Ohio Third-Grader Weighing 200 Pounds Placed in Foster Care

An eight-year-old Ohio boy who weighs more than 200 pounds was taken from his family last month and placed in foster care after social workers said his mother was not doing enough to control his weight, The Plain Dealer reported.

The third grader is considered severely obese by the standards of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting him at risk of developing diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

The boy was taken out of his home on Oct. 19, according to The Plain Dealer. He is currently in foster care, and his mother can see him once a week for two hours.

The case will be heard in court next month, The Plain Dealer reported.

Cuyahoga County officials who were monitoring the child's health said the child's weight was caused by his environment and his mother was ignoring doctor's orders on food and exercise, the newspaper reported.

"This child's problem was so severe that we had to take custody," said Mary Louise Madigan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Family Services.

The Ohio Health Department estimates more than 12 percent of third-graders statewide are severely obese. The removal of the Cleveland child might be the first in the state for a strictly weight-related issue.

Yeah, you should have seen our faces when we heard it too! But calm your nerves, it's not true! According to Bossip:

R&B is begging to be saved and it looks like Tank is on a mission to keep the genre relative.  Check out the debonaire singer's lead single "Diary Of A Mad Man" and listen to "Take You Outta Here" ft. J.Doe, tell us if you'd >Dump it or Bump it<.

The mixtape presents 10 new songs, plus previously leaked tracks including cameos from SLim Thug, Ace Hood, Kevin McCall, J-Doe and more.  Main production of the songs are by the Man himself, as well as Tim Bullock, The Composer, and Roy Hamilton.

Cedar Falls, Iowa police are looking for the man who broke into a McDonalds cooked some food and then split.

Associated Press says thatworkers arrived early Sunday to find the drive-up window broken. Police said it appears food had been cooked in the restaurant. There was no immediate word on what he cooked.

The newspaper said security footage shows a man tapping on the glass at the drive-up. He broke the glass and climbed inside. The restaurant closed at midnight. 0_o<

Russell Simmons and Jay-Z are continuing their efforts to support Occupy Wall Street.

According to reports, Russell and Jay-Z are planning an Occupy Wall Street concert.

“We are definitely discussing [a concert,]” Simmons said to Billboard.biz.

“We're definitely looking to make a huge impact. We're actively working for permits. We'll have one in our hands soon.”

Jay-Z in particular has received backlash from Occupy Wall Street protesters for the sale of Rocawear's Occupy Wall Street t-shirts, although Simmons doesn't see anything wrong with the Rocawear shirts or Jay-Z's motives.

A Grammy award-winning composer who wrote songs for Sesame Street and the Disney Channel has been charged in South Carolina with making and sending child pornography, The Post and Courier reports.

Fernando Rivas, 59, has pleaded not guilty in Charleston to federal charges of production, transportation and possession of child pornography, the newspaper says.

The newspaper, quoting from the North Charleston police report, says the charges stem from the arrest of a person in New Jersey on charges of possession of child pornography.

Officers, using a search warrant at Rivas' home in Charleston, reportedly found photos of a 4-year-old girl naked and "restrained in handcuffs and other bondage-type devices," according to the police report.

Records from that search say investigators read Rivas his rights and that he admitted to taking the photographs and using handcuffs to restrain the girl, The Post and Courier says.

The Cuban-born Rivas wrote songs for Sesame Street and jingles for major corporations and composed the music for the Disney program Handy Manny. He won a Grammy award for Best Children's Album in 1998 for work on Elmopalooza, The New York Daily News reports.

Rivas, according to his website, won Emmys in 1995 and 1996 for his work on Sesame Street, the Associated Press reports.

*****This is just sickening. Yet another case of a predator using his influence over children. This man has obviously been around children for many, many years, which leads me to wonder how many victims of his are really out there. I would bet some more are going to come forward in the coming days. And he had the nerve to plead not guilty after he was busted red handed? I hope they punish him to the fullest extent that the law allows... 

SOURCE<

Monique Jeffries (source: Louisville Metro Department of Corrections)

Police say an argument between a mother and daughter about food stamps ended with violence.

It happened around 2 p.m. Friday at an apartment in the 4900 block of Saddlebrook Lane. That's where police say 39-year-old Monique L. Jeffries and her daughter were arguing about food stamps. According to the police report, Monique Jeffries became "enraged" when her daughter, Debra Brown, opened her bedroom door.

The arrest report says Jeffries used a curling iron to burn Brown's arm several time as Brown tried to reach for a phone to call police.

According to the arrest report, Jeffries also punched Brown in the face several times, knocking out two teeth.

Jeffries left the apartment before police arrived but was arrested a short time later in the 1700 block of Lee Street.

She's charged with assault and intimidating a witness.

*****Ok is it me, or does it seem like there is something missing with this story? And who did those food stamps belong to? It appears that they may have been the daughter's. But to assault her over them...REALLY??? It's not that serious!

SOURCE<

Mr. and Mrs. Thicke are definitely on to something with this sexy video. "Love After War" gives me life! The two love birds show us how they make up after a fight in Robin Thicke’s new video, ‘Love and War’, directed by Hype Williams.

The self proclaimed KANG of the South is back and he's dropping singles left and right. This new one is titled "Pyro" and I must say, I like it!

*****I'm really in a feel good type of mood today. Monica teamed up with Sam's Club to combat child hunger. This is a growing problem across the country as families just try to make end's meet. Children and adults are struggling to get balanced meals with cheap fast food becoming a growing alternative for many. This leads to a whole other set of issues, but I won't get into those right now. I'm just glad to see somebody out there is doing something to try to fight this growing issue.

SIDEBAR: Kudos to Monica's son, who was taking food from home to feed his friend. And kudos to Monica.

The DVD begins with a glimpse of Life through Beyonce’s eyes as she wakes up next to Jay-z in possibly a hotel room, glimpses of concerts and shoots, the IV on her ring finger, accompanied by her voiceover:

My Life goes by so fast. I was so busy thinking about the next shoot, the next video, the next single, the next tour that I couldn’t really reflect on the impact I was having on other human beings. My idea of success has completely changed. Whatever I do, it has to be something that is going to teach me about myself and something about life.

We love it when celebs give back…we’re giving a big shout out to rapper Lil Wayne & the entire Cash Money family for helping needing families in New Orleans!

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, Cash Money Records returned to New Orleans on Friday to hand out turkeys and give back to the city that birthed them.

“It’s actually been my first time back here for the past eight or nine years, and they’ve been doing this for 15 years,” Lil Wayne said. “I haven’t been back here to do this for so long just being super busy, just always on tour.”

Suspect Oneal Ron Morris pictured above appears to have been the recipient of a similiar procedure.

A Miami Gardens man was arrested Friday, accused of injecting a substance containing cement, a tire sealant and other substances into a woman's buttocks.

Miami Gardens police said that in May, a woman who wanted buttock injections for her appearance went to a Miami Gardens home for the procedure.

"They agree on a price of $700 for him to enhance her buttocks," said Miami Gardens police Sgt. Bill Bamford.

Police said Oneal Ron Morris, 30, injected a substance consisting of cement, Fix-A-Flat, mineral oil and superglue into the woman's buttocks and then sealed the incision with superglue.

"I think it's crazy," Bamford said. "Most definitely life-threatening."

Yeah buddy! We did it to the women last week, now it's the men's turn. What, you thought y'all were getting away scott free? NOT! Join us Saturday at 10:30pm EST as we discuss the top 10 mistakes men make in the bedroom. You don't want to miss this! Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us, and see you all Saturday night.<

(Rosenthal/Rolling Stone) For all of the emotions usually equated with death, Dwight "Heavy D" Myers' funeral was billed as a celebration of the artist's life. As such, it could not – and would not – be such a sad affair. As the mayor-elect of Heavy's hometown of Mount Vernon, New York put it, "We are not here because Heavy D died. We are here because Heavy D lived."

What became clear, from within the two overflowing halls of Mount Vernon's Grace Baptist Church, was that Heavy D had touched countless lives – particularly in the hip-hop and African-American communities. Jay-Z, Usher, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, John Legend, Denzel Washington and Queen Latifah were spotted walking in; a list at one of the security check-ins included the names of Sony Music's Chairman/CEO Doug Morris and Doug E. Fresh. Three Mount Vernon police officers sat down the row from BET President Stephen Hill. A woman and her daughter held a VIP pass from a concert Heavy D must have performed years ago, just as a cab driver had shown off photos of himself and Heavy from their shared high school days. "There's stories on every corner of this city, of people he helped," said the pastor, without exaggeration.

(AP) Video of a tense standoff between police and Occupy demonstrators at the University of California, Davis shows an officer using pepper spray on a group of protesters who appear to be sitting passively on the ground with their arms interlocked.

The video — posted on YouTube — was shot Friday as police moved in on more than a dozen tents erected on campus and arrested 10 people, nine of them students.

That's right people, Congress has deemed that there is enough tomato paste on pizza for it to be considered a vegetable.

The bizarre move, which was decided in a vote on the annual spending bill for the Department of Agriculture, happened for purely political reasons.

The crucial bill had oversight over subsidised school meals, and the department was seeking to restrict pizza, chips and starchy vegetables from the menu for school children in a bid to combat child obesity.

Cotton Carpenter is a native of New Jersey, now living and writing in Baltimore, Maryland. This former ghostwriter is a married mother of two who squeezes romance, urban fiction, and erotica writing into whatever moment she can steal for herself. Her short story, "Trigger," can be found in Chocolate Rose 2 or read her Charlie’s Urban Angelz story, “Bubbly, with a Kick.” Currently, she has three e-singles available for Kindle that exemplify the fact that she is a Literary Jane of all trades: "Inner Sanctum: an erotic space series," "Of Bondage and Freedom" which is a hot, historical romance, and "Thick Blood" an erotic vampire story. Follow her on Twitter @CottonCarpenter or “like” her on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorCottonCarpenter.

Join us Friday at 8pm EST as we talk to the woman behind the pen.Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us, and see you Friday night.<

New York Times bestseller Jacqueline Carey is the author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy series of historical fantasy novels, The Sundering epic fantasy duology and postmodern fables Santa Olivia and Saints Astray. Jacqueline enjoys doing research on a wide variety of arcane topics, and an affinity for travel has take her from Finland to China to date. She currently lives in west Michigan. Although often asked by inquiring fans, she does not, in fact, have any tattoos.

Jacqueline Carey is represented by Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. Further information is available at her official author’s site, www.jacquelinecarey.com.

Join us Friday at 7pm EST as we get to know the woman behind the series. And tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us. See you Friday night.<

I know the Biebs is glad this story came out! There still isn't any proof that Mariah Yeater was anywhere near Justin Bieber at the time the baby was conceived but TMZ can prove she was with her now ex-boyfriend.

TMZ has obtained photos of Mariah and her ex-boyfriend Robbie Powell pictured here, from last September and she gave birth ten months later. I would venture to say that the timing sounds about right and he not Justin, is this poor baby's father.

When this scandal first came out, TMZ also reported that Mariah texted friends after giving birth in July, begging them to tell Robbie "how important it is for him to be in his son's life."

And if the pics aren't enough -- law enforcement sources tell us, Mariah and Robbie were questioned by police TOGETHER just last month in connection with some drug bust in San Diego.

Neither was arrested or charged with a crime -- but it proves the two are still hanging out. Four days after the drug bust she filed a paternity suit against Justin Bieber.<

Bonnie Pointer, a founding member of the famous Pointer Sisters singing group was arrested early this morning in Los Angeles for possession of a controlled substance according to TMZ

According to law enforcement, 61-year-old Pointer was busted for felony possession of a controlled substance at 12:39 AM and hauled to a nearby station-- where she was booked and held on $10,000 bail. Pointer was released from custody around 4:30 AM.

The Pointer Sisters were HUGE in the '70s and '80s -- churning out hits like "Slow Hand" and "Neutron Dance."

TMZ shot footage of Bonnie in L.A. last weekend -- in which the singer revealed her sister Anita is fighting cancer. Bonnie appeared loopy and out of it.

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Rosalyn Story is a professional classical violinist, journalist, and author of both fiction and non-fiction. A member of the violin section of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in Fort Worth, Texas, she divides her time between performing and writing  magazine and journal articles on the visual and performing arts, and has penned three books. Her articles have appeared in Essence, The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, Stagebill (the magazine of Lincoln Center), The Crisis (the magazine of the NAACP), and she has been a frequent contributor to Opera News magazine, writing about black opera singers, since 1990. Her first book, And So I Sing: African American Divas of Opera and Concert, the first comprehensive book on the history of black women in opera, was the inspiration for the PBS documentary Aida’s Brothers and Sisters: Black Voices in Opera (in which she appears as commentator and served as consultant), and has been broadcast in the United States, Europe, and New Zealand. Her first novel, More Than You Know, set against the backdrop of the jazz worlds of Kansas City and New York, was an Essence magazine bestseller, and has been developed into a screenplay. Her second novel, Wading Home, set in post-Katrina New Orleans, was released in September 2010, and was an Essence magazine book club pick and ‘recommended read.’ Wading Home was also a 2011 nominee for the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Award. Join us Thursday at 8pm EST as we talk to this multidimensional lady. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us, and see you all Thursday night.<

Mary J. Blige - Love A Woman ft. Beyonce

From Mary's upcoming CD. Bump it or Dump it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wale - Ambitious Girl

Wale is on a move with the videos. We posted on SS, FB's page his video with Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb" Now he's dropped "Ambitious Girl" Check it out.

Take a Walk To The Corner, to check out the video and track. See you there.<

*primps my hair* Wait, okay, *clears throat* Michael Ealy...will you marry me? *gets on my Love and Hip Hop tip* I can be what you need? Let's see.

Okay Ladies, prepare yourself, Mr. sexy changing eyes himself, is finally ready for his wife and twitter. According to via his interview with Loop 21 below,

Seriously, James, the F*K is your problem? Who are you again and why do you think your ish don't stank?

People are comparing him and...and I chose not to go there so that should be enough.  According to Sandra Rose, James Lackey...(only known for being Usher's little brother, if even that, IJS) was recently arrested for assault against the mother of his child as well as his child.

According to the Fulton County Sheriff’s office, James Lackey, the younger brother of R&B crooner Usher Raymond, was arrested on Oct. 26, 2011 and charged with cruelty to children, domestic violence and reckless conduct.

Sandra Rose continued to report that,

Lackey’s older brother, Usher, didn’t seem too concerned for the little fella. He let Lackey sit in jail for two days before paying his $5,500.00 bond.

All I have to say is...WOW!!!!! If this boy, because his mental character only states him as such, is putting his hands on another woman and his child, I need his mother to fly down and whoop his tazz and show him what a beating really is about.  We keep the child and the mother in our thoughts.

In the words of Nene Leakes, I am a advocate against Domestic Violence, you put your hands on me, I become the law. Hmmph!

<

Tyler, really.  Kim Kardashian is for the youth huh? Okay. She does have a large fan base and more then likely will bring in a large audience for you, if they like your work Tyler but....eh.  For me, Kim K. is boring. I don't want to see her plastic face, her plastic personality, her plastic life, or her plastic acting. I just don't.

Now. I'm not a man so her plastic vajayjay and rear does nothing for me either, so...again, why do I want to see her on screen? She's the black sheep of a twin of Paris Hilton. Oh well. Now I'm not in the line of protesters. I really don't care that deeply why? Due to the fact that Tyler has been about expanding his casting choices in his movies for a while now and...he's not dropping her for anything.  Maybe her rear mesmerized him, who knows?

Tyler had been trying to hone his craft and become better at it (albeit his strange choice in casting). He's trying to not only make Black genre/ Christian movies but he's trying to extend his market overseas as well as in more households in the US. I can't fault him for that. I see his business game but....Kim K? Oh well.  Tyler has spoken.  Putting out a open letter, Mr. Perry explains (in a very well honed PR kind of confusing way, that says everything but nothing at all) why he chose Kim K. and why he thinks she will pull more money in the back for him.

Check it out  below via The Clutch and speak on it! Will you be seeing this movie? Lance Gross is in it. IJS. LOL

RRR Movie Reviews goes Bollywood

For our second Bollywood review we have the the action movie Dhoom 2. Dhoom was so successful that making Dhoom 2 was inevitable.  Jai our super-cop and Ali his reluctant partner return to take down a bigger and badder criminal mastermind.

Dhoom 2 follows the same film formula as the first Dhoom except that a love story was also tossed in the mix, both on and off camera.  For those of you who don't normally follow Bollywood, the Will and Jada of Bollywood, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai met on the set of Dhoom 2.

Yahoo News reports (via ABC News),

Authorities are increasingly concerned that a man sought in connection with a bizarre shooting incident on the Washington Mall last week may pose a threat to President Obama.

The Secret Service now suspects that a bullet fired in this incident may have hit the White House after a bullet round was found in a White House window, though the round had not yet been conclusively linked to the incident.  The round was stopped by ballistic glass behind the historic exterior glass, while an additional round has been found on the exterior of the White House.

Police believe the suspect, 21-year-old Oscar Ramiro Ortega of Idaho, is mentally ill. Ortega has an extensive record, ranging from domestic violence to drug charges. Sources say a police investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting Ortega has a fixation on the White House.

At 9:30 p.m. Friday, police received reports of shots fired in the bustling area of 16th street and Constitution Ave.

According to the report, the search for Ortega continues.  As of now the suspect's car with his assault styled rifle and empty shell casings have been found. Police fringe their concerns and say Ortega they are unsure if Ortega is "capable of launching a sophisticated attack, but police are still fearful of what he might do next".

Authorities suspect Ortega has been in the area for weeks, coming back and forth to the Washington Mall.  Before the shooting, he was detained by local police at an abandoned house. U.S. Park police say Ortega may have spent time blending in with Occupy D.C. protesters.

President Obama, who is currently on a visit to Australia, was not present at the White House at the time of the incident, and in fact has been out of town for the past week. Secret Service officials are not taking any chances with the security of the President and the White House, though, and want Ortega off the street.

I find this all interesting.  For me it seems as if this is very lax in how this it is being handled, but that's just me and my conspiracy theory.  Do you think Oretga would have been found by now if this was the Bush Administration? I think so. All I do know is this, shooting at the POTUS is not going to change anything for the better, leaving him a lone and in office will. Handle your crazy and get mad at the right people, the Senate. Thanks.

(source: Yahoo News)<

Mmm, Common.  Him mad. Him cursing and getting heated. *wraps a pair of lingerie in a box with a pretty bow on top for him*  He can just have it, I give ☺.  For those of you who follow The Corner, a little about me (Icypoetress) I love me some Common. That is all.  Check out his new video to the hard hitting track, "Sweet" shot solely in Haiti, if you watch the video on his USTREAM account (which I suggest) you are able to donate $1.00 to the J/P Haitian Relief Foundation, all proceeds go to those affected by the earthquake and other relief needs.

Or Take a Walk To The Corner to watch the video there.<

A cause of death report could take several weeks.

The conclusions of an autopsy of rapper Heavy D have been deferred pending the results of toxicology tests, the L.A. County coroner’s office said on Monday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, officials said the autopsy was inconclusive and that it could take several weeks to determine a cause of death.

Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman, said last week no illegal drugs were found at Heavy D’s Beverly Hills home, but a doctor had prescribed him a drug after the rapper, 44, experienced a cough.

*****Well it appears that NBA basketball may be a wrap for the 2011-2012 season. The players have rejected the owner's latest proposal, and they now plan to file an antitrust lawsuit within 48 hours, hoping to deem the lockout, which started on July 1st, illegal. I'm not holding out much hope for the rest of the season. Read on for more info...

As a labor standoff spanning nearly five months plunged into chaos, NBA commissioner David Stern and NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter could agree on only one thing.

The 2011-12 NBA season, both men conceded Monday, is legitimately in jeopardy.

That was actually the consensus conclusion all over the league after Hunter announced that the team representatives in attendance at a morning meeting in Times Square voted unanimously to file a "disclaimer of interest" that will dissolve the union and signals the players' intent to take their battle with the owners into federal court.

Following a weekend of unusually-aggressive public lobbying by Stern in support of a take-it-or-leave-it proposal issued by owners Nov. 10, Hunter and NBPA president Derek Fisher announced that -- with negotiations between the sides essentially hopeless at this stage -- they planned to file an antitrust lawsuit within 48 hours. The suit will seek a summary judgment that deems the NBA shutdown which began July 1 to be illegal.

Hunter then acknowledged in an interview with NBA TV that, even though the NBPA pushed for disclaiming its status as the players' collective bargaining representative over decertification to get into a courtroom faster, there is a "high probability" that the entire 2011-12 season will be lost because of the lengthy nature of court proceedings.

Said Stern in a subsequent interview on ESPN: "The union decided in its infinite wisdom that the proposal would not be presented to membership [for a vote]." Referring to union lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, Stern added ominously: "Obviously Mr. Kessler got his way and we are about to go into the nuclear winter of the NBA."

"If I were a player," Stern continued, "I would be wondering what it is that Billy Hunter just did."

The two union leaders explained themselves further in a letter to all players Monday night. The letter spelled out the reasons they've opted to transform the NBPA into a trade association that will keep its New York headquarters open but can no longer negotiate with the owners.

According to a copy of the letter, which was obtained by ESPN.com, Hunter and Fisher wrote: "For two and a half years and through more than 50 collective bargaining sessions, we sat at the table and attempted to negotiate a fair labor agreement with the owners. Last week, with the issuance of yet another ultimatum -- a take-it-or-leave-it final offer of a long-term agreement with unacceptable terms -- Commissioner Stern and the owners left us with no other option. It has become clear to us that we have exhausted our rights under the labor laws and continuing in that forum (collective bargaining) would not be in the best interests of the players."

The letter continued: "With no labor union in place, it is our sincere hope that the NBA will immediately end its now illegal boycott and finally open the 2011-12 season. Individual teams are free to negotiate with free agents for your services. If the owners choose to continue their present course of action, it is our view that they subject themselves to significant antitrust liability."

"Obviously, Mr. Kessler got his way and we are about to go into the nuclear winter of the NBA.” -- NBA commissioner David Stern

But Hunter and Fisher also acknowledged the "enormous consequences" of the move, telling players -- beyond the unknowns tied to going to court -- that the union will no longer be able to take up grievances on behalf of players, regulate player agents or defend the players' labor-law rights. Disclaiming interest also requires the union to withdraw the unfair labor practice charge filed earlier in the summer with the National Labor Relations Board, which the NBPA once regarded as one of its trump cards for much of the summer.

Although it's not inconceivable that Hunter and Stern could talk again this week to negotiate before the NBPA officially files its anti-trust lawsuit, Stern did his best to downplay the notion that the fear of the unknown might coax some 11th-hour concessions from the owners.

Calling it "an irresponsible action at this late date," Stern dismissed the "disclaimer of interest" plan as a transparent "negotiating tactic."

"But it's not going to work," Stern said on "SportsCenter." "If they were going to do it, they should have done it a long time ago, then maybe we would have had a chance to save the season. But they seem hell-bent on self-destruction and I think it's very sad."

It was widely expected coming out of the weekend that Hunter would respond to Stern's ultimatum offer by announcing that the deal would be presented to the full membership for a vote as long as the league consented to 3-to-5 key amendments. But the disclaimer route likewise surprised many of the agents who have been at the forefront of a push for decertification that has collected an estimated 200 signatures from frustrated players looking to dissolve the union through alternative means.

Sources briefed on discussions in Monday's meetings told ESPN.com that Hunter successfully convinced the players in the room that disclaiming interest would get their case to the court system faster than decertification and enhance the chances that a 2011-12 season of a representative length. Yet sources close to the decertification movement said Monday night that the agents behind the push were still weighing the feasibility of filing the petition with the NLRB, which would lead to a formal vote on decertification for the entire membership roughly 45 days later.

Decertification backers, according to sources, still see some value in going ahead with their petition separate from Monday's action and ultimately filing a flurry of antitrust lawsuits of their own in addition to the union's filing. The idea would be to apply a significant amount of legal pressure to the owners in hopes that the prospect of dealing with multiple lawsuits at once would finally lead to a negotiating about-face from Stern and company.

"We're looking at multiple fronts of havoc," said one source from the decertification faction.

Whether any of that has any impact on league officials in terms of convincing the owners to back off their summer-long hard-line stance remains to be seen. Stern was quick to insist that the strategy "won't work" and accused Hunter of depriving his union members "of an enormous pay date," insisting that the league will indeed soon revert to a far more onerous "reset" offer if no deal was done this week.

"There's some mixed emotions but this is what's best for the league, it's what's best for our players," All-Star guard Rajon Rondo told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard on Monday. "We have to stand together. It's not about the Boston Celtics selfishly wanting to play this year, it's about what's best for us as a unit."

The players' key leaders going forward are two high-profile lawyers who had actually worked on opposite sides during the NFL labor dispute in the summer. Joining Kessler now is David Boies, who months ago represented the NFL in its antitrust case against the NFLPA. Unless he and Kessler are ultimately ousted as part of the decertification movement, Hunter will continue to serve as the head of the players' new trade association.

"The fact that the two biggest legal adversaries in the NFL players dispute over the NFL lockout both agree that the NBA lockout is now illegal and subject to triple damages speaks for itself," Kessler said in an email to The Associated Press. "I am delighted to work together with David Boies on behalf of the NBA players."

The proposal rejected by the players called for a 50/50 split of annual revenue and a 72-game season starting Dec. 15. But the sides have clashed for days about the various "system" issues that put restraints on teams that stray into luxury-tax territory which, according to the union, will severely hamper free agency and restrict overall player movement.

"We understand the consequences of potentially missing the season; we understand the consequences that players could potentially face if things don't go our way, but it's a risk worth taking," union vice president Maurice Evans said. "It's the right move to do."

Said Fisher: "To imply that as players we've somehow been misled by Billy ... it even implies that we don't understand or we're not capable of understanding the details that were presented to us in [last week's] proposal. And as players we resent that type of implication. We're very aware of what we did not accept and we made a choice with our eyes open."

The NBA's only previous work stoppage to bleed into the regular season reduced the 1998-99 season to 50 games. Monday marked the 137th day of the lockout, one day longer than the NFL's lockout in the summer.

"It's really a tragedy," Stern said.

SOURCE<

According to sources:

While fans would probably expect a lawsuit filed against Patti LaBelle as a result of the diva kicking off her shoes while onstage—Lord only knows if anyone has ever been injured by a stiletto to the temple—but it’s water that’s likely got the “New Attitude” singer wishing she had adjusted hers.

Apparently, Patti was perturbed that a mother left her 18-month-old child somewhat unattended in a New York apartment building lobby.

Sick of tight waistbands? Well, unless you spend your days living on a deserted island, those cocktails, movie snacks, multiple dessert helpings, and fast food lunches can all add up to one thing: belly bloat.

“If you wake up bloated on Monday morning, your weekend food choices are likely to blame,” explains Keri Gans, RD, author of The Small Change Diet. “In fact, overindulging for two days straight can easily cause a gain of three pounds. Fortunately, this weight gain is usually temporary and easy to get rid of in less than a week.”

To reduce the bloat and achieve a flatter belly, try the below tips:

According to TMZ reports:

Terrell Owens is no longer a wanted man … because he’s anted up on his back child support payment … TMZ has learned.

As we first reported, a California judge issued an arrest warrant last week after T.O. was a no-show at a child support hearing. T.O. — who was behind child support — had been trying to reduce his payments, claiming he just doesn’t make the big bucks anymore.

So Tiki left his pregnant wife for the jumpoff and intends to marry her, but not so fast. His future ex-wife Ginny Cha is not making it so easy for Tiki and his Wonder Bread fiancee to live happily ever after. Sources tell us:

Tiki Barber and his fiancée, Traci Lynn Johnson, were set to marry next spring — but Barber’s bitter unresolved divorce with his estranged wife, Ginny, is delaying the wedding bells.

Sources told us Barber and Johnson, who got engaged in August, had planned to wed in May at a private home in the Hamptons. But because Barber’s divorce isn’t yet settled, the wedding is now on hold.

“Tiki and Traci cannot get married until the divorce with Ginny is settled, and it’s taking longer than they expected to reach a settlement,” said a source who also claimed Johnson had started making arrangements, including printing invitations and searching for venues for wedding showers.

NIKKI TRUE LIVE is going to be a show filled with grown and sexy conversations, entertaining topics, and of course Nikki True giving advice and talking about everything from love,life and yes sex!

Love Him Like His Wife, Sex Him Like His Mistress- The title says it all. Nikki True will be discussing the "True" way to be a lady in the street and the ultimate freak in the sheets. Also listeners can share their own tricks and tips.So Save The Date November 13, 2011 call 347-989-0573 then go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/seriously-sensual

Listen to NIKKI TRUE LIVE on air and tune in and get ready to be turned on.

Kinky Kisses-Nikki True

NikkiTrue.com<

You may think your bedroom skills are all that and then some, but we have some surprising news for you. Some of the things you do in the bedroom may actually be hindering you and they may be turning him off. Join us Saturday night at 10:30 pm EST as we give you ten of the things you may be doing wrong in the bedroom!<

Join us Saturday night at 8:00 pm EST as we get to know the woman who manages to provide food and clothing to over 5000 people a month in Georgia and with much of her and her husband's own money. After leaving California, she and her husband opened the doors to their church Keepin’ It Real Lighthouse, Inc. in February of 2007 and Lady Lori’s mission: to feed and help those in needs. Join us Saturday night as we get to know the woman behind the mission. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we'll see you all then!<

James Earl Jones, a man with one of the most well-known voices in Hollywood, will receive an honorary Oscar today, after almost fifty years in the film industry.

Jones was nominated for the best actor Oscar for 1970’s “The Great White Hope,” the same role that won him a Tony two years prior. He has appeared in scores of movies, plays and TV shows, and gave voice to two of film’s most memorable fathers: Mufasa in “The Lion King” and Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” trilogy (Source: The Washington Post).

Jones said he was surprised to receive the phone call from the Academy saying that he would be honored with an Oscar at the third annual Governors Awards; he assumed it was a joke until the caller convinced his son otherwise. He said that he and his son got a good laugh from that assumption.

Jones is currently in London, where he is in a stage production of "Driving Miss Daisy", so he will not be in attendance for tonight's award ceremony. That said, he is honored and grateful for the recognition.<

The New York Times reports that CNN is airing another installment in the "Black in America" series; this time the documentary will focus on Silicon Valley. This Sunday, "The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley" will feature "eight African Americans who hope to become entrepreneurs in what is widely recognized to be an industry dominated by white men."

The eight people featured in the program are participants in the NewME Accelerator, an entrepreneurial program that helps minorities start businesses in the technology industry. According to the Times:

Mitchell Kapor, the founder of the Lotus Development Corporation — the software company perhaps best known for creating Lotus 1-2-3 — and an adviser to the accelerator, said in an interview that by profiling the eight participants, the documentary will “open up people’s eyes that there are actual structural barriers and we need to dismantle them.”

Soledad O'Brien, host of the documentary, points out that Silicon Valley lacks racial diversity, which is why the documentary will focus on the accelerator program since its goal is to change that.

The technology field is dynamic, constantly changing; and it is important that people of color get involved and become a part of the field.

Check out "The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley" tomorrow night at 8 PM eastern on CNN.<

Sasha Grey, a former adult film star, decided to participate in a volunteer program called "Read Across America". According to the National Education Association website, RAA is a part of an "annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss." Grey traveled to Compton to read to first and third graders at Emerson Elementary School this month. Apparently, parents were none to pleased to learn that a porn star, albeit former, was reading to their children.

The Los Angeles Times reports that school officials denied Grey had ever been to the school, but once TMZ post pictures of Grey at Emerson, reading to children, they had to back track. Comically, huh? Well, Grey had this to say:

I am proud to have participated in the "Read Across America" program at Emerson Elementary School in Compton, CA. I read “Dog Breath” by Dav Pilkey to the sweetest 1st and 3rd grade children.

"Read Across America" is a program that was designed to promote literacy and instill a lifelong love of reading in elementary school students. Promoting education is an effort that is close to my heart. Illiteracy contributes to poverty; encouraging children to pick up a book is fundamental.

I believe education is a universal right. I committed to this program with the understanding that people would have their own opinions about what I have done, who I am and what I represent.

I am an actor. I am an artist. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a partner. I have a past that some people may not agree with, but it does not define who I am.

I will not live in fear of it. To challenge non-profit education programs is an exercise in futility, counter-productive and anti-educational.

I cannot thank my fans and 'Read Across America' enough for supporting my decision. Your support and kind words continue to inspire me. I believe in the future of our children, and I will remain an active supporter and participant in education-focused initiatives. (Source: TMZ)

One parent wanted to know why they got a porn star to read to children? Why not a "fireman or police officer"? Well, I think people are overreacting. This woman is simply volunteering for a cause she believes in and it's not like she at the school reading erotica to the children, so what's the big deal? She didn't have to take the time out to volunteer but she did and this is how she gets treated? Just because she used to do adult movies, she can't read to children? I need those parents to simmer down and take several seats.<

Yes, you read that right. It's simple, we would like to hear from you on whether you think the so called "Independent Woman" had a helping hand in killing chivalry. We are always saying we want a dream guy, right? This dream guy will make his lady’s wish his command and mirror a movie script from the 1940s. But this is 2011 and when this dream man is dealing with a sassy, accomplished femme fatale that’s got her own and claims that she “doesn’t need a man for anything” one must ask this question: did the independent woman kill chivalry? Join us Friday night at 10:30 pm EST as we talk about it!<

Say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Biermann!

E! News confirms that Kim Zolciak has married Atlanta Falcons player and baby daddy Kroy Biermann in a gorgeous ceremony today in Atlanta.

(This should be an easy anniversary date to remember, right?)

Well, there's no word that Zolciak was tardy for the party, so that's good. But if she were, it'd probably be because she was too busy tweeting.

"I want to Thank all of u tweethearts for all the congrats & blessing for our special day tomorrow I read everyone & it means so much! Love u," she posted last night, along with, "Gooood night!!! I'm sooo exhausted yet so excited!!! #mrsbiermann."

And once 11/11/11 hit, it was showtime, "Beautiful weather! Beautiful day!! I'm walking on a cloud and I'm so grateful!"

But Zolciak wasn't the only one tweeting her excitment, her hubby-to-be also wrote, "Thank you everyone for your early congrats and best wishes!!! @Kimzolciak has made me the happiest man alive!!! 11.11.11." Awww!

The couple met last year during a charity auction, which was featured on the Bravo reality show, and quickly became an item (must have been love at first sight). Then came the baby carriage, which was followed with a diamond ring and engagement.

Congrats to the newlyweds!

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/real_housewives_of_atlantas_kim_zolciak/274764<

It's been a little dry in the music scene this week but The Corner was able to find something fresh, preview a sample of what Rihanna has planned to drop from her 6th highly anticipated album "Talk That Talk". Bruno Mars is premiering the video to "It will Rain". The Corner favorite Mateo has dropped a new video from his upcoming Love & Stadiums II LP, and The Roots are showing why they are Masters in the neo-hip hop realm with their new video.

Also The Corner would like to remember Heavy D, R.I.P. he was a history maker in Hip Hip and will never be forgotten.

Take a Walk to The Corner

And enjoy the music at the Jump and watch The Roots, Mateo & Bruno Mars Video's below.

Eddie Murphy is leaving the Oscars in support of his buddy Brett Ratner.

Here’s his statement:

“First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,” Murphy said earlier today. “I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”

His position came shortly after Brett Ratner stepped down as producer for the show after backlash from using the "F" gay word slur. I sure was looking forward to seeing Eddie host that thing. It would have been the first time I watched it all way though. Le sigh....<

I'm really confused by it all. What part of the game is this? You feel sorry for him even after you know he covered up little boys being raped and molested by the pedophile and child molester that is Jerry Sandusky? These kids need Jesus! My only hope is that they went home and really thought about how stupid they looked in defending his actions! SMDH!

Violence erupted on the campus of Penn State Wednesday night after the school's board of trustees ousted its legendary football coach and university president in the wake of a widening child sex abuse scandal.

I had no idea she had a kid! I knew there were rumors, but yesterday on 106th & Park, she confirmed she had a child, whom would turn one in a few months! Peep the video below as he talks about that and her new role on 'Let's Stay Together'!

I'm bobbing my head right now! This new Kim is reminding me of that old Lil Kim and I can't wait to hear the whole thing. Take a listen and tell me what you think.

Why is Terrence J...Mr. 106 & Park, Mr. Cornball, Zoolander Magnum pose flashing, TV Personality/Actor/Producer, so popular. So wanted? Apparently he has some romantic qualities going for him, so much so that Victoria Secret model Selita Ebanks (formerly linked to R&B heart throb Maxwell) went gansta on a model for kissing the cheek of her reportedly beau.

According to The Clutch (via YBF),

Liza Irizarry, a 33-year-old magazine and video casting director, filed a police report against the Ebanks for alleged punching her in the face after Irizarry greeted Terrence with a friendly cheek kiss.

TheYBF reports:

While arriving at Miami’s DREAM Nightclub in Miami around 5am this past Sunday morning, she crossed paths with her old friend Terrence J whom she never dated, but has known through the industry for years.  As he was exiting the club, Liza, who was arriving, says she simply told him “Hello,” and gave him the usual friendly kiss-on-the-cheek greeting.

That’s when the ish went left.  According to Liza, Selita, who was standing behind Terrence, yelled out “Don’t be kissing on my man!” and instantly swung her fist at Liza’s face.  Liza says Selita’s girlfriends who were with her also got in on the fight, throwing several slaps and punches at Liza’s face and body.  She says she got jumped by multiple girls all at once…and it all happened quickly.

A male friend of Liza’s girlfriend broke it up, along with a bouncer, and escorted her and her bloody nose to the bathroom.

Apparently Terrence J has swag and thinks he's that ish, The Clutch (via YBF) continued to report that,

To make matters worse, Irizarry told theYBF that Terrence J didn’t try to help her or hold his girl back either. Liza remembers, “He did nothing. I even texted him later to tell him that wasn’t cool and asked him what the hell was up with Selita.  I never disrespected either of them.  He never responded.”

Ladies...a man is not worth all of that, especially one that is conceited. Please don't jeopardize your life and career over d*ck IJS. *rolls my eyes at this whole situation* This just made her look stupid. NEXT!

<

Walmart is seeking to jump into the health care field by positioning themselves to become one of the largest health-care providers in the nation.  The hope is to cover millions seeking health care once the federal health care law becomes active and millions will have to choose private or federal health care options.

According to NPR:

The nation's largest retailer is planning to offer medical services ranging from the management of diabetes to HIV infections...

In the same week in late October that Wal-Mart said it would stop offering health insurance benefits to new part-time employees, the retailer sent out a request for partners to help it "dramatically ... lower the cost of healthcare ... by becoming the largest provider of primary healthcare services in the nation."

On Tuesday, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Tara Raddohl confirmed the proposal. She declined to elaborate on specifics, calling it simply an effort to determine "strategic next steps."

With Walmart becoming a conglomerate, do you think they could provide efficient health care? Will other stores like Walgreens follow suite? Would you seek out their services?<

Mike Tyson is showing off his comedic side these days. See him play Herman Cain in this Funny or Die video -- it's great for morning laughs!

Heavy D Dead at 44

Rap legend Heavy D -- one of the most influential rappers of the '90s -- died earlier today ... TMZ has learned.

Heavy D -- real name Dwight Arrington Myers -- was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon today ... and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1 PM. He was 44 years old.

We've learned a 911 call was placed from Heavy's Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway.

Oh lawd! Church service got REAL when it appears the pastor’s mistress jumped up and attacked him while he was singing!

Watch the video at the 3 minute mark and you be the judge (Click the source link below)…on her behalf I will say he did sing “feel me” so I guess she was just doing what she was told LOL! But I’m sure he meant “fill me” with the spirit not a butt whuppin!

Michael Vick & the Eagles were beaten by da Chicago Bears last night and I’m sure this story was not on his mind. **side eye**!

A young lady hit up blackmediascoop@gmail.com claiming she has a “full frontal” snapshot of Vick. She’s shopping it around to various blogs for a little cash. We told her we don’t have that much cash. WTF!

She claims the photo is easily identifiable as Vick because of the unique tattoos all over his body including his signature super man tat.

She alleges the photo was taken less than a year ago in a hotel room in Dallas, Texas.

If someone told you there were eight foods that could make you more beautiful and help you feel a lot healthier, you’d want to eat up, right?

Consider this your grocery list.

Problem: Thin, Dry Hair

Fix: GREEN TEA

The benefits of green tea keep piling up, and here’s another one: The caffeine in tea slows the production of a chemical that shrinks hair follicles and results in thinner strands. He recommends two to three cups of tea daily. (Coffee drinkers, your morning cup of java can have the same effect.) But if you’re plagued with dry, flaky scalp or hair loss, it may be a sign that you’re not getting enough zinc. Meet your 8 milligram daily quota with a variety of zinc-rich foods like crabmeat, yogurt, baked beans, green peas and pumpkin seeds.

Problem: PMS

Fix: MILK or CHEESE

When women don’t get enough calcium, they may experience more severe cramps, mood swings and bloating. Research found that 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day (the amount in about two slices of Swiss cheese plus a glass of skim milk and a yogurt) can cut premenstrual symptoms by as much as 48 percent. If you tend to get headaches during your period, you may be low in magnesium. A quarter cup of almonds or cashews can help you meet up to 30 percent of your day’s needs for the mineral.

A domestic-violence dispute early yesterday morning in Pembroke Park ended with a car plunging into a lake, one man dying, and sheriff's deputies jumping in to rescue his wife and 3-year-old daughter.

According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, someone phoned in a report about a couple fighting around 12:30 a.m. yesterday in the 3800 block of SW 20th Street, but when deputies arrived, they couldn't find anyone.

That's because 27-year-old Sandro Michel was hitting his wife (he had three prior domestic-violence arrests) while she was driving, causing her to lose control of the car and plunge into a lake.

A BSO corporal then heard "cries for help" coming from somewhere in the darkness, when she noticed it was a woman struggling to stay afloat in the lake.

Deputies Casimiro Navarro and Michael Francis hopped in the water, and Navarro was able to pull Michel's wife to safety -- although she was screaming that her 3-year-old daughter was still stuck in the car.

One of the best actors on the planet (other than Samuel Jackson), Mr. Denzel Washington is back and he will be in a movie theater near you! Check out the new trailer for his new movie 'Safe House' down below!

<<<<< Ex-CSI star Gary Dourdan cannot stay out of trouble! Drug problems and now this. Funny thing is this time he's the one being arrested on domestic violence charges. Back in March of 2010, the ex, Maria Asis del Alamo, was arrested on misdemeanor battery charges. Wonder why she went to his house in the first place. On another note, someone really needs to get some help for this guy...

This isn’t the first time these two have gotten into it…

Via TMZ:

Gary Dourdan was arrested Sunday night for allegedly breaking his former girlfriend’s nose ..law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We’re told a former girlfriend went to Dourdan’s home in Venice, CA Sunday night. Cops received a disturbance call at around 9 PM, arrived at the house but the woman had already left. While the cops were there, someone called LAPD and said an injured woman was in a nearby alley — it was Dourdan’s ex. Cop looked her over and it appeared she had a broken nose and she said Dourdan was the culprit.

The former “CSI” star was arrested and booked for felony battery. He’s being held on $50,000 bail.

SOURCE

I'm a firm believer that if you're big enough to pass a punch (old school country saying) then you'd better be big enough to take a punch. While I don't promote violence of any kind, I also don't think a person should just stand there and get their butts kicked without trying to defend themselves. I was recently privy to watch a video of a high school girl trying her hardest to walk away from a fight and yet, she was forced to defend herself. In the news clip it states that the attacker had been bullying the particular 15 year old student since the year before and it started through social media. Now the parents want the bully/attacker arrested. 15 year old Patty Fabion said by trying to walk away she was simply doing what her mother had instructed her to do and now her face shows the aftermath of being attacked and beaten. For the full story check the video below...

If you've ever tried to lose weight, you've probably wished you could speed up your metabolism and burn calories more easily. Weight-loss programs often promise to provide "metabolism-boosting" secrets, but the savvy dieter should know that many of these are just gimmicks. There's only one way you can boost your metabolism legitimately.

Many theories about metabolism are falsely rooted in the idea that there are particular foods or beverages that will magically increase your ability to burn calories. While most nutritionists agree that eating meals based on whole grains and lean proteins is a healthy diet practice, this approach won't actually help you burn calories faster. Neither will "fat-burning" foods like grapefruit or cabbage.

Parents, please be very careful of who you allow around your children, even if they seem to come with good intentions. This man has allegedly been getting away with abusing these boys for 15 years and it looks like two other top officials knew about it and didn't say anything. This sickens me. Wolves do come in sheep's clothing and this is the perfect example of such....

According to the Associated Press:

Two top Penn State officials charged with covering up allegations of an explosive child-sex abuse scandal related to former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky stepped down late Sunday after an emergency meeting of the university's Board of Trustees.

Has your sex life become ho-hum, lackluster, just flat out boring? Has the bravado gone out of the boudoir? Then join us Saturday at 10:30pm EST as we give you 20 secrets to better sex. And if you have some secrets you want to share, bring them too. You don't want to miss this one! Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us, and see you Saturday night.<

Born JoAnna Menzie…she is known in the poetic world as ‘Jodi’ no gimmicks or fancy themes around it. She defines herself by simply representing the best “she” she can be. She values herself on honesty even if it seems brutal at times. She does not satisfy emotions with butterflies and lilies around the truth. She hates to apologize, so she tries to check out every aspect before she puts my foot in her mouth and if she is wrong, she apologizes with sincerity. Her poetry displays all the thoughts and emotions that run through her. She does not sit and think to pen, She pens the thoughts that sometimes haunt her sleepless nights or interrupt her showers or baths. She's been writing since middle school, which was a private school, so it was also high school. Her first book (From Within) published in Feb ’09, captures many experiences from those days. It was published in Iraq and sold over 120 in Iraq alone.

She enjoys writing quotes and poetry, spending time with her love & kids, watching movies, and laughing. Giving back is what she has been called to do, through Art. Given to you in various forms! Take them and know you are receiving all she has. 100% of who she enjoys being. Days and seasons may change; she adjusts to their conditions! Reaching out and connecting with others... Her motto: "They will remember Me!"

Join us Saturday at 8pm EST as we talk to the lady behind the powerful pen. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us. See you Saturday night.<

According to Reuters, a federal appeals court has ruled that the FCC wrongly fined Jackson and CBS for the "wardrobe malfunction" that occurred during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

The commission levied a $550,000 fine against the performer and the network after a piece of Jackson's costume came loose during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, briefly exposing her breast...

The court found that the commission did not properly inform the broadcaster about changes in indecency enforcement, and had "arbitrarily" departed from its prior policy.

I don't care much about CBS, in general, but Damita Jo is my auntie (in my mind) and she was treated real wrong for this. The FCC can't change the rules whenever the mood strikes it and fail to let their changes in regulations be known. The whole situation was foul and I'm glad the court called the FCC on its BS.<

Big banks have been a pain in the backsides of many Americans lately; the number of fees they use to bleed folks dry has been all over the news (Bank of America ringing any bells?) Well, local credit unions have taken notice and decided to use this as a way to pull in customers.

Today is "Bank Transfer Day", where thousands upon thousands will move their accounts from major banks to local credit unions. It's a way to let fat cats in the banking industry know that people are tired of their greed and have other options. The push came when Bank of America, among others, announced that it would soon charge debit card holders a monthly fee for using said debit card. After a huge uproar, the bank dropped the debit card fee plan, but it was too late. The damage has already been done and organizers began planning "Bank Transfer Day".

Now, like many others, I bank with one of the major banks and have bills that get paid straight from my account, so moving my money and opening an account elsewhere is a task. This is by no means something that can be done quickly. Luckily, Josh Harkinson, over at Mother Jones, has a list of suggestions for those who want to leave the big banks, and their numerous fees, behind:

Why would I want to move my money out of my existing bank?

You'll probably save money in the long run. According to a 2009 year study by the Filene Research Institute, the average credit union account holder paid $71.47 in annual fees, compared to $183.14 paid by the typical bank customer. And new restrictions on debit card fees imposed last month by the Dodd-Frank Act have sent banks scrambling for even more ways to nickel and dime their customers in pursuit of profits. Nonprofit credit unions, on the other hand, only need to break even. They also tend to plow their money back into basic loans in their own communities, instead of dabbling in the kind of complex and risky securitized investments that caused large banks to go bust and drag down the economy. It's important to note that credit unions and small local banks aren't recession-proof: a striking 17 percent of Florida's bank failures since 2008 were community banks.

What's the process?

Don’t expect to be able to open a credit union account and close your old bank account in one day. You'll need to receive new checks and a debit card in the mail, switch over any automated deposits and electronic bill paying services, and wait for pending financial transactions to clear. Only then should you give your old bank the boot. Here's a searchable map that locates credit unions near you.

How long does it take?

You'll probably need to wait one or two weeks to get a debit card and checks in the mail, though some credit unions will issue you temporary versions. Besides that, it's just a matter of finding the time to switch over your bills.

Aren't credit unions less convenient than big banks?

Not necessarily. While individual credit unions typically have fewer branches than corporate banks, many participate in "shared branching," allowing customers to make a deposit or withdrawal at other participating credit unions. Also, many credit unions have implemented advanced online banking options including direct deposit, online bill-pay, and mobile banking using your cell phone.

(Source: Mother Jones)

I suggest you take a look at what else Harkinson had to say regarding the way to move your account from a big bank to a credit union. Lots of food for thought. I'll also note that if you are happy with your bank, then of course there is no reason to move your account elsewhere. However, for those of us who are tired of banks tacking on new and greedy fees, this might be what you're looking for. Make sure you put a lot of thought into it before making a decision.<

Only a handful of weeks after retiring from "60 Minutes", Andy Rooney died Friday night. A part of the CBS family for longer than I've been in the world, he gave his opinion on a number of topics  for 33 years. According to The L.A. Times, Rooney was hospitalized on October 25, after complications from a surgery.

For millions of Americans, Rooney was a welcome visitor into their homes on Sunday evenings, an old familiar face appearing for a few minutes at the tail end of one of the most highly rated programs in television history.

Wry. Curmudgeonly. Whimsical. An articulate Everyman. Unruffled yet quizzical. A crank. A complainer. The man of a thousand questions.

Ninety-two years is a long time, and he certainly left his mark on America culture. May he rest in peace.<

Many of us face the possibility of not being able to find a mate. Whether it's because you live in an area where there are more men than women and pickings are slim; you're too busy with kids, work, school, etc. to even date properly; or you're not even sure what you're looking for in a potential love interest in the first place, looking for Mr. Right can be difficult. And should we even look for him, or should we wait and let him find us? Join us Friday at 10:30pm EST for a frank discussion on whether women should actively look for husbands. Tell a single friend to tell her single friends, and maybe they'll bring their single friends, and we'll see you all Friday night.<

Born and raised in Birmingham, England, Adrian “Poetic7” Mckenzie began his love affair with poetry at the tender age of 6 years old. A naturally reserved character a fascination with rhythm and freedom of expression he found within writing gave him a voice. This fascination with rhythm was cemented by exposure to rap music, something which still influences his work today. During the formative years of his teens, given his musical leanings and church upbringing and time in the choir, his writing was mainly gospel and soul songs. Not yet considering himself a poet, he would only say that he was “just a writer” yet he sought out every opportunity to hone his talents.

Influenced by others around him and exposure to Def Poetry performances, by 2005 the artist was ready to be born. A walking paradox, the shy guy who came alive when put on the stage, he sought to learn his craft before launching out via the open mic. He was named amongst the best poets emerging from the West Midlands his breakthrough performance in 2006 came at the “Six of the best” event in his home city.

Poetic7 describes himself as a late bloomer, he says “my style is restless yet passionate, the musical side of my pen is filtering through my work, maybe I’m just getting started on the best of me”.

Join us Friday at 8pm EST as we get to know the man behind the powerful words. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us. See you all Friday night.<

Baby, baby, baby NO! This is what the Biebs says about the allegations a fan has made about him being her baby's father.

Justin Bieber appeared on NBC'S Today show this morning to talk about his new Christmas CD and the charities the album is raising money for but really his visit was more about clearing the air about the rumor going around that he has a love child with Mariah Yeater.

She claims that she hooked up with Bieber after being hand picked by his people to meet with him back stage and they later did the deed in the bathroom stall of the Staples Center. Justin said in the interview, "I'd just like to say, basically, that none of those allegations are true, and I know that I'm gonna be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim. I think it's crazy, because every night after the show, I'm gone right from the stage right to my car. So it's crazy that some people want to make up such false allegations but it's true,"

Bieber also added that he never even met this woman. "There's gonna be goods and bads about this business, and I just want to focus on what's real. My fans are real, the charity work that I'm doing for my album is real, and this is real."

The article from Yahoo News went on to say that it was very obvious that his response to the allegation was completely practiced and precise as a statement. He fumbled the target/victim line to the point of confusion. Having an accusation that he fathered a child after a Staples Center bathroom hook up at the height of his career and he isn't even legal yet must have blindsided this poor boy. Scandalous indeed!<

What does Seriously Sensual mean to you?

It’s a place where adults can speak their minds about whatever they want.

What do you do at Seriously Sensual?

I research various topics for Nikki-Nicole and Ms. G. Parris, as needed.

RRR Movie Reviews goes Bollywood

For our first Bollywood review we have the the action movie Dhoom. Most Bollywood movies are musicals that employ playback singers and Dhoom is no different in that regards.  The dance numbers help move, not stall the plot, which is important and why Bollywood works and why most attempts in the US TV or cinema fail or fall flat.

If 48 Hrs. and The Fast and the Furious had a baby, it would be Dhoom. Dhoom uses motorcycles unlike The Fast and the Furious which uses cars, but the results are just as spectacular.

Dhoom follows the usual cop/criminal buddy action film formula.  Exploits of the criminals are shown, a reluctant low level criminal joins up with a reluctant cop, the duo faces down the criminals and fail, the duo regroups, and then face down the criminals for a final showdown and succeed.

The movie was such a hit in India that it had a huge influence off screen.  Street racing and stunting increased as well as Dhoom inspired crimes including bank robbery were committed.

Final thoughts: I did not expect to see a Bollywood action movie and enjoy it.

Rating: <

Keith Sweat is back with a soon to be releasing album "Open Invitation" slated for November 8th 2011.  Take a listen and tell us how you enjoy it.

(source)<

Karen Henry allegedly attacked her 80-year-old father in a crime of potato salad passion.

TAMPA, Fla. - A Florida woman was so enraged that her father denied her some of his potato salad, she allegedly threatened him with a large kitchen knife.

Karen Henry, 45, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for repeatedly waving a knife at her 80-year-old father, according to CBS Tampa.

Police say her father grabbed a chair to defend himself as he called the authorities.

After her arrest, Henry complained of abdominal pain, and was brought to Florida Hospital Flagler. Deputies overheard her on the phone asking her father to drop charges, which led authorities to add another charge of tampering with a victim.

She is currently being held without bail at the Flagler County Inmate Facility.

<<< That must have been some slammin' potato salad! What is going on with people. Last week a woman attacked her boyfriend over a Monopoly game, and now this? There must be something in the water. Whatever it is, I don't want it!

SOURCE<

This had better be some kind of negotiating tactic. Can you imagine a city actually ignoring some 911 calls because they don't have enough gas money to get to the crime scene?

SMITHFIELD, N.C. (AP) — Police in Smithfield say they may have to stop investigating misdemeanors and ignore some 911 calls if town leaders don't provide more gas money.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports (http://bit.ly/sbcKKm) that Police Chief Michael Scott will make the proposals Tuesday to the town council.

Town leaders asked Scott to find an alternative to shifting $30,000 from the supply budget to paying for gas.

That alternative involves having detectives only investigate felonies and having police ignore calls from hotels and pay phones when callers hang up. They also would stop responding to burglar alarms and would cut patrols in parts of town with few reports of violent crimes.

Councilman Perry Harris says Smithfield leaders won't let that happen. He wants the department to consider other cost-saving measures.

Julie Widner and her husband Bryon were both once white supremacists.  The tattoos on her husband’s face made it clear that he was a Skinhead and proud of it.   But later, the couple decided to settle down and have a baby.  That’s when things started to change.

Widner was ostracized wherever he went – to restaurants, stores, job interviews, etc.  This made him feel like a failure as a father and human being.  After searching the internet, the couple still had a hard time finding any solutions to help him look normal again.

Just what in the hell is going on when you have a 17 year old father of two 15 year old pregnant teenagers instigating an attack on the other child's mother?! No worries, I shook my damn head too when I read the story. Jesus is going to have be birth control and parental control. Where are these kids parents? And this little dick bandit has knocked up two 15 year olds! Where in the world is his father? (let it be noted the girl posted in this picture is not in anyway involved in this story. She's just a model)

This year you mean it, you tell yourself — you're going to commit to making lifestyle changes to improve your well-being. If you want to stay in good health, you can start by scheduling an appointment with your doctor for a complete health check. That way, you'll know what to work on in 2012.

The Importance of Health Check-Ups

Think of health check-ups as a way to prevent disease. Prevention occurs before you have signs and symptoms. Physical exams can identify risk factors and help ward off the development of a possible lifelong chronic illness.

Another reason to have a medical exam is for your doctor to pinpoint where you can improve your habits. Your doctor can serve as your coach and help you stay on the path to good health. Doctors can also offer screening tests to help detect any health problems early on and start you on treatment.

A place to come and tell your most erotic thoughts and fantasies. This is only for the Grown and Sexy. By grown and sexy we mean keep it clean but keep it sexy, erotic, and nerve tingling. Join us Saturday night as our listeners come through and hit us with a collection of short erotic stories that will surely get us all hot and bothered. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Saturday night at 10:30 pm EST!

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She is a proud mother of six children and about to be a grandmother to her eleventh grandchild. She's a poet, abstract painter, and spoken word artist; in short just a messenger. She prefers to call herself a messenger because she communicates through her poetry, painting, and spoken word pieces. Life is her muse, and she can write in just about any environment. Join us Saturday at 8 pm EST as we sit down with Huniie the Messenger, and find out what really makes her tick. And tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us! See you all Saturday night!

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Yep, it's that time again! Time to say what's on our minds, no holds barred!!! And you can vent right along with us! So join us Friday at 10 pm EST, and remember to tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend to join the party and vent too! See you Friday!

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In her own words, Epiphany Castro likes to call herself an artist because she does one or more things. She is a writer, a spoken word artist, and a singer. She is very delicate very fragile, very honest, and very feminine. Her poetic style is 99 percent romantic and love. Her CD, Soul Flower, gives a little piece of who she is in every track. Be there Saturday at 8 pm EST as we sit down with Epiphany, and learn more about this multi-faceted lady. Tell a friend to tell a Saturday night!

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Her name means Sistah of Hope and Faith. She is a living, breathing, walking miracle sent here to speak the words of truth. Her Faith is in God, herself, unconditional love and the healing of the world one person at a time. Through her words she plants the seeds of encouragement, life, and love. Through her body she dances until the atmosphere shifts so that someone can be touched by her presence. Through her spirit she meditates on all good things to restore balance in her home, in her family, and her community. Through her hands she touches God's people and his healing energy flows through her. She is just an empty vessel allowing herself to be used to do the work of the master. Join us Friday at 8 pm EST as we interview spoken word artist, Sistah Taraji. And remember to tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us!

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Tina Brooks McKinney's writing career started as a dare and resulted in the publication of her first novel All That Drama. She never gave writing another book a thought until she started getting emails from people all over the world asking about the characters she had mostly created. The mail kept coming in so she went back to her computer and wrote the sequel, Lawd, Mo' Drama. She wrote that book because the readers wanted a happy ending but she felt cheated. She went back to the computer and created Fool, Stop Trippin' which included some of the characters from both books but done Tina style. The drama series was published by Strebor Books, a division of Simon and Schuster.

A place to come and tell your most erotic thoughts and fantasies. This is only for the Grown and Sexy. By grown and sexy we mean keep it clean but keep it sexy, erotic, and nerve tingling. Join us Friday and Saturday night as our listeners come through and hit us with a collection of short erotic stories that will surely get us all hot and bothered. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Friday and Saturday night at 10:30 pm EST!

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Jacques has worked with at risk youth for over 17 years and has started WiseSon Inc. which serves at risk youth and families. He has published two other books Titled Manhood, True expressions of a man… and The Poet, the Prophet, the Rebel and the Explorer. Jacques currently lives in Georgia where he is finishing his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Join us Saturday night as we get to know what makes him tick! Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Saturday night at 8:00 pm EST!

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A place to come and tell your most erotic thoughts and fantasies. This is only for the Grown and Sexy. By grown and sexy we mean keep it clean but keep it sexy, erotic, and nerve tingling. Join us Friday and Saturday night as our listeners come through and hit us with a collection of short erotic stories that will surely get us all hot and bothered. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Friday and Saturday night at 10:30 pm EST!

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National Best-selling author Adrianne Byrd has always preferred to live within the realms of her imagination where all the men are gorgeous and the women are worth whatever trouble they manage to get into. In books, Adrianne found a way out of her awkward teenage years and into a world of fictional friends that would stay with her for a lifetime. It wasn’t long before her imagination took flight and she was writing her own love stories. Within a year, she completed her first book, which she vowed would never see the light of day. Join us Friday night as we get to know the woman behind the words. We will speak candidly with the best selling author and try and get all of the juicy details on her upcoming novels. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Friday night at 8:00 pm EST!

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Have you ever been in a relationship with someone that you know is no good for you, but for some reason you found yourself not being able to let go? Is the sex that good? Is good...great sex enough to twist a person's mind into staying in a place they know they don't need to be? Why is that? Why do people stay in relationships that are damaging to them? Join us Saturday as we try to figure it out! Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Saturday night at 10:00 pm EST!

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Join us Saturday as we get all up in the business of Mr. Sean Harris. Inspired by his grandmother, he is well known on Facebook and abroad by his poetry alter ego Mr. Harris, who says what Sean Harris won’t say or is scared to say because he's shy. On the other hand, according to him, Sean is the sweetest, funniest, and craziest person you will know, and never had enemies unless they were haters or mad boyfriends. A poet who tries not to focus on one type of writing, he likes to write a little bit of everything, and wants to dominate every subject whether its real, erotic, or story telling with a poem. Be there Saturday at 8 pm EST as we have a heart-to-heart with this father, son, brother, friend, and poet who holds a permanent spot in the Seriously Sensual Corner! And tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us!<

Everybody knows the song and the lyrics that Ms. Beyonce Knowles made famous, but why would a man wife someone he only likes? Why are people treating relationships like marriages? Do you feel as if until a man puts a ring on your finger then he will not get the same privileges as he would if you were married? Men do you respect a woman who values her body over a woman who gives it up on the first date? Call in and tell us about it. Join us Friday night as we discuss these topics and get your thoughts and opinions on the matter. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Friday night at 10:00 pm EST!

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Her name is pronounced (Na-Lay-nah Ki) which means "the determined one is present." Naleighna Kai is a motivational speaker, a Mercedes Benz Mentor Award Nominee, a contributing author to a New York Times bestseller, the author of the national bestseller Every Woman Needs a Wife, The Pleasure's All Mine, and co-author of Speak It Into Existence with Sesvalah. A Chicago native who began writing in December of 1999, she now pens fiction, romance, erotica, new age, and science fiction. Her first three novels were self-published before landing a book deal with the imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Naleighna is the CEO of Marco Marketing & Promotions Group, and is the marketing consultant to several national bestselling authors including L.A. Banks, and debut author Susan D. Peters, as well as aspiring authors. She also works for a major law firm and incorporates that background into her characters, infusing them with humor and depth that rings with authenticity.

Naleighna is the mother of J.L. Woodson, NAACP Image Award nominee for Outstanding Literature for his book Superwoman's Child: Son of a Single Mother. She is currently working on her next novels Slaves of Heaven and Rich Woman's Fetish, and is currently touring. Join us Friday at 8 pm EST as we sit down and talk with this literary and promotions dynamo, and tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us! See you Friday!

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We will be discussing why men and women look for solice outside of marriages and relationships.Is there a formula to keep a man or woman from cheating?

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Nika C. Beamon is the author of the non-fiction project, I DIDN'T WORK THIS HARD JUST TO GET MARRIED. Published on May 1, 2009 by Chicago Review Press, the book takes a look at why so many Black women are still not married through lively and revealing interviews with women from various walks of life. Ms. Beamon explores the challenges and issues affecting single black women who defy expectations. They candidly discuss aging without a man and reevaluate dating, single home ownership, career, and children. The book speaks directly to the black woman's experience, addressing unique challenges such as income discrepancies between genders, the high rate of male incarceration, and the Baby Momma Syndrome. The women discuss the false expectations they face from men, from families, and from friends. Join us and author Nika C. Beamon Friday night at 8:30 pm EST as we explore this fascinating topic of why so many Black women choose to remain single. And tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us.<

International award-winning motivational speaker, author and CEO Rahfeal Gordon has come a long way from being homeless in the notorious streets of Newark, NJ. Rahfeal established his first six-figure revenue company, Infinite Productions, while attending Arts High School in New Jersey at the age of 15. The company mission was to develop events that provided unity within the high school and college campuses. In 2001, Rahfeal established a college organization chapter entitled “Team Infinite”, on the campus of Montclair State University and Bloomfield College. In 2005, Rahfeal established the Rahfeal C. Gordon Scholarship Fund, designed to benefit high school and college students with average grades, but exhibit exceptional business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. Then in 2008, Rahfeal launched two major companies- RahGor Publishing and RahGor Motivations, wrote his first of five published books entitled, “You Won’t Make It.” He has performed at world renowned places such as Madison Square Garden, Jacob Javits Center, Juilliard School and the Southampton Fresh Air Home. Rahfeal debuted his internationally known seminar “Hip Hop Saved My Life” to a sold out audience at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center- the 6th largest theater in the country. Rahfeal began 2009 on a positive note. He was nominated for the 2009 NAACP Image Award for his book “Homeroom Heroes” along with co-author/actor Michael B. Jordan while graduating from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Rahfeal is currently on the “RahGor World Tour” which will stop at 40 of the most fashionable locations around the world such as New York, London, Beverly Hills, Paris, Bel-Air, Milan, and various locations in-between. Join us Saturday night at 8:30 pm EST as we interview this dynamic young man. So don't forget to tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us, and see you all Saturday at 8:30 pm EST!<

Allison burst on the literary scene with her highly successful debut novel, Pandora's Box in 2003. A prolific writer, today she is the national bestselling author of twelve novels and novellas and is one of the contributing writers of Cinemax's Zane's Sex Chronicles. Allison's short story, The Private Room is included in the anthology, Purple Panties. Her novel, Double Dippin' was nominated for the 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. The Climax was nominated for the 2008 African American Literary Awards Show. In Allison Hobbs' latest thriller, Stealing Candy, Saleema Sparks' life has gone full circle. Having gone from prostitute to madam and now operating a social club for troubled teenage girls, Saleema's life is turned upside down when she is compelled to help three young sex-trafficked girls break free from the malicious pimp who has abducted them. But the timing is all wrong. For the first time in her life, Saleema is falling in love. Determined to keep the girls out of the pimp's murderous grasp, she goes on the run with them, wondering if it will ever be safe enough to find her way back to her first chance at love. Join us Friday night at 8:30 pm EST as we get the inside scoop on this new novel as well as talk about the real truth surrounding this story! Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Friday at 8:30 pm EST! Then right after at 9:30 pm join us again as author Denise Bolds joins us to talk about single motherhood and her new book Raising Princes to be Kings - A Single Black Mother's Guide to Raising Her Black Son. This will be an exciting and educational night for us all. See you all Friday night starting at 8:30 pm EST!<

We will be chatting it up with Nikki Urban about her lastest works, Jade's Diary as well as her upcoming novel, Damaged Goods. So join us as we take a walk with her through her characters lives and maybe she will even give us the inside scoop on what's going to happen in her next novel due out in October. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend about us and we will see you all Friday at 9:00pm EST!<

Call in with your "sex" related questions or issues and we will give you our honest opinions and advice. Or write us at black1-2@live.com. or send them to Seriouslysensualradio@yahoo.com. After this show the yahoo acct will be our permanent email address! See you tomorrow. Be there or be square!

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