South African Airways Honored as “Best Airline in Africa” by Premier Traveler Magazine

December 18, 2014

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. /PRNewswire/ – South African Airways (SAA) was honored to receive the prestigious award by Premier Traveler Magazine as, “Best Airline in Africa” in the publication’s annual reader choice survey. SAA was presented with the award at Premier Traveler’s Best of 2014 Awards Gala, which recognizes the top companies in the travel industry for their quality of product and customer service integrity. South African Airways’ Manager of Marketing Promotions for North America, Damion Rose proudly accepted the award on the airline’s behalf at the awards ceremony on December 4th in Los Angeles.
“We appreciate that Premier Traveler Magazine’s readers are global travelers who expect the best on the airlines they fly, so we are honored and thankful that they have consistently named us as the best airline on the African continent throughout the years,” said Marc Cavaliere, Executive Vice President for South African Airways in North America. “SAA has worked hard to continually enhance our products both in the air and on the ground to meet the needs of today’s discerning international business travelers.”
“Year after year, South African Airways has been voted number one by our readers,” said Premier Traveler Executive Editor, Shan Willis. “SAA is consistently moving in a direction of excellence, continuing to raise the bar. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.”
South African Airways offers the most flights from the U.S. to South Africa with daily nonstop service from New York-JFK Airport and daily direct service from Washington, D.C. – Dulles Airport to Johannesburg. From our Johannesburg hub, SAA and our regional airline partners offers convenient flights to over 55 business and leisure destinations throughout the African continent. In 2014, SAA celebrated its 80th anniversary of service and also accepted the Skytrax World Airline Awards for, “Best Airline Africa” for the 12th consecutive year and “Best Airline Staff Service Africa” for the third year.

Cosby’s Daughter Evin Breaks Silence; Lashes Out Against Accusers

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

by EUR
Bill Cosby’s daughter Evin is speaking out for the first time since her dad’s sexual assault allegations.
“He is the FATHER you thought you knew. The Cosby Show was my today’s TV reality show. Thank you. That’s all I would like to say :)” the 38-year-old said in a statement to “Access Hollywood.”
Additionally, Evin took to her Facebook page to voice her opinion on the allegations her father is facing.
“Love my mom,” she posted on Monday after her mother Camille Cosby released a statement to the media defending her husband. Evin also voiced a strong opinion on rape.
“Rape is a serious allegation and it is supposed to be taken VERY seriously but so is falsely accusing someone. When someone rapes a person they go to prison. THAT should also happen to the person that has wrongfully accused an innocent victim. They are not ONLY destroying innocent people’s life they are ALSO making it hard for the MEN and Women to find justice when they have been raped,” she wrote.
She questioned the validity of the alleged victim’s recollections of the supposed incidents.
“Drugged – you can remember the whole damn day but you were drugged? Just sayin. Memory – you can remember you looked at (allegedly) each other, people were staring allegedly remembering your home address allegedly the name you called him allegedly but you were allegedly drugged,” Evin said.
Evin also took time to express gratitude for the support she and her family has received.
“I would like to thank EVERYONE that has been sharing, voicing and putting their beautiful positive energy out there for me and my family. There will always be jealous, vengeful and crazy people out there to break anyone down. Every day we wake up and appreciate the love and support from everyone. There’s more positive in life than we think. It’s the BS that can be overwhelming. We keep fighting each day. The challenges in life can only make us stronger. The ones that are angry can’t live as easy as the ones that can love, RESPECT and not to find the easy way out by making FALSE accusations. It’s a shame how some people sit behind the computer waiting for bad things to happen to someone. Isn’t it easier to be happy? And to want the best for someone that has done such great things in life? It could be a friend, a family or a pet…. Just be HAPPY! It’s waaaaay easier. Thank you again!,” she posted. “Thank you Jill Scott and Faizon Love!! I would also like say THANK YOU for all the other intelligent people that know what this is! We are standing strong! Xoxo- Evin”

How Students Can Get Ahead: What Colleges and Companies Want

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

(NAPSI)—If your family is like most, you want a college education for your children—today, 75 percent of Americans have their eyes set on a college education. That’s a good thing. Over a lifetime, college graduates average about a million dollars more than high school graduates.
A problem is that most colleges haven’t significantly increased the size of their freshman classes. As a result, acceptance rates are declining to as low as 5.69 percent.
What Colleges Want
Many admissions officers look at the “whole student,” trying to determine character, creativity, leadership, sense of humor and moral fiber. Qualities like these can’t be conveyed in grades and test scores, so more weight is being given to letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and essays.
So if you were to have, say, a compelling story about how you traveled the world and connected with other cultures, it’s likely you’d get that experience noticed by admissions officers.
What Companies Want
After college, the right sort of educational travel can also boost your career. A recent study led by professor William W. Maddux of the international graduate business school INSEAD reveals that those who travel may enjoy more job opportunities. He discovered that an MBA student’s intercultural experiences predicted the number of job offers received, even when controlling for such variables as demographics, personality and the like.
Students who adapted to and learned about new cultures demonstrated more openness and initiative. They were seen as being able to bring seemingly unrelated ideas together into meaningful wholes. As a result, they were better able to navigate the interview process and received more job offers.
In an article for management- issues.com, Dr. David Livermore, president of the Cultural Intelligence Center, explained that some of the most promising correlations found between international travel and job prospects are:
1. Strong Sense of Self: Travel helps you become aware of your own values and priorities. Organizations want to hire professionals who are self-aware.
2. Increased Trust: Another study found that how much you trust a stranger is positively correlated to the number of places you’ve visited. Companies want team members who can develop trusting relationships across virtual and international borders.
3. Creativity and Problem Solving: In a new environment, everyday tasks have to be done differently and you might even pick up new approaches to common problems. A proven ability to innovate makes for a strong advantage in a job search.
Travel by itself, however, won’t ensure improved cultural intelligence (CQ™) or increased job offers. There are important variables:
• The nature of the experience: Those who venture out to discover the food, transportation and people of the places they visit are likely to enhance their CQ.
• The number of experiences: Individuals with multiple experiences in a variety of places see more of the benefits of travel.
• Age: Exposing kids to other places can be very influential, helping them build their sense of self and a unique worldview.
• The cultural interpreter: If a trip’s leaders focus on the negative aspects of a culture, CQ can actually decrease. The individual who interprets what’s going on plays a large role in bringing about positive effects from travel.
• Reflection and debriefing: Many study abroad programs emphasize pre-trip training but the most important insights come from reflecting in the midst of the experience and upon returning home.
Simply listing international travel as a part of your résumé is unlikely to yield many benefits. But using travel to expand your view of self, integrate ideas from different cultures and creatively solve problems helps you to stand apart from other candidates.
Business leaders seem to agree. An IBM survey of 1,500 CEOs worldwide found the quality they most prize—and that’s most lacking in the workforce—is creativity or innovation.
Stephan Turnipseed, president emeritus of LEGO Education North America, advocates fusing the traditional 3 Rs with the 4 Cs: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. Those skills, Turnipseed says, often blossom beyond the classroom. In particular, he cites People to People Ambassador travel as an activity uniquely suited to spark students’ global thinking and creative problem solving.
Turnipseed notes, “To be successful in People to People, you’re going to need to collaborate—not just with your peers and leader, but with host families,” as well as service providers, experts and other students encountered during travel.
People to People has been a leader in guided educational student travel for over 50 years, helping students experience new cultures and encounter new places.
Learn More
To learn how your child can be a People to People Ambassador, check out an information meeting near you. Visit www.PeopletoPeople.com or call (800) 669-7882 for meeting dates and locations.

Billboard Premieres Eric Bellinger’s New Single “Focused On You” Featuring 2Chainz

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

Billboard.com premieres Eric Bellinger’s new single “Focused On You,” the Grammy winner’s follow-up to his breakout hit “I Don’t Want Her.” With production by D Mile, co-production by Eric Bellinger and additional vocals by Mya, the new single featuring 2Chainz samples the Nas & The Bravehearts classic hit “Oochie Wally.” “Focused On You” will be featured on Eric Bellinger’s upcoming debut album Cuffing Season to be released at the top of the year via YFS.
The single is available on iTunes. The accompanying music video was filmed in Los Angeles and will be released in January.
“Oochie Wally has always been one of my favorite jams. Just the energy in the beat alone is ridiculous so I couldn’t resist flipping my own version of this amazing party anthem,” explains Bellinger. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment and with the success of “I Don’t Want Her,” I felt that made sense to put out another club banger. When I was in the studio working on it, I just knew that 2 Chainz would take it over the top! I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Cuffing Season follows Eric’s themed mixtape Choose Up Season which included Billboard’s Trending 140 “Awkward” featuring Game and fan favorite “Valet” featuring Teeflii and Pleasure P.
Recently, Bellinger received another Grammy nomination as a songwriter on “New Flame” for Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross, which has been nominated in three categories: Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Moreover, Bellinger just wrapped up a successful tour in Australia that included shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Grammy Nominated Powerhouse LEDISI Releasing “The Intimate Truth” Acoustic EP

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

Plays the legendary Mahalia Jackson in “Selma” in theaters Christmas Day

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Grammy nominated powerhouse and Verve Records artist Ledisi is excited to announce the release of her new project The Intimate Truth, which is set to hit stores on January 20. This seven song EP will feature acoustic performances from her latest full-length album The Truth (March 2014). Fans can pre-order (digital) the album today via iTUNES, Google Play and Amazon.
Ledisi is also beaming from her recent Grammy nomination for new single “Like This” in the Best R&B Performance category. Fans can view the 57th annual Grammy Awards on CBS on February 8th at 8p.m. ET.
Furthermore, Ledisi will be hitting the road again for “The Intimate Truth Tour”. The 20+city tour will kick off in Los Angeles, February 27 at Club Nokia. The tour will cut across the U.S hitting major markets including Houston (Bayou Music Center), Chicago (Portage Theatre), Cleveland (HOB), St. Louis (The Pageant), Memphis (Orpheum Theatre), Boston (Wilbur Theatre), Newark (NJPAC) and will conclude in Atlanta on March 29 at Symphony Hall. Opening up for Ledisi will be Raheem DeVaughn and Leela James. Check your local markets for more information on purchasing tickets.
To add to her excitement, Ledisi will be playing the legendary Mahalia Jackson in the upcoming Paramount movie Selma, which is one of the most anticipated movies for the holiday season. Selma is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The film also stars Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr., Common, Dylan Baker and more. Selma is set for a limited release on Christmas Day 2014 and opens wide on January 9, 2015.

Visit http://www.ledisi.com/ and/or follow her on social media at @ledisi.

Hornets NFL Teams in Action; Jones Signs with Titans

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

MONTGOMERY – There are three former Alabama State University football players on National Football League teams this fall, and that includes former All-SWAC offensive tackle performer Terren Jones who was signed off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad to the 53-man active squad of the Tennessee Titans.
Jones has spent the last two years as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins and Ravens before joining the Titans. Jones was looking to see his first action of the season last Sunday as Tennessee hosted the New York Giants at LP Field.
Isaiah Crowell made another start for the Cleveland Browns and gained 29 yards in the Browns’ loss to Buffalo. He now has 475 yards on 107 carries. His 4.4 yards per carry average leads the team as does his seven rushing scores and his long rush of 35 yards.
Tarvaris Jackson and the reigning Super Bowl Champions may have found their groove. They have won two straight and five of their past six games. They enter their week 14 contest with the Philadelphia Eagles with an 8-4 reco

Book News

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

By Esther Callens

Sensational urban literature author Meesha Mink has the ultimate panache when it comes to penning bold street novels. Known for telling it like it is, Mink’s narratives places readers in the thick of the action. Her new title, All Hail The Queen (Touchstone) continues her tradition of keeping it real. Set to be available in retail late February 2015, Mink gives fan a tale that will not soon be forgotten.
Returning in All Hail The Queen is Naeema Cole. Naeema aka “Queen” is a bad chick. Known for her street sense, nonsense is something that she will not take from anyone. Likewise if you by chance get on her wrong side, be prepared to pay the price because you have just danced with a she devil. Proof can be found in the bodies that she laid to rest when avenging her 14- year-old son’s death. Things eventually settled down for Neema and she along with Tank, her husband, are living the life. Unfortunately this changes quickly.
Neema witnesses the love of her life, Tank, shot multiple times in a drive by. This happens while he was doing security for Brooklyn’s hottest rapper at a movie premiere. Everyone says that the target was the rapper and that Tank was a victim of circumstance as it’s to be expected when you are a bodyguard to a rapper.
However, the Queen thinks differently. Adding to this are the events that led up to the shooting. This lets her know that someone was out to get Tank – but who. One thing for certain is they will be sorry because you don’t mess with the Queen and you don’t mess with her man.
All Hail The Queen is a well-written sequel to Kiss The Ring. It offers realistic characters within a riveting plot.
Meesha Mink is the pseudonym for Nobia Bryant, a best-selling author. Message From A Mistress, (one of Bryant’s titles), is optioned for film adaptation in 2015.

Musical Notes

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

By Esther Callens

Pianist and composer Deanna Witkowski is most certainly an accomplished artist. Her latest endeavor, Raindrop: Improvisations With Chopin (Tilapia Recording), validates just how brilliant she is. Her interpretations of some of the maestro’s works are simply breathtaking. It is assuredly an upper echelon recording.
The number of jazz musicians that have recorded their take on the classical composer is astronomical. However, Witkowski’s delivery on Chopin is unique as she incorporates jazz and Brazilian music into the pieces without detracting too much from the original masterpiece itself. The end result yielded some magnificent arrangements that are worthy of an abundance of accolades.
There are eight Frederic Chopin interpretations with six Witkowski original short improvisations sprinkled among them on Raindrop.
Listed are pieces Prelude in E-Flat Minor, Op. 28, No. 14, Nocturne In E-Flat Major, Op.9, No. 2, Nocturne in B Major, Op. 9, No. 3 and others.
Raindrop: Improvisations With Chopin is a well-executed soundtrack. It is among Deanna Witkowski’s best work.
Artist Bio: Deanna Witkowski is an award winning pianist, composer and vocalist. She is an outstanding artist whose 2009 liturgical jazz album, From This Place, garnered many rave reviews. A modern innovator that is constantly breaking new grounds with her music, she has travelled all over the world performing at various venues. Witkowski holds a M.A. in jazz piano performance from the City College of New York and a B.M. in classical piano performance from Wheaton College (IL).
Track Listings: Nocturne In E-Flat Major, Op.9, No. 2; Walking the Labyrinth; Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 / Insensatez; Prelude in E-Flat Minor, Op. 28, No. 14; Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1 / Manhía De Carnaval; Finding Joy; Nocturne in B Major, Op. 9, No. 3; A Single Thought; Etude in E-Flat Minor, Op. 10, No. 6 / You and the Night and the Music; Light That Shimmers; Following Intuition; Prelude in C Minor, Op. 28, No. 20 / Olha Maria; Prelude in D-Flat Major (‘Raindrop”), Op. 28, No. 15; In Parting.

Speaking of Soaps

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

BY MEREDITH COOPER

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Bill attempts to convince an already vulnerable Quinn to atone for her misdeeds towards his family. Rick shocks everyone when he backs Eric’s suggestion that Ridge and Caroline should team up for the next collection. Deacon becomes Quinn’s knight in shining armor when he comes to her aid when she needs it the most. Maya is the recipient of an early and very generous Christmas present. Bill is disturbed when he gets the sense that Katie and Ridge may soon be taking their relationship to the next level: marriage. Katie is taken aback when Bill confesses to her about a mistake that he made in the past. Rick and Maya take the next step in their plan for complete domination by getting the law on their side. Unaware of what is in store for them, Caroline and Eric are grateful that Rick agreed to give his marriage another chance. Rick and Maya implement another phase of their deception that they feel will solidify the belief of others that he is completely dedicated to his marriage. Bill makes a confession to Justin about his relationships with Brooke and Katie. Ridge is forced to reexamine his feelings for Caroline when Katie calls him out on who really has his heart. When Bill learns about the latest status on Katie and Ridge’s relationship, he presents her with an alternative option. Rick has a difficult time fending off Caroline in the bedroom while attempting to maintain his charade of devotion to her. Caroline confides in Ivy about the insecurity that she is currently feeling in her marriage. Katie and Bill discuss what will happen between him and Brooke when she returns from Italy. When Ivy confronts Rick about what she saw the night before, he angrily attempts to justify his actions and warns her not to tell anyone. Ridge reveals to Carter his theory about why feelings for Caroline suddenly sprung up for him.
THIS WEEK: Maya confides in a friend. Caroline becomes worried about Rick’s suspicious behavior and whereabouts.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Hope gets a dire warning about Aiden. Serena asks Eric out on a date. Nicole uses her sneaky skills to help out a friend. Theresa witnesses a tender moment between Brady and Melanie. Will is set on a collision course with Sonny’s past. Unbeknownst to Hope, a furious Aiden threatens Bree. Brady comes to Melanie’s rescue when Anne and Theresa try to thwart her. Nicole is struck when she sees Eric with Serena. Sonny confronts Will when he learns the truth about why his husband really came back to Salem. Melanie and Theresa get into another fight when Melanie accuses her of trying to entrap Brady with her pregnancy scare. Eric makes a confession to Serena about Nicole. Marlena gives Nicole stern advice. Eve manipulates Shane’s condition to her advantage. Victor and Clyde clash in a major way. Rafe turns up the heat on Chad. Eric is furious when he catches Nicole looking up information on Serena. Nicole tells Daniel she wants to start dating. Serena asks Melanie for any dish she has on Nicole.
THIS WEEK: Will questions Paul about his love life. Paige has upsetting news for JJ.

GENERAL HOSPITAL
A mob enemy tells Sonny that he is holding a family member hostage, and in order to secure his release, he must accept the terms of his deal. Carlos also updates Julian on his potential role in the new Port Charles mob. Ava and Nina come to blows. Carly lays it all out on Franco. Ava’s baby gets some tests. Olivia is jealous of Ned and Alexis, causing tension between the three of them. Maxie learns the verdict of her custody hearing. Elizabeth confesses to Jake why Sam is suspicious of him. Sam shares with Dante some enhanced footage that shows who might have been involved with her incident. Obrecht visits Nathan and reveals some confidential information with him. After prying the truth out of Spencer, Nikolas has a surprise guest. Olivia opens up to Ned about her feelings. Jake confronts Sam about her suspicions, while Patrick later asks Sam for her forgiveness. Nathan makes a promise to Maxie. Sonny updates Shawn on the mob wars and solicits his help. Michael continues to take out his anger on Kiki, Morgan and Carly. Sabrina apologizes to Ava for trying to hurt her baby. Elizabeth has a warning for Sam and in the interim, Sam questions Elizabeth’s motives. Jake doubts his recent actions, and is advised by Patrick to seek psychiatric help. Julian is shocked to learn the leverage a crime family has over Sonny. Shawn and Duke team up to protect Sonny’s interests. At the end of the day, Jordan continues to go under-cover in order to get to the bottom of the latest mob wars. Franco urges Nina not to give up on him. Franco and Nina learn the fate of their actions. Julian tries to make amends with Sam. Shawn provokes Jordan, demanding to know answers about the Jerome’s plan. Unbeknownst to them, someone is about to blow Jordan’s cover.
THIS WEEK: Kiki comforts Morgan about some news. Maxie is taken aback by a decision.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Things become more intense when Nick finds David Sherman at Sharon’s. Faith comes in upset that her parents are fighting. Later, Sharon pleads with Noah to help her before this custody battle becomes war. Ashley meets with Victor, who offers her a job at Newman-Chancellor. Victoria confides in Nick that she has hope for her and Stitch. Stitch then shows up and Victoria asks if he wants to go on a date. Joe convinces Cane to invite Victor to the cocktail party that he’s throwing. Joe can tell that he has upset Lily with his business plan and thinks he has a way to make it easier on her by offering to have the event somewhere else. Anita insists that Chelsea needs to keep Billy away from Victoria and Katie. Chelsea admits that if Billy wants to be with Victoria, she can’t stop him. Devon tells Hilary that he had a dream about her and later gives her a key to a private hotel suite. Michael is concerned that Lauren wants to tell Fen about his cancer because he doesn’t want his sickness to ruin anything. Sage thinks she and Adam should stay away from Genoa City for a while. Adam is furious and tells her that he has another choice besides either living a lie or becoming Gabriel Bingham and abandoning his old life.
THIS WEEK: Sage is left with a big decision. Devon goes all out to impress Hilary.

One Man’s Opinion

Birmingham Times

December 18, 2014

Republican Strategy for 2016
by Jesse J.Lewis, Sr.

They have a three-fold plan:

(1) To discredit everything President Obama has done in the last eight years and convince the public that he is the worst president ever. They will say he is worse than President Jimmy Carter.
(2) They are going to do as much as they possibly can to get as many Democrats in the race so Hillary Clinton will have to spend her war chest to win the nomination. They want the Democrats to project that Hillary is not qualified.
(3) They want to discredit both Obama and Hillary and tie them together to show him as the worst and
she will be even worse.

My guess will be that they will have at least 10 Republicans in the race, who will beat up on each other so badly, it will be very difficult to pick a good candidate.
The only thing they can use as their program is we will repeal Obamacare and under his administration the American people were unsafe. They will never make statements about what they would do if they were President.
I am thoroughly convinced that Hillary Clinton will run and so will Jeb Bush, for they are the two most qualified for their party. The main reason for them running is to make history. In the event Hillary should win, she will be the first female president and part of the only husband-wife team to be elected President. Jeb Bush’s win would be historical because he would be the first president whose father and brother had both been elected President.
Some people may say it is not possible for so many Republicans to run: Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Peter King, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham, and almost every elected Republican. All of them think they can win and all of them will run. The reason Rand Paul will not run is he plans to return to his Senate seat and he cannot run for both in the same year.
Ninety percent of all the people who serve in Congress for two to three terms are millionaires. I am pretty good at finances, but I can’t understand how anyone who takes a job for $100,000 a year, within two or three years own $2-3 million in property and $1 million in cash assets. This is why they lie and do whatever it takes to keep their seats in congress. It has nothing to do with race or party. This is the only thing I know where they represent a united front.
The Democrats have not announced yet, but there will be a lot of Democrats running also. Elizabeth Warren will not be one of them. Asked four times in an interview whether she was running for president, Warren held her ground, repeating each time, “I am not running for President.” She hasn’t said she would ‘never’ run, but Warren didn’t change her tune, eventually becoming so exasperated she demanded, “Do you want me to put an exclamation point at the end?”
After the first of the year, when the Republicans take over the Congress, they will have a chance to promote their agenda and see how it stands with the American people. Americans will not be fooled.
As one blogger wrote:

I’m sick of all of them. I think he’s done a decent enough job, but Congress is destructive. They’re so influenced by lobbyists and Wall Street and they’re selling things to the American public I don’t think we should buy. This spending bill includes measures to increase money in political campaigns, reduce regulations on Wall Street (something that got us in the mess of 2008)… she tried to stand up against that, when nobody else will, because it just lines their pockets to give these corporations these huge profits and keeps them in power. We need term limits in congress, we need to get lobbyists out of Washington and we need to set limits on campaign donations. Super PACS are destroying American politics.
email: jjlewis@birminghamtimes.com

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