Suze Orman's Recession Survival Strategies on Oprah

If you missed Thursday's Oprah, you missed Suze Orman's new financial strategies for surviving the current economic downturn that's sure to get worse before it gets better. Families are having to cut their budgets to the bare bones all across the country. Orman's most surprising nugget of wisdom was to pay only the minimum payment on credit card bills until finances flow freely again. Visit www.Oprah.com to view video clips and read text from the segment for great advice on what to do if you've been laid off (COBRA is more affordable, information on unemployment benefits and possible extensions you may qualify for), refinancing or modifying your mortgage (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac clients), and stashing your cash. Find out how the Stimulus Plan can help you!

SanKofa Connection: 3rd Annual Cultural Touch Festival

SanKofa Connection's Third Annual Cultural Touch Festival

Saturday, April 25, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 4:00p.m.

Sponsored by:
African-American Cultural Society
345 Manning Ave
Sumter, SC

Hosted by Natalie Williams, Program Director

Featuring:
African Drumming, Performances & Fashion Show, Queens of the Nile Presentation,Dancing, Food Vendors, and Exhibits

"Remembering the past to build the future."

Life Magazine: The Day MLK Died -- Exclusive Photos

Life magazine has posted previously unpublished photos of the scene after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination.



http://www.life.com/image/last/in-gallery/24651

Nick Vujicic: Are you going to finish strong?

Life Without Limbs

Special thanks to T. York for the clip!

Miki Howard to sing in SC!

The South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus presents its 2009 Annual Gala featuring Miki Howard, Lenny Williams, Clarence Carter, Keith Robinson and Pressha. Tickets are on sale at the Township Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Visit the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus website for additional information.

AARP Article Lists Best Hospitals

NBC's Today Show featured a segment with AARP and it's article on finding the best hospital for what ails you. In the May and June 2009 issue of AARP Magazine, readers are set on the right path to finding the proper health care. The online article features an interactive map of the top 125 hospitals in the country making it easy to locate one near you.

Those seeking medical help will also find links to other helpful websites like Consumers' Checkbook, a non-profit organization that rates service firms and publishes Consumers' Guide to Hospitals, Hospital Compare,an online tool provided by Medicare, Center for Medical Consumers, a consumer advocate, and Patient Advocate Foundation which seeks to solve insurance and health care access problems.

See what hospitals doctors picked as their favorites for problems with everything from the eyes to mystery diagnoses.

Read it in good health! Keep what you've got because you can't buy it, people.

Actress Aasha Davis' Sister Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances

'Friday Night Lights' actress Aasha Davis' sister, Lesley Ann Herring, has been missing for seven weeks. Davis, listed as her sister's emergency contact at work, was notified once Herring failed to show up at work two consecutive days.

Aasha Davis, who has also guest starred on 'Grey's Anatomy', appeared on television with police to plead for the public's assistance in finding her beloved sister. She also has a blog featuring pictures of Lesley and sentimental messages from family members and friends.


Herring is married to Lyle Herring who also disappeared for a short time but resurfaced without his wife. The long dreadlocks he wore had been cut. The police are frustrated with the lack of concern and cooperation exhibited by Herring in the disappearance of his wife.

Lesley Ann Herring's family is asking anyone with information regarding her disappearance or whereabouts to call (213) 972-2915.

Dakota's Easter Wish

With Easter fast approaching (April 12th), parents may want to consider a sweet alternative to filling their children's Easter baskets with lots of candy. Author Vasilisa Hamilton's book, Dakota's Easter Wish, makes the perfect Easter gift for children 3 to 8 years of age.


In this humorous tale, Dakota is the only child who has not won the annual Easter egg hunt. Her determination to make her wish come true will inspire your child to dream and to work hard to make that dream come true.


Visit Vasilisa at her website: www.papadidntpreach.com

Heck of A Half Court Shot!

Vick to testify at bankruptcy hearing.

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, has been ordered to appear at his bankruptcy hearing in Newport News, VA on April 2nd. The Federal Bureau of Prisons website currently lists Vick as being "in transit." The NFL star was convicted of a dogfighting conspiracy charge and sentenced to 23 months at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Vick is eligible for home confinement on May 21st and release on July 20th.

Can You Keep a Secret?

Author Nishawnda Ellis' secret is out! She returns to bookstores with her latest literary offering, Keeping Secrets Telling Lies. Read an excerpt below.
Shaniece Turner is back and hell bent on getting what she wants: marrying Mark Anderton, and getting away with murder.

In the mind of a dangerous psychotic woman burying her secret is like checking off her "to do" list: planned, calculated and executed. The only thing between her fairy tale ending is an all grown up Dawson Jones, who discovers the real person responsible for her father's mistress's murder and is determined to make her suffer.

After the dust settles, who will win, who will lose and what's the final body count?

Keeping Secrets, Telling Lies is the sequel to Wives and Girlfriends (Urban Books, 2007)

In Stores April 2009

Kutiman - 03 - I'm New

Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer Smackdown

Just in case you missed Jon Stewart giving Jim Cramer a verbal @ss whippin' (I don't think anyone did), here it is.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 3

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Peddlers Group opens online bookstore!

The Peddlers Group is a new online bookstore hoping to attract lovers of the written word.



With titles such as Sins of the Innocent by Deborah E. Warr and Nik of Time by Catherine E. Standell and Cora Leigh Hampton, readers are sure to find a novel to captivate and engage their imaginations. If not, Peddlers Group invites you to tell them what your interests are so that they can meet your needs.



Stop by to read an excerpt or just to see what's being peddled today!

Rihanna,Chris Brown case inspires Oprah and Tyra. Pt. 2

NOTE: Dr. Phil is weighing in on this issue on Thursday as well. His segment is titled Love and Lies.

Violence is not the answer for either party, if the truth be told. If your relationship is abusive on any level...emotional, mental or physical, it should not be endured! You deserve better. Love will not be without complications from time to time, but that does not include neglect, intimidation, cruelty, or violence. So, if your relationship is causing you pain, you should be heading for the door.

The following poem is excerpted from my book, "He's Not Your Boyfriend If... She's Not Your Girlfriend If... A Rude, Offensive and Humorous Take on Unrequited Love". By no means am I implying that domestic violence is funny. The book is designed to make people in bad relationships think, open their eyes, look at it from a different perspective, and get out without beating yourself up about it (as women tend to do). The humor is just to make you laugh to lift your spirits. Read the poem. If it's you, get out, girl.

Wrong Far Too Long

If you’re being pushed, punched, kicked, or
slapped in the face...
Leave your abuser. Get to a safe place
So --- you’re staying with him for your
children’s sake
Actually, you’re showing them how much
a human punching bag can take

It’s not worth it. No doubt, he’s wrong
You’ve put up with the pain for far too long

Maybe hitting you is not his thing
He uses verbal abuse to pull your string
Well that is just as bad; it may even be worse
The psychological damage can plague your
life like a curse

Just because he speaks the words doesn’t
mean that they are true. He’s wrong
Listen to your heart, your soul to which God
speaks. You’ve ignored His voice for far
too long

It’s nothing like that, either, you say
Instead, you’ve compromised your morals in
some way
You know “it’s all good.” You’re trying to
keep your man ‘cause he’s “the one”
Yet, you’re ashamed. Your self-respect is
damaged. You regret what you’ve done

Find your strength by being secure in who
you really are. Asking you to be anything
else is wrong
Find your true character, your morals and
your values that have been pushed aside for
far too long

A relationship that damages you physically,
mentally, or morally is wrong
Staying in it a minute more is a minute too
long
Call on your faith. Rally your courage. As
long as you’re alive, you can be strong
But if you let him beat you to death, slay you
emotionally, or bankrupt you morally...
YOU have been wrong. YOU have been wrong --- far too long

Copyright ©2006-2009 by Sunida E. York All Rights Reserved

Rihanna,Chris Brown case inspires Oprah and Tyra. Pt. 1

Talk show queen, Oprah Winfrey, will be devoting Thursday's show to the subject of dating violence as will Tyra Banks. Both talk show hosts saw the well publicized, violent altercation between R&B singers Chris Brown and Rihanna as an opportunity to speak out against violence against women. Neither host is a stranger to advocating for women and against abuse. Oprah has done numerous shows over the years aimed at empowering women to leave abusive relationships and helping men to realize that it is never acceptable to abuse a woman, physically, mentally or emotionally. Since hanging up her angel wings and picking up a microphone, Tyra Banks has joined the chorus of voices admonishing violent behavior towards women. Oprah and Tyra feel compelled to attempt to reach the millions of teen aged Rihanna fans that statistics reveal are victims of dating violence.

Chris Brown has been charged with two felonies in the physical attack on Rihanna that left her visibly battered and bruised. It is alleged that he threatened to kill her during the beating. Brown's next court date is April 6, 2009. Celebrities have been weighing in on the incident, some speaking to Rihanna, asking her to carefully consider resuming a relationship with Brown. It has been rumored that the pair have reconciled and are engaged. In addition, Rihanna is said to be pregnant. None of the rumors have been substantiated. Many of the celebrities who spoke about the incident have noted that the allegations leveled against Brown have not been proven and judgement should be saved until such time.

I have been following the case and I am appalled when I hear comments such as, "They're just kids. He's only 18." While his age may attest to his lack of maturity, it does not excuse the beating he allegedly inflicted on Rihanna. Likewise, those who want to blame the victim by claiming that she provoked the attack are not offering a valid excuse. There is no excuse for a man to punch, choke and bite the woman he supposedly loves.

Racism is alive, well and kicking!

Man Finds Racial Slur Printed On Receipt
KMBC's Marcus Moore reports.




Thanks to C. Lewis for the email.

Barnes & Nobles responds to "racist" display allegation.

Barnes & Nobles Booksellers
Press Release

CONTACT:
Mary Ellen Keating
Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3323
mkeating@bn.com

03/06/2009

Barnes & Noble Outraged Over Tampering of Store Display in Coral Gables, Florida



New York, New York – March 6, 2009 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, announced today that it is the victim of a malicious act. The company is outraged over the tampering of a store display in its Coral Gables, Florida store by a customer who placed an inappropriate title in the center of its Presidential display. Barnes & Noble believes the incident occurred two weeks ago when a customer took a book from another part of the store entitled Monkeys: A Captivating Look at These Fascinating Animals, placed it in the window display and then photographed the altered display. When Barnes & Noble discovered the book in the display it immediately removed it. Since then, the photograph has been widely distributed via email and over the Internet falsely claiming that Barnes & Noble actually placed the book in the display.

Leonard Riggio, Barnes & Noble Founder and Chairman who has long been involved in the civil rights struggle, said “this malicious and despicable act is nothing short of a hate crime, which should be punishable under federal statutes. Rather than detracting from President Obama’s historic victory as was intended, the perpetrator of this crime served only to validate the wisdom of the tens of millions of Americans who voted for him.”

Read entire press release.

Thanks to T. Patterson for the link.

NFL Players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper Missing

Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith (pictured on the right) and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper have been reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip with two friends. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for the NFL players and Nick Skyler and William Bleakley. The men did not return to Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater Pass, Florida on their 21-foot fishing boat as expected. A Coast Guard spokesman said that no distress call was received from the men.




Links:

ESPN

ABC News

Yahoo News

Bloomberg.com

Radio Broadcasting Legend, Paul Harvey, Dead

AP – FILE **In this Nov. 16, 1988 file photo, radio commentator Paul Harvey and his wife, Lynne, hold a street



After almost 60 years of radio commentary, Paul Harvey passed away in Arizona on Saturday. A cause of death for the 90-year-old has not been made available. For "The rest of the story" on the radio pioneer, click here.


Links:

paulharvey.com

ABC News

Yahoo News