12-19-08 EUR: Obama Defends Rick Warren For Inauguration Invocation

EUR Headlines - December 19, 2008

OBAMA DEFENDS WARREN PICK FOR INAUGURATION: Gay activists protest evangelical supporter of Prop 8 to deliver invocation.
*President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday addressed criticism from the gay community over his choice of evangelical minister Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. Read Full Story

RACIST OBAMA EMAILS ON ALASKA GOVT COMPUTERS: State investigates offensive jokes circulating among state accounts.
*Authorities in Alaska are investigating racist jokes about President-elect Barack Obama that have been circulating on state government e-mail accounts. Read Full Story

EDDIE MURPHY REP DENIES 'BATMAN' RUMORS: UK tabloids claimed actor was to play Riddler in next film.
*A rep for Eddie Murphy is denying reports generated by Britain's Telegraph newspaper that the actor has been cast as The Riddler in the next Batman movie. Read Full Story

THE SECOND TIME AROUND IS ALWAYS SWEETER: Transformation Guru Iyanla Vanzant offers 20th Anniversary Edition of 'Tapping.'
By DeBorah B. Pryor
*She's b-a-a-c-k! Well, not that she ever left really. Actually, Iyanla Vanzant has been a very busy lady. What with her inspirational speaking engagements across the country and around the world; her Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Network; her family, and of course, her writing. Read Full Story

ARETHA FRANKLIN TO SING AT INAUGURATION: Full Jan 20 itinerary released; military presence to be high; Pastor Rick Warren protests begin.
*Aretha Franklin has been chosen to sing at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20, according to a full itinerary released Wednesday by his inaugural committee. Read Full Story

IS J.LO'S MARRIAGE IN TROUBLE?: Rumors fly after actress is seen without wedding ring and husband spotted flirting with another woman.
*A rep for singer Marc Anthony is denying a flurry of rumors suggesting his marriage to Jennifer Lopez is at a "breaking point," as one gossip rag put it. Read Full Story

TARAJI P. HENSON LEADS IN SAG ACTING NOMS: 'Button' star nets three, faces 'Doubt's' Viola Davis for 'supporting actress.' Rashad nominated for 'Raisin.'
*When the dust settled around nomination announcements for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, it was Taraji P. Henson who went home with more nods than any other individual – earning three for her roles on both the big and small screen. Read Full Story

WILL AND JADA GIVE AWAY LOTS OF MONEY: Tax returns show just how much the couple donated to charity last year.
*Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have deep pockets when it comes to charities. Tax returns for their foundation show the couple gave $1.3 million in donations last year to a variety of religious, civic and arts groups, reports Fox411's Roger Friedman. Read Full Story

SIMMONS' VISA RUSH CARD REACHES MILESTONE: Deposit mark climbs to all-time high of $2 billion.
*In the midst of a global economic downturn, Russell Simmons' prepaid Visa RushCard has managed to reach the two billion dollar mark in deposits – an all time high for the five-year-old venture. Read Full Story

NEW AT 'EUR THIS N THAT' BLOG: Dishin’ Dirt on Barack Obama and Rick Warren ... | Dupri Debunks Preggers & Separation Talk
*As we move forward into the new year, in anticipation of a new president, we're bringing you something new as well. Presenting the EURthisNthat blog. Read Full Story

GABRIELLE UNION TALKS ABOUT GHANA TRIP: Actress helped raise awareness of breast cancer as Komen ambassador.
*Gabrielle Union stopped by NPR this week to discuss her recent trip to Ghana as part of an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness. Read Full Story

CONNOR CRUISE READY FOR HIS CLOSEUP: Tom Cruise's son makes big screen debut today in 'Seven Pounds.'
*The boy who plays a young Will Smith in today's opening of "Seven Pounds" is none other than Connor Cruise, the 13-year-old African American son of another Hollywood titan, Tom Cruise. Read Full Story

NAACP FINDS LACK OF DIVERSITY ON TV: New report says major networks have dropped the ball.
*A new report from the NAACP finds that major TV networks need to do a much better job of including minorities, both on- and off-screen, reports the Associated Press. Read Full Story

TIGER SAYS BUM KNEE IS HEALING 'ON SCHEDULE': Golfer aims to return sometime next year following surgery last summer.
*Tiger Woods held his first press conference in 184 days Wednesday at California's Sherwood Country Club, covering everything from his rehab to his improbable U.S. Open victory at Torrey Pines, reports the Associated Press. Read Full Story

SOULJA BOY WASHES MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP: Rapper says he quit swearing to become a better role model for young fans.
*Rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em says he has promised to stop spitting curse words in his music so that he can be a proper role model to his young fans. Read Full Story

OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
By Kam Williams
Gran Torino (R for pervasive profanity and ethnic slurs, and violence) Clint Eastwood directed and co-stars in this unlikely-buddy drama about a recently-widowed, Korean War veteran who begrudgingly befriends his Asian-American, next-door neighbor (Bee Vang) after the troubled teen tries to steal his classic muscle car. Cast includes Brian Haley, Christopher Carley and John Carroll Lynch. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: Ali Ollie Woodson in 'serious' condition; Beyonce back atop Billboard; Ludacris, Whitaker Critics Choice presenters; BMF member sentenced; Ledisi on Steve Harvey.
*Via an email sent to EUR from his management company, we've learned that former Temptations lead singer Ali Ollie Woodson ("Treat Her Like A Lady") has been hospitalized and his condition is being described as "serious." Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

12-19-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page! Read Full Story