Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Mariah Carey - Obsessed [Video Premiere]
*Support Mariah Carey single ((OBSESSED)) now available at iTunes $1.29!!! Get your copy now!!! Mariah is a talented singer and songwriter. I love her music!!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Rep. Carolyn Maloney apologizes over use of N-word
By Michael Saul
DAILY NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Rep. Carolyn Maloney's use of the N-word may hurt her planned run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/20/2009-07-20_rep_carolyn_maloney_apologizes_over_use_of_nword_but_incident_may_cost_her_again.html#ixzz0LwLYfEL7
Rep. Carolyn Maloney's planned Senate bid isn't even officially off the ground and already she's scrambling to say sorry for using the N-word in an interview.
"I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting," Maloney said in a statement Monday.
Maloney used the racial slur while relaying a story she'd heard.
The potentially damaging gaffe comes a week before Maloney's scheduled launch of her Democratic challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand at the polls next fall.
Baruch College's political pro Doug Muzzio said Maloney's use of the N-word is, to be blunt, "stupid."
"A week before your announcement you don't want to apologize for anything, particularly a word that would offend a core demographic group," Muzzio said. "Is it fatal? No. But it sure ain't good."
Maloney aides say the East Side congresswoman is undeterred by the controversy and will formally announce her Senate candidacy next Monday or Tuesday.
She spent last night raising about $300,000 for her House campaign war chest with a cash bash headlined by ex-President Bill Clinton at the St. Regis Hotel in midtown.
Asked about the flap at the fund-raiser, Maloney refused to expand on her earlier statement.
She made the slur while criticizing Gillibrand to City Hall, a biweekly publication and political Web site.
She was relaying a conversation she'd had with someone disappointed in the new senator's stance on English-only education - a hot-button issue in the Hispanic community.
"I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico, said [Gillibrand] went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only [education]. And he said, 'It was like saying n----- to a Puerto Rican,'" she is quoted as saying, using the full racial slur.
In a statement, the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is supporting Gillibrand, lambasted Maloney, saying her use of the word was "alarming."
"No public official, even in quoting someone else, should loosely use such an offensive term and should certainly challenge someone using the term to him or her," Sharpton said.
Maloney explained, "It's no excuse, but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated."
Sharpton said he takes Maloney's apology at face value, but he said the incident could hurt her in the African-American community.
"I personally don't think she's a racist, but I think it is disturbing," he said. "Does she [regularly] allow this kind of word in conversation?"
Gillibrand spokesman Matt Canter said the senator believes "any use of the word is offensive."
Despite the blowback, Maloney's team was still trying to score points off Gillibrand's English-only stance - a position the senator's aides say she opposes. But in 2007-08, the "English First" group gave Gillibrand an A grade.
"Apparently, Sen. Gillibrand has changed her positions so many times that her own staff doesn't even remember what they are," said Paul Blank, a senior Maloney aide.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/20/2009-07-20_rep_carolyn_maloney_apologizes_over_use_of_nword_but_incident_may_cost_her_again.html#ixzz0LwKpFYQC
DAILY NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Rep. Carolyn Maloney's use of the N-word may hurt her planned run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/20/2009-07-20_rep_carolyn_maloney_apologizes_over_use_of_nword_but_incident_may_cost_her_again.html#ixzz0LwLYfEL7
Rep. Carolyn Maloney's planned Senate bid isn't even officially off the ground and already she's scrambling to say sorry for using the N-word in an interview.
"I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting," Maloney said in a statement Monday.
Maloney used the racial slur while relaying a story she'd heard.
The potentially damaging gaffe comes a week before Maloney's scheduled launch of her Democratic challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand at the polls next fall.
Baruch College's political pro Doug Muzzio said Maloney's use of the N-word is, to be blunt, "stupid."
"A week before your announcement you don't want to apologize for anything, particularly a word that would offend a core demographic group," Muzzio said. "Is it fatal? No. But it sure ain't good."
Maloney aides say the East Side congresswoman is undeterred by the controversy and will formally announce her Senate candidacy next Monday or Tuesday.
She spent last night raising about $300,000 for her House campaign war chest with a cash bash headlined by ex-President Bill Clinton at the St. Regis Hotel in midtown.
Asked about the flap at the fund-raiser, Maloney refused to expand on her earlier statement.
She made the slur while criticizing Gillibrand to City Hall, a biweekly publication and political Web site.
She was relaying a conversation she'd had with someone disappointed in the new senator's stance on English-only education - a hot-button issue in the Hispanic community.
"I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico, said [Gillibrand] went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only [education]. And he said, 'It was like saying n----- to a Puerto Rican,'" she is quoted as saying, using the full racial slur.
In a statement, the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is supporting Gillibrand, lambasted Maloney, saying her use of the word was "alarming."
"No public official, even in quoting someone else, should loosely use such an offensive term and should certainly challenge someone using the term to him or her," Sharpton said.
Maloney explained, "It's no excuse, but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated."
Sharpton said he takes Maloney's apology at face value, but he said the incident could hurt her in the African-American community.
"I personally don't think she's a racist, but I think it is disturbing," he said. "Does she [regularly] allow this kind of word in conversation?"
Gillibrand spokesman Matt Canter said the senator believes "any use of the word is offensive."
Despite the blowback, Maloney's team was still trying to score points off Gillibrand's English-only stance - a position the senator's aides say she opposes. But in 2007-08, the "English First" group gave Gillibrand an A grade.
"Apparently, Sen. Gillibrand has changed her positions so many times that her own staff doesn't even remember what they are," said Paul Blank, a senior Maloney aide.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/07/20/2009-07-20_rep_carolyn_maloney_apologizes_over_use_of_nword_but_incident_may_cost_her_again.html#ixzz0LwKpFYQC
President Obama’s Speech to the NAACP
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
New Questions Raised in Pendleton Murder
Family of August Provost still suspects his killing at a Camp Pendleton guard shack was an anti-gay hate crime
By PAUL KRUEGER
A Navy Seaman killed during an apparent ambush at Camp Pendleton will be buried Friday in his hometown of Houston, TX, according to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).
Congresswoman Jackson Lee is the latest person to call for a complete and open investigation into the murder of Seaman August Provost, 29. The sailor was found dead at about 3:30 am June 30, in his guard post near the Pacific Ocean, on the southwestern corner of Camp Pendleton. His body had multiple bullet wounds.
Just days after the murder, local gay activists said they had credible information that Provost's murder might have been an anti-gay hate crime. Local Congress members Bob Filner and Susan Davis both demanded a thorough investigation by the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps but a spokesman for military said there is no evidence so far of a hate-crime. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is holding a "person of interest" in the crime, but no charges have been filed against that person.
Seaman Provost's family continues to insist that the murder was a hate-crime.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee is also demanding more answers from the Pentagon about a possible anti-gay or anti-black motive in Provost's death. But Congressman Filner is now raising other questions about the death. Filner wants the Navy to address the possibility that the killer was storming the area of Camp Pendleton that houses Assault Craft Unit 5.
The North County Gay and Lesbian Coalition is planning a candlelight vigil for Seaman Provost on Friday, at 7:30 pm, outside the main gate at Camp Pendleton.
(((Note: This is really sad, and no one deserves to be beaten or murdered because of their lifestyle or sexual orientation.))) WTF is wrong with people these days!! Stop the Hatred
By PAUL KRUEGER
A Navy Seaman killed during an apparent ambush at Camp Pendleton will be buried Friday in his hometown of Houston, TX, according to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).
Congresswoman Jackson Lee is the latest person to call for a complete and open investigation into the murder of Seaman August Provost, 29. The sailor was found dead at about 3:30 am June 30, in his guard post near the Pacific Ocean, on the southwestern corner of Camp Pendleton. His body had multiple bullet wounds.
Just days after the murder, local gay activists said they had credible information that Provost's murder might have been an anti-gay hate crime. Local Congress members Bob Filner and Susan Davis both demanded a thorough investigation by the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps but a spokesman for military said there is no evidence so far of a hate-crime. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is holding a "person of interest" in the crime, but no charges have been filed against that person.
Seaman Provost's family continues to insist that the murder was a hate-crime.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee is also demanding more answers from the Pentagon about a possible anti-gay or anti-black motive in Provost's death. But Congressman Filner is now raising other questions about the death. Filner wants the Navy to address the possibility that the killer was storming the area of Camp Pendleton that houses Assault Craft Unit 5.
The North County Gay and Lesbian Coalition is planning a candlelight vigil for Seaman Provost on Friday, at 7:30 pm, outside the main gate at Camp Pendleton.
(((Note: This is really sad, and no one deserves to be beaten or murdered because of their lifestyle or sexual orientation.))) WTF is wrong with people these days!! Stop the Hatred
Toni Braxton / Autism Speaks Ad Council Spot
I just wish there was a cure for Autism! It's good to see a videos about the positives of autism.
Whitney Houston’s “I Look To You” Album
Whitney Houston is the best! Her voice is beautiful & one of the best I've ever heard! Go out & Pick up your copy on Sept. 1
For more information on Whitney Houston be sure to visit her official website:
http://www.whitneyhouston.com/main.html
For more information on Whitney Houston be sure to visit her official website:
http://www.whitneyhouston.com/main.html
A Message From Chris
"All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes." - Winston Churchill
Note: I believe mistakes are a part of every day life whether or not you can admit it to yourself. When you learn from your mistakes, all your learn is what not to do next time. Putting your hand on anyone is ((WRONG)) you must think about the situation before hand. No woman or man deserves to be treated like that... It is still wrong to put your hands on somebody, male or female. I would never want a man to hit my wife, grandmother, mother, sister, cousin or niece. ((This will turn any sane person insane believe that..))
Thursday, May 7, 2009
APPRECIATE
I think from time to time, we tend to get so wrapped up in the busyness of our day-to-day lives that we often forget to take some time to really appreciate the things and people around us. There are things that we want to do and people that we want to see, but we allow our lives to get in the way and often times end up putting things off until tomorrow. We forget to realize that tomorrow may never come and our day could be today. This question deals with that, so here it is:
~ Question ~
If you knew you had only one more day to live, how would you spend it? What would you do?
~ Question ~
If you knew you had only one more day to live, how would you spend it? What would you do?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Feel Great Weight
20 Little Ways to Drop the Pounds and Keep Them Off
By Joe Mullich
From Health magazine
Bad news: The average person gains one to two pounds a year.
Good news: Consuming just 100 fewer calories each day is enough to avert that weight gain.
If you’re finding this out a little too late—and you want to actually lose some of that weight—you have to downsize by 500 calories a day. But you don’t have to slash them all from your plate.
“You can eat 250 calories less and then burn 250 by walking for 30 to 45 minutes. Over a week, that will produce about a pound of weight loss,” says Holly Wyatt, MD, a clinical researcher at the Center for Human Nutrition in Denver. You won’t see dramatic changes immediately, but small tweaks like these will pay off over time.
1. Order two appetizers
According to a study at the University of North Carolina, the average hamburger is 23 percent larger today than it was in 1977. Choose a pasta dish and salad or soup from the appetizer column, instead.
2. Visit the vending machine
Nibbling on single servings is better than digging your way to the bottom of a megabag of chips.
3. Start with salad…
and eat less during the rest of the meal, says a study from Pennsylvania State University. When salads were topped with low-fat mozzarella and low-calorie Italian dressing instead of high-fat alternatives, women ate 10 percent fewer calories over the course of the day.
4. Stick a fork in it
If you prefer your salad dressing on the side, dip your fork into it before stabbing your greens. That little maneuver could cut hundreds of calories.
5. Watch coffee calories
The fancy concoctions that are now the javas of choice for many people can contain as many calories as an entire lunch.
6. Walk and talk
When your cell phone rings, slip on your walking shoes and stroll the halls at work or hoof it outside. If you did this for 10 minutes every workday at a moderate 3 mph pace, you’d burn about 1,000 calories a month and lose 3 pounds a year.
7. Crack a nut
Dieters in a Harvard University study who ate a handful of peanuts or mixed nuts daily were more likely to keep weight off than a group whose regimen didn’t include the high-fat snacks.
8. Don’t just sit there
The average person burns 100 calories per hour sitting and 140 per hour standing. Get on your feet 2 hours a day while you work, and you could drop an extra 6 pounds over the year.
9. Sleep well, lose more
Insufficient shut-eye appears to increase production of the stress hormone cortisol, which regulates appetite. High levels seem to worsen bingeing and hunger; moreover, too little sleep could keep your body from burning carbohydrates, which translates to more stored body fat.
10. Double your protein
The high-protein, low-carb approach may help keep you from losing muscle along with fat, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition. According to study author Donald K. Layman, PhD, of the University of Illinois, the amino acid leucine—found in beef, dairy, poultry, fish, and eggs—may help preserve muscle tissue.
11. Keep an exercise journal
Writing down your fitness achievements is a great way to track your progress, give yourself positive feedback, and maintain focus on your goals.
12. Eat dairy daily
A piece of cheese or a cup of milk or yogurt can rev up your metabolism, a University of Tennessee study found. People who cut 500 calories a day from their diets while eating yogurt three times a day lost 13 pounds over 12 weeks, more weight and more body fat than a control group who only cut calories.
13. Have an apple before dinner
How did 346 people in small-town Washington State lose an average of 17 pounds each in 3 months? With regular exercise, balanced eating, and an apple with every meal. The typical apple has 5 grams of fiber, which makes you feel fuller.
14. Be wary of white foods
That’s the color of most high-calorie carbs—bagels, potatoes, breads, rice, creamed corn, and the like.
15. Drink water
Your body often mistakes thirst for hunger, so staying hydrated means you’ll probably also stay satiated.
16. Act like a kid
Expand your definition of physical activity to include shaking your booty with your kids. It’s a welcome break from the StairMaster and can burn just as many calories (about 120 every 20 minutes).
17. Munch a handful of M&M’s
Just under half a pack of plain candies adds only 100 calories to your daily tally and can satisfy a sweet tooth.
18. Be picky about bread
Select loaves with whole grain listed as the first ingredient, and make sure each slice contains at least 2 grams of fiber.
19. Eat breakfast
A Harvard study found that people who did so every day cut their chances of becoming obese and developing diabetes by 35 to 50 percent, compared with those who ate breakfast only twice a week.
20. Brush your teeth after every meal
It doesn’t just fight cavities: Brushing serves as a physical and psychological cue to stop eating. When you’re on the go, a few Altoids or a breath strip can have the same effect.
By Joe Mullich
From Health magazine
Bad news: The average person gains one to two pounds a year.
Good news: Consuming just 100 fewer calories each day is enough to avert that weight gain.
If you’re finding this out a little too late—and you want to actually lose some of that weight—you have to downsize by 500 calories a day. But you don’t have to slash them all from your plate.
“You can eat 250 calories less and then burn 250 by walking for 30 to 45 minutes. Over a week, that will produce about a pound of weight loss,” says Holly Wyatt, MD, a clinical researcher at the Center for Human Nutrition in Denver. You won’t see dramatic changes immediately, but small tweaks like these will pay off over time.
1. Order two appetizers
According to a study at the University of North Carolina, the average hamburger is 23 percent larger today than it was in 1977. Choose a pasta dish and salad or soup from the appetizer column, instead.
2. Visit the vending machine
Nibbling on single servings is better than digging your way to the bottom of a megabag of chips.
3. Start with salad…
and eat less during the rest of the meal, says a study from Pennsylvania State University. When salads were topped with low-fat mozzarella and low-calorie Italian dressing instead of high-fat alternatives, women ate 10 percent fewer calories over the course of the day.
4. Stick a fork in it
If you prefer your salad dressing on the side, dip your fork into it before stabbing your greens. That little maneuver could cut hundreds of calories.
5. Watch coffee calories
The fancy concoctions that are now the javas of choice for many people can contain as many calories as an entire lunch.
6. Walk and talk
When your cell phone rings, slip on your walking shoes and stroll the halls at work or hoof it outside. If you did this for 10 minutes every workday at a moderate 3 mph pace, you’d burn about 1,000 calories a month and lose 3 pounds a year.
7. Crack a nut
Dieters in a Harvard University study who ate a handful of peanuts or mixed nuts daily were more likely to keep weight off than a group whose regimen didn’t include the high-fat snacks.
8. Don’t just sit there
The average person burns 100 calories per hour sitting and 140 per hour standing. Get on your feet 2 hours a day while you work, and you could drop an extra 6 pounds over the year.
9. Sleep well, lose more
Insufficient shut-eye appears to increase production of the stress hormone cortisol, which regulates appetite. High levels seem to worsen bingeing and hunger; moreover, too little sleep could keep your body from burning carbohydrates, which translates to more stored body fat.
10. Double your protein
The high-protein, low-carb approach may help keep you from losing muscle along with fat, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition. According to study author Donald K. Layman, PhD, of the University of Illinois, the amino acid leucine—found in beef, dairy, poultry, fish, and eggs—may help preserve muscle tissue.
11. Keep an exercise journal
Writing down your fitness achievements is a great way to track your progress, give yourself positive feedback, and maintain focus on your goals.
12. Eat dairy daily
A piece of cheese or a cup of milk or yogurt can rev up your metabolism, a University of Tennessee study found. People who cut 500 calories a day from their diets while eating yogurt three times a day lost 13 pounds over 12 weeks, more weight and more body fat than a control group who only cut calories.
13. Have an apple before dinner
How did 346 people in small-town Washington State lose an average of 17 pounds each in 3 months? With regular exercise, balanced eating, and an apple with every meal. The typical apple has 5 grams of fiber, which makes you feel fuller.
14. Be wary of white foods
That’s the color of most high-calorie carbs—bagels, potatoes, breads, rice, creamed corn, and the like.
15. Drink water
Your body often mistakes thirst for hunger, so staying hydrated means you’ll probably also stay satiated.
16. Act like a kid
Expand your definition of physical activity to include shaking your booty with your kids. It’s a welcome break from the StairMaster and can burn just as many calories (about 120 every 20 minutes).
17. Munch a handful of M&M’s
Just under half a pack of plain candies adds only 100 calories to your daily tally and can satisfy a sweet tooth.
18. Be picky about bread
Select loaves with whole grain listed as the first ingredient, and make sure each slice contains at least 2 grams of fiber.
19. Eat breakfast
A Harvard study found that people who did so every day cut their chances of becoming obese and developing diabetes by 35 to 50 percent, compared with those who ate breakfast only twice a week.
20. Brush your teeth after every meal
It doesn’t just fight cavities: Brushing serves as a physical and psychological cue to stop eating. When you’re on the go, a few Altoids or a breath strip can have the same effect.
Natural Remedies
True or False? Is Fish Oil Good for the Skin?
From Health magazine
Q: I’ve heard fish oil supplements are good for the skin. True?
A: Absolutely. Fish oil contains two main types of omega-3 fatty acids: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). You’ve probably heard that both can help prevent heart disease. But DHA also keeps your brain functioning properly. And EPA benefits the skin by regulating oil production to boost hydration and prevent acne, and by delaying the skin’s aging process.
A 2005 study in the Journal of Lipid Research discovered that EPA can block the release of the UV-induced enzymes that eat away at collagen, causing lines and sagging skin. Because EPA is both an anti-inflammatory agent and an antioxidant, it can protect against sun damage and help repair it.
But most of us don’t get enough omega-3s in our diets—oily fish like herring, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, and tuna are the best sources—so taking a supplement is a good idea. Look for one containing 180 milligrams of EPA and 120 milligrams of DHA; and take one capsule with each meal, for a total of three per day. Try Barlean’s Organic Fish Oil ($24.99).
From Health magazine
Q: I’ve heard fish oil supplements are good for the skin. True?
A: Absolutely. Fish oil contains two main types of omega-3 fatty acids: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). You’ve probably heard that both can help prevent heart disease. But DHA also keeps your brain functioning properly. And EPA benefits the skin by regulating oil production to boost hydration and prevent acne, and by delaying the skin’s aging process.
A 2005 study in the Journal of Lipid Research discovered that EPA can block the release of the UV-induced enzymes that eat away at collagen, causing lines and sagging skin. Because EPA is both an anti-inflammatory agent and an antioxidant, it can protect against sun damage and help repair it.
But most of us don’t get enough omega-3s in our diets—oily fish like herring, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, and tuna are the best sources—so taking a supplement is a good idea. Look for one containing 180 milligrams of EPA and 120 milligrams of DHA; and take one capsule with each meal, for a total of three per day. Try Barlean’s Organic Fish Oil ($24.99).
Natural Remedies Part 3
How to Detox Your Body
9. Stay smoke-free
You know regular smoking is a killer but think the occasional smoke can’t hurt? Not true. University of Arizona researchers found that just one cigarette impairs blood flow in the heart. And a Norwegian study showed that women who smoked one to four cigarettes a day tripled their risk of dying from heart disease and saw a fivefold jump in the risk of dying from lung cancer.
The threat of secondhand smoke is no less scary: Exposure kills nearly 50,000 adult nonsmokers every year. There are even new worries that thirdhand smoke (what’s left in your hair or your clothes after being in a smoke-filled room) is harmful, especially to babies. Sadly, you can’t stop other people from smoking. But you can help your body rebound by eating a lot of broccoli and cauliflower. These cruciferous vegetables (which also include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and watercress) contain sulfouraphane and other compounds linked to lower disease risks. Studies suggest that people who regularly eat these vegetables enjoy protection from lung cancer. Three to five servings a week should do the trick, but don’t boil or microwave them to mush; overcooking may destroy the toxin-fighting compounds.
10. Freshen in friendlier ways
That sweet-smelling air freshener? It may be polluting your home with chemicals that can irritate your eyes and lead to headaches and nausea. Aerosol cleaners are equally guilty. Instead of covering up unpleasant smells, open the windows when weather permits. Get some fresh air in your home office, too, where ultrafine particles from laser printers can escape into the air. And green up with Areca palms, Boston ferns, and English ivy; they help purify your air. When you’re cleaning, try natural solutions like baking soda or vinegar.
11. Eat safer fish
Heavy metals can be hard on the heart. Mercury, for example, may raise your risk of atherosclerosis or a heart attack. Ironically, we get the vast majority of our mercury from fish, a supposedly heart-healthy food because of its high omega-3-fat content. The Food and Drug Administration urges women who are pregnant or nursing to avoid mercury-rich fish including shark, swordfish, and king mackerel. It’s probably wise to go easy on slightly less-tainted types such as tuna, too. Such advice actually makes good sense for every adult, Silbergeld says. To cut down on mercury, stick with cod, flounder, and wild Alaskan or Pacific salmon, as well as shellfish like clams and shrimp. If you love sushi (with its healthy combo of resistant starch and omega-3s), limit yourself to one to two meals a month, and don’t always choose tuna.
12. Wipe your feet
Your shoes can play a vital role in detoxifying your home. Pesticides and lead-contaminated dust—not to mention annoying pollen during allergy season—tend to settle on the ground and can stick to footwear. Wiping your feet on an abrasive, high-quality door mat before walking inside can keep toxins from invading your space. Better yet, make a habit of taking off your shoes at the door.
9. Stay smoke-free
You know regular smoking is a killer but think the occasional smoke can’t hurt? Not true. University of Arizona researchers found that just one cigarette impairs blood flow in the heart. And a Norwegian study showed that women who smoked one to four cigarettes a day tripled their risk of dying from heart disease and saw a fivefold jump in the risk of dying from lung cancer.
The threat of secondhand smoke is no less scary: Exposure kills nearly 50,000 adult nonsmokers every year. There are even new worries that thirdhand smoke (what’s left in your hair or your clothes after being in a smoke-filled room) is harmful, especially to babies. Sadly, you can’t stop other people from smoking. But you can help your body rebound by eating a lot of broccoli and cauliflower. These cruciferous vegetables (which also include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and watercress) contain sulfouraphane and other compounds linked to lower disease risks. Studies suggest that people who regularly eat these vegetables enjoy protection from lung cancer. Three to five servings a week should do the trick, but don’t boil or microwave them to mush; overcooking may destroy the toxin-fighting compounds.
10. Freshen in friendlier ways
That sweet-smelling air freshener? It may be polluting your home with chemicals that can irritate your eyes and lead to headaches and nausea. Aerosol cleaners are equally guilty. Instead of covering up unpleasant smells, open the windows when weather permits. Get some fresh air in your home office, too, where ultrafine particles from laser printers can escape into the air. And green up with Areca palms, Boston ferns, and English ivy; they help purify your air. When you’re cleaning, try natural solutions like baking soda or vinegar.
11. Eat safer fish
Heavy metals can be hard on the heart. Mercury, for example, may raise your risk of atherosclerosis or a heart attack. Ironically, we get the vast majority of our mercury from fish, a supposedly heart-healthy food because of its high omega-3-fat content. The Food and Drug Administration urges women who are pregnant or nursing to avoid mercury-rich fish including shark, swordfish, and king mackerel. It’s probably wise to go easy on slightly less-tainted types such as tuna, too. Such advice actually makes good sense for every adult, Silbergeld says. To cut down on mercury, stick with cod, flounder, and wild Alaskan or Pacific salmon, as well as shellfish like clams and shrimp. If you love sushi (with its healthy combo of resistant starch and omega-3s), limit yourself to one to two meals a month, and don’t always choose tuna.
12. Wipe your feet
Your shoes can play a vital role in detoxifying your home. Pesticides and lead-contaminated dust—not to mention annoying pollen during allergy season—tend to settle on the ground and can stick to footwear. Wiping your feet on an abrasive, high-quality door mat before walking inside can keep toxins from invading your space. Better yet, make a habit of taking off your shoes at the door.
Natural Remedies Part 2
How to Detox Your Body
5. Don’t party hard
There’s some concern that chemicals found in plastic bottles and food containers have estrogen-like effects and can slightly raise the risks of breast cancer. But so far there is no real proof. What do we know that really does boost breast cancer risk? Alcohol. A new, massive study from England suggests that just one drink a day is linked to 11 additional cases of breast cancer per 1,000 women, and each drink after that increases the dangers. Even then, the risks remain small—your overall lifetime risk is about 12%. But if you think of alcohol as a toxin, maybe you’ll think twice before getting a frequent buzz.
6. Soap yourself silly
It’s tempting to try those gadgets or elixirs (or even foot pads) that claim to help you shed toxins through pores or sweat glands, but they’re a waste, experts say. The one skin product every toxin-conscious person should have? Soap. Sudsing up your skin every day (with extra washes for your hands) will help clear away toxin-producing germs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), that can cause nasty skin infections. Use alcohol-based hand gels when soap and water aren’t convenient. If you’re worried about soap’s drying effects, try a natural moisturizer like Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Rose Body Moisturizer ($39.95).
7. Use pain pills sparingly
Your liver is a toxin-clearing machine, but it’s not perfect. Many medications, including common drugs such as the pain-reliever acetaminophen, can damage the organ. According to the American Liver Foundation, you shouldn’t take more than 3 grams of acetaminophen a day—the equivalent of six extra-strength pills—for more than a few days in a row. Take as small a dose as you need to feel better.
8. Don’t fool with fire retardants
Flame-retardant chemicals common in foam products and electronics, such as mattresses and televisions, have found their way into virtually every human body. No one is sure if that’s a problem for humans, but animal studies show that these chemicals, known as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), may interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland and immune system. To be safe, seal up any rips in old foam cushions or mattresses (which may have been treated with the retardants) or get new ones, since many companies are phasing out PBDEs.
5. Don’t party hard
There’s some concern that chemicals found in plastic bottles and food containers have estrogen-like effects and can slightly raise the risks of breast cancer. But so far there is no real proof. What do we know that really does boost breast cancer risk? Alcohol. A new, massive study from England suggests that just one drink a day is linked to 11 additional cases of breast cancer per 1,000 women, and each drink after that increases the dangers. Even then, the risks remain small—your overall lifetime risk is about 12%. But if you think of alcohol as a toxin, maybe you’ll think twice before getting a frequent buzz.
6. Soap yourself silly
It’s tempting to try those gadgets or elixirs (or even foot pads) that claim to help you shed toxins through pores or sweat glands, but they’re a waste, experts say. The one skin product every toxin-conscious person should have? Soap. Sudsing up your skin every day (with extra washes for your hands) will help clear away toxin-producing germs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), that can cause nasty skin infections. Use alcohol-based hand gels when soap and water aren’t convenient. If you’re worried about soap’s drying effects, try a natural moisturizer like Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Rose Body Moisturizer ($39.95).
7. Use pain pills sparingly
Your liver is a toxin-clearing machine, but it’s not perfect. Many medications, including common drugs such as the pain-reliever acetaminophen, can damage the organ. According to the American Liver Foundation, you shouldn’t take more than 3 grams of acetaminophen a day—the equivalent of six extra-strength pills—for more than a few days in a row. Take as small a dose as you need to feel better.
8. Don’t fool with fire retardants
Flame-retardant chemicals common in foam products and electronics, such as mattresses and televisions, have found their way into virtually every human body. No one is sure if that’s a problem for humans, but animal studies show that these chemicals, known as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), may interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland and immune system. To be safe, seal up any rips in old foam cushions or mattresses (which may have been treated with the retardants) or get new ones, since many companies are phasing out PBDEs.
Natural Remedies
How to Detox Your Body
By Chris Woolston
From Health magazine
Every day we put potential toxins into our mouths, breathe them into our lungs, and track them into our homes without ever really knowing where they’ll end up—or how much damage they’ll do when they get there. In fact, if you could peek inside your body you’d find fire-retardant chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, plastic particles, and dozens of other residues of modern life.
The time has come to fight back! Our 12 simple steps will help you detoxify everything from your food to your feet, from your bedroom to your breasts. Purifying your life won’t happen overnight, despite what those detox foot-pad makers promise on late-night television. (PS: They don’t work!) But if you begin today you’ll definitely be a little healthier by the time you get into bed. Here’s how to get started:
1. Protect against pesticides
Washing fruit and veggies is a must-do every time you bring them home. Why? An overload of pesticides in air, food, or water may set the stage for Parkinson’s disease and possibly Alzheimer’s disease decades down the road, according to research. Apparently the chemicals in pesticides—which find a home on the surface of produce—can damage the energy-producing parts of brain cells. There’s also a pesticide-and-arthritis link. Protect your brain and body by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if you aren’t eating organic. (You don’t need to use fancy detergent; plain water should do the trick.)
Also watch out for pesticides in your own yard and garden, because anything you spray outside will likely end up in your home. Defend your greenery, instead, with insects (such as ladybugs) or a natural, safe repellent like neem oil (1 quart, $22.50).
2. It’s curtains for plastic
You know that strong odor emanating from some new plastic shower curtains and mattress covers? Blame the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used to manufacture them—which releases toxic chemicals that can make you dizzy and drowsy with just a few deep whiffs. Retailers like Target sell curtains made with materials like cotton, polyester, or hemp, which are safer to use and easier to clean.
3. Look out for lead
Thanks to the widespread use of leaded gasoline in past decades, women 40 and up have high amounts of lead in their bones, says Ellen Silbergeld, PhD, a toxicology expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Why that’s bad: As your bones greedily soak up calcium, they can easily be fooled by lead, a dangerous metalliclook-alike. Lead-laden bones may be weak and prone to breaks. And as bones start to thin after menopause, the toxic metal could be released into the bloodstream, where it can increase blood pressure and possibly lead to neurological and kidney trouble.
How to fight back? Calcium, vitamin D, and regular exercise all can slow bone loss and reduce the amount of lead that moves from the bones into the blood, Silbergeld says. To keep more lead from climbing aboard, reduce dust in your home with either frequent wet-mopping or good vacuuming with a HEPA-filtered cleaner. (HEPA vacuums trap even those tiny dust particles you can’t see.)
The lead-paint issue is a toughie. If you live in an old home or apartment with chipping paint, talk to a knowledgeable inspector about testing before you do any renovating. Call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-5323. Keep in mind: The Environmental Protection Agency says home test kits aren’t very reliable. Ask your doctor whether you need a blood-lead test, which usually isn’t necessary unless you’ve gotten acute exposure, say, during a home renovation.
4. Be smart down there
Do tampons have dangerous levels of dioxins or asbestos? Nah, it’s a myth. But don’t ignore the small-but-real risk of toxic shock syndrome (several dozen women get it each year), a potentially fatal condition caused by poison-producing staph or strep bacteria. Lower your odds by changing your tampon every four to eight hours and avoiding highly absorbent types (often labeled “ultra”).
Protect your ovaries while you’re at it by limiting exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)—often in the coatings of nonstick pans and many other items like clothing, furniture, and packaged-food containers—which may double the risk of infertility, according to a study in Human Reproduction.
By Chris Woolston
From Health magazine
Every day we put potential toxins into our mouths, breathe them into our lungs, and track them into our homes without ever really knowing where they’ll end up—or how much damage they’ll do when they get there. In fact, if you could peek inside your body you’d find fire-retardant chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, plastic particles, and dozens of other residues of modern life.
The time has come to fight back! Our 12 simple steps will help you detoxify everything from your food to your feet, from your bedroom to your breasts. Purifying your life won’t happen overnight, despite what those detox foot-pad makers promise on late-night television. (PS: They don’t work!) But if you begin today you’ll definitely be a little healthier by the time you get into bed. Here’s how to get started:
1. Protect against pesticides
Washing fruit and veggies is a must-do every time you bring them home. Why? An overload of pesticides in air, food, or water may set the stage for Parkinson’s disease and possibly Alzheimer’s disease decades down the road, according to research. Apparently the chemicals in pesticides—which find a home on the surface of produce—can damage the energy-producing parts of brain cells. There’s also a pesticide-and-arthritis link. Protect your brain and body by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if you aren’t eating organic. (You don’t need to use fancy detergent; plain water should do the trick.)
Also watch out for pesticides in your own yard and garden, because anything you spray outside will likely end up in your home. Defend your greenery, instead, with insects (such as ladybugs) or a natural, safe repellent like neem oil (1 quart, $22.50).
2. It’s curtains for plastic
You know that strong odor emanating from some new plastic shower curtains and mattress covers? Blame the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used to manufacture them—which releases toxic chemicals that can make you dizzy and drowsy with just a few deep whiffs. Retailers like Target sell curtains made with materials like cotton, polyester, or hemp, which are safer to use and easier to clean.
3. Look out for lead
Thanks to the widespread use of leaded gasoline in past decades, women 40 and up have high amounts of lead in their bones, says Ellen Silbergeld, PhD, a toxicology expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Why that’s bad: As your bones greedily soak up calcium, they can easily be fooled by lead, a dangerous metalliclook-alike. Lead-laden bones may be weak and prone to breaks. And as bones start to thin after menopause, the toxic metal could be released into the bloodstream, where it can increase blood pressure and possibly lead to neurological and kidney trouble.
How to fight back? Calcium, vitamin D, and regular exercise all can slow bone loss and reduce the amount of lead that moves from the bones into the blood, Silbergeld says. To keep more lead from climbing aboard, reduce dust in your home with either frequent wet-mopping or good vacuuming with a HEPA-filtered cleaner. (HEPA vacuums trap even those tiny dust particles you can’t see.)
The lead-paint issue is a toughie. If you live in an old home or apartment with chipping paint, talk to a knowledgeable inspector about testing before you do any renovating. Call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-5323. Keep in mind: The Environmental Protection Agency says home test kits aren’t very reliable. Ask your doctor whether you need a blood-lead test, which usually isn’t necessary unless you’ve gotten acute exposure, say, during a home renovation.
4. Be smart down there
Do tampons have dangerous levels of dioxins or asbestos? Nah, it’s a myth. But don’t ignore the small-but-real risk of toxic shock syndrome (several dozen women get it each year), a potentially fatal condition caused by poison-producing staph or strep bacteria. Lower your odds by changing your tampon every four to eight hours and avoiding highly absorbent types (often labeled “ultra”).
Protect your ovaries while you’re at it by limiting exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)—often in the coatings of nonstick pans and many other items like clothing, furniture, and packaged-food containers—which may double the risk of infertility, according to a study in Human Reproduction.
Natural Remedies
The Healing Power of Tea
This old-fashioned “it” drink fights cavities, eases anxiety, and soothes irritated skin.
This old-fashioned “it” drink fights cavities, eases anxiety, and soothes irritated skin.
Natural Remedies
Whiten Your Teeth the Natural Way
The secret to this inexpensive home whitening method is malic acid, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration. Combined with baking soda, strawberries become a natural tooth-cleanser, buffing away stains from coffee, red wine, and dark sodas. While it’s no replacement for a bleaching treatment at your dentist’s office, “this is a fast, cheap way to brighten your smile,” says Adina Carrel, DMD, a dentist in private practice at Manhattan Dental Arts in New York. “Be careful not to use this too often, though, as the acid could damage the enamel on your teeth.”
You need:
1 ripe strawberry
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Directions: Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking soda until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry–baking soda mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) Carrel says you can apply once a week.
The secret to this inexpensive home whitening method is malic acid, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration. Combined with baking soda, strawberries become a natural tooth-cleanser, buffing away stains from coffee, red wine, and dark sodas. While it’s no replacement for a bleaching treatment at your dentist’s office, “this is a fast, cheap way to brighten your smile,” says Adina Carrel, DMD, a dentist in private practice at Manhattan Dental Arts in New York. “Be careful not to use this too often, though, as the acid could damage the enamel on your teeth.”
You need:
1 ripe strawberry
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Directions: Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking soda until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry–baking soda mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) Carrel says you can apply once a week.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Rutgers-Newark marks 40th anniversary of Conklin Hall takeov
by Kelly Heyboer/The Star-Ledger Tuesday February 24, 2009, 6:53 PM
Four decades ago, a group of scared, but determined, students barricaded themselves inside Rutgers-Newark's Conklin Hall to protest the lack of minorities on the nearly all-white campus.
Back then, the protesters were dubbed "Negro militants" as university officials debated whether to call in the State Police to arrest them.Today, the "Conklin Hall Liberators" were back on campus. This time, they got a warmer welcome.
Students protest at Rutgers-Newark outside Conklin Hall on University Avenue in this 1969 file photo.
"You are heroes," said Rutgers University President Richard McCormick. "You're back where it all began. We are deeply proud of you."
Rutgers marked the 40th anniversary of the student takeover today with a series of emotion-filled speeches, panels and events acknowledging the lasting impact of the tense 72-hour standoff at Conklin Hall. The takeover is credited with sparking changes at Rutgers that ended racist policies and boosted minority enrollment on campuses across New Jersey.
Today, Rutgers-Newark ranks as the most racially-diverse public university campus in the nation.
"That certainly is an enormous tribute to the courageous student who took over Conklin Hall," said Rutgers-Newark's Chancellor Steven Diner. "I can think of very few protests . . . that have had such spectacular success."
Many of the Conklin Hall protesters, now in their late 50s and early 60s, returned to campus for the ceremony with mixed emotions. Many have become lawyers, teachers and university administrators.
"I cannot believe that 40 years has really passed," said Vivian Sanks King, an attorney who was one of the student leaders at the time.
Rutgers Newark commemorates takeover of Conklin Hall
In 1969, Newark was 65 percent black. But Rutgers-Newark was more than 95 percent white and campus officials showed little interest in recruiting minority students or faculty.
The campus' Black Organization of Students sent school leaders a list of demands that included hiring more black professors and significantly increasing black enrollment. When the university dismissed their requests the students began planning a takeover of Conklin Hall, one of Rutgers-Newark's large classroom buildings.
On Feb. 24, 1969, about two dozen students slipped in the building in the early morning, kicked out the security guard and chained the doors. Other students stood guard outside the building and negotiated with campus officials.
Over the next three days, the stand-off captured the attention of the state as Trenton lawmakers pressured Rutgers to call in the State Police. A group of angry white counter protesters outside the building were rumored to be plotting to take back Conklin Hall. A group of white Essex County College students also tried unsuccessfully to ram the chained doors with a telephone pole.
"We stood in the way and stopped them," said Thomas Roberts, one of the student protesters guarding the door outside. "We stood our ground."
Inside, the students-- who had unfurled a banner from the roof declaring the building "Liberation Hall"-- passed the time by playing cards, issuing statements to the media and speculating about how The Star-Ledger would report their deaths if the protest ended badly. The group had debated whether to bring guns inside, but ultimately decided against arming themselves, said Vicki Donaldson, one of the protesters.
The students were "confused, scared, brave young people who had no idea of the consequences of taking over that building," said Donaldson, who went on to become a lawyer.
Campus officials, including many who secretly supported the students' cause, eventually agreed to increase minority enrollment and make other changes. The protesters left Conklin Hall shouting, "We did it!"
But changes came slowly to the university. Tension on campus continued for years as Rutgers and other state colleges slowly expanded minority enrollment.
Rutgers did not formally acknowledge the role of the Conklin Hall protesters until five years ago, 35 years after the takeover. On that anniversary, McCormick issued a formal apology to the protesters.
This year's commemoration included a recreation of the Conklin Hall takeover by a student theater group and a ceremony where the 1969 protesters symbolically passed torches to today's students. Rutgers also started a digital archive that includes video memoirs of those involved in the takeover.
Rutgers reached another milestone this school year. For the first time, more than half of the state university's incoming freshman class was non-Caucasian, campus officials said.
"Rutgers became a profoundly different institution," McCormick said.
"This is the key legacy of the 1969 liberation."
Four decades ago, a group of scared, but determined, students barricaded themselves inside Rutgers-Newark's Conklin Hall to protest the lack of minorities on the nearly all-white campus.
Back then, the protesters were dubbed "Negro militants" as university officials debated whether to call in the State Police to arrest them.Today, the "Conklin Hall Liberators" were back on campus. This time, they got a warmer welcome.
Students protest at Rutgers-Newark outside Conklin Hall on University Avenue in this 1969 file photo.
"You are heroes," said Rutgers University President Richard McCormick. "You're back where it all began. We are deeply proud of you."
Rutgers marked the 40th anniversary of the student takeover today with a series of emotion-filled speeches, panels and events acknowledging the lasting impact of the tense 72-hour standoff at Conklin Hall. The takeover is credited with sparking changes at Rutgers that ended racist policies and boosted minority enrollment on campuses across New Jersey.
Today, Rutgers-Newark ranks as the most racially-diverse public university campus in the nation.
"That certainly is an enormous tribute to the courageous student who took over Conklin Hall," said Rutgers-Newark's Chancellor Steven Diner. "I can think of very few protests . . . that have had such spectacular success."
Many of the Conklin Hall protesters, now in their late 50s and early 60s, returned to campus for the ceremony with mixed emotions. Many have become lawyers, teachers and university administrators.
"I cannot believe that 40 years has really passed," said Vivian Sanks King, an attorney who was one of the student leaders at the time.
Rutgers Newark commemorates takeover of Conklin Hall
| Rutgers Newark commemorates takeover of Conklin Hall |
In 1969, Newark was 65 percent black. But Rutgers-Newark was more than 95 percent white and campus officials showed little interest in recruiting minority students or faculty.
The campus' Black Organization of Students sent school leaders a list of demands that included hiring more black professors and significantly increasing black enrollment. When the university dismissed their requests the students began planning a takeover of Conklin Hall, one of Rutgers-Newark's large classroom buildings.
On Feb. 24, 1969, about two dozen students slipped in the building in the early morning, kicked out the security guard and chained the doors. Other students stood guard outside the building and negotiated with campus officials.
Over the next three days, the stand-off captured the attention of the state as Trenton lawmakers pressured Rutgers to call in the State Police. A group of angry white counter protesters outside the building were rumored to be plotting to take back Conklin Hall. A group of white Essex County College students also tried unsuccessfully to ram the chained doors with a telephone pole.
"We stood in the way and stopped them," said Thomas Roberts, one of the student protesters guarding the door outside. "We stood our ground."
Inside, the students-- who had unfurled a banner from the roof declaring the building "Liberation Hall"-- passed the time by playing cards, issuing statements to the media and speculating about how The Star-Ledger would report their deaths if the protest ended badly. The group had debated whether to bring guns inside, but ultimately decided against arming themselves, said Vicki Donaldson, one of the protesters.
The students were "confused, scared, brave young people who had no idea of the consequences of taking over that building," said Donaldson, who went on to become a lawyer.
Campus officials, including many who secretly supported the students' cause, eventually agreed to increase minority enrollment and make other changes. The protesters left Conklin Hall shouting, "We did it!"
But changes came slowly to the university. Tension on campus continued for years as Rutgers and other state colleges slowly expanded minority enrollment.
Rutgers did not formally acknowledge the role of the Conklin Hall protesters until five years ago, 35 years after the takeover. On that anniversary, McCormick issued a formal apology to the protesters.
This year's commemoration included a recreation of the Conklin Hall takeover by a student theater group and a ceremony where the 1969 protesters symbolically passed torches to today's students. Rutgers also started a digital archive that includes video memoirs of those involved in the takeover.
Rutgers reached another milestone this school year. For the first time, more than half of the state university's incoming freshman class was non-Caucasian, campus officials said.
"Rutgers became a profoundly different institution," McCormick said.
"This is the key legacy of the 1969 liberation."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Alicia Keys Attends 81st Annual Academy Awards
Alicia Keys attended The 81st Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday (February 22). Keys, who wore a sexy orchid-colored Armani Prive’s dress, got the chance to present ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ composer A.R. Rahman with the best original song Oscar for ‘Jai Ho’.
Monday, February 23, 2009
OSCAR EVENT PICS
Singer Alicia Keys arrives at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Actress Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Model Chrissy Teigen and singer John Legend arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Actress Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Model Chrissy Teigen and singer John Legend arrive at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Sunset Tower on Sunday in West Hollywood, California.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
WATCH NE-YO DISS TENNILLE ON RED CARPET!
Internet rumors claim that Ne-Yo's "something like that" Tennille Jimenez are preggers! But if you were on a carpet with your alleged baby mama, would you basically down grade her to your jumpoff like Ne-Yo did Grammy night? Check out the video!
KANYE & AMBER ROSE
Kanye was spotted leaving a Pre-Grammy party this weekend with a video vixen Amber Rose. They were also caught by the TMZ cameras appearing to be headed for their “nightcap."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Greatest Dunks
Top 10 All Time Michael Jordan Dunks
Kobe's 10 Greatest Dunks
Top 10 Lebron James Dunks From The First Half Of 2009-09 Season.
Dwight Howard winning the 2k8 dunk contest.
J. Richardson
Dee Brown won the 1991 NBA All-Star Dunk Contest
Kobe's 10 Greatest Dunks
Top 10 Lebron James Dunks From The First Half Of 2009-09 Season.
Dwight Howard winning the 2k8 dunk contest.
J. Richardson
Dee Brown won the 1991 NBA All-Star Dunk Contest
Love Yourself
Love Yourself
Learn to
Overlook those
Very things you hate about yourself.
Everyone is different.
You should realize that
Our
Uniqueness makes us special.
Reach inside your
Soul and
Embrace yourself.
Love yourself
For who you are. Please believe in yourself at all times life is to short not too
Learn to
Overlook those
Very things you hate about yourself.
Everyone is different.
You should realize that
Our
Uniqueness makes us special.
Reach inside your
Soul and
Embrace yourself.
Love yourself
For who you are. Please believe in yourself at all times life is to short not too
What’s in the Stimulus Bill for You
By RON LIEBER
Published: February 12, 2009
All the talk the last couple of days about the stimulus bill was about compromise and slimming down. What is left, though, is a huge spending bill, with well over $100billion in tax breaks and handouts for individuals.
First-time home buyers would be eligible for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $8,000.
Under the proposed stimulus bill, buyers of new cars and light trucks through the rest of 2009 can deduct sales taxes.
And most of us will be able to use at least one of them, though it will be difficult to get much money immediately, unlike the stimulus checks that went out last year.
What follows is a list of some of the biggest provisions in the bill that will hit you directly in the wallet. Keep in mind that the language in the measure isn’t quite final and the Senate and House still have to vote to approve it.
INCOME TAX In 2009 and 2010, there is a tax credit of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples filing their taxes jointly. You calculate your credit, subtracted from other federal taxes you owe, by taking 6.2 percent of your earned income.
Your eligibility for this credit begins to phase out if you’re an individual with an adjusted gross income over $75,000 or a couple with income higher than $150,000.
Employers may end up adjusting tax withholdings on paychecks so that this credit trickles into your bank account over the course of the year. People who are self-employed can adjust their quarterly tax filings to account for the credit.
This credit is refundable, according to a summary of the stimulus bill that the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees released Thursday. That means that even if you have no federal income tax liability, you will still get the money.
UNEMPLOYMENT Normally, you pay federal income taxes on federal unemployment benefits. In 2009, however, you won’t have to pay taxes on the first $2,400 in benefits you receive.
HEALTH INSURANCE If you get fired, your company is required, thanks to a law known as Cobra, to allow you to pay to keep your health insurance, generally for up to 18 months.
The problem is, it can cost you $1,000 a month or more to keep the coverage.
Now, the federal government will subsidize 65 percent of the premium for up to nine months. To be eligible, you need to have been forced out of your job between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. Also, your income in the year you receive the subsidy cannot be more than $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for married couples filing their taxes jointly.
If you lost your job after Sept. 1, 2008, and declined Cobra coverage, you’ll now get another chance. Call your former company in the next two months to find out how this will work.
You need not keep an eye on the mail for a subsidy check from the government, according Kathryn Bakich, senior vice president in Washington of the Segal Company, a benefits consulting firm. Instead, your former employer will collect the money from the government.
SOCIAL SECURITY In 2009 a number of retirees and disabled people, including Social Security recipients, will receive a $250 refundable tax credit. The money would arrive within 120 days of the bill’s signing.
CAR BUYER TAX DEDUCTION For the rest of 2009, you’ll be able to deduct the state and local sales and excise taxes you pay on the purchase of a new (not used) car, light truck, recreational vehicle or motorcycle.
This will be an “above-the-line deduction,” according to Clint Stretch, the managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte L.L.C. in Washington. That means that you can take it regardless of whether you itemize other deductions on your tax return.
Mark Luscombe, principal tax analyst for CCH, a tax information service, notes that state sales taxes alone can run 6 to 7 percent, before any county or local tax kicks in. That said, if you trade in a vehicle, your taxable purchase price may be lower.
Eligibility for this tax break begins to phase out for single people with adjusted gross income over $125,000 or $250,000 for married couples filing jointly. And the deduction does not apply on spending above $49,500.
PELL GRANT According to a summary from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the maximum Pell Grant will increase by $500, to $5,350 in 2009 and $5,550 in 2010. The grants are generally for low-income students.
HIGHER EDUCATION TAX CREDIT This credit covers up to $2,500 of the cost of college tuition and other related expenses in 2009 and 2010. You’ll need to spend at least $4,000 in a single year to get the full credit. The credit begins to phase out for individual taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes over $80,000 or $160,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Forty percent of the credit is refundable, which benefits low-income students paying their way through school (who may owe no federal income taxes).
529 PLAN EXPANSION When you withdraw money from a 529 college savings plan, you can use it for tuition, room, board, books and other college expenses. In 2009 and 2010, families can also use the money for computers and computer technology, which could include educational software and Internet service for students living at home.
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER CREDIT First-time home buyers are eligible for a refundable tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of their home, up to $8,000, if they made the purchase after Jan. 1, 2009, but before Dec. 1, 2009.
Unlike a similar credit that Congress provided last year, you don’t have to pay this one back over 15 years. The new credit, however, does phase out for individuals with incomes over $75,000 or married couples with incomes over $150,000 who file their taxes jointly. Also, you forfeit the credit if you sell the house within three years.
TRANSIT ACCOUNTS If you commute to work via public transportation, your employer may allow you to set aside pretax money from your paycheck to pay for the bus, train or parking. Currently, you can put aside only $120 a month for mass transit while those who drive and park can save $230. This year and next, those who take mass transit will also be able to put aside $230 each month.
A.M.T. PATCH Each year, Congress creates a temporary fix to keep millions of people from paying the alternative minimum tax. This year, the patch is part of the stimulus bill. “If you didn’t pay the A.M.T. last year, you probably won’t this year,” said Mr. Stretch of Deloitte. “For most people, this is a nonevent. They didn’t even realize they were in danger of being shot in the head by the A.M.T.”
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: February 17, 2009
The Your Money column on Friday, about provisions in the stimulus bill that will benefit consumers, referred incorrectly in some editions to the duration of changes liberalizing the use of 529 college savings accounts and increasing the amount of money commuters can set aside for transit costs. Both changes are effective in 2009 and 2010; they are not permanent.
Published: February 12, 2009
All the talk the last couple of days about the stimulus bill was about compromise and slimming down. What is left, though, is a huge spending bill, with well over $100billion in tax breaks and handouts for individuals.
First-time home buyers would be eligible for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $8,000.
Under the proposed stimulus bill, buyers of new cars and light trucks through the rest of 2009 can deduct sales taxes.
And most of us will be able to use at least one of them, though it will be difficult to get much money immediately, unlike the stimulus checks that went out last year.
What follows is a list of some of the biggest provisions in the bill that will hit you directly in the wallet. Keep in mind that the language in the measure isn’t quite final and the Senate and House still have to vote to approve it.
INCOME TAX In 2009 and 2010, there is a tax credit of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples filing their taxes jointly. You calculate your credit, subtracted from other federal taxes you owe, by taking 6.2 percent of your earned income.
Your eligibility for this credit begins to phase out if you’re an individual with an adjusted gross income over $75,000 or a couple with income higher than $150,000.
Employers may end up adjusting tax withholdings on paychecks so that this credit trickles into your bank account over the course of the year. People who are self-employed can adjust their quarterly tax filings to account for the credit.
This credit is refundable, according to a summary of the stimulus bill that the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees released Thursday. That means that even if you have no federal income tax liability, you will still get the money.
UNEMPLOYMENT Normally, you pay federal income taxes on federal unemployment benefits. In 2009, however, you won’t have to pay taxes on the first $2,400 in benefits you receive.
HEALTH INSURANCE If you get fired, your company is required, thanks to a law known as Cobra, to allow you to pay to keep your health insurance, generally for up to 18 months.
The problem is, it can cost you $1,000 a month or more to keep the coverage.
Now, the federal government will subsidize 65 percent of the premium for up to nine months. To be eligible, you need to have been forced out of your job between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. Also, your income in the year you receive the subsidy cannot be more than $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for married couples filing their taxes jointly.
If you lost your job after Sept. 1, 2008, and declined Cobra coverage, you’ll now get another chance. Call your former company in the next two months to find out how this will work.
You need not keep an eye on the mail for a subsidy check from the government, according Kathryn Bakich, senior vice president in Washington of the Segal Company, a benefits consulting firm. Instead, your former employer will collect the money from the government.
SOCIAL SECURITY In 2009 a number of retirees and disabled people, including Social Security recipients, will receive a $250 refundable tax credit. The money would arrive within 120 days of the bill’s signing.
CAR BUYER TAX DEDUCTION For the rest of 2009, you’ll be able to deduct the state and local sales and excise taxes you pay on the purchase of a new (not used) car, light truck, recreational vehicle or motorcycle.
This will be an “above-the-line deduction,” according to Clint Stretch, the managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte L.L.C. in Washington. That means that you can take it regardless of whether you itemize other deductions on your tax return.
Mark Luscombe, principal tax analyst for CCH, a tax information service, notes that state sales taxes alone can run 6 to 7 percent, before any county or local tax kicks in. That said, if you trade in a vehicle, your taxable purchase price may be lower.
Eligibility for this tax break begins to phase out for single people with adjusted gross income over $125,000 or $250,000 for married couples filing jointly. And the deduction does not apply on spending above $49,500.
PELL GRANT According to a summary from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the maximum Pell Grant will increase by $500, to $5,350 in 2009 and $5,550 in 2010. The grants are generally for low-income students.
HIGHER EDUCATION TAX CREDIT This credit covers up to $2,500 of the cost of college tuition and other related expenses in 2009 and 2010. You’ll need to spend at least $4,000 in a single year to get the full credit. The credit begins to phase out for individual taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes over $80,000 or $160,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Forty percent of the credit is refundable, which benefits low-income students paying their way through school (who may owe no federal income taxes).
529 PLAN EXPANSION When you withdraw money from a 529 college savings plan, you can use it for tuition, room, board, books and other college expenses. In 2009 and 2010, families can also use the money for computers and computer technology, which could include educational software and Internet service for students living at home.
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER CREDIT First-time home buyers are eligible for a refundable tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of their home, up to $8,000, if they made the purchase after Jan. 1, 2009, but before Dec. 1, 2009.
Unlike a similar credit that Congress provided last year, you don’t have to pay this one back over 15 years. The new credit, however, does phase out for individuals with incomes over $75,000 or married couples with incomes over $150,000 who file their taxes jointly. Also, you forfeit the credit if you sell the house within three years.
TRANSIT ACCOUNTS If you commute to work via public transportation, your employer may allow you to set aside pretax money from your paycheck to pay for the bus, train or parking. Currently, you can put aside only $120 a month for mass transit while those who drive and park can save $230. This year and next, those who take mass transit will also be able to put aside $230 each month.
A.M.T. PATCH Each year, Congress creates a temporary fix to keep millions of people from paying the alternative minimum tax. This year, the patch is part of the stimulus bill. “If you didn’t pay the A.M.T. last year, you probably won’t this year,” said Mr. Stretch of Deloitte. “For most people, this is a nonevent. They didn’t even realize they were in danger of being shot in the head by the A.M.T.”
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: February 17, 2009
The Your Money column on Friday, about provisions in the stimulus bill that will benefit consumers, referred incorrectly in some editions to the duration of changes liberalizing the use of 529 college savings accounts and increasing the amount of money commuters can set aside for transit costs. Both changes are effective in 2009 and 2010; they are not permanent.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tyler Perry is still looking for respect
By Alan Duke
CNN
Editor's note: CNN writer Alan Duke has had two small voice-only roles in Tyler Perry's TV series, "House of Payne," which airs on CNN's sister network TBS. He has had no relationship with Perry beyond observing him on set.
Tyler Perry stars in "Madea Goes to Jail," which is due out Friday. Perry is trying to expand his reach to Europe.
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Tyler Perry wants to take his character Madea to Europe, but he's been told that audiences there won't relate to his stories about African-American lives. The films have made nearly $300 million at U.S. box offices.
The challenge to conquer Europe has "sat in my spirit," Perry wrote in a newsletter to his fans.
Perry, who just a few years ago was homeless and broke, has made a fortune proving naysayers and critics wrong with a successful string of low-budget movies based on his Christian-themed stage plays.
"I was once told [by] someone that my movies only appeal to black people and no one else," Perry wrote. "Now, I know that's not true."
When his first movie -- "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" -- debuted in 2005, people who had seen his stage plays in person or on DVD flocked to theaters, making it the week's top movie with almost $22 million in ticket sales.
Critics, who consistently pan Perry's productions, were confounded.
"They think I don't know what I am doing," he said in a CNN interview. "They think that this is all haphazard, that I am some sort of idiot or something."
Perry said he does not write to please the critics, but for a broad audience of all ages.
With six films already out and a seventh -- "Madea Goes To Jail" -- coming soon, Perry has never made a box office flop. His movies average nearly $22 million on opening weekends and almost $47 million in total domestic sales.
"Tyler Perry has a definite and growing fan base in this country and it's simply a matter of, can he create and grow a fan base in other countries," said independent producer Alex Franklin.
Franklin -- a former development executive at Lionsgate, the film company that distributes Perry's films in the United States -- was the first person at that studio to read his script for "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."
He agrees that Perry's movies should sell in Europe, but he said there is a tendency by distributors there to avoid films about African-Americans and films without major American stars who are well-known in Europe.
While Perry's casts have included Angela Bassett, Janet Jackson and Kathy Bates, many of his characters, including Madea, come from his stage plays, which are known only to a mostly black American audience.
But David Mann -- who is "Mr. Brown" in Perry's productions -- said he has seen the audience broaden since the early years of the stage plays.
"I can recall when we first started, I would say 90 to 95 percent of the audience would be African-American," Mann said. "But now, you look out there and it's like, 'Wow! It's just a rainbow.' "
Perry, in his message to fans, said he sees his stories as universal.
"I know that even though I write from an African-American experience and most of the time I have an all-African-American cast, that doesn't mean that other people from other walks of life can't relate," he said. "I think that any human being who goes through what we all go through can relate to my films.
"I know and remember that when I'm writing," he continued. "But when this person said that to me, they also said Europeans would never relate, and that sat in my spirit."
Perry said he flew to Europe in January -- "to find out for myself" -- with visits to Rome, Madrid and London. It was there that he wrote his letter to his American fans.
"So far, all of us seem to be pretty much the same," he said. "We love to laugh, we all have problems, we all want love, and we all have a church in every country. And since these are the things I usually write about, I don't see how that statement can be true. Do you?"
Perry could get his answer soon.
Lionsgate has not said if "Madea Goes To Jail," which debuts Friday, will be marketed to European audiences. But the company signed a joint venture deal last year with Eros International, an Indian film company, to distribute its films in India -- the second largest English-speaking market in the world.
If that arrangement does not take Madea around the world, then perhaps Perry will try it on his own, Franklin said.
"He has the money to back up his intentions," he said. "He proved his naysayers wrong in America, with his will and perseverance. There's no reason he can't do the same overseas."
CNN
Editor's note: CNN writer Alan Duke has had two small voice-only roles in Tyler Perry's TV series, "House of Payne," which airs on CNN's sister network TBS. He has had no relationship with Perry beyond observing him on set.
Tyler Perry stars in "Madea Goes to Jail," which is due out Friday. Perry is trying to expand his reach to Europe.
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Tyler Perry wants to take his character Madea to Europe, but he's been told that audiences there won't relate to his stories about African-American lives. The films have made nearly $300 million at U.S. box offices.
The challenge to conquer Europe has "sat in my spirit," Perry wrote in a newsletter to his fans.
Perry, who just a few years ago was homeless and broke, has made a fortune proving naysayers and critics wrong with a successful string of low-budget movies based on his Christian-themed stage plays.
"I was once told [by] someone that my movies only appeal to black people and no one else," Perry wrote. "Now, I know that's not true."
When his first movie -- "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" -- debuted in 2005, people who had seen his stage plays in person or on DVD flocked to theaters, making it the week's top movie with almost $22 million in ticket sales.
Critics, who consistently pan Perry's productions, were confounded.
"They think I don't know what I am doing," he said in a CNN interview. "They think that this is all haphazard, that I am some sort of idiot or something."
Perry said he does not write to please the critics, but for a broad audience of all ages.
With six films already out and a seventh -- "Madea Goes To Jail" -- coming soon, Perry has never made a box office flop. His movies average nearly $22 million on opening weekends and almost $47 million in total domestic sales.
"Tyler Perry has a definite and growing fan base in this country and it's simply a matter of, can he create and grow a fan base in other countries," said independent producer Alex Franklin.
Franklin -- a former development executive at Lionsgate, the film company that distributes Perry's films in the United States -- was the first person at that studio to read his script for "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."
He agrees that Perry's movies should sell in Europe, but he said there is a tendency by distributors there to avoid films about African-Americans and films without major American stars who are well-known in Europe.
While Perry's casts have included Angela Bassett, Janet Jackson and Kathy Bates, many of his characters, including Madea, come from his stage plays, which are known only to a mostly black American audience.
But David Mann -- who is "Mr. Brown" in Perry's productions -- said he has seen the audience broaden since the early years of the stage plays.
"I can recall when we first started, I would say 90 to 95 percent of the audience would be African-American," Mann said. "But now, you look out there and it's like, 'Wow! It's just a rainbow.' "
Perry, in his message to fans, said he sees his stories as universal.
"I know that even though I write from an African-American experience and most of the time I have an all-African-American cast, that doesn't mean that other people from other walks of life can't relate," he said. "I think that any human being who goes through what we all go through can relate to my films.
"I know and remember that when I'm writing," he continued. "But when this person said that to me, they also said Europeans would never relate, and that sat in my spirit."
Perry said he flew to Europe in January -- "to find out for myself" -- with visits to Rome, Madrid and London. It was there that he wrote his letter to his American fans.
"So far, all of us seem to be pretty much the same," he said. "We love to laugh, we all have problems, we all want love, and we all have a church in every country. And since these are the things I usually write about, I don't see how that statement can be true. Do you?"
Perry could get his answer soon.
Lionsgate has not said if "Madea Goes To Jail," which debuts Friday, will be marketed to European audiences. But the company signed a joint venture deal last year with Eros International, an Indian film company, to distribute its films in India -- the second largest English-speaking market in the world.
If that arrangement does not take Madea around the world, then perhaps Perry will try it on his own, Franklin said.
"He has the money to back up his intentions," he said. "He proved his naysayers wrong in America, with his will and perseverance. There's no reason he can't do the same overseas."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
If You!
Here's my answers but I would like to hear your answers.
1. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
2. What one thing would you wish you had if you were trapped on an island?
3. What is the one trait you most admire in others?
Honesty
4. If you could travel to any place in the world for a week, where would you go and why?
St. Barts Island in the Caribbean
1. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
2. What one thing would you wish you had if you were trapped on an island?
3. What is the one trait you most admire in others?
Honesty
4. If you could travel to any place in the world for a week, where would you go and why?
St. Barts Island in the Caribbean
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