Even the defending world champion, Miami Heat, cannot comprehend what the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office has been able to accomplish this offseason with their acquisitions of All Stars, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. This is the same team that became the league’s ultimate villain after adding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to their roster only two summers ago.

That’s just how the Lakers are. One would have a significantly better chance of convincing a child that Santa Claus and the Easter bunny really don’t exist than somehow persuading Lakers general manager, Mitch Kupchak, that patience is a virtue.

If there were any fans out there who actually had some outrageous fantasy that the Lakers weren’t going to land Howard for at least half of a season – which may be the case if they’re unable to sway him into signing a long-term extension before this upcoming season’s trade deadline – shame on them.

His acquisition is a complete leap of faith by the Lakers, considering that he can book a flight to Brooklyn or Dallas as soon as next season ends and there’s literally nothing they can do about it. Usually, that would seem like an unwise move on their part, but in reality, it actually warrants the utmost amount of respect.

Here were the Lakers, inexplicably bounced prematurely in the semifinals for the second straight year after having just won back-to-back NBA titles. Their response? Go out and get Steve Nash, who, at 38 years of age, was still able to lead the league in total assists yet again last season.

That wasn’t enough, though. Even with a core of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace and Andrew Bynum they still felt the need to make one last splash – a splash that would set off an unstoppable tidal wave that could actually give problems to teams stacked with star power like Miami and Oklahoma City. That splash came in the form of Howard.

In professional sports, teams often tend to invest an excessive amount of concern into their long-term futures, and don’t grab the bull by the horns with what they currently have to compete with. As Bryant approached the end of one of the greatest careers of all time, the Lakers refused to take this route. Using that same savvy that has won them 16 titles – only one behind the Boston Celtics for the most in league history – they gave up essentially nothing in the process of snagging the guaranteed number one center in the league.

By doing so, and also adding quality veteran reserves such as forward Antawn Jamison, guard Chris Duhon, forward Earl Clark and guard Jodie Meeks as well, they’ve assured themselves of the best possible opportunity to win it all right now.

It’s common knowledge that championships have never been won on paper; however, if this grouping of superstars, consistent All Stars, and reserves can live up to their potential on both ends of the floor and remain relatively healthy, you can comfortably presume that a 17^th Larry O’Brien trophy is headed to Los Angeles by next June.

As far as the starting unit is concerned, Nash, despite being the oldest of the five, is the most important component. He’ll be the type of floor general that the Lakers haven’t had the privilege of calling one of their own since the greatness that was Magic Johnson back in the good old Showtime days. When you combine his uncanny vision, ability to pass the ball with either hand, having excellent scorers like Bryant, Gasol, and Howard and the new Princeton offense that Los Angeles is implementing, scoring will not be much of a concern.

Bryant, who recruited Nash this summer, will be the biggest beneficiary of the transaction, as he will no longer have to constantly isolate and take a beating in order to create his own shot. A Lakers team where Kobe doesn’t have to always have the ball in his hands? Watch out.

Former Lakers center Andrew Bynum was beginning to blossom into an outstanding young player, and even made his first All Star team last season, but he’s still no Dwight Howard.

Howard’s physique and athleticism was something that Bynum would never be able to match because of his dauntingly wide seven-foot frame. While Bynum was one of the most ineffective pick-and-roll centers in the league during his seven years in Los Angeles, Howard has always been regarded as one of the best in that set since he broke into the league in 2004.

With Nash being the master of the pick-and-roll, Howard’s going to be in heaven.

That athletic ability also makes Howard a significantly better defender than Bynum. Unless Bynum also has three Defensive Player of the Year awards just lying around somewhere, but hasn’t told anyone.

Passion is the one trait that might’ve been the difference between the Lakers having a very good chance with Bynum to becoming the overall favorite with Howard. Bynum’s immaturity on the court occasionally cost the Lakers games, and off the court it continuously left people scratching their heads. Howard may have earned a reputation as being an indecisive brat off the court over the last couple of years, but on the court he’s always given his last ounce of energy.

The Lakers have rolled the dice, now expect them to hit the jackpot.

Image Courtesy of   Ira Bostic / Shutterstock.com

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. – In the extremely competitive world of private enterprise, there are companies that take advantage of the latest technologies to streamline their business, and there are companies that are sluggish to see the opportunities and end up getting left behind in the dust.

Consumers invariably reward those businesses that continue looking for new and innovative ways to make life easier and more enjoyable for them. Nowhere is such a dedication to customer care – and the clever use of new technology to achieve it – more evident than in the offices of KLS Transportation Services, Inc., a premier Los Angeles limousine company.

KLS has made a great effort to incorporate sophisticated communications technology into their service, maximizing efficiency for their employees and providing customers with a smooth, effortless experience. With an electronic dispatch system, there is no room for human error. Highly trained drivers employ cutting-edge software on their individual Samsung Galaxy Tablets that record when the passenger has gotten on board, where they’re headed, and other important details of the trip.

All that pesky paperwork gets dealt with at the end of the day, so that company employees can focus on providing personalized service to their customers in the moment. Indeed, if you walk into their offices, you’ll find a quiet and calm atmosphere – a far cry from so many other transportation companies, where exhausted and rude employees hunch over stacks of forms while phones ring off the hook from dispatch calls.

No, everything about this first-class limo service in Los Angeles screams efficiency and professionalism, and that’s just one of the many reasons KLS is enjoying such a steady rise in popularity.

The team at KLS isn’t just taking advantage of the latest computer technology; they are also at the leading edge of green technology. Their Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Sedan is a favorite among their eco-friendly consumers who want to preserve the Earth and travel in ultimate style and comfort at the same time. The exceptional performance of the S400 proves you don’t have to make a trade-off between fuel efficiency and luxury.

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. — The biggest names in high school and professional sports convened in Los Angeles as Gatorade honored the top prep male and female athletes with the tenth annual Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards. Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Johnathan Gray (Aledo High School/Aledo, Texas) was named the 2012 Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year and Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse High School/Cicero, N.Y.) received 2012 Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year honors.

Gray and Stewart received their awards at a dinner emceed by ESPN’s Stuart Scott and attended byRobert Griffin III (2006-07 Gatorade Texas Track & Field Athlete of the Year), Alonzo Mourning (1987-88 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year), Landon Donovan (four-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year and three-time MLS Cup Champion) Lisa Leslie (1989-90 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year), Brandi Chastain (two-time gold medalist and two-time World Cup Champion) andOgonna Nnamani (2000 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year).

Established in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.

In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. In 2003, the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards were established to identify and honor the nation’s top overall male and female high school athletes from among the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year honored during the high school athletic season.

All Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees will walk the ESPY red carpet and be featured as special guests during The ESPY Awards Show. The show will take place Wednesday evening and air live on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET.

“The Gatorade Athlete of the Year awards stand apart in that they honor those who are not only the best on the field of play, but are also proven performers academically, and actively give back to their communities,” said Gatorade President North America and Global Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Robb O’Hagan. “Johnathan and Breanna are outstanding examples of what a leader and a student-athlete should exemplify.”

Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year Award Winners

Johnathan Gray: Gray led the Bearcats to a 14-2 record and a third consecutive 4A Division II state title. He rushed for 3,886 yards and a state-record 65 touchdowns on 347 carries.

• Two-time Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year
• National record-holder, career touchdowns (205)
• No. 2 in national prep history, 1,232 career points
• Averaged 11.2 yards per carry (21.7 carries per game) and 4.4 TDs per game
• Caught 26 passes for 517 yards (19.9 yards per catch) and 5 TDs
• Ranks second in state prep history for career rushing yards (10,889)
• Owns state records in career carries (1,218), touchdowns, points, 100-yard games (51) and single-season rushing touchdowns (65).
• Ranks fifth in national prep history, single-season yards (3,886)*
• One of five high school backs in history to rush for 10,000-plus yards*
• Signed National Letter of Intent with University of Texas
• No. 2 ranked recruit in Class of 2012 as rated by ESPNU
• 2012 Under Armour All-America Game selection
• 2011 Sports Illustrated All-American
• 2010 and 2011 ESPNHS Mr. Football USA National Player of the Year
• Three-time Class 4A Player of the Year as named by the Texas Sports Writers Association
• 2009 and 2010 Class 4A, Division II state championship game Most Valuable Player
• Three-time Class 4A, Division II state champion
• 2010 and 2011 Tom Landry Award Winner
• 2011 Parade All-American
• 2011 USA Today All-USA First Team All-American
• 2011 US Air Force National Player of the Year
• All-Time scoring record in TX (2nd Nationally)
• 2009 Maxpreps National Sophomore of the Year
• B-plus average
• Youth Group mentor, Willow Park Baptist Church
• Aledo Independent School District Heath Committee, Aledo HS student representative, 2009-11 (promotes healthy lifestyles among peers)
• Aledo HS student council, 2009-11
• Aledo Youth Football mentor
• Helping Hands Foundation, Baylor All Saints Hospital (patient support)
• Alcohol and drug awareness, Shattered Dreams youth-led community collaborative
• AISD special education pupils’ mentor, 2008-11

Breanna Stewart: Stewart led the Northstars to a 23-3 record and a second straight New York State Public School AA Championship as well as New York’s Class AA Federation Tournament of Champions title. She averaged 26.4 points per game, 14.2 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists, 4.2 blocks and 3.1 steals per game this season.

• Two-time Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year
• Recorded a 56.7 field goal percentage, 22 double-doubles and 81.2% free throw percentage
• 2012 McDonald’s All-American
• 2012 WBCA All-American
• 2012 Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year
• 2012 Morgan Wooten Player of the Year
• Miss New York Basketball
• 2011-12 Nike Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team
• Signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Connecticut
• Finished her high school career with 2,367 total career points
• Starter for the U-16, U-17 and U-19 Women’s National Teams
• Named to All-Tournament Team at the 2011 World Championships and won the Gold Medal
• Started for the 2011 Pan-American USA Team
• Won the 2011 Class AA state championship
• 2011 Top-ranked player, ESPNHS and Blue Star Report
• Two-time First Team All-State (2011 & 2012)
• Central New York Counties League Player of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• A-minus average
• Youth Basketball Instructor at the YMCA
• Organizer at the Star Leadership seminar Cicero-North Syracuse High
• Instructor at North Syracuse Optimist Girls Basketball Program
• Volunteer for Youth Literacy-Outreach
• Volunteer at the March of Dimes
• Volunteer at the Salvation Army
• Volunteer at the Special Olympics
• Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House charities

Image Courtesy of  Jamie Roach / Shutterstock.com

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Washington, U.S.A. – FBR Media and executive producer Frankie Trull announced July 10 the world premiere of their made-for-television documentary “Janne’s Next Step” on Sunday, July 29, 2012, at 12:30 PM PDT on Los Angeles’ KTTV, Channel 11. “Janne’s Next Step” is the latest episode in FBR Media’s Bench to Bedside TV series.

With this distinguished documentary, FBR Media brings to life the story of how a revolutionary spinal cord injury therapy, called Locomotor Training, is helping people with spinal cord injuries regain function, and even walk again. An advanced screening of the film will be held at UCLA’s Charles E. Young Grand Salon at 6:30 PM on Thursday, July 12 th.

“The basis of Locomotor Training is the discovery that the spinal cord has a complicated circuitry that can control locomotor,” said Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology and of Neurology at UCLA. “Our research has proven that the spinal cord can actually re-learn how to walk after a spinal cord injury, without input from the brain.”

After Janne Kouri suffered a tragic diving accident that nearly cost him his life, he was told he would never walk again. He underwent an experimental activity-based rehabilitation treatment called Locomotor Training that was developed by Dr. Reggie Edgerton (UCLA) and Dr. Susan Harkema (University of Louisville) in partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Locomotor Training re-teaches the spinal cord how to control motor functions, like walking, through repetitive motion. It was developed and perfected with the help of lab animals and brave people, like Janne. After months of intensive training, Janne began to regain function in his feet, then in his legs, and today Janne can take steps with a walker.

Janne is now helping hundreds of others living with spinal cord injuries through his nonprofit organization, NextStep Fitness — the first community facility in the U.S. to offer Locomotor and activity-based training at its state-of-the-art facility in Los Angeles. With this optimistic story of human triumph over tragedy, “Janne’s Next Step” shows viewers how dedicated experts at UCLA, University of Louisville and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation are developing incredible, cutting-edge treatments to help those living with spinal cord injuries walk again.

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At 10:08 AM on June 24 two trains collided head-on two miles east of Goodwell, Oklahoma. The collision caused a huge diesel fuel fire that has finally been contained by fire crews.

The eastbound train was carrying a mixture of goods from Los Angeles to Chicago, whereas the westbound train was taking a shipment of cars and trucks from Kansas City to Los Angeles. Each train had one conductor and one engineer, and of the two crews, only one man survived.

The westbound train operator, Juan Zurita, jumped from the train before the crash occurred and suffered only minor injuries. According to Raquel Espinoza, the spokeswoman for the Union Pacific Railroad Zurita was “shaken up about the situation, and we are working to make sure that he receives the care that he needs. We’re doing everything we can to find the rest of the crew.”

The conductor of the other train, Brian L. Stone, 50, from Dalhart, Texas died along with the two engineers, Dan Hall and John Hall. The Hall engineers are unrelated. According to the National Transportation Safety Board there was “no survivable space” left on the trains.

Betsy Randolph, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper, was surprised when remains were found because of the high temperatures of the diesel fire. The fire was so intense that one firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat-related injuries and several others were treated on site for the same thing.

Currently federal investigators are looking into why one of the trains did not pull into a side track when the other train approached the main line. Mark Rosekind of the National Transportation Safety Board stated, “one train had the right of way. We’re still getting the data to figure out what was scheduled to happen… who was supposed to be where and when.”

Gary Mathews, a truck driver, witnessed the train accident. He told reporters, “I was thinking, ‘I’m going to see a train crash unless somebody does something.’” Mathews also claimed that neither train signaled the other with lights or sounds. Mathews told officials that the westbound train, with conductor Juan Zurita, slowed down before the train but the eastbound train did not. The crash scared Mathews so badly he refused to stop until he reached his destination, 350 miles later.

According to investigators the track and signaling devices appeared to be in working order. The National Transportation Safety Board will also look into whether or not one of the crew was on his cell phone or if one of the crews had not been well-rested.

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Serial Killer Rodney Alcala, a California resident, who brutally murdered two women in the 1970s was sent to New York this past week to face his long overdue trial.

Alcala pleaded ‘not guilty’ to murders in both the first and second degrees in the killings of 23-year-old New York beauties Flight Attendant Cornelia Crilley and Researcher Ellen Hover back in the 1970s.

According to law enforcement sources, Crilley was found on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 1971 and had been brutally raped and then strangled with her own pantyhose. Hover, was last seen on July 15, 1977, when she didn’t show up for a photo shoot according to her personal calendar. The photographer she was supposed to shoot with was a man known by the name of “John Berger.” It was later found out that Alcala used that name as an alias. Hover’s body was found a year later near the Rockefeller Estate, a place well known for Alcala taking women for photo shoots.

However, these two are not the only ones to fall victims to Alcala.

Alcala, who is a former photographer and got his nickname from being a contestant on the once popular show, the “Dating Game,” has been held in a California prison facing the death penalty after he was charged with murdering four women and one 12-year-old girl in Los Angeles back in the 1970s.

After Alcala was convicted nearly thirty years ago, the Los Angeles Police Department found dozens of pictures of women and children that had been stashed in a storage locker that Alcala had rented.

Things started to come together piece by piece once the New York Police Department caught word of Alcala’s killing sprees in California. They then started to consider him a suspect of the slaying of three New York City women (including Crilley and Hover) once it was found out that at the time of those murders, Alcala was a resident of NYC. There was little information to go on, but a case for the women was opened in 2003 with Alcala as the lead suspect.

“These cases were built one brick at a time, as each new lead brought us closer to where we are today,” Dist. Atty. Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said at the time, according to the Associated Press. He said he hoped that the belated action “brings a small measure of peace to the families and friends who have spent decades searching for answers, and justice.”

Alcala’s next date in court is set for October 30, 2012.

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Las Vegas, U.S.A – For the 3rd annual World Swastika Rehabilitation Day, Raelians, together with representatives from the Buddhist and Hindu religions, are planning to carry out major events in cities throughout the Americas, Australia, and Africa on Saturday, June 23.

In Europe, Raelians from Germany and its surrounding countries have decided to use this opportunity to inform the German public about the swastika’s history, since most Germans completely ignore the swastika’s good standing as a very ancient symbol of peace for Buddhists and a symbol of good luck for numerous other cultures.

The city of Karlsruhe, where the event is to be held, has nevertheless banned Raelians from displaying any type of swastika except for the Raelian symbol, in which a swastika intertwines with a six-pointed star.

“According to an order issued by the Karlsruhe government on June 15, the display of swastikas would lead to ‘an immediate danger for the public safety and order” explained Thomas Kaenzig, coordinator of World Swastika Rehabilitation Day. “But how can a peaceful assembly explaining the religious and multicultural origin of this symbol be a threat to public safety? The attempt by the German government to bury the swastika under the pretext that it’s a symbol of violence and hatred only gives credit to the horrible Nazi ideology. On the contrary, the government should encourage our action, since by giving this symbol its true value, we finally allow the German people to turn the page.”

Kaenzig said that is exactly what 18 members of the European Parliament did in a letter to the European Commission dated February 21, 2005. “For Raelians, the swastika is one of the most prominent traces left by the extraterrestrial scientists who created us, who were mistaken for gods by our ancestors,” Kaenzig said.

“We can find this symbol in all ancient cultures: in Buddhist manuscripts, on Shinto temples in Japan, in traditional African and Native American artwork, absolutely everywhere. Even in Israel one can find numerous synagogues and other ancient sites displaying the swastika.And last but not least, the Bellevue castle of the German president in Berlin proudly displays swastikas without compromising public safety. The ban by the city of Karlsruhe is an insult not only for all Raelians, but also for all Buddhists, Hindus and Shintos who represent a majority of the world’s population. As a reminder, in 1988 the Munich appeals court has established that ‘use of the Raelian symbol obviously doesn’t contravene against the protection purposes of article 86a of the penal code and is hence not punishable under this statute.’”

Kaenzig said that despite the ban imposed by the city order, the group in favor of rehabilitating the swastika has decided to proceed with the event, which will start at 3 p.m. at the Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe.

He added that in the United States, demonstrations will take place in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Miami starting at 3 p.m. local time, and that large swastika banners will be flown in the skies of the Los Angeles area and along the New Jersey coastline from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and in the New York City area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

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Last week, a pair of lungs were discovered by a woman walking just outside Los Angeles city limits. The coroner later identified the lungs as animal, not human, which was what the local community had originally feared.

The woman found the lungs on a sidewalk around 8:30 p.m. last Sunday on South Avalon Boulevard just south of Los Angeles, according to Lieutenant Marjarito Robles, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department.

The woman immediately alerted police who soon after arrived at the scene and the lungs were taken to the Los Angeles County Coroner for examination.

Before the examination was completed, no one knew whether they were the lungs of an animal or a human and some even questioned whether they were lungs or other internal organs including Detective Phil Martinez of the LASD Homicide Bureau:

“I don’t think they’re lungs. I don’t know what it is”

“It takes an expert to determine that. A coroner doctor has to take a look at them.”

After examination, the coroner’s lead investigator, Lieutenant Fred Corral made a statement to the public:

“We have examined the lungs and determined that they are not human and not of forensic value.”

Additionally, “Corral said investigators did not figure out what kind of animal the lungs came from or how they came to be deposited on the sidewalk,” according to the LA Times.

Corral also added, ““they’re not of forensic value,” Corral said. “We’re going to dispose of them.”

The community had cause for concern that it was a pair of human lungs after a traumatizing murder that occurred in January. Just months ago, found in the foothills below the Hollywood sign that overlooks Los Angeles, a decapitated human head and severed hands and feet were found.

Detectives later revealed after the coroner’s examination that the remains of the body were identified as 66-year-old Hervey Coronado Medellin, a former Mexicana airlines employee.

While the case of Medellin remains unsolved, the Los Angeles Police Department has finally found the lead suspect in the case. Luka Rocco Magnotta was tracked down in Berlin just two weeks ago. Magnotta, a 29-year-old native of Canada, is said to have been the boyfriend of Medellin, according to the LA Times.

While the lungs found on a sidewalk case has been closed, the murder of Medellin remains open.

Currently, investigators are looking into Magnotta’s whereabouts at the time of his partner’s gruesome murder.

Image Courtesy of  Stuart Monk / Shutterstock.com

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. – Back by popular demand, the third annual Chinatown Summer Nights presented by the Chinatown BID and KCRW 89.9 promises to be spectacular with a fresh lineup of great food, art and music. Part food event, part summer party, Chinatown Summer Nights offers Los Angeles a complete immersion into experiencing the more than the usual summer festival fare.

Adding upon the success of last year’s event, CSN is coming back for a total of four events occurring the second and fourth Saturday in July and August which are 14 July, 28 July, 11 August, and the 25 August from 5 PM to midnight. Each event is represented by a different element: Earth, Water, Air and Fire.

Event producer Chinatown Business Improvement District will bring another series to Chinatown, with DJs from acclaimed Los Angeles public radio station KCRW 89.9FM providing the soundtrack. Music combined with interactive art will be a standard for all four nights—from dancing on Chinatown’s large outdoor dance floor with KCRW DJs Jason Bentley, Anthony Valadez, Jeremy Sole,Valida and Aaron Byrd providing the soundtrack, to curated large-scale outdoor video projections.

Attendees will get a chance to taste the many culinary offerings of Chinatown through Iron Chef-style cooking competitions; eat at local restaurants serving authentic Chinese and Asian cuisine; enjoy microbrews at the outdoor craft beer garden and nosh on LA’s best gourmet food trucks.

These events are perfect for all ages and is free. From hands-on cultural workshops and activities to shopping at the LA Craft Experience market, featuring local designers and artists, and at nearby Chinatown merchants.

Image Courtesey of  Mark Sebastian

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Los Angeles, U.S.A - Artist Michael Becker was recently struck by the disparity of the Los Angeles gay community of today to the one he remembers finding when he first moved there.

“It wasn’t considered OK to be gay in 1963. It was a crime,” said Becker.

His latest exhibit celebrates the liberation of gays from where they were to where they are now. Using photos he took with his camera phone in a 45-minute period of time on the eve of the Gay Pride festival in 2011, Becker captures the essence of acceptance and respect felt by today’s gay population.

Being present at numerous raids at The Four Star – the Rolls Royce of gay bars 50 years ago – Becker would watch friends be arrested for being gay. He himself was beaten and left for dead by young men in a hate crime incident in June of 1968. He was lured from the corner of Robertson and Melrose to Laurel Canyon.

“They kicked me beyond recognition – my nose was broken in five places,” Becker recalls. “I only survived because I pretended my neck was broken so they left.”

Fast forward to 2011 when Becker was visiting a bar and learned it was the eve of the Gay Pride festival.

“I became enveloped by the music emanating from the bar and watched drag queens, lesbians and other people very free in their expression,” he said. “I walked over to almost the same corner where I had been ambushed many years ago and starting taking photos with my Samsung Galaxy phone.”

His pictures are a stark contrast to the images in his mind of Los Angeles past.

He has culled 13 images from the very spontaneous photo session, which have been enlarged and mounted on Plexiglas for the exhibit which will run from June 15 to July 2 at The Julia Dean Photo Workshops, with all proceeds going to the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. An artist’s reception will be held from 6 – 10 pm on June 15 at The JDPW Center, located at 755 Seward St. in Los Angeles.

“This show is different from all my others in one regard – it’s mainly people,” said Becker, who is best known for his architectural photography. CARS – his successful show earlier this year at Gallery Brown, highlighted his stylized photos of classic vehicles.

Smaller versions of some photos from the Gay Pride collection hang in AIDS Project Los Angeles’ new Wellness Center in Baldwin Hills.

“The tie-in is irresistible. My show is in June benefiting the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center and the same images are permanently installed in the AIDS Project Los Angeles’ building,” he said.

“Picture it,” said Becker. ”I was left for dead in 1968 and watched joyous young people in 2011. The recollection brings tears to my eyes.”

Image Courtesy of   Guillaume Paumier

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Los Angeles, U.S.A - Twenty years after a vacant manufacturing warehouse site in Santa Monica was transformed into the bustling hub of Southern California’s art scene, Bergamot Station’s pioneering developers have been enlisted by the City of Los Angeles to create the nation’s largest permanent indoor crafts market in two enormous World War II-era warehouses at the Port of Los Angeles, creating a landmark arts center in the middle of the city’s new billion-dollar Waterfront redevelopment.

Crafted at the port of Los Angeles, the new venture created by arts entrepreneur Wayne Blank, and his partners Howard Robinson and Alison Zeno will open to the public on June 29 and will create an arts-based destination that will complement other major new Waterfront attractions, including the inauguration of the new U.S.S. Iowa battleship museum, opening July 7, and on-going enhancements to Waterfront parks and promenades.

Similar to the successful Bergamot Station project, Crafted is an adaptive re-use of industrial buildings that makes use of the existing structures’ Spartan lines, soaring ceilings and sense of abundant space to create an ideal showcase for the handmade one-of-a-kind products that will be the new center’s stock in trade.

The Harbor City commission overseeing the Port of Los Angeles re-development envisions Crafted as a destination for the influx of tourists who annually flow through the nearby World Cruise Center and for the ever-growing legion of local craft enthusiasts. Nearly at capacity for its’ first phase with over 100 accepted vendors, Crafted is expected to draw half a million visitors in its first full year of operation.

Crafted, a key element of the new L.A. Waterfront is bringing hand-made happiness 52-weekends a year to the bustling beachside. The L.A. Waterfront is Southern California’s most exciting new destination for family fun. The 1.2 billion-dollar redevelopment is taking shape against the stunning backdrop of the Port of Los Angeles.

In addition to Crafted, which will be the nation’s largest permanent indoor craft marketplace, the new L.A. Waterfront features the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the historic battleship U.S.S. Iowa. The L.A. Waterfront offers exciting opportunities for Southern California residents and world-wide visitors alike to explore, play, shop and dine.

Image Courtesy of   Crafted at the port of los angeles

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. – Jennifer Garner and Alfred Molina star in “Serena,” a short film written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, a co-founder of WIGS along with Jon Avnet and Jake Avnet. Garner plays Serena, a woman who makes a series of shocking confessions to her Priest (Molina).

“Serena,” the first WIGS short film, is premiering now on youtube

“Jennifer and Alfred were perfect,” remarked Rodrigo Garcia. “They elevated the script and found feeling and laughter where I had not seen it. I wish everything was this easy and fun.”

“Serena” is the first of 10 short films planned for WIGS, and comes on the heels of the channel’s first series, “Jan.” The first six episodes of “Jan,” which stars Caitlin Gerard, Virginia Madsen, and Stephen Moyer, are available on youtube.com/wigs.

Over the coming weeks and months, WIGS will continue to release content produced with a renowned group of writers and filmmakers, all starring female leads. Upcoming programming showcases actors including: Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Beals, Maura Tierney, Michael C. Hall, America Ferrera, Jason Isaacs, Allison Janney, Jane Kaczmarek, Jena Malone, Rosanna Arquette, Walton Goggins, Jimmy Wolk, Gary Cole, Tim DeKay, Jason O’Mara, and Catherine O’Hara.

About Jon Avnet

Jon Avnet has directed, written, and produced almost seventy films, television movies, and Broadway plays over the last 30 years, winning most of the major awards: Oscar’s, Emmy’s, Tony’s, Peabody’s, and the Humanitas. In 2010, Mr. Avnet executive produced ‘Black Swan’, starring Natalie Portman (Academy Award Winner) and directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Mr. Avnet co-wrote, directed, and/or produced: ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ (Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary-Louise Parker), ‘Up Close and Personal’ (Robert Redford, Michelle Pfeiffer), and most recently, ‘Righteous Kill’ (Robert De Niro and Al Pacino). He produced Paul Brickman’s ‘Risky Business’ as well.

For television, Mr. Avnet executive produced “The Burning Bed” (Farrah Fawcett); co-wrote with Paul Brickman, directed, and executive produced ‘Uprising’; directed and executive produced ‘Boomtown’ (with Graham Yost), and “The Starter Wife” six-hour mini-series. Currently, Mr. Avnet directs “Justified” with Timothy Olyphant, adapted by Graham Yost from Elmore Leonard’s, “Fire in the Hole.”

On Broadway, he has produced “History Boys,” “Spamalot,” “Pillowman,” “The Seafarer,” and “Inherit the Wind,” winning 12 Tony Awards.

About Rodrigo Garcia

Rodrigo Garcia’s first film as writer and director, ‘Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her,’ opened ‘Un Certain Regard’ at the Cannes Film Festival 2000 and won the award for best film in that category.

Mr. Garcia’s other credits as writer/director include: ‘Ten Tiny Love Stories’, ‘Nine Lives’ (Winner Best Film Locarno Film Festival 2005), and ‘Mother and Child’ (Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Samuel Jackson).

Mr. Garcia’s credits also include the pilots for HBO series “Carnivale” and “Big Love.” Additionally, he shot the pilot for, and was the executive producer and showrunner of, the first season of “In Treatment.”

Most recently, he directed ‘Albert Nobbs’ (Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Janet McTeer, Brendan Gleeson), which was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Image Courtesy of Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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NEW YORK, US – One of underground rock’s most unusual stories of the 1970s, the tale of an obscure debut LP by a Detroit singer-songwriter named Rodriguez becoming a source of hope and inspiration to the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa, is the basis for the thought-provoking new film, Searching For Sugar Man.

The original motion picture soundtrack album will be available starting July 24, 2012 through Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The vinyl version of the soundtrack will be released by Light In The Attic Records.

Searching For Sugar Man, a Red Box Films & Passion Pictures Production in association with Canfield Pictures & The Documentary Company, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, premiered in New York on April 24, 2012 at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film opens in New York and Los Angeles on July 27, 2012 and will open in other markets throughout the month of August.

Directed by Malik Bendjelloul, Searching For Sugar Man tells a story that begins with the 1970 release of Rodriguez’s debut album, Cold Fact. In its Reissues Of The Year tally for 2008, Rolling Stone magazine called the album “A remarkable artifact of Michigan hippie soul by singer-songwriter Sixto Diaz Rodriguez.” The soundtrack album on Legacy will compile tracks from Cold Fact and its follow-up LP of 1971, Coming From Reality, reissued to critical acclaim in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Celebrated Motor City producers Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore discovered Rodriguez in the late 1960s in a local bar and were struck by his Dylanesque songwriting. A charismatic and mysterious artist behind his shades, Rodriguez had built a strong local following, a true folk hero in the purest sense.

Cold Fact was a fusion of gritty funk with “street-tough lyricism and psychedelic folk arrangements,” in the words of Doug Freeman of the Austin Chronicle. The album’s politically-charged “topical lyrics and druggy avant-garde arrangements” “folk-soul weirdness” and “lysergic gutter poetry” were unique even in the ’70s.

Nevertheless, the album did not succeed commercially, and despite the release of a second LP, Rodriguez drifted into obscurity. Rumors of his fate were widely and wildly exaggerated, ranging from reports of escalating depression to a sensationally gruesome suicide onstage, involving self-immolation.

Meanwhile, the LP had made its way around the world to South Africa, where it was banned by a repressive government. Copies were bootlegged and circulated, and Rodriguez inadvertently became the soundtrack of an emerging liberal African youth, whose resistance movement adopted Cold Fact as its rallying cry. Over the next two decades, Rodriguez became a household name in the country, where the number of copies of Cold Fact would have earned it platinum sales status.

Both sides of the story, Rodriguez’s life in Detroit and the subsequent impact of his music in the smoldering Apartheid era, pre-Nelson Mandela, proved fascinating to Stockholm-based documentary filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul. His subjects have included Kraftwerk, Bjork, Sting, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Mariah Carey, U2, Kylie Minogue, Prince, and others.

His short documentary films for Swedish Television’s international cultural weekly show Kobra became the basis for such films as Men Who Stare At Goats (George Clooney) and The Terminal (Tom Hanks). The evolution of the financing, production, and filming of Searching For Sugar Man is as fascinating and complex as the life of Rodriguez himself.

“I describe myself as ‘musico-politico’,” Rodriguez said recently. “I was born and bred in Detroit, four blocks from the city center. Back then, I was influenced by the urban sounds that were going on around me all the time. Music is art and art is a cultural force. As far as my work from Detroit comparing to the South African Apartheid, the similarities echo. The placards of the 1970s in the United States read things like: We Want Jobs and Stop the War – I was looking at the music from a working class.

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Universal City, CA, U.S.A. – Universal CityWalk‘s “5 Towers” state-of-the art concert venue welcomes the Final Four of NBC’s blockbuster vocal competition show, “The Voice,” for a live performance at 10:30am on Thursday, May 3, 2012. The special one-time concert in Los Angeles invites fans to Universal CityWalk to cheer on their favorite performer. “The Voice” winner will be announced next Tuesday, May 8.

CityWalk’s new interactive outdoor concert venue will serve as the energetic backdrop to showcase the leading vocal artists from celebrity musician coaches Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.

The artist lineup set to command the stage at “5 Towers” include Kansas native Chris Mann for Team Christina, Florida native Juliet Simms for Team CeeLo, Connecticut native Tony Lucca for Team Adam, and New York native Jermaine Paul for Team Blake. Competing to be named “The Voice” in Season 2 of the hit show, each of the final four artists will perform one song on the “5 Towers” stage and the performances will be streamed live to Facebook, NBC.com and at the NBC Experience Store in New York.

First to christen the “5 Towers” stage in July 2011 was none other than CeeLo himself paving the way for the first-of-its kind outdoor concert venue with fan immersive features and next-generation technology.  The Music Spotlight Series held this spring at “5  Towers” featured Billboard chart-topping talent Carly Rae Jepsen, as well as an eclectic and impressive lineup of local homegrown favorites including The Thomas Nicholas Band, Midnight Red, and Cherri Bomb, to name a few.

“We are so excited to have the finalists from ‘The Voice’ here at the 5 Towers on CityWalk,” said Pat Donahue, Director of CityWalk Entertainment. “While we’ve hosted established recording artists like Flo Rida, Good Charlotte and Justin Bieber, we also have a strong commitment to supporting emerging artists.  It’s a great privilege to provide up-and-coming talent with an outstanding, state of the art venue to do what they love to do – which is to play great music and entertain the masses!”

Before the final four contestants were announced, the eight semi-finalists recently were treated to a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of Universal Studios Hollywood’s epic, new thrill ride, Transformers: The Ride-3D, set to open officially on May 25, 2012. Photos and video featuring the semi-finalists in the theme park are available upon request.

More information on Universal CityWalk’s upcoming events is available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com.  Artist announcements and “5 Towers” concert venue events can also be found on Twitter @CityWalkLA and Facebook-Universal CityWalk Hollywood.

“The Voice” Final Four Live Performances at Universal CityWalk “5 Towers” Concert Venue
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA  91608
Press Check-In: 8:30AM  /  Media Interviews: 9-11AM  /  Live Concert: 10:30AM-11AM

For artwork and a complete press kit from the show please visit the NBC Universal Media village website at HTTP://WWW.NBCUMV.COM. Follow on Facebook atHTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NBCTHEVOICE and on Twitter at @NBCTheVoice and #TheVoice.

Image Courtesy of    The Voice

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California, U.S.A. - Amgen announced that four individuals who have made a difference for others affected by cancer in their communities have been selected as Breakaway from Cancer Champions.

They will be honored at the seventh consecutive edition of the Amgen Tour of California as part of Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative. The Amgen Tour of California is America’s largest and most prestigious road cycling stage race, which will travel nearly 750 miles throughout California from May 13 – 20, 2012.

The four Breakaway from Cancer Champions were selected following a public call for nominations in four of this year’s host finish cities, followed by an online voting campaign that concluded in April. The 2012 Breakaway from Cancer Champions are:

Santa Rosa – Marc Van Riper for co-founding Kathy’s Camp for Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the children of cancer patients. Kathy’s Camp for Kids is a place where fear of cancer is replaced with fun, friendship and encouragement.

Livermore – Two-time testicular cancer survivor Bob Hammer for founding the “Have a Ball” Foundation, which has raised more than $1,000,000 since its start and benefits 20 cancer organizations, sends kids with cancer to camps and has established and granted scholarships for students.

Clovis – Susan Mott for acting as a tireless advocate for awareness and fundraising for blood cancers. Specifically, Susan has raised money and organized blood drives for her toddler granddaughter, Madyn, who was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2011.

Los Angeles – Cancer survivor Danielle McLaughlin for her work advocating for young adults with cancer and her extraordinary accomplishments as a paratriathlete. Danielle is currently the National and World Paratriathlon Champion for Female Below-Knee Amputees.

“Amgen is passionate about helping those with cancer and we are proud to honor individuals who make a positive difference in the fight against cancer,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “Breakaway from Cancer was founded on the belief that it takes a team to overcome this disease and the Champions program exemplifies this commitment to helping others.”

Founded by Amgen in 2005, Breakaway from Cancer is a national initiative to increase awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship. Breakaway from Cancer represents collaboration between Amgen and four nonprofit organizations dedicated to empowering patients with education, resources and hope.

The Breakaway from Cancer Champions will lead the “Breakaway Mile,” an approximately one-mile march that celebrates cancer survivors and crosses the Amgen Tour of California finish line prior to the stage conclusion of the professional race. The Breakaway Mile will take place in four 2012 race host cities on race day: Santa Rosa, Livermore, Clovis and Los Angeles. Each Breakaway Mile will also feature an Amgen scientist who plays a crucial role in developing breakthrough medicines for patients affected by cancer and other serious illnesses.

At the conclusion of each stage of the Amgen Tour of California, the Breakaway from Cancer Champion or a local cancer survivor will present Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider jersey to the professional rider who best exemplifies the character of those engaged in the fight against cancer—courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination and perseverance.

Also during the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, a local cancer survivor will officially start each day’s stage by firing the official start gun. He or she will also have the opportunity to meet the prior day’s recipient of Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider jersey.

All Breakaway from Cancer programs benefit the initiative’s four nonprofit partners – Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Representatives of these four organizations will travel with the Amgen Tour of California, hosting a Breakaway from Cancer information booth at the Lifestyle Festival held in each of the finish cities along the route.

Image Courtesy of   Amgen Tour of California

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. - Arnold Spielberg, father of USC Shoah Foundation Institute Founder Steven Spielberg, was honored Thursday, April 26 with the Institute’s inaugural Inspiration Award at a private luncheon in Los Angeles. Arnold was recognized for his many years of mentorship and support of the Institute’s work, especially in the area of humanity through technology.

A computer pioneer and former electrical engineer, Arnold was a volunteer and guiding light helping inspire the early team at the organization to overcome technical and logistical hurdles. Phil Rosenthal, creator of the highly acclaimed hit comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond, who is a longtime supporter of the Institute, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. He is also the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors. Olga Kern, internationally renowned concert pianist, was the special musical guest and gave a stellar performance.

The Inspiration Award, which will hereafter be known as the Arnold Spielberg Inspiration Award, was established to honor friends who have supported and inspired the Institute, including community leaders, Institute volunteers, teachers, scholars, survivors, and other unsung heroes, and to raise awareness of the Institute’s goals of promoting tolerance, cultural understanding, and mutual respect through the educational use of the testimonies in its Visual History Archive.

The USC Shoah Foundation Institute has collected and maintains an archive of nearly 52,000 video testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses, from 56 countries in 32 languages–the largest visual history archive of its kind in the world.

“Arnold’s contribution not only to the Institute, but also to the world, through his pioneering work in the field of technology has created a lasting legacy for current and future generations,” said Stephen D. Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute. “Arnold provided mentorship and support when it was greatly needed, and his astute council helped move the organization in the right direction and frame the groundwork upon which the Institute’s Visual History Archive is built.”

“I am so pleased and touched to be able to recognize my father’s vital contributions to the organization,” said Steven Spielberg, founder of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute. “With this Inspiration Award that will carry his name in perpetuity, my father will continue to be a beacon as we pursue our mission.”

Microsoft served as presenting sponsor of the event. “It is a great privilege to be a part of this special celebration to recognize Arnold Spielberg for his contribution to the Institute by building upon the promise of transforming and promoting humanity through technology,” said Don Mattrick, president of interactive entertainment business, Microsoft.

“We are proud to support the important educational work of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute and Steven Spielberg’s visionary purpose to transform people’s attitudes, beliefs and the way we learn through eyewitness testimony.”

During World War II, Arnold served with the 490th “Skull & Wings” Bomb Squadron, known as the “Burma Bridge Busters,” and became communications chief. Arnold helped design and build the first business computer. He also invented and patented the first electronic library system and designed the first electronic cash register, transforming the “point of sale” retail industry.

“I am very proud that my son Steven had the foresight to record the stories of the survivors so that future generations could learn lessons from the voices of those who were subjected to intolerance and hatred, and scholars could research the archive and use the content in whatever way they could to benefit humanity,” Arnold said.

“Eisenhower told his commanders to take many pictures, because in the future the Holocaust would be denied, as it is even now. I believe the power of the Institute’s Visual History Archive, like those photographs, remains a testament to the truth that no one can deny.”

The Award Luncheon highlighted some of the organization’s milestones and educational programs while allowing Arnold’s friends and colleagues to share personal anecdotes about working with him at the Institute. His son, filmmaker and Institute founder, Steven Spielberg, and his three daughters, Anne, Sue, and Nancy, presented their father with the award, with his extended family in attendance.

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Yoga Aid Foundation, an international nonprofit that raises funds for charities through philanthropic yoga events, announced that it will host the first-ever, one day, around the world yoga tour benefiting 15 humanitarian-based charities internationally.

On September 9, 2012, The Yoga Aid World Challenge will unite yogis around the globe in an effort to raise $1million with 100% percent of the proceeds going directly to the selected charitable organizations.

Starting in Sydney, the 24-hour yoga relay will travel around the world and end at sundown in Los Angeles. The Yoga Aid challenge will bring together renowned teachers, studios and students in over 20 countries, creating a united community, while focusing on raising money for charity. During these events, yogi participants will embark on a 2-hour yoga practice as a way to celebrate the funds they raised for the charity partners.

Unlike any other event, all expenses are supported privately – ensuring 100% of donations go straight to the charities.

The Yoga Aid Challenge supports select charities in each country. This year, the Yoga Aid Challenge has chosen four charities that all embrace the power of yoga to support for the USA leg of the world relay:

• Off the Mat, Into the World
• The Africa Yoga Project
• Ganga Action
• Yoga Across America

“The Yoga Aid family is calling on the entire international yoga community to band together and help us host at least 200 events in 20 countries and raise more than $1 million for charities during the 2012 Challenge,” said Clive Mayhew, Co-founder, Yoga Aid Foundation.  “We could not be more excited for the 2012 Yoga Aid World Challenge, as we hope to raise more money through yoga than ever before.”

Those individuals who are inspired by The Yoga Aid World Challenge are encouraged to signup and become Community Ambassadors. Ambassadors bring The Yoga Aid World Challenge home to their communities by creating, organizing and hosting a local event, whether the venue be a nearby park, studio or community center.

Furthering Yoga Aid’s commitment to giving, the Foundation will provide all of the necessary event tools and funding for the creation of any local event scheduled during the September 9th24-hour global yoga-relay.

“The Yoga Aid World Challenge is more than just our way to give back – it is an international charitable platform uniting all yogis for the greater good and activating a sense of joy in giving back to the world.”Eriko Kinoshita, Co-founder, Yoga Aid Foundation.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reveals the results of an unprecedented investigation exposing more questionable test results in schools across America. Questioning whether the 2011 cheating scandal was unique to Atlanta Public Schools, the AJC found drastic swings in test scores that were considered virtually impossible in Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and St. Louis.

Suspect test score changes were also identified in many other cities, which will appear in the report. This story is set to spark a national debate over the policy and integrity of standardized testing.

Evidence that suggests possible cheating – the same kind that led AJC reporters and state investigators to uncover widespread and systematic test score manipulation in Georgia – exists across America. In an unprecedented effort, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution spent months gathering and analyzing data and conducting dozens of interviews.

“The implications of our findings are profound, and it’s hard to find a more important story to tell,” AJC Editor Kevin Riley said. “This is about America’s future, and the integrity of standardized testing is central to the policy direction of American schools. Policies require states to test all students in grades 3 through 8 to measure performance in reading and math. Success in America’s schools is now defined by showing improvement in test scores. These results raise troubling questions about the reliability of these tests.”

To reach this conclusion, the AJC’s investigative team gathered data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The AJC analyzed test scores in more than 14,000 school districts — and verified the information through four separate independent academic experts.

In addition to Atlanta, the AJC found drastic swings in test scores that were considered virtually impossible in Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and St. Louis. More than 100 school districts with highly improbable swings in test scores, a finding that strongly points to tampering.

Changes in test scores that were statistically improbable in nearly 20 cities, with swings in scores that were virtually impossible in about a half dozen. According to experts consulted by the AJC, human intervention is the most likely explanation.

In some cities, the AJC found so many dramatic shifts in scores that the odds of that happening by chance are virtually zero. In cities such as Houston, the results for entire grades of students jumped two, three or more times the amount expected in one year. The next year, when children moved to a new grade, their scores plummeted. Suspect scores were found in a few districts that have been hailed as cutting edge reformers.

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‘Southland’ will end its season next Tuesday (March 20), as the cast, crew and audience wait to find out whether TNT will renew the critically-acclaimed drama for a fifth season.

Debuting in April 2009 on NBC, ‘Southland’ was intended to take over from ‘ER’ (John Wells and Christopher Chulack executive produced both shows) as the network’s next, gritty, high-octane drama series. It followed the experiences of several members of the Los Angeles Police department, weaving in and out of various divisions ranging from Homicide, Narcotics and Patrol. The first season order of six episodes performed well enough for NBC to renew the series for a second season to air in the fall of 2009, however, when NBC designated all of its weeknight 10pm slots to ‘The Jay Leno Show’, ‘Southland’ was left without a place on the schedule and was soon cancelled altogether.

Soon after, TNT picked up the rights to re-air the full first season and proceeded to put the show back into production for a second season consisting of six further episodes. Since then, TNT has continued to renew ‘Southland’, now with 10-episode orders, and the series will conclude its fourth season on March 20 with no word as yet on whether it will live to see another season. Season-to-date, ‘Southland’ has averaged 1.85 million viewers, roughly on par with its Season 3 average, making it difficult to determine TNT’s decision on the series’ fate.

Regardless of its uncertain future, the producers of ‘Southland’ have plotted this season in such an intricate, slow-burning way that the approaching finale will likely come to be seen as the most significant and game-changing one yet.

The season began with multiple changes to the series’ structure, with long-time patrol partners John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) and Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) being re-teamed with Jessica Tang (special guest star Lucy Liu) and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy), respectively. Moving away from the teacher/student dynamic between Cooper and Sherman, which had served as the series’ central relationship throughout its first three seasons, gave Cudlitz the opportunity to play the lighter shades of his character now that Cooper was on more equal footing with Liu’s character. Similarly, McKenzie’s character got to move beyond his ‘student’ position by developing a more relaxed rapport with Hatosy’s Officer Bryant while making several lapses in judgement with regards to his professional behaviour. Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King), meanwhile, juggled a new partner of her own while coming to terms with an unplanned pregnancy, thereby enabling the show to explore the professional and personal ramifications of a woman in her late-30s who is ready for motherhood but must reconcile this with the dangers, not to mention institutional bigotry, of working on the streets and hunting criminals while heavily pregnant and already at risk of miscarriage due to previous complications.

In the penultimate episode, “Risk”, which aired on March 13, all of these season-long developments began to come to a head as:

• Cooper and Tang butted over Tang’s determination to secure a job promotion despite her behaviour following her accidental shooting of a teenage boy.
• Sherman and Bryant were involved in a car accident following Sherman’s involvement with a prostitute and her pimp.
• Adams revealed her pregnancy to her partner, but feared for her baby’s life following a physical altercation with a suspect.

Thus, fans are eager to see how the finale resolves the partnership between Cooper and Tang (Liu is only signed on to appear in this season, and has taken a role in a CBS pilot), how Sherman reacts in light of Bryant’s injuries and his continuing involvement with the prostitute, and how Adams will handle the nature of her job after the stress it caused to her pregnancy.

The season finale, titled “Thursday”, is written and directed by Jonathan Lisco and Christopher Chulack, respectively, who also wrote and directed the season premiere, titled “Wednesday”, suggesting that audiences can expect the episode to focus on the resolution of all of the above-listed season-long storylines.

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Sirius XM Radio has announced recently that Ringo Starr will sit down for a rare, exclusive Q&A session, hosted by Russell Brand and moderated by legendary producer Don Was, with a select group of SiriusXM subscribers at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California.

“SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Ringo Starr” will air live on The Spectrum, channel 28, on Monday, January 30at 4:00 pm ET, the day before the release of Starr’s new album, Ringo 2012. The special is part of SiriusXM’s “Town Hall” series, an intimate gathering with an iconic musician and a studio audience of SiriusXM listeners. Previous “SiriusXM Town Hall” specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, the surviving members of Nirvana, Tom Petty and Coldplay.

Hosted by Russell Brand, and moderated by Don Was, who is featured on Ringo 2012, the “SiriusXM Town Hall with Ringo Starr” will include the legendary singer/songwriter/drummer answering questions from the studio audience.

The “Town Hall” special will also feature an in-studio performance by Starr and his band. SiriusXM listeners will hear some of Starr’s classics as well as songs from his new album Ringo 2012.

“I am a massive fan of Ringo and of all his work, but like most people I am ignorant as to his life before he rose to prominence with Thomas the Tank Engine,” said Russell Brand. “Now we can unravel the enigma of Ringo.”

“As a member of The Beatles and with his enduring series of hits as a solo artist, Ringo Starr changed not only popular music, but pop culture,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “We are thrilled to give Ringo’s fans the chance to sit, talk and ask questions of this music icon as part of our Town Hall series.”

Ringo 2012 is Ringo Starr’s 17th solo studio album and was produced by Starr. The album, from Universal Music Enterprises, was recorded in Los Angeles and features nine songs – including covers of Buddy Holly’s “Think It Over” and Lonnie Donegan’s “Rock Island Line” plus two new versions of his own songs, “Wings” and “Step Lightly.” Special guests on the album include Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart, Edgar Winter, Charlie Haden, Van Dyke Parks and Don Was. For more information on Ringo Starr and Ringo 2012, visit www.ringostarr.com.

The Spectrum plays music spanning the past, present and future. Listeners will hear artists like U2, Dave Matthews, REM, Tom Petty, Coldplay, Wilco, David Gray, Neil Young, Counting Crows, Ryan Adams and more.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/schroederschoembs/

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Two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J is set to host the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, marking the first time in seven years that the music industry’s premier event will have an official host. Music’s Biggest Night takes place live on Sunday, Feb. 12, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One/Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at  www.youtube.com/thegrammys. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

“I’m thrilled to be part of Music’s Biggest Night,” said LL COOL J. “I will always have fond memories of my first GRAMMY Awards and to now be hosting the GRAMMY show, in the company of so many other incredible artists, is a dream come true. Great performances and great music — it’s gonna be a great night!”

LL COOL J has hosted “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night” since its inception in December 2008, and this will be his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast. Recent past hosts include Queen Latifah at the 47th GRAMMY Awards and Jon Stewartfor the 43rd and 44th GRAMMY telecasts. Over the years, additional GRAMMY hosts include Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O’Donnell, among others.

LL COOL J joins previously announced performers and current GRAMMY nominees  Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift. Aldean and Minaj will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, while Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Mars, and Swift are returning to the GRAMMY stage.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer,  Louis J. Horvitz is director, andDavid Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

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Van Halen, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees and one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time, announced their return to the live stage with an extraordinary 2012 North American tour. The announcement was made during a once-in-a-lifetime performance, at the intimate Cafe Wha? in New York City. Known around the world for some of the most iconic live performances in music history, the legendary rock band will begin their tour on February 18. Kool & The Gang will join Van Halen for select tour dates.

Tickets for the Live Nation-promoted tour go on sale beginning January 14 at Ticketmaster.com andLiveNation.com.

In addition, Van Halen confirmed their new album, A Different Kind Of Truth, will be released in the U.S. by Interscope Records on February 7. The first single from the album, “Tattoo”, and its accompanying video will be debut simultaneously on Tuesday, January 10th, with album pre-orders starting that day. A Different Kind Of Truth is Van Halen’s first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since the band’s classic multi-platinum album 1984.

Fans can expect Van Halen to perform selections from A Different Kind Of Truth alongside songs from their arsenal of epic hits that include:  “Eruption,” “Running with the Devil,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “You Really Got Me,” ”Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained,” “And The Cradle Will Rock,” “Beautiful Girls,” “Mean Street,” “Somebody Get Me A Doctor,” “Jump,” “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher,” “I’ll Wait,” and more from their classic albums Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, Diver Down and 1984.

Van Halen – who the Los Angeles Times recently called “a force of nature” and “one of the flat-out greatest rock bands on the planet” – was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2007.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1974, Van Halen changed the rock and roll landscape forever with the release of their self-titled, 1978 debut album displaying unparalleled stage presence, revolutionary musicianship, and extraordinary songwriting abilities. With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide, the band’s record of achievement is hard to top.

Among a long list of awards, recognition and accolades, Van Halen joins an elite short list of two time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry. Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status’ for their albums Van Halen and 1984, the band has produced a repertoire of hits that remain some of the strongest and most influential rock songs ever written that fans will admire for decades to come.

Kool & The Gang found a special sound at the unique intersection of jazz, R&B, funk and pop. Their music has been created by the same core of players for over thirty years: Robert “Kool” Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan, their longtime friends Dennis “DT” Thomas and George “Funky” Brown.

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USC quarterback, Matt Barkley, has decided to don the Trojan red and yellow for one last season. On Thursday afternoon, the 21-year-old declared that he will not enroll in the 2012 NFL Draft, opting instead to return for his senior year in Los Angeles. Barkley broke the news in a nationally televised event held in the campus’ Heritage Hall with his family, girlfriend, head coach, the USC marching band, and many others in attendance.

When discussing the two options before him, he began by speaking optimistically of his future at the next level. “I am prepared to play quarterback in the NFL,” said Barkley. “It is my dream to play quarterback in the NFL – and I intend to make that dream a reality.” While this initially sounded like a young man that had decided to move on, Barkley would take everyone by surprise and suddenly go in the exact opposite direction.

“But, I know in my heart, that I have not yet finished my journey as a Trojan football player,” said Barkley. “Our USC football team has been through some tough times, and we have persevered. This 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to, and I plan to play a part in it. I have firmly decided to forgo the 2012 NFL draft and finish that.”

The conclusion of that statement quickly brought about wild cheers along with a celebratory tune played by the band. For the first time in two years, the USC football program had good news for their loyal family. Sanctions handed down by the NCAA in 2010 banned the school’s bowl eligibility for the past two years. Barkley’s return will now give him the opportunity to lead the school to its first bowl since defeating Boston College in the 2009 Emerald Bowl.  With USC retaining most of its starters for next season, a national title run after this year’s 10-2 finish could be an inspiration as well.

Head coach, Lane Kiffin, was not shocked at all by Barkley’s announcement. Kiffin had paid Barkley a visit at his home the previous night, and his quarterback gave him a gold Christmas ornament. Displayed on the front of the ornament was a picture of the two embracing after this year’s victory over Colorado. After being told to turn it around, Kiffin found the words, “One More Year”, written on the back and immediately rejoiced.

Kiffin has tremendous respect for Barkley, knowing that most star athletes would not pass up the opportunity to begin making millions of guaranteed dollars and play professionally. “This is a special, special college student-athlete story,” said Kiffin. “To be a part of this story is unbelievable for all of us involved.”

Barkley had an outstanding junior year and was projected to be an early first round pick in the upcoming draft. In 2011, he threw for 3,528 yards along with 39 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III were regarded as the only two quarterbacks that could have possibly been selected before him.

However, Barkley is not expected to hurt his draft stock at all by remaining in school. In fact, experts believe that he will be even more prepared for the 2013 NFL Draft and will actually be selected with the number one overall pick. Being a potential frontrunner for next year’s Heisman Trophy does not sound too bad either.

Barkley did not listen to those who believed that this was the wrong route to take. His ultimate goal is to help contribute to the winning tradition established by the historic USC program. All eyes will now effectively be on him in 2012 to see if he is successful in doing so, like those who occupied this prestigious position before him – current NFL quarterbacks, Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer.

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No Angels fans, that was not a dream. And as far as the other 29 teams and their fans are concerned – sorry, but that was not a horrible nightmare. Thursday morning really did begin with news that the Angels not only signed pitcher C.J. Wilson, but Albert Pujols as well.

Veteran outfielder Vernon Wells was ecstatic when talking about the addition of his new teammates. “You’re adding two of the biggest pieces in the market, two guys still young and in their prime who can dominate. This gives us a legitimate chance to get to the playoffs and farther,” he said.

All the excitement definitely begins with the shocking acquisition of King Albert. The Angels were not mentioned as a contender for his services until just 48 hours before the deal took place. It was clear that Pujols was potentially the most talented player to ever hit the free-agent market. Contrary to rumors that had his overall contract estimated around $300 million over ten years the Angels were able to get him onboard for ten years and $254 million.

But, when hearing these circumstances, the situation should not be misconstrued. Pujols was not shortchanged by any means whatsoever, and the Angels were not given an easily affordable check to write. The two sides agreed to the second largest contract in Major League history.

Only Alex Rodriguez’s ten year, $275 million deal that he signed in 2007 with the Yankees has ever been worth more. Angels owner Arte Moreno had no doubt that Pujols was worth the nice chunk of change. “This is a monumental day for Angel fans, and I could not be more excited. Albert’s career performance clearly speaks for itself. He has proven to be the best player of his generation.”

And while Pujols’ star power was the big story of the day, the signing of Wilson should not be overlooked. Unlike Pujols, most people were aware that the Angels were strongly pursuing the lefty starter in Wilson. The 31-year-old grew up just 12 miles from Angel Stadium and did not reassure the Rangers and their fans that he desired to return for another season in Arlington.

His hometown team showed interest and made him a suitable offer. “At the end of the day, my family was a big player in this, and my friends and stuff back home,” said Wilson. “Going back to where you’re from is a difficult thing to turn down when you have an opportunity, and it works out really in every way.”

Although Wilson was regarded as the best starter available this offseason, he did not receive a $100+ million contract like many expected before this October. His lack of a power fastball and struggles this postseason were the contributors in the end. He went 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in 6 starts during the 2011 playoffs.

Not only does adding Wilson give the Angels one of the top starting rotations in the league with Jared Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana, but it also weakens the Rangers rotation. Texas has won the A.L. West the last two years and gone to the World Series both times.

Now the Angels aim to get back to dominating the division the way they did in past years. In just one day’s worth of signings C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujols have also changed the entire landscape of the American League as a whole. Get your tickets now, Angels fans. They won’t be available for too long.

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Emma Watson and Johnny Simmons may be the perfect match. Watson and Simmons are co-stars in the upcoming film, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”.

People magazine said that Watson was seen with his supposed lover dining together and sharing kisses before entering the restaurant. Despite sources in media and press confirm the two stars are romantically involved, Emma Watson insisted that every rumour is untrue.

“This is completely untrue and we have no idea where these rumours have stemmed from,” Watson said according to Celebuzz. Harry Potter’s star also affirmed she just had a good friendship with her co-worker.

The entire buzz came up since they were seen hiking together in the Pennsylvannia countryside.  Rumours began to increase while they were filming the movie “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Stephen Chbosky.

Sources on the website hollywoodlife.com stated that both co-stars were actually in love, and they have reported unnamed sources saying that Emma Watson and Johnny Simmons “have really fallen for one another and both aren’t dating anyone else.”

Furthermore, the same sources on hollywoodlife.com affirmed Emma was thinking of moving to Los Angeles. Press began to create stories about Watson’s relationship after she claimed her non-existent love life in an interview with the Sunday Times:

“I say to my friends, “Why hasn’t X called me? Why doesn’t anyone ever pursue me?They’re like, probably because they’re intimidated,” Watson said.

In another interview with Vogue magazine, Watson said she used to share love advice with Daniel Radcliff, her co-star in Harry Potter. “It must be the fame wall. It must be the circus that goes around me. Me, as a person, I find it hard to believe I would be intimidating,” Watson said.

It seems Watson has finally found a man “who isn’t terrified of her.” Johnny Simons and Emma Watson were spotted embracing in Los Angeles. Now there is no doubt the co-stars are involved as they were locked together in a romantic moment outside a restaurant in Santa Monica. More sources confirmed Johnny spent the night with Emma at the upmarket house in Santa Monica where she has been staying with friends.

A source said: “-‘they might have denied it before but they don’t seem to be trying to hide it now.”’-

Another friend of Watson’s said “Emma loves how down-to-earth and normal Johnny is. He’s very charming and sweet.”’-

Simmons has a past that is difficult to forget. He was arrested at 19 years old in May 2006 for going 80 mph in a 65 mph zone. Two days after that he was arrested again for being in a possession of alcohol below the legal age of 21. He received a lot of criticism when he played a drug addict in The Greatest.Despite this, a witness told The Daily Mail:

-“They were all over each other, kissing and hugging. It was very sweet to see. She looked utterly besotted. A girl recognised her and approached her.”-

-“Emma was polite and acknowledged her, but she just wanted to be with Johnny and was clearly under his spell. They’re obviously head-over-heels in love.”-

In spite of the rumours saying that Watson was thinking to move to Los Angeles, Harry Potter’s actress recently announced she will attend Oxford University this autumn in an exchange year from her studies at Brown University in the US.

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Enough of small screens, when its time to talk about the release of a new album.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have make this point clear, and want to make the release of their new album as remarkable and fabulous as no one. Therefore they have announced that their new Album “I’m with you” will be featured in Cinemas Screens’.

We haven’t heard anything new from the Red Hot Chili Peppers a long time ago. The last album they released was Stadium Arcadium, in 2006.

This album was a total success for the band, since it was nominated to seven Grammy Awards, winning five of them and leading the band to achieve something they been wanted to have from their 28 years of career. This is the first album with the company of Warpaint man, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer who replaced John Frusciante in 2009.

The album will be available in stores, on August 30th , and the same day it will be screened in cinemas.The band also announced that they would be performing a tour in November, throughout UK and Ireland, which will consist of nine shows.You can visit the band’s official website : Redhotchilipeppers.com to pre- order the upcoming album.

Here you can watch the trailer!

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Lindsay Lohan, an American Actress and Musician is not going to be punished for failing an alcohol test while under house arrest. Lohan, 24, has been serving her time at home for stealing a $2,500 necklace from a Venice Beach jewelry boutique in January. According to skynews she “had been summoned to court for a hearing on whether she violated her probation by failing an alcohol test last week”.

The Los Angeles Superior Court judge has warned Lohan to behave, as she is about to end her 25 days of home confinement.

Even though the actress was banned from holding any parties she was reported holding a barbecue party at a friends place last week. The star is not allowed to have more than one friend or family friend over to her home at one time.

Lindsay Lohan’s behavior has put her in and out of jail constantly. If her behavior is not under control she could be sent back behind bars immediately. A court order in a previous case according to a judge said that the star did not have to undergo any drugs or alcohol tests since February 2011.

The judge describes how “don’t give people reason to hate you. Don’t do stupid things that fly in the spirit of the court’s order. You know I sentenced you to jail. You know I didn’t sentence you to house arrest, and what do you do? You have barbecues at your house so your neighbors are writing letters about you.”

Her behavior had sentenced her to jail for four months in may with 480 hours of community service. The only reason why she was sent to house arrest was because she is a non-violent offender and the overcrowding of the jail.

Lohan was known to celebrate her 25^th birthday in Malibu over the weekend. She was officially released on Wednesday a few days before her birthday.

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At his incredible 70,000 square foot mansion in Orlando, Florida on Friday, Shaquille O’ Neal announced his retirement from professional basketball after 19 successful seasons in the league.

Nobody can help but like Shaq. He is one of the most popular players in league history, unarguably the biggest character in professional sports history, and of course was a phenom on the court. He will forever rank among the best players ever to grace a basketball court in the way that he changed the way the game was played in his time in the NBA.

His numbers speak for himself. He has incredible accolades that could be written about for pages and pages, and have been over the past few days, but that is not what this article will be about. Too many people seem to be focusing on what Shaquille did on the court, and it is incredibly deserved, but I want to focus on the person Shaquille O’ Neal, which even transcends the player.

As expected, he was incredibly jovial leading up to the press conference, dancing in the background of the camera shot before the actual conference even began. Always a consummate entertainer, he had a smile on his face the entire time leading up to the big speech, making everyone believe this would be another slew of silly moments out of Shaq for possibly the last time. He has us fooled.

Never have I seen Shaq nervous in front of a camera throughout my entire life of watching him. Today was different. He obviously had a lot invested in today, in his speech, and in his career.

Shaq’s mother Lucille made the introduction for seven-foot son on Shaq’s private basketball court turned podium, an homage to the impact she had on both his career and his life growing up.

She then handed the microphone to Dale Brown, the man that originally recruited and coached Shaq at Louisiana State University. Shaq often refers to brown as one of the biggest helping hands he had in shaping his career, and Brown seemed both sincere and deserving of such praise. He too wanted to focus on what Shaq did off the court, the things that nobody knew or talked about, but should know.

Brown spoke about Shaq’s incredible parenting which goes far too unnoticed. He spoke about his lack of violations or problems off the court throughout his entire career, a sparkling record (even serving as a sherrif at one point in Miami, Florida). Lastly he touched on Shaq’s stress of the importance of education, which came from his parents. Little did everyone know that Shaq is not just a monster athlete, but he led his team in GPA at LSU, and has already obtained a Masters degree, and is now working on his Doctorate in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Miami.

This man works to the best of his abilities, no matter the task, and should be incredibly respected for it.

The diesel finally made his anticipated arrival to the podium and of course, made his first quick joke about being the new GM of the New York Knicks. Of course, everybody laughed. Though he was lighthearted, the tone was serious, incredibly thankful, and appreciative to all of those who had helped him along the way. It was evident that Shaq really wanted to let everybody know how much they really meant to him, giving countless thanks to everyone down to the security guards at the stadiums he played at along the way.

He of course spoke about the fun he had with the media in his time in the NBA en route to officially retiring every one of his many nicknames, and moving on to only one: “The Big AARP.”

He also gave himself his own plug, one fans should be incredibly excited about, in hinting that he will field calls from various television networks should they have interest in putting him in front of a camera, and giving him a career as an analyst, something I, and many other fans would love to see. The more Shaq, the better.

Shaq took a bunch of questions, telling heartfelt stories about his life and career as a basketball player, father, and role model. His emotion was obviously bittewrsweet, but he didn’t cry on camera for effect and he didn’t draw the conference out longer than it needed to be. It was never about him, it was about his fans and the people around him. He wanted to throw a party for everybody else celebrating his illustrious career. “It’s about you guys, I wanted to host you guys and thank you personally,” Shaq said in some of the closing words of the conference.

To me, this day summed up Shaquille O’ Neal in just a few minutes.

Humble, happy, sincere, professional, thankful, the list goes on and on, but one thing is for certain, Shaq is the utmost role model for not only basketball players, but all people, young and old, to look up to. Never have I seen an athlete like him on or off the court, and he will be very missed around the league for a long time.

What will he do now? Rapper, actor, investor, coach, analyst, doctor? He of course has a plethora of options (even later hinting at having a hand in bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles), but I have no doubt that he will have incredibly deserved success in whatever he should choose. Good luck to Shaquille O’ Neal, my favorite athlete of all time.

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