“Beyonce Keeps Her Personal Biz Personal.” October 19, 2008

Jay-Z and Beyonce are married. That has been something “private” to Jay and B but it’s never really been too much of a secret. Still, Beyonce has decided to remain quiet about their marriage for some time. Nevertheless, she recently spoke out about why she’s been tight lipped about it and more.

“I feel that, especially now, with the Internet and paparazzi and camera phones, it’s so difficult to maintain mystery,” she told Essence. “And that’s so important. Even in a relationship, I feel like not being that accessible is really important. If you think about Prince or Michael Jackson, or any superstars, you couldn’t see them when they got off their planes or when they got out of the pool and didn’t comb their hair. It’s great that people see we’re not perfect. But it’s almost impossible to have superstars now, because people will never get enough. And it’s not even about my music. It’s about all the things that people imagine about me in their minds. But I can’t satisfy everyone. I know that Jay and I probably do inspire people. And I appreciate people feeling proud. But this is the only way I’ve been able to stay sane, so why would I start talking now?”

“[Not speaking] controls your brand. It controls what you want to put out there and kind of forces people to talk about what you want them to talk about.”

Still, B actually gave a little insight on their relationship.

“We decide everything,” she noted. “My word is my word. What Jay and I have is real. It’s not about interviews or getting the right photo op. It’s real.”

She later went on to add more details. She noted that there was no big day because she said she didn’t need any. “It’s been my day so many days already,” she said. Later, she added that there was no need for a wedding ring because she thought it was something “people put too much emphasis on that. It’s just material, and it’s just silly to me.”

Instead of rings, they got matching tattoos of the Roman numeral four on their ring fingers. Why four? The number is close to the couple because both of their birthdays fall on the fourth of their birthday months and their anniversary also falls on the 4th of April.

She also added that she wants to have children, adding that it may happen soon.

her new album, I Am… is coming out November 18. It features guest spots from Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

excerpt from: www.hiphopdx.com

“Obama’s Racking Up: He Raised $150 mil in September.”

By JIM KUHNHENN,

AP

posted: 5 HOURS 22 MINUTES AGO

comments: 943

filed under: Election News, Barack Obama

With HP wireless printers, you could have printed this from any room in the house. Live wirelessly. Print wirelessly.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 19) – Barack Obama raised more than $150 million in September, a stunning and unprecedented eruption of political giving that has given him a wide spending advantage over rival John McCain.

The Democrat’s campaign released the figure Sunday, one day before it must file a detailed report of its monthly finances with the Federal Election Commission.

Obama’s money is fueling a vast campaign operation in an expanding field of competitive states. It also has underwritten a wave of both national and targeted video advertising unseen before in a presidential contest.

Campaign manager David Plouffe, in an e-mail to supporters Sunday morning, said the campaign had added 632,000 new donors in September, for a total of 3.1 million contributors to the campaign. He said the average donation was $86.

The Democratic National Committee, moments later, announced that it raised $49.9 million and had $27.5 million in the bank at the start of October. The party has been raising money through joint fundraising events with Obama and can use the money to assist his candidacy.

Obama’s numbers are possible because he opted out of the public financing system for the fall campaign. McCain, the Republican nominee, chose to participate in the system, which limits him to $84 million for the September-October stretch before the election.

Obama initially had promised to accept public financing if McCain did, but changed his mind after setting primary fundraising records. His extraordinary fundraising is bound to set a new standard in politics that could doom the taxpayer-paid system. Many Republicans have begun to second-guess McCain’s decision to participate in the program.

McCain, reacting to Obama’s announcement, raised the potential for fundraising abuses. He said Obama is “completely breaking whatever idea we had after Watergate to keep the costs and spending on campaigns under control. … That has unleashed now in presidential campaigns a new flood of spending that will then cause a scandal, and then we will fix it again”

“Juicy Info or Childish Gossip?”

Juicycampus.com hit Hampton’s campus last week and made an impact like you wouldn’t believe. In less than a week that website caused drama unlike any other.

The website self-proclaimed to have juicy gossip across over 500 campuses yet I doubt any caused as much damage as it did at Hampton. After searching for Hampton and finding all blogs specific to Hampton, you could see all types of blogs about people. There were a few positive ones like the freshest kicks, best couple, things like that but most were extremely disrespectful. The most viewed and commented blog, Where Da Hoes At. featured students’ names, female and male, and explicitly explained their sexual behavior. No one was exempt as almost everyone appeared on some blog or another with some people having blogs dedicated solely to them. Even administrators and President Harvey didn’t escape the wrath.

Though almost every school featured blogs about sex, few got as spiteful and vindicative as Hampton. It was crazy. People’s characters were questioned, if not ruined.

Overall, the website is childish, irresponsible and completely unneccessary. I couldn’t believe some of the stuff I read. Here we are in college, a place of higher education, and we’re acting like middle school students passing around a slam book. So concerned with demoralizing another person that we have to take the time out of our schedules, perhaps not busy enough schedules, to write about another person and post their personal, whether true or false, business before the entire world to see.

Its stupid and it needs to stop. If we have that much time on our hands let’s make use of it. Study for a test. Write a book, better yet, read a book. Join an organization. Perform community service. Go out on a date. Make a new friend. Go shopping. Go out to dinner. Hell, here’s a thought….ACT YOUR AGE….

“Party Shift: Republican Colin Powell Supports Barack Obama”

“Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama.”

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, AP

posted: 4 HOURS 29 MINUTES AGO

comments: 11435

filed under: Election News, Barack Obama

With HP wireless printers, you could have printed this from any room in the house. Live wirelessly. Print wirelessly.

PrintShare

Text SizeAAA

(Oct. 19) – Colin Powell, a Republican who was President Bush’s first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain’s campaign.

The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said either candidate, both of them senators, is qualified to be commander in chief. But he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation’s economic problems as well as help improve its standing in the world.

“It isn’t easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that,” Powell, interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said of his longtime friend, the Arizona senator.

But, he added: “I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain.”

Powell’s endorsement has been much anticipated because he is a Republican with impressive foreign policy credentials, a subject on which Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, is weak. Powell is a Republican centrist who is popular among moderate voters.

At the same time, Powell is a black man and Obama would be the nation’s first black president. Powell said he was cognizant of the racial aspect of his endorsement, but said that was not the dominant factor in his decision. If it was, he said, he would have made the endorsement months ago.

Powell expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain’s campaign, his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate and McCain’s and Palin’s decision to focus in the closing weeks of the contest on Obama’s ties to 1960s-era radical William Ayers. A co-founder of the Weather Underground, which claimed responsibility for nonfatal bombings during the Vietnam War-era, Ayers is now a college professor who lives in Obama’s Chicago neighborhood. He and Obama also served together on civic boards in Chicago.

“This Bill Ayers situation that’s been going on for weeks became something of a central point of the campaign,” Powell said. “But Mr. McCain says that he’s a washed-out terrorist. Well, then, why do we keep talking about him?”

“Hampton Men Aren’t Marriage Material.” October 12, 2008

           The consensus it seems is clear: Hampton University men are not marriage material, at least right now. Most Hampton women believe that men on campus have the qualities of a good husband or becoming one but just choose not to act upon them while in school.

            Their focus isn’t finding Mrs. Right, it’s Mrs. Right Now,” said Sydney Finger, a senior nursing major from Hebron, Md.

            Finger even has proof that some Hampton men are thinking like that.

            “I always ask my male friends for their opinions on topics like this and they say that they’re not looking for Mrs. Right,” Finger said. “The girlfriends they have now are Mrs. Right Now but they could eventually turn into wife material.”

            All the women interviewed believe that it’s because men are still too interested in playing the field and meeting new women.

            “You don’t see people in exclusive relationships,” said Lianne Evans, a senior computer science major from Teaneck, N.J.  “A lot of relationships at Hampton are open because men are still testing the waters.”

            Kayla Emile, a senior communicative sciences and disorders major from Boston doesn’t believe that it’s only Hampton men.

            “A limited amount of men are ready for marriage at the age of 18-22,” Emile said. “I think this is playing the field time to see what type of female they like.”

            Shannon Cosby, a senior marketing major from Plainfield, N.J. agreed with Emile.

            “I don’t think any man is ready for marriage in college,” she said.

            Yet some are hopeful that love at Hampton is not a lost cause. Alaina Patterson, a senior English major from Los Angeles is one of the select few.

            “I don’t believe a lot of men are marriage material because I haven’t had luck with any of them but that doesn’t mean that somebody else won’t,” Patterson said. There’s still hope out there for some people.”

“The New Miss Hampton University 2008-2009 is….Shannon Cooper!!”

Hampton University has a new leading lady.

            On Saturday Oct. 11, the new Miss Hampton University was crowned after competing against 13 other girls. Shannon Cooper, a senior communicative sciences and disorders major from Miami has claimed the title as the 2008-2009 Miss Hampton University.

The scholarship pageant, titled “An Evening with the Stars” was hosted by junior class president Christian Cheairs and graduate student Nandi Shareef. Shareef spoke of Miss HU’s duties.

“The new Miss Hampton University will promote her platform and compete in the Miss Virginia pageant as a part of the Miss America system,” Shareef said.

The pageant is planned under the direction of Shelia Maye, the executive director and Jerrica Cash, a senior five year MBA major from Spartenburg, SC.

The show began promptly at 7 p.m. with a semi-packed Ogden Hall with the contestants performing an opening number choreographed by Nazeem Hasan, a graduate communicative sciences and disorders student.

            Each contestant spoke of her platform with issues of domestic violence, hearing loss, self-image, autism awareness and fighting obesity being covered.

            After introductions the swimsuit and then talent portions were covered.  The talents included singing, dancing, baton twirling and a monologue reading. Cooper performed a dance solo to Christiana Aguilera’s “Walk Away” and spoke of her love for dance during the interview portion.

            “I use dance to express my emotions, feelings and passion for it. When I dance I’m showing how I feel,” Cooper said.

            Brittani Hudson, a senior entreupeurship major from Los Angeles shared her platform of “Rebuilding the Traditional Family Unit.”

            “My platform is actually a passion of mine because of my family background,” Hudson said.

            Others wanted to promote awareness of disabilities. Courtney Ward, a senior broadcast journalism major from Martinez, Ga. planned to help raise autism awareness if she had won.  

            “Raising autism awareness is important because more and more children are being diagnosed with autism every year,” Ward said.

            The new Miss HU’s platform was titled, “I Hold the Key to Communication: Speaking Out about Hearing Loss, Who It Affects and How It Can Be Avoided.” The platform holds a special place in her heart.

            “My grandmother suffered from hearing loss and during the summer of 2008 she was given hearing aids, an estimated $5000, through my internship,” Cooper said.

            Cooper interned this summer in her home state at the Speech, Language and Hearing Center of Miami.

            After graduation she plans to pursue her doctorate of audiology at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

            Though Cooper is still planning her activities for her platform, her immediate plans include a task less daunting.

            “I plan to get some sleep,” Cooper said. “But I’m ecstatic. A lot of women in the competition had it and I’m blessed to represent Hampton University.”

            Her loved ones shared her excitement.

            “I couldn’t say I doubted it because of her drive. She was so determined to win. I’m just so happy,” said Stephanie Bowling, her mother.

            Cooper’s roommate, Lianne Evans was also present and extremely happy.

            “My heart is still beating fast,” Evans said.” I’m just so proud of her. It’s surreal.”

           

“You’ve been served….with lawsuit papers, that is.” October 7, 2008

Everybody’s been getting sued for random reasons…

Oprah Winfrey’s being sued for $1.5 million for defamation of character by her academy headmistress. Oprah alleged that the woman knew of abuse and other wrongdoings and is doing nothing about it. The headmistress feels her character has been damaged, apparently $1.5 million worth.

 

Sarah Palin is being sued by a top police official in Alaska. The police officer was fired and cited abuse of power as the reason. He’s going after Palin for the abuse of power and has been pursuing the Governor for the funds.

Jennifer Lopez needs to get a dog trainer. It’ll definitely be cheaper than the $10 million she’s been sued for ater her dog bit a flight attendant.

Perez Hilton, famous celebrity blogger, is suing two women, Margie Rogers and Liz Silver-Fagan, for creating a blog called Perez Revenge. Hilton is suing for brand dilution and wants money in damages.

Vanessa Hudgens is being sued by the man who helped launch her career. He wants $5 million and said that he signed a document to share equally in her earnings.

“Tina Fey’s worth millions.”

Tina Fey signs book deal said worth millions

By ReutersOctober 6, 2008, 12:31 pm PDT

• • celebs:
  • Tina Fey

Tina Fey holds one of her two Emmys she won for outstanding writing for a comedy series and for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for ’30 Rock” at the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, September 21, 2008. (Mike Blake/Reuters)Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Comedian, Emmy-winning TV star and Sarah Palin-lookalike Tina Fey has signed a book deal with Little, Brown Book Group, the company said on Monday, confirming a deal media reports said was worth millions.

The New York Post has reported that the deal was worth more than $5 million and that “her book is not being pitched as a memoir, but instead as nonfiction humor, more in the style of author, screenwriter and film director Nora Ephron.”

The publisher did not confirm the advance paid nor give any further details of the book by Fey, the “Saturday Night Live” veteran who stars as a harried head writer of a TV variety show in NBC network television spoof “30 Rock.” The show picked up four Emmys last month.

Fey has recently attracted attention for impersonating Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in parodies on “Saturday Night Live.”

Little, Brown is part of France’s Hachette, which is owned by conglomerate Lagardere.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols)

**Just maybe all that Saturday Night Live spoofing paid off**

“O.J.’s still in the headlines after all these years.” October 6, 2008

O.J. Simpson Goes Down Bigtime

Posted Oct 4th 2008 10:50AM by TMZ Staff

Thirteen years to the day after OJ Simpson was acquitted of murder, he had the book thrown at him — Simpson has been convicted on 12 criminal counts, including kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary. He faces life in prison.

Simpson has been remanded into custody — which means he’s in jail.

The Las Vegas jury delivered its verdict just before 11:00 PM PT.

Simpson and his co-defendant — also found guilty on all counts — confronted a memorabilia collector in a Las Vegas hotel to get Simpson’s stuff back, with the help of a gun.

Commentary:

I can’t believe that O.J. would even “attempt” anything illegal. Seems to me he would want to lay low. Crazy. Here he is, acquitted of murder after being viewed by the world as guilty and he chooses to rob a hotel?? Are you serious?  What was he thinking??

I’m interested in peoples’ thoughts…

“Senior Year’s going to be a good one.”

            This school year I have decided that I want to accomplish three simple things: receive straight As, balance the newspaper, school and work and have fun.

            I plan to work really hard to achieve my goals. I know that it’s completely possible to get all straight As because I’ve done it before. I just have to really apply myself. Last semester I struggled because I had political science and math, two subjects I am not good in. Now that I have all major and minor classes I know that my goal is attainable. This semester, I will have a 4.0 g.p.a.

            I also plan to balance all my responsibilities equally. I will put forth my best effort at the newspaper office so that I can be the best editor that I can be. Last year I didn’t communicate nearly as much with my writers as I do now. I’m constantly texting, emailing and calling them to make sure they’re doing okay with their stories. I want to help them become better writers and in essence, help me become a better section editor. I also want to be able to still juggle all that while enjoying my senior year.

            Lastly, I want to have fun. Though college is about work and preparing yourself for the workforce, it’s also about having fun. I want to attend every event, party and social gathering I can while still maintaining my responsibilities. This is my senior year and I’ll never get it back. I’m going to party, study and most importantly, manage my senior year successfully.