Keke Palmer & NeNe Leakes Wrap up Their Run on Broadway in ‘Cinderella’

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January 8, 2015

By Sonya Eskridge
HelloBeautiful.com

There was not a dry eye on the stage as Keke Palmer and NeNe Leakes took their final bows on Broadway last night.
The pair wrapped up their run in “Cinderella” on Saturday in New York. After months of work and preparation, Keke reflected on how scared she was at the beginning of her journey. Having come from a tv and film background, the young actress and talk show host didn’t know if she had what it would take to be a Broadway star. She pointed to her faith as a major source of strength and courage with this new adventure.
“Today was the official end of my Broadway debut. 136 shows out of 136 shows, man .. I can honestly say I wasn’t sure if I could do it,” Keke wrote in a post on Instagram. “So many thoughts run through your mind when you’re trying something new, but one thing I always know, is God wouldn’t give me what I was not ready for.”
She added, “This Broadway journey has been all about GOING FOR IT! Stepping into an uncomfortable zone and allowing yourself to get the opportunity to receive all the jewels that you are meant to gain from it.”
Even though her time as Cinderella is done, she’s carrying with her for the rest of her life. Keke mused, “I have gained so much courage and belief in me, in my heart and my intuition.”
It hadn’t been as long of a run for NeNe, who took over in November for Sherri Shepherd, but the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star was still overwhelmed by all of the support that she got for her theatrical debut.

TV One’s Award-Winning Signature Series, UNSUNG, Returns to the Network

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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SILVER SPRING, Md. – On the heels of its sixth consecutive NAACP Image Award nomination, TV One has announced that fan favorite series Unsung returns with four all-new episodes on Wednesday, January 14th at 8p.m./ET. This season begins with a revealing tale of the both famous and infamous legend that was Rick James. Additionally, the series will reunite audiences with duo Peaches and Herb, unveil the story of the soulful Angie Stone and spotlight the life and career of Meli’sa Morgan.

Wednesday, January 14 8p.m./ET – Rick James
Rick James – the chart topping artist- featured a signature sound that blended R&B, funk and rock. As the King of Punk Funk, James created a larger than life ‘rock and roll’ image that led to his notoriety. In this revealing episode, family and friends tell the surprising and poignant story of the man trapped inside the legend.

Wednesday, January 21 8p.m./ET– Peaches and Herb
Affectionately known as the “Sweet Hearts of Soul,” with the disco classics “Shake Your Groove Thing” and “Reunited,” Peaches and Herb rocked hearts and charts in the late 1970s and the world fell in love with Herb Fame and his singing partner Linda Greene. Though there have been several ‘Peaches,’ none have found the success that Herb and Greene shared during their tenure. In this episode, after an astounding 31 years apart, the duo takes the stage once again to perform their classic tunes and sit down to reflect on their amazing career as Peaches and Herb.

Wednesday, January 28 8p.m./ET– Angie Stone
In her early career, Angie Stone put her mark on contemporary hip-hop, soul and R&B, but for much of that time few fans knew her name. Finally, after two decades, Angie stepped to the forefront as a solo artist with “Black Diamond” – the first of four top-ten albums that sealed her place as one the great singers of our era. Stone steps from the shadows in this episode of Unsung, to claim her own unique and inspiring story.

Wednesday, February 4 8p.m./ET – Meli’sa Morgan
From background vocalist to R&B superstar, Meli’sa Morgan rose to stardom with her sultry style and powerhouse pipes. She topped the charts in the late 1980s, with the popular ballad “Do You Still Love Me?,” but it was her fiery cover of Prince’s erotic slow jam “Do Me Baby,” that became Meli’sa’s signature song and the biggest hit of her career. After years away from the spotlight, Meli’sa is back and ready to bare it all in this revealing episode of Unsung.

Robin Thicke’s New Girl Friend Not Old Enough to Party with Him on NYE

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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Maybe being kicked to the curb by ex-wife Paula Patton put singer Robin Thicke on the path to an early onset of mid-life crisis. For whatever reason dude is damn near guilty of robbing the cradle.
That became apparent recently when Thicke spent the early part of New Year’s Eve with his new girlfriend, April Love Geary, but she couldn’t ring in 2015 at a Las Vegas club with him because she isn’t yet 21. In fact, she’s only 19.
A source told The New York Post that Thicke, 37, and Geary had dinner together at Bazaar Meat inside the SLS Hotel (in Las Vegas), but when it was time to hit Foxtail Nightclub she had to stay behind because she was too young to gain entry.
Thicke then headed to the club around 11:30 p.m. with some pals.
At one point in the night, he jumped into the crowd to perform his tune “Blurred Lines” and got mobbed by girls.
Thicke reportedly drank champagne and partied until the wee hours.
We can only assume his underage GF went back to their suite and watched TV or something. Total bummer for her it seems.

Could Takin’ It To Another Level be the Next “Wire”?

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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NEW YORK, N.Y. (BlackNews.com) — Corona Crown Publishing, a Queens based company specializing in urban fiction and non-fiction books releases street legend, Darryl “God” Whiting’s fictional novel series, Takin’ It To Another Level.
Whitings’ story has been featured in F.E.D.S. magazine and American Justice on A&E. He has also been portrayed in the 1999 film In Too Deep.
Sentenced to life, Whiting sought the help of his son, owner of Corona Crown Publishing, Darryl Whiting Jr., to publish the series.
Hailed by reviewers as a “raw”, “riveting” and the ultimate “revenge fantasy” the series has been compared to “The Wire” by entertainment industry insiders, and while no deal has been made, the novel is picking up buzz among television producers.
Written with conviction and real world scenarios straight from his personal experiences, the novel portrays an unapologetically violent and insightful look into street life and how one savvy and bold young man not only climbs but conquers the gang underworld. There is also vulnerability, the development of Black masculinity and the ultimate disillusion and deception of the pursuit of the American Dream.
The book tour will commence starting in late January, with Darryl Whiting, the son, holding speaking engagements at participating independent bookstores throughout the country.
Visit www.coronacrownpublishing.com.

Forty-Eight Percent of Black Female Teens Have an STD

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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By Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

The above figure is not a new statistic. My concern is that it has become the norm
and is unacceptable. One fourth of white female teens have an STD. That figure
would be a little more acceptable. Is the Black community in denial? Do we feel
it’s okay if almost half our female teens have an STD? When I speak nationwide
to youth, many of them tell they are virgins. I then ask how can you be a virgin
with an STD? They then tell me it was oral or anal sex which they feel did not
violate their virginity.
Were you aware that the leading cause of death in the Black community is
abortion? Each day, 1,786 Black children are aborted. Can you imagine 52 percent of
Black pregnancies are aborted? Again, this not a new statistic, my concern like
with STDs, is that it has become acceptable. Are 52 percent of all pregnancies aborted
acceptable to you? Has abortion become the new form of birth control?
African Americans are 13 percent of the U.S. population male and female. I would
expect Black females to be 13 percent of females in America who are HIV positive. The
reality is that Black females are 64 percent of the women in America who are HIV
positive. Again this is not a new statistic. Are you okay and accepting of the fact
that 64 percent of all women in America who are HIV positive just happen to be Black?
Has this become the norm? Is that our reality? Are Black people in denial? Have
all the statistics made us numb?
How can we reduce these statistics? While writing Raising Black Girls, I discovered
that Black girls start puberty before anyone else. They start at 8 years and 8
months while white girls start at 9.7. Black girls also start their menstrual earlier
than anyone else at 12.06. Whites start at 12.88. In writing the book, I wanted to
understand why. I discovered a relationship between puberty, menstruation and
sexual activity. In addition, I also found a relationship between puberty, diet,
exercise, body mass index and being breast fed.
I want to close with a positive statistic seldom if ever is mentioned. There are
thousands of Black girls who wear chastity rings and have taken the oath of
abstinence until marriage. I salute and applaud you!

Excerpt from Raising Black Girls and Educating Black Girls

Internationally Renowned Weight Loss Expert Launches 30-Day Challenge to Help Women Get Their Sexy Back!

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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jj_smith_30_day_challenge — JJ Smith, weight loss expert and best-selling author

JJ Smith, weight loss expert and best-selling author

NATIONWIDE — #1 NY Times Best-selling author of the 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse, JJ Smith, wants others to join her on January 5th for JJ’s 30-Day Challenge. The 30-day challenge provides a unique opportunity to join a community of folks looking to jump-start weight loss, improve their health, and get their sexy back in 2015!
JJ’s 30-Day Challenge is an online program for those who need to lose weight, get back on track, and even get their finances in order in the New Year. It’s not a book. It’s an online lifestyle program where everyone will be challenged to live better in the New Year!
JJ says, “Through the Facebook group and fan pages, thousands have found a simple solution to detox, lessen cravings for unhealthy foods and lose weight. In less than one year, we’ve lost over 1 million pounds on the green smoothie movement.”
JJ’s 30-Day Challenge continues the green smoothie movement, but this time, you get to detox while still eating hot meals and desserts; it’s way more than just green smoothies. It also includes Rich Diva: 10 Secrets of Six Figure Women and a Style Guide: How to Dress Thinner and Sexier so you can get your finances and style in order in 2015. It’s all about health and wealth in 2015!
To sign up and get a 30 pecent off discount, you must use COUPON CODE: FINALSALE and visit: http://ow.ly/3vBcTC.
JJ is not the typical, skinny weight loss “Guru” promoting a rigid diet and body image that is seemingly out of reach for many. She creates super healthy and fast weight loss programs that work. JJ says, “Who can argue that green smoothies and clean eating isn’t a healthy eating choice?”
Studies show that people have more success on a weight loss program when they are part of a weight loss community. To that end, JJ’s 30-Day Challenge comes with online support, group discussions and online chats with JJ and her team each day so you will be supported and encouraged so that you can succeed.
Registration closes this Friday 1/2/14 at midnight, so be sure to sign up for JJ’s 30-Day Challenge and get 30% off by using Coupon Code: FINALSALE at http://ow.ly/3vBcTC

Test your home, test your child, and learn how to prevent lead poisoning

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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Nearly a half of a million children living in the United States have blood lead levels high enough to cause significant damage to their health, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on data from national surveys conducted in 2007-2008 and 2009-2010.
Despite the continued presence of lead in the environment, lead poisoning is entirely
preventable. If high blood lead levels are not detected early, children with such high levels of
lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system. They can also
develop behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing
problems, and aggressive behavior patterns.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Miller of the Alabama Department of Public Health states, “The
recommendation to shift the focus of primary prevention of lead exposure by lowering the
reference value from 10 to 5 micrograms per deciliter will contribute to reducing and eliminating
dangerous lead sources in children’s environment before they are exposed. This is a vital step
in preventing children from coming into contact with lead and treating children who have been
poisoned by lead.”
To increase awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention, the Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Program, along with CDC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, is participating in National Lead Poisoning
Prevention Week, Oct. 19-25. This year’s theme, “Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,”
underscores the importance of testing your home, testing your child, and learning how to
prevent the serious health effects of lead poisoning.
In observance of the week, events such as proclamations, lead screenings, community
awareness events, and educational campaigns will be conducted statewide. According to
Jacquline Harris, program director, all children should be tested for lead poisoning at 12 and 24
months of age as recommended by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead in many ways. Here are some simple things to
help protect your family:
1. Get your home tested. Before you buy an older home, ask for a lead inspection.
2. Get your child tested. Even if your young children seem healthy, ask your doctor to test
them for lead.
3. Get the facts! Your local health department can provide you with helpful information
about preventing childhood lead poisoning.
For more information, contact Jacquline Harris, M.S.N., at (334) 206-2966 or 1-800-545-1098.

More Birmingham Residents will be CPR-Ready in 2015

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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The American Heart Association and United Way of Central Alabama helped train thousands in Hands-Only CPR this year.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The year 2014 was the year of CPR for organizations in Central Alabama. The American Heart Association estimates that 20,000 Birmingham area residents were trained in 2014 in Hands-Only CPR – a tool that could be the difference between life and death for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. About 400,000 Americans suffer from cardiac arrest annually, with only 9.5 percent surviving an event. Central Alabama is no stranger to heart disease, which causes 30 percent of all deaths each year in the region. To address this pressing health threat, the American Heart Association implemented the Community CPR Program to ensure more by-standers can initiate Hands-Only CPR in a time of need.
Through a generous grant from the United Way of Central Alabama, The American Heart Association equipped the following partners and programs with Hands-Only CPR training resources:
·         Jefferson County Schools
·         Birmingham City Schools
·         YMCA of Greater Birmingham
·         Diocese of Birmingham
·         A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club
·         Children’s of Alabama
·         UAB Hospital
·         Brookwood Medical Center
·         Shelby Baptist Medical Center
·         Princeton Baptist Medical Center
·         Birmingham-area NICUs

The Birmingham Black Nurses Association and Ross Stores have also partnered with the AHA to develop CPR programs for underserved urban and rural communities in Alabama where bystander CPR rates tend of be much lower and/or emergency response times lag far behind the national average.
Through these Community CPR Programs, Birmingham residents can learn the fundamental skills involved in administering Hands-Only CPR in less than 30 minutes. Hands-Only CPR is without mouth-to-mouth breaths and is recommended for by use for people who see an adult or teen suddenly collapse in an “out of hospital” setting. Pressing hard and fast in the center of the chest at the rate of 100 beats per minute can double or triple the chances of survival for someone with sudden cardiac arrest. After 10 minutes without CPR, the chance of survival is virtually nil.
“We have made great strides this year to see Central Alabama more CPR-ready,” said Rachael Wilson, Communications Director for the American Heart Association in Alabama. “Evidence to date suggests that our Community CPR Program will help us achieve our 2020 impact goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent, while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent, by the year 2020.”
In 2015, the American Heart Association will continue to focus on environments where capacity to engage is high and need for CPR is most critical.

7 Steps for Addressing ‘Bag Lady Syndrome’ – a Fear of Losing Financial Independence

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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Study finds even wealthy women worry about  becoming ‘The best dressed Bag Lady in their community’
Nearly half of all American women, no matter their background, share a fear that may seem odd given the wealth of some: They are afraid of losing their financial independence, otherwise known as “Bag Lady Syndrome,” according to a 2013 study.
Of those who harbor BLS anxiety, 60 percent were the primary breadwinners for their households, according to the Allianz poll of 2,200 women ages 25 to 75.
“Financially, women’s needs are different from those of men, and the financial industry isn’t meeting them,” says Lance Drucker, CEO and president of the New York City-based Drucker Wealth Management, (www.DruckerWealth.com).
“Women typically live longer than men, so they need more retirement savings. Further compounding the problem is the fact that, in many cases, women are paid less for the same job as men. Finally, many have fewer earning years because they dropped out of the labor force for a time to have and raise their children.”
Drucker, author of “How to Avoid Bag Lady Syndrome (BLS): A Strong Woman’s Guide to Financial Peace of Mind,” offers seven action steps that women can do to address their financial insecurity:
• Identify your pain as well as your goals. Answer the following questions: What keeps me up at night? What worries me most about my money and my future? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? When can I afford to retire? Can I afford to stay retired? Can I travel, change careers, or go back to school?
• Create a budget that includes fixed and variable monthly costs as well as one-time expenses. Based on your budget, start building a cash cushion that will cover six to nine months of fixed expenses. The ultimate goal of retirement planning is to create an income stream that is sustainable and will support your retirement needs.
• Create a balance sheet of savings and investments. This includes your savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, investment real estate, cash value life insurance, annuities, retirement accounts, individual retirement accounts, 401 (k) plans and other assets. Then further break it down by pre-tax and post tax-accounts.
• Review insurance coverage and needs. Are you supporting anyone else? Is there a need for Life Insurance? Who will take care of you if you get sick? Do you have Long Term Care Insurance? One mother can raise 10 kids, but 10 kids can’t take care of one mother… Younger and healthier women may be tempted to overlook the importance of this step, but failure to anticipate potential health issues can be very expensive.
• Address your estate-planning needs. Do you have a will, a durable power of attorney or a health care proxy? Have you updated your beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts? Does it make sense to put your assets in a trust to avoid probate? Answers for these questions are important.
• Develop your investment strategy. Is there a purpose to your current investment approach, or are you just accumulating funds? We recommend something we call a “4 Bucket Approach to Purposeful Investing” that has been designed with the help of a Wharton Business School professor.
• Hire a Coach. Studies have shown that those investors that utilize a high quality financial advisor feel more confident, optimistic, and significantly more likely to stick to their plan versus do-it-yourself investors.

African American Designer Releases Unique Smartphone Tripod

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Birmingham Times

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January 8, 2015

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Comes with a bluetooth remote that allows you to take amazing hands-free selfies and videos
MIAMI, Fla.(BlackNews.com) — “Trying with no luck to take a full body selfie at arms length before going out to send to a friend, I thought if I could set my phone on a small tripod, that would work. I searched but, could not find a product that could accomplish that. This led me to think how can I design something?” says Vincent Smith, inventor/CEO of the Popscope.
Popscope is a super portable compact tripod and monopod mount that works with virtually any smartphone. The device helps smartphone users extend their reach to get pictures never thought possible. Designed with portability and ease of use in mind, Popscope goes from 19 inches and collapses down to 6.49 inches with a swivel head allowing for a 90 degree bend. This device allows you to get the right amount of reach to get that perfect shot “over a crowd” or with a background.
With an innovative design, Popscope allows users to go hands-free and video chat, make personal videos, capture amazing vacation shots or recording yourself playing sports. Fitness lovers male and female will enjoy Popscope. Users no longer have to rest your phone on the floor or chair to use a fitness app.
A Bluetooth remote is included to make taking pictures from a distance a breeze. Last, but not least, it comes in a full range of attractive, bright colors.
Smith comments, “We pride this device on being versatile, compact and incredibly useful. We’ve nailed this concept as it fits most all phones, and is extremely easy to carry.”
This device is lightweight & durable, so it allows you to do the “unthinkable” such as: take pictures while you are with your friends any and everywhere without someone taking them for you.
Popscope was recently funded on crowd-funding site Kickstarter, and has been mentioned in such magazines and media websites as People, Frommers, Brash, Examiner and more with numerous glowing product reviews. Currently available at www.Popscope.net, Popscope will be launching into retail at the Atlanta Gift Show January 8th.