Don’t call him the King of Pop anymore, because Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and wants to be called Mikaeel. The 50-year-old pop star took his shahada (oath of faith) in Los Angeles on Friday, as reported by news sites and blogs. Michael, oops, I mean Mikaeel, has gone from the highest of the…

I remember Prince for his risque lyrics and videos back in my middle school and teen years, when “Purple Rain” was his claim to fame. My mother forbid me to see the movie and listen to his music, at least while she was around to stop me. Times have changed for this miniscule musician, it…

Tuesday evening an obsessive Paul Abdul fan, Paula Goodspeed, committed suicide by drug overdose, in front of the “American Idol” judges’ home. Goodspeed, who had tried out for the hit reality show before—and was completely panned by Simon, Randy, and Paula–had a history of psychiatric problems. Apparently she even OD’d in front of Paula’s house…

Recently a wonderful book came across my desk called “Awearness: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference,” by clothing designer and humanitarian Kenneth Cole. The book is a compilation of essays by such well known celebrity-activists as Elton John, Jane Fonda, Lance Armstrong, Jon Bon Jovi, Ludacris, and more, on different issues–environmentalism, homelessness, education,…

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