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The NBA's Computer Geek



Microsoft has chosen Lebron James to be the spokesman for the launch of its long-awaited Windows Vista operating system. Television ads for Windows Vista will begin airing on Jan. 30, featuring James as the first athlete spokesman for the tech giant.

Federal Judge Shuts Down Suit Against O.J. Simpson



Federal Judge Manuel Real has ruled that he has no "personal jurisdiction" to rule on a suit brought against Simpson by the father of Ron Goldman. Simpson is a resident of Florida. Fred Goldman sued Simpson for the $1 million advance he received for his unpublished book, "If I Did It," which details how he could have killed Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Snoop Dogg Not Taking Rap for Deadly Weapon Possession



The rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, plead not guilty to felony charges on Wednesday in California's Orange County Superior court. The charges stemmed from an incident in which he attempted to board a plane with a collapsible police baton in his luggage last September. Broadus argues that he was unaware that the baton was illegal and was going to use it as a prop in a video. As a convicted felon, a guilty verdict could leave him locked up for three years.

Fire Burns Down Gospel Singer's Home



Gospel crooner Ricky Dillard was shocked to learn that his Atlanta-area home had burned to the ground early Tuesday morning. The house contained his awards, as well as unreleased recordings. A "distraught" Dillard, who got word of the fire from his pastor, said, "The only thing I can really rely on is the word of God that's keeping me together. I want to fall apart, but His word is keeping me together." At the time of the fire, Dillard was in New York on business. Dillard's manager, William Bogle, says Dillard had not planned to return to Atlanta until February, but likely will come back earlier because of the fire.

Usher's Speed Gets Him In Trouble



R&B Singer Usher is set to pay a $425 fine after being found guilty of speeding in a July 4 incident in which he clocked on Interstate 75 in Georgia for driving 103 mph. The 28-year-old singer, whose real name is Usher Raymond, appeared in Bartow County court a week ago to face a speeding citation. In addition to paying the fine, the judge ordered Usher to perform 20 hours of community service.

A Relative ‘Betrays’ Oprah



Talk show diva Oprah Winfrey says in the February issue of her magazine that she was torn up to learn that her half-sister, Patricia Lloyd, sold a story to the National Enquirer about her becoming a teenage mom at age 14. Winfrey had already confirmed the report in 1990, telling Parade magazine that the baby was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. Winfrey, who says she cried for three days after learning her secret had been exposed, wrote in "O" magazine that her relative, who she did not name, "sat in a room, told them the story of my hidden shame and left their offices $19,000 richer." Winfrey now says that "betrayal," and having the secret out was actually "liberating," and it allowed her to begin to heal from the sexual abuse she experienced as a girl.

New Orleans Is Losing Its Blackness



A year after Mayor Ray Nagin made his infamous “Chocolate City” remark to urge African Americans to return to New Orleans, the city most ravaged by Hurricane Katrina has lost some of its chocolate flava. Once one of the most culturally distinct African-American cities, New Orleans, which before Katrina had a 67 percent Black population, now is only 47 percent Black and 43 percent White. “We need the chocolate back in the vanilla,”housing activist Endesha Juakali shouted to a crowd last month to protest the demolition of public housing damaged by Katrina. "It will never be the same in my lifetime,” she said, but added that the longer housing takes to be rebuilt the less likely the city’s Black population is to rebound.