Comedian Patrice O'Neal dies, had suffered stroke

Veteran stand-up comic Patrice O'Neal, who gained a wider following through TV and radio and helped roast Charlie Sheen, died Tuesday from complications of a stroke he suffered last month. He was 41.

O'Neal's manager, Jonathan Brandstein, said he died in a New York-area hospital.

"Many of us have lost a close and loved friend; all of us have lost a true comic genius," Brandstein said in a statement.

O'Neal appeared on Conan O'Brien's and David Letterman's TV shows and was a frequent guest on the "Opie & Anthony" radio show on Sirius XM. His performance was a highlight of the Comedy Central roast of Sheen, who had been fired from the hit CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men," in September.

Sheen said in a tweet Tuesday, "The entertainment world as well as the world at large lost a brilliant man."

He added, "Patrice had that rare 'light' around him and inside of him. I only knew him for the few days leading up the Roast. Yet I will forever be inspired by his nobility, his grace and his epic talent. My tears today are for the tremendous loss to his true friends and loving family."

Other entertainers also mourned O'Neal on Twitter.

"RIP Patrice O'Neal. You made us laugh til we cried," comedian Sarah Silverman said.

Actor Jay Mohr said, "Just heard. Goodnight brother. Damn. Just ridiculous. Terrible. Beyond sad."

O'Neal had half-hour specials on Showtime and HBO and was the host of "Web Junk 20" on VH1. He appeared in numerous television shows including "Arrested Development," ''Chappelle's Show" and "The Office."

O'Neal suffered a stroke on Oct. 19 after battling diabetes. He is survived by his wife, Vondecarlo, his stepdaughter, Aymilyon, his sister, Zinder, and his mother, Georgia.

Brandstein, his manager, said the family wished to thank "all of the fans and friends who have expressed an outpouring of love and support for Patrice these past weeks."

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

T-Boz of TLC Files for Bankruptcy

T-Boz of TLC has fallen on hard times. She's filed for bankruptcy after owing $768,642.9, most of which was for the mortgage on her $1.2 million home. 

She brings in about $11,700 a month, with monthly expenses totaling $8,821. T-Boz claims she's in the hole due to lack of child support. Documents obtained by TMZ show that she's owed roughly $250,000 in child support.

Dr. Murray's Mom Begs Judge for Mercy

Dr. Conrad Murray's mother says she's "suffering" from overwhelming sadness because her only son is incarcerated -- and has begged the judge to go easy on the Doc when it comes to his sentence. 

Mrs. Milta Rush sent a letter to Judge Pastor -- explaining why Murray deserves mercy ... because he's a good person who has "never drank alcohol, took drugs or smoked cigarettes in his life."

Milta explains, "He has never been in trouble with the law before and I am barely standing, scared and worried sick about him being incarcerated."

"He is saddened and remorseful about the death of his friend Michael Jackson and I do believe he is certainly learning the toughest lesson of his life."

Milta continues, "I sympathize with Mrs. Jackson as a mother; I feel her pain for having lost her son. I sense she was very close to her son. I really wanted to approach her personally and tell her I am sorry for the loss of her son but I was unsure if she would be receptive, and I did not want to take the chance of violating the courts rules. I am sorry for her loss."

"Judge Pastor, Conrad, is my son and as a mother I must say I know him inside out. He is sorry for what happened to Michael and had no intent towards him."

"I humbly beg for your heart felt consideration of everything I have said about Conrad, and ask for your compassion and leniency in giving him probation or community service."

Dr. Murray's sentencing hearing is scheduled for later today.

The Lights dimmed on the Dim

Earlier today, the entire Igbo nation was thrown into mourning. Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu passed away last night.

The founding father of the All Progressive People’s Party (APGA) and Biafra warlord had been a pillar of reckon to the entire Igbo nation. Over the years, he fought gallantly and remained steadfast.

We mourn a leader whose endurance legacy will linger forever.

May his brave soul rest in peace. Amen.

Actor Chinedu Ihedezie exits bachelorhood!!

Chinedu Ihedezie aka Aki, the pint sized actor married his sweetheart in a traditional ceremony today in eastern Naija! Wishin him and his heartrob eternal marital bliss!!

Court orders NDLEA to Pay Baba Suwe N25million as damages

An Ikeja High Court in Lagos this morning ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement agency (NDLEA) to pay the sum of N25 million to Baba Suwe as damages for unlawfully detaining him for three weeks over drug trafficking allegations. And to also tender a public apology to him in two national dailies.

Hulk Hogan Goes DOWN as ex-wife receives 70 per cent of Couple’s Liquid Assets in Divorce

Court records show a financial settlement has been agreed upon between wrestler Terry Bollea — better known as Hulk Hogan — and his ex-wife. 

The St. Petersburg Times reports Linda Bollea received a little more than 70 per cent of the couple’s liquid assets in their divorce settlement.

He agreed to give his ex-wife 40 per cent ownership in his various companies and pay her an additional $3 million property settlement. Linda Bollea filed for divorce in 2009.

The settlement was confidential but came to light this week after it was attached to a new motion filed in court records.

The paper reports Linda Bollea received $7.44 million of the couple’s $10.41 million that was held in bank and investment accounts. Terry Bollea will not pay his ex-wife alimony.

Photoshop Hell: The Worst, Most Hilariously Bad Album Covers Of All Time

We’ve heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. But what about albums?

So much investment is put into album packaging and determining how an artist is marketed. That starts with the album cover. Sometimes they’re masterpieces that rile up their fans. Other times, they’re pause worthy moments of Photoshop awkwardness that we can’t help but laugh at. So with that said, here are the most horrible album covers of all time.

Pooh Man – Funky As I Wanna Be - What in the name of Herpes is going on here? Is she dead or something? Pooh Man is a freak. Clearly.

Tony Tee – Time To Get Physical - Why does he need two burly guys to lift a bar with no weights on it. And what is that chick doing? There’s so much awkward going on here.

Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III - What’s going on with Weezy here? This was in the height of his crazy drugginess and the album cover is a perfect example. Tatted up babies? And a million people bought this damn thing in its first week.

Big Bear – Doin Thangs - So we’re throwing bears on album covers like they’re super hood or something? The Ghetto Berenstein Bears look means this should go straight to the trash bin.

Millie Jackson – Back To The Isht - Want to say that rappers are responsible for all the horrible album covers? Look at this old school cover from Millie Jackson. On the toilet? That’s a little too much.

Spank Rock and Benny Blanco – Bangers & Cash - So we’re just going to throw two chunky chicks in a vat of honey and pretend like they’re dimes? They couldn't find other women? Or better names thank Spank Rock? Fail galore!

Top Dog – Slam Dunk’n Hoes - He’s just literally slam dunking a hoe. Who would pose for this? Did she think that getting dunked LeBron style into a goal would be her big break? She’s probably at K-Mart wondering where it all went wrong.

TA Smallz – Who Killed My Mama - The title alone is enough to make us wonder what could possibly be in store for us. Why on earth would they feel the need to have digital roses? Real roses cost like ten bucks. So…fake roses? Why?!

Various Artists – Christmas N’ Memphis - So, this is how Christmas is in Memphis? Crackhead-looking Santas getting held up at gun point? Can we never have Christmas in Memphis? Ever.

DJ Scream Kickstand – Toys, Trees And Snow - Actually, we have no clue what the title or musician is. There are just so many words! Can we just make rappers stay away from Christmas albums for ever and ever?

Wet Black - Errrr. No comment.

Uncle Murda – Murda’s Muzik II - Why would anyone want to shoot a care bear? Or photoshop dead Care Bears on album covers? Maybe this is why nobody listens to Uncle Murda? It’s karma.

Skillet & Leroy – The Okra Eaters - We think that “okra” might be code for something else. But why would you want to reference a hoo-ha as okra of all things?! That just doesn’t make any man want to come anywhere near it. Ewwwww.

Big Shug – Who’s Hard - The cover itself is pretty normal. But that title? Is this an album title or a solicitation? You can’t be gangsta with a title like that? Sorry Mr. Shug.

Killa Klan – Kill Or Be Killed - Why are there KKK members in the background? Are they supposed to be Black guys in Klan hoodies? Nothing good can come from any of this. Just stop it.

Every No Limit Album Ever – We could donate a whole section to just the crappy No Limit Albums. They were all full of glitter, bright colors and were more gaudy than your aunt’s church hat. What was Master P thinking?

Every Cash Money Album - And following in No Limit’s footsteps was Cash Money. Their albums looked just as gaudy and embarrassing. Looks like Weezy hasn’t changed too much since then.

Rick Ross Album "God Forgives, I Don't" Pushed Back, thanks to the slowdown from his two seizures last month.

Rick Ross revealed details about their upcoming projects. His much anticipated fifth album God Forgives, I Don't. Ross was honest about the album's release, explaining that the December 13 date would likely be pushed, thanks to the slowdown from his two seizures last month. "The date is still tentative, December 13. [Because of] my little health situation, I had to postpone a lot of my groundwork," Ross told MTV News. "And I feel like that's important for artists like myself."

"If I wanted to, I'm pretty sure I could still meet that date, but I think for the people, it's more important [to lay groundwork] for when I get out there and look them in the face and touch them hands," Ross said, explaining the likelihood of a delay. "We've just gotta lay ground for it, and I'mma keep y'all updated."

During his rest and recovery period, Ross had time to link up with Jay-Z for a new track, which is set to appear on God Forgives, I Don't. "Just expect the biggest collabo we've ever made together. It's just gonna make the project mean that much more," he said. "Any time me and the Big Homie get together, you know I'm coming with my A-game, 'cause I wanna make sure the homie is impressed with whatever I'm coming to the table with — and he was. He blessed me, so y'all get ready for it."

D.B. Cooper: 40 years later

November 24th, 2011, marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary Cooper case, an unsolved crime that has baffled agents, detectives and amateur sleuths, and spurned one of the greatest manhunts in law enforcement history.

The FBI’s case file on D.B. Cooper runs some forty feet long. It is located in the basement archives of the Bureau’s field office in Seattle, where for four decades agents have hunted for the man who ransomed a passenger jet for a small fortune and parachutes, then jumped out the back over the rural Northwest, during the middle of a storm, never to be seen again. 

This Thanksgiving, November 24th, 2011, marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary Cooper case, an unsolved crime that has baffled agents, detectives and amateur sleuths, and spurned one of the greatest manhunts in law enforcement history. 

Geoffrey Gray, author of The New York Times bestseller SKYJACK: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper, was the first reporter to gain access to the FBI’s Cooper files. In addition to hundreds of documents, he was able to get his hands on the Bureau’s photos. 

The above image: A 1971 artist's sketch released by the FBI shows the skyjacker known as 'Dan Cooper' and 'D.B. Cooper', was made from the recollections of passengers and crew of a Northwest Orient Airlines jet he hijacked between Portland and Seattle, Nov. 24, 1971, Thanksgiving eve. FBI spokeswoman Ayn Sandalo Dietrich tells The Seattle Times that a law enforcement member directed investigators to a person who might have helpful information on Cooper.