Haitian born musician Wyclef Jean, best known for his work with the now defunct Fugees, is considering running to become President of his native Haiti.  Jean was born there but moved to New York City when he was five years old.

In a statement e-mailed to reporters, the family said, “Wyclef’s commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless, and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward … If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately.”

It wouldn’t be an easy road for Jean to be elected president of the earthquake ravaged country.  In addition to proving his eligibility for the office, he would likely have to encounter violence, protests and other obstacles to win.

To enter the race, Jean would have to prove he has resided in Haiti for five consecutive years, own property in the country and have never been a citizen of any country other than Haiti.

Whoever wins will face the gargantuan task of rebuilding a country devastated by the Jan. 12 earthquake. Haiti has not had a functioning economy in decades and its presidents have only rarely completed a constitutional five-year term — more typically being overthrown, getting assassinated, declaring themselves “president-for-life” or some combination of the three.

In my opinion there is little to no chance that Wyclef will actually run.  He is likely viewed as a superstar by his native country but also viewed as an outsider.  I don’t want to say the country is hopeless, but Haiti faces a gargantuan task of recovering and rebuilding from the January earthquake.  I just don’t think when it comes down to it that Wyclef would be willing to trade in his life of wealth, riches, and privilege to be in charge of something so massive, time consuming, and emotionally draining.

Already a country known for it’s corruption that likely will only increase with billions of dollars of world-wide aid coming in for earthquake relief.  Perhaps Jean would have enough star power, be able to lead and inspire a helpless nation, and help bring them out of the desperate times that they now face.

[image: HRC/ wenn.com]

Lady Antebellum took the momentum from their Grammy win and performance on Sunday to land the #1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart with Need You Now.

Here is a look at the top 10 Billboard Albums:

1. Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
   
2. Hope For Haiti Now - Various Artists
   
3. The Fame – Lady GaGa
   
4. I Dreamed A Dream – Susan Boyle
   
5. The Greatest Love Songs Of All-Time – Barry Manilow
   
6. Michael Jackson’s This Is It – Michael Jackson
   
7. The Sea - Corinne Bailey Rae
   
8. 2010 Grammy Nominees - Various Artists
   
9. Songs From The Heart - Celtic Woman
   
10. The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas
    

source: Billboard: Issue 2009-02-13

Hope For Haiti Now, the charity album recorded last Friday to raise money for earthquake ravaged Haiti, is the #1 album on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and has already raised over $3 million for Haiti.

Here is a look at the top 10 Billboard Albums:

1. Hope For Haiti Now - Various Artists
   
2. I Dreamed A Dream - Susan Boyle
3. The Fame – Lady GaGa
   
4. Transference – Spoon
   
5. 2010 Grammy Nominees – Various Artists
   
6. Contra – Vampire Weekend
   
7. The Element Of Freedom - Alicia Keys
   
8. Animal - Kesha
   
9. The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas
10. Fearless - Taylor Swift

source: Billboard: Issue 2009-02-06

ESPN has fired former NBA player and part-time writer Paul Shirley after he published his comments about not donating money to the Haitian relief effort on Flip Collective.

His comments about Haiti have caused such a backlash that ESPN was extremely quick (too quick?) to cut all ties with Shirley.

Sample from Paul’s Flip Collective Rant:

Shouldn’t there be some discourse on how the millions of dollars that are being poured into Haiti will be spent? And at least a slight reprimand for the conditions prior to the earthquake? Some kind of inquisition? Something like this?:

Dear Haitians –

First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.

As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

It shouldn’t be outlandish to hope that we might stop short of the reactionary word that is so often flung about after natural (and unnatural) disasters. That word: Rebuild. Thus, the tired, knee-jerk cycle of aid/assist/rebuild would be replaced by a new one: Aid/assist/let’s-stop-and-think-before-we-screw-this-up-again.

Read Paul Shirley’s Complete Article and Thoughts on Haiti

Paul is one of the smartest guys to have played in the NBA. His ESPN pieces on music were top notch.

It will be interesting to see Paul’s response to his self-created firestorm.

I have tweeted back and forth with Paul on Twitter, several times over the past couple of months, and he is always kind and gracious.  Paul will land on his feet from this, quite possibly with his own cable talk show.

Follow Paul on Twitter @paulthenshirley

Shirley played his college basketball at Iowa State under head coach Tim Floyd.  He played professionally for the Bulls, Hawks, Suns and several European teams.

Agree or disagree with Shirley, he speaks his mind without awareness of P.C. garbage or filters.  He might have been brash and insensitive in his column, but he did point out some important and truths that should be asked ONCE the emergency part of the recovery ceases and the rebuilding begins.

Donate to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Relief Fund

Brangelina is over! Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have apparently broken up not because of their cheating ways (Brad cheated with a hot nanny and Angie cheated with a sexy teacher!) but because of Brad’s ex-wife/extra desperate single middle age-aged woman, Jennifer Aniston!

According to InTouch, while Brad and Angie have been growing apart, the actor’s feelings for Jen have been growing ever since his “top secret” (nonexistent!) meeting with Jennifer in NYC’s Central Park back in March. Brad took the girls, Shiloh and Zahara, to the park and that is where they reportedly met Jennifer.

“One week in late March, I overheard security saying that Brad was meeting with [Jen] in Central Park before going to see Angelina on the set,” former Waldorf-Astoria employee Anna Kowalski tells In Touch. “He took Shiloh and Zahara in the car with him.”

“Zahara was asleep in the car with the driver, so Jen only got to talk with Shiloh,” says a friend of the actress, who adds that during the 20-minute meeting, Jen was moved to tears seeing her ex-husband’s adorable daughter. “She said that all that had happened in their past seemed to melt away that day,” says the friend, who adds that after the meeting, Jen remarked that she’s “proud of Brad and thinks he’s a great dad.”

So this woman, Jen, who refused to have kids with her husband back then, is now completely moved by the idea that he is a daddy…!?! Seriously? Can you believe these magazines?? Brad has been there, done that… if Brangelina is really over then he will definitely look for someone new and not return to a failed marriage!

OK! Magazine is reporting a different, more believable story that Brad and Jennifer recently bumped into each other when they were invited by Brad’s BFF George Clooney to join the Hope for Haiti Telethon. Jennifer desperately wants another chance with Brad, he may be falling… who knows what happened!?! Well according to HollywoodLife, Brad completely avoided Jen all night!

[images: InTouch, OK!]

After months of rumors it’s official, actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have filed for a legal separation according to News Of The World.  They weren’t married but needed to file the paperwork so they could decide custody among their six children.

Rumors of their demise grew stronger over the past two weeks when the couple didn’t show for the Golden Globe Awards and when Jolie didn’t join Pitt at the Hope for Haiti telethon.

A source told the News of the World: “The document was signed in early January. Both Brad and Angelina had signed it.

“The contract was like a tailor-made version of a pre-nuptial agreement except for an unmarried couple’s split.

“It seemed clear they want the world to know they’ll both play a part in the upbringing of the children.

“But Angelina will actually be the one who lives with them full-time.”

The divorce lawyer they consulted is based in Beverly Hills and has worked on a string of celeb divorces and splits. He is widely regarded as “the best in the business”.

The couple will share joint custody of all six children: Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, Vivienne.

Pitt and Jolie had been shacking up since early 2005.  It is the second high profile for Pitt.  Jolie became even more notorious for wrecking Pitt’s first marriage to Friends actress Jennifer Aniston.

It is the third pseudo-divorce for Jolie as she was previously married to Johnny Lee Miller and then Billy Bob Thornton.

Rumors just this week had Angelina cheating on Pitt with a ’sexy vocal coach.’  She also had gone on record stating that fidelity was overrated. There was a rumor last year that Pitt was sleeping with one of their nannies.

If this break up is true you can rest assure Aniston is going to bet with a smile on her face tonight.

Will update as soon as Brangelina confirms or denies.

[image: wenn.com]

American Idol Jennifer Hudson enchanted with an amazing surprising performance of The Beatles’ hit song “Let It Be” at the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon on Friday (January 22) – watch video below.

To Help Haiti visit HOPE FOR HAITI NOW and/or UNICEF.

Jennifer Hudson “Let It Be” Hope For Haiti Video Below go on reading »

Matt Morris joined Justin Timberlake to deliver what was probably the most beautiful and emotional performance of the night with a cover of the song “Hallelujah” at the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon on Friday (January 22) – watch video below.

To Help Haiti visit HOPE FOR HAITI NOW and/or UNICEF.

Justin Timberlake & Matt Morris “Hallelujah” Hope For Haiti Video Below go on reading »

Colombian star Shakira performed her own rendition of Chrissie Hynde’s classic “I’ll Stand by You” at the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon on Friday (January 22) – watch video below.

To Help Haiti visit HOPE FOR HAITI NOW and/or UNICEF.

Shakira “I’ll Stand By You” Hope For Haiti Video Below go on reading »

Actress/singer Beyonce adapted the lyrics of her hit song “Halo” to this special occasion and delivered a very emotional, powerful performance at the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon on Friday (January 22) – watch video below.

To Help Haiti visit HOPE FOR HAITI NOW and/or UNICEF.

Beyonce “Halo” Hope For Haiti Video Below go on reading »

Singer Christina Aguilera performed a stripped back version of the new song “Lift Me Up”, which will be featured on her upcoming fourth studio album titled “Bionic”, at the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon on Friday (January 22) – watch video below.

To Help Haiti visit HOPE FOR HAITI NOW and/or UNICEF.

Christina Aguilera “Lift Me Up” Hope For Haiti Video Below go on reading »

Madonna, who was accompanied by a gospel choir, performed an amazing rendition of her emblematic and controversial song “Like a Prayer” at the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon on Friday (January 22) – watch video below.

To Help Haiti visit HOPE FOR HAITI NOW and/or UNICEF.

Madonna “Like a Prayer” Hope For Haiti Video Below go on reading »

President of the United States Of America, Barack Obama delivered his first speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (September 23). You can read the full transcript below the fold.

Barack Obama UN Speech Video

Barack Obama UN Speech FULL Transcript Below go on reading »