1.
Los Angeles Times
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The Los Angeles Times, commonly referred to as the Times or LA Times, is a paid daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008, the Times is owned by tronc. The Times was first published on December 4,1881, as the Los Angeles Daily Times under the direction of Nathan Cole Jr. and it was first printed at the Mirror printing plant, owned by Jesse Yarnell and T. J. Unable to pay the bill, Cole and Gardiner turned the paper over to the Mirror Company. Mathes had joined the firm, and it was at his insistence that the Times continued publication, in July 1882, Harrison Gray Otis moved from Santa Barbara to become the papers editor. Otis made the Times a financial success, in an era where newspapers were driven by party politics, the Times was directed at Republican readers. As was typical of newspapers of the time, the Times would sit on stories for several days, historian Kevin Starr wrote that Otis was a businessman capable of manipulating the entire apparatus of politics and public opinion for his own enrichment. Otiss editorial policy was based on civic boosterism, extolling the virtues of Los Angeles, the efforts of the Times to fight local unions led to the October 1,1910 bombing of its headquarters, killing twenty-one people. Two union leaders, James and Joseph McNamara, were charged, the American Federation of Labor hired noted trial attorney Clarence Darrow to represent the brothers, who eventually pleaded guilty. Upon Otiss death in 1917, his son-in-law, Harry Chandler, Harry Chandler was succeeded in 1944 by his son, Norman Chandler, who ran the paper during the rapid growth of post-war Los Angeles. Family members are buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery near Paramount Studios, the site also includes a memorial to the Times Building bombing victims. The fourth generation of family publishers, Otis Chandler, held that position from 1960 to 1980, Otis Chandler sought legitimacy and recognition for his familys paper, often forgotten in the power centers of the Northeastern United States due to its geographic and cultural distance. He sought to remake the paper in the model of the nations most respected newspapers, notably The New York Times, believing that the newsroom was the heartbeat of the business, Otis Chandler increased the size and pay of the reporting staff and expanded its national and international reporting. In 1962, the paper joined with the Washington Post to form the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service to syndicate articles from both papers for news organizations. During the 1960s, the paper won four Pulitzer Prizes, more than its previous nine decades combined, eventually the coupon-clipping branches realized that they could make more money investing in something other than newspapers. Under their pressure the companies went public, or split apart, thats the pattern followed over more than a century by the Los Angeles Times under the Chandler family. The papers early history and subsequent transformation was chronicled in an unauthorized history Thinking Big and it has also been the whole or partial subject of nearly thirty dissertations in communications or social science in the past four decades. In 2000, the Tribune Company acquired the Times, placing the paper in co-ownership with then-WB -affiliated KTLA, which Tribune acquired in 1985
2.
Testosterone
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Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid. In addition, testosterone is essential for health and well-being, insufficient levels of testosterone in men may lead to abnormalities including frailty and bone loss. Testosterone is also used as a medication to treat male hypogonadism, since testosterone levels gradually decrease as men age, synthetic testosterone is sometimes prescribed to older men to counteract this deficiency. Testosterone is a steroid from the class containing a keto. It is biosynthesized in several steps from cholesterol and is converted in the liver to inactive metabolites and it exerts its action through binding to and activation of the androgen receptor. In humans and most other vertebrates, testosterone is secreted primarily by the testicles of males and, to a lesser extent, small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands. On average, in males, levels of testosterone are about 7–8 times as great as in adult females. As the metabolic consumption of testosterone in males is greater, the production is about 20 times greater in men. Females are also sensitive to the hormone. In general, androgens such as testosterone promote protein synthesis and thus growth of tissues with androgen receptors, Testosterone can be described as having virilising and anabolic effects. Anabolic effects include growth of mass and strength, increased bone density and strength. Many of these fall into the category of secondary sex characteristics. Testosterone effects can also be classified by the age of usual occurrence, for postnatal effects in both males and females, these are mostly dependent on the levels and duration of circulating free testosterone. Effects before birth are divided into two categories, classified in relation to the stages of development, the first period occurs between 4 and 6 weeks of the gestation. There is also development of the gland and seminal vesicles. During the second trimester, androgen level is associated with gender formation and this period affects the femininization or masculinization of the fetus and can be a better predictor of feminine or masculine behaviours such as sex typed behaviour than an adults own levels. Early infancy androgen effects are the least understood, in the first weeks of life for male infants, testosterone levels rise. The levels remain in a range for a few months
3.
Chris Stokes (director)
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Chris Stokes is an American record producer, manager, and film director. He is the son of actress Irene Stokes and older brother of Hip Hop/R&B singer Juanita Stokes, and is notable for discovering many popular singers, actors, Stokes first became connected with Film and Television through the talent he managed. In 1992, Marques Houston made his debut in the animated comedy film Bébés Kids. All three members of Immature appeared in the film House Party 3 and his first film credit came in 2001 as the writer and director of House Party 4, which starred Immature, which by then had transitioned to their new name IMx. He is perhaps most well known as the writer and director of the 2004 dance movie You Got Served, the cast included Lil Kim and Marques Houston. The film opened at #1 at the box office during Super Bowl weekend with $16 million grossed in its first week and he also wrote and directed Somebody Help Me and Somebody Help Me 2, two horror films. The first, Somebody Help Me, was released to DVD on November 13,2007, the companys second feature, No Vacancy, another horror, was completed in 2011 and the first of Stokes films not star talent from his music career. It was distributed by Grindstone / Lionsgate Home Entertainment, also in 2011, Stokes returned to the dance battle genre with the dance-drama Battlefield America, starring Marques Houston, Gary Anthony Sturgis, and Lynn Whitfield. The film follows a young businessman whose community service obligations require him to turn a group of kids into a dance team. The movie was supposed to be in theaters in June 2012, in 2007, Stokes launched a clothing and fashion line, the Christopher Brian Collection, which debuted at Magic in Las Vegas February 2007. The line featured Kim Kardashian as the spokes model and was available at Dash. Promotional images for the brand featured topless pictures of Kim Kardashian wearing just the Christopher Brian pants, Chris Stokes at the Internet Movie Database Official Chris Stokes Chris Stokes Entertainment Brian & Barrett Pictures Official Site
4.
Marques Houston
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Marques Barrett Houston, better known by his stage name Batman, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. A member of the R&B singing group Immature/IMx from 1990 until 2001, as an actor, he is best known for his role as Roger Evans in the television comedy Sister, Sister. Marques Barrett Houston was born on August 4,1981, in Los Angeles, California, to Michael and he is also the older cousin of B2Ks J-Boog. Houston began acting at an early age, in 1992, Houston became a founding member of the R&B group Immature. The members of the group includes Jerome Romeo Jones and Don Half Pint Santos, along with Chris Stokes, at this period, Houston went by the nickname Batman. In 1999, the group underwent a change, however. The group also had to branched out into recording some soundtracks to the film House Party 4, Down to the Last Minute, in 2003, Houston began pursuing a solo career. Using his birth name, Marques Houston, he released his album, MH. The album featured the singles That Girl, Clubbin, Pop That Booty, in the United States charts, MH peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and at number 5 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. On May 24,2005, Houston released his solo album. The album featured the singles All Because of You, Naked, in the United States, Naked peaked at number 13 on the Billboard and peaked at number 5 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Houston released his solo album, Veteran, on March 20,2007. The album featured the singles Like This, Favorite Girl, Circle, in the United States, Veteran debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and debuted at number 1 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, marking this release as Houstons first number-one solo album. Houston released his solo album, Mr. Houston on September 29,2009. It featured the singles, I Love Her and Sunset, videos for the album tracks Body and Date were released online in 2008. How I Do and Case of You received video premieres in 2009, on September 14,2010, Houston released his fifth studio album, Mattress Music, which contained the singles Kickin & Screamin and Pullin on Her Hair. A video for a third, Ghetto Angel premiered in 2011, Houston announced on 106 & Park that IMx planned to record another group album together for 2011. In October 2012, Marques Houston announced a new album, Famous slated for release August 27
5.
Taye Diggs
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Scott Leo Taye Diggs is an American actor and singer. Between 2014 and 2016 he starred as Inspector Terry English in Murder in the First, Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in Rochester, New York. His mother, Marcia, is a teacher and actress, and his father, when he was a child, his mother married Jeffries Diggs, whose surname Taye took. His nickname, Taye, comes from the pronunciation of Scotty as Scottay. He is the oldest of five children and he has two brothers, Gabriel and Michael, and two sisters. He attended Allendale Columbia School in Rochester and later transferred to School of the Arts and he received a BFA in musical theater from Syracuse University. Diggs performed many times at the popular Lakes Region Summer Theatre in Meredith and he also spent a summer at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, New Hampshire. His Broadway debut was in the ensemble cast of the 1994 Tony Award-winning revival of the musical Carousel, in 1995, he also performed as a dancer in Sebastians Caribbean Carnival at Tokyo Disneyland. In 1996, Diggs originated the role of the nasty landlord Benny in Jonathan Larsons Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Rent, after Rent, he appeared as Mr. Black opposite Idina Menzels character of Kate in Andrew Lippas off-Broadway production of The Wild Party at Manhattan Theatre Club. Diggs also played The Bandleader in the 2002 film version of the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago and he also temporarily filled in for Norbert Leo Butz as the love interest Fiyero of Menzels Elphaba character in Wicked. Diggs then moved from stage to television with a role on the soap opera Guiding Light, in 1998, he made his film debut in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, which brought Diggs much acclaim and exposure. The following year, he played a tantric sex god in Doug Limans Go, malcolm D. Lees The Best Man features Diggs as the title character, an author and best friend of the groom. He also starred in the 1999 remake of William Castles House on Haunted Hill, Diggs was featured in an episode of Americas Next Top Model helping the contestants through an acting challenge. Diggs portrayed the character on the short-lived UPN television series Kevin Hill which despite critical acclaim was not renewed for a second season. He reprised the role of Benny for the 2005 Rent film, Diggs is featured on the following cast recordings, Carousel 1994 revival cast, Rent 1996 original Broadway cast, The Wild Party original off-Broadway cast. He also sings on the Rent film soundtrack, in 2003, Diggs appeared on the TV show Punkd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher, while getting a check-up at a Punkd-operated doctors office. In early 2006, Diggs guest-starred for several episodes as Will Trumans love interest, James, although his film and television career continue to move forward, he still returns to the stage frequently. He was seen opposite James McDaniel in Charles Fullers A Soldiers Play at Second Stage Theatre in New York, Diggs co-starred opposite Kate Walsh in Private Practice, the 2007 spin-off of Greys Anatomy
6.
Stephen Bishop (actor)
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Stephen C. Bishop is an American actor and retired baseball player. Bishop attended the University of California, Riverside where he played baseball for the Highlanders from 1991–1992. After college he signed an agent contract with the Atlanta Braves. He plays Patrick on the television show Imposters, which airs on Bravo and he plays David Paulk in the television show Being Mary Jane. He also appeared on the television series Lost, Girlfriends, and The Game and he appeared in the movie The Rundown with The Rock. Bishop also played David Justice in Moneyball, which was released on September 23,2011 and he was in the 2015 movie With This Ring where he played Nate Adamson and starred alongside Regina Hall, Jill Scott and Eve. He appeared in Greys Anatomy Season 4 Episode 16 Freedom part 1, Stephen Bishop at the Internet Movie Database Stephen Bishop at AllMovie Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
7.
Malik Yoba
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Abdul-Malik Kashie Malik Yoba is an American actor and occasional singer. He is known for his role as NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on the Fox police drama New York Undercover. He also appeared as former FBI Special Agent Bill Harken on the Syfy drama series Alphas, as Jim Hudson in Revolution as well as Vernon Turner in Empire, currently, he stars in the role of FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood in the ABC political drama Designated Survivor. The fourth of six children, Yoba was born in Bronx, New York, his parents are Mahmoudah Young and he is divorced from Trisha Mann, a model and actress who starred with Yoba in the stage play His Woman, His Wife in 2000. Yoba has three children, daughter Dena with Mann, son Josiah and another daughter Pria from a previous relationship, Yoba is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. In 1994, Yoba began his role as NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on the popular FOX police drama series New York Undercover, opposite Michael DeLorenzo. Yoba and DeLorenzo made television history, as the series was the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles, Yobas work on New York Undercover earned him three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. The series was cancelled in 1998, with Yoba as the actor to appear in all 89 episodes. An accomplished singer and stage actor, Yobas talents were showcased in His Woman His Wife, Yoba has also appeared in films such as Cool Runnings and Criminal. Yoba also appeared in the FX Networks crime drama Thief and the NBC crime drama Raines and he appeared as Gavin in the 2007 Tyler Perry film Why Did I Get Married. And its 2010 sequel Why Did I Get Married Too, in 2009, he co-starred as astronaut Ted Shaw on the futuristic ABC drama Defying Gravity. Recently, he announced his plans to bring back New York Undercover to the screen in a modern TV series adaptation of the original series. Law & Order writer Courtney Parker penned a script for networks to bid on. In 2013, Yoba joined the cast of Revolution as Jim Hudson, in 2015, he joined the cast of Lee Daniels’ Empire as Vernon Turner, Lucious Lyons business partner and chairman of Empire Entertainment, playing the character through the first season. 2016 as Jason Atwood in Designated Survivor starring Keifer Sutherland, Malik Yoba at the Internet Movie Database Malik Yoba on Charlie Rose Works by or about Malik Yoba in libraries
8.
House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute
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House Party 4, Down to the Last Minute is a 2001 American comedy film. It is the fourth installment in the House Party film series as it has no connection to any of the preceding films or the subsequent film House Party. It stars IMx, and is the film in the series to not star Kid n Play. This is IMxs second House Party film, they appeared in House Party 3 when they were known as Immature. Jon Jon sees an opportunity for a major party when he snags the job house-sitting for his rich Uncle Charles. When Jon Jon finds out his uncle is coming home earlier than announced and that film, however, was never produced. Kid n Play, the original leads, make an appearance at the end of the film. It is revealed that the two have gone on to be successful music producers just as they aspired to in the second, House Party 4, Down to the Last Minute at AllMovie House Party 4, Down to the Last Minute at the Internet Movie Database
9.
You Got Served
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You Got Served is a dance drama film written and directed by Chris Stokes, manager of its stars, recording artist Marques Houston and boy band B2K. The plot concerns a group of dancers, who take part in a dancing competition. It was released by Columbia Pictures Screen Gems division on January 30,2004 and it opened at #1 at the box office during Super Bowl weekend with $16 million grossed in its first week. It has recently gained a cult following and it was filmed on May 1,2003 through June 25,2003 and released on January 30,2004. Houston and Grandberry later starred in the 2004 film Fat Albert, David and Elgin lead a promising dance crew in Los Angeles, California who participate in street dancing battles at a warehouse owned by a local club owner, Mr. Rad. The film opens up with their crew battling another crew led by Vick, after the battle, David and Elgin go to another club to deliver drugs for a drug lord named Emerald in order to get money for the battles. Later on, David and Elgin are challenged by Wade, a kid from Orange County, for $5,000. After winning another battle, Wade and his best friend, Max meet Elgin at a park, Elgin tells them that his crew will battle their crew next Saturday night, but Wade and Max think that Elgins crew are not good enough to battle them tonight. He borrows money from his grandmother for the battle, due to the amount of money on the line, Mr. Rad announces that there will be no fighting during the battle and has bodyguard as insurance. Nonetheless a fight does breakout after David and Elgin realize their opponent has their set due to one of their crew members Sonny betraying the team to join Wades. The crowd applauds Wades crew but David and Elgin are furious that they have lost for the first time, Wade, crowing over his success, delivers the titular line, Youre just mad. Cause tonight you suckas got served, Wades crew takes over Mr. Rads club and David and Elgins crew leave furiously. Meanwhile, David and Liyah, Elgins sister, are falling in love, David picks her up from work and they go to a restaurant. Elgin tries to call David immediately, but before David can take Elgins call, Liyah turns off his phone, leaving Elgin to do the job himself. Elgin is beat down by local thugs that take Emeralds money landing him in the hospital, in trouble with Emerald. The friends split up and form their own crews, but neither is as good as on their own as they are together, Elgin forbids Liyah to see David, ignoring the fact that she and David want to help him. Rico tells David and Elgin about the Big Bounce, a $50,000 dance competition purportedly sponsored by MTV which will provide the crew the opportunity to perform in a Lil Kim video. Elgin sees this as a way to pay back Emerald and his grandmother, attempts to bring Elgin and David together, particularly by Liyah, are fruitless, as both nearly come to blows when encountering each other
