Friday, May 31, 2013

Strange: Kenyan Granny Starts School



Wonder they say shall never end- A 78-year-old Mariana Ong’ango Ololo, a new pupil at Obambo Primary School, is not only the oldest pupil in her class, the grandmother is also the oldest pupil in the school.

Ololo, who hails from Siaya county, reportedly showed up at the school unannounced on 14 May, in a school uniform with a shaved head and accompanied by her 56-year-old son George.

The school principal Joseph Muloand told the Daily Nation, “It is a unique case. We have to lay down a strategy of handling such an elderly pupil.” Ololo has already missed classes on several occasions due to her poor health.

The Nation reports that she is a mother of eight and has been a widow since 2002. She reportedly started school because of an interest in politics and was inspired to do so by the election of Uhuru Kenyatta. She told the Daily Nation, "“Uhuru Kenyatta is not an old man, but took over as fourth President because he has got an education. That is a clear indicator that a person cannot rank highly in society without an education.”

Her story is very similar to that of Guinness World Record holder Kimani Maruge who enrolled in primary school at the age of 84. Maruge had a 2010 movie, called The First Grader, made about his experience.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Angelina Jolie's Aunt, Debbie Martin, Dies After Breast Cancer Battle


The relative of the actress passed away at a hospital on Sunday.

Angelina Jolie's aunt, Debbie Martin, died Sunday in an Escondido, Calif., hospital after a battle with breast cancer.


Martin's husband, Ron, told the network that he had been in touch with Jolie and that the actress's father, Jon Voight, had recently visited.


"Angelina has been in touch throughout the week and her brother Jamie has been with us, giving his support day by day," Ron said to E! News. "They both loved Debbie very much and although Angie is not able to come right now she has sent her love and support which was very nice."

Last month, Jolie revealed in an op-ed piece that she underwent a preventative double mastectomy surgery at Pink Lotus Breast Center to reduce her cancer risk.

The actress wrote in the New York Times about losing her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to cancer six years ago at age 56 and outlined the steps she needed to take to ensure her own health. Debbie Martin was Bertrand's sister.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Chris Brown is releasing a new song with material from Aaliyah




Chris Brown's Aaliyah Song To Be Called 'They Don't Know'

Chris Brown has found a new collaborator in the late singer Aaliyah.

The 24-year-old singer announced Tuesday that the next single off of his upcoming "X" album will be "They Don't Know," a track which features unheard material from Aaliyah.

“I got something special for my fans. It’s called ‘They Don’t Know,’”

Chris Brown and Aaliyah

Chris Brown is calling on an angel for his new single, “They Don’t Know.” The R&B superstar has announced that Aaliyah will be featured on the follow-up to “Fine China.”

The song contains never-before-heard vocals from the late singer. “I got something special for my fans. It’s called ‘They Don’t Know,’” Chris told reporters at the BET Awards 2013 press conference on Tuesday. “All new stuff that’s never been heard before.”

He shot a video for the song in L.A. over the weekend. “I shot it in the ‘hood. I went to 60th Street and Cedar Block,” he said, while explaining the concept.

“[I'm] bringing both worlds together and trying to uplift the poverty side of the community and show them where I’m from. I’m from Virginia, but everybody comes from a broken home or being broke—I remember when I was.”

“They Don’t Know” will appear on Chris’ sixth album X, due July 16. In addition to Aaliyah, the guest list includes Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar, plus production from Timbaland, Polow Da Don, Danja, Pharrell, and Drumma Boy.

Listen to a snippet of the song from the video set below.












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“All new stuff that’s never been heard before.”

Brown already filmed the music video for the track, which is being heralded as a tribute to the late singer. Brown explained at the press conference that he filmed the video in Los Angeles last weekend. “I shot it in the hood," he said. "I went to the Cedar Block. Bringing both worlds together and trying to uplift the poverty side of the community and show them where I’m from. I’m from Virginia, but everybody comes from a broken home or being broke. I remember when I was.”

The controversial rapper isn't the only current artist who has featured Aaliyah on a track. Drake's recent single "Enough Said" also featured the vocals of Aaliyah, who died in 2001 at the age of 22.

Brown's "X" album, which also features Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and production by Diplo, hits stores on July 16.

Celebrity Net Worths: Jaw-Dropping Figures For Some Of The World's Biggest Stars (TABLE)

Celebrities make more money than we simpletons do -- that isn't entirely new. But learning exactly how much they're worth? Now, that's sometimes hard to believe.

Take Julia Louis-Dreyfus, for example. She's a gifted comedian, no doubt, who managed to break "The 'Seinfeld' Curse," but did you know she's worth a whopping $3 billion, thanks largely to family money?

And did you know Keanu Reeves, he of "Matrix" fame, is estimated to be worth more than Bruce Springsteen and Ozzy Osbourne combined?

Below, find 24 celebrities whose immense wealth might just make your jaw drop:

Celebrity Occupation Estimated Net Worth

George Lucas Producer, Director $7.3 billion *
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Actress $3 billion
Oprah Media Mogul $2.8 billion
J.K. Rowling Author $1 billion
Larry David Comedian $800 million
Madonna Musician $650 million **
Bono Musician $600 million
P. Diddy Rap Mogul $580 million
Howard Stern Radio Host $500 million
Gloria Estefan Musician $500 million
Dolly Parton Musician $450 million
Mel Gibson Actor $425 million
Tyler Perry Producer, Director $400 million
Celine Dion Musician $400 million
Clint Eastwood Director, Actor $375 million
Dr. Dre Rap Mogul $360 million
Bill Cosby Comedian $350 million
Keanu Reeves Actor $350 million
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Actresses, Fashionistas $300 million
Will Smith Actor $200 million
Ryan Seacrest Media Mogul $200 million
Bruce Springsteen Musician $200 million
Ozzy Osbourne Musician $140 million
Ellen DeGeneres Comedian $105 million

Source: CelebrityNetWorth.com

* According to Forbes, Lucas is worth $3.9 billion, not $7.3 billion, because although Disney paid $4.05 billion to acquire LucasFilm, Lucas had said he will give most of the money to charity.

** A couple of months ago, it was reported that Madonna is now a billionaire thanks to earnings from her MDNA Tour. Forbes explains why that is inaccurate, due in part to the difference between gross earnings and net earnings.

Video: Will & Jaden Smith Address Emancipation Rumors!

There may be two budding stars in the Smith family ... but are they ready to go out on their own? On Wednesday, Will and Jaden Smith appear on the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and they're squashing a few of their family rumors. Earlier this week, the media went wild when word spread that Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith were going to let their 14-year-old son emancipate himself -- check out the clip above to see what Will and Jaden say about him leaving the nest. It doesn't look like the tiny "After Earth" star plans on going anywhere, anytime soon -- and we don't blame him! "The thing that people don’t get is everything at this house is free. So I can get anything and everything at his house, so I’m going to be there 20, 30 more years. He [Will Smith] says as soon as I have a movie that’s bigger than one of his movies I can get my own house," Jaden explains to Ellen. Sound like there's some friendly family competition! The pair also shared a special deleted scene from their new movie "After Earth" -- did you know Ellen was in the flick?

Monday, May 6, 2013

Lauryn Hill Sentenced To Prison For Failing To File Tax Returns

Singer Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in prison Monday for not paying taxes on more than $2.3 million in earnings over a five year period.

The eight-time Grammy winner faced up to three years in federal prison after after pleaded guilty in federal court in June 2012 to failing to file tax returns. The South Orange resident must also serve three months of home confinement.

During a three hour proceeding before Federal Magistrate Madeline Cox Arleo, Hill’s attorney Nathan Hochman argued that the former Fugee should receive probation with no period of incarceration or, at worst, home confinement.

Hill told the court that the burdens of fame complicated her efforts to earn money and that she had been thrust into a industry at a young age not fully understanding the consequences. Describing herself as “the child of former slaves,” Hill said she was forced to choose between her artistic integrity and the commercial demand to put out more hit music.

“I was ushered into a system I didn’t really understand the nature of, its violence, its need to squeeze every dime from a talent such as myself,” Hill said. “This industry creates an illusion of wealth and success that takes a toll on an individual.”

Hochman, in arguing for a “downward departure” from the sentencing guidelines, said Hill merely failed to pay taxes and did not submit a fraudulent return or attempt to conceal assets.

Hochman cited other high-profile defendants, such as singer Willie Nelson and actor Nicholas Cage, who did not serve jail time in tax cases. Hill has repaid all $900,000 in taxes she owed, Hochman said.

Hochman also cited Hill’s charitable work and her family obligations as a single mother of six in arguing for a reduced sentence.

“As the court is aware Ms. Hill is the primary caregiver of six children between the ages of 15 years and 21 months,” Hochman said.

Hill told the court that the period when she failed to file tax returns was a time when she was intentionally pulling back from the limelight for the sake of her family in order to live “underground.”

The government, represented by Assistant US Attorney Sandra Moser, countered that Hill always had ample funds to pay the taxes that she owed and that she had done almost no charitable work for years until her recent troubles with the IRS.

Moser also said that Hill had the resources to care for her large family if she were imprisoned, including support payments of $15,000 a month provided by Rohan Marley, the father of several of the of the children. Marley is the son of reggae legend Bob Marley.

“The defendant does not deserve a get-out-of-jail card for deigning to pay what she owes,” Moser said.

Arleo rejected Hill’s request for no jail time, citing precedent and also expressing skepticism regarding Hill’s claim that her failure to file tax returns somehow stemmed from her self-imposed isolation from public life.

“[Paying taxes] can be done quietly and underground,” Arleo said.

But Arleo also noted that Hill had made restitution, had no prior criminal history and that her family obligations were still significant enough to warrant a much lighter sentence than the maximum allowed under guidelines.

Hill’s sentence is to begin by July 8. Arleo agreed to pass on a request from Hochman that Hill serve her time in a facility near her family.

Hill released a new song, "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)" on Friday.