Daily News Feed 5.31.08

Jennifer Hudson: She’s a Purse Girl
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, 26, injects some color and youth into Sex and the City, playing Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant, Louise, from St. Louis. Like her movie boss, Hudson loves her accessories — and learned from writer/director Michael Patrick King how to be hell in heels. Q: Did you feel like the new kid on the block on the set? A: It’s a family that already lived together, and they added me. They’re fierce, and I get to be fierce and fabulous with them. Q: Are you into shoes or bags? A: I’m a purse girl. I remember, I had a scene where you didn’t see my feet. So I took my shoes. Michael Patrick’s like, ‘Put those heels back on. You’re not fully in character unless you’re in heels.’ He’s serious. I had to put my heels back on. It’s hard. The heels are mandatory. (Continue Reading…)

Black bloggers fight to make voices heard
With its power-to-the-individual approach, the new media world promises anyone with a laptop the possibility of a publishing empire. But, as some black bloggers are finding out, the new media world is a lot like the old one: racially segregated, with many prominent black voices still fighting to be heard. Some bloggers felt insulted this month when the Democratic National Committee selected 55 state-oriented blogs to cover its convention in Denver; critics said few featured African American voices. The DNC said race wasn’t considered in its selection from 400 applicants. Officials were more interested in the sites’ audience size and how much chatter about local issues appeared on them. The DNC answered critics Thursday by adding several sites led by African Americans to its general blogger pool. (Continue Reading…)

Serena, Venus Williams Lose in 3rd Round at French
Oracene Price, mother and coach to Venus and Serena Williams, stood near the steps to the locker room at the end of a long, rough day at the French Open. First she watched eight-time major champion Serena lose a match that began a little after 11 a.m. Then she watched six-time major champion Venus lose a match that ended in near-darkness, shortly before 10 p.m. Both sisters were stunned in the third round Friday by journeywomen who never have been quarterfinalists, much less champions, at any Grand Slam tournament. (Continue Reading…)