Quantcast
Viewing all 4256 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Lyfe Jennings: R&B Singer Headed Back To Prison

September 22, 2010, 12:00 pm
$
0
0

Filed under: ,

R&B singer Lyfe Jennings was sentenced to three and half years in prison today in Cobb County, Ga.

The 37-year-old's troubles stemmed from an arrest in Oct. 2008 where he faced multiple charges including DUI test refusal, criminal trespassing, discharging a weapon near a street, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing or attempting to elude a police offer.

Jennings had an altercation with Joy Pound, his then manager/children's mother, and subsequently kicked in the door of a house in Smyrna, Ga. that belonged to someone named Jeff Kendrick.

The singer then fired several rounds from a .40 caliber glock in the street according to authorities, before fleeing the scene in his 2005 Corvette.

Police claim Jennings refused to stop for officers when given audible and visual signs to do so and droveImage may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Lyfe Jennings in excess of 70 miles per hour.

In court today, the Toledo, Ohio-bred talent requested to be able to go home and visit his children before beginning his sentence, but the judge denied his request.

Yesterday on his Twitter page, Jennings posted a message to followers saying goodbye.

"This will be my last post. To everyone who gave me a chance I am forever in your debt. I have had a fabulous career because of you. All I can say in parting is that I have been honest with yaw. I didn't sugarcoat a word didn't hold back a single syllable of my life from yaw. I've lived a hundred lives in these 6 yrs so I not only won't, I don't have the right to complain. I would like to think that I've changed lives by changing my own, tho I can't be sure. But one thing I am sure of is God gives and takes away in measure. He is fair, just and forever. Amen from a man... Smile, it's contagious :)" - he posted on via @Lyfeonline419

This is not the singer's first run-in with the law. After serving a 10-year sentence for arson, Jennings was released from prison in 2002.

Shortly thereafter, he went on to win the amateur night competition several times on 'Showtime at the Apollo,' which ultimately led to him signing with Columbia Records and releasing his debut CD, 'Lyfe 268-192' in 2004.

*****

For related stories, read: 'Prison Bound: Wesley Snipes Will Serve Hard Time'

& 'Sean Kingston: Singer Accused of Sexual Assault.'




Black Music Notes Mar. 19

    3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
    Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.

    Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

    3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
    Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'

    Getty Images

    3/19/09: The Miracles
    Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    3/19/09: Chester Gregory
    After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'

    Jemal Countess, WireImage

    3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
    Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.

    Evening Standard / Getty Images

    3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
    Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.

    Santiago Llanquin / AP

    3/19/09: Kim Burrell
    Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.

    Zomba

    3/19/09: Mike Jones
    Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.

    Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic

    3/19/09: Prince
    With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'

    Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
Search

President Obama's Top Economic Advisor is Gone

September 22, 2010, 2:23 pm
$
0
0

Filed under: , ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
President Obama's top economic advisor, Lawrence Summers, is finally. out the door. The former Harvard University President resigned from Obama's Council of Economic Advisors amidst questions about his performance. Summers came to represent the very worst of the economic crisis. He was the man in charge, next to the man in charge, as the world came to associate Harvard University economists with the financial destruction of America.

Summers wasn't a bad economist, but he was hardly an adequate representative of the American people. He was part of the academic aristocracy, the nephew of (not one, but) two Nobel Prize winners and the son of two Yale university professors. Needless to say, Summers was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and doesn't know a thing about economic struggle. He worked hard for what he ultimately received, but quite a few doors were open to him from birth. He personified the white male affirmative action program that has been in existence since slavery. At the very least, the chances of a black man having two Yale professors in his family (let alone a Nobel Prize winner) are virtually non-existent due to Jim Crow. So, if Lawrence Summers had been born as one of "us," we wouldn't even know his name.

Summers has insulted women, remarking that it might be plausible that men are intellectually superior in math and science. He has insulted the black community, by attempting to argue that the work of the great Cornel West was somehow not representative of true scholarship. The reality was that the brilliant work of Dr. West is not representative of Lawrence Summers scholarship - the kind that existed at Harvard long before African Americans were allowed to attend the university. Even to this day, Harvard university has an abysmal and embarrassing record when it comes to granting tenure to African American faculty.

It is because Lawrence Summers represented the worst of academia that I was ashamed and saddened that Barack Obama chose to hire him. Lawrence Summers wasn't even equipped to do what's right for white America, let alone black America. He had more ties to Wall Street than Dow Jones, making him hardly the kind of man to lead an administration allegedly founded on the concepts of hope and change.

I am not sure if Lawrence Summers made the personal decision to leave office, or if someone came along and gave him a "Shirley Sherrod." Either way, I say good riddance. President Obama would be well-advised to avoid returning to the same Ivy League well to get his next economic advisor. Lawrence Summers was simply a horrible pick, and I am personally wondering how a man of the people can be so blinded and beholden to America's academic elite.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
↧

HEALTHY, WHOLE and FREE

September 22, 2010, 5:34 pm
$
0
0

Filed under:


Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Your Daily Affirmation for Wednesday, September 22, 2010:

To affirm a thing is to name it already existing by using faith and gratitude in advance of seeing it in the manifest realm. Today I affirm healing, health and bodily blessings for myself, my family, my friends and the world. In faith and in God all things are possible--- even grand overcomings from emotional, physical or mental challenges. Jesus The Christ demonstrated power of man, in alignment with the Spirit of God, to heal. As I rise to the challenge and the opportunity to heal, I demonstrate good healthy, wholeness and freedom.


Heal and Be Healed---You have all you need!

Barry Johnson
Previously: Peace, Serenity and Tranquility


Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Barry Johnson is an businessman, motivational speaker and management consultant. He holds a B.S. degree from Yale and an MBA degree from Harvard. You can follow him at twitter.com/thebarryjohnson and email him at bjohnson@risemovement.org

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Tom Joyner Morning Show: Bishop Eddie Long Cancels

September 23, 2010, 1:56 am
$
0
0

Filed under: ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Tom Joyner Morning Show

I am not exactly sure why, but Bishop Eddie Long just canceled his appearance on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS). Long was set to appear and interview with Roland Martin. I presume he was going to address the allegations of sexual coercion being made by two young males to whom Long was responsible for providing spiritual guidance.

On his Twitter page, Roland Martin had this to say:

"Got 2 hours sleep. Headed to LA radio studio. No Bishop Eddie L. Long this morning on Joyner after late cancellation."

Martin later said the following:

"I just texted Erica. Interview is off. Due to 3rd lawsuit, no Bishop Long. Only his attorneys will speak."

Actually, I think that the cancellation was a good move by Bishop Eddie Long. Right now, there's too much money at stake for Bishop Eddie Long to do much public speaking on his own behalf. B.J. Bernstein, the plaintiff's attorney, did a very good job of laying the case out on behalf of the other side, so while Bishop Long is quite convincing in his own right, the truth is that he should not be the one speaking in public right now.

The allegations against Bishop Long are disturbing, most certainly. His cancellation on TJMS reminds me of the same thing that happened three years ago when Michael Vick was going to address his dogfighting allegations. Vick also said that he was going to appear, only to cancel on the morning of the show. It's hard to know if the announcement-cancellation model is strategic. I wonder if there is an incentive for the accused to say, "I really wanted to go public to defend myself, but my darn lawyers told me not to. But the truth will eventually come out."

My question for both Bishop Long and everyone else involved in this case is, Will the truth ever really come out or will this suit be settled behind closed doors?

I would not be surprised if there were a significant (yet undisclosed) financial settlement offered in the case, with both parties agreeing not to discuss the case in public. Then, there would be a well-crafted explanation for PR purposes that many in Bishop's "flock" would accept to be the truth. I'm not here to say that Bishop Eddie Long is guilty or innocent of these charges, but I am here to say that his people deserve to know the truth,and not just hope that the Holy Spirit guides them to forgive Bishop Long and pray that his demons will go away. If you are being misled by your pastor, you deserve cold, hard facts, and not just fancy words.

The truth will either set you free or cost you a lot of money, Bishop Long. Which one will it be? Most of us say we want complete honesty, but most of the time, we really don't. The comfort of an impressive illusion can often be preferable to a flawed, dysfunctional reality.

Should it be the case that Eddie Long, the notoriously anti-gay pastor, is actually gay himself, I wonder how many in his congregation will simply overlook reality and focus their minds on painting an image of Bishop Long that fits the fantasy they've embraced for so long.

It's no different from a young boy believing that his mother is a virgin or a father believing that his 21-year-old daughter is a sweet, innocent little girl. The illusion is more comfortable, and given that my father is a pastor, I've seen up close how some in the church consciously and consistently live a complete lie in their day-to-day lives. So perhaps the willingness to so easily overlook any potential ethical misconduct on the part of Eddie Long is simply a reflection of the realities also being experienced by those who follow him.

Again, we don't know if Long is guilty for sure just yet, but after seeing the seemingly suggestive pictures that he sent to his "spiritual sons," I personally think some questions need to be answered. At the very least, I can say that if he were sending something like that to my child, there would be bloodshed in the church that day.


Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Bishop Eddie Long Pictures Paint an Uncomfortable Image

September 23, 2010, 2:35 am
$
0
0

Filed under: ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Bishop Eddie Long, Bishop Eddie Long Scandal, Bishop Eddie Long Sex Scandal, Bishop Eddie Long Pictures

I woke up this morning expecting the day to be normal, but normal just doesn't seem to visit my house anymore. I am especially convinced of this fact after seeing some really "interesting" pictures of the Bishop Eddie Long. These pictures were allegedly sent by Bishop Long to one of his "spiritual sons," who has not yet filed a lawsuit.

After these pictures were released to the public by the plantiff's attorney, B.J. Bernstein, I am sure she said the word "checkmate" out loud. One cannot say with complete certainty that these pictures were sent to the young man to convince him of the importance of working out, to show off the latest fashion trends or to simply say, "Hey man, how ya' doin'?"

Instead, the images leave Bishop Long with a lot of explaining to do.

"She's trying to paint him as a predator," says Dr. Christopher Metzler, a Georgetown University professor and highly respected litigator out of Washington, D.C. "She's also trying to get a settlement quickly by suing the church, the non-profit and Bishop Long. Given that Atlanta has such a large gay community, there may be gay people on the jury. He's pushed many gay people out of the church, so the perception of hypocrisy my cause him problems."

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Bishop Eddie Long, Bishop Eddie Long Scandal, Bishop Eddie Long Sex Scandal, Bishop Eddie Long Pictures

Here's the bottom line on the Bishop Eddie Long sex scandal:

If Eddie Long or anyone else were to send these pictures to any of my kids, I'd be standing in the pulpit with a baseball bat. No "spiritual advisor", teacher, or cub scout master has any business sending pictures like this to the young men he is advising. I am also hopeful that the photographic evidence will be enough to wake up anyone in Bishop Long's congregation who feels that he might somehow have been framed by another party. While anything is possible, we must also consider that which is probable as well.

The allegations against Bishop Long might provide an opportunity for the black church as well. Why are we choosing to live a lie when it comes to homosexuality in the church? We have gay men in the church, around the church and underneath the church, living on the down low. The question becomes, "If Eddie Long happens to be either completely or partially gay, does this eliminate the impact he's had on the lives of millions of people? Should we love and respect him any less?" What's worse is that if it is the case that Bishop Long is gay (I am not yet saying this for certain), why in the world would he go out of his way to not only attend a rally against gays, but actively position himself as an anti-gay pastor? It's one thing to be secretly gay, and another thing to go out of your way to attack the gay community, attend rallies against them and even lead the rallies that you're attending. That, my friends, is the definition of the word "audacity."

It appears that the Bishop Eddie Long sex scandal is just beginning. I am quite curious to see where it goes from here. At the very least, we can say that the attorney for the plantiffs is going for blood. No, I'm not talking about the blood of Jesus. For Benstein, the blood of Eddie Long will do just fine.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
↧

School Bans Student from Homecoming Because of Dreadlocks

September 23, 2010, 3:55 am
$
0
0
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. School Bans Student from Homecoming Because of Dreadlocks


Vicksburg, Miss., high school student Patrick Richardson (pictured above) will be banned from attending any of his school's homecoming festivities unless he chops off his dreadlocks.


High school officials did not mince words when they told the young man that keeping his dreads would result in not being able to escort his best friend and junior class maid, Sa'shia Jones, to homecoming. According to Richardson, the principal told him to cut his dreads, after he had just paid for a tux fitting in order to attend the event that was only a week away:

"When I decided to grow my hair, that's what I wanted to do. I thought my hair was acceptable but my principal told me that homecoming was of a higher standard and that dreads are not acceptable."

Richardson has been growing his dreads since last October, and now they're about eight inches long. He had actually planned on braiding his hair and pulling it back for Friday's long-anticipated affair.

Tammi Mason (pictured above), the 16-year-old's mother, is highly disturbed that her son's decision to express himself culturally is being totally disregarded. She is also angry that the monies he paid for the tux fitting will not be refunded. Mason told WLBT News:

"It's actually a form of discrimination to me, because if that's the case then everybody who's fat shouldn't be able to be in it on the court. They could say anything. Actually they could say you have to be a size 10 to be one of the maids," said Mason.

Another parent of a child who attends the high school, Lynda Jackson, is also upset that her son, De-Marcus, is also banned from escorting a sophomore maid because he, too, sports dreads.

Vicksburg School superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Swinford upholds the high school's decision to ban dreadlocks from Friday's homecoming ceremonies, although she admits that there is no written policy regarding dreads. Still she says that there is a practice that does not allow the hairstyle on the homecoming court.

School officials are now looking into drafting a written policy that would uphold the dreadlocks ban at homecoming.

Meanwhile, teed off moms Mason and Jackson may be seeking legal counsel, although it is too late to at this stage to help their sons gain entry in to this year's homecoming.



 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Around the Web: Ayurvedic Natural-Hair Care, Reclaiming Your Personal Time, Munaluchi & Celeb Philanthropists

September 23, 2010, 4:00 am
$
0
0

Filed under:


Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Ayurvedic Natural-Hair Care Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that is designed to help people live long, healthy and well-balanced lives. (Coco and Creme)

11 Ways to Reclaim Your 'Me' Time With new research linking pressure at work to heart disease in women, it's more important than ever to take some time to unwind. Turn off the BlackBerry, take a break from tweeting and try one of these simple stress relievers from experts and women like you. (Hello Beautiful)

Munaluchi: A New Mag for Global Brides of Color Despite plenty of glossy mainstream bridal mags, there are none directly targeted to women of color. This will change with the launch of Munaluchi Bridal magazine. (Clutch Magazine)
11 Celebrity Philanthropists Giving Back See this list of celebs who are not only raking in major dough, but also giving back. (The Atlanta Post)

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Edwards Issues Apology Over Drunk Driving Arrest

September 23, 2010, 4:08 am
$
0
0

Filed under:

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Edwards Issues Apology Over Drunk Driving ArrestEarly Tuesday morning, New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested for driving while intoxicated. At about 5:15 a.m. in Manhattan, officers pulled over Edwards' SUV because of excessive tinting. They gave him a breath test on the scene and at the police station where he tested . Edwards was twice the legal limit.
"We are very disappointed in Braylon's actions this morning. The Player Protect program is in place for our organization to prevent this situation. Braylon is aware of this program and showed poor judgment," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said in a statement. "We are reviewing the information with the league and will impose the appropriate disciplinary measures."
The Player Protect program provides a 24-hour driving service for athletes to prevent this exact situation. The company also provides security, so athletes don't feel the necessity to pack a firearm when they go out. On Wednesday, Edwards released a statement apologizing for his actions:


"I would like to apologize to my family, my fans, (owner Woody) Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan and my teammates," Edwards said. "I will respect the process that is in place and will fully cooperate with the league. I am truly happy to be a member of the New York Jets and I hope I have the opportunity to retire here. I now have to regain the trust of my teammates, the organization and the fans."
The NFL is yet to comment on any possible punishment for Edwards, but the Jets did say he will most likely play, but not start, in the next game against the Miami Dolphins.


 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
Search

Michelle Obama to Headline Fund-Raisers for Democrats Around the Country

September 23, 2010, 6:42 am
$
0
0
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Michelle Obama to Headline Fundraisers for Democrats Around the Country

Michelle Obama is gearing up to headline nine democratic fundraisers in six states over the next few months.

According to the White House, it's all systems go for the First Lady who is excited about her participation in the fundraisers but who is also reputed to not be a "political animal."

Mrs. Obama's popularity has reportedly surpassed her husband's in polls and now she will test the waters by making appearances at nine events over the course of twelve days from October 13 to 27. There may be more events added to Mrs. Obama's already hectic schedule, especially around the upcoming November 2nd elections.

The First Lady will be campaigning for Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, whose name was seriously thrown around as a possible presidential candidate in the 2008 elections. She will also show her support for Senators Michael Bennet of Colorado, Patty Murray of Washington, Barbara Boxer of California and Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias of Illinois, who is trying to hold the Senate seat once held by the president.

White House aides say that the First Lady's schedule was carefully put together, so that she could attend the events and not disrupt the schedules of her time with her young daughters, Sasha and Malia. Mrs. Obama prefers fund-raisers and not rallies, because she does not travel on weekends, which is when they are typically held. Instead, she prefers to spend time with her children when they are home on the weekends.

Susan Sher, chief of staff to the First Lady, told the Associated Press:

"From the beginning, she's wanted to hit the campaign trail. It was just a matter of figuring out what would work with her schedule and what would be most useful."

Other first ladies who have stepped up to the plate to campaign for their fellow party candidates during midterm elections are Laura Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barbara Bush.

Stephanie Cutter, an administration adviser, also told the AP:

"She's campaigning to advocate, to rally voters behind specific candidates based on what we can do together to build a better future. She comes to this as a Mom, and that's the lens through which she sees the world and that's her test for every issue - what it means for her daughters and all of our kids."



 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
↧

Obama Seeks Accountability From Old Recipients

September 23, 2010, 7:15 am
$
0
0

Filed under: , ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Obama defends, refines US approach to world aid

President Barack Obama told a United Nations audience that when poorer countries look for U.S. foreign aid, they better have long-term development and anti-corruption plans in place as a condition for the giving.

Obama said a new U.S. global development policy will focus on achieving results to help poor nations in the long term as opposed to simply tallying the money donated.

The outlook doesn't sound like anything new to me. I can't recall a president ever saying he was going to throw money at a poor country out of the simple goodness of his heart. As far as I can remember, in recent administrations, the goal has always been to help countries become self-sufficient.

However, Obama's 20-minute speech to the 192 UN members emphasized that nations that could show they promote growth from within -- in business, agriculture and technology -- would be the ones to get a financial helping hand from the United States.

Obama's announcement might be viewed as a tightening of the donation purse strings by some, and for good reason: The global economy, which is led by the United States, is a mess.

While some economists have said the U.S. recession is officially over, I dare them to go out and make that argument to the legion of unemployed workers and credit-strapped Americans looking for work.

While I won't call the notion exactly groundbreaking, I give Obama credit for stating the new reality that overshadows the world of international giving: Times are tough all over, so be ready to help yourself.

　

　

　

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Naturi Naughton Goes 'Mad' For Fashion In Guest Role

September 23, 2010, 8:30 am
$
0
0
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
She may be tight-lipped about her character, but Naturi Naughton couldn't help but gush about her classic 1960s style for an upcoming episode of 'Mad Men.'

"I can't speak too much about my role," Naughton said. "But I can say, I love my character's fashion. Getting dressed was like stepping into a time machine."

The 'Notorious' actress will appear on the Emmy Award-winning show this Sunday as a woman whom Naughton said is "sexy, but demands respect." She did, however, mention her character will make things sizzle a bit.

"I do have some chemistry with a few key players on show," Naughton coyly revealed. "It's going to be one of those 'wow' episodes."

Although that's all she could say about the role, Naughton gladly told Black Voices how she got all dolled up during her 'Mad Men' transformation.



The Clothes
"I wear really fun dresses with corset tops, tight waists and flowy and puffy bottoms, and some pencil skirts. We stuck with pastel colors and floral prints. I wear some pinks and powder blues. A lot of the clothes are vintage, although some pieces were created for me. I had four fittings in total. It was so much fun getting dressed up. But the corsets! Wearing them requires a lot of sucking in, so it wasn't very comfortable. I actually had lines on my skin from the impressions of one outfit. Once I was out of it, I could breathe again! I remember going home and thinking 'how did women get through the day wearing those things?' But by the second day it didn't bother me. I felt like a pro!"

The Accessories
"I wear clip-on earrings, some with large jewels. In one scene I have this beautiful pink pearl earrings and necklace set. Some of the jewelry was pretty basic and simple because the clothes stood out so much on their own. All of the shoes I wear were very narrow and weren't crazy high heels. The highest heel I wore was probably an inch and a half, maybe two inches. Even though they weren't that high, my feet still hurt!"

The Makeup
"I wear bright lipstick colors that are very matte, no gloss. For my eyes, I have very defined smoky eye. The makeup is very clean. Overall, I really felt confident with my character's look. After I was dressed and was done with hair and makeup, I felt like I could actually be a twenty-something year-old [in 1965]."

The Hair
"My hair is styled in a bouffant bump up top with my hair coming down into a flip. I have a bit of a bang that swoops to one side with a curl at the end and an undefined part. With the clothes and the hair I kind of felt like I was one of The Supremes! I wanted to sing, 'Stop! in the Name of Love.'

Naturi Naughton will appear on episode 10 of AMC's Mad Men this Sunday, September 26.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

'Notorious' Star Antonique Smith Joins Cast Of John Singleton's 'Abduction'

September 23, 2010, 8:35 am
$
0
0

Filed under:

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Antonique Smith, known for her highly praised portrayal of Faith Evans in the 2009 hit bio-drama 'Notorious,' has joined the cast of the upcoming action-thriller 'Abduction.'

The film, directed by John Singleton, stars 'Twilight's Taylor Lautner, Alfred Molina, Sigourney Weaver, Maria Bello and Jason Isaacs.

The Lionsgate thriller is centered around a young man (played by Lautner), who after seeing his baby picture on a missing children's website sets out to uncover the truth about his life.

Smith plays the role of CIA agent Sandra Burns, loyal partner of Frank Burton (played by Molina) who seek out to protect Lautner as he gets closer to the truth.

Smith, first garnered attention in her buzz worthy leading role in 'Rent' on Broadway as Mimi Marquez, where director Michael Greif is quoted as saying Antonique "made the whole show better". In addition to her upcoming role in 'Abduction,' Smith stars alongside Gabourey Sidibe, Zoe Kravitz and Tim Blake Nelson in the highly anticipated 2011 independent film 'Yelling To The Sky,' directed by Victoria Mahoney.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Liz Cheney Criticizes Obama Terrorism Comments

September 23, 2010, 8:58 am
$
0
0

Filed under: , ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Liz Cheney's criticism of President Obama's innocuous comments about terrorism shows what's wrong with the political debate in this country.

Instead of substantively criticizing Obama's policy on terrorism, Cheney, chair of a group called Keep America Safe, takes a small statement Obama made and completely misconstrues it.

In Washington Post writer Bob Woodward's forthcoming book, Obama says that the United States "can absorb a terrorist attack."

Here's the full quote:

"We can absorb a terrorist attack. We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever . . . we absorbed it and we are stronger."

Cheney said that Obama's comments "suggests an alarming fatalism on the part of President Obama and his administration."

Americans expect our President to do everything possible to defend the nation from attack. We expect him to use every tool at his disposal to find, defeat, capture and kill terrorists. We expect him to deter attacks by making clear to our adversaries that an attack on the United States will carry devastating consequences. Instead, President Obama is reported to have said, 'We can absorb a terrorist attack.' This comment suggests an alarming fatalism on the part of President Obama and his administration. Once again the President seems either unwilling or unable to do what it takes to keep this nation safe. The President owes the American people an explanation.

Maybe she should re-read the president's comments.


Obama is speaking the truth. Of course no one wants to see another terrorist attack on American soil. However, 9/11, as devastating as it was, did not destroy this country.

I think Obama was trying to pay tribute to how strong our country is. It is ridiculous to say that there won't ever be another terrorist attack on American soil.

And what's so ironic about Cheney's comments is that her dad was basically running the country when those planes slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. What if we continually pointed fingers at the signs that the Bush Administration missed and may have used to stop 9/11? What credibility does Cheney have when she supports the Birthers movement?

It's up to the public to look at the motivations behind the comments some people make. Cheney's comments are clearly political in nature and add nothing to the debate about how this country should deal with the threat of international terrorism.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
↧

Keeping It Real: Stacie Turner Talks 'Housewives,' Being Adopted & The Salahi's

September 23, 2010, 9:00 am
$
0
0

Filed under: , ,

She's the sole African-American cast member on a series set in a place often called Chocolate City. Regardless, Stacie Turner is no table-tossing, neck-rolling, Ebonics-speaking, stereotypical character one would come to expect from a 'Real Housewives' cast member; but instead she offers sophisticated sass while showcasing her business acumen on the debut season of the 'Real Housewives of DC.'

A real estate executive with a heart for philanthropy, Turner received an undergraduate degree in Finance from Howard University and her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business.

The happily married mother of two not only talked about life as a one of the nation's capital's 'Real Housewives;' but she shared with BV Buzz during our lunch at the Eurasian restaurant Oya her thoughts on the infamous White House crashers!

You are the only Black woman on a series set in a predominantly Black city. Is that a lot of pressure?

Heck yImage may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Stacie Turnereah! All women are different so to think that I can represent every lifestyle of every African-American woman in DC is like insane. To the extent that I can show what my reality is and reflect some of what I think African-American women can relate to is all that I can try to do. I definitely feel pressure!

Do you hold back on the show? Is there ever a time you feel your inner "sister girl" coming out, but tuck her away because of the cameras?

I'm always thinking that I have a little daughter and she can not see her mama show her behind on camera. In past episodes, they show how this whole topic of things related to race that comes up innocently and it's this expectation that you'll let it roll off and not go there with it. Meanwhile, it's like why does this even come up? We are sitting here having dinner so just because me and Ted Gibson are the only Black people there why does there need to be a connection about race? All it does is create a situation. And when it is brought up, why does the neck roll and the dialect change? It's just interesting.

Would you like to see them add more diversity to the 'Real Housewives of DC' franchise next season? Can we get another Black woman or even a Hispanic added to the mix?

I would. I know lots of women who would be great, but the question is do they have the nerve to put themselves out there. All of my friends thought I was crazy and people probably still think I'm crazy to do that, but so far they have been pretty accurate in their portrayal of our family and hopefully this series will be a little different in that they do try to stay true to form to women who are not necessarily doing the antics of some of the other shows.

You do high-end real estate for Sotheby's. Has being on this show been a boost for business?

When I was taping the show I worked at Sotheby's, but I've since left and now I work for Long & Foster. People had this perception that we only did high-end homes but I do the gamut. I moved to Long & Foster because they have the biggest share across all price categories and I formed a team so now I have a couple of people that work with me.

Has the real estate market taken a major hit during the bad economy?

Thank goodness DC has been ticking steady. Prices aren't down like they are in the rest of the country. DC is hot so there's limited supply, a lot of demand and my business is pretty much steady as it's been the past few years - knock on wood.
Who has been your favorite celebrity that you've met since being on the show?

Maxwell! It was so brief. I wish I could say I was chillin' with Maxwell. He was here doing a concert and they had a get together social so I got to talk to him for about three minutes. He's just so cute and sexy.

You learn on the show that you're biracial and you're on this quest to find your birth parents. We've seen already that your birth mother, who is white, isn't helping you much with information. Have you finally found your father?

That will be open-ended. You'll see that the whole journey takes me to the Nigerian Embassy. I've met, talked to, had a letter correspondence with my birth mother who is Caucasian and has a whole other life that she has not shared with her family. Therefore, we really can't go there and she will not divulge information about my birth father. I think the Nigerian side would be much more open and receptive,Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Stacie Turner because that culture is much more open and accepting of non-traditional families. You'll see that down the road it takes me to the Nigerian Embassy where I enroll their help to help me find my birth father. We don't find him this season.

You have a charity called Extra-Ordinary Life that's geared towards youth and aims to expose them to places and opportunities beyond their current access. Did being adopted inspire that?

It is and part of the reason that I started it is because I was lucky to be adopted. These children are still waiting for families. When I look back I could have been one of them and what made the difference in my life is that I had the parents who gave the foundational love, education, they took me on trips and paved the path that I followed which allowed me to be successful and boost my self esteem to make me feel like I could do these things. That's where our organization tries to step in and plug the hole to the extent that we can to really elevate these young girls.

Tell me more about the charity.

That's what I love to talk about. I started Extraordinary Life a year ago and it caters to teenage girls that are in DC's foster care system. There are about 2,500 girls that don't have a family or a permanent home. These are the girls that my organization tries to expose to people, places and opportunities that they normally wouldn't have access to, because they don't have that parent in their life giving them guidance on which way to go. We try to provide experiences that are above and beyond workshops and all of the life skill training they get. We inspire them to dream and believe that they can overcome their circumstance and be whatever they want to be. In July, I took eight girls to South Africa during the World Cup. I believe that travel is one of those perfect opportunities to expose all your senses to a variety of things. This was particularly significant because it was the first time the World Cup was on the continent of Africa and just happened to be in South Africa. Given the whole history of the people and apartheid, the resilience and the depth of the culture we thought that would be a unique place for the girls to go. Most of these girls have not set foot outside the beltway, let alone gone around the world.

What would you like to see different in season two of this show?

I haven't thought that far. I hope that they will show more of the nuances of DC that I don't think were Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Tareq & Michaele Salahifully captured in this season. There are really some interesting and exclusive events that happen here, but a lot of the population was so worried about how it would be played that it was difficult to get clearances to do cameras and so forth. I think that now they have seen that it's not quite as crazy as they expected, we will be able to get access to that. Hopefully, there will be more of a political slant to it next year. I'd like to see more provocative conversations which end up being dramatic because that's such a fabric of what's here in DC. We also need to see some more diversity. We need some more Black and Hispanic people. Again, this is an International city so we need to see more of that.

I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about the Salahi's. Do you think the Michaele Salahi and her husband Tareq are going to be back next season? Will Bravo keep them around?

I think they were good from a marketing and PR standpoint, because everybody knows who they are and everybody is curious about the White House event. I think throughout the series they are definitely not dominant and you actually start to see a different side of them as it progresses. The White House thing happens at the end so it's kind of like the cliffhanger. I don't think that they're that important to it. Even when I read the blogs, the fans are sick of it. They're not worth talking about. I think it will be interesting to see if the Salahi's are back next year because the White House crash was kind of like it and then it was on to the next.

*****

For related stories, read: 'Frankly Speaking: Stacie Scott Turner Talks Being Sole Black on 'Housewives of DC''

& 'Kandi Burruss: 'Real Housewives of ATL' Star Lands New Record Deal.'

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=777016&pid=777015&uts=1278611908
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Reality Bites

Sharisse "Shar" Jackson
Affiliation: 'Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp' on VH1
Side note: Though some may remember her as the sidekick Niecy Jackson on the groundbreaking UPN sitcom 'Moesha,' Jackson gained international tabloid attention as the mother of two children with Kevin Federline (who was married to pop superstar Britney Spears for three years). All together, she has four children.

Reality Bites

Fantasia Barrino
Affiliation: 'Fantasia For Real' on VH1
Side note: The 'American Idol' champion (2005) is a best-selling author ('Life is Not a Fairytale') and garnered critical acclaim as Miss Celie in the Broadway musical 'The Color Purple.'

Reality Bites

Nene Leakes
Affiliation: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' on Bravo
Side note: The brazen Queens, NY native is a domestic abuse survivor and a former stripper - all revelations she detailed in her 2009 memoir 'Never Make the Same Mistake Twice.'

Reality Bites

Terrell Owens
Affiliation: 'The T.O. Show' on VH1
Side note: Alabama's very own football star simply known as "T.O." -- literally let it all hang out for the photo shoot promoting his new reality series, in July 2009. The show revolves around his life off the field as he searches for love, repair family relationships and make the move from Dallas to Buffalo.

Reality Bites

Ray Cunningham
Affiliation: 'College Hill: Virginia State University' on BET
Side note: One of the more memorable characters from the Black Entertainment Television network reality ranks, Cunningham has become an openly gay LGBT advocate, budding actor and busy blogger, who was featured in Adam Bouska's groundbreaking NoH8 Campaign, which assembled California notables responding to the state's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage. Cunningham was also cast in acclaimed filmmaker Maurice Jamal's new forthcoming TV project 'Friends and Lovers.'

Reality Bites

Miss New York
Affiliation:'Flavor of Love' and 'I Love New York' on VH1
Side note: The upstate New York drama queen competed for hip-hop hype-man Flavor Flav's love twice and was rejected both times.

Reality Bites

MC Hammer
Affiliation: 'Hammertime' on A&E
Side note: Stanley Kirk Burrell seems to have done it all: Joined the navy; won Grammy Awards; danced for KFC popcorn chicken; fathered six children; wiggled his manhood in a Speedo bikini on a music video; went bankrupt; became a preacher; and now doing reality TV. 'Hammertime' is a look inside the family life of the man formerly known as one of the riches entertainers of his era.

Reality Bites

Keyshia Cole
Affiliation: 'The Way It Is' on BET
Side note: In an interview, thuggish ruggish rap icon Young Jeezy claimed that the hip-hop soul songstress asked him to marry her but he turned her down.

Reality Bites

Mo'Nique
Affiliation: 'Charm School' on VH1
Side note: While promoting the movie 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' Mo'Nique told Oprah Winfrey that co-star Martin Lawrence once gave her invaluable advice about show business.

Reality Bites

Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Affiliation: 'The Apprentice' on NBC and 'The Surreal Life' on VH1
Side note:The former White House staffer proudly became the superbitch of reality TV.

Reality Bites

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Obama Says He Didn't Do a Good Job Promoting Health Care Legislation

September 23, 2010, 10:02 am
$
0
0

Filed under: , , ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Maybe President Obama is finally learning that he's going to have to challenge a lot of the crazy rhetoric coming out of Washington if he's going to get his message out about all the good things his administration has accomplished.

Take health care reform for example. Obama admitted that he didn't work hard enough to tell the public about the benefits of the bill.

"Sometimes I fault myself for not being able to make the case more clearly to the country," Obama said at a gathering of those who will benefit from the bil in a Virginia backyard.

So, instead of all the benefits of the bill coming out, we mostly heard the nonsense about "death panels" and how health reform might lead to the United States becoming a socialist state.

A new AP poll found that 30 percent are in favor and 40 percent against the health care bill. Another 30 percent were neither in favor or opposed.

According to the poll: There remains much confusion about the law's provisions. More than a third of respondents wrongly think it contains panels of bureaucrats to make decisions about people's care - what critics labeled "death panels" - and 65 percent believe congressional budget analysts said it would increase the government's debt. In fact, budget analysts say it will reduce red ink.

"The president's plan was unpopular when it was passed in March, and today the wholesale takeover of the American health care system is undeniably radioactive." said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
Obama said Republicans spread untruths about the bill for a reason.

"It makes sense in terms of politics and polls," Obama said of the GOP position. "It doesn't make sense in terms of actually making people's lives better."

Here are some of the real benefits of the bill which took effect this week.



The AP writes:

The biggest changes in the legislation, such as the new purchasing pools and requirement for everyone to carry insurance, don't kick in until 2014. Among changes taking effect this week:

-Young adults can remain on family health plans until they turn 26

-Free immunization provided for kids.

-Free preventive care provided, such as mammograms and cholesterol screenings.

-No more lifetime coverage limits, and annual limits start to phase out.

-Plans can't cancel coverage for people who get sick.

-No denial of coverage for kids with pre-existing health conditions.

Obama must work as hard as his opponents to spread the benefits about what he's trying to as hard as they work to spread wild untruths. Debating an issue on policy points is a good thing. But when the debate delves into hyperbole, misleading statements and outright lies, then all Americans lose out.


 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
Search

Around the Web - 8 International Singers You Should Know, London Fashion Week, Same-Sex Adoption, & Eddie Long

September 23, 2010, 10:30 am
$
0
0

Filed under:

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
8 International Singers You Should Know (Idris Elba Included!) After listening to one too many songs with similar melodies and others that spawn the same repetitive lyrics, it's always refreshing to hear something different and new. In addition to our favorite American artists, it's good to allow our musical tastes to embrace international talent.(Madame Noire)
Ozwald Boateng Makes Bold Statement At London Fashion Week Ghanaian designer Ozwald Boateng was the hit of London's Fashion week and conducted an exclusive interview with Meet The Boss TV. (The Urban Daily)

Florida Ends Ban on Same-Sex Adoption A same-sex couple won a major victory in a Florida Court of Appeals this week and the state will no longer ban adoptions by gay people seeking to become parents. (Bossip)

Bishop Eddie Long: Victim, Hypocrite or Both in Sex Scandal? In January 2004, mega-church black minister Bishop Eddie Long, with the Rev. Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in tow, led a spirited march of thousands to the Atlanta gravesite of Dr. King. Long and the demonstrators marched to denounce gay marriage. (The Loop 21)

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Facebook Founder To Give $100 Million to Newark, NJ Schools on 'Oprah' Show: PR or Real Love?

September 23, 2010, 10:33 am
$
0
0

Filed under: , ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is about to make a mega gift -- $100 million, to be exact -- to Newark, NJ public schools. And he's not exactly keeping his gift hush-hush either.

In fact, the 26-year-old Zuckerberg is announcing his philanthropic donation on none other than 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on Friday. Oprah herself recently gave $1 million to charter schools in California.

Some may question Zuckerberg's motivation, seeing that he hasn't been so high-profile in his giving in the past, and his announcement about this big gift comes on the very day that a movie about Zuckerberg is launching.

That movie, called 'The Social Network,' debuts at the New York Film Festival on Friday. It's said to portray Zuckerberg in a not-so-friendly light, and suggests that he stole the idea for Facebook from other Harvard students.


Regardless of his motivation for giving and the timing of his donation, this large windfall can translate into positive opportunities for Newark's school district and its students. That's why Zuckerberg is expected to be joined by Newark Mayor Corey Booker, as well as the Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie.

Let's hope they manage that money well, and put it toward great educational programming and activities that will increase the academic outcomes for Newark's student population.

What do you think about Zuckerberg's gift? Is it a heartfelt gesture or a PR strategy?


Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
↧

Why Can't a Megachurch Pastor Like Bishop Eddie Long Drive a Bentley, Allegedly Give Away Cars?

September 23, 2010, 11:08 am
$
0
0

Filed under: ,

With the Bishop Eddie Long story surfacing recently, a familiar undertone seems to be emerging during the many conversations on the topic. Nope, I'm not talking about the "DL" phenomenon in black churches. I'm talking about the issue of pastoral compensation. Namely, is it right for a pastor to drive around in a Bentley while his congregation struggles to hold on to their homes in the midst of this (supposedly long-since ended) recession? As part of the allegations against Bishop Eddie Long involve allegedly gifting the accusing young men with "cars, clothes, jewelry and electronics" (Christian Science Monitor), it is understandable that the question of how a pastor gets his wealth and what he does with it has come into play. But...

This issue always irks me, because it casts a wide net over the profession as a whole. Sure, there are megachurch preachers who are indeed rich. A study released just last week revealed the pastors of "megachurches" make about $147,000 a year, which is obviously no couch change. This includes "the combined total of cash salary plus any housing allowance" and "salary amounts funded by love offerings if applicable." Yeah, that's still a lot of money, but obviously every pastor doesn't lead a "megachurch", which is loosely defined as one having about 2,000 attendees for a typical weekend service. In fact, there are fewer than 1,500 (of the 300,000 total) churches that meet this criteria in the US. Painting all pastors with this same "greedy mofo who buys a Benz with tithes" brush is intellectually dishonest. A majority of pastors who lead your typical small congregation still have day jobs just like you and me.

That said, some (not all) of those who do lead large congregations in many cases do indeed lead lavish lifestyles, but who's to say they cannot or should not?


While most megachurches don't publicly disclose salaries and compensation for their lead pastors, a good example might be TD Jakes. Yes, Jakes lives in a palatial $2 million Dallas mansion, flies on charter jets, and can out bling your favorite rapper. But the money he's using to fund this lifestyle isn't coming from his congregants. Most of it's coming from his own personal efforts, in the form of book sales, record royalties and speaking engagement fees when he visits other churches. Yes, he leads a church, but he's also a very talented person who uses those God-given talents to spread the word of Jesus Christ. Those talents just so happen to also make money. That money doesn't typically come from the collection plate, but rather by intentional purchases by those who want Jakes' various works. Common sense would dictate that Jakes tithes/offers a fair amount of this back to his church. So, again, why is it wrong for Jakes (and the like) to profit off his own hard work?

Some will invariably argue that it's wrong for a pastor to have all this stuff in the midst of a recession. Really? Where is it written that just because someone else is suffering, you need to? If any of you has sold a car or home to help out a fellow churchgoer in this recession, I'll stand corrected. I doubt this has happened though. On that same note, most churches (mega or otherwise) do indeed offer up financial help to congregants who are in dire straits, in addition to their myriad other services from childcare, to Spanish lessons, to aid for the homeless and parenting courses, often at no charge. None of this stuff's ever publicized, but let's not assume churches are just ATM's that suck in money and and never disperse any. Most do.

Finally, I'm sure someone's gonna argue that Jesus didn't need a nice car or house, so why does Creflo Dollar? If you want to take everything in the bible and apply it to the present day and time, then I'm sure many of us have no problem with getting pilloried with stones for our own personal indiscretions.

Related:
+Bishop Eddie Long Pictures Paint an Uncomfortable Picture
+Multiple Men Allege Bishop Eddie Long Coerced Sex From Them


Let the chuuuch say amen!

{crickets}

Again, I'd be the last one to excuse the small minority of churches where the pastor does indeed take advantage of the congregation's financial generosity. And the pictures of Bishop Eddie Long in his not one, but two marble-clad bathrooms might make him appear to be misusing his wealth. But we don't know how he earned his fortune. And those cases are the exception, not the rule.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

Notable/Quotable: Kanye West on President Obama Calling Him A "Jackass"

September 23, 2010, 11:42 am
$
0
0

Filed under: ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

"When Obama called me 'jackass,' after the Taylor incident, I thought that the person who taped that wasn't supposed to tape it. Obama has way more important stuff to worry about than my public perception. And if he said that to relate to the room or lighten the room up and the whole mood, then I'd be more than happy to be the butt of all of his jokes if it in the some way helps his overall mission."

Grammy Award-winning rapper Kanye West responds to President Barack Obama calling him a "jackass" following his 2009 MTV Video Music Award outburst. (XXL magazine)




http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=536945&pid=536944&uts=1285284216
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Kanyeisms

Kanye on his ego:
"SOUTH PARK MURDERED ME LAST NIGHT AND IT'S PRETTY FUNNY. IT HURTS MY FEELINGS BUT WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM SOUTH PARK! I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY EGO THOUGH. HAVING THE CRAZY EGO IS PLAYED OUT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE AND CAREER."
( Click here to view Kanye's South Park clip.)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on posing naked:
"I definitely feel like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I'll pose naked. I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture." (Vibe Magazine)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on respecting Ice T:
"I would marry a porn star. I came to that conclusion after going to Brazil. I respect Ice T so much, cause you know he's having way more fun then anyone else on that red carpet." (Semtex TV)

Kanyeisms

Kanye calling out 50 Cent:
"50, look at me now, singing on the ground with my pink shirt on, does this look gay to you?" (VH1 Storytellers)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on bringing back rainbow colors:
"Man I think as straight men we need to take the rainbow back because it's fresh." (MTV News)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on George Bush comment:
"The one time where they could say I dissed somebody is the George Bush thing...I said, 'George Bush doesn't care about black people,' something that came out of an emotion I felt." (Complex)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on his new nickname:
"I know I've been called the Louis Vuitton Don, I've been called a lot of names... I was forced to change my name to, Martin Louis The King Jr. Address me as such!" (Youtube)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on his motivation:
"People ask me a lot about my drive. I think it comes from, like, having a sexual addiction at a really young age." (Details Magazine)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on blending cultures:
"I am a connoisseur, the blending of cultures creates beautiful women." (VH1 Storytellers)

Kanyeisms

Kanye on Chris Brown:
"Can't we give Chris a break? ... I know I make mistakes in life." (VH1 Storytellers)

Kanyeisms

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧

President Obama: America Strong Enough To Withstand Another 9/11

September 23, 2010, 12:05 pm
$
0
0

Filed under: , ,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

WASHINGTON - President Obama says America is robust enough to withstand another 9/11, a new book by Watergate reporter Bob Woodward says.

"We can absorb a terrorist attack," Obama told Woodward, according to an authorized excerpt published by The Washington Post. "We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever ... we absorbed it and we are stronger."

Critics said the President was truthful - though inelegant - in describing the country's ability to withstand spectacular strikes and emerge stronger than before. Some Republicans took mild issue with Obama's remarks, while others were harsher.
"I don't know that I would have said that," said former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. "I would prefer if he put his efforts into preventing another 9/11."

Rep. Pete King of Long Island, top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, said Obama sounded like a battle statistician coolly discussing acceptable casualties rather than a leader proud of his country's resilience.
"There is an emotional disconnect between the President and the American people," King said.

Ex-Bush United Nations Ambassador John Bolton called the remark "outrageous," and ex-Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter Liz, who served in the Bush State Department, accused Obama of "an alarming fatalism."
White House officials had no immediate reaction.

Washington Examiner conservative columnist Timothy Carney wrote: "Sure, the President shouldn't have said this to a reporter, but that doesn't mean he was wrong."

Source: NY Daily News

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

↧
Viewing all 4256 articles
Browse latest View live
Search