Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Bono urges idealism,aid to Africa in speech
PHILADELPHIA -- Bono was careful not to say anything off-color during his commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania.
"The FCC has taught me a lesson," the 44-year-old rocker said Monday, referring to the Federal Communications Commission's declaration that an expletive he used on last year's Golden Globe Awards broadcast was indecent and profane.
Wearing blue-tinted sunglasses with a black cap and gown, the U2 frontman accepted an honorary doctor of laws from Penn President Judith Rodin. He urged graduating Penn students to live up to the ideals of America, of believing there is no problem that can't be fixed.
He also challenged them to take on Africa, with its poverty, epidemics, resentment over unfair trade rules and insurmountable debt. Bono recalled his experiences in famine-stricken Ethiopia in 1985, saying the trip made him "a rock star with a cause." In 2002, Bono co-founded Debt AIDS Trade Africa, which works with religious groups concerned with global disease and hunger issues.
Cosby urges educationin black communities
WASHINGTON -- Comedian Bill Cosby wants black Americans to follow the example of civil-rights leaders in improving their neighborhoods and reaching out for higher education.
"These people marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around," he said Monday evening at an NAACP gala commemorating the anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision 50 years earlier.
"Take the neighborhood back," Cosby said, chiding parents who do not take an active role in caring for their children.
Cosby and his wife, Camille, were honored for their philanthropy in donating money to historically black colleges.
Former President Carter, Black Enterprise magazine founder Earl G. Graves, former California Democratic Rep. Augustus Hawkins and Ruby Bridges, who helped desegregate New Orleans schools as a first-grader in 1960, also received awards at the celebration.
Judge allows Eminemto sue over commercial
DETROIT -- A federal judge says rapper Eminem's copyright infringement claims over use of his song "Lose Yourself" in a commercial for Apple Computer Inc. can go forward. Apple featured a 10-year-old boy singing the Oscar-winning theme song to the rapper's movie "8 Mile" in an ad on MTV for the computer company's iPod music player and iTunes music service.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor ruled that the suit brought by Eminem's publishing company can proceed against several other companies, including MTV parent company Viacom and advertising agency TBWA/Chiat/Day.
Taylor threw out two state-law-based claims of unfair competition and unjust enrichment.
The television ad appeared many times during three months beginning in July 2003 and on Apple's Web site, despite the fact that the computer company had unsuccessfully sought Eminem's permission for the campaign.
Herschel Fink, a Detroit lawyer for the defendants, said no viewer would think Eminem was endorsing the iTunes service.
Eminem's lawyers say he has never nationally endorsed any product.
Today's birthdays
PBS newscaster Jim Lehrer is 70. TV personality David Hartman is 69. Actor James Fox is 65. Actress Nancy Kwan is 65. Author-director Nora Ephron is 63. Rock singer-composer Pete Townshend (The Who) is 59. Concert pianist David Helfgott is 57. Rock singer-musician Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) is 55. Singer-actress Grace Jones is 52. Rock musician Phil Rudd (AC/DC) is 50. Baseball catcher Rick Cerone is 50. Actor Steven Ford is 48. Rock singer Jenny Berggren (Ace of Base) is 32. Actor Eric Lloyd is 18.