Tennis legend and LGBT icon Martina Navratilova was honored during the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Open in New York. The honor, for “those who dream, succeed and inspire” according to organizers, is fitting for Navratilova who has battled "nasty curveballs" in her personal and professional life but always come out a winner.
“It’s the positive attitude that gets you through life and it is a choice,” she said. “I’ve always been too much of an optimist where I sort of ignore bad stuff until it sits right there in front of me. I’m saying nothing is going to go wrong and, when it does, that’s when I deal with it. That’s how I’ve gotten through life. I think it’s done me pretty well.”
The 53-year-old Czech native knows something about grit as well as attitude. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with noninvasive breast cancer and underwent surgery and radiation only to win the Wimbledon ladies' invitation doubles in June.
Martina also spoke to the crowd about publicly coming out of the closet as a lesbian the year she made it to her first U.S. Open final. “In 1981, I came out as a gay woman," she said to loud applause. "That was not a good thing to do back then. There were a lot of doors that were shut in my face because of that, but you know what, I could still play tennis, no matter what.”
Monday, September 27, 2010
How do I draw a soulmate into my life? You don't. I've read plenty of books that tell you how to do it, but I don't believe for a minute that you can place your cosmic order and your perfect ideal twin soul is going to materialize just like that at your front door. It doesn't happen like that.
You can open your heart and mind to finding a beautiful loving relationship, but chances are that using the word soulmate will almost jinx you from finding it. Why?
For many of us, when we think of a soulmate, we think of someone perfect. Someone who is gorgeous, brilliant, funny, naturally happy and kind. We think of someone who wants exactly the same things out of life that we want. We picture a meeting right out of the movies where both parties meet on the street and instantly fall madly head over heels in love.
We think that there will never be any conflict beyond a quaint debate over what colors to paint the baby's nursery. We imagine lovemaking that is so phenomenally perfect the first time that one cries from the sheer artistic beauty and telepathic oneness.
All problems and challenges in our lives will suddenly melt away into faint memories because our soulmate has arrived and their presence alone is so cosmic and amazing that all else pales in comparison.
Yeah, and if I say my affirmations with enough conviction, gold coins are going to start growing instead of dandelions in my yard too!
Wake up! If you're dreaming of that kind of a soulmate, then you need to rent some good movies and call it good. Love doesn't go like that and you know better.
Look at it this way.... You are the other half of that equation. Let's be serious. If you are someone's soulmate, and they find you. Are you capable of being that incredibly flawless and perfect for them? No of course not. Nor are they.
Soulmates are as mixed up and weird as you are. They may have the same flaws as you do or completely different ones. If you are holding out for that fantasy, then you are playing a psychological game with yourself. You have created an impossible dream to hide behind so that you don't have to really risk falling in love with a real live human being, warts and all.
Have you spent years looking for Mr. Right, or Ms. Right? Do you feel like you come up empty each time, or even worse- end up repeating an old pattern with the same type of person again and again?
It’s an uncomfortable reality for so many of us as we look to be in a relationship with someone. Our requirements may be unconsciously stemming from old emotional patterns within our psyche. Those patterns may have been formulated in early childhood, during puberty, or even from our 'first love'.
Each time we grow into a new relationship, we hope that we have learned enough from the sum of our previous experiences to say that we are prepared to reap the harvest of our true partner. Unfortunately, if unfinished business still resides within your mind and heart, it will eventually surface in the new relationship.
Lloyd Banks has commented on his recent gold plaque for his hit single "Beamer, Benz or Bentley."
Lloyd Banks revealed that the hit single was recorded on a shoestring budget.
"Climate wise, as far as the economy goes, it's a beautiful thing man," Banks said in a statement. "When you are coming from an independent standpoint, an independent gold record is really a platinum record and a platinum record is a double platinum record. This record was recorded in my home, mixed and mastered out the pocket. G-Unit as a record label worked it, and here we are: 500,000 copies sold a few months later."
Lloyd Banks is preparing to release H.F.M. 2., his first full-length album since 2006Rotten Apple.
H.F.M. 2. features guest appearances by G-Unit members 50 Cent and Tony Yayo.
Former rival Styles P also checks in, along with Pusha T, Jeremih, Ryan Leslie, and Akon.
H.F.M.2 is slated to land in stores November 23rd on 50 Cent's G-Unit imprint.
Look at this damn fool, why hurt yourself and career? I just don't understand why drugs has to play a part in most entertainers lives.
Rapper Kid Cudi has pled guilty to a misdemeanor drug possession charge, and has gotten off lightly, reports TMZ.
The Cleveland rapper (real name: Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi) was arrested in June and charged with felony criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance, following a heated argument with his girlfriend in New York.
Reports said took his girlfriend's phone, smashed it on the ground, and allegedly ripped the door of her apartment.
When cops arrived to investigate, a glass jar of cocaine was found.
Apparently, it seems the felony charge was dropped in exchange for a guilty plea to the possession charge.
In Cudi's recent Complex magazine cover story, "I started doing cocaine to get through interviews, 'cause people wanted to know a lot about my personal life and I wasn't prepared for a '60 Minutes' interview every time," Cudi told the mag. "Doing bumps I was able to get through the day, but then I would smoke weed to calm me down -- it was the only way I could get through the day without people noticing I was doing it. I never thought it was a problem, but I was definitely high-fiving death a couple of times.
But, since his arrest, Cudi says he's kicked the habit.
"No more blow," said Cudi. "People do drugs to camouflage emotions and run away from their problems. Now I'm going to deal with certain things as they come, prioritize sh** -- man up, so to speak."
Lil Wayne is giving himself a nice birthday present on Monday Sept. 27th, but brick-and-mortar merchants haven't been invited to the party. The rapper released his next album, "I Am Not a Human Being," initially through digital channels only, with the physical release coming out two weeks later on Oct. 12. The physical album will have 12 tracks, two more than the digital release.
According to sources, Cash Money/Universal Motown is projecting first week digital sales of 90,000 units for "I Am Not a Human Being"; second week digital sales of 25,000 units, and then the third week of digital and first week of physical is expected to do sales of 225,000 units, with 20,000 of that coming from digital.
By releasing "I Am Not a Human Being" digitally only, Lil Wayne appears to have done in his chance to claim the top spot on the Billboard 200. Next week, Kenny Chesney's "Hemingway Whiskey" is being released and Sony Nashville is projecting first week sales to be roughly 300,000 units, which surpasses the Lil Wayne first week projection. Still, the digital supply can certainly keep up if it turns out that Cash Money/Universal Motown underestimated demand.
Most brick-and-mortar merchants worry that putting a digital release out early could turn into a trend. "Its disturbing," says one merchant. "Its definitely putting brick-and-mortar second, and we are going to lose business that we would normally get. How is the consumer going to know that the album will have a second physical release?"
Another merchant complains that with a little ingenuity, Lil Wayne could have had his birthday cake and eaten it too, and still left some for brick-and-mortar merchants. That merchant wonders why Lil Wayne just didn't offer a discount or a premium for fans who pre-ordered the album on his birthday, instead of choosing to alienate an entire retail channel.
Meanwhile, not everyone is annoyed at the two-phase release strategy, or at least won't know how annoyed to be until it's determined if "I Am Not a Human Being," sells like "Rebirth" or "Tha Carter III."
"Rebirth," a rock album with some hip-hop tracks, came out in the first week of February scanned 175,000 units, on its way to selling 677,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The all rap "Tha Carter III," which came out in June 2008, scanned 1 million units in its debut week, which was the last U.S. Album to achieve that sales feat. That album has since sold 3.5 million units. Digital sales of the former comprise 17% and 11% of the latter.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
This came to me as a shock yesterday, when I saw on my entertainment breaking news. That the singer was sentenced to prison. From listening to his first album (which I fell in love with) you could hear the hardship through his music. It's a very emotional album.
Lyfe Jennings was sentenced to three and a half years behind bars in an Atlanta court for a 2008 indictment.
“This will be my last post” Jennings wrote yesterday on his Twitter. “To everyone who gave me a chance I am forever in your debt. I have had a fabulous career because of you. All I can say in parting is that I have been honest with [ya\'ll]. I didn’t sugarcoat a word didn’t hold back a single [syllable] of my life from [ya\'ll]. I’ve lived a hundred lives in these 6 yrs so I not only won’t,I don’t have the right to complain. I would like to think that I’ve changed lives by changing my own, tho[ugh] I can’t be sure. But one thing I am sure of is God gives and takes away in measure. He is fair, just and forever. Amen from a man… Smile, its contageous:)”
In October 2008, the R&B singer got into a heated confrontation with ex-girlfriend and mother of his children Joy Pound. Jennings reportedly kicked in the door of a house in Smyrna, Georgia, belonging to Jeff Kendrick, then fired rounds from a .40 caliber glock in the street according to police.
Jennings then fled the scene in his 2005 Corvette and according to his warrant allegedly refused to stop for officers when given audible and visual signs to do so. Driving in excess of 70 miles per hour, Jennings was eventually stopped and refused to take a sobriety test.
Booked at Cobb County Jail, the singer was charged with DUI test refusal, criminal trespassing, discharging a weapon near a street, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing or attempting to elude a police offer.
After being freed on $50,000 bond, Jennings released his fourth studio project 'I Still Believe,' August 31, 2010, the follow-up to his 2008's 'Lyfe Change.' The album is said to be his final offering.
The 13-disc track is what Lyfe considers a reflection of his “greatness.” Despite the personal and public trials in his life, Lyfe Jennings still believes in this love. “I keep a lot going on. It’s tragic; I think I have a horribly charmed life. But I think God puts me through stuff and keeps me there so I can talk about it.”
He carries these experiences into the album. “[The album] is about all kinds of relationships,” says Lyfe. “How we try to hold on sometimes for the sake of holding on. But, in reality, no matter how many breakups turn into make-ups, sooner or later we realize that this person is who they are and we need to let go. No grudges, no regrets. Just realization. Just acceptance. Just life.”
Jennings will hit the road in support of his reported final album, 'I Still Believe,' playing in clubs in major markets throughout the nation this fall.
All I can say is hold your head Playboi.
This post comes from Vibe Magazine.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A California mom who had a baby with a sperm donor she met on Craigslist saw her world turned upside down after the donor lied, stalked her and ultimately sued her for full custody of her son.
The woman, a 40-something Los Angeles writer who asked to be identified only as Karen B., tells AOL Health that she avoided using an anonymous donor because she wanted her child to know his dad. One of her friends jokingly suggested she try classified-ad site Craigslist.
"I posted an ad, and this guy also posted an ad saying he wanted to be a sperm donor," she says. "So we met, and I had my friends meet him, and everyone said he seemed like a good guy. It took me over a year to conceive, so during that time he just acted like a good guy."
But instead, Karen found herself living out a nightmare after Daniel C. became far more involved than she and her lesbian partner could have imagined. She says he told lies; inserted himself into her life; harassed her; and tried to take the boy, now 3, on trips to his native Brazil when the baby was only 8 months old.
Eventually, Daniel sued Karen for joint legal and physical custody of their son.
Their case, featured on ABC News, is not unusual, particularly since a growing number of people are turning to known sperm donors rather than anonymous ones. In Karen's case, the lines were blurred.
Sheryl A. Kingsberg, Ph.D. and division chief of OB/GYN Behavioral Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, says Karen may have been misinformed about her options.
"She may have been uninformed to think there are only two choices -- to be completely anonymous or to know the sperm donor directly," Kingsberg, who isn't involved in the case, tells AOL Health. "There are ways for women to find donors who are open to being identifiable to offspring. The way sperm banks work [is] you can request information."
Kingsberg warns that even though knowing the sperm donor or using a family friend might seem like a good option, there are many potential pitfalls to consider.
"Have a legal contract and go through a fertility clinic," she suggests. "And if gay men want to be parents, they should adopt or find a gestational carrier/egg donor."
Karen didn't like the idea of using an anonymous sperm donor, since it had caused a friend turmoil to not know who her real father was. She planned to use a family friend, but after learning that he was HIV positive, her options began to look slim. Then single, she desperately wanted to be a mom and knew she was running out of time.
"I went through my Palm Pilot and looked at all my male friends. The straight ones -- their wives and girlfriends were like 'no way.' And a lot of the gay ones were HIV positive," she tells AOL Health.
She was relieved to find and meet Daniel, who is also gay, at first. But everything changed when she accompanied him to the doctor's for a sperm analysis.
"When we got there, he said that he had told them we were married," she says. "He thought we'd be discriminated against if we told the truth -- that he was gay and I was gay. So he started this charade, and I played along with it."
Karen never dreamed of the consequences that would result from their ruse.
"At first I thought it was funny because he was holding my hand and we were playing around," she says. "When the doctor asked questions, I would defer to him, since it was his doctor. But then this doctor became my doc, too, and by then I felt like I couldn't come out and tell the truth because maybe he wouldn't see us anymore, and it was the highest-rated fertility clinic."
Her lawyer, Ilene Trabolsi, says there are laws in place to guard the rights of both mothers and sperm donors for a reason.
"The law is there to protect not only the mother but also the sperm donor so that a guy who donates sperm doesn't get hit up for child support," Trabolsi tells AOL Health.
Things grew more complicated when Karen signed a POPS agreement, a voluntary declaration of paternity.
"At the time she was in the hospital and very heavily drugged," says Trabolsi.
Though Daniel had initially signed a different document saying the baby would live with and be raised by Karen and he'd have some visitation rights, he later decided he wanted full custody. He sued her after she refused to get the baby a passport for the Brazil trips.
The courts eventually sided with Karen, but only after a long and costly legal battle. Daniel was awarded two visits a month.
Karen says his involvement is still difficult, and she still worries he might one day flee with their little boy.
For now, she has to cope with the fact that Daniel is a part of her family's life.
"I try to make our meetings as pleasant as possible," she says. "But when he comes to pick my son up, he often doesn't even say hello to me. He'll ring the bell and then go wait at the curb."
And she has some regrets.
"I wish I had known the guy longer, and I might have if I'd been younger and had more time," says Karen. "I was desperate to have a child."
She need to have some regrets. Let me know what you think about this damn woman and her crazy baby daddy.
Usher's 25-date OMG tour includes R&B singer Trey Songz and rising artist Miguel. Usher's current hit is "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," from his "Versus" album, which is an extension of his sixth studio CD, "Raymond V. Raymond."
With Trey Songz album in stores and on itunes this is a real big look for the young I'll steal your girl. It was announced (by Mr. Songz himself) at the VMAs, he’s hitting the road with Mr. Raymond for the OMG Tour and today the dates were announced. Find out where the 25 stops are after the jump.
11/10/10 KeyArenaSeattle, WA
11/12/10 ORACLE Arena Oakland, CA
11/13/10 Mandalay Bay Events CenterLas Vegas, Nevada
11/14/10 Honda Center Anaheim, CA
11/17/10 San Diego Sports Arena San Diego, CA
11/18/10 STAPLES Center Los Angeles, CA
11/19/10 Jobing.com Arena Glendale, AZ
11/23/10 Toyota Center Houston, TX
11/24/10 American Airlines Center Dallas, TX
11/26/10 Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO
11/27/10 Sprint Center Kansas City, MO
11/29/10 Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON
11/30/10 Centre Bell Montreal, QC
12/02/10 TBD Detroit, MI
12/03/10 Allstate Arena Chicago, IL
12/05/10 Phillips Arena Atlanta, GA
12/07/10 Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC
12/08/10 1st Mariner Arena Baltimore, MD
12/10/10 Prudential Center Newark, NJ
12/11/10 Scope Arena Norfolk, VA
12/13/10 Madison Square Garden New York, NY
12/14/10 TD Garden Boston, MA
12/16/10 Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
12/17/10 Verizon Center Washington DC
12/18/10 XL Center Hartford, CT
Early this morning I happened to be watching the Wendy Williams show, which is a first for me. Not to say that I'm not a Wendy fan, it's just I'm not usually watching her morning show when I'm just waking up.
Anyway, I heard her mentioned she along with other powerful black women in the industry who makes a difference in the world, attended the Essence 40th anniversary.
So I had to take a moment and check out this event filled with amazing African American women under one roof.
ESSENCE Magazine hosted an intimate luncheon in New York City in honor of 40 dynamic African-American women who have paved the way, and continue to inspire us in their every day fabulosity. Whether stealing a scene in an Oscar-winning movie, or being the first African-American to head an Ivy League institution, these sisters have certainly broken through the glass ceiling. From legendary icon Diahann Carroll to actress Anika Noni Rose, it was a star-studded gathering to remember.
And as actress Malinda Williams so eloquently put it, we all should have moments where we're able to look at other women and say, "If you look good then I look good. So don't make me look bad because I'm not going to make you look bad." Check out what these phenomenal women had to say about what makes them fierce and fabulous.
This was one historic moment for hip hop that I should of been throwing my hands in the air and waving them like I don't care. Unfortunately I missed a beyond amazing show. (Got you next time Jay)....lol
Hip-hop reached stadium status once again when Jay-Z and Eminem co-headlined the first of two sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Monday 9/13/10. After performing in Detroit last week, it was Jay-Z’s turn to take it back home.
The King of New York knocked it out of the park with an all-star lineup that included Drake, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Swizz Beatz, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and his wife Beyoncé. The audience was just as star-studded with LeBron James, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Naomi Campbell all throwing up the diamond.
After B.o.B and J. Cole opened earlier in the evening, Eminem took the stage with his own special guests Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, B.o.B, and D12. “Do not think that I don’t know where I’m at right now,” Em told the 50,000-plus crowd. “I’m also honored to be on this f**kin’ stage in the Bronx, the f**kin’ birthplace of hip-hop.”
Then it was time for Hov, who brought out Drake to perform “Miss Me” and “Light Up” live for the first time, while Chris Martin accompanied him on “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love),” “Most Kings,” and “Viva La Vida.” Kanye—wearing his Horus chain, red suit, and cheetah-print shirt—stood by his big brother for “Run This Town” and “Power (Remix),” with Nicki Minaj joining the party for “Monster.” If that weren’t enough, Mrs. Carter helped closed the night by assisting on “Young Forever.”
The concert was not only a milestone in the rappers’ esteemed careers, but also for hip-hop. “This is historic,” said Jay as the epic night drew to a close. “There ain’t never gonna be another night like tonight.”
Shout out to all my serious gamers like myself. This Post is especially for you, brought to you by: MTV. Although I'm not a fan of the xbox 360, this is a must have. PS3 is more of my choice of game system.
At 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday (September 14), gamers streamed into the Best Buy Theater in Times Square to be among the first to purchase the next installment in Microsoft's popular franchise. Thunderstorms earlier in the evening didn't seem to dissuade the crowd, which wrapped around 44th Street and down Broadway at least a block.
"Halo: Reach" is developed by Bungie, the studio that created the "Halo" franchise back in 2001. "Reach" actually acts as a prequel to the original game, retelling the events which lead to humans being chased down by the Covenant and first discovering the mysterious halo-shaped artifact. Players take on the role of Noble 6, one member of team of super soldiers known as Spartans. Their objective? Defend the planet of Reach against a surprise Covenant assault. Unfortunately things quickly go south, turning the mission into a last-ditch effort for survival.
In addition to the game's campaign, which can be played with up to three other people, "Halo: Reach" also includes multiplayer modes where up to 16 players can battle one another. These modes can be fully customized, allowing players to create new styles of play like the zombie-themed Infection game mode.
Brand new to the "Halo" franchise is the Armory. Players can now customize their character's in-game armor, unlocking new helmets, chest pieces and effects like flaming heads and lightning bolts. Playing any of the game's modes will earn credits for use in the Armory, so even if you manage to get crushed by a squeaky 12-year-old in Topeka, at least you've got some cash to show for it. Bungie cleverly uses this customized armor throughout the campaign, giving players much more of a personal attachment to the game's protagonist.
The last major addition is an upgrade to the "Halo" map creator, known as Forge. Users can now design multiplayer maps from scratch, and there are few limitations on what can be created. Within five minutes, I had managed to build a 50-foot-tall rock monster by simply using MS Paint. Map creators can easily share their designs online; hundreds of creations were available for download by the time the game launched.
After reading this article from MTV I just had to post it. So my xbox 360 lovers you've been informed. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about Halo: Reach.
Young Money rapper Nicki Minaj opens up about her gay fan base and how much of an impact they have on her movement. In her feature, Minaj also reveals Lil Wayne's uneasiness toward gay fans.
"Obviously, the majority of the men in hip-hop don't want you to think they're gay. That's just the reality of it," Minaj says. "I'm a woman, so I have a lot more flexibility. And I don't lose credibility in any way if I say I think girls are dope and sexy...Normally, Wayne probably wouldn't have gay guys coming to see his shows much, but they're definitely a big part of my movement, and I hope they'd still come out and see me...I think that will be really, really interesting, just to start bridging that gap. We'll see."
Earlier this year, Minaj talked about one day hoping to witness a male rapper openly admit to being gay.
"I have a lot of freedom to be crazy. I can rap in a London accent, make weird faces, wear spandex, wigs, and black lipstick," Minaj explained in an interview. "I can be more creative than the average male rapper. And I can show my boobs. Guys can't do that...I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it's harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime."
"I think very often people miss that I'm from New York, and I don't really know why that is, but I remember I said on Twitter one time, 'Shout out to Queens,' and all of the gay boys thought I was talking to them, and I realized that people haven't gotten that I'm Southside Jamaica, Queens, New York City. I feel like I say it a lot, but I guess I'm not saying it that much, or it's that I'm so diverse and I don't always rap with the New York accent--I switch it up, you know. People don't see me as just repping one city or one state. I actually really like that. That was always my goal: to be able to bridge that gap, you know, whether it's to London."(XXL mag)
POW!!! We love you Nicki....
A 15-year-old by the name of Billy Lucus, was a high school freshman from Greensburg, Ind., took his own life Thursday following a period of antigay bullying from classmates that went unaddressed.
Lucas was found dead inside his family’s barn Thursday, where he had killed himself.
According to WHTR, Greensburg High School principal Phil Chappel said that officials were unaware of bullying against Lucas, but friends said the abuse was constant, and often directed to what the aggressors presumed about his sexual orientation.
"Some people at school called him names," student Nick Hughes told WHTR, adding that most of the names questioned Lucas's sexual orientation. The young man was unable to fight back.
My question is when will it end?
Friday, September 10, 2010
A must read....BE INFORMED
A federal judge said she will issue an order to halt the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, after she declared the ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled Thursday that the prohibition on openly gay military service members was unconstitutional because it violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gays and lesbians.
The policy doesn’t help military readiness and instead has a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services by hurting recruitment efforts during wartime and requiring the discharge of service members who have critical skills and training, she said.
The Log Cabin Republicans sued the federal government in 2004 to stop the policy. Phillips will draft the injunction with input from the group within a week, and the federal government will have a week to respond.
Government lawyers said the judge lacked the authority to issue a nationwide injunction.
The U.S. Department of Justice can appeal the ruling but the government has not announced what it intends to do. After-hours e-mails and calls requesting comment from government attorney Paul G. Freeborne and from the Pentagon were not immediately returned Thursday evening.
The case was the biggest legal test of the law in recent years and came amid promises by President Barack Obama that he will work to repeal the policy.
“This decision will change the lives of many individuals who only wanted to serve their country bravely,” said the group’s attorney, Dan Woods.
The Log Cabin Republicans said more than 13,500 service members have been fired since 1994.
Woods had argued during the nonjury trial that the policy violates gay military members’ rights to free speech, open association and right to due process as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
He said the ban damages the military by forcing it to reject talented people as the country struggles to find recruits in the midst of a war. He also used Obama’s remarks and those of top military commanders as evidence that the policy should be overturned.
The case is unique because it wasn’t based on one individual’s complaint about a discharge. Instead it made a broad, sweeping attack on the policy.
Government attorneys presented only the policy’s legislative history in their defense and no witnesses or other evidence.
Freeborne had argued the policy debate was political and that the issue should be decided by Congress rather than in court.
In his closing arguments he said the plaintiffs were trying to force a federal court to overstep its bounds and halt the policy as it is being debated by federal lawmakers.
The U.S. House voted in May to repeal the policy, and the Senate is expected to address the issue this year.
The case moved forward slowly at first because it was assigned to a judge who had health problems and later retired, Woods said. In late 2008, it was reassigned to Phillips and went to trial in July.
The ruling is the second major court ruling this summer in which a California judge handed a major victory to gay rights advocates.
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker overturned Proposition 8, the ballot proposition that banned gay marriage in California. His ruling is on hold pending appeal.
Six military officers who were discharged under the policy testified during the trial. A decorated Air Force officer testified that he was let go after his peers snooped through his personal e-mail in Iraq.
The officers who participated in the trial were “reacting emotionally because they’re so proud that they were able to play a part in making this happen,” Woods said after the ruling.
“It’ll be an interesting decision for our president to decide whether to appeal this case. He’s said that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ weakens national security, and now it’s been declared unconstitutional,” he said. “If he does appeal, we’re going to fight like heck.”
The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members. Under the 1993 policy, service men and women who acknowledge being gay or are discovered engaging in homosexual activity, even in the privacy of their own homes off base, are subject to discharge.
Pleasure P For Your Hood
Hot new track from Pleasure P. Don't know about you but this shit is fire. Dude killed it. Let me know what you think about this track off the mixtape.
Avenged Sevenfold is excited to bring their #1 record Nightmare to their fans across the Atlantic as they announce their first headline tour in Europe.
Below are the dates and locations:
Oct. 20
Barcelona, Spain
Razzmatazz
On Sale: September 7th
Oct. 21
Milan, Italy
Alcatraz
On Sale: September 7th
Oct. 23
Munich, Germany
Theaterfabrik
ON SALE NOW
Oct. 24
Brussels, Belgium
Ancienne Belgique
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 8
Dublin, Ireland
Olympia
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 11
Cologne, Germany
Live Music Hall
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 12
Luxembourg
Rockhal Box
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 14
Paris, France
Elysee-Montmartre
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 15
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Melkweg
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 16
Hamburg, Germany
Markthalle
ON SALE NOW
Nov. 18
Copenhagen, Denmark
Amager Bio
On Sale: September 6th
Nov. 19
Malmo, Sweden
KB
On Sale: September 6th
Nov. 20
Stockholm, Sweden
Arenan
On Sale: September 6th
Nov. 22
Helsinki, Finland
Ice Hall
On Sale: September 6th
Nov. 24
Oslo, Norway
Sentrum Scene
On Sale: September 6th
Spread the word and tell your friends that their Nightmare has begun.
Please go and buy/download one of my favorite rock groups Nightmare album
Here's the track lists
Nightmare
Welcome To The Family
Danger Line
Buried Alive
Natural Born Killer
So Far Away
God Hates Us
Victim
Tonight The World Dies
Fiction
Save Me
People want to always be happy with their partner. Shit, I know I do.
After brainstorming for the past few days this is what I came up with in order to have a healthy relationship:
Understanding
Appreciative
Respectful
Caring and kind
Helpful
Trustworthy
Positive
Fun to be around
So, what does it take to maintain a healthy relationship?
Slow, but Consistent - Relationships work the best when people go slow and take their time getting to know each other. Whirlwind romances usually end in disaster. It also helps to be consistently supportive and encouraging. Inconsistent behavior causes misunderstandings and uncertainty.
Keep Things Upbeat - Relationships work the best when partners express a positive and upbeat attitude towards each other. Genuine displays of happiness and affection go a long way when trying to make a relationship work. By contrast, relationships fail when indifference, anger and negativity become the norm. In fact, even a little negativity can create a lot of problems in a close relationship. This does not mean that people cannot express negative feelings in a relationship, but that there are appropriate (and inappropriate) ways of dealing with one’s negative feelings.
Approach Problems Together - Couples feel closer and are more satisfied with their relationships when they approach problems and difficulties as a team. Couples who take an US versus the PROBLEM, rather than a YOU versus ME approach to conflict are much happier in the long run.
Don't Take Each Other For Granted - Over time, couples typically take each other for granted. At the start of a relationship people appreciate all the things that their partners do for them. However, as time goes on, people tend to expect more, but acknowledge a partner's contributions less often. To keep a relationship happy and healthy it is important to show appreciation on a consistent basis.
Appreciate Differences - Relationships work the best when partners have a lot in common, but respect and appreciate the differences that do exist. It helps to appreciate someone for who they are rather than try to change them or how they behave.
Be Approachable - People need to be able to talk freely with a romantic partner. Sharing what is going on in one’s life and how one feels about issues is important to do. But, being open with a partner is not always easy because it requires spouses to tell the truth and to LISTEN to things that may be difficult to hear. Listening in an attempt to UNDERSTAND, not control, evaluate, or judge is critical to having an satisfying relationship.
Express Commitment - Relationships work the best when partners reassure each other of their love and commitment. It never hurts to tell a spouse that you love him or her and that you will always be there.
While sipping my coffee and thinking about a lot of things, I realized that God has truly blessed me with someone who's amazing and I'm so in love with her beautiful mind and sense of humor. Being in love can make you a very helpless and vulnerable lovesick, that's why when you decide to be in a serious relationship, it can bring out some of your insecurities, even if you consider yourself downright confident and self-assured. Why is this so? Why is it so tough to deal with relationship insecurities?
Well, sometimes, to be in a healthy relationship, we have to let down our defenses and be all-out to the other person. Unconsciously, we may be trying to tell them that we want to trust them fully and by baring ourselves of every flaw and insecurity, we want them to see our true colors and love us despite of.
However, insecurities are just bad news in general, and it develops due to past mistakes, fear of losing your loved one and personal issues you failed to address within you from the very beginning. Being insecure is not healthy and it can bring impending doom to a relationship. The good part is, you have to understand that insecurity can also be natural thing for it is a step towards building trust and confidence with the other person.
To put it simply, being too insecure to the point of being annoying is just silly. You two are together because you love each other and you want to celebrate passion, forget the past and appreciate what you have right now. Your partner is with you because you are an amazing person and you are worth loving. Save yourself the stress of being too paranoid and just embrace the present. Delving too much on the past will definitely affect your future, so lessen the fuss, build back the confidence in you, love yourself and share your life with another. Nothing makes life more beautiful than that.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been arrested in Las Vegas following the domestic violence claims made by his baby mama.
Mor baby mama drama. Josie Harris called the police at around 5 AM yesterday from her home in Vegas -- and when cops arrived she told them the professional boxer had attacked her and threatened to kill her.(lies I tell ya)
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mayweather was arrested and booked for grand larceny related to the domestic incident. According to the report, Mayweather allegedly took personal items from Harris' house.
Mayweather reportedly has not been arrested for domestic violence -- at least not yet.
Mayweather was booked and held on $3,000 bail.
When will all this baby mama drama will cease?
Now I know that I'm late with the this news, but I just had to inform the ones who didn't hear the biggest news that's been circulating for the past day or so. It was confirmed on (Aug. 9) that Willow Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, inked a deal with the record label. The nine-year-old singer, alongside new labelhead Jay-Z, appeared on Ryan Seacrest's "On-Air With Ryan Seacrest" radio show to make the official announcement.
"We at Roc Nation are excited to work with Willow. She has an energy and enthusiasm about her music that is truly infectious," said Jay-Z via a statement. "It's rare to find an artist with such innate talent and creativity at such a young age. Willow is about to embark on an incredible journey and we look forward to joining her as she grows in all aspects of her career."
Willow's mother, Jada Pinkett-Smith, added, "After meeting with several record companies, it was clear that Jay-Z, Ty Ty, Jay Brown and the Roc Nation staff was the unquestionable choice. Their passion for Willow combined with their boundless vision and artistic integrity made Roc Nation the perfect home for our little girl."
Willow's first single, "Whip My Hair," is produced by newcomer Jukebox and has garnered the tween trendsetter comparisons to Rihanna. The accompanying video will be shot in Los Angeles at the end of this month.
Seems like there's no stopping the Smith's family. Get it gurlll....Congrats...
One year after Kanye West stole Taylor Swift's thunder in epic fashion at the MTV Video Music Awards, the attention seeker is at it again, however, this time she's fighting back.
Last weekend, Kanye tweeted that he "wrote a song for Taylor that's so beautiful," and if she rejects it, then he'll perform it for her. Ummm seriously Mr. West? Well good luck with that my dude.
"Taylor writes her own sounds and has been very successful at it," a record executive has said. "Why would she want to sing one of Kanye's songs? The last thing she wants to do is give him any more attention or make him any money."
It's true that songwriters often make more money than performers on song royalties. Dolly Parton, who wrote 'I Will Always Love You,' famously said that when she wrote the iconic song, she opened a bank account, but when Whitney Houston recorded it, she bought the bank.
Taylor is the first female solo artist in country music history to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling, self-titled debut album. In addition, Swift wrote or co-wrote every song on her blockbuster 'Fearless' album, which has sold more than 5 million copies.
"It's just another insult that this fool thinks she would sing a song he wrote," a friend of Taylor's said. "His ego is out of control. If anything, Kanye should be singing a song that Taylor wrote, not the other way around. As far as Taylor is concerned, he can take his song and shove it."
Could you blame her for feeling the way she is? Let me know what you think.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Believe it or not, there are scholarships available specifically for lesbian, gay, bi and transgender students. Here are some of the top national and regional scholarships available to LGBT students. Be sure to check your local gay community organizations or college of choice too, because there are many local LGBT scholarships that are not listed here.
1. The Point Foundation - LGBT Scholarship
The Point Foundation provides not only money for tuition, books room and board, but also has a leadership program to help LGBT scholars succeed. From their website: "We pay particular attention to those students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity."
2. League Foundation at AT&T LGBT Scholarship
LEAGUE at AT&T Foundation Scholarships are available to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender U.S. high school seniors who have demonstrated achievements in:
a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
significant involvement in community service
acceptance to an accredited U.S. college or university
League offers $1500 scholarships and several special $2500 scholarships in honor of Matthew Shepherd and Laurel Hester.
3. Live Out Loud Scholarship
The Live Out Loud Foundation provides GLBT students positive role models in careers and education. For graduating seniors, or those who have put off college for one yeear from the New York Tri-State area, including New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey the Live Out Loud Foundation offers three $2500 scholarships.
4. LGBT Journalism Scholarship
The National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award is for LGBT students pursuing a career in journalism.
5. Colage LGBT Children Scholarship
COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) has four $1,000 scholarships to support the undergraduate studies of students with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender parents.
6. Malyon-Smith Scholarship Award for Graduate Psychology Students
For graduate students studying psychology the Maylon-Smith scholarship annually awards up to $1000 graduate students in psychology to advance research in the psychology of sexual orientation and gender identity.
7. National Gay Pilot's Association Scholarship
Planning on learning to fly? The National Gay Pilot's Association wants to help. Applicants must be pursuing a career as a professional pilot and must demonstrate that they make a contribution to the gay and lesbian community.
8. NWSA Lesbian Studies Scholarship
Lesbian and Social Work go together like, well lesbians and Birkenstocks. If you are pursuing a career in Social Work and are interested in studying lesbians the National Association of Social Workers Lesbian Caucus Award can set you up with a $500 research award to continue your work.
9. Queer Foundation Scholarship Fund
A yearly essay contest for queer youth could yield you $1000 towards college. And best of all, if your essay is selected, it could end up in high school English classes across the country as a way to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.
10. LGBT Heart Scholarship for Health Professionals
The LGBT HEART Scholarship Fund is for students in the health professions seeking to promote the health and well-being of the LGBT community. Scholarships are available on an annual basis to out LGBT students pursuing advanced (Masters level or higher) degrees in the health professions.
Can't stress the importance of getting an education. Please take time and research these 10 scholarship programs.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Before I continue Let me just start off by saying that I'm so not a fan of "Dancing With The Stars" at all. Never was and hightly doubt that I'll ever will be. I could care less what stars are dancing around on stage for some damn entertainment. I'm sure a lot of my viewers love watching such a lame ass show. Good news is that LGBT Margaret Cho,Jennifer Grey to compete on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ 11. According to E! online, comedian Margaret Cho and former Dirty Dancing movie star Jennifer Grey are all set to compete on the upcoming “Dancing With The Stars” season 11. Everyone knows I'm all for supporting LGBT.
They say that their sources confirm they will indeed be on the show this season,and dancing pro Derek Hough will be returning as well. He will reportedly be paired up with the former Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey. Margaret Cho’s pro dancer partner is currently being kept a secret. However, all the celebrities have already been paired up and met their partners to tape intro packages and pose for promotional photos.
Other celebrities who are reported to compete on “Dancing With The Stars” 11, are: former basketball player Rick Fox, singer Michael Bolton, The Hills’ Audrina Patridge, Jersey Shore star Mike The Situation, Knight Rider and Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, R&B star Brandy, Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson and, Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin. Dancing With The Stars season 11 is scheduled to premiere on September 20th.
It's about damn time for CBS to join some of its rival networks in welcoming a group for its LGBT employees, with members ranging from freelancers to top executives from coast to coast.
Sometime last year some CBS employees expressed interest in forming a group to support its minority workers, says Barbara Matos, manager of CBS Diversity. When the topic came up at a company town-hall meeting, CBS Corp. president and CEO Leslie Moonves took to the idea and the company's RAD Council was born.
But according to CBS News executive producer Court Passant, gay employees wanted to take it a step further. Once Moonves's team was involved, he said the formation of CBS Angle took on quickly. The group examined other LGBT affinity groups at competing networks and other industries to figure out the best structure for operation.
Currently, the group has a few dozen members from its New York and Los Angeles offices, but those members are looking to expand to include employees from all of its offices and to incorporate its San Francisco staff's already-operating LGBT group.
Though CBS was the only broadcast network to score a failing grade in July by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation for its lack of gay characters, other networks under the CBS corporate umbrella have fared well each year. The CW, a joint venture for CBS and Warner Bros., was named the broadcast network with the most gay-inclusive and the most racially diverse programming, possibly due to it's 18-to-34-year-old female target audience. Another CBS Corp. brand, Showtime, also earned a "good" rating with LGBT-inclusive shows like Nurse Jackie, Weeds, and The United States of Tara.
After the third year in a row of poor marks, CBS network president Nina Tassler said at the Television Critics Association press tour in July that three of the network's shows would add gay characters (The Good Wife, Rules of Engagement, and the upcoming $#*! My Dad Says, which is based on the @shitmydadsays Twitter feed and the book Sh*t My Dad Says). For its daytime programming, the network has also added Sara Gilbert's much-anticipated roundtable talk show, The Talk.
"We're disappointed in our track record so far," Tassler said at the event. "We're going to do it. We're not happy with ourselves."
Passant says he hopes CBS Angle will provide guidance to the company at large.
"While CBS has been very supportive of our efforts, we would love for them to use us as a resource if an event or situation happened where they need advice," he says. "We would love to be more than just a social group or a group that gets together and has speakers."
POSITIVE BREAKUP RECOVERY
Focus your energy on what you intend to gain from this experience
Grab a notebook and a pen and write about what you have learned. Write about what you want to learn. Write about what you desire. What treasures are buried within, just waiting to be found? Do you have an old forgotten passion? Do you want to develop a new passion? This is your experience. You get to determine what you will gain from it.
There is not one… again – NOT ONE – relationship breakup that hasn’t left some kind of positive growth impact on the person who has gone through it. When experiencing a breakup we analyze the true meaning of life; we learn to not take things for granted in the future and to have a better appreciation for the world around us and for the people in it. It is also a time in our life when we seek to find and face our shortcomings and imperfections. We find our faults and weaknesses and we strive to improve them. We gain more spiritual insights. We become harder yet in a ‘softer’ way, wiser, and more in touch with life and its meaning.
We learn who we are.
If you take anything positive from your breakup at all it will be in the form of having a future that will be richer because of the positive growth you will get from the breakup.
T.I.(The King) already on probation after serving seven months on a weapons conviction in 2009is facing legal trouble again after being arrested in Hollywood last night, along with his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, on possession of a controlled substance charges.
T.I.(The King) and ex excape member Tiny were arrested last night in Los Angeles after police pulled over their Maybach for making an illegal U-turn on Sunset Boulevard. They were released on $10,000 bail each this morning. According to the L.A. sheriff’s department:
“Deputies smelled a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. A narcotics investigation ensued.”
You would think with being blessed with having the number 1 movie in America, just got married to his long time girlfriend, that he would not want to get into anymore trouble with the law. Don't know what that fool was thinking but I hope that everything turns out alright for their kids sake.
Please if you have some input on this bullshit, feel free to comment and speak your mind.
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