Author: CircleMe

YouTube says yes to Justin Timberlake, no to Robin Thicke

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Justin_Timberlake
Soul singer Robin Thicke has criticised YouTube after the video for his song Blurred Lines was banned. The video features topless women dancing around on screen.

But the move is even more controversial because a similarly racy video by former boy-bander Justin Timberlake has been allowed to stay. The song, which features Pharrell Williams and rapper T.I.has been criticised as trivializing rape and violence against women.

The chart-topping Thicke has called the criticism ridiculous and responded to rape charity Rape Crisis’s claim that the song “reinforces rape” by saying “I can’t even dignify that with a response.” Meanwhile, Timberlake’s video for the song “Tunnel Vision” remains on YouTube. The video features topless dancers wearing flesh-coloured thongs. The video was initially banned but was later reinstated with a proof-of-age login. YouTube has rules which forbid nudity but gave Timberlake’s video artistic exception.

“We make exceptions when it is presented in an educational , documentary or artistic context, and take care to add appropriate warnings and age restrictions,” a YouTube rep told FOX411.Most persons see the banning of Thicke’s video while allowing Timberlake’s to stand as a double standard.

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Why the crowds are pulling into Fruitvale Station

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fruitvale_station1
The name Fruitvale Station has been bandied about a lot in the last few weeks. The film opened in cinemas in the United States last Friday.

Made at a cost of US$900,000, the film has already reeled in almost US$7,000,000 at the US box office in its opening weekend.

The film, which was directed by Ryan Coogler, tells the story of black teen Oscar Grant, who was shot and killed by police at – you guessed it –Fruitvale Station – in the Fruitvale District of Oakland near San Francisco in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2009.

Grant, who was 22 at the time of his death, was also a two-time convicted felon. The film tells the tale of the final days of his life before being shot by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer Johannes Mehserle while being detained on the subway platform at Fruitvale Station.

The film stars Michael B. Jordan in the lead role of Oscar Grant with Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer playing his mother Wanda Grant.

Jordan has had small roles on American television in the HBO series The Wire and since 2010 has starred in the NBC series Parenthood.

Spencer won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the movie The Help.The film is Coogler’s first feature length work and has been highly praised. It received the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

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Where does the “jerk” come from?

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jerk-chicken
For lovers of spicy food there is nothing like the taste of Jamaican jerk to whet the appetite and get the taste buds going. Jerk is as synonymous with Jamaica as reggae music.

The jerk method is said to have originated in Africa. The sauce is a special marinade made from local spices such as cinnamon, pimento, cloves, scallions, garlic, thyme, salt, nutmeg, and hot peppers known as “Scotch Bonnet” or “country” peppers in Jamaica. The sauce is then rubbed over the meat which is left to marinade in the sauce. The food can be cooked over a grill, barbecue, or in the oven.

Jerk is the most popular dish in Jamaica and just about anything can be jerked. Meats that are jerked include chicken, pork, beef, sausages, fish, lobster, squid, shrimp, conch, rabbit, and mutton while staples that have been jerked include breadfruit.

Jerk food can be eaten by itself or with rice, dumplings, or festival or by itself with a fork or with the hands.

The most famous place for jerked dishes in Jamaica is Boston in Portland. There are several other famous eating spots all over the island. Jerk food has gained popularity outside of the Jamaica and there are jerk festivals in various parts of the world.

Two jerk food festivals are held in Portland at Port Antonio and Boston annually while a jerk food festival is also staged in New York.

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Le Havre, where to see a little of the old and a little of the new in France

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le_havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime Department in Haute-Normandie on the North Western coast of France. The name Le Havre means harbour and indeed the city is set on a harbour.

Founded in 1517 by the French king Francois I, it was named Franciscopolis in his honour.

The German-occupied city was destroyed by allied forces during World War II and was later redesigned and rebuilt by Brazilian architect Auguste Perret. The rebuilt city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

The Le Havre port is the second busiest in France after Marseille. For travelers who wish to move between England and France it is possible to take a ferry from Le Havre to Portsmouth in England. The trip takes five and a half hours.

For the traveler who wants to see a mixture of the old and the modern in France then Le Havre is the place. Several pre-war structures still exist such as the Musee du Havre, the Abbey de Graville, while the more modern include the Church of St. Joseph, arguably the most recognizable sight in the city with its bell tower rising over 100 feet.

Other modern buildings include the Hotel de Ville and the Musee des Beaux Arts Andre Malraux. Getting around Le Havre can be by done by bus or tram and the city is two hours from Paris by train.

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Harry Potter takes on Frankenstein

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harry_potter
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe continues to shake off the role he has been most associated with when he plays the doctor’s assistant Igor in the new Fox Frankenstein movie.

The English actor Radcliffe, who signed up for the project in February, will play alongside Scottish actor James McAvoy who was cast in the main role of Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein. It is reported that in this new film, Igor’s secret past will be revealed.

Both Radcliffe and McAvoy are below average height for men with Radcliffe measuring in at 5’5’ and McAvoy coming in at 5’7’. Radcliffe originated the role which made him famous – that of boy wizard Harry Potter. He has aso starred in a number of other adult roles including The Woman in White and also starred in the stage play Equus in which he appeared naked.

McAvoy is perhaps best known for films such as Wanted, The Last King of Scotland, and X-Men: First Class. No date has yet been announced for start of production but the film is to be directed by Paul McGuigan. McGuigan’s film projects include Lucky Number Slevin and Push. He has also directed episodes of the British series Sherlock as well as the NBC series Smash.

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Could Kanye West be let off the hook?

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Kanye West Brawl
Hip Hop artiste Kanye West got himself into hot water with the law but may not face felony charges of attempted robbery after attacking paparazzi at Los Angeles’ LAX Airport on Friday, July 19.

The troubled rapper, who became a father for the first time on June 15, attacked and tried to wrestle the camera from a photographer – known as Dano – who tried to snap his picture as he tried to leave the airport.

The photographer is said to have been injured in the incident which was witnessed by several other persons. The extent of his injuries was not known.

The incident was also filmed by other paparazzi on hand.

There had been suggestions that the rapper would face felony charges of attempted robbery but now reports say that the Los Angeles District Attorney says there is not enough evidence against West.

According to celebrity website TMZ, the paparazzo’s next option could be to pursue a criminal battery case which would see West paying his way out of a civil compromise.

This is not the first time that West has found himself in problems. The outspoken artiste once said of then-US president George Bush “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” during the relief concert to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005.

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