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ENTERTAINMENT
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
MUSIC
MONDAY AUGUST 17,2009
Rapper C-Murder convicted of murder
BY MARY FOSTER
Associated Press
GRETNA, La. — Rapper Correy "C. Murder" Miller was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder for the 2002 shooting of a fan at a nightclub, capping tumultuous jury deliberations at his second trial in the killing.
The Louisiana jury reached the 10-2 verdict around 1:30 p.m. in its second day of deliberations.
Jurors had reached the same verdict earlier in the day, but District Judge Hans Lilleberg ordered them back to the jury room for more deli-
Mille
cause of a questionable vote
Lilleberg said after the verdict's initial reading that one juror had apparently changed her vote just to end deliberations. Three jurors had been seeing crying in the courtroom Tuesday morning, and the day before they sent a note that they were having trouble reaching a consensus.
The courtroom was completely silent when the verdict was given for the second time. More than a dozen law officers filled the center aisle, and the judged had warned that anyone who so much
as gasped would be arrested.
The victim's family left in tears.
"I'm not rejoicing. I feel bad for (Miller's) family. But at least they can see him. What have we got but a gravesite and a photograph?" asked George Thomas, whose 16-year-old son, Steve Thomas, was shot to death during the brawl in a Harvey, La., nightclub.
The defense attorney for the 38-year-old rapper, who faces life in prison, declined comment.
Miller's family and friends also cried outside the courtroom. His sister, Germaine Miller, shouted and accused the prosecutors of corruption.
Prosecutor David Wolff said he thought the verdict would stand on appeal.
"The judge ran a very clean trial. Deliberating on a homicide case is difficult," he said.
Miller was previously found guilty of killing Thomas, but a judge overturned the conviction, siding with defense attorneys who said prosecutors improperly withheld criminal background information on three key witnesses.
Miller has been in jail after pleading no contest to counts of attempted murder in a separate altercation at a nightclub in baton rouge in 2001.
He faces sentencing later this month in that case.
MUSIC
MUSIC
Jennifer Hudson gives birth to baby boy
NEW YORK — Jennifer Hudson has a new role — that of a proud mother.
The 27-year-old Oscar winner gave birth to her first child, David Daniel Otunga Jr., on Monday, according to her publicist, Lisa Kasteler of WKT Public Relations. He is named after her fiance, David Otunga. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces.
"The baby is beautiful and perfect," says Hudson's publicist Lisa Kasteler. "His parents are ecstatic."
The entertainer suffered a tragic blow last fall when her mother, brother and nephew were slain in her native Chicago. Her sister's estranged husband is charged with the killings.
Hudson, who gained fame first as a top contender on "American idol" won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Effie in "Dreamgirls" in 2007. Earlier
this year, she won a Grammy for best R&B album for her self-titled debut CD.
The birth was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter's Showbiz411.com.
ENTERTAINMENT
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay heads to the races
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.
—Celebrity chef Bobby Flay traded pots and pans for a microphone to call a horse race at Saratoga on Sunday.
"And they're smokin' out of the gate!" Flay exclaimed as the horses broke in the eighth race, won by long shot Freddy The Cap, who paid $67 to win.
Flay also signed copies of his book "Burgers, Fries and Shakes" at the track.
He first attended races at Belmont Park as a boy along with his grandfather. Flay has owned and raced horses in New York state for several years.
Associated Press
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LITERATURE
In this image taken in London, Aug. 11, three books are shown of a new bread of classic author novel and mutant beast. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen novel in possession of added gore is a surefire best-seller. That's the conclusion reached by publishers since the success of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," an unlikely literary sensation created by adding dollops of 'ultraviolent zombie mayhem' to Austen's classic love story. "Zombies" billed as 85 percent Austen's original text and 15 percent brand-new blood and guts, has become a best-seller.
Readers devour revamped classics
BY JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press
LONDON — It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen novel in possession of added gore will be a surefire best-seller.
That's the conclusion reached by publishers since the success of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," an unlikely literary sensation created by adding dolppls of "ultraviolent zombie mayhem" to Austen's classic love story.
"Zombies" — billed as 85 percent Austen's original text and 15 percent brand-new blood and guts — has become a best-seller since it was published earlier this year, with 750,000 copies in print. There's a movie in the works. And it has spawned a monster — or, more accurately, a slew of literary monster mash-ups.
Next month, "Zombies" publisher Quirk Books is releasing "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters", which adds giant lobsters and rampaging octopi to Austen's love story. Even Austen purists admit a grudging admiration for the "Zombies" concept.
"In publishing terms, it's brilliant," said Claire Harman, a Columbia University professor and author of "Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquened the World."
"Why did I spend three years writing a critical book on Austen? Why didn't I just think of that?"
Quirk Books editorial director Jason Rekulak said he was inspired by the Internet-unleashed wave of "creative copyright infringement" — musical and video mash-ups that mangle styles and genres for comic or dramatic effect.
He made a list of classic books whose copyrights have lapsed and
were ripe for pillage, from "Moby Dick" to "Great Expectations."
"Then I made a list of things that might enhance these novels — robots, ninjas, zombies," Rekulak said. "As soon as I drew a line between 'Pride and Prejudice' and zombies, I knew I had a great title."
The irresistible title is key to the success of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." The book itself keeps most of Austen's story — girl meets boy, girl hates boy, girl is won over by boy's good looks and large fortune — with added chunks of zombie violence by U.S. writer Seth Grahame-Smith.
"Zombies" and its successors are the latest mutant offshoots of the unstoppable Austen industry.
Like many good publishing ideas, the trend could soon spiral out of control. Rekulak says he can't stop friends and family
sending him ideas for more books
— he has a list of more than 200 titles, from "A Farewell to Arms and Legs" to "The Brothers Karazombie."
The coming months promise more in the same bloody vein from a variety of publishers, including "Queen Victoria: Demon-Hunter" and "I am Scrooge: A Zombie Story for Christmas."
In the United States, where Quirk Books is based, all books copyrighted before 1923 are in the public domain. For other books, copyright generally expires some decades after the author's death, but this varies from country to country.
If nothing else, the trend proves the willingness of readers and writers to eliminate the gap between pop culture and what used to be known as high art.
ENTERTAINMENT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kate Gosselin opens up about marriage failure
NEW YORK — Kate Gosselin said her marriage to Jon would have failed whether it played out in the glare of a TV reality show or not.
"Was (divorce) a product of
the show? I see like it would have happened anyway cameras on or cameras off" she said.
Appearing on NBC's "Today" Monday, Kate Gosselin discussed her separation from her husband, which was
It's healthy. And the kids would agree."
Gosselin told "Today" host Meredith Vieira that she still wears her wedding ring for the sake of her eight children, but feels a lot of failure that the marriage is over.
"Was (divorce) a product of the show?
I feel like it would have happened anyway-cameras on or cameras off."
announced in June on their TLC network reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
"In everybody's life, you make sacrifices," Gosselin said, referring to her staying with the show. "Everybody has to work. Everybody has a job. Ours is a very unique job...
Despite their separation, both parents continue with the hit show, which documents the challenges of raising twins and sextuplets.
KATE GOSSELIN Jon & Kate Plus 8 star
"I still feel like this is a good thing
Shegreeted inquiries from Vieira about Jon Gosselin's alleged cheating during their marriage with a mix of vagueness and
"This is not what any mother sets out for, for her children," Gosselin said, adding, "It's necessary. It has to take place."
diplomacy, and said she couldn't recall exactly when he moved out of their Pennsylvania house.
"I think it's very clear that we are two different people at this point, with two different sets of goals," she summed up.
She repeated her past denial of media reports that she had an affair with a bodyguard assigned to protect her for the show.
"There is no affair. There has never been an affair," declared Gosselin. "It's just another crazy rumor. It sells tabloids."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kate Gosselin dries her eyes during her interview on the NBC "Today" television program in New York Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. Gosselin said her marriage to Jon would have failed whether it played out in the glare of a TV show or not..
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