If You Really Want To Apologize For Slavery Amercia, Vote For Obama!

House Formally Apologizes for Slavery and Jim Crow
Biggest Titanium Producer Sells 26% Stake to Black Investors
McCain Camp Portrays Obama as Celebrity, Not Leader
Obama Says Republicans Trying to Scare Voters

Trial Didn't Stop R. Kelly's Lyrics
Mario on Making Documentary on Mom

Blacks are Disappearing from the Cities
Sharpton Defends Jackson Despite Obama Comments
Man Charged with Hate Crimes for Running Down Black Woman
New York Jewelry Company Sues Wyclef Jean
Negro Ensemble Company Attempts Comeback
Mbeki Struggling to Keep Zimbabwe Talks on Track: Analysts

Source

Why I'm Feeling Old: Fresh Prince's Ashley is Almost 30??????

Tatyana Ali has come a long way!

But wait til you see her latest spread in King Magazine. WOW!

Ken Griffey Trade To White Sox: Savior Or Last Go Around

I was feeling good this year, as Ken Griffey was able to stay healthy for the second year in a row and hit lifetime home run number 600. We now hear he is to be traded to division leader Chicago White Sox. 'Now I love me some Ken', but I don't believe he is the crushing blow to all your challengers. Therefore...
this trade must be Ken's 'swan song' before he retires; a last attempt at playing in a World Series and getting a ring. Griffey has approved a trade to the White Sox, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. The trade is now pending the approval of the commissioner, an indication that it involves a cash transaction of more than $1 million.

The approval is expected to be a formality. The Reds will receive pitcher Nick Masset and second baseman Danny Richar, according to CBS Sportsline.

Griffey had the right to block a deal as a player with at least 10 years of major-league service, five with the same club. He did not receive any form of compensation for waiving his no-trade protection.

The White Sox, leading the American League Central by a 1.5 games, would use Griffey mostly in the outfield, the source said. However, they do not have an obvious spot for Griffey unless they make another trade.
Ken Rosenthal of MSNSPORTS gave us this scoop

Blogging While Brown Photos Tell The Story

Attorneymom (Character Corner), Kevin Ross (3BAAS Media Group)and Gina McCauley (What About Our Daughters and Michelle Obama Watch blogs) and founder of Blogging While Brown hanging out Friday night at the Fox Sports Gril in Atlanta during the 2008 Blogging While Brown event.

Is Ludacris Doing Covert Work For The GOP?

The Beat Is Definitely On Point!!!

OBAMA IS HERE? Does This Hurt or Help Barack Obama?

Will Write For Food!

Newspapers And Black Middle Class Hunker Down

By Erin Aubry Kaplan

Is broke the new poor? I certainly hope not.

But as the economy continues to spiral downward with the bottom of the well not quite in sight, I’m finally beginning to lose faith. Not in the likelihood of a rebound — that’ll happen at some point — but in my own status as a member of the black middle class.

I know that the black middle class has always been far more vulnerable than its white counterpart, for all kinds of reasons.

But I still assumed that my education level and work experience permanently guaranteed me work and a certain regard by peers and potential employers; being out of work only meant being between jobs or specialty gigs, not being at the mercy of economic forces that keep down that most unfortunate of classes, the black poor.

And there’s an almost spiritual component to my middle class-ness that goes way beyond money: It was my destiny, my responsibility. I was born in the early 60s, a member of the first black generation (i.e., the Obama generation) to cross the vast desert of segregation and Jim Crow into the promised land.

It was part of my job to never again suffer the indignities of poverty those practices had brought about for so many for so long. In other words, I had a duty to be successful and to stay that way.

But ‘staying that way’ is proving to be a treacherous task. It doesn’t help that I work in a field that’s currently going through its own economic implosion, print journalism. Newspapers (including my hometown paper, the Los Angeles Times) are contracting faster than you can read them on a daily basis.

There are too many freelance writers and not enough publications offering decent pay. I know I’m not alone in scrambling for work, and I know that writers of color are very often at the back of the line (that happens for all of us, whatever our line of work, in hard times).

Yet none of that eases my fear of failing at being the new Negro I always assumed I was. None of it quells my anxiety about winding up black and poor and becoming one of those statistics that, the 1960s notwithstanding, has stretched unbroken across generations. Black people still have a desert, but I thought of myself as travelling a parallel road in a more temperate climate. I’m finding out there may be no such thing.

ERIN AUBRY KAPLAN, a contributing blogger with 3BAAS Media Group, is the first African American in history to be a weekly op-ed columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Her musings continue to appear in the Times, Essence magazine, and a host of other publications. Kaplan is currently working on her much anticipated book.

FALLEN SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: STARTING THE WEEK WITH THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE: 7-29-2008

THIS WEEK, THE PENTAGON RELEASED THE NAMES OF 23 SOLDIERS KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: THEIR FAMILIES DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SURGE, AND 16 MONTHS IS TOO LATE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES TO COME HOME.

Army SGT Brian S Leon Guerrero, 34, of Hagatna, Guam
Army SGT Samson A Mora, 28, of Dededo, Guam
Army MSG Mitchell W Young, 39, of Jonesboro, Ga.
Army 1LT Jonathan P Brostrom, 24, of Hawaii
Army SGT Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, Calif.
Army CPL Jonathan R Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Ga.
Army CPL Jason M Bogar, 25, of Seattle
Army CPL Jason D Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tenn.
Army CPL Matthew B Phillips, 27, of Jasper, Ga.
Army CPL Pruitt A Rainey, 22, of Haw River, N.C.
Army CPL Gunnar W Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Mo.
Army PFC Sergio S Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Ky.
Army SSG Jeremy D Vrooman, 28, of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Army SSG David W Textor, 27, of Roanoke, Va.
Marine LCpl Jeffery S Stevenson, 20, of Newton, N.J.
Air Force TSgt Jackie L Larsen, 37, of Tacoma, Wa.
Marine 1st Lt Jason D Mann, 29, of Woodlynne, N.J.
Army PFC Willington M Rhoads, 23, of Las Vegas
Navy PO3 Daniel R Verbeke, 25, of Exton, Pa.
Marine SSgt Danny P Dupre, 28, of Lockport, La.
Army 1LT Nick A Dewhirst, 25, of Onalaska, Wis.
Marine PFC Ivan I Wilson, 22, of Clearlake, Calif.

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US Troop Deaths: Iraq At All Time Low, Is It The Surge Or Just Time To Go?

Casualty or Survivor?

The number of U.S. soldiers killed in combat in Iraq has dropped sharply this month, putting July on track to have the lowest casualties for the military since the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003. President Bush and candidate McCain will say "the surge has worked" and that is why we will stay. Presidential candidate Obama will say the war has been over for months and that is why "I will get our troops home in 16 months." Whom is right?

Deployment of additional U.S. troops to Iraq last year, a decision by Sunni Arab tribal leaders to turn against al-Qaida and a ceasefire imposed by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on his Mahdi Army are all factors credited with the reduced violence.

The U.S. combat death toll in July is down from 23 in June and 15 in May, the icasualties.org data showed.

Overall in July, nine U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq. The other four were from non-hostile incidents such as accidents.

Total U.S. military deaths were 29 in June and 19 in May, also taking into account non-hostile events.

Contrast with Afghanistan
The numbers contrast with the conflict in Afghanistan, where more U.S. soldiers were killed in May and June compared to Iraq. There are 144,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 36,000 in Afghanistan.

Around 4,120 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since the invasion. The number in Afghanistan stands at 561 since the Taliban government was toppled in 2001.

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are key issues in the U.S. presidential election campaign.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama wants to shift the focus of U.S. military efforts from Iraq to Afghanistan. source Reuters

The House Set to Apologize to African Americans

By Jayar Jackson

The U.S House of Representatives is poised Tuesday to pass a resolution apologizing to Black Americans for slavery and the era of Jim Crow laws. Rep. Steve Cohen, who represents a prominently Black district in Memphis, has introduced the bill.

Once the resolution passes, as expected, the House will also acknowledge the injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws that segregated Blacks from Whites, providing an unequal life for Black Americans.

Although this is the first time a branch of the federal government will apologize for slavery, I’ve always wondered what the reasons behind these types of resolutions are. Considering the fact that the U.S. doesn’t foolishly deny these heinous acts took place in its past, one can only assume Rep. Cohen is attempting to show his constituents that he understands the severity and repercussions these institutions have had on today’s society.

This resolution is the House of Representatives’ formal agreement with many Americans that have a guilty conscience for what their ancestors did to Black Americans. In my opinion, this resolution is not necessary; no one is rejecting the idea that slavery happened, no one in today’s Congress has been saying that Jim Crow Laws created this false utopia of “separate but equal.”

Some White Americans feel that Black Americans want them to “feel guilty” for what occurred, so a quick, “I’m sorry your ancestors, grandparents, and parents went through such horrible experiences in their own country” isn’t necessary. How can someone apologize for something they didn’t personally do?

I don’t want you to feel sorry for me or my parents. I don’t want you to simply hear my frustrations and hope everything is better now. Discussing race is so taboo in this country, we just want to get it over with, apologize for reasons unknown to us, and get out of the uncomfortable conversation. Listening, internalizing, and actually understanding what was wrong with this country will provide many with the mindset to change the way they think about other races and therefore change the way we still treat each other.

Comparatively, Congress’ simple apology for the past isn’t going to be what continues to move this country forward, either. Learning from the country’s past and the mistakes we made is what is necessary to continue to fight against future instances of human rights violations, a commitment Cohen included. If we label human rights violations as something this country can only do to Black Americans, quickly apologize for it, and then forget about it, we’ll easily overlook the fact that we can violate the rights of Muslims, Middle Easterners, and gay Americans.

The resolution blatantly states, “African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow -- long after both systems were formally abolished -- through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity.” My Bad!!

Blogging While Brown Conference Featuring 3BAAS CEO Kevin Ross, Necole Bitchie And Tamera Reynolds Of Glam

Thank you to celebrity blogger Necole Bitchie, Clarissa Goodlett of Color of Change, and Black Life's African American Network Director Tamera Reynolds for launching what I believe is a black "Digital Renaissance Movement" that will forever change how the world communicates about people of color.


Black Bloggers Conference 2008, Atlanta, Georgia

BREAKING NEWS: 5.4 Earthquake Today In Los Angeles!!!

The Down Side Of Living In La-La Land

So I'm on the phone from my home office and all of a sudden I feel this quick jolt that apparently stretched from California to Nevada.

I continue talking to my banker and then suddenly I yell to the customer rep, "I can't talk, we're shaking!"

Centered in the 80,000 plus community of Chino Hills, at least three 3.8 aftershocks have happened since this first "seismic event" occurred almost 30 minutes ago.

So during what seemed like 45 seconds of major shaking, all I could think was to tell my boys and wife "Let's go!" Of course noone's wearing shoes and my oldest wasn't even dressed. My 6-year-old was clearly shook-up, as he kept saying, "That was scary" while clinging to my wife.

She and I have been through this before. In fact, it was the 1994 Northridge earthquake measuring a 6.7 on the Richter Scale that made me realize that if I was going to die, she was the person I wanted to leave this life with.

The following week, we started looking at rings. We married in 1995!

Some 13 years later, he we are instructing our kids about earthquake safety, where we will meet if we get split-up, checking our emergency kits, and counting our blessings that it was ONLY a 5.4!

African American Newsweek Editor Replaces Tim Russert At NBC

Mark Whitaker Becomes The HNIC

A black man has been named NBC's new Washington bureau chief.

Mark Whitaker, who served as editor of Newsweek from 1998 to 2006 and oversaw the growth of Newsweek's web site, will also have oversight of 'Meet the Press,' election coverage.

Meet the press and this historic election just hasn't been the same for me since Tim Russert's death in June at the age of 58. Seeing an exceptional brother in the position, however, is just a further indication of this movement that will forever change what it truly means to be Black in America.

Whitaker had recently been serving as senior vice president of NBC News in New York.

His day-to-day responsibilities will include executive oversight of "Meet the Press" and the network's election and political coverage.

NBC also said Whitaker will make occasional appearances as an on-air analyst. Additionally, he will continue on with his senior vice president duties.

"Mark's got all of the components that will assure his success — a commitment to journalistic integrity, political savvy, a keen eye for the future and a management style that is inclusive and fair," NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement. "He is exactly what the bureau needs."

Prior to joining NBC News, Whitaker served as editor of Newsweek from 1998 to 2006. He also oversaw the growth of Newsweek's web site, which is partnered with msnbc.com.

"I am honored and humbled to succeed Tim, whose commitment to journalism without fear or favor is a beacon for us all," said Whitaker in a statement. "And I am thrilled to get to work with our unparalleled team of NBC reporters and producers in Washington."

From 2006 until 2007, Whitaker served as vice president and editor-in-chief of new ventures at Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, creating online projects for Newsweek's parent, The Washington Post Co.

Whitaker will manage the Washington bureau's daily operations, working closely with Wendy Wilkinson and Brady Daniels, who serve as deputy chiefs.

He will also work alongside Chuck Todd, NBC's political director.

Whitaker assumes his duties immediately. Source.

Coffey Sings A Rough Version of Rihanna's Umbrella: No Wonder He Got Booted Off "Nashville Star"

That's Okay Coffey, Fake It Til You Make It Bro!

Just Please Don't EVER Sing This Again!

No Sex In The City #21 - Confessions of A Wannabee Reality TV Star!

Black Girls Rule!

by Cousin Kim

"Kim. What part do you sing in the choir?"

It was a simple question asked in the women's locker room of the gym on a Monday morning. Yet, somehow my intuition could feel an adventure brewing by the tone of Angela's voice when she said my name. A few seconds later, I had agreed to help her with a singing audition on Friday.

Wednesday, Angela, Sheila and I rehearsed for the audition. As we ended the rehearsal with string cheese and fruit as a snack, Sheila and I asked Angela to tell us more about the audition. That's when things took an interesting turn.

We weren't just helping Angela with her audition, we were auditioning for a cable network reality show! And we were doing this after forming a trio two days before the audition and with only two hours of rehearsal. As we had no time, we decided to adopt the k.i.s.s. system--keep it simple sweetie. We planned to wear black bottoms and colorful tops on Friday.

When we arrived for the audition on Friday at Smashbox Studios, I held it in my mind that I was there to help Angela with her audition. Any other thought would have lead to "freak out" mode. Angela decided on the name Innovation for our group given the way we came together.

As we moved through each stage of the audition, we began to enjoy the fact that none of the production assistants were getting the name right. We laughed as we imagined ourselves as an punk band when one production assistant asked, "so you guys are No Nation, right?"

After waiting, rehearsing, and having photos taken of our group, we were finally called in to see the judges. The judges asked how long we'd been a group. Angela responded by looking at her watch as I chimed in "three days." The judges looked incredulous, but we later found out that there was at least one other group who'd given the same response. Then we were asked if we had any choreography. That would be a no. But we swayed side to side in unison like a well-rehearsed gospel choir dressed in hot pink tops and black stretch pants.

The first song we sang was written by Angela. We got through one verse and one chorus before they stopped us. The we sang our second song, No One by Alicia Keys. The judges asked that we sing individually and since Angela had already sung lead, they wanted to hear Sheila and I sing. Sheila sang the chorus to No One, so I followed up by singing the chorus my way. I noted that the judges' eyes widened. We were told that they wanted us back the next day. We were advised to really go for it at the call back.

We left the audition room all smiles. We'd formed a group in a few days, put in a few hours of rehearsal, and got a call back for a reality show. Stepping out of the box was fun, yet I wondered if I could maintain a carefree attitude at the call back the next day. Would the reality of what I was doing set it? If I got a yes, how would it change my life?

More to come. Stay tuned!

Opinion Leader Michelle Bernard Is One Fine Sista, And Clearly On The Fast Track

Commentary Never Looked So Good

A regular panelist on MSNBC with Chris Matthews and David Gregory, The McLaughlin Group and a Sunday columnist with The Examiner, black female political pundit Michelle D. Bernard is on a roll.

So tell me again which CNN brother she's married to?

Ms. Bernard has been featured in Fast Company magazine, The Legal Times, The New York Daily News, The Washington Business Journal, The Washington City Paper, The Washington Lawyer, The Washington Post, and The Washington Times.

This conservative's career is on fire. In July 2008, Newsmax magazine named the lawyer with Jamaican heritage as one of three "Fast Trackers" on its list of the nation's top opinion leaders.

Her husband and father of her children, Joe Johns of CNN, ain't doing so bad himself.

The Latest On Your Girl Monica

No Cream No Sugar has the details

Exercise 15 Minutes At My Desk: Step #2 To Getting That Promotion

It is happening to you. Every morning you are the first one in the office and the last one to leave at night, congratulations, this is step #1.

But that cute size three with the water bra is getting all the attention and has your promotion in her sites.

What to do? Sistah' we know you are too tired... to go to the gym, but you need to step it up! Here is a 15 minute routine you can do before any co-workers arrive or after they have all gone home. Fight fire with fire and Bring It!

Are Black Journalists Lap Dogs To Black Candidate Barack Obama???

Will Pioneer Journalist Ed Bradley

Give Barry A Break?

Can Black Journalist still remain unbiased, and ask the hard questions, when so many are genuinely happy about Barack Obama's candidacy? Black Journalist are in a very strange place and the looser in their discomfort may be presidential candidate Barack Obama. On Sunday these same Black Journalist "brought the fire" as Obama...

was forced to tiptoe around prickly questions about reparations, immigration, and whether he went too far in correcting a lingering misconception among some voters that he is a Muslim.

Obama started out wrong and tick'ed off many Black Journalist by arriving late at their UNITY Conference. Read Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell as she brings it all home.

Black Man Becomes "Next Food Network Star"

Aaron McCargo Jr Takes It: Big Daddy's Coming

Did CNN Really Show Black America?

Political Wear in Support of Obama '08
Black WWII Vets Get Apology for Convictions
Debate Over Black Personal Responsibility Grows
Black Radio on Obama is Left’s Answer to Limbaugh
Obama Shifts Focus From Foreign Policy to Economy

Obama Considers GOP Running Mate

Uncle Luke Finally Takes a Bride
US Assistance to Horn of Africa Over $797M
Road Accident Leaves at Least 32 Dead in Haiti
Black Real Estate Pros Cautiously Optimistic

Albinos Being Targeted in Tanzanian Witchcraft Killings
Trina in Accident in Belize; Issues Statement

Justin Timberlake Edited for Joke at 2008 ESPYs

By Jayar Jackson

Now that everyone has had the chance to see the ESPYs 15 times in the last few days, the controversy of Justin Timberlake's hosting performance has made its rounds.

Boy bander turned all-around entertainer JT seems to be making a living off of his sports related performances needing a tape delay.

How could anyone forget his role in the infamous wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime performance with Janet Jackson, forcing CBS to implement a tape delay to avoid the FCC the next time around?

Well, our man Justin has now brought his line pushing to the doors of ESPN.

While joking about the Celtics' NBA Champion Paul Pierce's knee injury from Game 1 of the Finals this year, Timberland described his dramatic return as "shucking and jiving" back onto the floor. Although he had been getting laughs all evening, reports say that this joke evoked crickets from the audience of celebrities and professional athletes.

In case you're wondering, Pierce is Black and the term "shuckin and jivin" is a racially offensive way to describe Black people in trouble. It dates back to slavery days in America where a slave may try to quickly come up with a story to tell a White authority figure to get himself out of some mischief.

If it's still not sinking in, the negative imagery that comes to my mind is a Black man, fumbling and stuttering over his words, obviously lying to avoid some sharp and severe punishment for stepping outside of his box. He thinks he's smart, but he'll never fool the wiser White guy.

Unsurprisingly, ESPN utilized their 4 day gap between taping and broadcasting the event to edit out the controversial joke.

Should fans be annoyed and upset over Timberlake's irresponsible use of the term? Definitely. Should Timberlake apologize and move on with his life? Of course, that's what celebrities do. Should people assume that he is a racist that harbors negative thoughts and feelings about Black people? Hell no.

First of all, no one even knows who wrote that joke, and even if Timberlake did, it's pretty apparent that it was misplaced. The images of Pierce bouncing back onto the basketball court after being taken out on a wheelchair probably looked a little like a dance to some. The "jiving" of Timberlake's lame joke seemed to fit in his mind, not realizing that the term has origins of hate, ridicule, and mistreatment.

Pierce wasn't explaining anything, he wasn't coming up with a story to get himself out of any trouble as the term requires.

Bottom line, let him go; stop calling him a racist, a "wigger," (a term I happen to hate) and just keep buying his music every guy tries to hate, but secretly loves. Go ahead, play "FutureSex/LoveSounds the next time your boys come over (because you know you secretly have it). You'll get clowned at first, but they'll soon subconsciously start bobbing their heads!

Highlights Of The 2008 Blogging While Brown Conference

Some of the attendees at the inaugural Black Blogger's Conference

The "Digital Renaissance Movement" Is Officially On!

Rapper Rick Ross, Studio Gangsta

By Jayar Jackson

Drug kingpin turned rapper Rick Ross is taking some serious heat for his “shaky” past. No, the police are not after him for “making a couple million dollars last year dealin weight.”

They’re not even looking into the hundred favors that “the real Noriega” owes Ross. Rick Ross, aka William Roberts is under fire from hip hop fans that are upset or laughing that his connection to drug kingpins was only while locking them up.

After pictures of a young, clean shaven Ross surfaced last week of him shaking hands as a newly crowned corrections officer, many hip hop fans were in disbelief that this virtual Tony Montana lied to them. “The Boss” proceeded to vehemently deny the accusations, saying that the picture was photoshopped by haters trying to bring him down from the top of the game.

“If this s**t was real don't you think they would have more specifics, like dates and everything? Fake pictures are created by the fake, meant to entertain the fake.”

Mr. Roberts failed to remember what many of our politicians let slip their minds: we keep records of everything; we videotape and take pictures of everything else. So, with his desperate denials out there, the Smoking Gun produced the specifics he was asking for. The dates, salary, and length of time he worked for Florida’s Department of Corrections. Whoops!

Now, let’s keep it gangsta. (I won’t say that anymore.) Does it really matter that William Leonard Roberts was a 19 year old corrections officer for 18 months back in ’95? Does it matter that he talks about knowing the real Noriega? Actually, if you ever really believed that this performer that graced stages and recorded albums was stupid enough to be out on the streets “pushin weight” for a couple million dollars last year, then you should be upset with yourself. Maybe he was talking about pushing your weight to the record store to buy his “street life” music you envied him for.

Hip hop started as a way for the artists to talk about their lives and where they come from. Sometimes the stories spoke of the horrors of the streets, drugs, and crime. This used to educate the people that didn’t live that life about the things that happened outside of their little bubble. Somehow, this ugly street life that no one desires to live turned into a desirable goal by the kids that never lived it. Somewhere along the way, these kids changed their dreams from wanting to go to pharmacy school to just being a street pharmacist. Since some real “Gs” made fame and fortune rapping about their past, everyone else saw the benefits of gangsta rap. If you didn’t live it, just make it up!


We’re so wrapped up in the soap opera that many performers write for us, we’ve been missing how ridiculous the storyline has gotten. Now that one of the script writers has been exposed as a legitimate, law abiding citizen, some are upset?? Trust me, Hulk Hogan didn’t actually get stronger every time The Ultimate Warrior hit him with the chair at Wrestlemania. And what’s so wrong with never being locked up, never getting shot 5 times, and never helping turn your neighborhood into a war zone?

We need to make up our minds about hip hop and our community. One minute, we blame the rappers for writing misogynistic, profanity-laden lyrics about selling drugs and shooting people. We want them to stop glorifying a murderous street life and stop setting negative examples for our kids. Then we call them suckers when it’s discovered that they’re married to their high school sweetheart that they lost their virginity to, they have 2 kids that live in the suburbs, and every time little Ricky swears, he has to put his allowance in the Swear Jar.

OUR 3BAAS AUDIENCE WEIGHS IN ON MICHELLE OBAMA AND JESSE JACKSON

Your Thoughts About Michelle Obama:

Like Her (25%)

Love Her! (53%)

Indifferent (3%)

Not Feeling Her, At All!!! (17%)

What folks had to say about Reverend Jackson, under the hood.

Are You Through With Jesse Jackson?

Completely! (46%)

I Still Have Some Love & Respect (22%)

No, He's Telling The Truth About Barack (13%)

Crabs In The Barrel - SMH!!! (17%)


Thanks for voting family!

Viagra For Women?... Putting the Fire In Your Desire

When I read all the recent articles on enhancing a woman's sexual desire I'm really confused about the medicine cabinet of cures. The one thing all the surveys do agree... is that men's Viagra will increase my orgasms and well, that's a good start.

It doesn't cure the big problem need, that being need, want, desire; just getting me interested in having sex in the first place. Sexually dysfunctional women in the United States are, well, mostly out of luck.

Unlike men, there are no approved drugs to take. If you go strictly by the rules, the best medical science has to offer is counseling, or a device that applies suction to your clitoris, or physical therapy for your vagina. While not to diminish these choices, where's that convenient, little blue pill for women?

That's what Joanne wanted to know. This isn't her real name, but she's a 26-year-old nurse at the Cleveland Clinic who felt no sex drive -- nothing, nada, zilch -- for eight years. She wasn't happy, and neither was her boyfriend

In the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Viagra was proven helpful for men who suffered from erectile dysfunction associated with the use of antidepressant medications.

In a current study, undertaken at seven research centers, they turned their attention to women. The study included 98 women -- half of whom received Viagra and half who received a placebo -- who were told to take the pills before sexual activity.

Women taking Viagra reported an improved ability to reach orgasm and increased orgasm satisfaction, according to the study authors. (Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter)

This was the case with Joanne, but Viagra did not get to the core of her sexual dysfunction, that being desire to have sex at all. Read on as we find with Joanne 5 Ways to Get Your Love Life Going. by Elizabeth Cohen

Obama Says Hispanic's Got My Back

Who would'a thunk' that we would be reporting that recent polls show a huge overflow of Hispanic love for presidential candidate Barack Obama. It has been long thought that the African American vote was no longer relevant and that the Hispanic vote was the crucial vote for either candidate and it appears Obama is the...

the one they like. The poll of 2,015 Latino voters conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center found that Democrat Barack Obama, who lost the Hispanic vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly 2-to-1 in the Democratic primary, holds a commanding 66 percent to 23 percent lead over Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

The Democratic tide in the Latino community is so strong that Obama leads among every nationality group, including the historically Republican Cuban-American population, where Obama now leads, 53 percent to 29 percent.

The Illinois Democrat is running far ahead among Mexican-Americans, who cast about 40 percent of their ballots for George W. Bush in 2004. Among voters of Mexican ancestry, Obama leads McCain, 70 percent to 21 percent.

Obama is running so far ahead that he has the support of 25 percent of Hispanics who identify themselves as Republicans and holds an edge of about 5-to-1 among Latinos who consider themselves political independents.
Source: RICHARD S. DUNHAM Houston Chronicle

Did A Prominent Black Doctor In L.A. Sexually Assault A 15-Year-Old & Other Patients?

Held in jail on a $4-million bail, Dr. Kevin Brown's arrest came after several women contacted authorities and accused Brown of sexually battering or raping them during medical examinations. Son of the premier in Bermuda, Brown faces 19 felony counts, including a lewd act on a 15-year-old, rape, sexual battery by fraud and sexual exploitation.

The alleged assaults occurred between Nov. 6, 2006, and May 31, 2008. If convicted, the 37-year prominent physician faces 27 years in state prison.

At the time of his arrest Monday, Brown was free on bail for a previous sexual assault arrest. Brown also operates the Urban Health Institute of Los Angeles. The charity, which is run out of the same building as Brown's practice, seeks to provide disaster relief in the United States, South America and throughout Africa.

Founded by Brown, the institute has held fundraisers at the Playboy mansion. The events have featured celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian, Don Cheadle, Shannon Elizabeth and Hugh Hefner. Newspapers in Bermuda have reported that its tourism board provided free vacations to the charity. The trips were given as prizes for donors to the charity.

Brown is also being investigated in a multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud probe by the state. As for the new allegations, at least three cases are being prepared against Brown, Deputy Dist. Atty. Ann Marie Wise said in court, and four other patients have come forward and will be interviewed by investigators.

Regarding the eight cases in which Brown has already been charged, at least one of the incidents occurred outside Brown's medical office when he went to the home of a female patient in Alhambra and allegedly raped her, Wise said.

The California Medical Board also has filed a motion with the court to suspend or revoke Brown's medical license, she said.

The doctor's attorneys, Keith Bowman and Blair Berk, portrayed Brown as a physician arrested for touching patients and said that detectives went to the media to appeal for more victims.

Brown allegedly molested eight patients over a two-year period. He is also being investigated by the state for "multiple healthcare fraud schemes and over prescription of Oxycodone," according to court documents. He has not been charged in connection with that inquiry. Source

The View's Sherri Shephard Has "Had More Abotions Than I Can Count"

"I talked to God, I talked to Barbara. We good.”

Wednesday on “The View,” Shepherd clarified some statements that she made to a black Christian women’s magazine called Precious Times. In the article, she was quoted as saying that televangelists Juanita Bynum and Joyce Meyer would be good on “The View.” She said “they could lay hands on Barbara Walters and get her saved.”

Shepherd says she was joking and clearly it didn’t come off the way she wanted it to. She says she spoke to Walters, who is vacationing in France, and apologized for any offense. She says Walters laughed and shot back: “Sherri, I’m already in heaven. I’m in Paris.”

Shepherd also explained a statement she made to the magazine about having had multiple abortions in the past. She was quoted as saying “I’ve had more abortions than I can count.”

Shepherd says she carried a lot of shame and guilt about it, until a woman at a conference said “Sherri, when you get to heaven all your babies are going to be there.”

Shepherd says she was in no way trying to be flippant about abortions. MSNBC

Kwame, What Is The Deal Bro?

Detroit Mayor Lied about Other Affairs, DA Says

14 Million in Africa's Horn Need Food Aid

After 60 Years, Senior Black Military Officers Rare

Obama Meets with Israeli, Palestinian Leaders

Obama Trounces McCain...in Sales of T-Shirts, Badges, Caps

One 1 Black Among 38 Most Senior Generals

Nas Knocks Lil Wayne's Block Off

Gov. Patrick Says He's Not Pondering Supreme Court

Rick Ross Reaffirms Gangster Past

Five Black Cops Who Sued Minneapolis to Get $2M

UN: Congo Prisoners Dying of Hunger

Soledad Strikes Gold With CNN's Black In America

Will John Edwards Love Child Rumours Keep Him Off The Obama VP List

It is so hard to report stories like this when the principle source is the National Enquirer, but here it is and only time will tell how it pans out. This saga continues as Edwards was seen sneaking out of the hotel after an overnighter with the the alleged "babies mama" Rielle Hunter.


The married ex-senator from North Carolina - whose wife Elizabeth continues to battle cancer — met with his mistress, blonde divorcée Rielle Hunter, at the Beverly Hilton on Monday night, July 21 - and the NATIONAL ENQUIRER was there! He didn’t leave until early the next morning.

Rielle had driven to Los Angeles from Santa Barbara with a male friend for the rendezvous with Edwards. The former senator attended a press event Monday afternoon with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on the topic of how to combat homelessness.

But a months-long NATIONAL ENQUIRER investigation had yielded information that Rielle and Edwards, 54, had arranged to secretly meet afterward and for the ex-senator to spend some time with both his mistress and the love child who he refuses to publicly acknowledge as his own. Thanks Bumpshack.com for scooping the scoopers

Newsflash: Justin Timberlake Is Not Black!

Justin Timberlake had another slip up on tv. Apparently he made a “shucking and jiving” joke about Celtic Champ Paul Pierce that many black folks may not like. And unlike Nipplegate with Janet Jackson, his slip up will be omitted from the ESPY Awards show completely when it airs.



JT was reportedly teasing Boston Celtics basketball player Paul Pierce about his injured knee in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. In describing how Pierce quickly came back, Justin joked that Pierce was back on the court, “shucking and jiving.”

The comment, which was cut out of the broadcast that aired Sunday night, was met with silence from the crowd when the show taped on Wednesday.

Post comes courtesy of YBF.

The WNBA Gives Us a Good Ol' Fashion Cat Fight

DETROIT, Michigan (AFP) — A late-game brawl Tuesday in the Los Angeles Sparks' 84-81 Women's National Basketball Association win over the Detroit Shock saw three players an assistant coach ejected.

The incident began after a made free throw by Los Angeles, when Sparks rookie sensation Candace Parker got tangled with Shock's Plenette Pierson and both fell to the floor.

Pierson then charged Parker, who threw the Detroit center to the court.

Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn came off the bench, apparently trying to restore order. But he incited more trouble when he inadvertently knocked Los Angeles forward Lisa Leslie to the floor.

Story comes courtesy of AFP.

RushmoreDrive.com: Not Your Everyday Search Engine

A search engine launched in April aims to deliver a better experience for black audiences. While not the first black search engine or portal (others include blackwebportal.com, blackfind.com and blackseek.comm) RushmoreDrive.com is said to be the best financed under parent company IAC(InterActive Corp.).

But Black Web Enterprises president Johnny Taylor is quick to point out that RushmoreDrive.com — named after the street on which its Charlotte offices are located — goes beyond search. Each query also returns news, images, video and blogs.

Former Fox and Paramount Chairman Barry Diller embraced the idea of expanding online services for affinity groups, says Taylor, and a black-focused site was considered the first move. Black Web's analysis found that an estimated 24 million black Americans are already online, and black household adoption of high-speed service is rising 13% to 14% a year.

Story comes courtesy of USA Today.

Activist Najee Ali Denounces Inglewood Police Officer's 2nd Killing This Year

"Inglewood Police Chief Seabrooks has spit in the face of every resident of Inglewood by not speaking up sooner." Najee Ali, Project Islamic H.O.P.E.

An Inglewood police officer who shot and killed an armed man early Monday while responding to a domestic disturbance call is one of two patrolmen under investigation for another fatal shooting in May, authorities said. Activist Najee Ali want justice for Kevin Wicks a postal employee for 19 years. 'Family Wants Justice' in Taser Death

Officer Brian Ragan, a 5 1/2 -year veteran of the department, was immediately placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting of Kevin Wicks, 38, said Capt. Eve Irvine, commanding officer of the department's detective bureau.

Ragan was one of four officers who responded to a family disturbance call at Wicks' apartment in the 100 block of North Hillcrest Blvd. about 12:30 a.m., authorities said. The officers knocked on the door and it was opened by a man holding a gun, police said.

"At one point while the door was ajar, the officers observed that Wicks was holding a handgun," police said in a prepared statement. "Wicks then suddenly raised the handgun at the officers, which resulted in one officer firing his service weapon in self-defense."

Wicks, who had been alone in the apartment, was taken to a hospital, where he died, police said. At the scene, officers recovered a handgun registered to Wicks, Irvine said.

Kevin Hackie, a private investigator hired by Wicks' family, said later that officers had gone to the wrong apartment and that they did not identify themselves. But police said that was not the case.

Dorothy Nelson, Wicks' grandmother, described him as an honest and hardworking man. She said Wicks, who worked for the U.S. Postal Service, had two daughters, ages 12 and 2.

"It's very sad that our system is so poor that they would put a police officer that just shot someone" back on the street, she said, referring to Ragan, who returned to work last month.

The Rev. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray, former pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, said "justice is in a waiting mode."

"I hope the system will be true to the best that is within us," he said. Joanna Lin and Andrew Blankstein of the LA TIMES have more on this story, the other Ragan killing and how that mans family is suing the City of Inglewood.

Historic Blogging While Brown Conference Highlights Increasing Role Technology is Playing With African Americans

This Is So Much Bigger Than We Realize

By Valencia Roner

While you may not immediately take note of the hundreds of bloggers gathering in Atlanta this weekend, a closer inspection should peak your interest.

That’s because the 1st Annual “Blogging While Brown” conference July 25-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center will launch what many believe is yet another milestone in blacks both in the United States and abroad collectively flexing their “online” muscle.

How much of this is due to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s phenomenal success mobilizing donors and volunteers with just a click of a mouse remains to be seen. But in a USA Today article discussing the recent Radio One study about African Americans, the so-called digital divide that previously was leaving behind minorities and others without Internet access has narrowed greatly. About 68% of blacks spend time online, the survey found, compared with 70% of all Americans, according to other surveys.

Gina McCauley, founder of What About Our Daughters was instrumental in organizing the historic international event and is ecstatic about the unprecedented gathering of individuals already perched atop prime cyber real estate.

"The Internet is a Wild Wild West and we don't have to go through the NAACP," says McCauley, a 30-something personal injury attorney hailing from Austin, Texas. Along with other bloggers who regularly post commentary or video about politics, alternative lifestyles, entertainment, sports and culture, McCauley is among a small cadre of blacks who have mastered the intricate dance of pursuing social change through advertiser supported social networking.

With an intensity that caught Essence Magazine’s eye and resulted in McCauley being named one of the publication’s Top 25 Black Women of 2007, Gina has become the “go to sister” on issues “sisters” want to dissect and take on.

And she’s not alone. Arlene Fenton of Black Women Vote has also emerged as someone to watch who will be at the “Blogging While Brown” conference. A regular guest on NPR’s News & Notes with Farai Chideya, Fenton has even branched into producing and hosting her own Internet radio show, “The Queen’s Council.”

Kevin Ross is traveling from Los Angeles to speak on one of the panels entitled “Can
New Media Work with the Old Guard and Old Media?” Establishing his company 3BAAS Media Group after he and his business associates started blogging at 3 Brothers And A Sister, the former judge and terrestrial radio host turned strategic marketing CEO understands that networking is a prime motivation for many attending. But for Ross, it’s also about finally meeting individuals with whom he has corresponded, or whose blogs he enjoys reading.



“I really like Electronic Village, Dallas South and even the gossip site Necole Bitchie,” said Ross. “These folks are intelligent, highly sophisticated entrepreneurs who are blazing a trail for other blacks who still have no idea as to the opportunities available on the Web.”

While Ross is planning to give a full debriefing of the conference on his popular Blogtalkradio program after it’s over, Shwana Ruth-Bridges, a talented corporate attorney blogger who goes by Attorneymom, will be broadcasting live.

And one of the highlights of this 3-day landmark event will be the technology keynote by Angela Conyers-Benton and Markus Robinson of Black Web 2.0 Their “Ultimate Blog Experience” workshop will help minority blog publishers enhance the functionality and appearance of their blog, implement traffic building strategies, utilize widgets to their advantage, and develop engaging content.

In the comment section of the conference’s blog, one attendee with the initials WD put it this way, “Looking forward to this event! Finally hooking up with tech/blog crazed brown people, lol. Let’s have fun and serious discussions and leave the ‘egos’ home--You know what I'm saying…”

If we don’t, it probably won’t be long before we’re all reading about or watching it at WD’s blog.

It’s name?

Black Internet Television!

Valencia Roner serves as Vice President of Operations for 3BAAS Media Group, LLC. She writes for the blogs Diary of a Content Black Woman, Three Brothers and a Sister, and No Cream, No Sugar. Valencia also hosts the Content Black Woman Show on BlogTalkRadio and will serve as a moderator for one of the Blogging While Brown panels.

D.C. RESIDENTS BEGIN PACKIN'

As registration of guns recently began, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called on residents to refuse to buy into the gun culture by just saying no.

“If the great majority of residents, who supported our gun ban, meant it, now is the time to show it. I challenge every resident not to buy a gun," she said. "Don’t buy into the gun culture in our streets by bringing it into our homes with the gun you buy. It’s up to us now.”

She said that the data for decades has reported few instances where a gun in the home was used to deter a break-in or hold off a criminal. The evidence is that three main results of guns in the home are accidents often involving children, domestic violence and suicides, she reported.

For more, visit The Washington Continent.

The Golden Girls Estelle Getty Dead at 84

Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 84.

Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at her Hollywood Boulevard home, said her son, Carl Gettleman of Santa Monica. Under the hood, our Beyonce/Estelle workout remix video.



"She was loved throughout the world in six continents, and if they loved sitcoms in Antarctica she would have been loved on seven continents," her son said. "She was one of the most talented comedic actresses who ever lived."

"The Golden Girls," featuring four female retirees sharing a house in Miami, grew out of NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff's belief that television was ignoring its older viewers.

Three of its stars had already appeared in previous series: Bea Arthur in "Maude," Betty White in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Rue McClanahan in "Mama's Family."

The last character to be cast was Getty's Sophia Petrillo, the feisty 80-something mother of Arthur's character. "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," Arthur said in a statement.

For more, visit the Associated Press.

Shopping In Beverly Hills This Weekend? We Got The Hook-Up!

Don't Sleep!!!

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday there's going to be an incredible Clearance Sale on Women's Bags and Men's Shoes and Boots from designers such as Gucci, Prada, Tods, Louis Vuitton and Italian Cowboy and more!

Prices as low as $75.00 for all men shoes and boots! As low as $100 for women hand bags! Details under the hood.

Everything most go!

See you there!

STOP TELEMARKETERS FROM RIPPING YOU OFF BY CALLING YOUR CELL PHONE!!!

All phone numbers became public family as of July 19, 2008

REMINDER....

all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing and you will start to receive sale calls and BE CHARGED FOR THOSE CALLS!

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.

It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a differentphone number.