actress and who could be more perfect to play Kim."
The sisters also cast Liv Tyler as sister Khloe, Christian Bale as Kourtney's boyfriend Scott Disick, and want Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas to play mom Kris and Bruce Jenner.
No word of a movie for them! Just jokes! ..thank goodness because I don't know if we are "ready" for a Kardashian movie lol
Superstar Lady Gaga is beginning to crack under the pressure of fame, according to some pretty good sources.
During a recent Q Magazine photo shoot at London's Mayfair Hotel, Gaga suddenly turned on the photographer, saying that she hated the pictures - in which she posed topless in a pair of spiked trousers - before bursting into tears and threatening to quit unless her boyfriend was allowed to take the shots.
Later she apologized tearfully later, saying: "I'm just not in a good place right now."
Gaga is currently in Britain with her highly successful Monster Ball Tour. The show has suffered a number of setbacks, including missing costumes and technical foul-ups when it opened last Thursday, reports said.
Last month, Gaga canceled an Indiana show in the United States shortly before she was to go onstage, having passed out.
"Paramedics came to take care of me, and told me my heart rate was irregular - a result of exhaustion and dehydration," she tweeted later.
She was said to be crying for hours after the cancellation.
I think maybe she needs a little break. In life you really need to take breaks, even it's just for a few. I'm not talking about months, I'm taking about at least a day of relief! With all the shows and extra things Gaga is doing taking a break is necessary. I'm sure she will be OK let's just hope she is!
Chris Brown was seen in Hawaii this weekend showing off a new tattoo on his chest. No word on exactly when he got the tattoo or exactly what it is, but we suspect that the job was done during his trip to Hawaii this weekend.
Why was Chris Breezy in Hawaii, you ask? Well apparently he and some NFL players are in town for a children’s charity event hosted by the Kemoeatu Brothers Foundation.
In case you missed it, while you were doing your Valentines Day activities, Jay-Z and Beyoncé managed to find time to celebrate the belated holiday on Saturday (Feb. 20).
The happy couple showed PDA while cruising on a yacht in Miami. The Mrs. cheered on her man as he opened his “BP3” tour later that evening at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.
Jay-Z's recent investment in the new "racino" project -- a plan to bring slot machines to the old Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, NY -- has come under fire recently. A federal probe is aiming to figure out if the Brooklyn rapper's affiliation with New York Governor David Paterson had any impact on his decision to invest with development company, Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG). The company made headlines recently for winning the right to bring gambling to the racetrack, after previously being low on the totem pole of contenders to win the project.
Last summer, Jay and Governor Patterson became chummy, especially after sharing a podium to announce the rapper's 9/11 tribute concert at MSG in August. They developed a friendship, and were even spotted together in the Hamptons. Sources say that a few days after hanging out with the governor, Jay-Z was pushed by AEG's chairman to buy a 7 percent stake in the company, even though he had previously considered teaming up with casino mogul Steve Wynn to participate in the project.
Despite accusations that AEG specifically recruited Jay-Z in order to be in the Mayor's good graces, the company claims that they had no agenda when they signed Hov. "Given [Jay-Z's] super-stardom and his long and deep connection to New York, the partners thought he could bring a unique perspective to shaping a facility that would truly be an entertainment destination," an AEG spokesman said. "The partners were looking to bring in someone who could bring marketing and community advice to the team."
Being from Queens, New York, I used to go to the Aqueduct Racetrack all the time for the "flea market"..I loved that place lol. But it sounds like it would be cool to have a Casino there. Not sure what's going on with all this shadiness but I'll let you know what end up happening here!
11:30 PM ET -- Chile Navy "Committed an error in not alerting the tsunami." 
