When Ben Vereen first heard about a project called Roots, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. His agent had other ideas. Watch as Ben shares how the role of Chicken George finally came his way thousands of miles from Hollywood.

The complete Roots miniseries is now available on DVD in stores and online.

For more on Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots: 35 Years Later, visit http://www.oprah.com/Roots

Find OWN on TV at http://www.oprah.com/FindOWN

Exclusive Webisode: The Impact of Roots on America 

Did Roots open the door to a greater conversation about race in America? Watch as cast members John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen and Louis Gossett Jr. discuss why that door needs to be opened wider and where they think the country is today. conversation on Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots: 35 Years Later, a special event airing at 8/7c on OWN.

The complete Roots miniseries is now available on DVD in stores and online.

For more on Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots: 35 Years Later, visit http://www.oprah.com/Roots

Find OWN on TV at http://www.oprah.com/FindOWN

Life's Big Questions - Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots - Oprah Winfrey 

Network

It's the question no one has asked LeVar Burton before: What's your definition of God? Watch to see his answer—and his discussion with Oprah about more of life's big questions

The complete Roots miniseries is now available on DVD in stores and online.

For more on Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots: 35 Years Later, visit http://www.oprah.com/Roots

Find OWN on TV at http://www.oprah.com/FindOWN

http://www.oprah.com/topics/entertainment/movies/actors/ben-vereen.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunta_Kinte

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(Photo: Rob Foldy, USA TODAY Sports)

Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

It was well known last offseason that Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan wanted Tim Tebow once the Denver Broncos put the polarizing quarterback on the trading block after signing Peyton Manning. But considering quarterback Blaine Gabbert had just finished his rookie season, the Jaguars' front office and coaches convinced Khan to give Gabbert another year.

Needless to say, Year Two of the Blaine Gabbert experiment has been abysmal. So who else would Khan expect to be the savior next season?

Tim Tebow, of course! Jacksonville's own.

QB GURUS: Tebow still can be fixed

SOURCE OF STORY 

Tim Tebow to the Jaguars ‘a virtual certainty’

(Photo: Tim Fuller, USA TODAY Sports)

Calvin Johnson continued his tear through NFL secondaries in historic fashion.

The Detroit Lions wide receiver entered Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons needing 182 yards to break Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's single-season receiving yards record. Was there ever a doubt?

With a 26-yard reception from quarterback Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter, Johnson made history by surpassing Rice's mark of 1,848 yards set in 1995.

Breaking that record was preceded by another as Johnson's 117 first-half receiving yards ensured him of the record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games with eight, eclipsing the mark shared by Charley Hennigan (1961) and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (1995). For the season, Johnson now has 11 100-yard games, which is incredible.

So, with this out of the way, Johnson can focus on trying to become the first receiver in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards in next week's season finale at home against the Chicago Bears.

SOURCE OF STORY Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sport

CNN) -- A man killed two men and one woman Friday in central Pennsylvania, then died in a gunfight with state troopers, authorities said.

The first report of shots fired "at multiple locations" in Frankstown Township came in a 911 call placed around 9 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. As state troopers converged on the area, someone in a truck -- going the opposite direction on a two-lane road -- fired at two marked patrol cars.

The truck's driver continued driving and then "rammed ... head-on" into a different patrol car, Bivens said. He then got out of his vehicle and began firing at officers.

State troopers returned fire, eventually killing the truck's driver

SOURCE OF STORY 4 dead, including shooter, in Pa.

CHRISTINE STUART FILE PHOTO

Sen. Beth Bye

Not everybody is ready to talk about strengthening Connecticut’s gun laws, but state lawmakers already are starting to propose and draft legislation.

On Thursday, Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, and Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, called for a series of new proposals they hope the General Assembly will approve during the legislative session that begins next month.

Last week, a gunman entered Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 children and educators. After a memorial service for the victims held at the state Capitol Wednesday night, Bye said constituents haven’t been shy about letting her know they expect lawmakers to respond to the tragedy.

SOURCE OF STORY http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/lawmakers_begin_drafting_legislation/

READ MORE AT http://www.kvia.com/news/Police-spray-detain-man-with-Down-Syndrome/-/391068/17860874/-/qq9qaq/-/index.html

This year, the word ratchet was more ubiquitous than Rihanna and Chris Brown’s relationship, Beyonce’s baby bump and everything in between combined. Somewhere, in the trenches where ratchet was born and lived for so many years before running away and joining WorldStar, is a mother longing for her child to home. That’s the only way I can explain why ratchet has been running amok over the last 365 days. From “Bad Girls Club” to “Basketball Wives,” here are our 10 favorite most wild moments from reality TV this year!

SOURCE OF THIS STORY AND READ MORE AT

http://hellobeautiful.com/2587754/when-reality-tv-gets-real-the-10-best-ratchet-moments-of-2012/?omcamp=Starburst

Tiny House, Big Freedom

Ella Jenkins has been living in a space about the size of a shipping container since October—and loving every minute of it. She built her own 130-square-foot house with the help of a kit and her stepfather, and is now part of a growing trend of people who reside in “tiny houses,” miniature abodes that are modestly priced, eco-friendly and minimalistic.  - Beth Greenfield, Shine Staff

TO READ MORE CLICK LINK BELOW

Woman lives in 130-square-foot house

Jesse storms Congress to find out if the government is conducting bio-warfare experiments at the mysterious Plum Island Animal Research Center off the coast of Long Island. The center began as a bio-warfare lab run by former Nazi scientists, and it has been blamed for spreading diseases and viruses throughout the mainland, including African swine flu and Lyme disease.

PART 2

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Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia.^[1][2] Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto^[3] is the main cause of Lyme disease in North America, whereas Borrelia afzelii andBorrelia garinii cause most European cases. The disease is named after the towns ofLyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA, where a number of cases were identified in 1975. Although Allen Steere realized that Lyme disease was a tick-borne disease in 1978, the cause of the disease remained a mystery until 1981, when B. burgdorferi was identified byWilly Burgdorfer.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere.^[4]Borrelia is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks belonging to a few species of the genus Ixodes ("hard ticks").^[5] Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue,depression, and a characteristic circular skin rash called erythema migrans (EM). Left untreated, later symptoms may involve the joints, heart, and central nervous system. In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated early.^[6] Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to the more serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat.^[7]

TO READ MORE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

David Stern and the rest of the suits might be charged with trying to take the fun out of the NBA, but trash talk will never die. It’s too engrained in the culture, too fundamental when it comes to egotistical athletes playing at the top of the game. Who grows up and doesn’t talk trash? I know I did, and it fired me up, forced me to back it up.

If you didn’t talk trash, chances are you were either Tim Duncan or you never got off the bench. Everyone has different uses for it, too. Some players need it to fire themselves up. Some are a little unstable mentally and emotionally. And others just can’t stop talking.

read more @ 

THE TOP 20 TRASH TALKERS IN NBA HISTORY

Given the fact she titled her latest album Diamonds, it’s not surprising that pop star Rihanna likes the finer things in life. The 24-year-old took living in the lap of luxury a step further this week when she plunked down millions for a 7-bedroom, 9-bath mansion in the L.A. celeb-magnet enclave of Pacific Palisades.

According to Zillow , (though the news was first reported by X17) the home is newly constructed and includes everything the “Rude Boy” singer could want, including a sun deck overlooking the treetops, an outdoor firepit, infinity pool with spa, media room, and the latest in cutting edge technology: a smart-home system that allows homeowners to control air conditioning and heat, fireplaces, security, and the sound system remotely. Perfect for Rihanna’s jet-setting lifestyle!

read more 

Rihanna purchases $11.9 mil mansion

Sheila Foster speaks at a press conference April 30 at the Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York in Queens about the death of her son Corey Foster, 16, who died at Leake & Watts in Yonkers on April 18 after being restrained by personnel. / Ricky Flores/The Journal News

Mom Sues After Son, 16, Dies at School

A bullet-proof Disney Princess backpack fromhttp://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/12/body-armor-backpack-sandy-hook-sales-soar

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Anxious parents are driving up sales of armored backpacks for children in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting. 

TO WATCH THE VIDEO AND READ MORE CLICK LINKs BELOW

Armored backpacks and a rush on guns

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/12/body-armor-backpack-sandy-hook-sales-soar

THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THEM WEBSITE

http://www.amendment2.com/press/

Troy "TheKidGeeQ" Marshall was born and raised in New Haven, CT, also known as "The Elm City." TheKidGeeQ developed his skills as a lyricist and his appreciation for hip-hop from listening to the legends and pioneers of the game such as Tupac,

Spike Lee recently called out Knicks guard Pablo Prigioni for what he wears during games. 

Do you agree with Spike?

MEET THE PLAYERS

http://knicksnow.com/players

Leave your thoughts as comments below!

Video courtesy: Brian Nox on YouTube

SEE ALL 21 CITY DANCERS CLICK LINK BELOW

http://knicksnow.com/photos/980/knicks-city-dancers-profile-gallery#.UNINoeTleRM

Murder To Excellence: America's Deadliest City Turns In 1,000+ Guns To Cops (VIDEO)

In Camden, New Jersey an exodus of residents descended on two churches to turn in firearms during a buy back program over the weekend.

DETAILS: The Time Is Now! Obama Supports Assault Rifle Ban 

In response to the Newtown murders last week, gun owners in America's deadliest city turned in a record number of weapons in exchange for money for each firearm.

Gun owners received $25 for BB guns, $50 for inoperable firearms, $150 for revolvers, semi automatics, shotguns and rifles and $250 for assault weapons

Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/camden-new-jersey-americas-deadliest-city-turns-1000-guns-cops-video#ixzz2FWRuMU6G

Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/camden-new-jersey-americas-deadliest-city-turns-1000-guns-cops-video#ixzz2FWR1eOt6

In a press conference on Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced that the task for on gun violence, headed by Vice President Joe Biden, will need to prepare concrete proposals on gun-control "no later than January." 

DETAILS: The Time Is Now! Obama Supports Assault Rifle Ban

With the public pushing for stricter gun regulations in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shootings that killed 20 children and seven adults, the White House and Obama have responded by pledging to stand behind the assault weapons ban and to close the gun show loopholes.

Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/president-obama-joe-biden-gun-control-policy-change-video#ixzz2FWLa0IPs

Today the sandy box is full and kids are having fun this is how i met so mine kids when i was growing up this was a place where kids can be kids there was no talking about race , politics, who is rich or poor the only thing was on your mine as a kid was colors,numbers,lunch,naptime,going outside and running around till you was dizzy, sick, and dirty . no parents was allowed in the sandbox at all their job was to keep you clean clothes make sure you had a up to date lunch box of your choice from tv shows to cartoons, when parents start talking about race around their kids they pick up fast because they learn colors from school and they no the different colors are not the same but they don't no the meaning of black or white tell a parent tell them and that's how kids start knowing they are not the same color that's the first start of the race thing so all the white kids start playing with the white kids and all the black kids start playing with the black kids so parents are at felt for not mining their own business and just let the kids play together.  NEXT PICTURE 

NOW the sand box start looking like this because parents feel safe because they are around their own races is wrong because now they don't see no other races of kids to play with in the sandbox some of them grow up to be racists or withdraw for being social and meeting new friends and learning about other cultures, next picture THIS SHOOTING IS NOT A RACE THING AT ALL BUT ITS HAD TO START FROM SOMEWHERE TO MAKE HIM DO THAT IT CAN BE ANY KID IN AMERICA !!

Connecticut Shooter Adam Lanza: 'Obviously Not Well'http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticut-shooter-adam-lanza/story?

nid=17975673#.UNGCG-TleRM

now our schools is turning in to target practice where little kids became targets from a kid that don't fit in with regular people and his parent's don't want to get the their kid the help he need because they are saying not my kid. so now kids need guards to play in the sand box now