Back in Full Effect: The Queen Back at Top + Cadillac Records Updates + "At Last"

It's an exciting time for Beyonce fans around the world! We have been satisfying our crave for her artistry with a string of unofficially leaks, still jamming to Dangerously In Love and B'Day. Let's not even mention that my "The Beyonce Experience" DVD has just about been played to it's death!

However, our girl is back and on fire! And in the most modest way. Which I really love about the Lady.....she's not pulling stunts and tricks. Chick puts in work. You talk about it (good or bad). Somebody buys her brand (I sure didn't make 80 million last year!). And chick most likely goes home and plays wifey.

Never mind that nearly a month before her next project drops she has the #1 digital download on iTunes with her convincing ballad "If I Were a Boy" and it's counterpart, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" is the #1 video downloaded! And I know she's not phased that her album already claims the #4 spot.........I'm just saying! The girl puts in work.....

Speaking of putting in work, here are a few newer pictures from Cadillac Records where Beyonce is playing Legendary Etta James. These photos depict the singer "goin' thru" as she captures James' trouble times during which the Muse battles a heroine addiction.

Plus take a listen to Beyonce's "At Last" from soundtrack


If I didn't know any better I'd think this sista let herself GO!



I can already see parts of this movie will be sad. Poor Etta....

Minute Man Problems: 10 Ways For Him to Last Longer

Sex is every where you look these days. Yeah, yeah, yeah! We know...."sex sells" But something we also know is that great sex isn't exactly stocked in surplus. And if sex is selling at a cost that it's going to last for a few minutes at the most.....I'm sure there would be a LOT of returns if they could. Unfortunately, it does not work that way. So, then, there has to be ways to increase the brotha's--or whatever you choose-- stamina if you've been running into the Missy E. Complex!

Out of recent frustration a friend ::raises eyebrow:: asked me to look for some answers. I found this article in Men's Health. Take some pointers...go find a fine brotha and have GREAT, SAFE sex....all night! And get a couple rounds in for me, haha!

10 Ways to Last Longer in Bed:

The average guy lasts only 5 to 10 minutes during sex, and 71 percent of men want better sexual endurance. Use these strategies and ye shall, ahem, overcome.

1. Master Masturbation --Masturbate with a woman's orgasm in mind, not your own. In other words, take your time: Work up to 15 minutes. Bring yourself close to the point of no return, but don't let yourself ejaculate until time is up.

2. Squeeze--If you're overheating during sex stop and squeeze right below the head of your penis, focusing the pressure on the urethra—the tube running along the underside of the penis. This pushes blood out of the penis and momentarily represses the ejaculatory response.

3. Pinpoint Ejaculatory Inevitability--The process of sexual response has four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. The trick is to recognize the spectrum of feelings throughout the process. Rate your sexual excitement on a scale of 1 to 10. Try keeping yourself at 7.

4. Sexercise--A Kegel is an exercise that helps tighten muscles responsible for ejaculatory control. Become familiar with them by cutting off the flow of urine and then starting and stopping it repeatedly. Once you have the exercise down, practice your Kegels anywhere: at your desk, behind the wheel. Tighten your muscles and hold for a count of 10, then release.

5. Press, Don't Thrust--Press the end of your penis into her clitoral head. Linger in her vaginal entrance, where the most sensitive nerve endings are. When you do have intercourse, focus on small, shallow movements that penetrate the first 2 to 3 inches of her vagina.

6. Show a Little Courtesy--Ladies first, gentlemen—and we're talking about more than just holding the door open. When you help her have an orgasm first, it relieves you of some of the pressure to please and the psychological anxiety that feeds into PE.

7. Ask Your Doctor About Prozac--A recent study showed that 73 percent of men who suffered from premature ejaculation either were cured or improved after taking 20 milligrams of Prozac a day for a week and 40 mg thereafter.

8. Go for a Second Round--Shrug off an early emission with some extra attention to her arousal (yes, it means staying awake), then getting back in the saddle. Most men last much longer the second time around. And the more you practice, the longer that first time will last.

9. Let Her Climb On--When she's on top, your penis is less stimulated. And ask her to go slowly—long and fast thrusting is hazardous to a man's endurance.

10. Stop Thinking of Your Orgasm--The area of the brain responsible for triggering orgasm is engaged whether you're trying to have one or halt one. The more attention you give it, the more likely it is to arrive. Focus on what's happening now—her silky thighs on your hips, say—and you'll diffuse pleasure throughout your whole body.

Hard Times: Layoffs Highest Since 9/11

The number of layoff announcements involving at least 50 workers rose in September to the highest level since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks seven years ago, the government said Wednesday. There were 2,269 mass layoff actions, up 497 from August, according to statistics released by the Labor Department. That was the most mass layoffs since the 2,407 in September 2001.

Overall, the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits related to mass layoffs rose by 61,726 to 235,681. That was the highest level since September 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, resulting in 297,544 claims.

The manufacturing industry pulled the most devastating numbers, accounting for 28% of all mass layoffs and 36% of unemployment insurance claims in September. More specifically, 19,278 of the 46,391 claims in that industry came from the transportation equipment sector.

"Most manufacturers are pretty secure," said Chris Kuehl, economic analyst for the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. "But there's been a lot of action in the auto and aerospace sectors, such as the Boeing strikes and the low demand for cars due to the credit crunch."
Kuehl believes that layoffs at auto and aerospace companies, a large segment of the manufacturing industry, don't tell the whole story. "After all, the medical manufacturing and energy segments are gangbusters," he said.

It has come down to companies looking at the nice-to-haves and the must-haves, and the employees that are not essential will be up for review. You can count on a lot of hard-working, quality people losing their jobs if this pattern continues.



4:22pm Dow ends down 514 points, Nasdaq at 5-year low as weak earnings, slumping oil prices add to recession fears

Makin' Moves: P. Diddy Buys Enyce Brand

Sean Combs and his financial partner, The Yucaipa Cos. LLC (Los Angeles), have acquired street wear brand Enyce from Liz Claiborne Inc. (New York) for a reported $20 million.
Enyce LLC was founded in 1996 in New York as a denim and sportswear collections for men and boys. It also has big-and-tall and women’s lines. It was acquired by Liz Claiborne in 2003 and was one of the company’s brands targeted for disposition when Claiborne decided earlier this year to trim and simplify its offerings.

“Enyce is a brand that I have always admired, and they have been a very important player in the young men’s sportswear arena for over a decade,” said Combs, who is founder and CEO of Sean John apparel and retailing and, as “Diddy,” founder and CEO of Bad Boy World Entertainment Group. “I am really excited to bring it into our portfolio of brands that already includes Sean John and Zac Posen. Our long-term plan is to grow the Enyce brand through innovative marketing, expansion of the men’s wear and boys’ lines, and launching into new licensing categories.”

“As we continue to implement our strategy of building powerful brands, we determined that we can’t properly maximize the potential of Enyce,” said Claiborne ceo William McComb. “Enyce is a strong brand with a loyal customer following. However, the unsettled economic environment and our commitment to properly resource and focus on other brands in our portfolio contributed to this decision. As a leading player in the young men’s market, Sean Combs has the expertise and resources to help Enyce during this difficult period and ultimately thrive.”
The Yucaipa Cos. is controlled by Ron Burkle – who once owned Golden State Foods, Dominick's, Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Food4Less – and it holds a large stake in Sean John, in addition to ownership of British jeweler Garrard and stakes in London jeweler Stephen Webster and the specialty retailer Scoop.

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I'm not even mad at the brotha! This is funny to me because in light of all the slandering directed towards Barack Obama and his campaign, I was on YouTube the other night and viewed a video packed with ignorant white southerners. I especially remember one lady stating that she was afraid that if Obama wins the election that Black people were going to take over America.......................Not to mention dude has a TEAM of kids to think about!

Someone FORGOT to mention to this [honk] that we have been silently taking over for YEARS....Run tell Master Joe that!

Tee of the Day: Love is NOT Enough in Relationships

My best friend and I talk about this all the time. So when I saw this article I just had to share it because too often do we--especially young adults-- focus on the love factor in our relationships. Love does not hold a relationship. Nor does it promise that a person will forever feel obligated to be faithful to you. Sorry dear, but....the real tee is that L O V E is not enough! Read on children:

Relationships: Love Ain't Enough

More women are having affairs. Couples increasingly prefer cohabitation to marriage, avoiding commitment as if it were some kind of disease. The divorce rate continues to hover at 50 percent.
Still, undeniably, people like to pair up. The need seems to be built into us. And surveys show that most people believe that a good marriage is essential for a happy life. More and more, we rely on our private relationships for our mental health. But at the same time, they are becoming less satisfying.
"There are few positive models of marriage," contends psychologist David Olsen, Ph.D. "People make the assumption that love is sufficient." It isn't. And then when their marriage goes downhill, "unhappy couples can hardly remember what brought them together in the first place."
For good models of marriage, we have to look at animals, he told the Smart marriages conference, the world's largest gathering of relationship experts. And with that he dimmed the lights and showed video clips of Winged Migration. Downright inspiring!
Among the information presented at the conference:
• If love isn't enough, what is? For starters, personal financial management should be required education for every couple. Money is the number-one source of conflict in relationships. Sex is second.
• Tension in the parents' marriage affects kids. It is often the cause of teenage defiance.
• When parents fight, children withdraw from their fathers.
• In the first three years after the birth of a first child, 67 percent of couples experience a drop in relationship satisfaction. The drop occurs first in the mother, then in the father.
• Everybody handles conflict poorly when a discussion turns negative. What saves romance is attempts at repairing the relationship. "I'm sorry," counts.
• After affairs or other transgressions, forgiveness is necessary for healing. But some people forgive too cheaply. Forgiveness is not the job of the hurt party alone; genuine forgiveness must be earned. Forgiving too cheaply keeps people from using the experience to develop more intimacy. They also fail to gain insight into their own contribution to the situation.
• Refusing to forgive is unhealthy, physically and emotionally. "Not forgiving is literally poison," said psychologist Janis Abrahms Spring, PhD.
• After an affair, the offender must pay attention to the partner's pain if they want the partner to move on.
• "Physical abuse is not a relationship problem, it's a self-regulation problem," says Steven Stosny,, Ph.D. "Abusers are filled with shame, an internal punishment system controlled by someone else. When you violate attachment bonds you feel self-hate. Abusers lack compassion for themselves."
• "The instant we become an adult is the moment when the instinct to love is greater than the desire to be loved," Stosny insists.
• "We kill love by how we treat our partners, by not handling negative feelings well," says Howard Markman, Ph.D.
• Lack of commitment is subversive in a relationship, says Markman. Couples are not making it clear that they are choosing each other and giving up all other options. Then when problems arise they feel "I didn't clearly decide I wanted to be in this," and they don't push to resolve the issues -- which will just crop up again in the next relationship.
• "Love doesn't last forever because we need the opportunity for growth and healing," says Israeli psychologist Ayala Malach Pines, Ph.D. ""Being with a partner who pushes your buttons is good. The button points to the place that is most important for us to work on."

Jockin': Dominant Muse Rihanna Channels Inner...Bey?

Proving she really is.....NOT anybody's "dominant muse" ----yes STILL salty at Billboard.

Since lately the media has dug deep in their bag of tricks (obviously in reverence of Halloween approaching) to compare Beyonce and Rihanna, I think it's just worth taking a LOOK at....they do it, so can we! Maybe I'm reaching, but that's what these blogs do right?

And just to make things clear: While it's known that I'm a Die-Hard Beyonce fan, I do respect Rihanna holding it down in the game as long as she has. No shade! But, some ARTISTS should not be compared to other singers. Just out of respect....no?

Stunts & Shows: Will Obama's Camp Continue With Dignity?

As the weeks narrow down to the 2008 Presidential Election, the media is having a field day with all the back-handed accusations being made about Democratic Candidate, Barack Obama. Things are getting heated and the children are pulling out their best tricks.

Roland Martin, author of Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith and Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America views recent slander direct towards Barack Obama like:

Watching Sen. John McCain and top Republicans swing wildly in their
attempts to slam Sen. Barack Obama, with less than two weeks ago to go before
Election Day, is like watching an old fighter --clearly out of gas, his legs
turned to rubber, and all he can do is grab, hold, punch behind the back, just
anything to try to win.

It's clear that this race is no longer about political issues and what the candidates can bring to this nation come January. In fact, it's almost embarrassing to even think of what foreign nations think of us as a nation.

In the past two weeks, we've seen Minnesota Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann make one of the most audacious statements ever, suggesting that Obama holds anti-American views, that other members of Congress have the same views, and that the media should launch a widespread investigation to ferret them out.

Who gives her the right to primitively attempt to define what being "American" is? How can one truly know when so many factors, due to government, impede on the "American Dream?"

On the other hand, you have McCain and Palin slamming Obama for essentially being a socialist. We shouldn't be surprised that it's come to this because we already had radio hosts like Lars Larson, Glenn Beck and others trying to paint Obama for months as being a Marxist.

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Seriously, when will this stop? I can't be the only one who understands that crass accusations will not divert the attention away from the main thing wanted by the American people: Change. And statistics are proving that most people ::keeps fingers crossed:: have made up their mind as to which route to travel as we all journey on this road to progression.

Christina Aguilera Keeps Gettin' Better: New Promo Shots!

New mommy, Christina Aguilera, is back on the music scene and hotter than ever! Though her glammed up, sometimes trailer park trash looks speaks before you even hear one single note, Aguilera is back and proves why she will always give Spears a run for her money. She still rules in this womanizing world! Not to mention the girl can REALLY sing. Chick wales on the kidds!


Check out Xtina as she Gets In:


Lashes for days: She is giving me Futuristic Barbie


Chick is selling more than albums...WICKED!


Just in case you didn't know how to ride......rockets?





Overall, I'm really digging everyone's personal spin on the futuristic looks. It's hott and it makes dressing for colder days spicier...Get into THAT!

Poor Palin: If She'll Stick Beloved Alaska...

Gov. Sarah Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' plane flights. The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December 2006. She also has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls.

Alaska law does not specifically address expenses for a governor's children. The law allows for payment of expenses for anyone conducting official state business.
As governor, Palin justified having the state pay for the travel of her daughters -- Bristol, 17; Willow, 14; and Piper, 7 -- by noting on travel forms that the girls had been invited to attend or participate in events on the governor's schedule.
But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend.

On August 6, three weeks before Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain chose Palin as his running mate, and after Alaska reporters asked for the records, Palin ordered changes to previously filed expense reports for her daughters' travel.
In the amended reports, Palin added phrases such as "First Family attending" and "First Family invited" to explain the girls' attendance.
"The governor said, 'I want the purpose and the reason for this travel to be clear,' " said Linda Perez, state director of administrative services.

When Palin released her family's tax records as part of her vice presidential campaign, some tax experts questioned why she did not report the children's state travel reimbursements as income.
The Palins released a review by a Washington attorney who said state law allows the children's travel expenses to be reimbursed and not taxed when they conduct official state business.
Taylor Griffin, a McCain-Palin campaign spokesman, said Palin followed state policy allowing governors to charge for their children's travel. He said the governor's office has invitations requesting the family to attend some events, but he said he did not have them to provide.

Keep Reading

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Yeah Right! How convenient to just not "have them to provide." I keep convincing myself this Palin ordeal is a bad joke that has run its course way too long. Only to realize this is truly a contender running with a potential President of this Nation. Talk about harsh realities.

Shitz & Fitz: The Kidd Puts In Work!

This single [man] gets him a piece of the action. He will NOT let Beyonce serve the kidds without making sure he has a part in doing so. Not only does he have all 16 bars of choreography down....BUT....check out his get up. Dude has made him a homemade bathing suit. The kidds WILL invent----at all costs!



One just has to walk away and wonder, "Whose in charge of the girls?!"

Album Scoop: John Legend Proves Why He Deserves The Name 'Legend' On New LP

Artist: John Legend

Album: Evolver
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records

I was a little disappointed about the leak of this album, but oh well....here's my review!!!

After a two year break, John Legend has returned with his junior effort, 'Evolver'. The album includes the first single "Green Light" featuring André 3000 and the follow-up single "If You're Out There". It also features guest appearances and productions from André 3000, Kanye West, Brandy, Estelle, The Neptunes, Teddy Riley, and many more. Unlike the first two efforts, 'Evolver" features more uptempo tracks and showcases John Legend in a different light with refreshing sound.

When I first heard the first single, I knew that this was going to be another great album by John, and as a die-hard fan, I must say that I am not disappointed with the outcome and the direction Mr. Legend has decided to take with this one. The reason is that whenever an artist is constantly switching up their style and always bringing something new and fresh to the table, you can never label them or say that they have become predictable over the years, which in my opinion is a good thing. I must say that both 'Get Lifted' and 'Once Again' were great albums, but on this album you can really see the growth of Mr. Legend as an artist, songwriter, and a producer. With tracks such as "It's Over Now", Cross The Line", "Quickly", "Green Light", "No Other Love", and "Satisfaction" they all show a different side of John Legend that we have never seen or heard before, but do not get me wrong, there are still a few John Legend's signature tracks such as "This Time", "I Love, You Love", and "If You're Out There" for the rest of you John Legend's fans. The stand-out tracks for me were "Green Light", "It's Over Now", "Everybody Knows", "Cross The Line", "No Other Love", "This Time", "Good Morning", "I Love, You Love", and "If You're Out There".

John Legend's third album, 'Evolver' hit stores October 28th, so please make sure you guys go out and buy this album, you will not be disappointed, trust me!! The album rating: 4.5 out 5 stars!! Great Album and a MUST HAVE!!!!!

Track List

1. Good Morning (Intro)
2. Green Light (featuring André 3000)

3. It’s Over (featuring Kanye West)

4. Everybody Knows

5. Quickly (featuring Brandy)

6. Cross The Line

7. No Other Love (featuring Estelle)

8. This Time

9. Satisfaction

10. Take Me Away

11. Good Morning

12. I Love, You Love

13. If You’re Out There

14. Can’t Be My Lover (Bonus Track)

15. It’s Over (Teddy Riley Remix) (Bonus Track)

Hot Now: Can We Digg It?

QUICK NOTE:
From plaids to florals and mismatched colors to geometric patterns, this season's look is complex and clashing....Absolutely NOT for the faint hearted!


This look can be extreme, but if you wear IT and not have it wear YOU, then it can be pulled off melodiously--who says that?!

America a Melting Pot in Question: Muslim-Americans Speak

Everyone in America is experiencing some form of disconnection to what has been generally known/accepted as the American dream. Ultimately losing faith in the government they look to provide comfort and security during such socio-economic times as we live in today.

This fact is no different for Muslim-Americans who have had to defend their rightful place in America for years. The recent Presidential election does not dim the lights from being shone on these citizens.

Like many other Americans, the estimated 2.3 million Muslims living in the U.S. have been hurt by a limping economy, a problematic health care system and an unclear immigration policy. And the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have also hit close to home.

Fatema Biviji, 32, had never given much thought to politics until she received an e-mail earlier this year that said -- falsely -- that Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim. The Internet hoax, its origin unknown, was apparently intended to tie Obama to terrorism and swing support to his opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain.

"I was so mad," Biviji said. "The premise of that e-mail is that a person's religion should decide a person's character.

"We're America, the melting pot, the land of diversity, and that Americans would be buying into that psychology [of the e-mails] was upsetting," said the New Jersey-born Muslim, whose parents are from India. "The e-mail offended my American ideals."

It can easily be seen how globally The United States of America has gained a reputation contrary to what their ideals on diversity and acceptance for all shamefully fails during the most vulnerable times. I agree with former Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell (R), in his most recent public endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama:

Those kinds of images going out on Al-Jazeera are killing us around the
world," Powell continued. "And we have got to say to the world, it doesn't make
any difference who you are or what you are. If you're an American, you're an
American."

At Last: The Lady Seemingly Comes Into Her Own (stills from Cadillac Records)

Slated to hit theaters in December there are finally quality photos from the production of Cadillac Records starring Adrien Brody, Beyonce Knowles, and Jeffrey Wright. Take a look below:

Could we possibly be witnessing raw emotion?
Rippin' "At Last"
Gaining 15 lbs never looked better or "tasted" per the Diva

This is one talented Brother---definitely underrated

iListen 2 Tuesdays: PJ Morton*Lalah Hathaway

New Orleans, LA native, PJ Morton is definitely one of music's most promising artists to be on the lookout for in early 2009. He's been making his mark for quite some time now on the smaller, more intimate scene....but I'm sure his 2009 project will put him in the race with contenders such as John Legend, Musiq Soulchild and Raphael Saadiq.


PJ Morton describes his music as “feel good music that lyrically tells stories about life and love…music that makes your heart think. He coins his style of music, ‘soulful pop’.” This 27-year old musical prodigy is indubitably a “true” seasoned musician who has garnered a reputation for writing and producing warm, heart-felt, and infectious songs that engage the heart. His humble, yet aggressive spirit, along with his prolific musical talents has afforded him with many opportunities to “fall” comfortably into the music industry.


Having influences that range from Stevie Wonder to James Taylor, PJ reminisces on his childhood. “When I was younger, my mother would put on the Beatles and explain the songs … it made me focus on the writers. I’ve never been drawn to one style of music; it’s always been about the songwriters. That’s why Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Sting and James Taylor touched me so … because of the songs.”
Because of the uniqueness of PJ’s music, one cannot place him in one specific category. He says it best by stating, “Whatever genre you can stick Stevie Wonder or Sting in ….I’ll take that!” He has the necessary ingredients it takes to break new ground….to be a trailblazer! Without so much as a second thought, he will raise the bar in the industry! If one had to use one word to describe him, it would be FREE, because he does not worry about much. In his own words, PJ sums it up, “I just keep moving, because I know that it’s not my fight anyway. So, I just do what I do and let God do the rest!!!”

You Can Check Out Morton's Sound Below:

• PJ Morton- "Blah Blah Blah" iListen Now
• PJ Morton- "New Orleans Girl" iListen Now
  

One listen to anything Lalah Hathaway has recorded since her self-titled debut in 1990, and you can immediately expect to be swept away with sensational soul with lyrics that seem to invade on anything you have ever written or said/thought in secret.

Born to one of the most influential soul artists of the 70s, Donny Hathaway, Lalah does not disappoint!Although she has created a space for herself, it’s not surprising that Hathaway remains connected to her late, great father and his classic sound. “I am his daughter,” she says, softly, “and that’s the truth of who I am, every day. When I was 15, and then, 20, I didn’t get why people were asking me how I felt about him and his music. But when I turned 25, I began to understand. Like my father, I want to leave a legacy of music that makes people really feel something, whether it be happiness, sadness, grief or heartache. I also want them to appreciate my humor which I know can be difficult to interpret in a song.”

Hathaway's newest project is out now! And showcases some of Hathaway's best work thus far.Working with longtime collaborators (including singer/songwriters Rahsaan Patterson, Sandra St. Victor) and newcomers (Snoop Dogg producer Terrace Martin), Hathaway presents her most personal —and stunning—project to date. She colorfully evokes her childhood on "Little Girl," paying homage to her dad with a heart-tugging excerpt from one of his earlier interviews. Elsewhere, she brings her natural talent for phrasing and pouring a well of emotion into telling lyrics on such tracks as "Breathe" iListen Now and "Learning to Swim" iListen Now

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It's so refreshing that there are still younger artists making music from their soul; music that is organic in respect to what the artists stands for, the vision they see. When you do that, I feel you can't go wrong-- plus you don't have to worry about shocking the media too much when later you want to finally "come into your own"

Close Win For Orlando Magic

ATLANTA -- Dwight Howard had 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 109-103 preseason victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
Joe Johnson, who led the Hawks with 26 points, hit a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining to pull the Hawks to 102-100. Howard responded with a 5-foot turnaround jumper to make it 104-100 with 54 seconds remaining.
Johnson followed with another 3, leaving the Hawks a point down, but the Atlanta star missed a 12-footer with 27 seconds left for the lead. Howard got the rebound and was fouled. He made one of two free throws.

The Hawks had one more chance, but Mike Bibby missed a long jumper with 15 seconds remaining. Rashad Lewis hit two free throws to clinch it, and added two more for the final margin.

For Atlanta, Josh Smith added 13 points and five assists, Al Horford had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Bibby scored 13 points and had five assists. Johnson also had seven rebounds and five assists.
Lewis scored 25 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Teammate Courtney Lee chipped in with 13 points and four rebounds.
Orlando made 30-of-39 free throws and committed 16 turnovers, leading to 22 points for the Hawks.

"Free throws and turnovers are still two glaring errors," Van Gundy said. Atlanta was up 27-26 after the first quarter, but the Magic opened up a 39-29 lead 4 1/2 minutes into the second quarter. Johnson took over, scoring 10 points in the last 5 1/2 minutes of the half to pull the Hawks to 54-53 at the break.

"We allowed too many continuations on the defensive end and Howard continued to control the paint on the offensive and defensive ends," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "I played all of our bigs against him to see what we could come up with."

Bibby, the point guard, blamed himself for letting the Magic get the ball in Howard's hands.
"It starts with me," he said. "I need to put more pressure on the ball and make things a little tougher on the point guard."

The Magic improved to 5-1 in the preseason, while the Hawks dropped to 4-3. The teams meet in their regular-season opener at Orlando on Oct. 29.

"All we care about is jelling, because we understand we have new guys on the team," Smith said.

"That's all that matters."

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Once Not Good Enough: Stimulus Checks

With the economy's "progressive" lump, lawmakers are under pressure to do more than what they have been doing in the past months to boost both the economy and the faith of the American people in their government.

According to CNN, "the chances have increased that Congress could pass a second stimulus package during its lame duck session following the presidential election." And the White House said again that President Bush would be "open" to ideas for a second stimulus package, although press spokeswoman Dana Perino added that the administration would want to see details first before signing on. The administration believes that many of the proposals being discussed would not stimulate the economy.

What's up 4 Discussion?

• Democrats are steady pushing for a second stimulus check, while Republicans insist on tax incentives/break.


• Democrats want to extend jobless benefits, increase food stamps and invest more money in infrastructure projects to create jobs in the near term


• Democrats have also called for a moratorium on foreclosures


• Republicans are suggesting a temporary reduction or elimination of the capital gains tax on stocks and lower income tax rates for companies that buy distressed assets


• House Republicans are also calling for purchasers of homes that are not primary residences to be entitled to the same capital gains exclusion as owners who sell their primary residences.


• Both McCain and Obama's campaigns, though different in most ways, call for suspending the income tax on unemployment benefits and temporarily exempting seniors over 70-1/2 from having to make any withdrawals from their IRAs and 401(k)s.

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A second stimulus check could benefit the American people, however, don't expect anything to be final within the next few months. Whether another stimulus would harm more than help citizens is still in the air. While stats show that the first stimulus did increase consumer spending, it had no impact on consumers' savings or ability to pay down debt, neither of which is considered a short-term boost to economic activity.

So, don't hold your breath too long people!

Crossing Over For Change in 2008

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says he is voting for Barack Obama.

"I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign, such as the campaign's attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
"I think that's inappropriate. I understand what politics is about -- I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for," he said.

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This is definitely beneficial in gaining even more cross over appeal in America for Barack Obama. This Presidential election has superseded anything being remotely close to a Democratic or Republican straight ticket; for once people all across America have one need in common: unadulterated change. By any means necessary. Even if that means electing a Black man with direct African ancestry who bears a name reflective of dangerous terrorists, and whose had limited experience--having never been a prisoner of war!

Beyonce: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"

Download "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" & "If I Were a Boy" Now!

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" & "If I Were a Boy" are finally available for download. Buy it here now from iTunes!

And just in case you've been living under a ROCK The Undeniable Diva is "back" full force with a brand new album, I AM, dropping November 18th w/ two amazing singles! The emotive, vulnerable "If I Were A Boy" and the faithful fan-driven "Single Ladies" that will have everyone cuttin' a rug! Check out the videos below:

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

Fashion Watch: Fall Up2Date

Fall is in full effect and designers didn't let the usual humble hues of brown, grey, and the classic black-on-black limit their pallets this season. A splash of color brightens up any cold, rainy day!

Here are 8 Great Looks for Fall:

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1. Souffles sizzle on the catwalk by designers such as Alexander McQueen.
   


2. Hemlines Hang! Skirts take a dash back to the 70's-- longer and leaner. This creates a feminine look but can be dressed-down easily to avoid look overly "girly."



3. Jewelry (even costume) should be seen! Why be modest? The chunkier the better this fall--matching bracelets are even better.



4. Elaborate, colorful, and playful-- tights are fall's hottest add-on item.



5. The likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Sonia Rykiel show that art is in nature...and so is fashion.



6. Stilettos are back...in high demand. The higher the better. After all, you'll have legs for days!



7. Hats, headpieces, drapes? Get into it...



8. Collars and scarves go neck-to-neck this season. Layered necklines create a flattering finished look. Not a look for the timid!

The Best & Worst of Times

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...it was the spring of hope..."





Dickens could never have known just how prophectic these words would prove to be today in 2008. We witness some of the best of times as it pertains to science, justice & unity, and yes.....politics! The idea of there even being a chance (and that chance is great!) that an African-American man will be President of the United States is phenomenal and beyond anything most people ever imagined in this generation.

However, we can't overlook the fact that these are still the worst of times. Even as we are all excited about the Presidential election, we forget that

On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are
homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness
and Poverty.

Nor can we pretend that, according to the Department of Labor, over the past12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 2.2 mil-lion and the unemployment rate has risen by 1.4 percentage points. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate is predicted to increase well into 2009.

And these are just a couple issues: We MUST use our Voice and Vote!

Letting It Out: Welcome!

I welcome you to the start of what is a montage that has been inspired by my daily guilty pleasure(s) of blog surfing. I just believe bloggers overlook a more reflective perspective when considering their posts. That's why in addition to posts about fashion and music entertainment, I will include posts on socio-economics, politics (local & every day politics), and issues that arise awareness in our youth!

There has to be someone else interested in those things...or our youth is in BIG trouble!

Celebrity gossip and the hottest trends are infectious, yes! But after all is said and done, "Education is freedom."

-Oprah Winfrey