Courtesy of EURWeb.com

*Finally! President Obama today announced that Democrats and Republicans have reached agreement on the raising the debt ceiling.

However, both chambers still must approve the deal, he says.

Read/learn MORE at CNN Politics.

EURweb

Whats up THMS

My boss keeps taking credit for all of my ideas and passing them off as her own! The first time she did it I took as her telling me I did a good job. I really thought she just forgot to give me credit. Then she took these clients out to dinner for our annual meeting. It was everything I had suggested from the restaurant, food, wine and after party. She gets all of the accolades and pats on the back, and never acknowledges me or other members of the team. One of my other co-workers said to just let it ride and stop giving suggestions.

How can I confront her about this without jeopardizing my job or ending up on her hit list?

Courtesy of EURWeb.com

*Snoop Dogg launched a Chicago arm of his youth football league Saturday, saying he hopes the program will give kids in high-crime neighborhoods a positive release for their energy, reports Reuters.

Dancing and high-fiving his way through a large crowd at the Chicago Indoor Sports Facility, the rapper seemed intent on meeting all the kids involved in the inaugural season of the city’s Snoop Youth Football League. Chicago’s is a division of the league he established in Los Angeles in 2004.

Snoop Dogg spent most of his time interacting with the more than 100 football kids and fans, many whom waited several hours for his arrival.

“When I walked into the building, I felt the spirit,” the rapper said of the loud welcome that included non-stop photo flashes.

He credited football, a sport he played growing up, with giving many kids in his California league the incentive to focus on their education and other aspects of their lives. He’s hoping Chicago youth use the program to figure out what they want to do with their lives, and he’s anxious to see how they respond.

“I want to give them something to fight for,” he said of his intentions with the new league. “At the end of the day, they’re our future.”

The league in California has eight chapters with more than 3,000 participants. Chicago’s league will have six chapters with more than 1,500 participants.

Snoop Dogg said the league prides itself on a strong support system, anchored by coaches and parents. “We’re teaching life skills now,” he said, referring to the program’s more-than-football approach.

The rapper is also proud that his league isn’t afraid to go into some of the most dangerous neighborhoods to reach the young people who live in them.

“We’re going to the toughest areas,” he said. “We’re going to deal with them face to face.”

Chicago’s league starts this month and is open to youth ages 7 to 14.

EURweb

Courtesy of Democracy Now!

While on tour in the United States, legendary British rocker and activist, Billy Bragg, joined Democracy Now! for an extended interview. One of the many topics he discussed was the tragic death of the British singer-songwriter, Amy Winehouse. "I’m very, very sorry that someone as clearly as talented as Amy should have succumbed in that way. And in some ways, we, all of us, could see it was a likely outcome, and perhaps a little bit more might have been done to help her out. Maybe we’re all a little bit complicit in that," said Bragg of the star who was known for her hit song "Rehab," and for her Grammy-winning album, Back to Black.

Click on the video below to watch the full excerpt of Billy Bragg’s comments about Amy Winehouse.

AMY GOODMAN: We’re talking just a week after Amy Winehouse died. Did you know her?

BILLY BRAGG: No, very—you know, in passing. You know, I did a few festivals where she was on. But that whole, you know, glamorization of people in my industry who do clearly have problems with substance abuse is—you know, it’s not something that I’ve ever wanted to glorify. You know, it’s a very strange job, Amy, the job that we do. You know, you spend a lot of time on your own, really, between gigs. You know, it’s—

AMY GOODMAN: Between on your own and facing thousands of people.

BILLY BRAGG: Yeah, on tour. You know, on tour, you’re often away from the people that you love. You know, you’ve got that focus in the evening of the show, but the rest of the time, you know—I’m very fortunate. You know, I’m curious. I’ll just walk around the streets, looking in shops. If we’re driving somewhere, I want to see it. I don’t want to have my eyes closed. I’ll find a nice book. You know, I love going in bookshops. Not everybody’s like that. Some people want to dull the pain. Some people want to find ways to switch out. And that’s the—that is the great challenge, particularly when you’re successful. It’s a challenge. Charlie Watts, the drummer from The Rolling Stones, was once asked about what it was like being in The Stones for 25 years, and he said it was five years of playing drums and 20 years of hanging around waiting to play drums. And that’s the reality for all of us. And if you can’t deal with that, that bit of it, if you can’t find a way to take up the time between the shows, it can be quite destructive.

And I’m very, very sorry that someone as clearly as talented as Amy should have succumbed in that way. And, you know, in some ways, we, all of us, could see it was a likely outcome, and perhaps a little bit more might have been done to help her out. Maybe—you know, maybe we’re all a little bit complicit in that. You know, in the 1960s, you kind of understand it, because they were the sort of the first generation. They didn’t really know what they were messing with. But now, you know, you can see those kind of things coming, and I think we should be spending a bit more time intervening.

Democracy Now! Blog

Courtesy of EURWeb.com

Kem

*Long Beach, CA — Rainbow Promotions presents the 24th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, Friday-Sunday August 12-14, 2011, a festive summertime setting at Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach.  In keeping with this year’s people-pleasing theme, “Jazz—The Way You Like It,” Rainbow Promotions has once again prepared the perfect cross pollination of “fan favorites” from the worlds of contemporary jazz and R&B to tantalize the tastes of the festival’s perennial attendees.

This year’s mighty line-up features electrifying legendary singer Charlie Wilson (former member of the GAP Band), Quiet Storm popular artist KEM, thrilling bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson, the magnificently mellow Michael Franks, slow jam treasures The Whispers, all-around jazz sax master Everette Harp, plus two very special pairings : smooth groovin’ saxophonist Kim Waters with R&B singer Kenny Lattimore and the “Smooth Side of Soul,” collaboration with saxophone legend Najee, veteran piano man Alex Bugnon and R&B crooner supreme Howard Hewett. And that’s just a taste of a three-day musical feast!

As one of Southern California’s longest running and eagerly anticipated annual music events, the Long Beach Jazz Festival brings music lovers from around the world –year after year- with its always dynamic blend of sounds and unique coastal venue offering relaxation for every generation.  A family affair, party people of all ages enjoy the festival grounds, the various food vendors with mouthwatering multi-cultural on-site prepared delights and desserts and, of course, some of the finest music and top artists for everyone’s listening pleasure. Veteran promoter and musician Al Williams, as is his tradition, will be gracing the stage on Sunday afternoon with his eclectic Al Williams Jazz Society, celebrating the popularity of their latest CD, Something to Groove About.

Charlie Wilson

Williams states, “More than ever before, we really listened to the people to bring them the jazz and jazzy R&B stars they love the best. I truly believe this is one of the most exciting 3-day lineups we’ve had in quite some time…and we’ve had some thrillers!”

On Friday August 12, Brian Culbertson brings his full throttle band of rhythm and horns as the headliner of opening night, followed by jazzy R&B mavericks “Smooth Side of Soul featuring Najee, Howard Hewett and Alex Bugnon. The evening will begin at sundown with the sweet sounds of singer/songwriter Kori Withers (daughter of the R&B griot Bill Withers, as seen in his acclaimed new documentary, “Still Bill”).

On Saturday August 13, romance and reminiscing will fill the air with soulful swingin’ harmonies of The Whispers, poetic jazz man Michael Franks (who will be drawing from his latest release Time Together), the dynamic duo of Kim Waters & Kenny Lattimore, jazzy neo soul princess Amel Larrieux, and effervescent sax great Everette Harp (playing straight ahead and contemporary jazz). The day will begin with the heartbeat of the drums as the Long Beach Jazz Festival presents this year’s winner of “The Next Great Drummer!”

On Sunday August 14, soul lovers will be knocked out by the one-two punch of adopted “LBC” Godfather Charlie Wilson and firmly established superstar KEM. Jazz will be in plentiful supply thanks to Al Williams’ Jazz Society and urban jazz up-and-comer saxophonist Jackiem Joyner, plus horn-fortified funkologists Down to the Bone, and this year’s winner of the festival’s annual “Jazz Search” Winner (tba).

Tickets are available through Rainbow Promotions at (562) 424-0013, or online at www.longbeachjazzfestival..com VIP tickets–$ 155 on Friday and $ 180 per seat on Saturday and Sunday—include dinner and wine service. Reserved box seat tickets are $ 60 on Friday and $ 75 per seat on Saturday and Sunday. General admission/lawn seating is $ 45 (prior to August 5th) and $ 50 at the gate.  Friday-Gates open at 5pm.  Saturday and Sunday-Gates open at 11:00am.

This year’s sponsors for the 24th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival are US Bank, Budweiser and Charter Communications

About Rainbow Promotions

Rainbow Promotions is the producer of the Long Beach Jazz Festival and other concerts throughout the year.  For 23 years, Rainbow Promotions has presented the Long Beach Jazz Festival, one of the city’s major events.  For more information regarding the Long Beach Jazz Festival, go to www.longbeachjazzfestival.com or www.rainbowpromotions.com.

JL Media Relations
Jalila Larsuel & Eboni Batiste
Public Relations
Jalila@jlmediapr.com

EURweb