Is Race An Issue In Gov. Blagojevich's Pick Of Roland Burris To Replace Obama In The Senate?

I'm not sure exactly why Gov. Blagojevich picked Roland Burris. The fact is that Burris is qualified to replace Barack Obama.He was not involved in this scandal, so should this pick be challenged? After all,does it really matter who picked Roland Burris? I don't think it does. Roland Burris should be allowed to keep the Senate seat because Blagojevich hasn't been convicted of any wrongdoing yet.Bobby Rush made a great point when he talked about keeping an African-American in that seat. I just think that he shouldn't have said that he doubts any senator will challenge this pick for that reason.It sounded like he was saying that anyone who questions this pick may be considered a racist.They should have just made the announcement & kept it moving. The larger issue is the absence of blacks in the Senate as Bobby Rush pointed out.

Happy Birthday To Denzel Washington!! He Was Born On December 28,1954!

Denzel Washington was born on Dec. 28,1954.He is one fine-looking gentlemen who also happens to be one of the greatest actors of our time. I enjoyed him in "Mississippi Masala" & "American Gangster" among many other movies. It's really good to see a black marriage survive in Hollywood & Denzel Washington is hardly ever in the tabloids. There was that one rumor about him & Sanaa Lathan back in 2006 which claimed that the two were involved in a torrid affair. Here's more on that from Exposay:
"The grapevine is buzzing about another possible Hollywood breakup. This time, it's Oscar winner Denzel Washington and his wife of 22-years, Pauletta Washington.

Insiders reveal Washington's popularity with women has made him a serial cheater, and Pauletta isn't going to stand by and watch any longer. The latest gossip from insiders says he has been carrying on a sordid affair with former co-star Sanaa Lathan, who is 16-years his junior.

A friend reportedly says, "People have speculated about Denzel having affairs for a long time, but I wouldn't be surprised if the recent reports about Sanaa have gotten under his wife Pauletta's skin like nothing else has."

Rumor has it Denzel recently moved out of the couple's $10 million home in California.(Taken from the following site:http://www.exposay.com/denzels-divorce/v/1007/

Obviously that turned out to be just another falsehood about a celebrity.I hope that he's not a serial cheater because that would make me lose a lot of respect for him.Here he is on Tavis Smiley discussing the debate in the black community about the types of roles that he plays,such as gangster roles.

A Missing British Nurse Was Found Alive In The Boot Of Her Car!

Nurse Magdeline Makola was found in the boot of her car after she had been missing since Dec.15,2008. She had been through a terrible ordeal & is deeply traumatized from it. I hope that Miss Makola will be able to overcome the emotional turmoil that she must be in at this time. My prayers go out to her & I hope they find the monster who did this. It was someone that she had been acquainted with 5 years earlier. Here's more from the Telegraph.co.uk:

"More than 20 detectives joined the search for Miss Makola after she failed to turn up for work at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Dec 18, three days after she was last seen.

When police searched her home, they found her work bag ready with her uniform and a packed lunch.

Her passport was in the house, but her car was gone. Over the next eight days, sightings of the car were reported in Airdrie, Glasgow and Livingston.

Police traced the vehicle to Airdrie through financial transactions made with Miss Makola's bank card.

Systematic searches were then carried out on every street in the town, which led to her being found.

Chief Insp Tague said Miss Makola, a South African who has been in this country for six years, was suffering from hypothermia.

She was also dehydrated and in "a very traumatised state" when she was found. There was "no evidence" of sexual or other physical assault and she suffered only minor injuries, he said. The abductor did not demand a ransom.

"Although not physically injured, she is extremely traumatised and this has made interviewing her extremely difficult," he said.

Specially trained officers had been drafted in to interview the nurse.

Miss Makola's relatives in South Africa have been informed and were said to be "deeply upset" by reports of her ordeal. One of Miss Makola's neighbours, Veronica Gijima, 26, said her sister Rhoda was called by Miss Makola before she was abducted.

"She told my sister that a man had been banging on the door and she was frightened and refused to let him in," Miss Gijima said.

Police are hunting the suspected abductor, described by police as black, aged 20 to 40, 6ft tall, stocky and with dreadlocks.

He was not a former boyfriend but somebody Miss Makola "had contact with about five years ago", Chief Insp Tague said. Officers have not been able to establish his nationality but said he used several different names, which they declined to disclose."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the entire article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/3983526/Nurse-Magdeline-Makola-left-in-car-boot-for-up-to-10-days.html

Watch This Clip Of "Gaza:The Killing Zone" To Get A Behind The Scenes Look At The Conflict That Led Israel To Bomb 225 People Today!

Gaza has a humanitarian crisis on it's hands.In this video,you will see what the shrapnel from an Israeli missle does to innocent civilians.And a lot of the victims are women & children.The clip shown in this video is from a movie called "Gaza:The Killing Zone." It is very graphic, so be aware of that before you watch it.But, it is a compelling video.And the violence continued today when Israel bombed Gaza & killed at least 225 people,including women & children.Here's more from BBC:

"Israeli F-16 bombers have pounded key targets across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 225 people, local medics say.

Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, the Gaza officials said.

About 700 others were wounded, as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials added.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said the operation "may take some time"- but he pledged to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

"It's not going to last a few days,'' he said in a televised statement, flanked by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Israel said it was responding to an escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza and would bomb "as long as necessary".
They were the heaviest Israeli attacks on Gaza for decades. More air raids were launched as night fell."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm

Eartha Kitt Will No Longer Grace This Earth With Her Prescence!

Eartha Kitt was a classy sex symbol that really represented black women well. This was a woman who spoke French & English & was loved overseas as much as she was in America. At 81, she was still performing & gracing stages with the sensual elegance that only Eartha Kitt could bring.Her voice was what you imagined sexiness to sound like.That's probably why she played "Catwoman" on Batman so well.
It's ironic that she died on Christmas day, since one of her biggest songs was "Santa Baby." It's the song that she's singing in this video. May she rest in peace. Here's more on her life from USCA:

"Although she can look back on a long and successful career, life has not always been easy for Eartha Kitt. She had a difficult and impoverished childhood and lost track of her roots. Kitt worked hard to get to the top, but when she was a child, she had to fight prejudice within the African-American community because of her light skin color. Ironically, as an adult trying to succeed in show business, Eartha Kitt found that most of the available roles went to caucasian actresses.


The singer-actress was born on a cotton farm in North in 1927. Because the harvest was good that year, her father named her "Eartha." But the family was poor and when she was still quite young, her father left them. The family moved from place to place, trying to support themselves. Kitt was of mixed racial parentage, and her light skin made her unwelcome to some. When her mother met a man and decided to get married, he told her he would take her half-sister Pearl but not Eartha. Finally, her mother left the two children with a neighbor family, choosing not to separate them. The young Eartha Mae had to cook, clean, weed the garden, keep track of the cow, pick cotton, and do many other chores to cover her room and board. She recounts that she was not treated well in her new home. She saw her mother only a few times during the three years she lived there, once when she was taken to see her new half-sister, Almita. About six months later, her mother died."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.usca.edu/aasc/kitt.htm

Now That Obama's Been Cleared Of Any Wrongdoing,Can We Move On To More Pertinent Issues Now?

You would think that there was a major scandal brewing with all of the media coverage over the extent of Obama's involvement with Gov. Blagovejich. What did he know & when did he know it? Well, here's what we all know now:

"President-elect Barack Obama's team had "no inappropriate discussions" with Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, according to an internal review.

But his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel talked to Mr Blagojevich about who should fill Mr Obama's senate seat.

Mr Blagojevich has been accused of attempting to "sell" the seat, but says he is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

The review reveals that the US Attorney leading the Blagojevich probe spoke to Mr Obama as part of his investigation.

Patrick Fitzgerald also questioned Mr Emanuel, and Obama aide Valerie Jarrett last week about their contacts with Mr Blagojevich."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7798127.stm

Can we move on now? Here's a video that contains a brief history of political corruption in America. This is nothing new.

"Queen of Hispanic America 2008" Was Detained By Police Along With Drug Traffickers!

Is the "Queen of Hispanic America 2008",Laura Zuniga,living life dangerously or what? The mexican beauty queen was riding in a vehicle where the men were strapped with guns & cash. Apparently, she likes bad boys because she is dating one of these men who just happens to be a drug trafficker! Here's more from the Telegraph.co.uk:

"She is the beauty queen of Sinaloa and was aboard an SUV with the weapons and several of the men," said a police spokesman from western Jalisco state, home to Guadalajara.

"No one expected this young woman to be aboard, along with more than a dozen cell phones, lots of cash, pistols, bullets and two rifles," he said.

Ms Zuniga won the Miss Sinaloa title in July and was to compete in the Miss International 2009 pageant next year in Asia. She was named "Queen of Hispanic America 2008" in a contest in Bolivia.

One of the arrested men is linked to the leadership of the Juarez cartel, which operates lucrative smuggling routes into the United States, police said. "This young woman was the gentleman's girlfriend," Jalisco state Security Minister Luis Carlos Najera said in a radio interview."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/mexico/3920373/Mexican-beauty-queen-held-as-police-swoop-on-drug-traffickers.html

Obama Sure Doesn't Have Any Weight Issues! Damn, He Looks Goooood!!!

Thank you Bauer Griffin for making this view of our new president possible! This man has no issues with weight whatsoever. Maybe Oprah can pick up some tips from him! Here's a link to Griffin's site:http://bauergriffinonline.com/

Henry Louis Gates Wrote A Great African History Book Called "Wonders Of African World"!

"Wonders Of The African World" is a great coffee table book that contains the incredibly rich history of Africa with beautiful photos & illustrations.I find that mostly everything that involves Henry Louis Gates will be very informative & interesting. In this video,he takes a look at the South & it's troubled past.

African Princess Sikhanyiso of Swaziland Is One Of The Most Hyped Royals On The Planet,According To Forbes!

How come I've never heard any rappers pay homage to the beautiful African Princess Sikhanyiso of Swaziland?The palace she lives in looks like the one in "Coming To America!" Her life is simply extraordinary. But,there are some aspects of her life that some would find hard to except. Her father is a huge proponent of polygamy. He has 13 wives & a lot of kids.It's a tradition in some African cultures for a man to take many wives.And it's a lifestyle that many African-American women would find intolerable.Even though many of us are sharing men unknowingly,we hold steadfast to our belief in monogamy!

The Pope Is Trying To Deal With Perverted Priests By Screening Future Candidates With A "Sex Drive" Test!

Perversion in the priesthood has become a serious & undeniable issue for the Catholic Church.So, they have devised a strategy to try & weed out potential priests who seem incapable of committing to celibacy. You must suppress all of your sexual urges as a priest.This test is supposed to determine whether you are psychologically ready to be celibate or not. Here's more from BBC:

"The Roman Catholic Church has issued guidance for future priests to have psychological tests to weed out those unable to control their sexual urges.

A senior churchman said a series of sex scandals had contributed to the rewriting of the guidelines.

The authors said screening would help avoid "tragic situations" caused by what they termed psychological defects.

The guidance says the voluntary tests should also aim to vet for those with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies".

Among other traits that might make a candidate unsuitable for the priesthood, the advice lists "uncertain sexual identity," "excessive rigidity of character" and "strong affective dependencies".

The document also makes reference to heterosexual urges.

Seminarians should be barred if testing makes it "evident the candidate has difficulty living in celibacy: That is, if celibacy for him is lived as a burden so heavy that it compromises his affective and relational equilibrium", it says."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7700710.stm
This video is about a priest who molested children & he is HIV positive.

Africans Really Hope The Obama Presidency Will Really Affect Change For Africa As Well

America is waiting with bated breath to see just how Obama will govern.And the people of Africa wonder if the Obama adminstration will be any different than the previous administrations.Here's an excerpt from Africa Today:

"Unless there is a fundamental change in America's policies towards Africa, the continent will not gain much from the in-coming US government.

Many people of African descent are anticipating that when Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States of America, the fortunes of Africa will change. However, nothing will change unless US foreign policy towards Africa changes drastically.

The G8 Summit held in June, pledged $6 billion dollars a year in so-called aid to Africa. The low figure caused an official of Oxfam to say "We're extremely disappointed by this wasted opportunity. They're offering peanuts to Africa and recycled peanuts at that."

In 1999, debt service payments from Africa, the poorest region in the world, to rich Western countries totaled $35.7 billion. African debt stands at a crippling $300 billion. According to The Guardian (U.K.) "African leaders invited to the G8 gathering expressed deep disappointment that the plan did nothing to open western markets, cancel debts of the poorest countries or provide the financial aid needed to meet the U.N.'s targets for tackling global poverty by 2015."

Behind the shameful peanut throwing lurks a deadly western policy towards Africa. The U.S. government which dominates the G8 has through the Pentagon, the CIA, the World Bank and the IMF, systematically demolished African economies, health and education sectors, and fueled eleven wars on the continent with arms transfers and military training. This genocidal imperial strategy has killed more than ten million Africans and has allowed the U.S. and the West to obtain Africa's abundant natural riches very cheaply."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.africatoday.com/cgi-bin/public.cgi?sub=news&action=one&cat=187&id=1565

Barack Obama is only one man.Therefore,there is only so much damage that he can repair in 4 years.There is a catastrophic mess that will be handed over to him on January 20,2009.Everyone's expectations may be set a little too high for a regular human being to meet.

This video contains the trailer of a documentary called "Nubian Spirit".The movie is about ancient African civilizations.Everytime I see the abundant riches that Africans once enjoyed,it makes the current dire state of the continent seem unfathomable.What would have happened to Africa had it never been colonized? Why weren't the Africans dying of starvation before the Europeans conquered their land? How did a land of supposed savages & heathens manage to erect some of the most mysterious & beautiful temples that mankind has ever seen? Present day Africans just want to return to their past glory.It's time for the wealthy nations that plundered Africa's riches to return the wealth.Africa has helped the West become what it is today.Amazingly enough,Africa remains in serious debt despite their rich past.

Do You Believe The Bible's Teachings About The Nativity?

I read an interesting article that talked about a survey that showed that most Britons do not believe in the nativity. Well, I am not sure exactly how Jesus came to be either.As a Christian,you are told that everything is about faith. But, I was raised to question all religion & historical teachings.My pops drilled the fact that you can't believe everything you read into my head. And when you go to bible study, the instructor doesn't take kindly to a person like me.An inquistive mind can really get in the way of faith. But,what really caught my attention was this part of the article from the Telegraph.co.uk:

"Simon Gathercole, a new testament scholar at Cambridge University, said people were sceptical because they were not aware the origins of Christianity were anchored in real history.

He added: "Jesus was born while Augustus was emperor of Rome just before Herod died. We're talking about events that are anchored in real history not in ancient Greek myths."

A separate study by Mothers' Union, a Christian charity, showed that more parents encourage their children to believe in Father Christmas than in the nativity.

A spokeswoman for the charity said the survey "raised concerns that the church needs to do more to support families in the spiritual nurture of their children".

She added: "The church needs to get across the fact that in times of both adversity and prosperity, it has a universal message which enables people to connect with something outside themselves."

The study of 1,000 parents found that one in five do not encourage their children to associate Christmas with the nativity. Five per cent do not encourage their children to believe in Father Christmas."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/3868265/Most-Britons-do-not-believe-in-the-nativity-survey-shows.html

For me, Christmas is about presents,good cheer,delectable eats,& the birth of Jesus. Santa Claus is not the point of Christmas. He is more like a byproduct of it.If you don't believe in the nativity,how could you teach your kids to believe in Santa? Seems pretty inconsistent to me.

Check out this description of the real meaning of Christmas from the cartoon "Charlie Brown."

The "Father Of Black History" Was Born Today!

Carter Woodson wrote "The Miseducation Of The Negro" which is an important read for every race. He is also the founder of "Black History Week" which evolved into "Black History Month." Therefore,Carter Woodson is also known as the "Father of Black History." He knew that it was especially important,as the son of slaves,to know one's true ancestral & historical background.It is empowering to know that you come from royalty as well as slavery. Here's more on this important man from Wikipedia:

"Carter Godwin Woodson (December 19, 1875 - April 3, 1950 was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of Negro History Week, which became Black History Month. He is considered the first to conduct a scholarly effort to popularize the value of Black History. He recognized and acted upon the importance of a people having an awareness and knowledge of their contributions to humanity and left behind an impressive legacy. Woodson was one of the founders of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and Journal of Negro History. He was a member of the first black fraternity Sigma Pi Phi and also a member of Omega Psi Phi,Dr. Woodson is known as the Father of Black History.

"Woodson was born in New Canton, Virginia, the son of former slaves James and Elizae Riddle Woodson. His father had helped the Union soldiers during the Civil War, and afterwards moved his family to West Virginia when he heard that Huntington was building a high school for blacks. Coming from a large, poor family, the son Carter Woodson could not regularly attend such schools. Through self-instruction Woodson was able to master the fundamentals of common school subjects by the time he was 17.

Ambitious for more education, Woodson went to Fayette County to earn a living as a miner in the coal fields. He was able to devote only a few months each year to his schooling. In 1895 at the age of twenty, Woodson entered Douglass High School where he received his diploma in less than two years. From 1897 to 1900, Woodson taught in Fayette County. In 1900 he was selected as the principal of Douglass High School. Woodson earned his Bachelor of Literature degree from Berea College in Kentucky."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_G._Woodson

Obama's Inauguration Poet Elizabeth Alexander Has An Issue: She Has To Write A Stirring Poem For This Historical Event!

Elizabeth Alexander will be the fourth poet picked to read at an inauguration.Obama's swearing in will be one of the most viewed & memorable inaugurations in history. The world will be watching, so this will be no small feat. But, isn't this the kind of issue that you wish you had? Everyone is vying for a spot at this inauguration. Beyonce is practically begging for the opportunity to serenade the president,even though Obama really wants Jennifer Hudson to do it.So, congrats to Elizabeth Alexander & all the other lucky participants in Obama's inauguration. Here's Elizabeth Alexander reading some of her poetry in this video. And more on this lovely poet from Poets.org:

"Elizabeth Alexander was born in 1962 in Harlem, New York, and grew up in Washington, D.C. She received a B.A. from Yale University, an M.A. from Boston University (where she studied with Derek Walcott), and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

Her collections of poetry include American Sublime (Graywolf Press, 2005), which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Antebellum Dream Book (2001); Body of Life (1996); and The Venus Hottentot (1990).

Alexander’s critical work appears in her essay collection, The Black Interior (Graywolf, 2004). She also edited The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks (Graywolf, 2005) and Love’s Instruments: Poems by Melvin Dixon (1995). Her poems, short stories, and critical writing have been widely published in such journals and periodicals as The Paris Review, American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, The Southern Review, Prairie Schooner, Callaloo, The Village Voice, The Women's Review of Books, and The Washington Post. Her work has been anthologized in over twenty collections, and in May of 1996, her verse play, Diva Studies, premiered at the Yale School of Drama."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here:http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/245

Will Sarah Palin Address The Racism In Alaska's Government?

We all know the tenor that the McCain campaign took towards the end. And we all remember Sarah Palin's "pro-America" speeches.With her silence on the discovery of racist e-mails about Obama that circulated within her state's government,it makes you wonder what those speeches were really about.You can draw many inferences from the fact that she has not uttered one single word.Especially since she complained about the sexism in the media every chance she got. If she's an advocate for patriotism & equal treatment, where is her voice on this issue? Whether or not she likes Obama,Sarah Palin should show that she represents all races as the governor of Alaska & condemn these racist emails!Here's more from Telegraph.co.uk:

"Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, was under pressure on Thursday to respond to the discovery that staff members in her state's government had received and forwarded racist emails about President-Elect Barack Obama.

One of the emails asked about the outcome of the Democrat's victory and concluded: "Another black family living in government housing!" Another, entitled "Night Befo Crizzmus," was forwarded dozens of times, according to the state's information technology division. Administration commissioner Annette Kreitzer said: "It's embarrassing to the state."

Mrs Kreitzer said she alerted the office of Mrs Palin, the failed Republican vice presidential candidate in the recent election, about the emails.

Bill McAllister, a spokesman for the governor, said that the matter concerned individual actions taken by a handful of state employees among thousands.

But the lack of a denunciation from the governor failed to satisfy critics who have suspected her of disrespecting the African American community or of holding racist views herself.

The Rev Alonzo Patterson, state chairman of the Alaska Black Leadership Conference, encouraged Mrs Palin to address the emails.

"They're doing that in a state setting," he said. "She should condemn it."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3833904/Sarah-Palin-urged-to-speak-on-racist-Barack-Obama-state-government-circulated-emails.html

In this video,black Alaskans talk about how Sarah Palin's administration hasn't done anything for African-Americans. She doesn't support the Juneteenth celebration for blacks & apparently has no blacks in her administration. Now we know why she hasn't denounced those racist e-mails.It seems that any issue that concerns blacks is of the least importance to Sarah Palin.I feel for black Alaskans because Palin has turned a deaf ear to their causes.

Theoneste Bagosora Was Sentenced To Life For Being The Main Instigator Of The Rwandan Genocide!

Theoneste Bagosora should have received death for attempting to wipe out a whole race of people! He was the main culprit behind the Rwandan genocide. But, at least the International Criminal Tribunal is making some headway.This is the first time anyone has been convicted of organizing the brutal killings. Here's more from BBC:

"The sentences will be welcomed by the government in Rwanda, which has come to regard the tribunal as a key part of the process of justice and reconciliation, says the BBC's Peter Greste.

Bagosora has been in custody since 1996, when he was arrested in Cameroon.

Prosecutors said Bagosora assumed control of military and political affairs in Rwanda when President Habyarimana's plane was shot down in 1994 - the catalyst for the genocide.

However, the indictment alleges that he set out to "prepare the apocalypse" as far back as 1990.

The following year, Bagosora helped draft a document circulated within the army that described Tutsis as "the principal enemy".

Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, head of UN peacekeepers in Rwanda at the time, described Mr Bagosora as the "kingpin" behind the genocide.

Gen Dallaire wrote in his memoirs that Bagosora was a "known extremist" who "controlled - as well as anyone could - the genocidal militia"."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7789039.stm

Reader's Issue:I Hate "Blind Items"! It's Like Telling An Incomplete Story!

I just finished reading Terrance Dean's "Hiding In Hip Hip"(On The Down Low In The Entertainment Industry). It was an interesting read because he revealed the sexual molestation that he suffered as a boy. And he says that traumatic experience made him aware of his attraction to men. Terrance Dean also gives great detail about his relationships with women & how he loved the taste of them at one time. He recounts his life in the music & entertainment industry as well. But,every man that was hiding in hip hop remains hidden after you read the last page of the book.The author really is talking about his life on the "down low" & exposing himself only. I appreciated the insight that he gives women who have always wondered about this very secretive lifestyle. I just hate that he talked about these celebrities at all. When you give someone a pseudonym,it makes it hard for me to believe or even care about what transpired. So, I was glad that Terrance Dean didn't just talk about these famous,but anonymous to us, celebrities that he slept with on every page. For me, it's just like reading fiction. I mean, anyone can make up these blind items that pop up on all of these gossip sites. If you want to talk about the hypocrisy of closeted gay-bashing rappers in hip-hop,the message gets lost if your audience is left guessing.I guess one of my pet peeves is blind items!I freakin' hate them!

This video contains a clip from the Mike & Juliet Show. The author of the book talks about being on the "down-low". This was the subject of the show.

If Obama Isn't Black, Then Neither Is Cleopatra! Scientists Are Saying That The Egyptian Queen Was Of Mixed Race!

Have you heard how about the debate over whether Obama is black or not? I,for one, find it absolutely ridiculous to tell someone how they should identify themselves. If Obama says he is black,then why the hell is anyone questioning that? Here's more on that from The Star Tribune:

"A perplexing new chapter is unfolding in Barack Obama's racial saga: Many people insist that "the first black president" is actually not black.

Debate over whether to call this son of a white Kansan and a black Kenyan biracial, African-American, mixed-race, half-and-half, multiracial — or, in Obama's own words, a "mutt" — has reached a crescendo since Obama's election shattered assumptions about race.

Obama has said, "I identify as African-American — that's how I'm treated and that's how I'm viewed. I'm proud of it." In other words, the world gave Obama no choice but to be black, and he was happy to oblige."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.startribune.com/politics/36106829.html

Now,it has been discovered that an Egyptian queen that was said to be European really was African all along. Scientists have reconstructed Cleopatra's face & it appears that she was of mixed race. Now, if she is mixed with both European & African, will she be viewed as black by those who say that Obama is not? In my view,we can only classify her based on her appearance because we don't know how she identified herself. But,if someone states they are black, then that's what they are. Let the individual decide how to present themselves to society. I am happy to have a African & European leader who identifies himself as black. And it is wonderful to have affirmation that what black folks have been saying for quite some time is true. Cleopatra is black,unless she can reach out to us from the past & tell us otherwise! This video contains a beautiful slideshow of African royalty. It's absolutely exquisite!But,here's more on Cleopatra's racial makeup:

"Over the last several centuries artists have attempted to paint the image of Cleopatra, to give a face to the name that has become one of the most famous and mysterious in history. But for the first time we may have finally gotten it right.

After a year of extensive research, Dr. Sally Ann Ashton of Cambridge University has pieced together what she believed to be the true face of Cleopatra (top left), one that differs greatly from the many depictions throughout history.

Pieced together from images on ancient artifacts, including a ring dating from Cleopatra’s reign 2,000 years ago, it is the culmination of more than a year of painstaking research. It shows her as a woman of mixed race, with dark eyes, hair, and skin, and nice looks, a far cry from the extremes of the unattractive depiction of ancient artifacts (shown below), or the Hollywood version of beauty of modern movies.

Dr. Ashton is scheduled to release the full results as part of a five part documentary." This is the post in it's entirety which I got from ChattahBox.Here's the link to this post:
http://chattahbox.com/science/2008/12/16/first-accurate-depiction-of-cleopatra-created/

Is Anyone Other Than Catholics Outraged By The Nude Virgin Mary Playboy Cover?

There is an outrage over a cover of Playboy that features a model dressed in a white head wrap only. It is said to be meant to evoke the image of the Virgin Mary in the nude.Many Mexican Catholics are upset over what they consider to be a blasphemous photo. I don't get upset over an image that probably isn't accurate anyway. How do we know what Jesus or the Virgin Mary looked like? We don't! There were a whole lot of women dressed like the Virgin Mary because that was the style of dress during biblical times. The stained glass window in the background is the only thing that gives it away.Does anyone,other than Catholics, find this cover to be blasphemous? I don't know, but Playboy apologized for what many found to be a distasteful cover. Here's more from The S.F. Examiner:

"Playboy magazine apologized for a controversial cover featuring a scantily-clad woman resembling the Virgin Mary, Reuters reported.The December edition was published Thursday, just before the Mexican festival honoring Mary known as the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe.Playboy Enterprises Inc., based in Chicago, released a statement Friday explaining that the company did not approve the cover because the Mexican version of the magazine is published by a licensee, according to Reuters."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here:http://www.examiner.com/r-4474814~Playboy_Virgin_Mary_Cover_Sparks_Outrage_In_Mexico.html

I Thought Bobby & Whitney Already Told-All On Their Crazy Ass Reality Show!!

Why the hell is Bobby Cracked-Out Brown writing a tell-all book??!! I think that their reality show was more telling than most people expected. It was an atrocity that Whitney Houston would never had permitted had she been in her right mind. Bobby Brown probably pursued the idea to no end until she finally relented. He is a man of ill repute that has forever scandalized Whitney Houston & her career. But, Bobby Brown claims that Whitney turned him out. He seems like the ultimate bullshitter & sweet talker. Bobby Brown reminds me of one of those washed-up pimps that was in "American Pimp". The way he helped her run through all of that money she earned, I think he fits that title better than most of the pimps out there today! Here's an excerpt from The Insider:
"After his 1992 marriage, the former Being Bobby Brown star says his dependence on narcotics spiraled out of control. “At one point in my life, I used drugs uncontrollably. I was using everything I could get my hands on, from cocaine to heroin, weed and cooked cocaine,” he writes.

Brown also describes his 14-year marriage as “doomed from the very beginning.” “I think we got married for all the wrong reasons,” he says in the book. “Now, I realize Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married … I believe her agenda was to clean up her image.”

The couple, who have a 15-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, split in September 2006.

One potential stress on their union? Brown’s now-admitted infidelity.

“Women are always throwing themselves at you,” he writes. “I’m only human, so I would make the mistake and bite the hook sometimes. I let the testosterone take over.”(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.theinsider.com/news/780509_Whitney_Responds_to_Bobby_Brown_s_Tell_All_Book

Are we really supposed to believe that Bobby Brown could help clean up anyone's image? Not unless he's talking about those pesky gay rumors about Whitney that abounded before their nuptials.

Bush Dodges A Shoe Thrown At Him By Iraqi Journalist!

In Arab culture,throwing a shoe at someone is considered to be a serious insult! George Bush just missed getting hit in the face by a shoe that a journalist hurled at him. He joked that the shoe was a size 10. But, I hope he will finally get just how angry he has made most of the free-thinking world. He has been reminiscing in interviews about his time in office & it sounds like he has some fond memories that he will take with him. Whatever the future holds, I doubt that anyone will miss the Bush years.

Toronto's First Afrocentric School Only Has 8 Students So Far!!!

Whether or not an Afrocentric school should be erected has been in issue in Toronto for quite some time now. The decision to go ahead & open one has not garnered much support. There isn't an overwhelming amount of students enrolling at the school. In fact,only 8 students have enrolled thus far!I don't think that a school can really teach culture.It doesn't matter if it's an all-black faculty teaching a curriculum from a black perspective. The parents have to instill that sense of pride into their children.I don't think segregration is the answer here. Here's more from the National Post:

"Toronto’s first Afrocentric public school has enrolled only eight students so far, a sign, according to one critic, that support for the controversial concept was never widespread.
The Toronto District School Board said there must be at least two consecutive grades of 20 students each in order for the school to open its doors in September. The JK-to-Grade-5 school will be housed in an existing elementary school in North York.
The enrollment drive kicked off three weeks ago, and board officials say they have until the end of February to meet the minimum size, although a principal is to be hired next month.
Trustee Josh Matlow (pictured), a vocal critic of the plan, maintains most black parents in Toronto want not an Afrocentric school, but a board-wide curriculum that better reflects all students."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/12/12/few-students-yet-for-afrocentric-school.aspx

Damn, Now T-Boz Is Being Swept Up In The Foreclosure Madness! Are We Approaching A Depression?

I'm not sure if I'm content just calling this a recession. No matter what we want to call it,I know that you better save every last penny! There are too many celebrities losing their homes for comfort.This Christmas season should be a lesson in frugality. Now, T-Boz,of TLC,is the next celebrity to lose her home to foreclosure. Here's more from NY Daily News:

"The latest victim of the mortgage crisis: former TLC star T-Boz.

T-Boz, a former member of the all-girl music group TLC, is losing her home due to foreclosure.

T-Boz's five-bedroom, nearly 10,000-sq. ft. Georgia home will go on the auction block in January 2009. According to public records, she defaulted on nearly $530,000 in payments, and now the state is taking it.

Other celebs including hip-hop mogul Damon Dash and songstress Aretha Franklin have also had their homes foreclosed upon."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here:
https://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/12/11/2008-12-11_recession_hitting_celebrities_too_former.html

Oprah's Weight Issues Just Prove To Me That It's All About Willpower In The End!

You can hire all the fancy celebrity trainers & go on the most expensive diet possible. If your brain isn't tuned into it, nothing's going to do it. It's not about envying skinny women & shucking the weight off. Weight is usually not the issue in most cases. As Oprah Winfrey said, eating is a drug. And why do people self-medicate in the first place? They are usually in a bad emotional place that they don't want to be in. For some people, food can give you a sense of euphoria.When I eat a slice of plain cheesecake,it feels like I have eaten manna from heaven. Even though I know that each slice brings me closer to diabetes. You don't even want to know how many calories are in just one slice! That's kind of what makes it so-o-o tempting. And I feel so satiated afterwards. When I realize that someone has wealthy as Oprah can put on 200 pounds just like anyone else, I don't feel so bad. This just proves that it's all about willpower in the end. No matter how much money you have!

Casey Anthony Is Another Scott Peterson! She Is A Female Sociopath!

This evil broad reminds me of Scott Peterson. Casey Anthony says that she knows her daughter is close by. Well,the remains of a child have been found near the Anthony residence. Is this what this horrid creature means by saying that her child is nearby? If they have found Caylee Anthony in such a fashion, they should give Casey Anthony the death penalty! Normally, I don't support the death penalty because innocent people have been murdered by it. But,this bitch is not innocent at all! She is a pathological liar who had no maternal instincts whatsoever. Casey Anthony deserves the worst punishment imaginable for killing her own child & consistently lying about it! Where's the remorse if it was an accidental death? Here's the latest from CNN:

"Investigators said Friday that they think remains found near a home where Caylee Anthony lived with her grandparents are those of the missing toddler.
But, they added, police and prosecutors are waiting until DNA and other tests are completed before making a positive identification.

Orange County, Florida, sheriff's spokesman Carlos Padilla gave three reasons for the belief the body is Caylee's:

• No other children have been reported missing in the area.

• The remains are consistent with a child of Caylee's age.

• They were found in close proximity to the home of Caylee's grandparents.

Caylee Anthony was 2 when she disappeared in June. Her mother, Casey Anthony, 22, didn't report her missing for a month and is charged with murder."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the entire article here:http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/12/caylee.anthony/index.html

Robert Mugabe Is An Insane Dictator Who Is Now Saying That The Cholera In Zimbabwe Has Been Eradicated!

This guy needs to be taken down quick! He has no regard for human rights or his people. It is despicable & shameful what he is allowing to happen to the Zimbabweans! Little children were getting water from the gutter. It had human waste & refuse in it! Cholera spreads in an impoverished environment such as the one that is present in Zimbabwe. It is completely preventable. Robert Mugabe is a insane,heartless dictator who would rather see people suffer & die than allow them to receive the medical attention they so desperately need.Here's more from the Telegraph.co.uk:

"The President faced international criticism as he made the statement even as the toll rose to nearly 800 deaths and South Africa declared a border district a disaster area.

The United Nations said the number of deaths in Zimbabwe had risen to 783, with more than 16,000 cases.

But displaying his characteristic ability to interpret events differently from other observers, Mr Mugabe claimed the disease had been stopped.

In a televised speech at the funeral of an official from his Zanu-PF party he proclaimed: "I am happy we are being assisted by others and we have arrested cholera."

The outbreak, coming on top of a shattered economy, rampant hyperinflation, and chronic malnutrition, has led to growing Western calls for Mr Mugabe to step down. Some commentators have demanded the use of force if necessary.

"Because of cholera, Mr Brown, Mr Sarkozy and Mr Bush want military intervention," said Mr Mugabe. "Now that there is no cholera, there is no need for war." Seemingly to reinforce the president's claim, a team of six French specialists standing by to help deal with the epidemic were denied visas to enter the country."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/3709066/Robert-Mugabe-claims-there-is-no-cholera-in-Zimbabwe.html

This video is a interview with woman who wrote a book about Robert Mugabe.She talks about how & why she thinks he turned into the monster that he is today! She says that his intellectual development overwhelmed his emotional growth!

And They Said It Wouldn't Last! Usher & Tameka Raymond Welcomed Their Second Son On Wednesday!!

So much for all the wild speculative talk about Usher & Tameka Raymond's marital issues. They just welcomed the second addition to their growing family on Wednesday. People need to stop hating on love. That's what I think they have between them. Love is a glorious thing. Be happy for a black male celebrity who is enmeshed in family instead of being enmeshed in scandal! Congratulations,guys! Here's more on the birth of their second son from MTV:

"Usher and Tameka Raymond welcomed their second son, Naviyd Ely Raymond, on Wednesday, December 10th, at 2:33 a.m., weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces," Usher's rep said in a statement. "Tameka and the baby are doing fine."

The couple have one other son together, 1-year-old Usher Raymond V (i.e. the fifth). Usher and his wife got married in 2007 in Atlanta in a simple ceremony, after canceling the original, more lavish wedding. There were many rumors about why they rescheduled, including Usher's mom disapproving of the relationship, claims the couple later denied. Tameka has three sons from a previous relationship."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601175/20081211/usher.jhtml

Celebrities Who Are Going Broke Need To Holler At Morgan Freeman! He's Insanely Rich Because Of Good Investments!

Morgan Freeman grew up in Mississippi where folks are wretchedly poor. That's why he really was smart about saving & investing his income. While everybody is trying to outdo the Jones,Morgan Freeman has outdone the failing economy. For too many celebrities,the shit is hitting the fan at a rapid pace. Almost monthly now, you hear about some rapper auctioning off their jewelry or a singer losing her home. Even though he may have to pay $100 million to his wife in a divorce settlement,the real story is how major Freeman's cash flow is. I don't think anybody had any idea that he was sitting on that kind of dough.Here's more from the Chicago Sun-Times:

"Though there's no comment from either party in this breakup, Freeman's wife of 24 years stands to rake in more than $100 million in a potential settlement.

Original estimates put the actor's net worth in the $75 million to $90 million range, but now it is being reported he may be worth as much as three to four times that amount.

Among assets contributing to the actor's bounty are a very valuable gold coin collection, a rare stamp collection, a $7 million home in the Virgin Islands, real estate in Freeman's native Mississippi worth nearly $30 million (including a $5 million personal home), a $10 million New York apartment and a $15 million Los Angeles estate.

"Morgan has always remembered what it was like to be a poor, struggling actor, and as a result he has always been very careful with his money. Morgan isn't cheap, but he has always been pretty frugal" a longtime associate told me Tuesday."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here:http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/zwecker/1313336,CST-FTR-zp04.article

Why Would Anyone Feel The Need To Airbrush Jessica Alba's Pictures?

Wow,Jessica Alba isn't thin enough for Campari magazine! Apparently,her picture was airbrushed so that she could appear thinner than she already is. Give me a break! And we wonder why folks have a variety of eating disorders. I thought she looked great in the original photo. Something is really wrong with our society. Human beings are supposed to have some flesh on them. Body image is a real issue for a lot of folks. What are we saying when we airbrush a thin person's photo? Well,the message I'm getting is that even Jessica Alba isn't thin enough. Is it any wonder then that girls as young as 5 are concerned about their weight gain? Check out these very young girls discussing their fear of getting fat on "The Tyra Banks Show".

Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Attorney Says That His Client Is Guilty Of No Wrongdoing!

Jesse Jackson Jr.'s attorney held a press conference on his client's behalf just moments ago. He says that his client his guilty of no wrongdoing & he says that he is outraged by the insinuation that he is involved in this matter. Apparently,some of Jesse Jackson Jr.'s associates may have participated in this scheme. At this time,his attorney has stated that he has no idea what transpired in this matter. Jesse Jackson Jr. says he has always ran a transparent campaign. But, even so, I still think that this is a toxic situation that the Illinois governor has gotten himself into. Anyone even associated with this scandal may suffer some damage to their reputation. The attorney has no clue who spoke with the governor & offered him money if he gave Jesse Jackson Jr. Obama's Senate seat. I'll be watching this story closely.

Jesse Jackson Jr. Identified As Candidate 5 In Illinois Senate Seat Scandal!!! I Knew It!!!

I told you just yesterday that candidate 5 ,in all probability, was going to be Jesse Jackson,Jr. Even if it is found that there was no wrongdoing on his part,the fact that he is entangled in this mess will taint his good name. I hope that he did not offer to pay for that Senate seat.Here's more from ABC News:

"Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.

According to the FBI affidavit in the case, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Rod Blagojevich" with something "tangible up front."


Jackson said this morning he was contacted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Chicago whom he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process."


Jackson said, "I don't know" when asked whether he was Candidate No. 5, but said he was told "I am not a target of this investigation." (END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/ConductUnbecoming/story?id=6431739&page=1

DMX Got Arrested In Florida! Is This His New Career?!!!

DMX,where my dog at? In 1998,you were that pitbull ready to show the world that your bark was the most vicious. 10 years later, you're like a rabid,mangy dog.There's almost no resemblance to the man that is in this video. I wish you could bring this dude back.It's a damn shame what drugs & hard living can do to a person.DMX used to be kind of sexy.Look at him in this video.Here's more from MTV News about his latest legal troubles:

"Attorney Bradford Cohen told MTV News that the rapper was picked up by FBI agents on Tuesday after patient-confidentiality laws prevented Miami police from confirming whether X was at a local rehab facility. "A call went out earlier this morning in regards to his location, and the regular police went out to that location, which was a recovery clinic, but because of health care laws, the clinic wouldn't confirm whether he was there," Cohen said. "So the cops left, and apparently the sheriff down here didn't like that too much, so he called in the feds."

FBI agents then apprehended DMX at the Palm Island mansion of producer Scott Storch. According to TMZ, an unnamed woman in Georgia tipped off the Arizona sheriff's department officials to X's whereabouts when she heard about the $5,000 reward being offered for information leading to his arrest. Cohen said he is not sure what Storch and X's personal relationship is, or if Storch was home at the time of the arrest. The producer had a warrant out for his arrest earlier this year, when he failed to appear in court for a child-support case, and has been working on straightening out his finances after his home was foreclosed in July."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1600994/20081209/dmx.jhtml

And I was mad because I didn't do more to further my rap career. With all of these celebrity downfalls, I'm starting to think that being famous isn't as glorious as it seems!

Have You Seen The Documentary "My Nappy Roots"?

I was reading The Telegraph Uk & came across this article that states that men find long,wavy hair the sexiest! The example they gave was of a white woman named Kelly Brook,who is pictured above. Information about the type of men polled was not provided. And, of course, there were only two black women mentioned,Halle Berry & Rihanna.Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Karen Moore, of TRESemme Philips hair appliances, said: "Hair is such a defining part of a woman's appearance.

"Long hair is traditionally strongly linked to femininity which we're sure is the reason that almost half of men have singled out this long, thick, wavy hair as their number one sexiest style.

"Despite men choosing long, natural looking wavy hair as their top style, most women would have to create this style using styling tools as not many are naturally blessed with these lovely locks."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3699551/Men-prefer-women-with-long-wavy-hair-such-as-Kelly-Brook.html

Here's the list of the sexiest hairstyles,according to the poll:
"Other styles to feature in the poll, of 3,000 men, was the bowl cut, recently worn by Katie Holmes, and the 1960s beehive, seen on actress and model Brigitte Bardot.

Sexiest hair styles:

1 – Long and wavy (Cheryl Cole)

2 – Long and straight (Jennifer Aniston)

3 – Classic bob (Kym Marsh)

4 – Mid-length straight (Gwyneth Paltrow)

5 – Pixie Crop (Agyness Deyn)

6 – Long bob (Chanelle)

7 – Bowl cut (Katie Holmes)

8 – Beehive (Brigitte Bardot)

9 – Mid-length waved/curled (Halle Berry)

Where are the African-American,Hispanic,Asian,etc... on this list? There is no mention of hair braids or anything? All of these women are Caucasian.The United Kingdom is very diverse & I know that men find more than just white women sexy. So, I thought I'd add to their list by posting a clip from this hair documentary called "My Nappy Roots"! Ethiopian woman were once considered to be the most beautiful in ancient times.Now,we are constantly being fed the image of European women as the standard of beauty.Frizzy or kinky hair are featured in commercials as being horrific & unmanageable. Straight hair is presented as the goal for all women to reach. What message does that send to young,black girls with kinky hair?

Unfortunately, most black men want women to be as unnatural as possible.At least when it comes to their hair. But, when it's the "right" texture, it's cool to wear your own hair.What I mean by the right texture is hair that is curly & soft. I know from personal experience that black folks go nuts over "good hair".For black women, hair is a really major issue. No matter how we style it,there is always someone who does not like it.

I Hope That Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Not Implicated In The Blagojevich Pay-For-Play Scheme!

Everyone is speculating about who candidate 5 could be in the Blagojevich scandal! You know that Illinois Gov.Blagojevich was arrested today for planning to sell Obama's Senate seat,right? And we all know how much Jesse Jackson,Jr. wanted to fill that vacant slot.So, is he the one that Blagojevich wanted something "tangible" from if he gave him the Senate seat? Here's more conjecture from Marc Ambinder on this subject:

"Later on December 4, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke to Fundraiser A. ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated he was "elevating" Senate Candidate 5 on the list of candidates for the open Senate seat. ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated he might be able to cut a deal with
Senate Candidate 5 that provided ROD BLAGOJEVICH with something
"tangible up front." ROD BLAGOJEVICH noted he was going to meet with
Senate Candidate 5 in the next few days."


The only candidate with whom Blagojevich met within that period was Jesse Jackson, Jr.

The narrative of the complaint goes on to allege that Blagojevich attempt to extract something tangible from Candidate 5 in order to secure the appointment.

The charging document does NOT say that Candidate 5 himself did anything wrong or knew about the alleged offering by associates."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here:
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/blago_indictment_who_is_senate.php

The Foreclosure Madness Has Now Engulfed Fantasia Barrino, The American Idol Winner!!!

I feel so sorry for Fantasia Barrino because it must be hard to have your business all over the internet. She has become the latest celebrity to fall victim to foreclosure,according to MTO.I don't know why these folks don't just pay for their homes upfront, but I guess I should refrain from talking about that. The good Lord knows how much money that I have mismanaged myself. But then again,I've never raked in the amount of dough that celebrities do.

Damn,ya'll! If celebrities are getting slammed by this economy,what's a broke ass girl like me gonna do? Huh? But anyway, here's your girl at Mr. Chows with Young Dro in this video.They broke up back in September & now she's losing her home in December. The holidays just ain't looking that merry for Fantasia Barrino.

Ghanaians Are Anxious To See Which Party The New President Will Emerge From!

The 2008 U.S. election had the country really excited about who their new leader was going to be. In Ghana, they are feeling just as anxious about finding who their new president is as we were over a month ago. And right now, the discovery of offshore oil there as generated international interest in the results. Here's more from Reuters:

"The discovery of offshore oil, which Britain's Tullow Oil plans to start pumping out at a rate of 120,000 barrels per day in late 2010, has raised international attention on the poll. But the global slowdown means celebrations may be delayed.

"Although there is "everything to play for' in terms of oil, the economic reality is that 2009 will be a difficult year in which to manage the economy," Razia Khan, Africa research head at Standard Chartered Bank, said in a note to investors.

"Observers suggest that it is precisely because of the common economic ground between the two leading parties that the election will be close, and a run-off in the presidential election cannot be ruled out," Khan said.

Kufuor's center-right government has pursued market-friendly policies that have helped Ghana's economy grow by more than 5 percent annually in recent years.

But many Ghanaians say the increased wealth -- visible in the plush residential developments and luxury cars in the capital Accra -- have passed them by.

"We want the new government to provide jobs. They should give us better schools, better health facilities," jobless Derrick Agbanyo, 28, said as he waited to vote in Accra."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B60FP20081207

This video is called "Ghana First Peace Song".It sounds great!

Is The Ethiopian Pop Star, Teddy Afro, In Jail For The Right Reasons?!!

Teddy Afro is so freakin' gorgeous! He is one of the best Ethiopian singers ever & I absolutely love the song in the video called Alamin!Even though I can't understand one word of it!When Beyonce performed in Addis, a whole lot of folks felt that Teddy Afro upstaged her. He is an immensely popular Ethiopian star!

Unfortunately,Teddy Afro got sentenced to 6 years for a crime that many believe he has no part in. But because of his involvement in politics, many fear that the Ethiopian government may have set him up.Here's more from BBC:

"The singer was found guilty of running the man down in his car and driving away without reporting the incident in Addis Ababa in 2006.

Ethiopia's best-known pop star was also convicted of driving without a licence.

His music became an anthem for opposition protests in 2005 and many fans believe the charges were politically motivated.

But the Ethiopian authorities have denied this. As he passed sentence, the judge said the prosecution was not in any way a vendetta.

There had been some confusion about which night the homeless man had died. On the first date the singer - whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun - had an alibi: He was out of the country."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7768589.stm

Odetta Was Known As "The Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement"! May She Rest In Peace!

This first video contains an interview with Odetta where she discusses her impact on the civil rights era as an activist.She was also a wonderful singer with a rich,deep baritone voice that was quite emotive. Odetta is singing,in the second video,on "The Johnny Cash Show". Her voice is absolutely breathtaking.Odetta moved on to a better place on Tuesday before she got to fulfill one final dream. Her final wish was to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan 20. Here's an excerpt from an obituary that was published in the NY Times:

"Odetta, the singer whose resonant voice wove together the strongest songs of American folk music and the civil rights movement, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. She was 77.

The cause was heart disease, her manager, Doug Yeager, said.

Odetta, who lived in Upper Manhattan, had been admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital three weeks ago with a number of ailments, including kidney trouble, Mr. Yeager said. In her last days, he said, she had been hoping to sing at the presidential inauguration for Barack Obama."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the entire obituary here:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/arts/music/03odetta.html?_r=1&hp

White Teacher Binds The Hands & Feet Of Two Black Students During A Lesson On Slavery!

There are all kinds of children's books that show the tools that were implemented to bind slaves during the slavery era. Why would this white woman find it necessary to have her students act this out in her class? Couldn't she just have shown them "Roots"? How insensitive to think that this would be an appropriate way to demonstrate what slaves went through! I mean, these are probably the actual descendants of slaves! You can't imagine the pain that many people feel even discussing slavery. It is a very,very sensitive issue. I think this teacher needs racial sensitivity classes because she does not recognize the error in her method of teaching. Here's more from The NY Daily News:

"A suburban middle school teacher who bound the hands and feet of two black girls, then made them crawl under desks representing slave ships, has sparked outrage by one of the girl's mother and the local NAACP chapter.

While one student volunteered for the Nov. 18 lesson on slavery in America, seventh-grader Gabrielle Shand, 13, did not.

When she got home that day, her mother Christine Shand, 41, said her daughter burst into tears.

"My daughter didn't volunteer for this. My daughter was embarrassed. She's extremely uncomfortable," Shand said.

Eileen Bernstein, social studies teacher at the Haverstraw Middle School in Rockland County, and the school's principal and superintendent have apologized to the girl and her mother, but Shand believes they are upset about her daughter's reaction, not with the lesson itself.

Bernstein, who is white, said that she had done the lesson before, Shand said.

"Are you telling me when you do a section on the Holocaust, it's okay to simulate an oven and have a grandchild of someone who was a survivor just get in the oven?" asked Wilbur Aldridge, head of the local NAACP chapter. "That makes so sense."Northern Rockland School District Superintendent Brian Monahan said he was having "conversations with our staff on how to deliver effective lessons."

"We encourage our teachers to deliver the curriculum in a variety of ways, to go beyond just reading the textbook," he said. "But this obviously went wrong because the student was upset."

Monahan refused to say what, if any, measures were taken against Bernstein, but she was still working today. The school district said Bernstein was not available for comment."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here:http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/12/05/2008-12-05_new_york_teacher_binds_black_students_du.html

Persons Who Has Issues: Justice Clarence Thomas

There is a whole chapter in the book "Sellout" ,by Randall Jackson, that is devoted to Clarence Thomas. He is known as the modern version of an "Uncle Tom"! With his opposition to affirmative action, after he himself benefited from it, many in the black community find him to be a polarizing figure. Now, he has referred this bogus case that challenges Barack Obama's citizenship to the high court. Here's more from Politico.com:

"The U.S. Supreme Court will decide Friday whether to take up a case over president-elect Barack Obama’s citizenship — one of a few around the country seeking to nullify his election, but this one has an interesting lineage. It was referred to the high court by Justice Clarence Thomas, the court’s only African-American justice.

Maybe Thomas is just returning the favor — putting through a case that questions whether Obama should be president, after Obama said he wouldn't have picked Thomas for the high court."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16225.html

The first video shows where Obama said that he was not a "strong legal thinker" & he "disagrees with the way he interprets the Constitution. The second video is a clip from 60 Minutes which attempts to portray him in a positive light. I think this guy is in complete denial. What do you think? Is he a hypocrite or a "race traitor" as some have suggested?

O.J. Simpson: He Gets A 15 -Year Sentence!

The Goldmans & others who hate O.J. Simpson feel a sense of vindication today. The few O.J. supporters who are out there feel like this jury convicted him based on The Nicole Simpson/Ron Goldman murders that happened 13 years ago. One juror even said that he felt O.J. should have been found guilty then. In any case, he has been sentenced to serve a a 15-year sentence.He may be eligible for parole in about 7.5 years. I don't know if it's karma or not. What I do know is that O.J. Simpson has made a lot of stupid decisions since he was acquitted of those murders. And now he has to pay for them.

You Don't Have To Wait Until World Aids Day To Watch "Yesterday"!

The South African movie "Yesterday" is a beautiful,poignant tale of a woman whose husband infected her with HIV. But, not only that it shows the major difference between traditional African village life & modern Westernized metropolitan life. Even the diagnosis of Yesterday's true condition differed depending on who she saw. The villagers sought the advice & healing powers of the village healer. When Yesterday came to see her, the healer told her that the root of her illness was anger. But, the doctor at the clinic told Yesterday that she had HIV. If watching foreign movies with subtitles doesn't bother you, this is one of the best ones out there!Here's more from the movie's press release:

"Yesterday is an appropriate film for World AIDS Day as it follows the plight of a rural woman called Yesterday who falls ill and discovers that she is HIV positive. Her husband, a migrant mineworker, refuses to accept her condition and she is left to fend for herself and her young daughter, hoping that she will survive long enough to see her child go to school. Yesterday's dilemma is not unusual in South Africa and these free screenings are intended to bring to the fore the struggle of HIV positive people, especially rural women."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here: http://www.yesterdaythemovie.co.za/pr_11.asp




The video is a clip of South African teens talking about how AIDS has affected their environment.

Look At This Dude's Hair! Now That's A Creative Way To Show Support For Obama!

Now, I don't know about this one. I'm just glad that this is not my dude because this is going a little overboard. But, at least this hair design just shows how enthusiastic a lot of folks are about Barack Obama's win. Although you have some idiots who are filing bogus lawsuits that challenge Obama's U.S. citizenship. Read more about that here:http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/obama_citizenship_lawsuit_supr.html

2-Year Old Orphaned Boy's Nanny Is A Hero! She Saved Him From Mumbai Attacks!

When Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka were killed in Mumbai by those heartless terrorists, a innocent 2-year old boy instantly became an orphan. It was a heart-wrenching experience for me to witness him scream out in anguish for his parents in this video. Oh,how terribly sad! But,what was heartwarming was to hear the story of how this boy survived. It was all thanks to his wonderful nanny who obviously really cared for this child. Here's more from CNN:

"The world knows her as the daring nanny who, clutching a 2-year-old boy, pushed past the havoc in a terrorized Mumbai and risked her life to keep the toddler safe.

But Sandra Samuel sees no heroism in her actions amid last week's terror attacks on India's financial capital that killed nearly 180 people -- including baby Moshe's parents, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka. She only wishes she could have done more.

"Even today, I am thinking I should have sent the baby and done something for the rabbi and his wife," Samuel told CNN in an exclusive television interview in Israel, where she now lives."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the entire article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/04/nanny.mumbai.interview/index.html

The Teen Caregivers Who Abused Nursing Home Residents Are Young Sociopaths!

You just can't judge someone by appearance. If you see someone that looks like a thug, he may actually be a nerdy,college student that's trying to be hip. And by the same token, when you see a couple of girls that look like cheerleaders, they might really be miscreants! Take these teenagers who are accused of abusing the elders that they should have been caring for as caregivers. Here's more from The Smoking Gun.com:

"A group of teenagers working at a Minnesota nursing home abused and sexually humiliated elderly residents suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia, prosecutors allege. The six young female caregivers were named yesterday in criminal complaints charging them with a variety of cruel behavior at the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Albert Lea, a city in southern Minnesota. Only two of those charged--Brianna Broitzman, 19, and Ashton Larson, 18--are named in the complaints since they were not minors when the alleged abuse occurred. According to District Court complaints filed against Broitzman (pictured above left) and Larson (above right), nursing home residents were spat upon, spanked, improperly touched, and tormented by the teenagers earlier this year." (END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1202081minn1.html

This case really supports reports that 1 in 5 teens (18-25) has a personality disorder,now doesn't it? Read about that here:http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2141910/posts

British Woman's Skin Ruined By A Facial Called IPL!

I had a horrific experience with a facial that I got right before I went on a trip to Jamaica. There is a white esthetician who claims to be the authority on black skin care. She left me to one of her minions after a consultation to receive treatment for acne. I got burned from an ointment that was left on too long right on the side of my nose. It was highly visible & required heavy makeup to mask the burn. There really wasn't much I could do because you sign a waiver before you are treated.So much for her expertise in black skin care because she had no resolution but to try to place the blame on the other esthetician who adminstered the treatment. I never went there again & I had to wear make-up in a very hot climate.
Luckily for me, it was only that one small spot that needed major coverage.It eventually went away. Look what happened to Charlotte Cripps. Here's an excerpt from The Daily Mail:

"I'd heard about Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photo facial treatments from friends in Los Angeles who swear by them for a youthful complexion.
If you've ever wondered why celebrity models and A-listers of a certain age have such uncannily baby-smooth skin, wonder no more.

Along with the other latest treatments, such as Fraxel laser, this is a fast and effective way of removing the ravages of time without surgery.

Apparently, IPL will remove fine lines, undo sun damage and rejuvenate skin by boosting collagen production.

When I got dressed, my burning chest and face made me look as if I'd been pulled out of a forest fire. I was scheduled to return two weeks later for my next treatment.

A recommended course of six would cost me £1,200. I went to a make-up shop and my face was dusted with a mineral powder - as suggested by the spa - to camouflage the redness.

A woman at the counter asked what the hell I'd had done. When I told her I'd had an IPL photo facial, she looked at me with horror.

'I don't mean to worry you,' she said, 'but I've had a course and it never looked like that." (END OF EXCERPT) Read her whole story here:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1091772/Look-hot-new-facial-did-me.html