It has been a tough week for people in Boston. Lives have been lost and others’ lives will be changed forever. Police believe they have suspect #2 (Dzhokar Tsarnaev) in custody after hours of searching that left the city of Boston “on lock down.” All residents were told to stay home while they searched for the suspect, who is alleged to have set bombs at the Boston Marathon. After exchanging bullets with police, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the brother of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was killed last night. This is the end of manhunt, but the beginning of questions to determine how such a unbelievable act began with a plot by two brothers.

Jen

Kat Dahlia, photo from http://www.rap-up.com

I want to share the music of this new, Cuban-singer who hails from Miami, FL named Kat Dahlia. See her video, “Gangsta” for yourself: Gangsta Video Also, see this clip of Kat Dahlia on BET’s website. Who new she was such a big fan of blues pioneer, B.B. King? Kat’s unique voice is raspy and soulful. Her syncopated singing style is almost like she’s rhyming on a hip-hop verse. Love it! This song is crazy-hot. Plus her music is so dynamic, it will be released by legendary music industry executive, Sylvia Rhone. The new label is called “Vested in Culture (VIC) and is a joint venture with Epic Records. With such a pop-filled music, the music industry can definitely use some edge.

Jen:)

Catfish is a term coined by Nev Schulman. Along with his brother and friend, he created the movie, “Catfish” to document him meeting a beautiful women he had been speaking with online. It turns out that she misrepresented herself online. The movie is now a MTV program called, “Catfish: The TV Show.” Nev, a camera man and an MTV follows people as they meet their online loves. For many, their princess or prince charmings are really nothing but frogs.

In the case of Manti Te’o,  a man named, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo created a hoax to get attention and feel loved. He created a fake profile on Facebook and the relationship with Te’o ended with the death of his alter-ego, Lennay. Tuiasosopo shared his story last week on the Dr. Phil show and explained his actions. Unfortunately, due to the deception of Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the future football career of Manti Te’o has been damaged. Te’o's  value in the NFL Draft has sharply decreased. Some believe that if he could not sniff out a fake girlfriend, how could he possibly be a leader on a NFL team?

But, “catfishing” happens to people everyday, because there are people willing to prey on the feelings of others. Also, some see social media as a place where they become someone else and live out their fantasies because they are unfufilled in their normal lives.

If you are talking to others online, here are some ways to NOT get catfished:

• If he sounds too good to be true, he probably is. If your online boyfriend is a model, millionaire and Olympic athelete, then it’s probably not true, especially if he still works at Walmart to stay humble.
• Sometimes people will fake illnesses if you try to see them online via Skype or in-person. If your online crush suddenly develops cancer, blindness and paralysis–all at the same time–the person is probably misrepresenting themselves.
• I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. IF you decide to meet with someone in person, take someone with you and meet in a public place. It is very likely that your online boo is not telling the truth and could be an older man trying to prey on young girls.
• Do not give out your address. There are ways for people to find out where you live and you could get an unexpected surprise at your door.

So please stay safe out there on and offline.

Peace:)

Jen

Emile Sande

The British are coming! The British are coming! I have as much excitement as Paul Revere with the British, but in a positive way, of course. Over the past few years, there have been many soul singers imported to the U.S. from Britain like Amy Winehouse (until her untimely death), Adele and now Emeli Sande. I first learned about Emeli Sande on BET’s show, “106 and Park.” I saw her video last year and knew she was on the path to be a hit singer. Read my previous post about Emile Sande. She even has fans among the music industry’s glittertati like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. The music industry is super competitive and it’s mad cool when fellow artists can give each other love.

Fast forward to 2013 and Emeli has won four Brit Awards (the British version of the Grammys), her video has over 25 million views on YouTube and she just performed  the song, “My Kind of Love” on NBC’s Kathie Lee and Hoda show yesterday. She also performed her mega hit and my fave on the Today Show, “Next to Me.” I’m looking forward to hearing all the songs from Emile’s U.S. release of her album, “Our Version of Events (Capitol Records).” If her album is anything like the songs that I’ve heard, they will be my soundtrack for Spring and Summer.

Peace,

Jen

Reblogged from Familiar Minds:

I can go on about the historical significance of voting, but you already know about that (I hope). Simply put, your vote impacts all the decisions made by elected officials on your behalf over the next four years. If you don’t exercise the right to vote, then you cannot really sit down at the table to discuss any suggestions or complaints you may have. Plus, it doesn’t cost anything to vote. We are lucky to live in a country where everyone is granted this right. If you are not the legal voting age of 18, you can support those around you by asking questions and going to the polls with them.

Happy Voting!

Click here for information on voting in NYC or call 1-855-NYS-SANDY (1-855-697-7263). You can also call 311.

The biggest and the best double dutch competition is coming to the Apollo on Sunday, December 2, 2012! The National Double Dutch League (NDDL) will host its 21st Annual Double Dutch Holiday Classic.

I can testify that this is the best, because I was was able to witness the greatness of this event first-hand. If you think the sport, double dutch is jumping between two ropes, you need to see how this sport has evolved. It has grown beyond the streets of New York City and is now an international phenomenon. In fact, Japan has won the “Best in Show” award every year since 1996 except during 2001 following the attacks of 9/11 when they did not compete and in 2004 when Brooklyn’s Jumpers in Command were victorious. The NDDL is also working hard to promote double dutch as an Olympic sport. Read about the competition in the Double Dutch newsletter HERE, which also features some great pics by photographer Mike Brown.

This is a great event for you and your girls or you and the fam!

For more information, visit the Apollo Theater website.