The Gran Emporium

The GRM Presents Sweepstakes 2012

We are excited to announce the launch of The GRM Presents Sweepstakes 2012. To view the promotion please go to:

http://apps.facebook.com/webpromotions/grm2012 or http://grm2012.promoboxx.com

The promotion ends: 06/11/2012 11:59 PM

The following prizes will be awarded:

  

Grand Prize:

GRM Presents Sweepstakes $250.00 Visa giftcard

Visa giftcard valued at $250.00 

Approximate retail value: $250.00

 

Prize One: 

Stubhub giftcard

 Purchase tickets to sports, concerts, plays and other live events 

Approximate retail value: $50.00

Prize Two: 

Fandango Bucks

Use this to watch the latest movies 

Approximate retail value: $25.00

Prize Three: 

Starbucks giftcard

Enjoy your favorite drink at Starbucks 

Approximate retail value: $15.00

Prize Four: 

Jamba Juice giftcard

Enjoy cool refreshing Jamba Juice smoothies 

Approximate retail value: $10.00

Thank You,

Gran Royale Music (GRM)

First Openly Gay Black Elected Official In Texas Judge Tonya Parker Will Not Perform Marriage Ceremonies Because Gay Couples Don't Have The Same Right In Her State

Okay, she’s not really a hater — but would you elect a judge who refused to do one of the things we need judges for in the first place?

An openly gay Texas judge says she refuses to conduct marriage ceremonies for straight couples until same-sex couples can also wed.

Dallas County Judge Tonya Parker explained her decision Tuesday at a monthly meeting for the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.

“I do not perform them because it is not an equal application of the law. Period,” she said, according to the Dallas Voice, a newspaper for the gay community.

Parker told the audience that while she refuses to conduct the ceremonies, she explains her reasoning to the couples and passes them along to another judge.

“I use it as my opportunity to give them a lesson about marriage equality in the state because I feel like I have to tell them why I’m turning them away,” she said.

“So I usually will offer them something along the lines of, ‘I’m sorry. I don’t perform marriage ceremonies because we are in a state that does not have marriage equality, and until it does, I am not going to partially apply the law to one group of people that doesn’t apply to another group of people.

“And it’s kind of oxymoronic for me to perform ceremonies that can’t be performed for me, so I’m not going to do it,” she added.

Same-sex marriage is not legal in Texas.

Parker is believed to be the first openly gay African-American elected official in the history of the state, according to NBC News.

It seems like Judge Parker has already accomplished a lot, do you think her stance on performing marriage ceremonies will help get marriage equality passed, or could she be just as effective in creating change without refusing to help straight couples seeking to marry?

Source Photo Credit: Tonya Parker

via bossip.com

Chris Brown Tells Friends He Did Nothing Wrong In Regards To Phone Theft Allegations, But An Arrest Could Spell Trouble For Singer's Probation

Something with this guy’s judgement is seriously off. After grabbing the phone of a snap-happy fan, Chris Brown is telling friends he’s done nothing wrong and shouldn’t be arrested.

According to RadarOnline reports:

As law enforcement in Miami, Florida are investigating claims that Chris Brown allegedly stole a $500 iPhone, the Grammy award winning singer is telling close friends and associates that he has done nothing wrong, and is hopeful that a decision not to prosecute him could be made as early as Friday, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting

As we previously reported, Brown has been accused of stealing Christal Spann’s iPhone after she says she snapped a pic of the singer sitting in the back of a Bentley. Brown allegedly snatched the phone, and said, “b*tch, you’re not gonna put that on the Internet,” and then drove off.

“Chris is telling friends that he has done nothing wrong,” a source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com. “Chris is hopeful that the evidence and the true facts of the case will result in no charges being made against him. Chris is letting his lawyer, Mark Geragos, deal with the Florida State’s Attorney’s Office. Chris is saying that a decision about whether or not charges will be filed against him could be decided and formally announced as early as Friday. He will do whatever his attorney asks him to do. He is no longer in the Miami, but if he needs to return for any reason, he certainly will. Chris has nothing to hide.”

If Brown is arrested, it would be extremely likely that the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office will seek to revoke his probation for his no contest plea of battery of his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.

“Chris wouldn’t need to be convicted in the Miami case to cause problems with his probation, just charged,” the source tells RadarOnline.com. “The conditions of his felony probation are very, very strict. Chris must obey all laws and not be arrested for any other crimes. This could be a huge nightmare for his probation if he is arrested and charged.

“Make no mistake, Chris is taking this very seriously. He knows that one arrest could unleash a wave of new legal problems for him because he is still on felony probation.”

“My prosecutors are currently speaking with witnesses and reviewing all of the materials supplied by Miami Beach Police. Only after these reviews have been completed would any type of action be considered or taken. This is the basic process that every criminal case in Miami-Dade County undergoes,” a spokesperson for the Florida State Attorney’s Office said in a statement on Thursday.

You can’t break the law by stealing a $400 piece of equipment (iPhone) and then expect not to get in trouble for it. Should Breezy be arrested or do you think the

via bossip.com

Gerard Butler In Rehab

Gerard Butler is being treated for substance abuse at the Betty Ford Center ... TMZ has learned.

Butler's problems were triggered by the physical demands of shooting "300" in 2006. We're told the actor began struggling with pain management, and the problem became exacerbated while filming "Of Men and Mavericks," when Butler was badly hurt on December 18 during a surfing accident.

We're told Butler realized he was relying too much on prescription drugs and decided to head off a full-blown addiction by entering Betty Ford three weeks ago.

Sources tell TMZ ... Butler also developed issues with cocaine, but the root problem appears to be the injuries and pain management.

We're told Butler will be leaving Betty Ford later today.

via www.tmz.com

Dr. Conrad Murray Denied Freedom During Manslaughter Appeal

Dr. Conrad Murray was just shot down by a judge, denying him bail while he appeals his manslaughter conviction in the death of Michael Jackson.

According to the judge, Murray is still considered a flight risk and a danger to society.

via www.tmz.com

Allen Iverson is Broke As a Joke!

We’ve been hearing rumors for a while now that former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson is broke, and now Forbes.com is reporting that A.I. is in deed having major money issues. The article reveals that over the course of his career, The Answer made over $200 million and that amount does not include his endorsement deals!

One of A.I.’s ex-teammates shed light on his exuberant spending habits, including buying a new wardrobe at every city they traveled to so that he wouldn’t have to carry luggage! Now that’s just plain old silly! Allen has also reportedly spend hundreds of millions on jewelry. Still, I can’t help but feel bad for the guy.

Forbes reports that over 60 percent of NBA players are broke within five years of leaving the game! Those are sick, sick statistics that all NBA rookies need to wrap their head around fast.

Source: Forbes.com

via allhiphop.com

Khloe Kardashian Is RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL!!

yesterday afternoon, Khloe Kardashian was rushed to the hospital with what we're being told is an "unspecified gynecological problem."

The insider, who is EXTREMELY close with the family and extremely close to the family tells us that it's not clear what Khloe's issue is, but it is SERIOUS.

How serious? Well her sister Kim SKIPPED OUT on an appearance on QVC, where she was selling their DASH clothes. And Khloe's hubby Lamar has taken a leave from the Dallas Mavericks, where he plays basketball. Both caught the FIRST AVAILABLE FLIGHT back to Los Angeles yesterday.

We'll have more info shortly . . . But we're praying for Khloe!!

via partners.mediatakeout.com

NBA Star Chris Bosh Hauls Baby Mama to Court Hours After All-Star Game

Chris Bosh says his baby mama is doing everything she can to destroy his relationship with his daughter -- and the latest evidence is that she only wanted to let Chris see the child a grand total of 22 hours in February.

Bosh -- who is slated to play in the All-Star Game Sunday in Orlando -- will be in an Orlando family court first thing Monday morning, asking a judge to either force Allison Mathis to give him "meaningful time" with his 3-year-old daughter or hold Mathis in contempt for denying him that.

According to the docs, Mathis is supposed to hand the child over to Chris 12 days a month, but it hasn't happened ... not even close.

From one court to another ...

via www.tmz.com

Brooke Mueller Charged With Coke Possession

Brooke Mueller has been charged with felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute stemming from her December 2 arrest in Aspen, Colorado ... TMZ has learned.

Brooke has been charged with one count of having MORE than 4 grams of cocaine  ... but prosecutors have covered themselves by filing another count -- possessing LESS than 4 grams, in case there's a problem with the measurement.

The amount of coke Brooke allegedly possessed determines the penalty ... if she's convicted.  For more than 4 grams, Brooke could face 6 years in prison.  For less than 4 grams, she'd face 18 months in prison.  But the reality is ... since she would be a first time offender, she'd almost certainly get probation.

Brooke is also charged with assaulting a woman earlier that night ... which allegedly resulted in bodily injury.

via www.tmz.com

Brooke Mueller Charged With Coke Possession

Brooke Mueller has been charged with felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute stemming from her December 2 arrest in Aspen, Colorado ... TMZ has learned.

Brooke has been charged with one count of having MORE than 4 grams of cocaine  ... but prosecutors have covered themselves by filing another count -- possessing LESS than 4 grams, in case there's a problem with the measurement.

The amount of coke Brooke allegedly possessed determines the penalty ... if she's convicted.  For more than 4 grams, Brooke could face 6 years in prison.  For less than 4 grams, she'd face 18 months in prison.  But the reality is ... since she would be a first time offender, she'd almost certainly get probation.

Brooke is also charged with assaulting a woman earlier that night ... which allegedly resulted in bodily injury.

via www.tmz.com

9-Year-Old Girl Dies After Guardians Forced Her to Run for 3 Hours

{EAV:16fb60c516280936}

A nine-year-old died after she was forced to run laps around her yard for three hours. Her grandmother made her run as a punishment. The girl died after becoming extremely dehydrated.

Video courtesy of 5min.

via 24wired.tv