Game on...Thank GOD!

Here's why The Game is a breath of fresh air on television. It's one of the few NON-Reality shows on TV. The cast has veteran actors (Wendy Raquel Robinson, Tia Mowry, Brittany Daniel) and actors we want to see more of! (Hosea & Pooch) It caters to a 20-30 something audience. I mean all we have is Jersey Shore & Supernatural. I've been forced to watch MTV repeats of True life and the disgusting Bad Girls Club and they are both reality shows!

Thank God BET & Kelsey Grammer brought the Game back to LIFE. Last nights episode was funny and the fashions were fierce.It was almost reminiscent of 90's "urban" sitcoms and dramas. The show was good because I actually related to the characters. I'm 26, I dress like Mel(sometimes), I went to college, I talk like that with my friends. Hell the cast represents my mixture of friends too. Black ,white, middle-class, hood( Cousin TT).

I finally feel that a new demographic was reached in TV audience. And I reall didn't mind the Sheree walk-on. But Terrance J as a love interest...hmm
Can't wait till next Tuesday episode

No wonder we're fat...

I was walking down Fordham Rd last week and paused outside the KFC. There was a huge new sandwich being adverised "The double down". My mouthwatered as I took in the crispy chicken and bacon. The I came to my senses and realized how GROSS it was. Two deep fried chicken breasts replaced bread buns. Inside its bacon and some kind of cheese. WTF? I went to KFC's website. They describe it as

So meaty there's no room for the bun.
Sandwich Calories Fat (g) Sodium (mg)
KFC Original Recipe® Double Down 540 32 1380
KFC Grilled Double Down 460 23 1430

Damn look at the SALT! ONE Teaspoon salt = 2000 mg of sodium
The daily recommendation is 1,500 and 2,400 milligrams (mg)

America put the sandwich down! You ever wonder why you never see commercials for broccoli or apples? Don' t you question why your 3 year old recognizes McDonald's and barely an apple or carrot? We have two - three grocery stores and TWO McDonald's in a 1/2 mile radius in my neighborhood. It's a vicious cycle we eat cheap fast food now and pay the medical industry BILLIONS later for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

What's Going On? Couple murdered by 3 Teens.

When this story flashed across the evening news I thought to myself, a young black couple brutally murdered and they only received 45 seconds of air time. The next morning I saw a facebook post for Michael and Nia by a good friend. Please don't say it's the same people...It was. Educated, smart, successful, outgoing...in love. They were coming home from a engagement party in Jersey City and were victims of an intended car jacking. The suspects shot both in the head and left with gift cards, their wallets and Nia's engagement ring.

Michael Muchioki was an engineer, Nia Haqq was an associate producer for a Nickelodeon affiliate. He was 27 she only 25, they share the same ages of my husband and I. They were buried side by side. When I hear of such acts of violence it makes me sick. Especially when we harm each other. Three suspects were arrested and held on bond last week.


"Darmelia Lawrence, Latonia Bellamy and Shiquan Bellamy, all 19-year-old Jersey City residents, are charged with felony murder, armed robbery and weapons offenses, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said Friday. Shiquan Bellamy was already in custody on an unrelated narcotics charge."

I find it even sadder that Jesse James and Tiger Woods got even more press coverage. Even Nancy Grace was still talking about 3 year old Casey. Every day I think to myself if I am a victim of violence, will my story be on the evening news? I feel these stories are always overshadowed by Natalie Holloway type cases. Does the media think the public doesn't care? Well we do care. Please explore these cases. We want to know the back story of Michael and Nia.
Visit www.lovemikenia.com

BROOKLYN FASHION WEEK...

Yes BK has its own fashion week(END)...at Steiner Studios (NAVY YARD) Tickets are recession friendly at 35$ a pop. It goes down APRIL 16th. Featuring about 10 designers and students from Maxwell High School in ENY. Abner Louima will host along side NYC Real Housewives and Derek Warburton.

Sponsored by BK Style Foundation

The truth about Universal Healthcare

History has been made last night. For nearly 100 years efforts have gone unsuccessfully to establish Universal Health care in America. TAXES!!!! I believe has been the main reason health care hasn't been passed. In this country we don't have Health Care we have SICK care. If you have never had insurance you constantly live in fear having some unknown condition or are stressed over impending medical bills. I was uninsured from aged 19-21, my dad lost his job when they moved to NJ, and I was already away at college. Thank god for the school's health center, but they had no eye care or dental. I have terrible eye site and wore glasses since age 7, I ended up paying 700-800$ for eye care out of pocket. I eventually found out I was eligible for Medicaid as a NY state student over a winter break.

Guess what? This plan is not going to happen tomorrow. Your taxes won't sky rocket next week. Last night it seemed like the Republicans were more concerned about Abortion than potentially saving the lives of Americans. One senator even shouted BABY KILLER! The infant mortality rate in this country is high due to lack of prenatal care and uninsured mothers. Hospitals are closing are being stuck with unpaid bills. (St. vincents)

Thank you Mr. President for finally making a change.

Even sooner, in 2013, affluent families with annual income above $250,000 would be required to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on their investment income, while contributing more to the Medicare program from their payroll taxes. And eventually, the most expensive insurance policies would be subject to a new tax.

The Uninsured

Although most Americans who do not obtain health insurance would face a federal penalty starting in 2014, many experts question how strict the enforcement of that penalty would actually be.

The first year, consumers who did not have insurance would owe $95, or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater. But the penalty would subsequently rise, reaching $695, or 2 percent of income.

Families who fall below the income-tax filing thresholds would not owe anything. Nor would people who cannot find a policy that costs less than 8 percent of their income, said Sara R. Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, an independent nonprofit research group.

EXPANDED MEDICAID More lower-income individuals under the age of 65 would be covered by Medicaid, the federal health insurance plan for the poor. Under the new rules, households with income up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $29,327 for a family of four, would be eligible.

EXCHANGES AND SUBSIDIES Most other uninsured people would be required to buy insurance through one of the new state-run insurance exchanges. People with incomes of more than 133 percent of the poverty level but less than 400 percent (that’s $29,327 to $88,200 for a family of four) would be eligible for premium subsidies through the exchanges.

Premiums would also be capped at a percentage of income, ranging from 3 percent of income to as much as 9.5 percent. Those With Insurance

EMPLOYER COVERAGE People who receive coverage through large employers would be unlikely to see any drastic changes, nor should premiums or coverage be affected. But almost everyone would benefit from new regulations, like the ban on pre-existing conditions that would apply to all policies come 2014.

There might even be cases where people would be eligible to buy insurance through an exchange instead of through their employer, Professor Jost said: those who must pay more than 9.5 percent of their income for premiums, or those whose plans do not cover more than 60 percent of the cost their benefits.

CHANGES IN MEDICARE One of the biggest changes involves the Medicare prescription drug program. Its unpopular “doughnut hole” — a big, expensive gap in coverage that affects millions — would be eliminated by 2020. Starting immediately, consumers who hit the gap would receive a $250 rebate. In 2011, they would receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs.

HIGH-COST INSURANCE Starting in 2018, employers that offer workers pricier plans — or those with total premiums of $10,200 or more for singles and $27,500 for families — would be subject to a 40 percent tax on the excess premium, said C. Clinton Stretch, managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte. Retirees and workers in high-risk professions like firefighting would have higher thresholds ($11,850 for singles, or $30,950 for families), pegged to inflation.

NY TIMES MARCH 21s 2010

Poor People's Tennis

This past week NYC has tasted a touch of spring. It was a delightful 50 plus degrees outside on Tuesday and Wednesday. Okay I pulled on my usual leggings and long shirt combo, strapped the baby in a cheap umbrella stroller and headed to the nearest park. As I walk past the empty mid-morning basketball court and daycare group filled jungle gyms I reminisce about my teen aged sunny afternoons in Brooklyn.

It consisted of bike riding, walks to City Line(window shopping) or handball. Handball is a serious sport in the City...as well as double dutch. There is even an annual tournament. All you need is a dollar and a wall, or park court. The dollar gets you blue ball (giggle) from the bodega. Pick a team mate or play singles, have imaginary lines and boxes. Throw the ball and the opposing side slaps with the palm of their hand. It's like tennis, but the poor man's version. I only know one tennis court in East NY and it's a ugly concrete space with faded yellow lines. I doubt it's still there. The elementary school that's on the lot probably but up one of those trailer schools due to over crowding.

8 years later and a private Upstate University education allowed me to realize how different America is from city to suburb and state by state. I worked at a playhouse in Pennsylvania near a sprawling golf course and tennis court. There was a sparkling public pool across the road. I learned how to play tennis on that faded concrete court in Brooklyn. I learned how to golf in our middle school gym, putting balls at the gate covered windows. I took ballet at the nearby middle school that was funded by the Parks Department. All the activities prepared me to fit in a little bit at Syracuse. At least if someone wanted to play tennis in the summer I could join them.

I wonder if my son will learn to play basket ball in a bronx park or will he take tennis lesson on a green court in Pennsylvania. He'll probably play virtual tennis on a Nintedo WII like the other kids are doing today. Over protected parents spending their tax refunds on 200$ game systems too scared to let their off spring play outside. God forbid little Keisha is pick up by child traffickers or Bobby is ran over by a distracted driver texting on his Blackberry. In 5 years if we are still living in New York, I'm heading to the nearest corner store and buying my son a rubber ball. I'll have some one to play singles with.

http://www.tmz.com/

http://www.tmz.com/

Another Young start dead..all that Glitters aint gold