MissAshley

Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great one! :wiggle:

another Chris Gardner article: Whether in riches or rags, happiness matters Updated 5/22/2006 1:02 AM ET By Rodney A. Brooks, USA TODAY Soul singer James Brown used to tell his own Horatio Alger story. As a kid, he shined shoes in front of a radio station in Augusta, Ga. When he made it big, he bought the station. Chris Gardner's story might be even better. He once was homeless and slept in a men's room stall at a San Francisco transit station with his toddler son. Today, he can say his company has managed multimillion-dollar bond issues for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. "I was the only one standing before the BART board and saying, I know this system better than Merrill Lynch or Goldman Sachs. I used to live on it," Gardner says in an interview. Gardner, 52, is founder and CEO of Gardner Rich & Co., which is based in Chicago and has offices in New York and San Francisco. Through an incredible set of circumstances, he also was once on the streets. How he ended up there, survived that year and went on to become a millionaire stockbroker, dealmaker and speaker is the tale in his autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, on sale Tuesday. The gripping story (written with Quincy Troupe) already has been turned into a movie — starring Will Smith as Gardner and Smith's son as Gardner's son — due out in December. Gardner says that his decision to write the book turned out to be a lot easier than writing it. "If anybody asks you to do one of these things," Gardner says, "the answer is no. You have to go back to places and things that you want to forget. You take the lid off one box, and you see it's connected to another box." But now that it's done, he's happy. "It's not just my story," he says. "It's the story of a lot of people who grew up and took a lot of crap — and decided, 'I'm going the other way.' Those are the folks who encouraged me to do the book." His story starts in Milwaukee, where he and his older sister lived with a succession of relatives and foster parents. Along the way, he endured a physically and psychologically abusive stepfather — to the point where a young Gardner plotted to kill him — and a mother who was loving but absent because of several periods in prison. Gardner escaped the mean streets of Milwaukee by joining the Navy. He wound up in San Francisco in the early 1980s with plans to be a doctor, a wife about to start a career as a dentist and a new son. But then his marriage collapsed and he ended up in jail for running up $1,200 in parking tickets he couldn't pay. Life looked up, briefly, when he was released and accepted into a stockbroker-training program at Dean Witter. But it fell apart again when his wife delivered their son to him at his rooming house — where kids weren't allowed. He couldn't get an apartment on his trainee stipend, which left them homeless. For a year he pushed his boy around in a rickety stroller that also contained their worldly goods. Sometimes they got into shelters. At other times, they ended up in the men's room of the BART station or in a park. "Look at kids today," he says. "I saw somebody with a stroller you have to put air in the tires. They look like little baby SUVs." One of the most touching moments in the book is when Gardner finally puts together some money and finds an apartment he can afford in Oakland. As they headed out after the first night in their new home, his son, Chris Jr., became very concerned that they'd left behind the duffle bag with all their belongings. "He had been seeing me carry everything we own for a year," Gardner says. "Then you get to explain to your kid we don't have to carry everything anymore. We have a key. We have a home. That was one of those feelings." That's when things started to turn around. He became a top producer at Dean Witter in San Francisco, then New York. In 1987, he left to found Gardner Rich. When Gardner heard Smith would play him in the movie, he was unsure about the casting. "I love all his movies," he says. "But when I first heard it, I said, 'Will Smith ... hmm.' " But sometimes our children put things into perspective. Gardner now has a daughter Jacintha, 20. He says she told him: "Pop, don't worry about it. If he can play Muhammad Ali, he can play you." Gardner has this advice for young people: "One of the things young people always ask me about is what is the secret to success," he says. "The secret is there is no secret. It's the basics. Blocking and tackling. And more important than that, find something that you love. Something that gets you so excited you can't wait to get out of bed in the morning. Forget about money. Be happy. That takes a certain amount of boldness to say, 'This is what I like.' "The money thing will come," he says. "I know so many people who have so much more money than I. They are miserable. It is so important to be happy." source via google: http://www.usatoday.com/money/books/2006-0...dner-book_x.htm def. gonna try to get the book before the movie comes out

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! have a great one!

thnx for the feedback guys, glad you like the quotes Jonny, wasn't sure if they'd work or not, also have some color shots from that day, but I'm a sucker for b&w pics lol..can't wait 'til I get a better camera :wiggle:

I wouldn't make too much of it, esp. if contact music is the source they're known for taking stuff out of context, or just posting bits and pieces, I really don't see her doing this esp. after so many "metalheads" don't take her seriously, partially b/c she's Will's wife, and the whole "hollywood" thing...I find it funny too, cuz she did an interview and the guy goes "what's the most annoying question people ask?" she said something along the lines of "what does Will think about her music", so the guy's like "okay I won't ask that question". I detect a hint of sarcasm there as well, but I could be totally wrong and she could really be doing that lol

just playing around... :wiggle:

I get the feeling maybe "Greenbacks" will be Will's next movie after "Legend"... Tonight's just not coming together the way it seems it should be, I wouldn't be surprised if it did get put on the shelf for a while

I'm with you Max, lol I don't think it'll be as good as last year, hopefully the performances will be better though

http://www.bet.com/Music/2006+BET+Awards+n...tionUnpublished won't let me copy and paste the article, just click the link, here's another article though Comedian Daman Wayans to Host His First-Ever BET AWARDS Show Televising Live From Los Angeles's Famed Shrine Auditorium on Tuesday, June 27 Featured Performers Include Mary J. Blige, T.I., Mariah Carey and Kanye West Songstress Chaka Khan to Receive BET Lifetime Achievement Award; World-Renown Actor and Activist Harry Belafonte Set for BET Humanitarian Award LOS ANGELES, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- As the countdown officially begins to the most legendary night in Black entertainment, it's the legendary superstars who will be heard from loud and clear. Hip-Hop giants Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott, R&B diva Mary J. Blige and Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx -- all legends in their own right -- earned a phenomenal four nominations each for the 2006 BET AWARDS, which televise live on Tuesday, June 27 from its new location at the Shrine Auditorium at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT (tape delayed to the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones). Nominations were announced today in Hollywood. BET's annual salute to superlative performance in music, television, film and sports promises 15 intensely competitive categories, including a brand new category recognizing innovation and originality in R&B music. This year's crowning recognitions will go to individuals whose names are synonymous with greatness as R&B icon Chaka Khan receives the BET Lifetime Achievement Award and actor/singer/activist Harry Belafonte is honored with the BET Humanitarian Award. Actor and comedian Damon Wayans, multi-talented member of the famed Wayans family of Hollywood achievers, steps forward to host his first-ever BET AWARDS show. Add performers like Mary J. Blige, T.I., Mariah Carey and Kanye West, and the stage is set for an explosive night under the Western sky. "BET Awards is the best awards show on television, period. No qualifier. And here are three great reasons why: Number One, our host is Damon Wayans. He's been making people laugh for 20 years," said Reginald Hudlin, BET President of Entertainment. "Number Two is Lifetime Achievement honoree Chaka Khan. Her voice sounds like she swallowed Jimmy Hendrix's guitar. Third is Humanitarian Award recipient Harry Belafonte, an award I'm very proud to be associated with. Harry is the first music artist to receive a platinum record. Harry popularized the concept of world music before there was even the phrase. And most importantly, his efforts on behalf of human rights and civil rights are unmatched by any other artist. People forget that Dr. King's famous letter from the Birmingham jail was addressed to Harry Belafonte." Even as a first-time host, Wayans still promises to keep the show flowing with his special brand of brash, irreverent, "Hell No, Homey Don't Play That" humor first unveiled in the ground-breaking sketch comedy series In Living Color. Now the star, creator and executive producer of the hit ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids, earned his stripes and is ready to stake his claim on the awards show circuit. "Damon is a fierce stand-up comedian with a biting sense of humor that will keep everyone in the audience on their toes," said Stephen Hill, BET Executive Vice President for Music and Entertainment Programming. "The BET Awards is known for bringing the heat. And with the performers we have lined up and the left-of-center elements planned, the heat shall be 'broughten' again. You know how we do." Busta Rhymes, who was one of the artists announcing the nominations along with Ne-Yo, 3-6 Mafia and Keyshia Cole, earned nods for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Duet and Video of the Year and is up for the Viewer's Choice Award. Jamie Foxx, whose recent solo album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B charts, is up for Best Male R&B Artist, Best Duet/collaboration (with Kanye West), Best Actor and Video of the Year (with Kanye West). And as for the ladies, Mary J. Blige's nominations include: Best Female R&B Artist, Best Duet/Collaboration (with Busta Rhymes) and two nods for Video of the Year. Missy Elliott, also received two nominations for Video of the Year to go along with her nods for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Best Duet/Collaboration (with Busta Rhymes). Other artists receiving multiple nominations included: Kanye West, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown each with three; Anthony Hamilton, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Lloyd Banks, Mariah Carey, Mary Mary, Papoose, Rah Digga, Slim Thug and T.I. each scored two apiece. Last year's BET AWARDS was the most-watched program in the network's 26- year history with an amazing 6.6 million viewers tuning in to catch the excitement. BET has again teamed with Cossette Productions, famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards® and the five previous record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. To heat things up and cool things down, BET will be all over the pre- and post-award show happenings with a special edition of 106 & PARK: LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET, beginning at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT. Hosts Tigger and Julissa Bermudez will no doubt capture all the excitement from fashion to who's escorting whom at the summer's most anticipated awards show. The energy will continue post the awards when BET News brings you THE BLACK CARPET LOUNGE live and hosted by Toure' beginning at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT. There will be a non- stop parade of celebrity interviews and featured highlights from the show. BET online audience will have the opportunity to really be a part of the show as virtual members of the BET AWARDS 06 voting academy by logging onto http://www.bet.com to vote for their favorite performer in the Viewers' Choice poll. The actual voting takes place real time during the telecast. Fans can also select the BET Ultimate Fan by casting votes for 10 previously selected video entries for the individual who best shows off their enthusiasm for the BET AWARDS 06. The lucky winner receives an all-expense trip for two to this year's show plus $2,500 in spending money and an opportunity to co-present the Viewers' Choice Award. Encore telecasts of the 2006 BET AWARDS are set for: Friday, June 30th @ 7:30 p.m. ET/PT Tuesday, July 4th @ 7:30 p.m. ET/PT Sunday, July 9th @ 7:30 p.m. ET/PT BET will also offer up other tasty appetizers to tantalize the palette before the show including: * Exclusive '06 BET AWARDS content available on BET.com's broadband product BET on Blast, including artist interviews, honoree profiles and behind-the-scenes access, plus a live video stream of the exciting BET Awards red carpet arrivals. * A new category called the BET J Cool Like That Award, named for BET's newly re-launched sister network (formerly BET Jazz) which offers adult- oriented fare for sophisticated tastes. * BET Awards interactivity "on-the-go" for BET Mobile customers with mobile fan clubs for cellular phone users. The following is a complete list of the 2006 BET AWARDS nominees and categories: Best Female Hip Hop Best Male Hip Hop Best Collaboration (Song Title) Missy Elliott 50 Cent Beyonce f/ Slim Thug Lil' Kim Busta Rhymes (Check on It-Pink Panther) Remy Ma Common Bow Wow f/Ciara (Like You) Shawnna T.I. Busta Rhymes Trina Kanye West f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX (Touch It - Remix) Jamie Foxx f/ Ludacris (Unpredicatble) Kanye West f/Jamie Foxx (Gold Digger) Best Female R&B Best Male R&B Best Group Beyonce Chris Brown Black Eyed Peas Mary J. Blige Jamie Foxx Destiny's Child Mariah Carey Anthony Hamilton Floetry Keyshia Cole Ne-Yo Mary Mary India.Arie Prince Three 6 Mafia Best New Artist Best Gospel Artist Video of the Year (Song Title) Chris Brown Yolanda Adams Beyonce f/ Slim Thug Chamillionaire Kirk Franklin (Check on It) Ne-Yo Mary Mary Mary J. Blige (Be Without Rihanna Smokie Norful You) Paul Wall CeCe Winans Busta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX (Touch It - Remix) Missy Elliott f/Ciara (Lose Control) R. Kelly (Trapped In the Closet) Kanye West f/Jamie Foxx (Gold Digger) Best Actress Best Actor Female Athlete of the Year (Sport) Tichina Arnold Chris Bridges Laila Ali (Boxing) Taraji P. Henson (Ludacris) Chamique Holdsclaw Thandie Newton Don Cheadle (Basketball) Queen Latifah Jamie Foxx Lisa Leslie (Basketball) Alfre Woodard Terrence Howard Sheryl Swoopes Denzel Washington (Basketball) Venus Williams (Tennis) Male Athlete of the Year (Sport) BET J Cool Like That Kobe Bryant (Basketball) Eric Benet LeBron James (Basketball) Anthony Hamilton Shaquille O'Neal (Basketball) Heather Headley Tiger Woods (Golf) Kindred the Family Soul Vince Young (Football) Corinne Bailey Rae BET.com Viewers' Choice (Song Title) Chris Brown - Yo (Excuse Me Miss) Busta Rhymes (Touch It) Mariah Carey (Don't Forget About Us) Keyshia Cole (Love) Ne-Yo (So Sick) T.I. (What You Know) ABOUT BET NETWORKS BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 81 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; and BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices. ABOUT COSSETTE PRODUCTIONS Cossette Productions is Hollywood's most unique and comprehensive production company, with more than 35 years of experience offering diverse and creative consultation, direction and execution of entertainment production. To its credit, Cossette Productions has produced 33 years of the Grammy Awards telecast; eight weekly television series totaling more than 500 episodes; numerous award-winning Broadway theatrical plays and musicals; 50 major performance specials, award shows and celebrity tributes; corporate events for the nation's largest companies; and countless made-for-television motion pictures and mini-series. SOURCE BET (Black Entertainment Television) Web Site: http://www.bet.com the categories are a little jumbled b/c of pasting, sorry about that no Smiths hosting, maybe they'll attend though

cool pics Tim! I couldn't see 'em at first, I kept getting an error page

Thnx guys. I figured the first one wouldn't be too popular unless you're familiar with livejournal icon coloring and tutorials and stuff, when I make more I'll model them after the second one :wiggle:

yeah his hands and feet looked too gross they showed it on Inside Edition yesterday, they also said he may have done permanent damage to his liver and kidneys and doctors don't know if it's reversable

a couple simple ones I did, i'll probably do more...better than these lol

*some Chris Gardner news* AROUND THE REGION LEXINGTON Wall Street CEO will tell his story of rags to riches Christopher Gardner, a former homeless resident of a bus station restroom who turned into a Wall Street CEO and multimillionaire, will be the keynote speaker at the fourth Lexington Bluegrass Area Minority Business Expo, to be held Aug. 2-3 at the Lexington Convention Center. The event highlights Central Kentucky's minority-owned businesses. Gardner, who now lives in Chicago, is author of The Pursuit of Happyness, scheduled to be published in June. A movie based on the book will be released in December, starring Will Smith. Gardner is scheduled to be featured May 26 on ABC's 20/20. Gardner will speak at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 3 and autograph his book at the trade show, which will feature products and services offered by area minority-owned businesses. Call (859) 258-3155 or visit www.lfucg.com. General registration is $35 a person. The charge for exhibitors is $150 for small businesses and $400 for corporations source via google:http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/living/community/14526611.htm *don't know if they'll talk about the film but I'm gonna try to tune in

I just read this over at mtv, so glad he's getting paid for that haircut lol, guess he really did wanna get started filming right away, still not super excited about this film but I hope that changes with time and more info

"best stress test is the mind" ^totally and 100% true..I've said it before and i'll say it again, LOVE your ability to hold on to your rhyme scheme...you really insipire me Tim....so keep on "just writing"

:lolsign: I must be the only one here who think's that guy is a total freakin' (yes I censored myself) idiot, he's gonna die doing one of those stupid stunts one day, can't say I have respect for somebody who plays with life/health so carelessly :shakehead: *in all fairness his first tv special about street magic wasn't that bad compared to standing on that ledge, being buried alive, and this latest stunt... I guess i have no sense of adventure, but still :shakehead:

new pics up @ Getty: http://editorial.gettyimages.com/ms_gins/s.../home.aspx?pg=1

that's actually the LA screening he's at Ted, that's probably why you didn't see him, the other one was in NY

cool, I read a little snippet about it on google thnx for postin' the whole feature on Will

Happy Birthday to a fellow Taurus! have a good one :wiggle:

Thank you guys SO much! 20 feels great! I've had a great day, your messages made it even better :)

:shakehead: not liking these pics, I think it's his haircut http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/se...0%7c0&p=7&tag=2

thnx for the feedback FuQ, I was just talking about the other poem "If I were a Rapper" and all the stuff I talked about in that one, that's all lol

"Legend" Moves Up To Summer 2007 Posted: Thursday May 4th, 2006 8:12pm Source: Variety Author: Garth Franklin Will Smith is looking to start work this summer on the Francis Lawrence-directed "I Am Legend," a move that would give Warner Bros. a big Summer 2007 tentpole says Variety. The shift would mean "Tonight, He Comes," in which Smith was slated to star this summer, would be delayed. Gabriele Muccino took over the helm recently but since Muccino is editing Smith starrer "The Pursuit of Happyness" for a Sony release in December, the studio pushed its superhero-in-existential-crisis pic until next year. The moving up of Legend's production timetable is difficult as its a logistically complicated post-apocalyptic film about the last healthy man battling blood-sucking mutants in New York. source via google: http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060504g.php *for some reason I can't get excited about any of these films, I'm only looking forward to "Pursuit", I hope that changes with time though