Author: admin

  • 49ers’ Anthony Davis gets 5-year extension (Yahoo! Sports)

    FILE - In this 2012 file photo,  San Francisco 49ers Anthony Davis is shown. Right tackle Davis signed a five-year contract extension Friday, April 5, 2013 with the San Francisco 49ers, further solidifying a young offensive line. The deal is worth more than $37 million, with $17 million guaranteed. (AP Photo)

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Right tackle Anthony Davis signed a five-year contract extension Friday with the 49ers, further solidifying a young offensive line that made major strides last season for Super Bowl runner-up San Francisco.


  • Davis’ slam, 5 RBIs carry Orioles over Twins 9-5 (Yahoo! Sports)

    Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Chris Davis, right, high-fives teammates Nate McLouth (9) and Matt Wieters after hitting a grand slam in the eighth inning of a home opener baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, April 5, 2013, in Baltimore. Baltimore won 9-5. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

    BALTIMORE (AP) — It seems as if there is no ballpark – or landmark – big enough to contain the mighty swing of Baltimore slugger Chris Davis.


  • Rangers win home opener 3-2 over Hamilton, Angels (Yahoo! Sports)

    Los Angeles Angels' Josh Hamilton strikes out against Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 5, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

    ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers fans were cheering again for Josh Hamilton – this time when the slugger struck out.


  • A Year Later, Small Business Organizations with JOBS Act

    obama smiling

    The Jumpstart Our Business Start Up Act  (JOBS Act) was signed by President Obama one year ago today and a leading organization that represents entrepreneurs and small business owners has expressed frustration regarding inaction it feels from the administration.

    According to a statement issued by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council), the Securities and Exchange Commission’s response to the JOBS act has been subpar. They’ve failed to issue any rules helping small business improve capital access and have missed key deadlines set up under the JOBS Act.

    SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan who was present for the bill signing and  was part of the group that helped to spark the JOBS act legislation said: “The SEC is undermining this important capital formation initiative that was supported by an overwhelming majority in Congress. Entrepreneurs and high-potential businesses that can bring our nation back to robust levels of job creation and growth are being undermined. There really is no excuse for the SEC’s lack of progress.”

    Of particular importance was the provision in the JOBS Act which makes debt and equity-based crowdfunding legal. Organizations such as the SBE Council realized that capital was and remains a critical issue for small business owners.

    “While lending standards have eased some, according to the latest Fed senior loan officer survey, getting credit remains a difficult task for small businesses. For good measure, it’s worth noting that venture capital investment took a notable dip in 2012. Access to financing remains the biggest hurdle for most entrepreneurs, which makes crowdfunding a critical option in the marketplace,” noted SBE Council Chief Economist Raymond Keating.

  • Chalmers to start against Bobcats; James, Wade out (Yahoo! Sports)

    MIAMI, FL - APRIL 2: Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat share a moment against the New York Knicks during a game on April 2, 2013 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Mario Chalmers will start Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.


  • Raiders waive LB Rolando McClain (Yahoo! Sports)

    ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders waived linebacker Rolando McClain on Friday, less than three years after drafting him eighth overall to be the centerpiece of their defense.

  • Gallinari out for season with torn ACL (Yahoo! Sports)

    DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Denver Nuggets speaks with trainers after a knee injury in a game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 4, 2013 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

    DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without versatile forward Danilo Gallinari for the rest of the season after tests Friday showed he tore his left ACL against Dallas the previous night.


  • Bey & Jay Spotted Smokin’ Cubanos With Castro In Havana For Their Anniversary (PHOTOS)

    While Beyonce was busy making headlines this morning with the debut of her new epic Pepsi commercial and Timbaland-produced track “Grown Woman,” leave it to her to be out of the country to do better things.

    What better things? Celebrating her fifth wedding anniversary with Jay-Z in Havana, Cuba. Duh.

    There aren’t a lot of photos of the two on their getaway, but the few pics we have are awesome.

    Let’s discuss why:

    1. Jay-Z is wearing a fedora

    2. Jay-Z is wearing a turquoise polo shirt

    3. Jay-Z is smoking a cigar

    OK, so Jay-Z is a boss, but Beyonce still upstaged him because she debuted some new chocolate brown box braids andddd we’re lovin’ it.

    So what are they doing in Cuba? According to Yahoo!, the music power couple was mobbed by dozens of fans at renowned restaurant La Guarida and police had to step in to keep the crowds at bay.

    Waitress Silvia Fernandez said they dined with their mothers [so sweet] and another man she couldn’t identify. She called Beyonce “beautiful, without a drop of makeup.” On Thursday they toured colonial Old Havana and popped into another restaurant.

    The power couple declined to speak to reporters. We don’t blame them. 

    Photo/Video Credit: AP

  • Day 15 – 40 Days of Rain on DBR Black Men: Killing Ex-Girlfriends

    Online and offline, men are angry when women resist being under their control. Why is it so difficult for men to accept that a relationship has ended and the solution to their pain is killing their ex-girlfriend?

  • Rave On! GlobalGrind’s Ultimate Style Guide For The 2013 Festival Season (PHOTOS)

    Coachella kicks off this week, which means festival season is offically (and finally) in full gear!

    With so many parties, shows, and events to hit, it can be stressful trying to put together just the right outfit, day-in and day-out.

    You want something you can both dance in and easily maneuver in a Port-O-Potty. Something that will stretch where it needs to and stay put where it should. Something that will still look good after it dries and even with the possible tiny dirt stain. 

    STORY: Coachella 2013 Lineup: Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2 Chainz, Passion Pit, Wu-Tang Clan & More To Perform

    After all, there’s already the heat, the humidity, and the drunks to worry about without having a girl’s worst nightmare: not knowing what to wear. 

    So, to help you get ready for your most epic summer ever, we’ve compiled eight different looks, specifically catered to each major music festival in the country. 

    VIDEOS: The 9 Best Coachella Performances Of All Time

    Think of it as your own personal stylist, getting you dressed to rage at the biggest parties of the year.

    Check out the ultimate guide to dressing for festival fun times below…

    SXSW

     

     

    1. SXSW, Austin, TX

    Austin is known for its laid back vibe, so naturally their festival gear is going to maximize on comfort without sacrificing style. This year we saw all kinds of prints from animal to tribal, bohemian-inspired eyelet and fringes, and the forever classic denim on denim. For our SXSW go-to, we went for a light and lacey maxi skirt, leather crop top, and fringe accessories. Trust, comfort never looked this cool.

    Lollapalooza

     

     

    2. Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL

    Lolla festival attendees are some serious style junkies. Being situated in the windy city gives you freedom to wear whatever you want since you’re not restricted by the lack of plumbing or janky weather. For our Lolla look, we decided to go with something very fashion-forward but still urban casual. Textures like tie-dye, leopard, and denim are really fun to put together as long as there isn’t too much color clashing. Just a little goes a long way!

     

    Bonnaroo Street Style

     

    3. Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN

    Bonnaroo is situated on a 700 acre farm where attendees will be camping out with 80,000 of their fellow Bonnaroovians. The vibe is relaxed and the crowd couldn’t be more peaceful, at least until the sun goes down. For your whatever you’re going to be getting into on the farm, we suggest dressing for scorching hot weather during the day and cool breezes in the evening. Wear a headscarf and shades always to protect your head or just to look super cute.

    Firefly Street Style   

    4. Firefly, Dover, DE

    Partygoers flock from all over the east coast to attend this one of a kind east coast rager. No other music festival in New England has such an epic lineup. Style is pretty laid back, but in light of the wooded landscape and camping experience, we think shorts and a loose-fitting band tank will do the job. Combat boots or any closed-toe footwear are advisable seeing as you’ll be in the backwoods for a few days. 

    Governor's Ball Street Style

     

    5. Governor’s Ball, Randalls Island, NYC

    In accordance with its close proximity to NYC, Governor’s Ball is known for providing a well-rounded lineup that suits all different kinds of musical tastes. You can expect a highly diversified crowd of festival-goers either clad in the phreshest gear of late or setting new trends. We’re keeping things pretty standard for NYC street style by pairing a camo jacket, with studded cutoffs, and graphic wedge sneakers. Throw on a leather cap and aviators to remain somewhat inconspicuous, not.

    Sweetlife Street Style

     

    6. Sweetlife, DC, Washington

    What’s considered appropriate partying attire on Capitol Hill? You get down to business and go all black everything. Consider layering a denim top over black bottoms. Wear tons of leather to insulate and keep warm, especially since it tends to be a bit damp and chilly in DC during that time of the year. Take it to the next level with classic red accents. Obama’s security personel wished they looked this good in black. 

    Electric Daisy Street Style

     

     

    7. Electric Daisy, Las Vegas, New York, Chicago

    These venues will host some of the biggest DJs from all over the world. The sets are the hard and the ravers are harder. Rave boys and rave girls all over the world love their cat ears, thigh highs, and neon accessories. They typically wear as little clothes as possible, anything from bikinis to painted racks with pasties. But you don’t have to be topless to have an amazing time. How about stepping up the edge with bold black and white stripes, thigh high stockings, and studs on everything you can get your hands on. You’ll fit right in and maybe they’ll even share their glitter with you!

    Coachella Street Style

    8. Coachella, Indo Valley, CA

    Channel your inner RiRi this year in short and sassy black overalls, a striped bandeau top, and satin bomber jacket. Finish the look with gold chain-linked jewelry, bold-colored lazer cut gladiators, and classic Wayfarer Ray-Bans. You’ll have those West coast fashionistas glaring and all the right looking men staring. 

    Stay hydrated and don’t forget to pack that sunscreen festival babes!

  • This is NOT A Free Speech Zone

    You have no rights of free speech on this web page. You speak like you have some sense and your comments will be posted. You can disagree with anything written here, but you best do it in a respectful way. Pretend like your momma is reading it and check yourself.

  • Oprah Named Highest Paid Celebrity by Forbes

    Dr. Dre and Tyler Perry also landed slots on the coveted Forbes list.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Meshell Ndegeocello Cover Nina Simone’s ‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black’

    Listen to Ndegeocello’s cover of ‘Young, Gifted and Black’ featuring Cody ChestnuTT.

  • Inside Will and Jada’s 25,000 Square Ft. Home

    Filed under:

    The Smith Family

    Will Smith and Jada Pinkeet-Smith recently opened their 25,000 sq ft home to the readers of Architectural Digest in their upcoming September issue.

    Sporting a meditation room, a lake, tennis courts and a circular design, the Smiths spared no expense to make their 9 bedroom Calabasas home a perfect fit for their family’s needs.

    “Everything needed to be done by hand,” Will says. “We wanted to feel the love and labor that went into every piece of this place.”

    Jada agreed adding, “We’re very earthy, organic people. We wanted to create a family retreat, something made by hand and as natural as possible, something that ties back to the land.”

    The exterior of their 9 bedroom home:

    The exterior of Will Smith's home

    The living room:

    Will Smith's Living Room

    You can see more photos of their beautiful home here.

    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

  • Deficit Cutting Will Widen Retirement Gap for Minorities

    From Reuters:

    New research finds an appalling 20 to one chasm in net worth between white and black Americans, and an 18 to one gap between whites and Hispanics. The Pew Research Center found that the net worth gap has widened during the Great Recession, mainly because the housing bust disproportionately cut into the wealth of African-Americans and Hispanics.

    Read more here.

     

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  • Get Advanced Career Training At ITT Tech

    Career Training & Job Placement Assistance

    At ITT Technical Institute, career preparation begins long before graduation. Assistance is offered on job-seeking and job-keeping skills and techniques. In addition, you are advised of entry-level job openings and prepared for job interview opportunities.

    Unlike many traditional colleges, where students spend most of their time listening to lectures in most programs, ITT Tech students also spend considerable time in the lab, where they are encouraged to apply what was taught in the classroom and see for themselves how, why and what makes things work.



  • Gucci, Burberry and Chloé Handbags Free

    Visitors who participate in this offer may be eligible to receive a free designer handbag. Handbags available are Gucci, Burberry and Chloé.  Zip-code is required to get. started


  • Becoming A Beta Tester Of The New Apple Ipad – And Keep It Free!

    Major corporations such as Apple need actual consumers to test their new products at home. Of course new products go through a battery of tests in labs and by professionals, but until actual consumers try them out, the company doesn’t really know if they have met the consumer expectation. This is where you come in.

    The Apple iPad has recently launched and is currently in the consumer testing phase. This means you could receive an iPad to use, test and keep forever! The only thing required of you is to give your opinions to Apple. They want to know what you think; did the iPad meet your expectations? What would you improve or change? These answers assist Apple with making improvements for new models.

  • Have You Joined Perfspot Yet?

    Perfspot

    PerfSpot is so called because it is designed to be the “perfect” place from which to begin one’s exploration of the immeasurably vast world of the Internet. It’s an ambitious aim for a social networking site, and PerfSpot does not disappoint in its fulfillment of this aim. PerfSpot members, who sign up for free, get to participate in a virtual community. They can post images, videos, music, and words to communicate about themselves and their interests. They can find fellow users whose interests match their own–or simply fellow users whose personal photos intrigue them. Users can participate in community opinion polls, and can share their views on anything in the world.

    These days, people are used to the Internet. PerfSpot.com truly re-captures the excitement of being on the Internet during its early days, when communication with people from all over the world was recognized for the revolutionary phenomenon that it was. The site gives its members countless opportunities to meet new friends, find new interests, or simply share their achievements with the rest of the online world. Click Here to get started

  • Dating Advice For Black Singles

    I first met my ex-boyfriend while a sophomore in college & he was a senior.  We first started as BUDDIES but our relationship quickly blossomed & we had a relationship for nearly 5 years.  After graduation & entering the real world of a lack luster job, our relationship began to get very rocky for several reasons.  Just before our 5 year mark, I asked for time off.  We both were not happy individually or together.  I was hoping the time apart would allow us to work on our personal issues & solidify our relationship.

    (more…)

  • Wyclef Jean’s – Yele Haiti Earthquake Relief

    Wyclef Jean Yele Haiti FoundationIn 2005, Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean created the grassroots charity organization Yéle Haiti. The founder of the Grammy-winning group The Fugees coined the term Yéle in a song which was deemed to mean, “A Cry For Freedom.”

    Initially, the goal of the foundation was to restore pride and hope to the Haitian people through the launch of initiatives that would allow Haiti’s citizens to empower themselves. Scholarships were created, as well as endowments for arts and culture, food distribution services and emergency relief.

    While these investments were made at a time that the people of Haiti deemed to be arduous, suffering from tropical storms, hurricanes, political revolutions and other natural disasters and health disasters, they could not have anticipated the devastation that was to beset them on January 12, 2010.haiti earthquake

    Haiti, one of the poorest and most under developed nations in the world, was hit with a mammoth earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale decimating it’s capital Port au Prince. Among the structures damaged in the quake were the Haitian Presidential Palace, the United Nations Embassy (which was a 5 story edifice), and several hospitals. Already plagued with poor health care services, the destruction of existing medical facilities will only further exacerbate a bleak situation in aid and recovery of injured victims. A consensus on the death toll has not yet been tallied but fatalities are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Unfortunately, among the confirmed dead is the chief of the UN mission in Haiti, Ambassador Hedi Annabi.  Haitian President Rene Preval is reported to be safe and in contact with President Obama to coordinate the rescue efforts.urn:newsml:dpa.com:20090101:100113-11-10177

    President Barrack Obama has pledged unwavering support from the U.S. and has deployed air craft providing food, water, clothing and medical supplies, while Haitian celebrity, Wyclef Jean and his Yele Haiti Foundation have taken to the internet with pleas for donations. On the official Yele Haiti Foundation facebook page it’s posted status is:

    “Yele Haiti Please help Haiti in their time of need. You can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501 or get more info by visiting www.yele.org”

    Undoubtedly, Wyclef Jean will also be donating funds from his personal fortune and it has been reported that he will be donating proceeds from the sale of  his  records and  ringtones during this period to the Haiti relief effort. Digicell, an Irish company that provides cellular coverage in the Caribbean pledged to donate $5 million to the rescue efforts. The U.N. has released $10 million in emergency funds to establish immediate operations in Haiti.  Its World Food Program is sending a cargo plane full of high energy biscuits to the island today. Each biscuit packs enough nutritional value to feed a person for an entire day. The first shipment should feed 30,000 people for a week. Reports are coming in that numerous countries are gearing up to lend support.

  • Verizons New Droid Phone – The Reviews Are In!!



    Can you feel the tremors? Verizon’s hotly anticipated Motorola Droid finally arrives on Friday, and — if the earth-rumbling ads are to be believed — we’ll be feeling its force all over the world.

    All right, so the ads may be a bit exaggerated. Let’s face it, though: This phone is stirring up quite the geek-friendly frenzy. Whether you think it’ll be a mere blip on the radar or you believe it’ll send the iPhone scrambling to a secure bunker, the Droid has definitely become difficult to ignore.

    Here’s a quick and easy guide to everything you need to know about Verizon’s Droid and its November 6 launch.

    Verizon’s Droid: The Basics

    • Verizon’s Motorola Droid is 4.56 by 2.36 inches and weighs just under 6 ounces.

    • The phone features 3.7-inch, 854-by-480 pixel touchscreen display.

    • It has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 5-megapixel camera with DVD-quality video recording.

    • The Droid utilizes an Arm Cortex 550mHz A8 processor with 256MB of built-in memory. It has a 16GB microSD card and can be expanded to 32GB.

    • Running the Android 2.0 operating system, the Droid is capable of multitasking and features unique options such as integrated turn-by-turn GPS navigation.

    • The Droid connects to Google’s Android Market, which features roughly 10,000 downloadable apps.

    Verizon Droid Smartphone

    Verizon’s Droid: The Buying

    • The Droid costs $199.99 when bought with a new two-year contract. In most instances, however, you’ll end up paying $299.99 up-front, then getting $100 back via a mail-in rebate.

    • If you buy your Droid at Best Buy, you can avoid paying the extra $100 from the mail-in rebate. Best Buy will automatically credit the rebate at the time of your purchase, meaning you’ll pay only $199.99 that day.

    • The Droid requires a Verizon voice plan, which runs a minimum of $39.99 for 450 minutes. It also requires an unlimited data plan, which runs an additional $29.99. Text messaging is not included and costs extra to add on.

    • Over two years’ time, you’d end up paying essentially the same amount with either an iPhone 3GS or a Verizon Droid. A Palm Pre would end up costing you a good bit less.

    • Despite some initial confusion, you will not have to pay extra simply to utilize the Droid’s Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync feature. There is a $15 surcharge only if you have a multiple-line business account.

    • Verizon Wireless will open many of its retail stores early Friday morning to accommodate the Droid launch. Some locations will open at 7 or 8 a.m. The flagship Verizon store on 34th Street in New York City will open from midnight to 2 a.m. for an early round of Droid sales. Be sure to call your specific store to check on its hours, as opening times vary from place to place.

    Verizon’s Droid: The Reviews

    Verizon Droid ReviewsPC World: “The first Android 2.0 phone impresses with a strong suite of Web features and a stunning 3.7-inch display, but some users might have trouble with the shallow keyboard.”

    The New York Times (David Pogue): “The Droid wins on phone network, customizability, GPS navigation, speaker, physical keyboard, removable battery and openness (free operating system, mostly uncensored app store).”

    The Wall Street Journal (Walt Mossberg): “It’s the best super-smart phone Verizon offers, the best Motorola phone I’ve tested and the best hardware so far to run Android. I can recommend the Droid to Verizon loyalists who have lusted for a better smart phone, but don’t want to switch networks.”

    Time: “The Droid is without a doubt the best Android device currently available; it’s also the best phone Verizon has to offer and it doesn’t hurt that Verizon is the best network. … [It] comes in a close second to the iPhone in terms of a seamless user experience.”

    Gizmodo: “If you don’t buy an iPhone, buy a Droid. It’s the best phone on Verizon, and with Android 2.0, the second best smartphone you can buy, period. It’s flawed, deeply in some ways. But it’s the second best phone around, on the best network around.”

    Engadget: “It’s hard not to recommend the Droid to potential buyers eager to do more with their devices. It’s easily the best Android phone to date, and when you couple the revamped OS, Verizon’s killer network, and an industrial design straight from a gadget enthusiast’s fever-dream, it makes for a powerful concoction.”

    Boy Genius Report: “We absolutely love the Motorola Droid. It’s a perfect storm between awesome hardware, great software, and a great network.”

    SlashGear: “The Verizon Droid by Motorola sets the bar for all new Android devices and is arguably the best Android device to date. … While the Droid lacks the Apple handset’s finesse and polish, it’s only a few steps behind.”

  • The 10 Biggest Myths About Starting An Internet Business

    online-moneyYou have heard from people saying Internet Business is a waste of time, you will not make any money, there is no real money to be made online, it will never work and so many others negative words coming from people who don’t really understand in this Internet Business industry.

    The thing is, it does work. Why some people make a fortune and some don’t even make money at all? Simply because the people who make thousands or millions of cash knew all the lies in this business and they will not trust these lies.

    So what is this big internet lies? Below here are the 10 big internet lies that you should know:

    (more…)

  • Jazz G Williams misses second game (AP)

    Utah point guard Deron Williams missed his second straight game Saturday night against Cleveland to deal with a family medical issue. Williams returned to Salt Lake City on Friday morning and missed Utah's game in Philadelphia. He said in a statement following the game that his daughter underwent a procedure on Thursday to "address some health concerns." Williams averages 20.4 points…

  • Cavs C O’Neal out with shoulder injury (AP)

    Shaquille O'Neal was scratched from the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup Saturday night against Utah because of a strained shoulder. O'Neal started Cleveland's first nine games, averaging 11.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. Zydrunas Ilgauskas was expected to start at center in place of O'Neal.

  • On Set w/ Beyonce & Gaga ‘Video Phone"

    Posted by: JustGrinding

    Get a sneak peek from (via theYBF) the Beyonce and Lady Gaga shoot for the “Video Phone Remix” (original version canbe found on Beyonce’s ‘I Am..Sasha Fierce’ album). What do you think? Do these ladies have good chemisrty? CLICK HERE FOR MORE!

  • Pam Grier: Blaxploitation Icon to Join Cast of TV’s ‘Smallville’

    Filed under: , , , ,

    Pam Grier will return to television early next year…and will be playing a bad guy.

    Well, a bad girl.

    Again!

    The CW announced that the 60 year-old 1970s Blaxploitation film icon is joining the cast of the hit drama series ‘Smallville,’ which is based on the DC Comics Superman series.

    The savvy casting choice is the first for the ‘Jackie Brown’ actress since Showtime’s ‘The L Word’ ended last year.

    Grier will play a villainess named Agent Amanda Waller, who brought on the destruction of Smallville in one of part of the Superman mythology.

    In the storyline, the character escaped the infamous Chicago Cabrini-Green housing projects with her surviving family after her family was murdered. She became a congressional aid and then a member of the elite semi-secret government agency, the Suicide Squad, where she earned the nickname ‘The Wall.’ Later, Agent Waller served as Secretary of Meta-human Affairs under President Lex Luthor.

    According to TV Guide, Grier will make her debut in January and she will appear in multiple episodes throughout the season.

    2008 Deaths

      Odetta Holmes
      “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement” was a singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter and activist.
      December 31 1930 – December 2 2008.

      Ray Tamarra , Getty

      Bernie Mac
      Comedian, Actor
      Oct. 5, 1957 – Aug. 9, 2008.

      AP

      Isaac Hayes
      Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and actor.
      August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008

      Reuters

      Miriam Makeba, “Mama Africa”
      South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist.
      March 4, 1932 – November 10, 2008.

      Reuters

      Jennifer Hudson’s 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, brother, Jason, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, were killed in 2008.

      AP

      Shakir Stewart
      The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z’s departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. He was 34 years old.

      Getty

      George Carlin
      Stand-up comedian, actor and author.
      May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008

      Getty Images

      Madelyn Dunham
      Barack Obama’s grandmother
      October 26, 1922 – Nov 3, 2008.

      Getty Images

      Levi Stubbs
      Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving” died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

      Corbis

      Dee Dee Warwick
      Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

      Corbis

     

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  • Queen Latifah: Returning as Host of ‘People’s Choice Awards’

    Queen Latifah will return as host of the ‘2010 People’s Choice Awards’ ij January, and a few people of color and their respective projects will battle it out for the title of ‘People’s Choice.’

    Emmy Award-winning supermodel-turned-talk show host Tyra Banks’ daily talk show is nominated for favorite TV talk show, but she will have to beat ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ as well as ‘Chelsea Lately,’ ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ and ‘Live with Regis & Kelly.’

    LL Cool J‘s show, ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ — the newest in the popular CBS franchise — is nominated in the new TV drama category, but would have to oust ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘The Forgotten,’ ‘Mercy,’ ‘Melrose Place,’ FlashForward,’ ‘Eastwick,’ ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ ‘V,’ and ‘Three Rivers,’ for the win.

    Finally, competing for ‘New TV Comedy’ are two Fox shows the feature African-American ensembles;’The Cleveland Show,’ the animated series featuring the voices of Sanaa Lathan and Regan Preston-Gomez, and ‘Brothers’ starring former New York Giants star Michael Strahan and Darryl ‘Chill’ Mitchell. Also nominated in that category are ‘Accidentally on Purpose,’ ‘Community,’ ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘Glee,’ ‘Hank,’ ‘The Middle’ and ‘Modern Family.’

    The People’s Choice Awards will air live on Jan.6 on CBS from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

    Below is a complete list of nominees and categories:

    TV DRAMA:
    ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’
    ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
    ‘House’
    ‘Lost’
    ‘NCIS’

    TV COMEDY:
    ‘Desperate Housewives’
    ‘How I Met Your Mother’
    ‘The Big Bang Theory’
    ‘The Office’
    ‘Two and a Half Men’

    TV DRAMA ACTOR:
    Hugh Laurie
    Kiefer Sutherland
    Mark Harmon
    Matthew Fox
    Patrick Dempsey

    TV DRAMA ACTRESS:
    Anna Paquin
    Blake Lively
    Jennifer Love Hewitt
    Katherine Heigl
    Mariska Hargitay

    TV COMEDY ACTOR:
    Alex Baldwin
    Charlie Sheen
    Jim Parsons
    Neil Patrick Harris
    Steve Carell

    TV COMEDY ACTRESS:
    Alyson Hannigan
    America Ferrera
    Amy Poehler
    Eva Longoria Parker
    Tina Fey

    TV OBSESSION:
    ‘Dexter’
    ‘Gossip Girl’
    ‘The Hills’
    ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’
    ‘True Blood’

    TV TALK SHOW:
    ‘Chelsea Lately’
    ‘Live with Regis & Kelly’
    ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’
    ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’
    ‘The Tyra Banks Show’

    TV SCI-FI FANTASY:
    ‘Heroes’
    ‘Lost’
    ‘Supernatural’
    ‘The Vampire Diaries’
    ‘True Blood’

    TV COMPETITION SHOW:
    ‘American Idol’
    ‘Dancing With the Stars’
    ‘Project Runway’
    ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
    ‘Survivor: Samoa’

    ANIMAL SHOW:
    ‘Animal Cops’
    ‘DogTown’
    ‘Dog Whisperer’
    ‘It’s Me or the Dog’
    ‘Rescue Ink’

    NEW TV DRAMA:
    ‘Eastwick’
    ‘FlashForward’
    ‘Melrose Place’
    ‘Mercy’
    ‘The Forgotten’
    ‘The Good Wife’
    ‘The Vampire Diaries’
    ‘Three Rivers’
    ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’
    ‘V’

    NEW TV COMEDY:
    ‘Accidentally on Purpose’
    ‘Brothers’
    ‘Community’
    ‘Cougar Town’
    ‘Glee’
    ‘Hank’
    ‘The Cleveland Show’
    ‘The Middle’
    ‘Modern Family’

     

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  • Nicolas Cage Money Problems: Balling Without a Budget

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    I grow weary of the fact that whenever the media presents an entertainer going broke, we almost always see a black man. Well, the tables do turn, even on the best of them. Actor Nicolas Cage is allegedly having major financial problems, having his property foreclosed and admitting in court that his former business manager may have milked him of millions of dollars.

    In a major court battle, the actor lost two of his homes worth a combined total of $6.8 million dollars. Cage owes over $5 million in mortgage payments and more than $150,000 to the city of New Orleans in real estate taxes. Cage is also suing Samuel Levin, his former business manager, claiming that Levin was responsible for his financial demise.

    Here are some quick and dirty thoughts on the plight of Nicolas Cage:
    1) Is there a change in the language? I noticed that a CNN article about Cage mentions the recession as one of the reasons that Cage is struggling financially. However, most commentary about the financial problems of NBA star Antoine Walker attributed his woes to financial irresponsibility. Not to accuse anyone of racism, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were difficult for the world to imagine the great Nicolas Cage as being financially irresponsible.

    2) Hollywood money is not what it seems to be: By having five major projects slated for 2010, it’s tempting to believe that Nicolas Cage is going to be financially free by the end of next year. Not so fast. After actors finish paying the agents, lawyers, managers, and the IRS, they may only get 30 – 40% of their total pay package. That means that if Cage gets $10 million for his film, he is only going to see three or four million dollars of that money.

    Whatever the case may be, it does appear that Nicolas Cage was certainly living it up. Few A-list actors are as blockbuster-worthy as Cage, so there is no excuse for him to ever go broke. But given that Cage has purchased personal islands, castles, and other extravagant items, he put himself in a situation where he needed a lot of money in order to simply stay afloat. Michael Jackson had the same problem during his life, as he was easily spending five to ten million dollars per month. No matter how much money you have, you can always go broke. We should all live beneath our means.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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