Black Entertainment, Money, Style and Beauty Blogs - Black Voices

Easy At Home Hair Recipes

Patrice Grell Yursik — 2010-03-19T23:36:00+00:00

Filed under: Natural Hair, Hair Care, How-To

Part of the journey of natural hair is figuring out which products work best for your hair's texture. I broke down the various categories of products you can try in this post here. Figuring it all out does require a bit of trial and error, and if you're a product junkie (like I am) it can cost you quite a bit of money. Which is why for many women with natural hair, experimenting with at home hair recipes is par for the course.

You can keep your recipes simple -- brown sugar and coconut oil make an excellent scalp and body scrub, for example. Or you can find inspiration from websites like Motown Girl, From Nature With Love, and yes - YouTube has some excellent DIY hair butter videos for your perusal.

If your goal is to make an at-home whipped hair butter, it's recommended that you use a hand held mixer or food processor to better control the speed of blending. Glycerine and aloe vera are popular ingredients that add moisture and make for a thicker concoction. Shea butter and coconut oil are among the most popular bases used in at home hair recipes.

If you're not the adventurous type but just really want a hair product that uses the kind of natural ingredients you might have whipped up if only you had the time, check out the Hydrating Hair Butter made by Fleurzty of Texture Playground -- it's made with coconut oil, mango butter, kokum butter, shea butter, sweet almond oil and costs $11 for 4 ounces.

Do you experiment with at home hair recipes? Share with us!

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Bishop Neil C. Ellis: Bringing Out Atlanta Notables at Tyler Perry Studios Book Launch

Bridget Bland — 2010-03-19T21:09:00+00:00

Filed under: Movies, Television, News

Tyler Perry seldom grants much access to his groundbreaking Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios complex. But on March 18, the top grossing black film maker, urban theater czar and TV production maverick made an exception for Bishop Neil C. Ellis.

Ellis, who helms the 7000 member Full Gospel Baptist Church in the Bahamas, brought out a who's who Atlanta for his book signing and launch of 'Pursuing the Glory,' which reveals the various dimensions of God's glory, and how to prepare, receive and maintain both the power and presence of God in life.

In the tome, Ellis specifically discusses the revelation of glory that came to him, after vocal cord surgery in 2007 where he was literally in a place of silence for over 16 weeks.

"I resolved in my mind that while I didn't really understand what God was doing in my life. I had to submit to the process,," he shared.

From Atlanta radio jock Frank Ski to legendary movie producer Reuben Cannon, athletes, actors and actresses and media elite showed up to find out more about the 'Glory.'

Former 'Living Single' actress Kim Fields, who currently directs 'Meet the Browns,' was also on hand at the event, as well as comedian Sheryl Underwood, who is penning several gospel plays.

The feisty funnywoman said she took a red eye trip from Los Angeles to be a part of day-long program. "I couldn't miss this," she told BV Newswire. "And, Bishop Ellis and his wife both knew who I was. I'm so happy to have been in this room and a part of this."

Actress Terri Vaughn, formerly of 'The Steve Harvey Show,' took part in the event, reading an excerpt from the book on not being afraid of voicing your love for Christ. "A lot of people feel uncomfortable," she said. She added that working on Tyler Perry's 'Meet the Browns' -- which is produced int he Atlanta-area studios -- has been an experience that encourages this. "I love being here. Just walking through the offices and [people answering back] 'Oh I'm blessed,' and praying together as a cast and crew."

Ellis was extremely grateful for the opportunity to host his event at the largest and first African-American motion picture production complex in the world.

"I'm delighted that God so ordered our footsteps that the launch should be here," he said. "It speaks to the glory of God himself. Look at this place and think about the story of Tyler Perry and where he was just six years ago. He's a believer in Christ and when the glory of god hits your life, dreams come alive."

"The glory has been launched from an environment of glory."

On March 29, Ellis will appear alongside Perry and the cast of the upcoming 'Why Did I Get Married Too' at the film's Atlantis Resort movie premiere in the Bahamas, where portions of the movie were filmed.

He also has plans to head out on a book tour for 'Pursing the Glory' starting April 7 at Bethel Baptist Church in Jacksonville.

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'Precious' Debuts As Top DVD Seller

Wilson Morales — 2010-03-19T19:07:00+00:00

Filed under: News

Fresh from winning numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for its screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher) and supporting actress (Mo'Nique), the dramatic film, 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire,' finally landed atop the charts.

The DVD release debuted at No. 1 with 1.5 million copies sold, in addition to being the #1 rental on iTunes and Amazon.

During its theatrical run, the film grossed $47.5 million to date.

'Precious' marks Lionsgate's third number one home entertainment release for 2010 as 'Gamer' and 'Tyler Perry's 'I Can Do Bad All By Myself' both topped the charts back in January.

"It has been a thrill to watch Precious achieve such an amazing level of success," said Steve Beeks, Lionsgate President and Co-Chief Operating Officer. "With the support of our incredible partners, executive producers Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, so many people have been touched by this vibrant, honest and hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome. It has also been an honor to re-team with Lee Daniels after releasing the first film from his production company, the Academy Award winning Monster's Ball."

"From awards and critical acclaim to commercial success, we are extremely proud at the level of accomplishment this moving and important film has achieved."

Directed by Daniels from a screenplay by Fletcher based upon the book 'Push,' a novel by Sapphire, the film stars Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz and introduces Gabourey Sidibe. 'Precious' was produced by Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness.

Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Lisa Cortés and Tom Heller are Executive Producers.

Set in Harlem in 1987, Precious is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn't know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain, Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

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Will Blind People Be Able to Drive Cars? Oh Yes!

Ruth Manuel-Logan — 2010-03-19T18:09:00+00:00

Imagine being blindfolded, then getting behind the wheel of a car and actually driving it. Well, Virginia Tech's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory, the think-tank section of the school is at it again. They have created a vehicle that can be driven by those who cannot see and the designers are calling it 'a breakthrough in independent living.'

A group of undergrads took an all-terrain dune buggy and transformed in into a semi-autonomous vehicle. The car is equipped with laser range finding, voice and sensory technology. The project was developed as the result of a 2004 challenge by the National Federation of the Blind's Jernigan Institute when it called on universities to create a vehicle for the blind. Two years later, Virginia Tech partnered with the Federation when they were the only academic institution to answer the challenge. Virginia Tech received a $3,000 grant to get cracking and the partnership evolved into a project called the Blind Driver Challenge (BDC).

Last year, the prototype for the buggy was completed. Mark Riccobono, executive director of the Federation's Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, took the vehicle out for a spin. BTW, Riccobono is sightless from birth. Implementing the BDC system, he took the vehicle around the Virginia Tech's parking lot and navigated his way through a closed course defined by traffic cones--maxing out at a speed of about 20 mph.

Team leader Kimberly Wenger, who is sighted, also test drove the vehicle while blindfolded. "While driving I realized how dependent I was on sight and how the abilities of the blind should be even more commended for achieving all the tasks that sighted people do in an environment, that is severely reliant on sight cues. When driving, I thought I was moving, but was actually standing still. It is very interesting to note, that when the blind drivers drove the vehicle, they were able to easily navigate much better than the sighted blindfolded drivers...amazing," Wenger enthuses.

Here's how the vehicle works: The steering wheel is hooked up to a distance monitor that gathers information from laser range finders. Voice software is used to direct the driver every second on exactly how far to turn the steering wheel. For example, the monitor will tell the driver "turn left three clicks." As the driver does that, the monitor makes three clicking noises. A vibrating vest provides cues to follow when accelerating and decelerating. The vest will vibrate in various spots--the back, abdominal area and the shoulders--to relay a variety of commands. When a driver needs to "Hit the brakes!" the entire vest will vibrate to a fare-thee-well!

The creative tekkie juices at the university have not stopped flowing regarding this type of scientific miracle of sorts. The BDC team plans on continuing to "revolutionize attitudes about blindness and promote independence." Currently, plans are on the way to implement the BDC system into a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV. There are 13 students working diligently to re-create the vehicle, so that numerous blind motorists could drive from Baltimore, MD. to Orlando, FL. in May 2011 for the National Federation of the Blind's National Convention with intermittent stops for fundraising events and media showings. The BDC team hopes, that the driving event will increase the awareness of blind drivers across the country and work to break stereotypes of the abilities of the blind.

The Ford SUV 's design will get kicked up a notch. Gone are the audio cues and instead, drivers will get a kind of dashboard tactile map that could be read with their fingertips to tell them where they're going. The laser sensor has also been improved. Vibrating fingerless driver's gloves will replace the vest.

Even though the wheels are in motion for this type of technology to assist the blind, will the naysayers try to set up roadblocks? "Laws now barring the blind from driving and public perception must be changed," Riccobono said. "This is the piece that we know will be the most difficult," he says, adding that the car must be near-perfected before the National Federation of the Blind can truly push the car to law-makers and the general public. Riccobono believes this effort will take millions of dollars in development.

Shouldn't everyone have the opportunity to lead independent lives? Riccobono is adamant about one thing, "Blind people have brains, the capacity to make decisions," he said. "Why would they not want to drive?"

I guess I've seen it all now!

________________
Ruth Manuel-Logan is a Car Chick indeed! She grew up in a family where cars reigned supreme. Who says girly-girls can't be into nuts-n-bolts, metal and exhaust fumes? When she's not car bloggin' at Black Voices, you can find her at the Examiner.

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Laser Hair Removal for All Skin Types

Patrice Grell Yursik — 2010-03-19T18:07:00+00:00

Filed under: Interviews, Hair Care

When Jennifer Kandemir got into the hair removal business, she didn't do it for money or ambition. She did it because of her own experience as a hirsute woman.

"I myself am a dark skinned woman and I was concerned about the effects of laser hair removal. I've been practicing since 1999, and I personally was a very hairy girl. Even when I shaved, I used to look like I had goosebumps. I had like 3 hairs in one root," she explained in a phone interview from Advanced Derma Laser Tech, her center on Madison Avenue in New York City.

Kandemir's own difficulties with excessive body hair led to self esteem issues, and high costs to achieve the hairlessness she desired.

"Even when I shaved, it didn't have a smooth, soft feel to it. The area was so dense; it'd be already growing back. I started to wax every two weeks, and I wound up with polka dot legs with little black marks. I looked into electrolysis. I was looking at 300 hours at $150 an hour!"

Jennifer got to the point where she decided to purchase her own machine to take care of the situation herself. While looking into an electrolysis machine, she was introduced to the next level of hair removal technology by a forward thinking sales person.

"I decided to go have the procedure done in the end of 1998, beginning of 1999. I paid $3000 to do a package. I got treated, and after the procedure I went home in pain. I had been burned. And my husband told me, Look - you can't do this to yourself. My husband recommended I get the laser and do it on myself, so I would know how not to burn myself, and be able to stop when it got too bad. The machines were 85 grand in those days."

At the time, Jennifer didn't see that as feasible. But then - in a sure fire husband-of-the-year move - Jennifer's husband purchased the machine for her, and surprised her with it. That forced her to put her best foot forward and learn this new technology first hand.

"It's been 6 years since I haven't waxed or shaved, and my legs are just beautiful. It took about a year and 5 months for all my hairs to go away. You should see my legs. I allow everyone to touch my legs," she says.

At Advanced Derma Laser, individual treatments range from $100 to $350. On customers of color, they use the Nd:YAG laser, which is specifically made for darker skin tones. And Jennifer has specific recommendations for a first timer.

"For a first visit, I recommend underarms, bikini or lower legs. Coarser hair works best. This is NOT for facial hair. If a girl has peach fuzz, I wouldn't allow her to get the treatment. I really think it's great with armpits. When you start treating that area, your underarms become lighter, and if you've got discoloration there from shaving, it will begin to match the rest of your skin tone," she says.

Jennifer wants to share the joy of laser hair removal with every woman who's had similar experiences to her own. "If every single girl who is as hairy as I am could feel the way I feel now, that would be amazing. I think it makes you feel feminine and better about yourself."

To learn more or make an appointment, visit www.advanceddermalaser.com.

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T.I.: Akoo Clothing Line Sued for Trademark Infringement

Brennan Williams — 2010-03-19T18:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Music, News, Celeb Updates

While T.I. is currently finishing up his one year prison sentence stemming from gun possession charges in an Atlanta halfway house, the rapper may find himself back in legal trouble upon his March 26 release.

According to published reports, T.I.'s clothing line, AKOO, is being sued for trademark infringement by social music television company Akoo International.

The global establishment, who proclaims to be the "world's largest social music television network," are claiming the 'ATL' star's fashion label has caused confusion amongst current and potential clients.

Although the Illinois based entertainment network was formally known as Hellenic Interactive, Inc. when founded in 2001, the company officially changed their name to Akoo International, Inc. in September 2004, which has led the CEO Niko Drakoulis to take necessary measures to "protect" his nine year investment.

"Akoo has been recognized as a leading social TV platform for connecting brand advertisers with millions of our engaged viewers," says Drakoulis. "Our primary obligation and goal is to prevent confusion among our consumers, which is among the most basic objectives of trademark law."

"At the same time, Akoo has invested nearly a decade of effort and substantial capital to deploy its network and will do everything in its power to protect its brand."

Akoo International says it offers video programming in over 30 states to 86 million customers via the Internet, shopping malls and universities.

A rep for T.I. and AKOO Clothing could not be reached at press time.

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'Repo Men' Film Review: "A Colossal Mess"

Wilson Morales — 2010-03-19T18:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Reviews

Poor Forest Whitaker. It's been four years and eleven films since he won the Oscar for 'The Last King of Scotland,' and he still hasn't found that midas touch again.

With his critically panned 'Our Family Wedding' currently in theaters and generating disappointing box office numbers, his latest film, 'Repo Men,' which pairs him with Jude Law, doesn't do any great justice to his illustrious career.

The film, which also stars Liev Schreiber, RZA, Alice Braga, and Carice van Houten, is filled with lots of blood and violence, but fails to establish whether it wants to be a comedy, horror film, or a political thriller.

Set sometime in the future, Remy (played by Law) and Jake (played by Whitaker) are former schoolmates working together at The Union, a company that provides artificial body parts. When the recipients are unable to pay off their debts, in comes Remy and Jake to collects the parts by any means necessary.

When an accidentally causes Remy to implanted heart, he's no longer the same unemotional company man he used to be. So much, that he can't complete his assignments and fails to pay his own bills on time. This leaves his boss no choice but to send in Jake to go in and do what he does best, at cost of losing a friend.

With his wife having left him and taking their son, Remy is on the run and befriends a drug addict (played by Braga), who herself is running from Repo Men. She's still conscious to keep her body parts from being taken out of her.

First of all, Jude Law is no action star like Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Jason Statham, and many others. In one scene where he's having this 'Matrix-like' fight with ten or more repo men, the situation looks comical.

Whitaker, in another attempt to reinvent himself, just looks lost in the sci-fi film. It's probably in his best interest to stick to heavy dramatic projects. Director Miguel Sapochnik gives nothing of value for Braga and van Houten, who was great in the foreign film, 'Black Book,' to do.

If there's any saving grace or measure of interest, it's the movie's soundtrack. With familiar songs from Nina Simone, Beck, and The Mama And The Papas, that's enough to lure any fan in and take one for the team. Unfortunately, for the audience, we can hear the songs off the web instead of wasting money and time to see gifted actors diminishing their talents in such a colossal mess.

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Style with Tracey Ferguson: Jonesing For Spring 2010 Trends

Qianna Smith — 2010-03-19T17:36:00+00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Style , Trends, Fashion News

Magazine editors-in-chief are becoming pop culture fascinations. Vogue's Anna Wintour gave us a glimpse into her high-fashion life last summer in the acclaimed documentary 'The September Issue.'

And now, Jones magazine editor-in-chief and founder, Tracey Ferguson, is the latest industry glamour girl to hit the screen. Ferguson is the star of reality show 'Keeping Up With the Joneses,' airing Thursdays at 8PM EST starting April 8th on Centric, BET's newest network.

Viewers will get a rare look at all the drama that goes into publishing each issue of Jones - and Ferguson's quest to take her Houston-based magazine national. Under Ferguson's leadership, Jones has flourished from a wishful concept that was bantered about during a monthly book club meeting, into a vibrant, influential and beguiling quarterly publication that serves as an authority on the very best in fashion, beauty, hair, parties and travel.

Always dressed to impress, Ferguson shared with us her top fashion trends for spring 2010.

Below, find out what's on her stylish radar as she determines outfits for the many events she has coming up, including the press tour of her reality show, launch parties for Jones' inaugural national issue and the re-launch of Jonesmag.com.

Visit CENTRICTV.com and/or www.jonesmag.com for "Keeping Up With The Jones" show information, photos and show clips. The first nationally published issue of Jones Magazine will be on newsstands April 15th.

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Idris Elba, Ice Cube Films Added To Tribeca Film Festival

Wilson Morales — 2010-03-19T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: News

'Legacy' starring Idris Elba, and Ice Cube's documentary, 'Straight Outta L.A,' will makes their worldwide premieres at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival on April 23.

The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 21 through May 2 in Downtown New York City.

In 'Legacy,' Black Ops operative Malcolm Gray (played by Elba) returns home after a botched mission in Eastern Europe. Holed up in a Brooklyn motel room, he is torn between retribution and personal salvation as he mentally unravels. When the walls close in, his story may be all he can leave behind.

Directed by Thomas Ikimi, the film also stars Eamonn Walker, Monique Gabriela Curnen, and Clarke Peters of HBO's 'The Wire.'

Cube's documentary, which was produced by ESPN Films, chronicles the NFL team, the Raiders' move in 1982 from Oakland to L.A., where the football team captivated black and Latino fans at a time of great unrest.

According to Variety, the L.A. Raiders morphed into a worldwide brand before returning to Oakland, with the team's colors and anti-establishment ethos becoming inextricably linked to the hip-hop scene of South Central Los Angeles. Ice Cube observed the team's influence first-hand as a member of the notorious rap group N.W.A.

This is Ice Cube's second directorial effort after 1998's 'The Players Club.'

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Teenager Who Quit High School to Play Pro Ball Quits Team

Quibian Salazar-Moreno — 2010-03-19T16:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Basketball

Last year, Jeremy Tyler made headlines worldwide when he and his family decided that he would skip his senior year of high school to play pro basketball overseas. Tyler was one of the top high school prospects in the United States, but the 6'11" power forward grew impatient and went overseas and joined the Israeli basketball team, Maccabi Haifa, making a nice $140,000 his first season. Last year, New York Times sports writer Pete Thamel flew to Israel to hang out with Tyler and reported that things weren't going to well. According to those around him, Tyler was immature, distracted and couldn't get acclimated to the way of life in Israel, which all affected his on-court play.

Now comes word that Tyler has left the team, with five weeks still left in the season, and returned to San Diego.

"Due to personal matters, Jeremy chose to leave the team on his own will on March 18 and return home to San Diego," Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffery Rosen said in a statement. "We wish Jeremy all the best."

Tyler only played in 10 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.6 minutes a game. And according to ESPN, not even Tyler's agent knew what was going on.

"I'm as surprised as you are. We had no idea he was coming home," Makhtar Ndiaye of the Wasserman Media Group, told ESPN's Willie Weinbaum. "I'm speechless at this point and look forward to speaking with Jeremy. A contract, a learning process -- things weren't great -- but it was part of growing up. I'm disappointed and frustrated. The kid decided on his own. We did everything humanly possible to make it a success story for him and his family."

This seems like a good lesson in patience. Just finish high school, play a year of college, then go to the pros.

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Jenifer Lewis On Bringing Some Wit To 'Princess/ Frog' And Her Craft

Wilson Morales — 2010-03-19T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Interviews

For as long as we have seen Jenifer Lewis on the big and small screen, she has always brought something that made her stand out among her colleagues: lots of sassiness and wit.

Mostly known for playing numerous mother roles in several projects ('Not Easily Broken,' 'The Cookout,' and 'The Brothers'), the Kinloch, Missouri native always makes one smile when she graces the scene.

With the release of 'The Princess and the Frog' on home video, many can see Lewis play Mama Odie opposite the voices of Anika Noni Rose, and in a rare film occurrence, Lewis gets to sing in the film.

Black Voices caught up with the former 'Dreamgirls' star as she celebrates the release of the 'Princess' DVD.

Doing animated films is old hat for you. Were you able to ad-lib anything for your character of Mama Odie?

Jenifer Lewis: Oh God, yes! They pretty much let you go free. Professionally you stick to the script, because you want to honor the writers, but you get in that booth and start creating. There's a joy in creating a character like Mama Odie because she's the fairy godmother here.

You get to sing, too. Most people haven't seen that on the big screen.

JL: It makes it even more intimate in your living rooms.

The film is historic for a lot of reasons. It's the first black princess, and hopefully it'll be remembered in the same stable as other Disney princesses. What does it mean for you to be in a film like this?

JL: It's an incredible experience. 'The Princess and the Frog' is an idea of the time it arrived. With (President) Obama, it's a time for change and hope. It's not a soundbite, that's how I feel. Time has arrived to have an African American princess who has a job, is actually working to get what she wants. She is the first American princess, also.

When you're in the booth you don't always have a chance to work with the entire cast necessarily. Did you get a chance to bond with Anika [Noni Rose] and the rest of the cast?

JL: Oh yeah, they put us together all the time! We've become a family. Most definitely, and that's been one of the biggest joys, getting to know the rest of this cast. You read the script and you know what the characters are doing. Sometimes they'll match up the voices, and they'll let you hear what's going on. The voice director is right in front of you. It takes a lot of creativity and a lot of imagination. That's what Disney gives you space for. You're not locked into commenting on that character predictably. It's not predictable. "What are you doing? What are you doing?" They have all of that to work with, and then the masterminds come in to edit it and pick the take that they want. It's a very magical experience, and to see it all put together is magical. I sat there watching it and went "WOW!"

How different is this character from others you've played in animation?

JL: Mama Odie was a human being. I played a spider woman once, then I was a turtle in 'Shark Tale,' I was a car in 'Cars,' but now I'm playing a human being, so that made a big difference. Gave me even more roads to go down, because human beings have choice.

You always bring a level of wit to your work. How do you balance doing film, TV, and theater?

JL: It's a love of the craft. I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world to have known at a very early age what I wanted to do with my life, to entertain people. I've been blessed with so many gifts and I'm trying to honor the gifts.

When you see someone like Mo'Nique, a black actress and comedienne who reinvents herself and wins an Oscar, that gives hope for a lot of actresses, especially black actresses because there's always the complaint that there's never enough roles for them.

JL: Of course there's not enough roles for them, but right now they're creating more, and a lot of actresses are starting to write their own material. I want to make one thing clear though: I see no distinction between African American actresses and Caucasian actresses and Asian actresses.... It's all individuals. The opportunities are out there, but this generation forgot the hard work that comes behind it. A lot of the younger actresses, we're watching them burn out too soon, and it's unfortunate. Whether it's Mo'Nique or Meryl Streep, it comes down to the hard work to pursue that dream, any creative dream.

A lot of times you get typecast playing someone's mother. What type of roles would you like to play?

JL: It's hard to say. Let me give it to you like this: I live in the moment. When it comes it comes. I didn't worry about it. You come into a twilight, but I think I've grown a lot, and have been so lucky, and it'll all come the way it's supposed to because I laid the foundation. I don't think any of us ever know what's next, but there's always a feeling of great happiness because I know it'll be a great role. I always tell kids that you gotta be in it to win it. It's when you're hardest hit that you musn't quit. You gotta be patient, do your homework, and go in there and do your best.

Is 'Cars 2' still in the works?

JL: It's in the works now as we speak. You'll have to ask the professionals, but at my end I think they've certainly begun with the formative stuff. They're getting it going!

What work are you most proud of?

JL: I guess that would be 'What's Love Got to Do With It?' I was very proud of my performance in that. Other than that maybe one of my one-woman shows.

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Notable/Quotable: Dennis Rodman on Consoling Sandra Bullock

Brennan Williams — 2010-03-19T14:22:00+00:00

Filed under: Gossip, News, Star Quotes

"I happen to like Jesse and hope this works out for them. However, should it not, with all her success and money, I'd be happy to take Sandra Bullock out for the time of her life."

-- Five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman commenting on the news of Jesse James' affair with tattoo model Michelle "Bombshell" McGee. (In Touch Weekly)

NEXT: Zoe Saldana on Sex

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Facebook IPO: Wondering How To Buy Facebook Stock Before The IPO?

Jazelle Reed — 2010-03-19T13:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Personal Finance, News

For those of you who are not familiar with Facebook, it is a social media company that enables users to connect with friends within its network and create personal web pages. In fact, Facebook has just beat Google as the most visited website on Earth.

Facebook has announced that it finally achieved positive cash flow in September of 2009, which means that it made enough money to cover the expenses of servicing its 400 million users. On the heels of this good news, people in the industry are sure the company is heading towards an IPO, or initial public offering of stock to the general public -- but no one knows exactly when. If you want to get in on the biggest site out there now, the good news is that many Facebook employees have pre-IPO stock the company, which Facebook began to allow employees to sell in 2009. This has facilitated the creation of a secondary market for Facebook pre-IPO stock. Individuals who are interested in buying Facebook stock before its IPO can gain access to the secondary market by visiting sites such as SecondMarket and SharesPost.

Exchanges like SecondMarket and SharesPost provide investors with a way to buy private shares in attractive startups like Facebook without having to wait for an IPO. They can also help startup workers get needed cash for their shares while they wait for IPOs to happen -- which may never occur. The demand for sites servicing this secondary market has increased because the average time between companies receiving venture funding and "going public" has been steadily increasing.

SecondMarket is a trading platform that specializes in illiquid assets such as bankruptcy claims, CDOs, mortgage-backed securities, etc. In addition, SecondMarket trades in private companies, which allows venture capitalists to sell off their investments before a company goes public. It is important to note that this market is controlled, which means that individuals are required to apply for accreditation before they are able to trade. Despite the fact that buyers and sellers are matched online, transactions must be completed offline. Furthermore, buyers are trading with limited information because private companies do not have the same transparency requirements as public corporations. SecondMarket has announced that it has completed about 40 transactions in the previous year worth roughly $150 million. SharesPost is another trading platform that has emerged to combat the liquidity crisis.

The vast majority of people will not be able to utilize these exchanges because they are only open to a small pool of qualified investors. If you can work with a qualified investors to get in on Facebook's pre-IPO pie through one of these sites, it might be worth it. Yet, the limited number of traders allowed to use these services continues to pose concern for many. Another concern is that it's unclear how much stock has been exchanged through these markets, because the transactions are not public. SecondMarket and SharesPost try to resolve the issue of transparency by offering as much information as possible about the companies they list, but there is not much more they are able or required to do.

On the bright side, if these exchanges manage to flourish, they could help the economy. An investor can free up funds to be invested in other startups by buying shares on a private exchange that can be used to start other companies. Institutional investors can also use these services to expand their holdings to include fast-growing, hot companies like Facebook that have yet to go public and stand to generate a lot of cash. This type of boost can help pension plans and other important, large investment funds that need to continue to thrive for decades in order to help the public at large.

But, you never know. If you do a little homework and find a qualifying investor (or are lucky enough to be one or have access to one), there is every possibility that you can get in on the pre-IPO Facebook game.

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Diddy to Buy Soccer Team: Diddy, Don't Waste A Great Opportunity

Elliot Millner — 2010-03-19T12:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Celebrity News, News

Diddy (aka, Sean Combs) is in talks to purchase Crystal Palace, a struggling soccer team based in South London. It has been reported that Diddy is offering the equivalent of approximately $550 million to purchase the team, which filed for bankruptcy in January of this year. If the deal is allowed to proceed as expected, it will make Diddy the first U.S. rap star to become owner of a team in the prestigious English soccer league.

From the standpoint of "breaking barriers," I respect Diddy for attempting to become the first "urban entrepreneur" from the U.S. to become a team owner in this very popular and lucrative soccer market, in addition to being the first black man of American citizenship to do the same.

Although soccer still takes a backseat to other sports in the U.S. like football, basketball and baseball, it is rapidly increasing in popularity among all facets of the population, including urban youth. Diddy could be demonstrating excellent timing in deciding to purchase a team at this time. However, this is no guaranteed moneymaker for Diddy. The previous two owners of Crystal Palace both left the team in bankruptcy after being unable to generate enough money to keep the team profitable. Also, the team has not participated in the Premier League (the highest level of English football) since the 2004-2005 season.

Despite the potential hurdles that will have to be overcome, this purchase could be of great benefit not only to Diddy, but also to urban and minority communities across the country. Although it is the most popular sport worldwide, soccer still lags in popularity in the U.S., particularly in the black community, where youth participation in sports usually focuses on basketball and football -- despite the fact that only a small percentage of those who play those two sports in high school will earn college scholarships. An even smaller percentage of those will make it to any professional league. On the other hand, if those same youth focused their energy on learning the game of soccer, which Diddy could inspire with this move, the rewards could be tremendous. Not only would it open up the door to more possible college scholarships, it would greatly increase the potential for a professional career in soccer, given that there are hundreds of professional leagues in countries around the world. (And for those who decry anyone promoting the pursuit of playing a professional sport, get a life.. Of course this pursuit should be balanced with academics).

Diddy has the popularity and exposure to introduce the game of soccer to youth who otherwise wouldn't think twice about getting involved in the sport. He has the opportunity to positively impact the lives of many young people in urban communities through stimulating interest in a greater variety of sports scholarships. Hopefully, he will accept this opportunity, and not simply use ownership of a professional soccer team as another thing to brag about in a song.

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Is Essence Magazine Going Out of Business?

Lawrence Watkins — 2010-03-19T12:40:00+00:00

Filed under: News

Bossip and Gawker are reporting that Essence Magazine, once a juggernaut for black women and fashion, is having some troubles, which are probably financial. Press sources are also reporting that the magazine used an old picture of Reggie Bush for the cover instead of doing a photo shoot. Did they need to save money that badly? More bad news for the mag is that Mikki Taylor, Essence beauty editor, has recently resigned. AtlantaPost.com also mentions that pink slips have been passed out quite frequently since November at the esteemed African American organization.

With Bossip being a gossip website, we have to wonder just how accurate the story is that Essence is almost out of cash. But Bossip mentions other prominent websites that have been suggesting the same thing. Plus, if it is true that the picture of Reggie Bush was an old one, and they are not in financial trouble, then Essence will need to explain why they couldn't do an original photo shoot. That's just not the style of Essence, which is known for being very classy, so that is strange news indeed.

The magazine industry has had a very difficult time since the boom of Internet publishing. According to the Publisher's Information Bureau, the number of advertising pages in magazines dropped by 25% overall by the end of 2009. Also, the amount of total ad revenue for the industry has dropped by nearly 18%. This was a dramatic decline after the industry had already witnessed over a decade of drops in ad revenue and total ad pages. Essence Magazine seemed to be protected from the decline through their merger with Viacom, the group that also owns CNN. With this match made in heaven, many consumers expected that Essence would not join Ebony/Jet, which some believe is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

While the advertising revenue for print publications has dropped, Internet advertising revenue has tripled since 2001, rising to nearly $6 billion dollars by the end of 2009. So, while Essence Magazine might be losing money, Essence.com is earning advertising revenue instead. The increased ad revenue for Essence.com probably doesn't cover what the company loses from the magazine, because magazine ads are very pricey compared to online ads. Internet advertising also leads to more competition, given of the number of websites in existence, and the ability of niche sites to cater to a wide array of user tastes. It remains to be seen whether Essence can keep up and continue to be all things to all black women online.

Here are some tips for Essence, if the rumors are true and it's executives want it to survive. Magazines that tend to do well in this economy are the ones that have a strong online presence. Some say that Essence.com is a little less than stellar, so they have some work to do. Also, the magazine should offer good value to it's readers, by making sure that the content it offers is specialized. Magazines such as The Economist sell a lot of copies because there are few magazines that offer the same quality of analysis, and they also have a strong presence on the Internet. Despite the declining industry, The Economist group, which owns the magazine, has seen its profits soar to record levels using these two tactics. Essence also has the advantage of being linked in with CNN, which means that it can expand itself into a multimedia presence more easily than other magazines. So, even if Essence is not making a profit in the short term, it can still try to expand its media offerings into TV to become a valuable part of the overall CNN/Time Warner/Viacom brand.

If the alleged reports are true that Essence magazine is in danger of going out of business, only time will tell whether they are able to make these changes in time in order to save a beloved publication in the black community. The possibility that Essence might go out of business makes one long for the days of its leadership under Susan Taylor, pictured above. She really seemed to know how to run the magazine.

Lawrence Watkins is the CEO of The Great Black Speakers Bureau and an MBA student at Cornell University. For more information, please visit LawrenceWatkins.com.

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What Are Your Urban Legends?

Jam Donaldson — 2010-03-19T12:29:00+00:00

In this day of the Internet, we are used to elaborate rumors, scams and misinformation that spread across the world instantly with the click of a mouse.

In the course of a day you will hear that Kelly Rowland is Matthew Knowles' daughter, Ciara is really a man or (insert any rapper here) is broke.

But remember when we were growing up? Forget the Internet, we had our own BNN.

Rumors, gossip and innuendo were spread through stories on the playground or on three-way calls with your friends. We were all so certain they were absolutely true.

The most outlandish of statements was usually followed by "it's true, it was on '60 Minutes,'" "it was on 'Oprah'" or "it was on 20/20." And although you never knew of anyone who actually SAW anything on one of these shows, you were officially convinced and went on to spread the story further. I was reminiscing with a friend about some of the urban urban legends that existed back in the day and had great laugh.

With the help of some friends, I compiled this list and you can add your own. Enjoy.

Doug E. Fresh was a devil worshipper. Evidence: ("Six minutes, six minutes, Six Minutes) (Oh my God, Is it real?)

TROOP jackets were made by a White Supremacist Group and TROOP stood for True Rulers Of Oppressed People.

Snapple was designed to make black men sterile.

McDonald's added crack to the French fries so you would become addicted.

Depending on the day, Liz Claiborne or Tommy Hilfiger or Calvin Klein appeared on "Oprah" and said they didn't make clothes for black people. In one particularly detailed version of the story, Oprah immediately leaves the stage to change her clothes, because she was wearing clothes made by that designer.

Those Crown Air Fresheners people used to have in their cars were made by the Grand Wizard of the KKK. Or alternatively, they were owned by the Latin Kings gang, and if you had one in your car, you would be shot by angry gangsters.

Big Daddy Kane died of AIDS.

Night Doctors were doctors that killed black men. If you went in to their office, you would never come out. Their victims were deliberately murdered, so that their sexual organs could be used to manufacture aphrodisiacs. (This dates back to slavery and is speculated to be at the root of many black folks' fear of doctors.)

"The Matrix" was written by a black woman, Sophia Stewart, who then sued and won her case.

The King Alfred Plan was a CIA-led scheme supporting an international effort to eliminate people of African descent. It dictated cordoning off black people in to concentration camps in the event of a major racial incident.

If you flash your high beams at a car when their lights are off, you will be shot. This is part of a gang initiation.

What are YOUR Urban Urban Legends?

peace people.

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Cheating On Actress Sandra Bullock May Cost Jesse James Personally, But Not Financially

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox — 2010-03-19T12:16:00+00:00

Filed under: Celebrity News, News, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox

Cheating on his wife cost Tiger Woods millions of dollars. But reality TV star Jesse James -- who has publicly apologized to his famous wife, actress Sandra Bullock, for "poor judgment" after allegedly having an 11-month affair with a tattoo-covered model -- may not suffer any financial consequences at all.

In fact, because James already had a "bad boy" image, his reckless behavior may serve to reinforce his reputation -- and indeed, attract curious viewers to his show on Spike TV, boosting ratings and possibly James' paycheck in the process.

Plus, it's not like James, who formerly was seen on "Monster Garage" and is now the owner of the motorcycle company West Coast Choppers, was raking in the bucks for endorsement deals, as was Woods.

It's an ironic twist that James might become more famous than ever -- and make even more money -- considering how allegedly low down his behavior was.

Not only did James allegedly cheat with Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, a raunchy tattoo model who also works as a stripper, poses on an adult web site and has a penchant for swastikas and Nazi salutes. James also played his lovestruck wife for a fool -- even as she stood by him through a nasty child custody battle involving James' 5-year-old daughter with his porn star ex-wife, Janine Lindemulder. Bullock also defended James constantly when people wondered what she had in common with a biker dude who seemed, to onlookers, to be way too rough-around-the-edges for the Oscar-winning actress known as "America's sweetheart."

The Real Cost of Cheating

It's one thing to consider how a celebrity's private or public behavior might impact that person's career. It's a whole different matter concerning how their behavior affects their personal life. And here's where James is likely to pay the ultimate price. While it's clear that some marriages can survive infidelity, this is one case where I don't see that happening at all.

I think this relationship is completely done. And from the looks of it, so does James. His apology statement suggested that he knows full well that he messed up royally and that he has totally devastated his wife and kids. "There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me," James said. "It's because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me," he added.

James new-found status in the doghouse brings new meaning to his popular TV show. It's called: Jesse James is a Dead Man.

For her part, James' alleged mistress doesn't seem too be doing too shabbily. In fact, she's already cashing in on her 15 minutes of fame. McGee was paid $30,000 for telling her story to InTouch magazine, so this obviously won't be the last we hear from her. Stay tuned.

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Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has also been featured in top newspapers including the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times bestseller, 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'

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Fela!: Crtiically Acclaimed Musical Confirmed for London Run

Bridget Bland — 2010-03-19T12:12:00+00:00

Filed under: Theater, Celeb Updates

Fela!, one of Broadway's most raved about musicals is heading over the pond.

On March 19, producers announced that the show, which chronicles the life of Afrobeat music pioneer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will make its debut in London in November 2010 at one of the world's most prestigious venues, The National Theatre.

Preview performances of the musical will begin on Nov.6, with opening night set for Nov.16. The Bill T.Jones-helmed show will perform in repertory at the National with William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' for a limited run.

Both Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role of Fela and Kevin Mambo, who shares the role with Ngaujah, will join the all-British cast, while the Broadway production will continue its open ended run.

Plans have also been made to include 'Fela' in The National's NT Live series, which will tape the production live on the National Theatre stage in high definition and broadcast it live via satellite to movie theaters around the world.

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