The TYC Zone!

Does Satan EXIST? - Last Night's NIGHTLINE Story

2009-03-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

I found this discussion last night intriguing. Wouldn't it be like the devil to gain the assistance of an Ex-Spirit filled Pastor (Carlton Pearson), and use some sinister strategy to make folks believe that he does not exist? See the deception in action. Posted in two-parts. Don't get caught slippin!

MARY MARY IS HITTING THE ROAD

2009-03-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

Mary Mary have announced dates for a North American spring tour. The tour will begin April 8th and contuine through to April 29th.

The Mary Mary 2009 spring club tour will mark their first live show since the beautiful gospel music singers took home this year’s Best Gospel Performance Grammy for “Get Up,” one of the key tracks on their #1 Gospel album, “The Sound”.
Mary Mary 2009 Spring Concert Itinerary

4/8: Annapolis,MD Rams Head On Stage
4/9: New York City Sound of Brazil “S.O.B.’s”
4/13: Alexandria, VA Birchmere Music Hall
4/14: Foxboro, MA Showcase Live
4/17: New Orleans, LA House of Blues
4/18: Lake Charles, LA Lake Charles Civic Center
4/24: Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
4/25: Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre
4/26: Los Angeles, LA Sunset Strip House of Blues
4/27: Oakland, CA Yoshi’s
4/28: Sacramento, CA Crest Theater
4/29: Anaheim, CA House of Blues

Gospel Music History: BIRTHDAY SALUTE TO MATTIE MOSS CLARK

2009-03-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Dr. Mattie Moss Clark was a gospel choir director and the mother of the world-renowned gospel vocal group, The Clark Sisters. Clark is credited for creating the three-part harmony (separating vocal parts into soprano, alto and tenor), a technique which is prevalent among gospel choirs today.

Born the seventh of nine children on March 26, 1925 in Selma, Alabama. She began playing the piano when she was six years old. By 12, she became the musician for her mother’s services at the Church of Christ and Prayer. After high school, she attended Selma University and received training in classical music and choral singing. In addition, she continued to travel with her mother and play at her mission services.

Dr. Clark moved to Detroit in 1947 and shortly thereafter organized the Southwest Michigan State Choir of the Church of God in Christ. In 1958, she recorded “Going to Heaven to Meet the King”, with the Southwest Michigan State Choir, becoming the first person to commit the sounds of a choir to record. She was also the first person to separate vocal parts into soprano, alto and tenor. She received three gold albums with the Southwest Michigan State Choir, and went on to write and arrange hundreds of songs and recorded over 50 albums.

In addition to being a songwriter, vocalist, pianist, arranger, and choir director, Dr. Clark was also president of the National Music Deptartment of the Church of God in Christ for 25 years, and founded the Clark Conservatory School of Music in Detroit. Her legacy has created and helped to shape some of the most successful gospel artists including Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Donald Vails, Commissioned, Esther Smith, Keith Pringle, Rev. Rance Allen, the late Rev. James Moore and her own daughters, The Clark Sisters. She taught that one should never try to sing, preach, teach, or reach without prayer and that Christ must always be the center of attraction and the center of one’s life.

Dr. Clark was diagnosed with Diabetes, but even as her health declined, she never lost the fire and passion for her mission. She learned to give all she had with whatever God gave her and believed He would do the rest. Dr. Clark died on Thursday, September 22, 1994 in Southfield, Michigan. The legacy of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark is one that will stand as a testament to the anointing of God and his gifts, what she accomplished is matched by only a handful of anointed vessels, cementing her standing as a exemplary woman of God. Dr. Clark would have been 84 today.

YOLANDA ADAMS NEW CLOTHING LINE

2009-03-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yolanda Adams’s impressive musical range and undeniable charisma has helped her take over the Gospel world. She has accomplished what few singers before her have ever achieved and now she is branching out into the world of fashion. Yolanda recently stay down with Fox Television in Houston to discuss her new clothing line. Yolanda said:

My clothing line is definitely coming this year! We we’re trying to make sure we didn’t have any of the child labor law issues, that could have you stuck in court for several years. We finally have a America made manufacturer right here in the USA. I made my clothes as a teenager, because I couldn’t find them in the stores. So, I understand the heartache kids have with long limbs. I made the clothes with them in mind. It will be a affordable line, because I don’t want folks saying, “Yolanda Adams charging 35 dollars for a pair of jeans” And the clothes will be cute!

Yolanda is not forgetting her music career, she has a new CD coming out during the last quarter of this year. She promises some unexpected surprises on this one.

COP STOPS NFL'S RYAN MOAT'S FAMILY FROM SEEING DYING MOM: Dallas police chief apologizes for officer's behavior; family believes race was a factor.

2009-03-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

Watch this CNN report with actual footage of the incident:

*Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle apologized Wednesday for the behavior of an officer who stopped a family outside a hospital emergency room, reports WFAA-TV.

Officer Robert Powell has been placed on paid administrative leave in connection with an incident last week in which he stopped the family rushing to visit a dying mother, detaining them for 13 minutes to write a traffic ticket.

“His behavior, in my opinion, did not exhibit the common sense, discretion, the compassion that we expect our officers to exhibit,” the chief said during a press conference.

During the traffic stop, caught on the officer’s in-car camera, Powell berated the driver, ex-Philadelphia Eagles and now Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats, 26, and threatened him with arrest for running a traffic light.

“I can screw you over,” said Powell, 25. “I’d rather not do that.”

Kunkle appeared to bite his tongue a bit when expressing regret over the officer's actions.

“When we in the command staff reviewed the tapes,” he said, “we were embarrassed, disappointed — it’s hard to find the right words and still be professional in my role as a police chief.”

Moats rolled through a red light as he and his wife were en route to Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. A Dallas police squad car pulled their SUV over near the hospital's emergency entrance and drew his gun. Moats and his wife begged the officer to let them hurry on to her mother's bedside.

“You really want to go through this right now?” Moats pleaded. “My mother-in-law is dying. Right now!”

His wife, Tamishia Moats, ignored the cop and ran into the hospital with her great-aunt. Tamishia's mother, Jonetta Collinsworth, was struggling at 45 with breast cancer that had spread throughout her body. Family members rushed to her bedside from as far away as California.

Ryan Moats, who stayed behind with the father of the dying woman, said Powell also pointed his gun at him. He said he put his hands on the car because he was afraid that he might get shot. He tried to explain the situation to the officer.

“I waited until no traffic was coming,” Moats told Powell, explaining his passage through the red light. “I got seconds before she’s gone, man.”

Powell demanded his license and proof of insurance. Moats produced his license but said he didn’t know where the insurance paperwork was.

“Just give me a ticket or whatever,” he said, beginning to sound exasperated and a little argumentative.

“Shut your mouth,” Powell told him. “You can cooperate and settle down, or I can just take you to jail for running a red light.”

There was more back and forth. “If you’re going to give me a ticket, give me a ticket,” said Moats.

“Your attitude says that you need one.”

“All I’m asking you is just to hurry up.”

Powell began a lecture. “If you want to keep this going, I’ll just put you in handcuffs,” he said, “and I’ll take you to jail for running a red light.” Powell made several more points, including that the SUV was illegally parked. Moats replied “Yes sir” to each.

“Understand what I can do,” Powell concluded. “I can tow your truck. I can charge you with fleeing. I can make your night very difficult.”

“I understand,” Moats responded. “I hope you’ll be a great person and not do that.”

Hospital security guards arrived and told Powell that the Moatses’ relative really was upstairs dying. Powell spent several minutes inside his squad car, in part to check Moats for outstanding warrants. He found none. Another hospital staffer came out and spoke with a Plano police officer who had arrived.

“Hey, that’s the nurse,” the Plano officer told Powell. “She said that the mom’s dying right now, and she’s wanting to know if they can get him up there before she dies.”

“All right,” Powell replied. “I’m almost done.” (For the complete dialogue between the two, click here.)

As Moats signed the ticket, Powell continued his lecture. “Attitude’s everything,” he said. “All you had to do is stop, tell me what was going on. More than likely, I would have let you go.”

It had been about 13 minutes. Moats and Collinsworth’s father went into the hospital, where they found Collinsworth had died, with her daughter at her side.

The Moatses, who are black, said Wednesday that they can’t help but think that race might have played a part in how Powell, who is white, treated them.

“I think he should lose his job,” said Ryan Moats, a Dallas native who attended Bishop Lynch High School and now plays for the Houston Texans.

MUSIC 360: CHRIS BROWN ENROLLING IN COLLEGE!!?!

2009-03-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Chris is trying to enroll for classes at Virginia's Norfolk State University. He and his mother attended this weekend's open house at the prestigious Virginia university - and were anxious to sign up for classes.

Word is Chris' mother thinks that getting a college degree would be a good move for Chris.

And we agree. At least now, if his career doesn't rebound - he can have a degree to fall back on.

BOARD GAME PROMOTING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE HITS MARKET: Online version of popular board game includes homosexual option as way of life???

2009-03-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

An online version of a popular board game includes an option for players to choose homosexual marriage and child-rearing as a way of life.

The game is on the Shockwave.com website where even children can download and play a free trail of The Game of Life. The first “Game of Life” was created by Mr. Milton Bradley in 1860.

The players’ first option in the online version is to choose a persona based on pictures that clearly depict men and women. Shortly thereafter, the game invites players to choose a spouse, regardless of the potential spouse’s sex.

One concerned mother wrote to WorldNetDaily about her experience with downloading the game to play with her daughter.

“You know how kids are,” the mother told WorldNetDaily. “My daughter noticed right away (even before I did) and clicked on one of the girls instead of one of the men and then asked, ‘Mom, how come I can marry a woman?’ and then that led into a lot more questions that, quite frankly, I was not ready to talk to my 6-year-old about.”

WorldNetDaily.com followed the mother’s example and played a game as “Jennifer,” who chose to marry another woman. The course of the game eventually added four children to WorldNetDaily’s lesbian couple.

The mother claims to have posted an objection on the game’s review board, only to have it removed by an administrator.

“I went back to the website and left a very respectful review of the game just stating that this kind of thing should be left out of kids’ games and the Shockwave.com administrator removed my post, stating it was inappropriate,” the mother said. “I had no idea how insidious they were being with pushing the homosexual agenda.”

The site again followed the mother’s example, posting the following comment under the screen name “Newseditor1.”

“Your guidelines ask us to ‘keep your language safe for kids,’ yet here’s a game where children may choose homosexual marriage and child-rearing.” WorldNetDaily wrote. “Many sections of society accept this as normative, but many also would consider this too mature a theme for children. Others would consider this downright offensive. Is it appropriate to include, for example, lesbianism in this game?”

Shortly thereafter, WorldNetDaily’s comment was posted, but the word “homosexual” was altered to *****sexual,” presumably because the stand-alone prefix “homo” is sometimes used in a derogatory fashion.

WorldNetDaily sought comment from Hasbro, the company that now owns the rights to Milton Bradley games, but received no response.

The original 1860 Milton Bradley game, known as the Checkered Game of Life, was completely redesigned in 1960 bearing almost no resemblance to the original. The new game board included the winding track, spinner and plastic buildings familiar to many. (Source: www.viklife.com)

KANYE CHARGED IN AIRPORT INCIDENT: Prosecutors hit rapper with battery, theft and vandalism counts

2009-03-19T10:35:00.001-07:00

*Six months after Kanye West's infamous run-in with photogs at Los Angeles International Airport, prosecutors have filed three misdemeanor charges against the rapper for his role in the incident.

West faces battery, grand theft and vandalism charges over the videotaped destruction of a photographer's camera.

West faces two and a half years in jail if convicted.

West was arrested at LAX several days after performing at the MTV Video Music Awards in September.

TMZ.com shot video that showed West breaking the flash of a photographer's camera inside a terminal, and his manager breaking the camera itself and accosting TMZ's videographer:

Obama on Jay Leno Tonight!!

2009-03-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

President Obama is about to make another historical move. He’s in L.A. today to tape his appearance on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno”. He’s the first sitting President to appear on a late night show. And I have a feeling it's gonna be MSTV (Must See TV). By the way, the Prez filled out his NCAA bracket and even though he said my Texas A&M Aggies are going to lose today, I ain't mad at 'em. His pick to win the Championship is North Carolina.

Music 360: DOTTIE PEOPLES TEAMS UP WITH BOBBY VALENTINO?

2009-03-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

When I first heard about this, I thought it was joke somebody was playing on me. After researching the matter for myself, I found out this was real. Ms. “On Time God” joins Bobby Valentino on a intro for his new CD that was released last month. Y

In other Dottie Peoples news, Dottie has become the first African American female Artist with her own Gospel Record Label in Atlanta, Georgia. DP Muzik Group was newly founded in 2008 and will raise the level of diversity by producing music ranging from Traditional Gospel to Holy Hip Hop. The newly-founded Gospel Recording Label launched with Dottie Peoples’ new CD Do It, September of 2008. In addition to launching her own Record Label, she is stepping into a new arena. You will soon be able to purchase her new line of hair care products called Angel Ambience and a cosmetic line, Descending Dove. Manufactured in Beaumont, Texas by The Invisible Armor, Inc., these products will be sold in retail stores around the country.

Hmmm....

Interracial Drama For Disney’s First Black Princess

2009-03-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

There’s controversy surrounding Disney’s first black american princess. While The Princess & The Frog’s Princess Tiana and the rest of the cast is made up of mainly black characters, folks are pissy that the prince is not. Prince Naveen of Maldonia and is voiced by a Brazilian actor and people say he looks more white than black in photographs from the film that Disney has released.

Disappointed fans wrote:

‘I think it’s sad that he is white because its saying that black love isn’t good enough and that black men could never be princes.

‘Disney had the perfect chance to make its first black prince, but instead it decided to go the controversial route.’

“I am very disappointed and I wished Disney had made the prince black,(and the ironic thing is the prince in the movie is white but the evil voodoo villain is voiced by a black actor and is black).’

Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Princess Tiana, says “Not only is she the first black princess, she’s the first American princess. We’ve never had an American princess. The scope and the significance is larger than people even realize.” The movie, set in 1920 New Orleans, comes out later this year.

FIRST BLACK FORMULA 1 DRIVER AT TUSSAUDS: Lewis Hamilton wax figure unveiled Wednesday in London.

2009-03-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

*A statue of race car standout Lewis Hamilton, the first black Formula 1 driver, was unveiled Wednesday at London's Madame Tussauds waxworks museum.

"He has undoubtedly won a place in the nation's hearts for his determination and single mindedness and a place at Madame Tussauds for an amazing track record," said a spokesperson for the attraction.

Hamilton became the youngest ever Formula One world champion last year in only his second season, beating Felipe Massa to the crown on the last corner of the last race.

His wax look-a-like has him in full racing kit and holding a replica of his race helmet. It took approximately six months to create and cost $ 210,000.

As previously reported, Hamilton was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) earlier this month.

Bernie Madoff's REALITY: Ponzi schemer is caged 23 hours a day, gets bad food and few visitors

2009-03-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Let this marinate..

HEALTH BREAKTHROUGH!! Doctors Get ONE STEP CLOSER To A Cure For DIABETES!!!

2009-03-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from hereditary diabetes, a condition that destroys cells in the pancreas and leaves the body unable to regulate blood sugar levels.

Sufferers are forced to inject themselves with insulin everyday and adopt special diets to cope with the irreversible condition.

But now scientists claim a cure could be developed after cells in the liver were converted to insulin producers in research on mice.

They believe the process, described in the journal Developmental Cell, could one day lead to a permanent one-off cure for the disease.

Dr Lawrence Chan and his team at the the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, injected a gene into mice which converted stem cells in the liver to replace those damaged in the pancreas.

They discovered that the blood sugar of the mice returned to normal within a few weeks and remained that way for the rest of the animal's natural life.

Liver cells have been coverted to insulin producers before but this is the first time scientists have understood the technique and believe eventually could lead to treatment for humans.

One obstacle is that in order for the gene called neurogenin3 to bond with a cell it needs to be transported by a virus which could be deadly to humans.

Dr. Vijay Yechoor, co-author, said: "The mice responded within a week. The levels of sugar in their blood plummeted to normal and stayed that way for the rest of their normal lives."

White House Fountains Dyed Green For First Time At Michelle Obama's Request

2009-03-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON — The White House is going green for St. Patrick's Day.

The water in the fountains on the north and south lawns of the White House has been dyed green to mark the national holiday of Ireland.

First Lady Michelle Obama came up with the idea for the festive touch, said spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld. She was inspired by the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in her hometown of Chicago, where the city marks the holiday by dyeing the river green.

"It's a little piece of home for our new home," said Lelyveld, who is also from Chicago.

Lelyveld said it's the first time the water in the White House fountains has been dyed. The green hue will stay until the dye runs outs.

President Barack Obama marks St. Patrick's Day with separate meetings in Washington with Irish leaders and he'll also attend St. Patrick's Day events in the White House and on Capitol Hill.

Watch out now Michelle...don't be doin' the most. Dey watchin'!

Gospel Spotlight: NEW GROUP TO WATCH

2009-03-17T13:20:00.001-07:00

The hills are alive with the sound of music and it’s a funky sound blasting from the mountains of Richmond, Virginia where a local group named G.I. is about to take their progressive urban sound global. Through a partnership with Blacksmoke/Worldwide and their own label BGA Music Group, GI’s debut CD “God’s Image” will hit stores nationally on April 7, 2009.

G.I. consists of four anointed and appointed young gentlemen by the names of Branden Anderson, Marlon Anderson, Curtis Langley, and Lamonte Harris. The group has been singing together across the world for 10 years. They are singers, dancers, songwriters, and musicians. It is rare that you find all of these talents wrapped up into one unit.

The young gentlemen are also entrepreneurs. The group owns and operates its own label, BGA Records, where group member/manager, Branden Anderson serves as President/CEO, and the other members hold executive positions within the company. Serving as excellent role models and being advocates of education, every member is either attending, or has graduated from college. Branden graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Industry Studies. Marlon graduated from Virginia State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. Curtis is a Music Education Major at Virginia State University. Lamonte is a Music Media Major at Norfolk State University.

This is a group to watch! I’m putting my GOSPELCONNOISSEUR.COM stamp of approval on them. Not that they will need, because these guys are destine for whatever God’s has in store for them. Watch their new video of their rousing first single “Get Up”. It’s already making its way up the Radio & Records national gospel airplay chart.

Foolywang: As Believer's Let's Not Get Caught OUT THERE

2009-03-17T13:17:00.001-07:00

Singer BeBe Winans was booked yesterday on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge for allegedly shoving his ex-wife Debra D. Winans to the ground during an argument last month. He was briefly held at the Davidson County jail before posting $1000 bond.

Court filings indicate that BeBe had a “verbal altercation” with his ex-wife on Feb. 13 about “custody issues dealing with their children.” The incident took place at his ex-wife’s Nashville home, where BeBe had driven to pick up his children. The filing also claims: His ex-wife was telling the him of issues with the children when BeBe became irate. BeBe then, allegedly push her to the ground.

Lawd….my brother BeBe!!! Let’s not past judgement, we don’t know what actually happen. Whisper a prayer for all parties involved, especially the children.

UPDATE

BeBe has responded to publised reports of him being arrested on a domestic assault charge by his former wife. In a press release from his press agent, Patti Webster of W&W PR, he made this comment:

“To be accused of these allegations, which arose out of a child custody right dispute and my desire to spend time with our children as court ordered, is nothing less than heart wrenching. Since I choose to say nothing negative about my children’s mother, I will make no comment other than to say the allegations are inconsistent with my character and the foundation upon which I was raised and I am prayerful that the matter is straightened out very soon for the sake of our children.”

SUNDAY BEST RECAP - For those of you who care

2009-03-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

They entered the judges room as confident singers, but after the judges gives them the truth about their talents, they leave out a little deflated. Some cried, some profess to the camera that they will continue to “sing for Jesus”. On last night, the last 10 were chosen to take the stage next week, with the hope their dreams will come true and become Sunday’s Best.

Some of the highlights:

Robin “The Unicyclist” - What was that all about really? BeBe didn’t help the audition at all when he told her, “do the rest on the bike”! Then when Tina told the poor woman,”when Sunday Best becomes a circus, you’re in”! Foolywang material

Kirk Franklin - Is it just me or is Kirk Franklin really funny? I know Kirk has always been a clown, but last night I was laughing out loud.

Sister Gomez- I thought Sharon Gomez was going to stink up the place, but she shock me. She actually was my favorite of the night. If she can get her confidence up, she might be one to watch.

Pete Roberts- He broke me down slow, with his story of being robbed; kidnapped; shot; and left for dead. If that is not a testimony of coming back, I don’t know what is.

SAMMY DAVIS JR. WIDOW DIES: ALTOVISE

2009-03-17T13:07:00.001-07:00

Altovise Davis, the widow of singer and dancer Sammy Davis Jr., died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of complications from a stroke, her business partner, Barrett LaRoda, said. She was 65. She was surrounded by friends and family, including her son, Manny Davis.

She married Sammy at a Philadelphia courthouse in May 1970 and were together 20 years, adopting their son Manny in 1989. Sammy Davis died of throat cancer at age 64 on May 16, 1990, five days after their 20th wedding anniversary.

My condolence go out to her family. I remember when Altovise requested Tramaine Hawkins to sing “What Shall I Do” at the Sammy Davis’s funeral. Tramaine’s performance was so moving. I don’t have that video, but here is Tramaine singing “What Shall I Do” at Bishop McMurray's service.

DID YOU KNOW? BLACK MARRIAGE DAY

2009-03-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday is Black Marriage Day, March 22, 2009! The theme this year is First Comes Love: Guiding Our Youth to Marriage. I never heard of this until about a month ago, but I think it’s an awesome project. It started in 2001 with the passion of founder and executive director Nisa I. Muhammad. The concept is to help teens, couples, and singles create healthy relationships and healthy marriages to better the outcomes for children. “We’re creating a cultural shift in the Black community to reconsider marriage and celebrate the joy that exists in spite of the pain we often experience,” Nisa Muhammad, said.

It’s funny how much our environment has an effect on us. When you grow up seeing unhealthy relationships, you are more likely to repeat the same mistakes. Let’s get behind this celebration, do something positive with your mate. To all my single folks out there, you are not exempt from this. I want you to get out there and do something positive for yourself. That man or woman is on the way…trust me!

Go to the website blackmarriageday.com, they have some ideals of what you can do to celebrate Black Marriage Day.

Friday's Foolywang: Behind Implants Go Horribly Wrong

2009-03-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Just leave it alone. If God didn't give it to you, maybe he didn't want you to have it. My mic is off...

Say It Ain't So: BeBe Winans Arrested For Domestic Violence!

2009-03-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

BeBe Winans was arrested on domestic violence charges this week! His ex-wife filed charges against him after she says he shoved her to the ground during a heated argument last month. Apparently they were arguing over their children’s custody, and it escalated to physical violence. He posted $1000 bail.

Ain't he supposed to be judging Sunday's Best? Good luck with that

BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: ANNA J. COOPER

2009-03-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

ANNA J. COOPER (1858-1964) was an author, educator and one of the most important black scholars in history.

Cooper was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Hannah Stanley Haywood, an enslaved woman. It is believed that her owner, George Washington Haywood, fathered Cooper and her siblings.

She attended the St. Augustine’s Normal School and Collegiate Institute starting at the age of 10 where she became interested in math and science. Upon completing her studies, she remained as an instructor. In 1877, she married George Cooper, a candidate for the ministry at St. Augustine.

After his death only two years later, Anna Cooper, wishing to pursue a teaching career, applied to enter Oberlin College. As a widow, Cooper was free to pursue greater educational opportunities and with the help of a full scholarship from the college, she earned her bachelor of arts degree in 1884 while electing to take the “Gentlemen’s Course” rather than the program designed for women. After a brief hiatus teaching at Wilberforce University and St. Augustine, she returned to Oberlin to earn a master’s degree in mathematics in 1887.

Her first book, A Voice from the South: By a Woman from the South, published in 1892, is often considered as one of the first articulations of Black Feminism. She entered the doctoral program at Columbia University in 1914 while still teaching full-time, then transferred her credits to the University of Paris (Sorbonne), earning her Ph.D. in 1925 with a thesis (written in French) on The Attitude of France on the Question of Slavery Between 1789 and 1848. She was 67 at the time she was awarded the degree, becoming only the fourth black woman to earn a Ph.D. degree in any field.

Cooper became the second president of Frelinghuysen University, a nontraditional group of schools

to be a beacon of hope for “colored working people”, in 1930. She continued to be a strong advocate for women’s education and for racial and gender equality. On February 27, 1964, Cooper died in Washington, D.C., at the age of 105. Her memorial was held in chapel on the campus of Saint Augustine’s College, where her academic career began, and she was buried alongside her husband at the City Cemetery in Raleigh.

HOW SWEET THE SOUND RETURNS

2009-03-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

After the overwhelming reception last year, Verizon Wireless returns with How Sweet The Sound, the search for the best gospel music choir in America. Host Donald Lawrence and Marvin Sapp will be returning for 2009. Last year eleven gospel choirs from around the country came together for a remarkable finale in Atlanta, winning cash and prizes for their respective churches totaling over $50,000. Acme Missionary Baptist Church from Chicago, Illinois was the grand finale winner of $25,000, which their Pastor Bernard Sutton said would help build the congregation a new sanctuary.

How Sweet the Sound is a celebration of church music, all church music, sung the way only a church choir can sing it. So bring your traditional, contemporary, and everything in between - we want to hear what you’ve got to sing.

Free registration for the Verizon How Sweet The Sound competition begins April 1st. For more information and contest rules log onto:

http://www.howsweetthesound.com/

GOSPEL COMIC VIEW??

2009-03-11T17:19:00.001-07:00

BET is continuing to explore their Gospel TV programming with the launching of Gospel Comic View- A Time to Laugh and has obtained Vickie Winans as the host for this show. They recently held auditions in Atlanta at the Uptown Comedy Center. Comedians were asked to perform a 2 minute routine in front of the judges.

I’ll keep you posted as to when this show will debut.

Everbody Is Schoolin'!MARVIN SAPP TO OPEN A SCHOOL

2009-03-11T17:16:00.001-07:00

The Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology, a fine arts middle and high school headed by Marvin and MaLinda Sapp targets a fall 2010 opening in Grand Rapids, MI. “We are so committed to making this school a reality and we are dedicated to the children and want something that is only in their best interests,” said MaLinda.

Meanwhile, the Sapps are offering an after-school program that combines academics and arts. Opened last fall under the Ellington name, the program draws about 70 students. MaLinda Sapp said the after-school program is thriving, tripling in size since September. Students meet three days a week for up to three hours, with tutoring in math and science in addition to choir, instrumental music and other aspects of the performing arts.

Marvin Sapp is also senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids and his wife MaLinda Sapp serves as his manager.

Good Job! Can I send you the one I got….I’m just saying!!!

SUNDAY BEST STARTED THIS SUNDAY

2009-03-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Don’t forget to tune into BET’s wildly popular television show Sunday Best on tivo or something. The premiere of the 2nd season of Sunday Best airs this Sunday March 8 at 9pm ET. The nationwide talent search gives singers from across the country the opportunity to showcase their gift on a national stage and compete for the title of “Sunday Best”. Talent searches began in January in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington DC in addition to an online casting call to discover talent for this year’s season. .

Kirk Franklin will return to host the show as BeBe Winans and Mary Mary will resume their roles as celebrity judges. This season, the Sunday Best home moves to Atlanta’s Turner Studios. This year’s grand prize winner will walk away with a 2009 Lincoln MKS as part of their grand prize winnings.

Coming Soon: Scientology Academy?

2009-03-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Jada Plinko Smith's controversial school in Calabasas, the New Village Leadership Academy, is thriving!

The actress turned musician turned producer opened the doors to the experimental ~~Scientology~~ Academy last fall after more and more parents requested for their kids to join the home-schooling program Pinkett Smith had started for her two children!

"More and more parents were like, 'Can we come?' Then my house started to fill up. We had like 20 kids and I said, 'We might as well start a school,"' Jada said on the conception of the Academy.

Sure! Starting a school on your own accord is always a good idea!

60 children have enrolled at the Academy so far, and Jada is hoping to extend the experimental school to grades 9 through 12.

With both Pinkett Smith and her husband, Will Smith ~~dabbling in Scientology~~, The New Village Leadership Academy was accused of abiding by the teachings of ~~Tom Cruise~~ L. Ron Hubbard!

Pinkett Smith adamantly denies this, saying the school abides by "'100 percent mastery,' encouraging students to retake exams until they score 100 percent."

We assume that means grades have been eliminated from the curriculum!

Would U send your children to Plinko's school???

Losing Religion: Number Of Non-Believers Rising In Every State

2009-03-09T14:02:00.001-07:00

A wide-ranging study on American religious life found that the Roman Catholic population has been shifting out o of the Northeast to the Southwest, the percentage of Christians in the nation has declined and more people say they have no religion at all.

Fifteen percent of respondents said they had no religion, an increase from 14.2 percent in 2001 and 8.2 percent in 1990, according to the American Religious Identification Survey.

Northern New England surpassed the Pacific Northwest as the least religious region, with Vermont reporting the highest share of those claiming no religion, at 34 percent. Still, the study found that the numbers of Americans with no religion rose in every state.

"No other religious bloc has kept such a pace in every state," the study's authors said.

In the Northeast, self-identified Catholics made up 36 percent of adults last year, down from 43 percent in 1990. At the same time, however, Catholics grew to about one-third of the adult population in California and Texas, and one-quarter of Floridians, largely due to Latino immigration, according to the research.

Nationally, Catholics remain the largest religious group, with 57 million people saying they belong to the church. The tradition gained 11 million followers since 1990, but its share of the population fell by about a percentage point to 25 percent.

Christians who aren't Catholic also are a declining segment of the country.

In 2008, Christians comprised 76 percent of U.S. adults, compared to about 77 percent in 2001 and about 86 percent in 1990. Researchers said the dwindling ranks of mainline Protestants, including Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians, largely explains the shift. Over the last seven years, mainline Protestants dropped from just over 17 percent to 12.9 percent of the population.

Christ Brown's Judge is a SISTAH!!!

2009-03-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

Drama at the L.A. Superior Court! Chris arrived into court just a while ago in his grey suit and white shirt

. He came with a whole crew of family and lawyers. Apparently everything went really quickly and Chris was granted a continuance by the judge until April 6th. Sources around the courthouse tell us Chris didn’t plead anything at all. Also, peep the video, the judge is an AAF! He betta watch his every little step!

Foolywang Supreme: When The Good News Goes Bad

2009-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

When I saw this video, I took my coat, tried to shape it into a makeshift coffin and laid myself on the ground under my desk, asking the good lawd to take me now...God definitely has A WAY, but this is NOT IT!

White Woman Only Wants To Rent To White People

2009-03-05T09:29:00.000-08:00

NIAGARA FALLS—Two days after a man was sentenced to probation and community service for putting up a sign as a “joke” in a public works garage that said “whites only” on a drinking fountain, city police were called to a home in the 600 block of 25th Street on Sunday to investigate another racially charged sign.

This one was clearly no joke.

No charges were filed Sunday, but police told the woman she must take down the handwritten sign on a fence on her property saying, “I rent three bedrooms [at her address to] white people Niagara Falls.” woman agreed to take down the sign under protest. The officer said the woman already had seven more signs she was planning to hang up. [source]

The 53-year-old woman told police she put up the sign after someone tried to break into her house and added, “I can do what I want. I live in America,” according to a police report.

Today's CHRIHANNA DRAMA: First Court Date

2009-03-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

LAPD officers say Rihanna definitely told them minutes after the assault by Chris Brown last month that this wasn’t the first time. She said he had been violent toward her in the past and that the attacks were getting “more violent” as time went on. Surprise surprise. LAPD also says the picture that we all saw weeks ago of Rihanna looking bruised and beat, is FAR BETTER than she actually looked right after the incident. In the D.A.’s case file, they have pictures that are 10 times more gruesome and horrific than what we’ve seen.

So it looks like they’re going to use all that info, as well as those blood-in-the-car pics, against Chris today at the court date. Hopefully these pregnancy rumors aren’t true either….

UPDATE: According the NY Daily News, a search warrant for the case has been seen by news sources and here’s the rundown:

Chris Brown repeatedly punched songbird Rihanna to the point where she almost lost consciousness and blood splattered all over her clothes - then threatened to “kill” her once “they got home” after the singer alerted her assistant to call cops, according to a search warrant in the case.

FIRST LADY VISITS ARLINGTON CEMETERY

2009-03-05T08:11:00.001-08:00

First Lady Michelle Obama poses with veterans Alyce Dixon, 102, and Ester P. Corcoran, 103, (R) at Arlington National Cemetery’s Women in Military Service for America Memorial Center in Washington earlier this week in observance of Women’s History Month.

BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: RON BROWN

2009-03-05T08:08:00.001-08:00

RON BROWN (1941-1996) was a businessman and politician who was the first black person to serve as chairman of a national political party and the first black Secretary of Commerce.

Brown was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in a middle-class family in Harlem, New York. As a child, he appeared in an advertisement for Pepsi-Cola, one of the first to be targeted specifically towards the African-American community. He was a member of JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA and attended Hunter College Elementary School and Rhodes Preparatory School.

He attended Middlebury College, a private liberal arts college in Vermont, and became the first black member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He joined the army in 1962 after graduating and married the former Alma Arrington. After being discharged five years later, Brown worked as a welfare caseworker for the City of New York then theNATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE and attended law school classes at night at St. John’s University.

In 1980, he worked on Sen. Edward Kennedy’s presidential campaign and was soon appointed chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee. The next year he joined one of the nation’s top law firms, Patton, Boggs & Blow, as its first black partner. He continued to be active in politics and served as JESSE JACKSON’s convention manager in his 1988 presidential bid.

As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1989 to 1992, Brown reunited the Party after its defeat in the 1988 election and led it to victory in 1992. This earned him a cabinet-level appointment in Pres. Bill Clinton’s administration as Secretary of Commerce; he is widely credited with revitalizing the department.

A tireless advocate for American business at home and abroad, Brown circled the globe spreading good will with his characteristic enthusiasm and cultivated opportunities and markets for American products. In 1996, Brown and 34 others were killed when their plane crashed during stormy weather on a three-day economic tour of the Balkans for the Department of Commerce. In December of that same year, the RON BROWN SCHOLAR PROGRAM was established.

Half of Black Teens May Be Vitamin D Deficient

2009-03-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) -- Many teens today, especially black teens, aren't getting enough of vitamin D, the so-called sunshine vitamin that is essential for cells to function, say researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

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Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, immune system problems and inflammatory diseases.

"There is evidence that the levels of vitamin D we have been using in the past may have been too low," said lead researcher Dr. Sandy Saintonge, a fellow in general preventive medicine at Weill Cornell.

Vitamin D is measured by blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Currently, people whose vitamin D level is less than 11 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) are classified as deficient, but many experts believe that the minimum level of vitamin D should be at least 20 ng/mL.

Several factors can interfere with the amount of vitamin D the body produces, including diet, sun exposure, use of sunscreen and skin color. Blacks take in less of the sun's rays than whites, causing less vitamin D production, Saintonge noted.

REST OF ARTICLE HERE

Out & About: The Rokers

2009-03-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

The Rokers at a kickoff party for Women’s History Month.

Was there rain in the forecast Al?

*folds top lip into mouth*

Today's Foolywang: Woman Calls 911 After McDonalds Runs Out of Nuggets??

2009-03-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

A Florida woman was so upset about McDonald’s running out of McNuggets that she called 5-0 on Ronald’s crew. She pleaded with the 911 folks to get the cops out there because theyMcDonald’s worker wouldn’t return her money and “was forcing her to eat food she didn’t want”. This is pure foolishness…caught on tape. But apparently this lady has been arrested previously for some other foolishness. She was arrested again after making these McNugget emergency 911 calls.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FOOLISHNESS!

Music 360: ON THE SET: MARY MARY - “GOD IN ME”

2009-03-04T08:19:00.001-08:00

Gospel duo Mary Mary posed with Kanye West and Common on the set of their video for their new single “God In Me”. The video, shot in LA on Sunday evening, features the two rappers making appearances - as well as Fonzworth Bentley, Heavy D, Flex Anderson, Shanice, Kelly Price, David Banner, and Kierra Sheard (who is featured on the song).

Hmmmm......

Not Another One! Education Official Resigns Over Racist Obama Emails

2009-03-04T08:14:00.001-08:00

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (WPIX) -- A Staten Island man who was appointed to an Education Department parent council resigned Tuesday after admitting he forwarded racist emails.

Borough President James Molinaro called up Salvatore Ballarino and asked the education official to resign because his conduct, according to Molinaro, was "inappropriate and unacceptable as my appointee."

According to the New York Post, the email contained a series of photos showing then-Senator Barack Obama and John McCain during a Presidential debate with invented dialogue, including one that refers to black men hanging from a tree and equating black babies to excrement.

Ballarino then forwarded the emails to dozens of co-workers and people active in Staten Island politics, the report said.

Upon hearing news about Ballarino's resignation, NAACP National Committee leader Tammy Greer Brown said "Great, good, great! Thank you for leaving."

As for Ballarino, he told the Post the email was just one of hundreds containing jokes that he forwards to friends and co-workers.

"So what's the big deal?" he said. "I have plenty of black friends and plenty of black people I think the world of."

LA County tries for NO CUSSING WEEK! Starts Today!

2009-03-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES -- Pay no attention to that eerie silence in the nation's most populous county this week; it will simply be the sound of 10 million people not cussing.

At least that's the result McKay Hatch is hoping for once his campaign to clear the air is recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

On Tuesday, the board is scheduled to issue a proclamation by Supervisor Michael Antonovich making the first week in March No Cussing Week.

That would mean no blue language from the Mojave desert, where it gets hot as $&# in the summer, to the Pacific Ocean, where on a winter's day it can get colder and nastier than %$#!

Not that 15-year-old Hatch expects complete compliance. When his No Cussing Club meets at South Pasadena High School on Wednesdays it's not unusual for a nonmember to throw open the door and fire off a torrent of four-letter words. He's also been the target of organized harassment by pro-cussers.

And Antonovich's county motion carries no penalties.

"But it's a good reminder for all of us, not just young people but everybody, to be respectful to one another and watch the words we use," said the supervisor's spokesman, Tony Bell.

The county isn't the first entity to try to put the lid on swearing. Hatch's hometown of South Pasadena declared itself a cuss-free zone for a week last March, and two years ago a high school in Canada threatened to suspend repeat cussers.

Hatch has lofty goals.

"Next year I want to try to get California to have a cuss-free week. And then, who knows, maybe worldwide," said the 10th grader, who believes if people treat each other with more civility they can better work together to solve bigger problems.

He said his campaign began to form about the time he hit seventh grade when he noticed his friends beginning to swear, something his family didn't allow.

He formed the No Cussing Club and invited others to join. Soon the group had a Web site, bright orange T-shirts, a hip hop theme song and inquiries from all over from people interested in joining. He estimates 20,000 people have formed similar clubs.

"It's not about forcing anyone to stop, just to bring awareness," he says of the movement. "If you can do a week without cussing, maybe you can do two weeks. And then maybe a month."

Historically black colleges feeling economy's strain

2009-03-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

Many students can't afford to go elsewhere and rely on financial aid. Painful choices may loom.

By Errin Haines

Associated Press
ATLANTA - Historically black colleges and universities, which for decades have been educating students who can't afford to go - or can't imagine going - elsewhere, have been particularly challenged by the nation's economic meltdown.

Enrollments at the schools have declined while endowments have dropped and fund-raising sources have dried up. The same is true at most universities, but often students at black colleges need more aid to stay on course.

"What's most difficult for our institutions is that they are tuition-driven," said Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund. "They don't have large endowments, and even the ones who do have seen a large reduction in the value of those endowments."

Most colleges are dealing with economic problems. One survey on 791 American public and private colleges reported that endowments fell 3 percent in the fiscal year that ended June 30, and a smaller group estimated a 23 percent drop in the first five months of fiscal 2009.

The decline is nearly double that of any full-year return since such figures were first tracked in 1974.

Only three black colleges - Howard University in Washington, Spelman College in Atlanta, and Hampton University in Virginia - had endowments among the top 300 included in the survey. Most lack the resources and strength in alumni giving of their mainstream counterparts.

Most students at the colleges combine grants and loans to fund their educations, Lomax said. A small percentage get help from their parents, and others work retail or fast-food jobs to make tuition.

An Associated Press analysis showed that 62 percent of students at 83 four-year historically black colleges receive Pell Grants. More than 90 percent of those recipients come from families earning less than $40,000 a year.

Lomax expects the colleges to survive, but they may have to make some painful choices to do it. "These are institutions that have made it through the Great Depression and other cyclical downturns," he said. "What we're doing is counseling schools to tighten their belts as much as possible."

That has Adrianna Ebron, a Spelman sophomore from Baltimore, reconsidering the strategy for her studies.

Spelman recently announced it was phasing out its department of education in favor of a shared teacher-certification program based at Clark Atlanta University that will also include Morehouse College. All three are part of the Atlanta University Center, which recently announced cost-cutting measures that will include sacrificing people and programs.

Ebron is majoring in history but was attracted to Spelman's education department, which has long been a part of its legacy. Her minor was secondary education, with a goal to teach history. But she now plans to postpone her teacher certification until graduate school because for her, taking classes at Clark Atlanta isn't an option. "It just messes up my whole plan for my education here," she said.

Other cost-cutting measures at Spelman include eliminating 35 positions and closing campus for the week after graduation in May. Clark Atlanta cut 100 workers and canceled its physical education classes. At Morehouse, 25 adjunct professors, a third of the school's part-time instructors, were released.

Morehouse enrollment is down 8 percent from last year and the school's endowment is down to about $110 million from a high of $150 million. And fund-raising has been tough, especially from corporate and high-profile donors, Morehouse president Robert Franklin said.

A bright spot has emerged at Morehouse, however: An increase in alumni donors, especially first-time givers. "They feel a greater responsibility for the health of the college," said Franklin.

Similarly, Spelman has seen 1,000 more donors, a 67 percent increase in alumnae giving and a 250 percent increase in giving from parents. But in both cases, the gifts have been smaller, and Spelman faces a budget deficit of $4.8 million.

Movies: ‘Madea’ Holds Off Jonas Brothers at Box Office

2009-03-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

The Jonas Brothers are apparently no Miley Cyrus, at least not yet. Opening-weekend results for that candy-coated rock band’s concert movie, “The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” missed industry expectations by a mile, selling a soft $12.7 million in tickets at North American theaters. Hollywood box-office experts had predicted the movie’s gross would be in the $25 million range, based largely on the $31.1 million opening of last year’s “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” movie. Over all Hollywood had another bang-up weekend. Ticket sales stood at $87.7 million, up 10 percent over this time last year, according to Media by Numbers, a box-office tracking firm. “Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail,” with Mr. Perry, above, was No. 1, with $16.5 million ($64.9 million since its release). Rounding out the Top 5 were “Slumdog Millionaire” with $12.2 million ($115.1 million so far), the thriller “Taken” with $10 million ($108 million) and the romantic comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You” with $5.9 million ($78.5 million). Walt Disney Pictures tried to put a positive spin on its Jonas Brothers release, saying the picture had the second-highest-grossing opening for a concert film (behind “Hannah”). But Chuck Viane, president for domestic distribution, said the studio’s decision to open the film in extended release — the Miley Cyrus movie was packaged as a one-week-only stunt — “probably took some of the urgency away.” Mr. Viane said 65 percent of the “Jonas Brothers” audience was younger than 17.

Tragic: Prayers go out for missing Lions end Corey Smith

2009-03-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

Detroit Lions' Corey Smith sat on the bench in an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in September 2008 in San Francisco.

Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, who also was on the boat, is missing, as well.

The U.S. Coast Guard upped its efforts this morning to scour to scour 750 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico for a 21-foot boat and its four passengers, including Lions free-agent defensive end Corey Smith.

The Air Force is also helping out with the search, contributing helicopters to the effort, WTSP-TV in Tampa reported this morning.

A news conference is planned for 11 a.m. to update the search conditions.

Smith, 29, spent the past three seasons with the Lions, mostly as a backup player. He and the three others, including Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, did not return Saturday night after embarking on a fishing trip just west of Tampa about 6:30 a.m. that morning.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Sondra-Kay Kneen said late Sunday that the search would continue through the night and described the water as "pretty rough, pretty choppy."

The Lions issued a statement Sunday that the team was maintaining contact with search authorities.

"First and foremost, however, is that our thoughts and prayers are with all the passengers, their families and all those involved in the search efforts," the statement read.

Coast Guard Capt. Timothy M. Close said the weather early Saturday had been fair, but worsened toward the evening as a front moved in.

Close said at least one of the men was an experienced boater, and relatives provided the Coast Guard with GPS coordinates from previous fishing expeditions.

Close said there was no communication with the men even before the weather started to pick up. They were expected home by early evening. No sign of them or the boat had been spotted by Sunday evening. Relatives told the Coast Guard the men had life jackets and flares.

New Black History: FIRST EVER COMMERCIAL FLIGHT WITH AN ALL BLACK FEMALE FLIGHT CREW!!!

2009-03-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Our African-American women continue to demonstrate professionalism, intelligence and unlimited potential as they contribute to our overall struggle for unlimited freedom, access and opportunity in America. The sisters on Flights 5202 and 5106 (a jet owned by Atlantic Southeast Airlines) have proven that African-American women can do anything if just given a fair opportunity.

Their aviation success is a very proud moment for us all.

I'm not 100% sure, but I'm almost positive that we might have made history on Thursday, February 12, 2009. I was a part of an all African American female crew. I'm attaching the photos and you can pass them along to whomever. We were so excited!

We operated flight 5202 from Atlanta to Nashville and flight 5106 from Nashville back to Atlanta. The crew included CPT Rachelle Jones, FO Stephanie Grant, FA's Robin Rogers and Diana Galloway!

Proud moment indeed …

Music 360: RAPPER SNOOP DOGG ALLEGEDLY JOINS THE NATION OF ISLAM!!!

2009-03-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Rapper Snoop Dogg may be a member of the Nation Of Islam. Over the weekend, Snoop attended Founder’s Day to hear the group’s leader Louis Farrakhan speak.

Snoop was among a number of celebrities who attended the annual Nation Of Islam event. But when an AP reporter asked Snoop whether he supported the Nation Of Islam, MediaTakeOut.com discovered that Snoop said the following:

I’m already in the Nation, that’s why I’m here … I’m an advocate for peace. I’ve been in the peace movement ever since I’ve been making music. My whole thing is not about trying to push my thing on you. It’s just about the way I live, and I live how I’m supposed to live as far as doing what’s right and representing what’s right. That’s why I was here today

WOW … who knew…..

JENNIFER HUDSON RETURNS TO HER GOSPEL ROOTS

2009-02-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

There are rumors floating around that Jennifer Hudson will record a gospel album in the spring. “[Jennifer] has always wanted to explore different genres and she’s recorded gospel before, so it makes a lot of sense,” the source said.

Jennifer, who was raised in the church and sang in the choir, has done well as secular artist. Her latest CD includes one gospel song - “Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There.”

Today (Friday) the Oscar and Grammy winner will appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

MOVIES: Slumdog actor beaten by dad

2009-02-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

THESE shocking images show Oscar winning Slumdog actor Azharuddin Mohammed receiving a vicious beating at the hands of his father.

Only days after walking down the red carpet in Hollywood the ten-year-old film star was slapped and kicked by dad, Ismail, after refusing to be put on display like a trophy.

One onlooker said: "It was like a scene out of Slumdog Millionaire."

The lad's dad has since apologised for striking his son.

“I was very sorry that I did what I did,” said the repentant father.

“I was so confused and stressed by my son’s homecoming that I did not know myself for a minute. I love my boy and I am very happy to have him home.”

The ugly scenes, which lasted no more than 30 seconds, broke out at around midday today Indian time in the Dharavi slum in Bandra, Mumbai.

Azharuddin, who had been given a day off school, was tired after his long haul flight from LA and prolonged hero’s welcome amid a media scrum yesterday.

And when he refused to be put on display outside his home this afternoon, his father lashed out, kicking and slapping him round the face.

His mother cried out for him to stop, but Ismail continued to dish out the physical punishment to the child-star.

Azharuddin stood up to his dad, flaring the temper of the 45-year-old, who launched himself at the lad shamelessly.

Azharuddin yelped out as he tried to evade the older man's flailing hands and feet.

Star ... cast on the red carpet

He dashed into the tent that makes up his family home, followed by his father, where the young Slumdog star tried to cower in the corner.

Azharuddin grabbed his face in pain and then ran off to cry.

“Azharruddin’s father was upset that he was asking to be left alone because he was tired,” said one shocked onlooker.

“He didn’t attend school today so that he could recover from his long flight from LA and simply wanted all the attention to stop.

“However, when Azharuddin put his foot down and said that was it and there was to be no more talking, Ismail just flipped.

“It was like a scene out of Slumdog Millionaire.”

Talking only moments before his father’s attack, Azharuddin spoke of his tiredness due to the long flight.

“I do not want to speak today to any reporters,” he said.

COVER SHOT: BEYONCE COVERS EBONY

2009-02-27T06:15:00.000-08:00

Looks like ~~Sasha Fierce~~ Beyone has landed the cover of EBONY next month...

SPORTS: MIKE VICK GETS HOUSE ARREST

2009-02-27T05:20:00.000-08:00

A government official says imprisoned NFL star Michael Vick has been approved for release to home confinement.

Vick's lawyers have said they expected him to be moved any day into a halfway house in Newport News, Va. But the official says there's no bed space, so Vick could be released to his Hampton, Va. home as soon as May 21st.

The official has knowledge of the case but requested anonymity because the individual was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official says Vick will be on electronic monitoring and will only be allowed to leave home for activities approved by his probation officer.

The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback is serving a 23-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., for a dogfighting conspiracy.

BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: ANNE BRADEN

2009-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

ANNE BRADEN (1924-2006) was a journalist, organizer, educator and one of the earliest and most dedicated white allies of the Civil Rights Movement.

Braden was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 28, 1924, but grew up in the more segregated town of Anniston, Alabama with her middle-class family. She was bothered by racial segregation at an early age but didn’t question it until her college years at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Virginia.

After college, she worked as a newspaper reporter in Birmingham, covering the courthouse. The lack of harmony between the Bible and the racist practices of her community troubled her, motivating her to leave the deep South. In 1947, Braden moved to Louisville to work for the Louisville Times. She found that although blacks there could vote and sit where they wished on buses, race relations were otherwise very similar to what she had experienced farther south. The following year, she married newspaperman Carl Braden.

In 1948, the Bradens worked on Henry Wallace’s presidential campaign. Following his defeat, they left journalism to devote themselves fully to the Progressive Party. Anne also fought civil rights abuses. In 1951, she was arrested for leading a delegation of Southern white women organized by the Civil Rights Congress to protest the execution of Willie McGhee, a black man convicted of allegedly raping a white woman.

In 1954, the Bradens agreed to purchase a home for Andrew and Charlotte Wade, a black couple who wanted to buy a house in a suburban neighborhood but had been unsuccessful because of Jim Crow housing practices. On May 15 (just two days before Brown v. Board of Education), the Wades spent their first night in their new home in the Louisville suburb of Shively, but once their white neighbors discovered that blacks had moved in, they burned a cross in front of the house, shot the windows and condemned the Bradens for buying it for them. Six weeks later, the Wades’ home was dynamited while they were out one evening. The bombers were never sought nor brought to trial, although Vernon Brown, an associate of both the Wades and the Bradens was indicted. In October of that year, the Bradens and five other whites were charged with sedition after the ordeal was said to stem from the Communist Party support in the Wades’ housing quest.

Carl was the perceived ringleader and was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Anne and the others awaited their sentencing while Carl served eight months but was out on a $40,000 bond when the Supreme Court invalidated state sedition laws. All charges were dropped and the Wades moved back to Louisville.

The Bradens then took jobs as field organizers for the Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF), a small, New Orleans-based civil rights organization whose mission was to solicit white Southern support for the Civil Rights Movement. Before Southern civil rights violations made national news, the Bradens developed their own media through the SCEF’s monthly newspaper, The Southern Patriot, and through numerous pamphlets and press releases publicizing major civil rights campaigns.

In 1958, Anne wrote The Wall Between, a memoir of their sedition case. It was one of the few books of its time to unpack the psychology of white Southern racism from within and was praised by human rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt, and became a runner-up for the National Book Award, one of the highest literary prizes in the United States. Although their radical politics marginalized them among many of their own generation, the Bradens were reclaimed by young student activists of the 1960s, and in his ‘‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail,’’ King singled out Anne as one of the white Southerners who understood and was committed to the Civil Rights Movement.

After Carl’s death in 1975, Anne remained among the nation’s most outspoken white anti-racist activists. She instigated the formation of a new regional multiracial organization, the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice (SOC), which initiated battles against environmental racism. She became an instrumental voice in the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition of the 1980s and in the two Jesse Jackson presidential campaigns, as well as organizing across racial divides in the new environmental, women’s and anti-nuclear movements that sprang up in that decade.

In 1990, Braden received the American Civil Liberties Union’s first Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty for her contributions to civil liberties. Her activism focused more on Louisville in her later years, where she reamined a leader in anti-racist drives and taught social justice history classes at local universities. Braden died on March 6, 2006. On April 4, of the following year, the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research opened at the University of Louisville, focused on social justice globally but concentrating on the Southern U.S. and particularly the Louisville area. Over her nearly six decades of activism, Braden’s life touched almost every modern U.S. social movement, and her message to them all was the centrality of racism and the responsibility of whites to combat it.

Today's Foolywang: No Ma’am Al Reynolds.

2009-02-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

Al Reynolds was spotted at Miami’s Sunset Lounge at The Mondrian this weekend partying it up with some females. And he thought it was A-OK to rock this hairstyle:

Yes, this dude is rocking some braid extensions. And no, we don’t believe he just got back from Jamaica. Al was tucked away in a private section at the nightclub. And yes indeed looks to have put in a few packs of braid Yaki to pull off this look. I wonder if his ex-wife Star Jones gave him tips on the best weave supply shops. Stop it.

POLITICS: PRESIDENT OBAMA ADDRESSES A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

2009-02-25T09:23:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama addresses a Joint Session of Congress as Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi look on at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, February 24th.

In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama said it’s time to act boldly not just to revive the economy, but “to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity.”

CALIFORNIA MAYOR SENDS OUT RACIST EMAIL TOWARDS OBAMA ... FORCED TO APOLOGIZE!!!

2009-02-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Apparently Mayor Grose thought it would be funny to send out a racist Obama email to local businesspeople. Too bad, he didn’t realize that one of the people he sent the message to was African American - Keyanus Price.

Here’s how it’s being reported:

"I was horrified when I read that e-mail," Price said. "What I'm concerned about is how can this person send an e-mail out like this and think it is OK?"

Being a public official, Price said, made the matter worse.

"He's putting the city into a bad place, and he is a liability," Price wrote in an e-mail.
---------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Dean Grose's apology letter to the City Council, Price and her boss
I am deeply embarrassed in receiving your email, and for any harm or hurt that it may have caused. It was poor judgement on my part and was never intended to be offensive to Ms. Price, your company or anyone in the African American Community. I have exchanged emails with Ms. Price in the past.

I can fully understand your concerns and comments. Please be advised that I have left a voice mail for Ms. Price and will also be sending her a separate email with my apology. You can be assured that I will not allow this to happen again. I in no way was representing the City of Los Alamitos, or my role as a council member in sending this out and it went via my private business email. That doesn't justify the fact that it was sent, however, we gratefully appreciate the contributions that your company makes to our community and I wish to publically apologize to anyone within the firm or organization that may have been offended.

I am truly sorry.

Dean Grose

WILLIAM BALFOUR'S LAWYER QUITS: Suspect in Jennifer Hudson family murders without an attorney as of press time.

2009-02-25T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Joshua Kutnick has withdrawn as the attorney for William Balfour, who is charged with the October murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.

Although he believes Balfour is innocent of the crime, he cannot afford to handle the financial burden of such a high-profile case alone. "It's the kind of case that involves intense hours," Kutnick said, reportedly after breaking the news to Balfour's mother. "I was gathering all resources, but I couldn't finance it."

Kutnick's exit comes less than a month after a judge agreed to move Balfour closer to Chicago so he could more easily consult with his lawyer. Balfour, 27, who was transferred from the Statesville Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, to the Cook County Jail in late January at Kutnick's request, was scheduled to have a new lawyer from the public defender's office appointed to his case this week.

Balfour has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. Kutnick had said there is no forensic evidence linking his former client to the killings.

Rupert Murdoch Apologizes For Cartoon: "The Buck Stops With Me"

2009-02-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

As the Chairman of the New York Post, I am ultimately responsible for what is printed in its pages. The buck stops with me.

Last week, we made a mistake. We ran a cartoon that offended many people. Today I want to personally apologize to any reader who felt offended, and even insulted.

Over the past couple of days, I have spoken to a number of people and I now better understand the hurt this cartoon has caused. At the same time, I have had conversations with Post editors about the situation and I can assure you - without a doubt - that the only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation. It was not meant to be racist, but unfortunately, it was interpreted by many as such.

We all hold the readers of the New York Post in high regard and I promise you that we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community.

Music 360: Jamaica regulators ban sex, violence from airwaves

2009-02-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaican regulators say they are forbidding all explicit references to sex and violence over the airwaves.

The new rules from the island's broadcast commission ban any song or music video that depicts sexual acts or glorifies gun violence, murder, rape or arson.

The Saturday announcement follows a Feb. 6 ban that specifically targeted dancehall tunes and videos depicting "daggering" — a dance style popular among Jamaican youth that features pelvic grinding simulating sex.

The beat-driven fusion of reggae and rap known as "dancehall" is hugely popular in Jamaica despite recurrent controversy over its lyrics and the dance style.

The latest ban also targets hip-hop and soca, a dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago.

MADEA GOES TO TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE: Tyler Perry's latest opens with $41.1 million, highest weekend total for both filmmaker and Lionsgate

2009-02-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

*Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail" dominated the weekend box office, opening with $41.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It was the highest grossing film ever for both Perry and the film's studio, Lionsgate, reports the Associated Press. Perry's previous opening record was $30 million for 2005's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."

Steve Rothenberg, president of distribution at Lionsgate said the debut of "Madea" was the studio's best opening in its 14-year history. The studio's previous top opening was the $33.6 million debut of 2006's "Saw III."

"You could argue that Madea is now the top female box office star in Hollywood," said Rothenberg, whose studio has distributed all seven of Perry's films, several of which were released straight to DVD. "The character is one of the great screen creations of the last decade."

The following are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released today.

1. "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail," $41.1 million.
2. "Taken," $11.4 million.
3. "Coraline," $11 million.
4. "He's Just Not That Into You," $8.5 million.
5. "Slumdog Millionaire," $8.1 million.
6. "Friday the 13th," $7.8 million.
7. "Confessions of a Shopaholic," $7 million.
8. "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," $7 million.
9. "Fired Up," $6 million.
10. "The International," $4.5 million.

UnbeWeavable! Weave Stops Bullet!

2009-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

This Sistah made the news late last week because her weave track stopped a bullet! Unbeweavable!

Black History: Pullman Porters

2009-02-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

In an era when America traveled by train, one of the best jobs a black man could land was working as a Pullman porter. It also was one of the worst. The hours were grueling — 16 hours a day, seven days a week. The first Pullman porters, hired after the Civil War, were former slaves. Their ranks swelled until they reached 20,000 in the early part of the 20th century, making them the largest group of African-American men employed in the country.

Last Tuesday, AMTRAK honored the legacy of Pullman porters, who fought bigotry to form the first-ever black labor union in the country in 1925, achieving better wages and shorter hours. Little is known about the extraordinary accomplishments of these men, who were the foot soldiers in the early civil rights movement. They ushered in a new generation of leaders like MALCOLM X and THURGOOD MARSHALL, both porters themselves.

Check out the video clip above from NBC Nightly News on the Pullman Porters - the largest group of black workers in post-slavery America, who are finally being recognized as the early engine of the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

EVENTS: PRESIDENT & FIRST LADY HOST FIRST BLACK-TIE DINNER

2009-02-23T05:50:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama enter the East Room forentertainment after a black-tie dinner at the White House on Sunday in Washington, DC.

The Obamas gave their first formal White House dinner as hosts to the NationalGovernors Association which has been holding their 2009 winter meeting discussing Obama’s stimulus program, health care, infrastructure and education.

COKO ANNOUNCES NEW GOSPEL PROJECT: Next CD release is slated for this June

2009-02-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

Grammy-nominated recording artist Coko Clemons is back in the studio recording her second Gospel album, slated for release on June 9, 2009.

The untitled release is the follow up to her debut album, “Grateful,” released in 2006 and “A Coko Christmas” which came out during the 2008 holiday season.

In addition to her recording schedule, Coko is staying busy as the wife of Mike Clemons, drummer for Israel Houghton, mom, to sons Master Jazz and Sir Jalen, and as an entrepreneur, with her own candle line, Candles by Coko.

From 1990 to 1998, Coko sang with the platinum recording group, Sisters With Voices (SWV). Altogether the group released six albums. After their 1998 Christmas album SWV disbanded. Two compilation albums were released after the disbanding; “Greatest Hits” (1999) and the “Best of SWV” (2001).

After SWV disbanded, Coko went on to release her first solo album under RCA, titled “Hot Coko,” released August 1999. The first single, "Sunshine," which was dedicated to her son Jazz, reached the top 40 position in the R&B charts that summer.

Coko was working on a second solo album titled “Music Doll” in early 2001, but RCA closed the black music division and the project was shelved. Since then, she has concentrated more on her family and married Gospel producer and drummer for Israel and New Breed, Mike "Big Mike" Clemmons, the father of her second son, Jalen.

In 2001, Coko and her Mother Lady "Clyde" Tibba Gamble did a remake of the song "Tears in Heaven" (originally recorded by Eric Clapton) on the album “Rhythm and Spirit: Love Can Build a Bridge." The album featured other artists such as Jennifer Holliday, Patti Labelle, and Tramaine Hawkins.

Most recently, Coko was reported to have joined an all-black touring cast performing the critically-acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues, along with Sherri Shepherd, Star Jones, Vanessa L. Williams, and others.

In June 2008, Coko performed in Japan for the Billboard Live Tour. She sang some of her solo hits "Sunshine", "Clap Your Hands", and a SWV hit "Right Here/Human Nature". She also did her version of Patti Labelle's "If Only You Knew" here is the clip of Coko singing it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLG5vhwBI3Q

To get more updates about Coko and her latest project visit www.cokosplace.com.

Extra Crispy Foolywang: What Manner of Foolywang Is This?

2009-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

You must watch it in it's entirety to get it...Anyway...

I am all for having church, but you need to be able to tell where the CHURCH ends and the GOSPEL STAGE PLAY begins...My mic is OFF

Friday's Foolywang: Git Cho Cousins!

2009-02-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

No words...

UPDATE: TMZ PHOTO OF A RIHANNA’S WOUNDS

2009-02-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

After much speculation about the seriousness of Rihanna’s injuries in Los Angeles,TMZ.COM obtained a photo of a battered Rihanna after the alleged violent altercation with boyfriend, Chris Brown.

As reported, Chris was charged with one count felony criminal threats (more charges could be added after the DA is finished reviewing the case) and is expected to attend court on March 5th in Los Angeles. The 19 year-old has hired popular defense attorney, Mark Geragos to represent him.

Michelle Obama at Black History Event

2009-02-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks to 6th and 7th graders from the DC area during an event celebrating Black History Month in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday.

2009-02-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

REGINALD F. LEWIS (1942-1993) was a businessman and corporate attorney. He was the first black person to build a billion dollar company and also a prominent philanthropist.

Lewis was born December 7, 1942, in East Baltimore. His family encouraged him to “be the best that you can be” and stressed the value of education at an early age.

In high school, Lewis was elected vice president of the student body. He was also a hard-working student and quarterback of the football team, shortstop on the baseball team, a forward on the basketball team and was team captain of all three.

After graduating in 1961, Lewis attended Virginia State University on a football scholarship. An injury cut his football career short and he focused on school and work. While working as a photographer’s sales assistant, he generated so much business that he was offered a partnership. Lewis declined because he bad bigger things in mind for the future — a handwritten schedule he kept stated: “To be a good lawyer, one must study HARD.” And he did, graduating on the dean’s list his senior year.

In 1965, the ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION funded a summer school program at Harvard Law School to introduce a select number of black students to legal studies.

Lewis was accepted and he made such an impression that he was invited to attend Harvard Law School that fall — the only person in the history of the school to be admitted before applying. During his third year at Harvard Law, Lewis discovered the direction his career would take as the result of a course on securities law. His senior year thesis on mergers and acquisitions received an honors grade.

Following graduating, Lewis landed a job practicing corporate law with a prestigious New York law firm. But within two years, he and two others had established Wall Street’s first black law firm — Murphy, Thorpe & Lewis.

Lewis wanted to “do the deals myself”, so he established TLC Group, L.P. in 1983. His first successful venture was the $22.5 million dollar leveraged buyout of McCall Pattern Company, a struggling business in a declining industry. Lewis streamlined operations, increased marketing and led the company to two of the most profitable years in McCall’s history. In the summer of 1987, he sold the company for $65 million, making a 90 to 1 return on his investment.

Lewis then purchased the international division of Beatrice Foods (64 companies in 31 countries) in August 1987. After closing the deal in December 1987, Lewis re-branded the corporation as TLC Beatrice International, Inc. At $985 million, the deal was the largest offshore leveraged buyout ever by an American company. As Chairman and CEO, Lewis moved quickly to reposition the company, pay down the debt and vastly increase the company’s worth. With revenues of $1.5 billion, TLC Beatrice made it toFortune’s 500 and was first on the Black Enterprise List of Top 100 African-American owned businesses. It also became the first black-owned company to have more than $1 billion in annual sales.

Lewis chose to donate to his most cherished causes.

In 1987, he created the Reginald Lewis Foundation which donated $10 million to various non-profit organizations. He also made an unsolicited gift of $1 million to Howard University, an institution he never attended. His 1992 gift of $3 million to Harvard University Law School was the largest single donation in its history. The gift created the Reginald Lewis Fund for International Study and Research and the REGINALD F. LEWIS INTERNATIONAL LAW CENTER.

He had also expressed a desire to support a museum of African-American culture. In 2002, the Maryland State Legislature allocated $32 million dollars for a museum of Maryland African-American history and culture. The Foundation donated $5 million to the endeavor to support education programs and when the museum opened in June 2005, it was named the REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM OF MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

Unfortunately, Lewis never saw his desire come to fruition. He died unexpectedly at the age of 50 of a cerebral hemorrhage related to cancer on January 19, 1993, in New York. He was interred at New Cathedral Cemetery in his hometown of Baltimore. His headstone includes his personal mantra, “Keep going, no matter what.”

Once called “the JACKIE ROBINSON of deal making”, Lewis took issue with that description. He responded by saying:

“To carry around the notion that if I fail it’s going to mean that no other black person will ever have a similar opportunity, or that if I succeed, it’s going to open a floodgate of opportunity for other black Americans, misses the point.
If our work is perceived as an indication of how we can function in a global, competitive situation, that’s nice. But I’ve always believed that anyway.”

“WHY SHOULD WHITE GUYS HAVE ALL THE FUN?”: HOW REGINALD LEWIS CREATED A BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS EMPIRE was published in 1994, based on Lewis’ unfinished autobiography and interviews from his family, friends, colleagues and employees.

North Dakota's House of Representatives Passes Abortion Ban!!!!

2009-02-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

North Dakota's House of Representatives has passed a bill effectively outlawing abortion.

The House voted 51-41 this afternoon to declare that a fertilized egg has all the rights of any person.

That means a fetus could not be legally aborted without the procedure being considered murder.

Minot Republican Dan Ruby has sponsored other bills banning abortion in previous legislative sessions - all of which failed.

He also sponsored today's bill and says it is compatable with Roe versus Wade - the Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion.

(Rep. Dan Ruby, -R- Minot) "This is the exact language that's required by Roe vs. Wade. It stipulated that before a challenge can be made, we have to identify when life begins, and that's what this does." VO CONTINUES But Minot Democrat Kari Conrad says the bill will land North Dakota in court, trying to defend the constitutionality of a law that goes against the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

(Rep. Kari Conrad, -D- Minot) "People who presented this bill, were very clear that they intended to challenge Roe versus Wade. So they intend to put the state of North Dakota into court defending Roe vs. Wade"

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

Praise The Lord! Nick & Mariah

2009-02-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

Nick and Mariah were spotted getting their photo op on. Nope, not in the club. They were at City of Refuge Church in California post-service. Where’s the Usher Board when you need them?

POLITICS: PRES. OBAMA SIGNS ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL

2009-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Pres. Barack Obama signs the economic stimulus bill on Tuesday in Denver, Colorado.

The $787 billion plan will fund infrastructure projects, renewable energy projects and health care, as well as increase unemployment benefits and provide for tax breaks.

The Obama administration has launched a new website, recovery.gov to offer full transparency and accountability that will track the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s progress along the way.

RACIST???? REPUBLICAN LEANING NY NEWSPAPER PUTS OUT VERY QUESTIONABLE CARTOON!!!

2009-02-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

This crosses a line in my opinion.....

What do you think The Post is trying to say about the stimulus plan and the police shooting of an angry chimpanzee?

To express your outrage with the cartoon, send an email to the editor, Col Allan, at colallan@nypost.com, and the cartoonist, Sean Delonas, at seandelonas@gmail.com.

Health: Researchers link marijuana, testicular cancer

2009-02-18T06:07:00.000-08:00

Young men who began using marijuana as adolescents or who smoke pot at least once a week appear to be twice as likely to develop testicular cancer as those who never used the drug.

The association, as reported by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, was strongest with nonseminoma, an aggressive, fast-growing subtype of testicular cancer that typically strikes men between ages 20 and 35.

"It's not just that you develop testicular cancer, but you develop a worse type of testicular cancer," said Dr. Glen Justice, director of the cancer center at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., who was not involved with the study.

About 40 percent of testicular cancers are nonseminomas. The rest are slower-growing seminomas, which tend to occur a decade or two later, when men are in their 30s and 40s. Since the 1950s, both kinds have increased by 3 percent to 6 percent a year in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Various studies have looked for environmental or lifestyle changes that could account for the increase. The study published online Monday in the journal Cancer was the first to look at marijuana, its authors said.

Researchers interviewed 371 men ages 18 to 44 who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. They interviewed an additional 979 men of the same age group and from the same three Washington counties who did not have cancer.

The researchers found a 70 percent higher risk of testicular cancer in those who were using pot at the time of diagnosis, with an even higher risk associated with younger age at first use and frequency of use. Hormonal changes during puberty are thought to make that a particularly vulnerable period for environmental influences.

The findings were independent of known risk factors, such as undescended testes and a family history of testicular cancer, and adjusted for cigarette smoking and alcohol use.

The senior author of the study, epidemiologist Janet R. Daling, got the idea to look at marijuana after learning that the testes, like the brain, have receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical component of the marijuana high.

The researchers did not know why the association was seen with nonseminoma but not seminoma, because both subtypes have increased.

TYC Witnessing Meeting 2/8/2009

2009-02-17T11:48:00.001-08:00

Photobucket Album

What's Going On With Black Shows on THE CW???

2009-02-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

Has anyone else noticed that the CW is not airing new episodes of “The Game?” They only have two “black” shows on the network (The Game and Everybody Hates Chris…three if you count America’s Next Top Model) and they do not advertise for either show during the week. Mind you, I get bombarded by images of teenaged, privileged white girls in commercials advertising 90210 and Gossip Girl. Therefore, I have decided to do something about it. If you all feel as strongly as I do about seeing positive images of people of color on primetime television please send a letter to the CW expressing your concerns. Click here to send an email.

GOSPEL DUO MARY MARY WINS 2009 NAACP IMAGE AWARD: The Queens of Gospel receive award for Outstanding Gospel Artist.

2009-02-17T10:30:00.001-08:00

It was an award winning week for dynamic Gospel duo Mary Mary who were awarded a 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist (traditional or contemporary) in ceremonies held in Los Angeles.
Still glowing from their recent win at the Grammy Awards ceremony (Mary Mary won for Best Gospel Performance), this win garners sisters Erica and Tina Campbell their first NAACP Image Award and adds to the many accolades they have received for their chart-topping CD “The Sound” (Columbia Records/Sony Music).
This year is truly shaping up to be the year of Mary Mary for the dynamic duo sisters. This win adds to Mary Mary's growing assortment of awards and achievements which include two Grammys, an American Music Award, Stellar Awards and BET Awards. The first ladies of contemporary Gospel continue to set the precedent in the world of Gospel music.
Released in October 2008, “The Sound” has received on-going praise since entering the Billboard Top 200 at #7, #1 on Billboard's Gospel Chart; #1 on Billboard's Christian Chart, and #2 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Their # 7 debut on the Top 200 gave Mary Mary their highest charting - and second Top 10 - album on that chart (2005's Mary Mary peaked at #8 on the Top 200). Mary Mary and “The Sound” have achieved the highest chart debut on the Top 200 of any Gospel album in 2008.
The Grammy award winning lead single, "Get Up," has gained tremendous crossover success on dance, Gospel, R&B, and Hip-Hop charts, and has also been featured on the Emmy nominated ABC-TV hit show "Ugly Betty."
Beyond the music, “The Sound” also marks the launching point for a new phase in the sisters' career. The singers hope to continue to expand the Mary Mary brand to territories such as a bath and beauty line, a designer t-shirt collection; children's books; music - interactive computer games; stage work, and television. Soon you will be able to see Mary Mary reprise their role as judges for the hit Viacom/Black Entertainment Television (BET) series "Sunday's Best" and the Gospel pair is in the process of finalizing plans for their first US tour in two years.

Cover Shot: Ebony Breaks Record With Obama Sales

2009-02-17T10:29:00.001-08:00

A lot of magazines must have gotten a boost in sales from the images of the President and his wife over the last couple months, but, Johnson publishing has reported that its January 2009 issue of Ebony, was catapulted to their highest sales in the magazine’s 67-year history.

SHAQ AND KOBE TOGETHER AGAIN: Duo help West thrash East in NBA All-Star game.

2009-02-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

*Shaq danced, Kobe dazzled.
And just like the good ol' days, they won again.
Bryant led all scorers with 27 points, O'Neal partied his way back onto the All-Star stage with 17 in just 11 minutes, and the Western Conference beat the East 146-119 Sunday night.
"It felt like old times," O'Neal said. "I miss those times. He was really looking for me, especially when we went to a pick-and-roll and they had Rashard Lewis on me."
Back on the same team for the first time in nearly five years, the three-time champions shared the game MVP award. They helped the West get untracked after an awful start, then teamed up for a few buckets that helped blow it open in the third quarter.
"I tell you what, those two guys together, that's a deadly combination as we all saw tonight and we have all seen in the past," East coach Mike Brown said.
"They are where they are right now, but if they were to stay together, no telling how many more rings they would have had on their fingers and toes."
And they did it in the ways that made them so different — Bryant with his cold-as-ice stare and focus, O'Neal as the oversized clown who made fans and foes alike laugh.
O'Neal is now complimentary of Bryant, calling him the best player in the NBA. Bryant still seems uncomfortable talking about his relationship with O'Neal — if there is much of one.
"We are not going to go back to the room and watch 'Steel Magnolias' or something like that, you know what I'm saying, crying, all that stuff," Bryant said. "We had a good time. That's all."
It was their first time on the floor as teammates since the 2004 NBA finals. O'Neal was traded to Miami that summer, breaking apart a duo that produced three straight titles but was perhaps better known for its frequent feuding that made the breakup inevitable.
"I think it is a great life lesson for people," said West coach Phil Jackson, who led O'Neal and Bryant to their titles with the Lakers. "This is something that the people work together, people find a way to get through situations, find harmony in their life, find cohabitation."
Bryant and O'Neal shared a slight hug after being announced as MVPs, then playfully fought over the trophy commissioner David Stern handed to them. They joined Bob Pettit, who won four times, and Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only three-time All-Star MVPs.
"The Big Legendaries," O'Neal said.

Sports: All Star weekend Dunk Winner!!

2009-02-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX — David beat Goliath in the Slam Dunk Competition. Now it could be off to the see “The King.”

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks captured All-Star Saturday Night’s premier event for the second time, winning over the fan’s vote in the final round to upstage defending champion Dwight Howard, who dug deep into the NBA’s prop closet for the second straight year.

“It was a lot of fun,” Howard said. “Everybody expected so much from last year but all around we had a lot of fun.

“The shorter man will win in a dunk contest because it looks real hard for him and easy for me. The better man won tonight. He had the crowd into it and I am happy for him.”

Listed generously at 5-9, Robinson literally hurdled the 7-foot Howard, who stood in front of the basket as his counterpart sprung over the top for a thunderous flush. Robinson’s first dunk of the final round was a less impressive reverse of a self-lob.

“Dwight was a great sport letting me dunk over him,” 2006 champ Robinson said of the Orlando Magic center.

Allen Iverson Ditches The BRAIDS!!

2009-02-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

Allen Iverson has gotten rid of his trademark–his braids. And he debuted his new look to his All-Star teammates yesterday during practice! He’s finally getting his grown man on and cut the braids he’s been rocking since ‘93. Trey Songz and Carmelo Anthony cut their braids off several months ago as well as Ludacris. And I must say, it’s an upgrade for all 3 of the fellas. But you decide…

DO WE LOVE IT?! AND, COULD THIS BE THE "OBAMA EFFECT"?

Music 360: CHRIS BROWN RELEASES FIRST STATEMENT SINCE RIHANNA ASSAULT!

2009-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Finally, Chris Brown has just issued an official statement through his spokesperson concerning the assault situation with Rihanna . This is indeed a real statement and not a hoax like others have been posting from fraudulent Facebook/Myspace pages. The statement was issued directly to media outlets from his PR reps at Sitrick And Company, Inc. It reads in its entirety:

“Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person. Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds.”

That’s all for now folks.

DONALD LAWRENCE'S 'CONFESSION' #2 ON BILLBOARD: Singer's new CD off to great start.

2009-02-16T05:59:00.001-08:00

Donald Lawrence's "The Law of Confession," a transformational collection of masterful songs, has landed him the highest selling first week of his career and a #2 position on Billboard's Top Gospel Chart. Additionally, the CD is the #2 Christian/Gospel Title on iTunes and #71 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart.

"I thank everyone for their support of this record," Lawrence says. "I'm Godly proud the Word has inspired and challenged you in all areas of your life. As the Word was poured into me I poured into the recording and while I'm happy for the high debut I'm happier that people are inspired to study and speak those things that be not as though they were, 'The Law of Confession.' Continue to confess God's Word daily!"

His first solo set since 2004, the new project was inspired by the forthcoming book "The Law of Confession" by Bill Winston (shepherd of Chicago's Living Word Christian Center where the project was recorded live). The collection revolves around a simple Biblical tenet: "A law is simply a principle, based on the predictable consequence of an act."

"Confession in the Greek language is homo-logeo which means to say what has been said. There is a spiritual law for confession you just say what God has already said..."Speak the Word." The first single, "Back 2 Eden," is currently Top-10 at Gospel radio with heat to fuel an even further ascent," Lawrence added.

"There are a lot of artists vying for the Gospel music consumer week after week, and it is great that Donald Lawrence remains at the top of so many people's lists. During this challenging time in our society and our economy, a CD such as 'The law of Confession' can really bring about spiritual and emotional healing. We anticipate a long life for this CD and applaud Donald Lawrence for his continued artistic excellence," says James "Jazzy" Jordan, executive vice president, Verity Gospel Music Group.

Formerly known as Zomba Gospel Music Group, Verity Gospel Music Group is a division of JIVE Label Group, comprising Verity Records, GospoCentric Records, Fo-Yo Soul Entertainment and QuietWater Entertainment.

BIBLE QUOTE: Acts 19:1-7

2009-02-16T05:59:00.000-08:00

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Yeshua.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

And all the men were about twelve.

Friday Foolywang: Dad at 13?????

2009-02-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

BOY dad Alfie Patten yesterday admitted he does not know how much nappies cost — but said: “I think it’s a lot.”
Baby-faced Alfie, who is 13 but looks more like eight, became a father four days ago when his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman gave birth to 7lb 3oz Maisie Roxanne.

He told how he and Chantelle, 15, decided against an abortion after discovering she was pregnant.

The shy lad, whose voice has not yet broken, said: “I thought it would be good to have a baby.

“I didn’t think about how we would afford it. I don’t really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10.”

Little family ... Alfie, Chantelle and baby Maisie

Lee Thompson

Alfie, who is just 4ft tall, added: “When my mum found out, I thought I was going to get in trouble. We wanted to have the baby but were worried how people would react.

“I didn’t know what it would be like to be a dad. I will be good, though, and care for it.”

Alfie's story, broken exclusively by The Sun today has sparked a huge political storm with Tory leader David Cameron saying: "When I saw these pictures this morning, I just thought how worrying that in Britain today children are having children.

"I hope that somehow these children grow up into responsible parents but the truth is parenthood is just not something they should be thinking about right now."

CLICK HERE FOR OUTRAGEOUS VIDEO!! STAY IN THE LIGHT CHILDREN!

SPORTS: ELGIN BAYLOR SUES CLIPPERS FOR DISCRIMINATION: Former GM says he was released last fall due to his age and race.

2009-02-13T10:25:00.001-08:00

Elgin Baylor, the former Los Angeles Clippers general manager who left the team last fall after 22 years, has filed a lawsuit against the franchise, the NBA and team owner Donald Sterling alleging employment discrimination.

The former NBA star is claiming he was "discriminated against and unceremoniously released from his position with the team on account of his age and his race" and that he was "grossly underpaid during his tenure with the Clippers, never earning more than $350,000 per year, when compared with the compensation scheme for general managers employed by every other team in the NBA."

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, also names club president Andy Roeser, while the NBA is named as "a joint venturer/partner of condoning, adopting and ratifying this discriminatory practice since the league is fully aware of salaries paid to all of the general managers."

Clippers attorney Robert H. Platt said in a statement, "I can categorically state that the Clippers always treated Elgin fairly throughout his long tenure with the team. Prior to his decision to leave the team last October, Elgin never raised any claims of unfair treatment.

"It's hard to believe that he would now make these ridiculous claims after the organization stood by him during 22 years and only three playoff appearances. It would be hard to find any sports team that has demonstrated greater loyalty to its general manager."

OPRAH BALKS AT PAYMENT TO 'OCTOMOM': ABC and CBS also 'left the room' when reps asked for $1.2 million for birth video.

2009-02-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

Oprah Winfrey's people reportedly shut down negotiations to air exclusive video and pictures of the "Octomom" giving birth to her eight babies when reps for the mother of 14 started soliciting money.

NBC eventually ended up with the exclusive footage of Nadya Suleman, the much-maligned mother who gave birth to a total of 14 children (sextuplets and octuplets) through fertility treatments. The network has already run Ann Curry's interview with Suleman across its various news outlets. But did it pay for the opportunity?

The Peacock is denying a New York Post source who claims it paid close to $1 million for footage and photos of the eight babies being born. But an insider told the paper, "Everything was filmed. The birth, everything. Then [Suleman's people] said negotiations would start at $1.2 million for the video and pictures, which is when producers from Oprah Winfrey, ABC and CBS left the room. NBC stayed."

Page Six's source suspects that NBC made a "donation" through an intermediary. But an NBC rep said, "NBC News does not pay for interviews. We did not pay Nadya Suleman, or anyone who represents her, for our interview. We didn't license a single photo or video from her or anyone who represents her. Not a dime. There is no deal with anyone at NBC Universal or NBC News."

Black South Carolinian Senator Fights for Confederate Holiday

2009-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

Remember this name, Sen. Robert Ford (D). He is a black state senator for South Carolina that is trying to get a bill passed that requires South Carolina to give workers a paid day off for Confederate Memorial Day. The senator contends that it will bring the race problems to a standstill and we will live like one big happy family if we pay homage to the dead confederate soldiers.

You may have already guessed that the bill has already won approval from a Senate subcommittee. Mississippi and Alabama already recognize Confederate Memorial Day. Of course a representative of the NAACP has chimed in as the voice of reason saying, ”You can’t make dishonor honorable. It’s impossible.”

Senator Ford is completely out of touch or he’s trying to express his Christianity. He claims that the state of South Carolina will use this as a way to come together like the legislators that come to the state house everyday. The white and black lawmakers live in harmony, but if you leave the state building “it’s hatred.”

Say It Isn’t So…Marion Barry In Trouble Again

2009-02-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

The former Mayor of D.C. who will forever go down in history as the infamous crack smoking mayor that was stung by F.B.I. during his third term as mayor in 1991, is back in a legal tangle again. But, his troubles, now at the age of 72, are a lot less demeaning and embarrassing.

Now a D.C. council member, Barry has been in trouble with his taxes for nearly 10 years starting with not filing his taxes from 1999 to 2004 and not paying taxes on ”more than $500,000 in income” according to the Washington Post. He was put on probation for 3 years in March 2006, but then didn’t file his taxes in 2005 and attorneys asked for jail time. Fast forward to the probation expiration date, 2009, and here he is on the hot seat with not filing taxes again. It surfaced somehow that he didn’t file his 2007 taxes.

In old school Black mayor fashion, he told the Washington Post, “As with any American citizen, my tax status is a matter between the IRS and the taxpayer and not The Washington Post.” That’s why D.C. still loves him. He’s still telling it like it is, but in Obama fashion, he needs to ask someone in the crowd to be his personal assistant.

TODAY'S FOOLYWANG: THE OCTOMOM

2009-02-12T08:36:00.001-08:00

OK I tried to not comment on this Cali Octuplet mom again because the situation seriously irritates me. But the newest developments are too outrageous to not discuss. Nadya Suleman said–on national tv–that she does not and will not ever receive monetary help from the government. However, Suleman receives food stamps and child disability payments for three of her children, her publicist has confirmed. She told Ann Curry “I’m not receiving help from the government. I’m not trying to expect anything from anybody,” and added that money was “superfluous” and “paper.” ...NOT TRUE. When she was confronted about her lie, Nadya said she does not believe food stamps are welfare. *blank stare* Apparently she’s received over 300k in “help” from the government. Meanwhile, her mother confirms that she is obsessed with Angelina Jolie. Like we couldn’t figure that out ourselves…

It’s been found out that Ms. Suleman has gotten a lot of plastic surgery to her face over the years. The pictures prove it. So now government money that she doesn’t think is government money is being used for cosmetic surgery, IVFs, and living expenses since she’s never had a job? All this while the state of California is giving out IOU’s in place of tax refunds this year? I really hope all these kids have and get everything they need in some way because they should not have to suffer because of someone else’s foolishness.

MLK Oratory Winner! Awesome Speech!

2009-02-12T08:21:00.001-08:00

Gerra Gistand of MacGregor elementary won first place during the 13th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory. Finalists gave original five-minute speeches on the topic: If Dr. King were alive today, what do you think he would say about current events?

Spotted:Former Kris Kros member: Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly

2009-02-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

SpottedL Former Kris Kross member Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly at Piedmont park in ATL earlier this week. The former 90s rap star, was just chilling and enjoying the atmosphere. His hair was a mess and he was still rocking his clothes backwards like he did in the 90s.

As of 2007, the group supposedly reunited and are currently working on different projects with Jermaine Dupri. And word is he has his own label called C.co records.

Looks like he has had it ROUGH. Stay in the light saints...

HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: NINA MAE MCKINNEY

2009-02-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

NINA MAE MCKINNEY (1917-1967) was one of the first African-American film stars and one of the first African-Americans to appear on British television. She appeared in over 30 films, more than Lena Horne or Dorothy Dandridge; however, she remains relatively unknown.

Born Nannie Mayme McKinney in Lancaster, South Carolina, McKinney was raised by her grandmother near the estate of Col. LeRoy Sanders, where her family had worked for several generations. When she was 12, her parents who were living in New York, sent for her. At 16, McKinney performed in the chorus line of the Lew Leslies Blackbirds. It was there that director King Vidor cast her in the lead role of Hallelujah!, one of the first all-black films by a major studio.

McKinney originated the stereotype of the “Black Temptress” in the role for Hallelujah! At the time, she was only 17 years old, and the young beauty was given a five-year contract with Metro-Golden-Myers (MGM). During this time, she fell into deep exploitation and oppression common to black women in Hollywood. Unfortunately, McKinney was a leading lady in an industry that had no leading roles for a black woman.

Known for her big, bright eyes and charismatic, full of life personality, McKinney became the first black movie star, sex symbol and recognized beautiful black actress by not only the black community, but also by Hollywood.

The studio, however, seemed reluctant to star her in feature films. In fact, her most notable roles during this period were in films for other studios, including a leading role in Sanders of the River in 1935, where she appears with Paul Robeson.

After MGM cut almost all her scenes in Reckless (1935), she left Hollywood for Europe where she acted and danced, appearing mostly in theatrical shows and cabaret. Billed as the “Black Garbo” (after popular actress Greta Garbo), McKinney was well received by audiences abroad.

She returned to the United States at the start of World War II where she married Jimmy Monroe, a jazz musician. She appeared in many indie films in America including Pie Pie Blackbird with Eubie Blake. After the war, she moved to Athens, Greece, and lived there until she returned to New York in 1960.

On May 3, 1967, McKinney died of a heart attack and the news of her death went unnoticed in the industry and the media at large, except for a small notice in a local paper. In 1978, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. However, her films are difficult to find.

UPDATE: CHRIS CANCELS APPEARANCES - MORE CHARGES FILED?

2009-02-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Alleged photo of Rihanna IS SUSPECT! The real one is below:

Chris Brown is still in Los Angeles awaiting his upcoming court date and police are now telling media sources that additional charges may be filed against him when the case is presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The 19-year-old has also canceled his scheduled appearances during All-Star Weekend.

He had been tapped to introduce the players with Shaquille O’Neal before tip-off at Phoenix’s US Airways Center.

The basketball fan had also been planning to play Friday in the annual All-Star Celebrity Game, part of the weekend-long festivities.

As reported, Chris was charged with one count felony criminal threats against Rihanna on Sunday and is expected to attend court on March 5th. Chris has hired popular defense attorney, Mark Geragos to represent him.

'Thank you, Lord Jesus!' Excited young man lands job -- for a day -- after asking Obama a question

2009-02-11T10:16:00.001-08:00

It was quite a moment at the end of President Obama's town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Fla., yesterday. As The News-Press writes, 19-year-old Julio Osegueda "rocketed from a Cape Coral teenager who flips burgers for $7.85 an hour at a McDonald's to an instant celebrity of sorts."

And he got a temporary job.

For those who didn't see what happened at the town hall when Osegueda asked the president about when he and other low-wage workers might be able to get job benefits, here's the video:

"I have never felt this good except maybe when I got my Playstation3 for Christmas," Osegueda told the News-Press later.

After the event, the newspaper adds, Osegueda:

Picked up another job -- if just for a day -- as the color announcer for the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team's radio broadcast for its home opener April 10. The one-day gig typically pays $25, but the Miracle said the salary is negotiable.

"I'll be ready," he said about his debut.

Also during Tuesday's town hall, a 61-year-old woman named Henrietta Hughes told the president that she and her 37-year-old son are homeless after having their house foreclosed. She asked for his help. Obama said he would, and his staff put Hughes in touch with local housing authority officials.

The News-Press reports that:

Their story got the attention of another person who wanted to help.

While local and national media swarmed Henrietta Hughes for interviews, Chene Thompson, wife of State Rep. Nick Thompson, grabbed Hughes' hand and offered them a house.

The house is in LaBelle, the first home Chene Thompson bought after law school.
"Just give me the opportunity to help you," Chene Thompson told her.

But as of Tuesday night, the Hughes had not contacted the Thompsons about coming to see the house. Their cell phone is out of minutes, so it is nearly impossible to get in touch with them.

Update at 11:45 a.m. ET. Osegueda was on last night's edition of MSNBC's always liberal Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Here's some of the back-and-forth Julio had with Keith:

Olbermann: "Were you satisfied with the president's actual answer to your question about improving your benefits?"

Osegueda: "Yes, I was. I was truly blessed. The answer that Mr. President Obama gave me was such a motivation that made me feel as if success is around the corner. Just keep trying hard and don't stop for anything."

Interested in joining a discussion about Julio's sudden fame? Click here to head into our Forum section.

Click here to read the rest of The Oval.

Tags:Barack Obama Keith Olbermann The News-Press

Young black males say they're energized by Obama's example

2009-02-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

KALAMAZOO -- Keith Berry is in the midst of pulling his life together, and he gives some of the credit to President Barack Obama.

As a 19-year-old African-American, Berry said, he identifies with Obama's adolescence and sees him as a model on how to reform.

"He went through a lot of struggles when he was younger -- hanging out with the wrong crowd, smoking things he shouldn't been smoking," Berry said. "I have a lot of struggles in my life, too. But he turned his life around by putting his head into books, just like I want to do. ... It's, like, stop trying to be a thug, making bad choices."

After some troubles with school and the law, Berry is now finishing his high school studies at Kalamazoo's Phoenix High School and also is taking classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Berry's story is not that unusual, local black leaders say. In the same way that rap stars and NBA stars have reshaped American culture, so Obama's status as a cultural icon seems to be redefining the way teenagers in general and black teens in particular see the world -- and themselves.

It is a phenomenon that is both powerful and gratifying, black leaders say.

"I see kids walking down the street wearing Barack shirts and hats," said Tim Terrentine, executive director of the Douglass Community Center. "They see him as cool, a guy with style. He listens to the same music as they do -- you've got a president of the United States with Jay-Z on his iPod."

"When he speaks to us, we feel like we know him," says Tony Redden, 18, a senior at Phoenix.

Yet along with cool and charisma, Obama represents a host of positive images for young, black Americans: his success through education; his commitment to his wife and family; his message about the importance of hard work, self-discipline and making one's own luck.

What's moere, Terrentine and others say, the rallying of white Americans around Obama makes black teens feel less marginalized in a nation where negative racial stereotypes still abound.

"He sends the message that leadership is not about birthright or skin color," Terrentine says. "Kids know Barack was elected by America -- not just black America, but all of America. So while it's a reality that (if you're black) things are definitely stacked against you, it doesn't have to stop you."

Mark Hill, principal of Phoenix, an alternative high school where black males make up a disproportionate part of the student body, says that Obama's name comes up constantly among his students and that "without a doubt" they see him as a role model.

Suddenly, Hill said, teens who long dismissed the value of school are reconsidering.
Hill said one of his teachers recently described how her students got engrossed in a class discussion about how they could improve their reading skills. "The teacher said she'd never seen this before, the kids initiating a discussion like that," he said.

"If we don't capitalize on this as adults, shame on us," Hill said.

Tameka Raymond Slipped Into A Coma!

2009-02-11T09:46:00.001-08:00

Tameka Raymond is said to have slipped into a coma for a while a few days ago, causing the “serious family emergency” Usher pulled out of the Grammy events to tend to. Apparently her body went into cardiac and respiratory arrest following her cosmetic surgery (lipsuction) and the doctors put her into an induced coma. She was in the coma for 24 hours. She is still classified as “stable”.

okay....

1) Why do you need to do all that? You just had a baby. L.I.P.O. is not the answer. Try D.I.E.T.
2) Why did she go to Brazil??? For a discount? Can't they afford to pay the high prices of medical care out here???
3) Have they not learned from Kanye's mom's unfortunate tragedy
4) Way too many questions here...stay in the light ya'll

NEWS BIT: BLACK HISTORY MONTH AD CAUSES A STIR

2009-02-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Acme Markets’ recent Black History Month circular has sparked quite the debate. The company has run the advertisement for seven years and says there has never been an issue before, but the ad is now being called racist.

Products advertised include corn bread, collard greens and grape soda. The Delaware chapter of the NAACP says more than 100 people have complained that the products perpetuate stereotypes: “It’s racist, it’s insensitive, it’s not culturally correct. Don’t assume that to celebrate Black History Month that we must have corn bread. Whoever put this ad together thought it’d be a good joke,” said Delaware NAACP President Cecil C. Wilson who demands Acme run a full-page apology in “all of Delaware’s newspapers”.

In a statement from Acme, the company said the advertisement was designed to highlight Black History Month and many of the items are products supplied through the company’s “supplier diversity program”.

“For example, Glory Foods, an African American-owned manufacturer, is featured with four of its products because it is our way of supporting and strengthening their brand with added exposure during the month of February,” the statement said.

Wilson also said Acme shouldn’t be discounting any foods specifically because it’s Black History Month. In Colonial times, slave owners would discard the remains of butchered hogs, and slaves would cook and season those parts, such as chitterlings and feet, into delicacies. The Acme ad took on a similar theme, Wilson said, by discounting Acme soda and maple syrup instead of the brand-name counterparts.

“This whole thing is cheapo,” he said. “All the products on sale are typically low-grade products that they have to clean off the shelves. I don’t know what their motive is, but it still reeks with suspicion.” [SOURCE]

Exclusive: Chris Brown's Stepfather Speaks

2009-02-11T09:34:00.001-08:00

Chris' former step-father, who seems to be a born again believer now, rejects statements about him that Chris has made...

Cover Shot: FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA COVERS VOGUE

2009-02-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

First Lady Michelle Obama covers the latest issue of Vogue Magazine. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz at the Hay-Adams Hotel, where the Obamas stayed before the Inauguration, this is only the 2nd time a first lady has made the cover. Hilary Clinton was the first.

POLITICS: PRES. OBAMA’S FIRST PRIME-TIME NEWS CONFERENCE

2009-02-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Monday night in Washington, DC (view video). Before taking questions from the news media, Obama began his first prime time news conference by urging Congress to pass the $838 billion Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

“It is absolutely true that we cannot depend on government alone to create jobs or economic growth. That is and must be the role of the private sector. But at this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back to life.”

MINI ROUNDUP: WRIGLEY GUM SUSPENDS CHRIS’ DOUBLEMINT AD SPOT

2009-02-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

After the media blitz that ensued after he was charged with one count felony criminal threats against his Rihanna on Sunday night, Chris Brown has another thing to worry about, his endorsement deals.

Wrigley gum has now suspended all advertisements featuring the R&B star, including the popular commercial that even played during the telecast of the 51st Grammy Awards.

A company spokesperson tells Us Weekly:

“Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown. We believe Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen. However, we have made the decision to suspend the current advertising featuring Brown and any related marketing communications until the matter is resolved.”

Here is VIDEO of him turning himself in...oh the drama...