Relationship Tolerance

Talk radio stations (in the era of poli-talk radio) occasionally provide a solid platform for "Relationship Experts". Experts are the Doctors, Psychologist, Authors, Therapists, Marriage Counselors, and the like. The relationship experts are hosts of their own radio shows, or nowadays in the political talk era are guests on a slow news day or night.

Though the relationship experts rarely devulge their own relationship failures of the past or present, listerners plunge deep into the experts' presentation in a sianic state grasping every suggestion, ultimately applying the best expert advice to their own troubled though often comfortable relationship. The listener may secretly watch for "the signs" that the relationship expert communicated in their prepared speech.

Predictably the relationship expert will rap off a number of defined lifestyle situations, the do's-and-don'ts, and normally the expert suggests when to get out and when to stay in the relationship. If you the listener decides to stay in the relationship, the expert will show you how to sustain it by doing a number of back flips to keep the relationship fresh. If the relationship is stale with little communication, the expert will urge you to get out and find a better more communicative mate, keen to your needs, and willing to do fresh back flips. "You see" says the expert "Communication is key to a great relationship" would be the closing statement.

When listening to a relationship talk radio program by Dr. Feelgood, listen as if you were a Far Left Democrat listening to a Far Right Republican commentatory. In other words listen to what the relationship experts are saying (if that entertains you) and then go back to living your probably comfortable -- maybe even complicated or tired relationship -- as you normally do. Adding someone elses suggestions can only be viewed by suspision by your mate. For instance, after your entry of 'something new' suggested by the relationship expert on the radio, your mate will say to him or herself: "what the heck is this different stuff"!! Off to the bar your mate goes.

My point is to live your life the way that comforts you.

I, as the non-expert without a doctorate degree in relationships [normally folks with doctorates have several failed relationships due to the lack of time for relationship], having lived in five big cities with a few relationships under my belt, I see the key is "matching toleration levels" or "matching intolerable levels". You decide.

If you can tolerate your mates' ways of thinking and habits then remain. If you cannot tolerate your mate's patterns, then decide if you can be with this person that you cannot tolerate. The common terms of dating down, dating up, dating even, dating opposites, should be irrelenant to the outsider relationship experts. It is totally up to you and your beliefs.

Intolerable people may be entertaining to some folks. The intoleration keeps the opposite mates heart pumping. Total opposites in relationships often last forever.

Deeper still is that your mate cannot tolerate anything that you do or say, your habits, choice of occupation (or lack of an occupation), family, friends etc...overall nothing is tolerable, including sex, from either side. Even then though, many unique relationships still last last to death do they part. Again, you decide.

I bet that you thought I would advise you to seek elsewhere if you cannot tolerate anything from your mate? Well again I am not a Doctor of Relationships, so why would I do that? You should be reading 'Doctor Lonely' the relationship experts' book, not this blogger with a career in broadcasting and an unpaid hobby as a writer/journalist.

To tolerate or not to tolerate, that is the question? Whether here or there or the jet-setter going everywhere. Can you or can you not...TOLERATE?

I have not even touched on children in a relationship where the "toleration level" excellerates. The relationships' "own" child or children undoubtedly complicates the vulnerable relationship scenario.

BREAKING NEWS: Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon parents of twins

Story by AP

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrated their third anniversary with another milestone — becoming parents to a baby girl and boy.

Carey's representative, Cindi Berger, confirmed the births to The Associated Press. The singing superstar gave birth Saturday at 12:07 p.m. EDT at an undisclosed hospital in Los Angeles. Berger says the baby girl was born first, weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 18 inches long; her brother was next, at 5 pounds 6 ounces, and was 19 inches.

Berger says the couple has not named the children yet. Cannon drove Carey to the hospital in their Rolls-Royce Phantom. Berger said the 41-year-old Carey, who had gone through false labor, was calm, thinking that it was another false alarm.

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Cannon was so nervous he went to the wrong department at the hospital, and was guided to the maternity ward by a nurse.

"It was like right out of an 'I Love Lucy' skit," said Berger.

Berger says they were listening to Carey's "We Belong Together" after the children were born.

The couple are expected to renew their wedding vows on Sunday. The pair got married in 2007 after a whirlwind romance. They were the subject of endless baby rumors, and the couple actually were expecting shortly after their marriage, but Carey had a miscarriage; they did not reveal the miscarriage until she announced her pregnancy last fall.

The couple plan to live a bi-coastal life, and have luxurious nurseries in both New York and Los Angeles.

As far as more children, Carey recently declared she's done.

President Obama's Weekly Address: Ending Taxpayer Subsidies for Oil Companies

Radio One To Move From Lanham, Maryland To Silver Spring, Md.

story by Washington Post 

written by Jonathan O'Connell

Radio One is moving its corporate headquarters from Lanham to Silver Spring, ending a years-long effort by  the company to return to the District, where it was founded by Catherine Hughes in 1980.

The company, owner of 53 urban radio stations in 16 markets nationwide, pursued a move to the District before the economy battered the radio broadcasting industry and the real estate market. It would have anchored a new mixed-use project atop a Metrorail station in the Shaw neighborhood.

Hughes, the company’s chairwoman, who founded the company on H Street NE, made a plea to the D.C. Council to support the Shaw project in 2007. The council and Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) obliged, providing a package of subsidies with an estimated value of $30 million. The project was to be named Broadcast Center One and have a ground-floor recording studio. The company has five Washington area stations, including WKYS (93.9 FM).

But Radio One’s stock price dove during the recession as a result of dwindling advertising sales, under-performing assets and high debt levels, and early last year it pulled out of the Shaw project, at Seventh and S streets NW. Its stock has been trading around $2 in recent months.

After restarting its search, the company settled on space just across the border from the District, on the top floor of a Silver Spring office building called the Atrium at Station Square. At 1010 Wayne Ave., the building is near a Red Line Metrorail station and a MARC train station and is home to the company’s TV One unit.

Radio One declined to comment, but according to Moore & Associates, the Bethesda firm that owns and operates the building, TV One extended its lease and the Radio One corporate headquarters will relocate to 23,000 square feet of space in September. CoStar Group, the commercial real estate data firm, posted information about the lease online last week.

“We were always kind of in the running, so to speak,” said Vince Coviello, executive vice president at Moore & Associates. “We had some timely turnover of space, so the top floor became available and some space below that.”

To keep Radio One, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (D) provided the firm with a $400,000 grant that requires the company to invest at least $1.25 million in the move by the end of 2012 and maintain at least 210 employees there throughout the six-year lease.

Karen Glenn Hood, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, said it was important to keep the jobs in the state. “They were looking to move into D.C., so obviously it was important for us to keep them here,” she said. “Obviously, retaining these jobs is important.”

Steve Silverman, Montgomery County’s director of economic development, said the county also played a role in the deal but declined to comment before Radio One made an announcement.

For the District, Radio One’s move is a loss, but the developers behind the real estate project in Shaw — Four Points, Ellis Development Group and the Jarvis Co. — replaced Radio One with the United Negro College Fund as anchor. The building has since been renamed Progression Place and is under construction.

Twister deaths now at 318, worst since 1932

story by MSNBC News Service

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The recovery of more bodies pushed the death toll in Wednesday night's twisters to 318, making the outbreak the deadliest in the U.S. since 1932. The news came shortly after President Barack Obama toured some of the destroyed neighborhoods and met with devastated residents.

"I've never seen devastation like this," Obama said after touring the Tuscaloosa area. "It is heartbreaking."

Tuscaloosa saw at least 42 deaths. "We are bringing in the cadaver dogs today," said Heather McCollum, an assistant to Tuscaloosa's mayor.

Visible from Air Force One as Obama neared Tuscaloosa: a wide, angry scar across the land where the tornado had gouged its path.

And as the president moved by motorcade through communities and business districts, suddenly the devastation was everywhere: flattened buildings, snapped trees and heaps of rubble, twisted metal and overturned cars as far as the eye could see.

First lady Michelle Obama was at the president's side as he offered condolences.

Late Thursday, the president signed a disaster declaration for Alabama to provide federal aid to those who seek it.

The president's visit drew a muted response from Tuscaloosa resident Derek Harris, who was pushing a grocery buggy down a street where virtually every home was heavily damaged. The 47-year-old and his wife hoped to use the cart to salvage a few belongings from his home.

"Hopefully he'll give us some money to start over," Harris said of Obama. "Is FEMA here? The only place I'm hearing anything is at the Red Cross center."

Some were more upbeat about the president's visit, including 21-year-old Turner Woods, who watched Obama's motorcade pass on its way to tour damaged areas. "It's just really special having the president come here," she said. "It will bring more attention to this disaster and help get more help here."

Body bag shortage in one town

The situation was dire about 90 miles to the north in the demolished town of Hackleburg, Ala., where officials were keeping bodies in a refrigerated truck amid a body bag shortage. At least 27 are dead there, and searches for the missing continue.

The only grocery store, the fire and police departments and the school are destroyed. There's no power, communications, water or other services. Fire Chief Steve Hood said he desperately wants scores of flashlights because he doesn't want people using candles due to the fire hazard.

"We don't have water to put out any fires," he said.

People have looted a demolished Wrangler jeans plant, and authorities locked up drugs from a destroyed pharmacy in a bank vault, said Stanley Webb, chief agent in the county's drug task force.

"If people steal, we are not playing around. They will go to jail," he said.

About three hours to the west, parts of Rainsville were also flattened. At Rainsville Funeral Home, Lisa Chandler and her husband have been working 6 a.m. to midnight to arrange services and prepare bodies.

The work is tough because they know most of the victims. But the couple keeps at it — they have five visitations planned for Friday night.

"How am I handling it?" Lisa Chandler said. "I cry a little and I pray a lot."

Just outside of town, residents picked through their scattered belongings on a road, with people in cars stopping to offer bread, water and crackers. An AM radio station transmitted offers of help. One store was giving away air mattresses. An Italian restaurant was serving free hot meals. A glass shop was offering to replace shattered windows for free.

Firefighter Jamie Armstrong blinked back tears as he recalled finding a 5-year-old girl lifeless in a field near Rainsville, far from any house. Her brother was alive, but Armstrong wasn't sure if he was going to make it.

Despite the devastation, he said the storm had strengthened his belief in God.

"The truth is, God could take any one of us right now. But he spared me and you," he said.

With at least 228 deaths, Alabama bore the brunt of the devastation. Other state death tolls so far: Tennessee (34), Mississippi (33), Georgia (15), Virginia (5), Louisiana (2), and Kentucky (1). Some 1,700 people were injured in Alabama alone.

The deadliest outbreak prior to this week's was in March 1932, when 332 people died. Most of those dead were also in Alabama. With the increase Friday, the death toll surpassed that of a 1974 outbreak, when 310 people died.

The powerful tornadoes — more than 160 reported in total — combined with storms to cut a swath of destruction heading west to east. It was the worst U.S. natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed up to 1,800 people.

Royal Wedding

Singer/Songwriter Phoebe Snow dead at 60 - Enjoy Her Music

Phoebe Snow

story by AP
photos by AP and Getty
written by Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Mark Kennedy
videos of songs by the incomparable Phoebe Snow

It wasn't long after the release of "Poetry Man," the breezy, jazzy love song that would make Phoebe Snow a star, that the singer experienced another event that would dramatically alter her life.

In 1975, she gave birth to a daughter, Valerie Rose, who was found to be severely brain-damaged. Her husband split from her soon after the baby was born. And, at a time when many disabled children were sent to institutions, Snow decided to keep her daughter at home and care for the child herself.

The decision to be Valerie's primary caretaker would lead her to abandon music for a while and enter into ill-fated business decisions in the quest to stay solvent enough to take care of Valerie.

Snow, who worked her way back into the music performing world in the 1980s and continued to perform in recent years, died on Tuesday from complications of a brain hemorrhage she suffered in January 2010, said Rick Miramontez, her longtime friend and public relations representative. She was 60.

Snow never regretted her decision to put aside music so she could focus on Valerie's care. She was devastated when her daughter, who was not expected to live beyond her toddler years, died in 2007 at 31.

"She was my universe," said Phoebe, "she was the newcleus of everything. I used to wonder, am I missing something? No. I had such a sublime, transcendent experience with my child. She had fulfilled every profound love and intimacy and desire I could have ever dreamed of."

After her stroke last year, Snow endured bouts of blood clots, pneumonia and congestive heart failure, said her manager, Sue Cameron.

"The loss of this unique and untouchable voice is incalculable," Cameron said. "Phoebe was one of the brightest, funniest and most talented singer-songwriters of all time and, more importantly, a magnificent mother to her late brain-damaged daughter, Valerie, for 31 years. Phoebe felt that was her greatest accomplishment."

Known as a folk guitarist who made forays into jazz and blues, Snow put her stamp on soul classics such as "Shakey Ground," ''Love Makes a Woman" and "Mercy, Mercy Mercy" on over a half dozen albums.

Snow's defining hit, however, was "Poetry Man," which she wrote herself. The song, anchored by her husky voice and a fluid guitar, was a romantic ode to a married man. It reached the Top 5 on the pop singles chart in 1975, and garnered her a Grammy nomination for best new artist.

Soon after that, her daughter was born. She was born with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain cavity that inhibits brain development. Snow's husband, musician Phil Kearns, left her while Valerie was still a baby.

For years, Snow fought the diagnosis of Valerie's mental condition, but in 1983, she told The New York Times that she had accepted her daughter's fate.

"I've finally settled into realizing that my daughter is what she is," she said. "Any progress she makes is fantastic, but I no longer foresee any miracles happening. I went through phases of the occult and of trying to find every single doctor in the country who could possibly do something. I realize now that I can't move mountains."

While she was caring for Valerie, her career started to take a downward spiral. Inexperienced in the music business, she broke contracts with record companies and others, and found herself embroiled in a number of lawsuits and severe financial problems.

"With my quick success, I didn't have time to learn the ropes of the music business," she told the Times in the same interview. "Because my first record was such a hit, I was terribly spoiled and I thought I couldn't do anything wrong. I was also desperate to make tons of money because of my responsibility to my daughter. And there was no longer any joy in making music."

Phoebe Snow in 2009

She started to make her way back into the music business and by the early 1980s was performing shows again. In 1989, she released her first album in eight years, "Something Real." She also supplemented her income doing through the 1980s and into the 1990s by singing commercial jingle for companies including Michelob, Hallmark and AT&T.

Among her other hits was her duet with Paul Simon on the song "Gone at Last." She also sang "Have Mercy" with Jackson Browne.

Snow was born Phoebe Ann Laub in New York City in 1950, and raised in Teaneck, N.J. She changed her name after seeing Phoebe Snow, an advertising character for a railroad, emblazoned on trains that passed through her hometown. Snow quit college after two years to perform in amateur nights at Greenwich Village folk clubs.

In her later years, Snow continued to make an impact musically. She sang the theme for NBC's "A Different World" and the jingle "Celebrate the Moments of Your Life" for General Foods International Coffees. She also sang at radio host Howard Stern's wedding to Beth Ostrosky in 2008 and for President Bill Clinton, who asked her to perform at Camp David during his presidency.

In 2003, she released "Natural Wonder," her first album of new, original material in 14 years. Her other albums include 1989's "Something Real," and 1981's "Rock Away." In 2008, she released a live album titled "Live" and a best-of CD in 2001.

After her daughter died, Snow continued to perform. Despite her devastation; she dedicated each performance to Valerie's memory.

In an interview with CBS' "Sunday Morning," she said sometimes it was difficult for her to perform, as she remembered her daughter.

"And then other nights I feel like it's my strongest connection to her and it's my way of sharing her with everybody," she said.

A private funeral is planned for Snow, who is survived by her sister and other relatives.

Diana Ross Will Get Custody Of Michael Jackson’s Kids

story by Hello Beautiful
written by Sweet Sweetback

Diana Ross will get Michael Jackson’s kids if Katherine Jackson in unable to care for them or dies. Michael stated in his will that should Katherine be incapable of tending to his kids, that his longtime friend Diana Ross was to be named their legal guardian and take custody of the kids. Radaronline is confirming that Ms. Ross will be stepping up to the plate and accepting her responsibilities as legal guardian of the Jackson kids.

A source close to the Jackson family tells us that the superstar diva was named in her longtime friend Michael Jackson’s will as guardian of Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket. And even though it was suggested that Ross declined the huge responsibility, that too is bunk, RadarOnline.com has confirmed.

“Diana has made no moves whatsoever not fulfill her role that Michael intended for her,” the source says. “Michael didn’t trust anyone in his family besides, his mother, to raise the children. Michael loved Diana and chose her for a very specific reason,” our source adds.

Katherine Jackson turns 81 on May 4, and it was revealed in court documents recently that she has a live-in caregiver

“Katherine is a very doting, loving grandmother,” the source added. “She just isn’t getting any younger and that is why Michael named a second guardian.”

An informant in Ross’ entourage said the singer of Upside Down and Endless Love hasn’t been involved in the children’s lives, so far.

“She will step in if there’s an immediate need to do so,” the Ross informant said.

We’re sure Ms. Ross will take good care of those kids!

President Obama releases official long-form birth certificate

President Obama's birth certificate:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate.pdf
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-long-form.pdf

The White House

Remarks by the President

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Now, let me just comment, first of all, on the fact that I can't get the networks to break in on all kinds of other discussions -- (laughter.) I was just back there listening to Chuck -- he was saying, it’s amazing that he’s not going to be talking about national security. I would not have the networks breaking in if I was talking about that, Chuck, and you know it.

Q Wrong channel. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: As many of you have been briefed, we provided additional information today about the site of my birth. Now, this issue has been going on for two, two and a half years now. I think it started during the campaign. And I have to say that over the last two and a half years I have watched with bemusement, I've been puzzled at the degree to which this thing just kept on going. We've had every official in Hawaii, Democrat and Republican, every news outlet that has investigated this, confirm that, yes, in fact, I was born in Hawaii, August 4, 1961, in Kapiolani Hospital.

We've posted the certification that is given by the state of Hawaii on the Internet for everybody to see. People have provided affidavits that they, in fact, have seen this birth certificate. And yet this thing just keeps on going.

Now, normally I would not comment on something like this, because obviously there’s a lot of stuff swirling in the press on at any given day and I've got other things to do. But two weeks ago, when the Republican House had put forward a budget that will have huge consequences potentially to the country, and when I gave a speech about my budget and how I felt that we needed to invest in education and infrastructure and making sure that we had a strong safety net for our seniors even as we were closing the deficit, during that entire week the dominant news story wasn’t about these huge, monumental choices that we're going to have to make as a nation. It was about my birth certificate. And that was true on most of the news outlets that were represented here.

And so I just want to make a larger point here. We've got some enormous challenges out there. There are a lot of folks out there who are still looking for work. Everybody is still suffering under high gas prices. We're going to have to make a series of very difficult decisions about how we invest in our future but also get a hold of our deficit and our debt -- how do we do that in a balanced way.

And this is going to generate huge and serious debates, important debates. And there are going to be some fierce disagreements -- and that’s good. That’s how democracy is supposed to work. And I am confident that the American people and America’s political leaders can come together in a bipartisan way and solve these problems. We always have.

But we’re not going to be able to do it if we are distracted. We’re not going to be able to do it if we spend time vilifying each other. We’re not going to be able to do it if we just make stuff up and pretend that facts are not facts. We’re not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers.

We live in a serious time right now and we have the potential to deal with the issues that we confront in a way that will make our kids and our grandkids and our great grandkids proud. And I have every confidence that America in the 21st century is going to be able to come out on top just like we always have. But we’re going to have to get serious to do it.

I know that there’s going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest. But I’m speaking to the vast majority of the American people, as well as to the press. We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We’ve got better stuff to do. I’ve got better stuff to do. We’ve got big problems to solve. And I’m confident we can solve them, but we’re going to have to focus on them -- not on this.

Thanks very much, everybody.

Letter from President Obama Regarding Oil Subsidies

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2011

Below a link to the letter from President Barack Obama to Speaker Boehner, Senator Reid, Senator McConnell and Representative Pelosi regarding oil subsidies. https://mail.radio-one.com/owa/WebReadyView.aspx?t=att&id=RgAAAAAzBbaJM8f2SoAtvEDmwb%2fgBwCNkSR6gRR4So4sclkWRHsnAAABSPgjAABIDWY3XvYCRZbSdkVOSv7DAAAX2JBPAAAJ&attid0=BAAAAAAA&attcnt=1&pspid=_1303840592629_189870932

Bridgeport woman arrested for registering son in Norwalk school

story by Stamford Advocate
written by John Nickerson

NORWALK -- A homeless woman from Bridgeport who enrolled her 6-year-old son at a Norwalk elementary school has become the first in the city to be charged with stealing more than $15,000 for the cost of her child's education.

Tonya McDowell, 33, whose last known address was 66 Priscilla St., Bridgeport, was charged Thursday with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny for allegedly stealing $15,686 from Norwalk schools. She was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

McDowell's babysitter, Ana Rebecca Marques, was also evicted from her Roodner Court public housing apartment for providing documents to enroll the child at Brookside Elementary School.

The police investigation into the residency began in January after Norwalk Housing Authority attorney Donna Lattarulo filed a complaint alleging McDowell registered her son at Brookside, but actually lived in an apartment on Priscilla Street in Bridgeport.

As part of the evidence presented in the complaint, police received an affidavit of residency signed by McDowell and dated last September attesting that she lived in the Roodner Court public housing complex on Ely Ave.

When she was interviewed by police in the case, McDowell admitted to living in Bridgeport at the time she registered her son in Norwalk schools.

She said she knew a man who owned a home on Priscilla Street and he allowed her to sleep at the home at night, but she had to leave the home during the day until he returned from work.

She also acknowledged that she stays from time to time at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter when she has nowhere else to stay.

McDowell also admitted that Marques was her son's babysitter from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. after the boy got out of school.

After the Norwalk Housing Authority became aware that Marques helped McDowell by providing documents needed to get McDowell's son into Brookside, Marques was evicted from her apartment in January.

McDowell's attorney, Supervisory Assistant Public Defender Elizabeth Reid, said she could not comment because she has not yet reviewed the arrest with McDowell.

McDowell's arrest marks the first time Norwalk Board of Education Vice Chairman Glenn Iannaccone has heard of someone facing criminal charges for sending their child to Norwalk schools.

"This is the first time I have heard something like this where there has been an arrest. Other allegations like this have been handled by the central office. I'm not sure if the police have been involved," Iannaccone said.

There is always speculation that students are attending Norwalk schools from outside the district, Iannaccone said, and the school system hires private investigators to look into the allegations.

"Maybe this is the district's way of cracking down on this," he said.

A call for comment to schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Marks was not immediately returned.

Norwalk Board of Education Chairman Jack Chiaramonte expressed surprise at McDowell's arrest and the investigation that led to it.

"I don't get that at all," Chiaramonte said. "Usually when they find a kid out of district, they send him back. I have never heard of people being arrested for it, but I am not sure of the law. For my understanding, whenever we find someone from another district we send them back."

Mayor Richard Moccia said that he was aware that an investigation was proceeding in the case and that an arrest was possible.

"This now sends a message to other parents that may have been living in other towns and registering their kids with phony addresses," he said.

While Moccia said it was sad the case involves a woman who appears to be homeless, he pointed out that if she had been living at the Norwalk shelter and registered her child there she would not be facing charges now.

While he would not divulge whether more cases like this are now being readied for criminal prosecution, Moccia said, as budgets get tighter, efforts to identify out-of-district students will intensify.

"I think there is a more concerted effort to identify and question and if necessary go to the final link to arrest," Moccia said. "But nobody wants to arrest mothers and fathers."

Norwalk defense attorney Michael Corsello, who several years ago represented a woman charged with first-degree larceny for sending her children to Weston schools while living at the Hi-Ho Motel in Fairfield, said he wondered why authorities chose to make McDowell the example.

"There are some people where you could effect restitution through the criminal justice system. If the woman is homeless then restitution probably is not possible," said Corsello, who is also employed by Norwalk schools as an expulsion hearing officer.

"I am surprised that this is the case they chose to make an example of," Corsello said. "Obviously, doing this will have a deterring effect on others doing the same thing, but you would think they could get similar evidence on someone with more ability to pay restitution."

Staff Writer John Nickerson can be reached at john.nickerson@scni.com or (203) 964-2320

HOMELESS WOMAN prosecuted for enrolling son in Conn. school!?!?!

story from Yahoo News
written by Liz Goodwin

Connecticut authorities have filed theft charges against Tanya McDowell, a homeless woman, alleging that she used a false address to enroll her son in a higher-income school district, The Stamford Advocate reports. If she's convicted, McDowell may end up in jail for as many as 20 years and pay a $15,000 fine for the crime.

McDowell is a homeless single mother from Bridgeport who used to work in food services, is now at the center of one of the very few false address cases in the Norwalk, CT, school district that is being handled in criminal court--rather than between the parent and school. Authorities are accusing McDowell of enrolling her 5-year-old son in nearby Norwalk schools by using the address of a friend. (Her friend has also been evicted from public housing for letting McDowell use her address.)

McDowell says she stayed in a Norwalk homeless shelter sometimes--but she didn't register there, which would have made her son eligible to attend the school.

"I had no idea whatsoever that if you enroll your child in another school district, it becomes a crime," the 33-year-old told the paper.

An education advocacy group, Connecticut Parents Union, is holding a fundraiser to help McDowell pay the possible fine.

The case is attracting some national attention in the education world, as it's similar to the headline-making story of Ohio mom Kelley Williams-Bolar, who spent days in jail after using her father's address to send her kids to a better-performing school. Her story ignited a debate about inequalities in the public school system.

"One woman has been evicted, another could go to jail and all because a little boy went to school in a district where he sometimes lives," education writer Joanne Jacobs said of the case. The blog DropOut Nation notes that the Norwalk schools are better than those in Bridgeport, where McDowell's last address was; the case thereby raises larger questions about why poorer families often must send their kids to poorly performing schools, in part because local tax revenues make up so much of school funding.

In Williams-Bolar's case, private investigators hired by Copley-Fairlawn schools in Ohio found her out and turned her over to the courts. In McDowell's case, the false address was uncovered by a public housing attorney dealing with the friend who let her use the address.

"I am surprised that this is the case [Norwalk officials] chose to make an example of," Norwalk attorney Michael Corsello told the Stamford-Advocate.

Senator John McCain says that "U.S. should bring Kadafi to his knees"

White House condemns Syrian government

story by the Hill
written by Gautham Nagesh

President Obama released a statement Friday harshly criticizing the Syrian government for its violent response to the ongoing political protests currently underway in the Middle Eastern nation.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of force by the Syrian government against demonstrators. This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now," Obama said in a statement.

At least 72 people reportedly died on Friday, which appears to be the bloodiest day out of five weeks of anti-government protests. More than 280 people are believed to have been killed since the protests began last month.

Obama said President Assad and the Syrian government have refused to be responsive to the public's desire for democracy, choosing instead to cling to power by brutally repressing its citizens and seeking assistance from Iran.

"President Assad and the Syrian authorities have repeatedly rejected their calls and chosen the path of repression," Obama said.

"They have placed their personal interests ahead of the interests of the Syrian people, resorting to the use of force and outrageous human rights abuses to compound the already oppressive security measures in place before these demonstrations erupted."

Obama called Assad's move Friday to repeal the country's decades-old Emergency Law to allow for protests "not serious given the continued violent repression against protesters today." He urged Assad to change course and listen to the will of his people.

"We strongly oppose the Syrian government’s treatment of its citizens and we continue to oppose its continued destabilizing behavior more generally, including support for terrorism and terrorist groups," Obama said.

"The United States will continue to stand up for democracy and the universal rights that all human beings deserve, in Syria and around the world."

The White House has been criticized by some Republicans, notably those looking to challenge the president in 2012, for not doing enough to help the Syrian opposition.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Friday that the U.S. should withdraw its ambassador to Syria and push for the United Nations Security Council to condemn the Syrian government.

"The United States must send a clear and strong signal to the people of Syria that we support their drive towards freedom and getting rid of the Assad regime," he said in a statement.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also said it was “hard to understand” how Obama had deployed the military to Libya but had said “very little” about the escalating violence in Syria.

Tornadoes continue in April 2011 - St. Louis

President Obama's Weekly Address: Stopping Oil Market Fraud, Beginning a Clean Energy Future

National Football Leagues' Brandon Marshall stabbed by wife

 

story by ESPN/AP

Dolphin Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall was released from the hospital Saturday after what police said was a domestic-violence incident in which he was stabbed by his wife with a kitchen knife Friday in the Miami area.

Marshall's wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, 26, was arrested Friday by the Broward County Sheriff's Office on a domestic-violence charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Nogami-Marshall was released from jail on a $7,500 bond Saturday afternoon.

Marshall underwent emergency surgery Saturday morning, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Marshall was discharged later in the day and "expected to make a full recovery," according to his publicist, Denise White.

According to the police report, Nogami-Marshall told police she stabbed Marshall in self-defense.

Brandon Marshall initially told police he slipped and fell onto a broken glass vase, but according to the report, police found no blood or evidence to substantiate that statement and said both Marshall and his wife provided little information.

Marshall, 27, was taken to Broward General Hospital in Fort Lauderdale by car and underwent surgery late Friday night for a stab wound to the stomach, sources told Schefter.

No vital organs were pierced in the incident, and doctors have told him that Marshall will be OK in two to three weeks, sources said.

"This is a very difficult time for Brandon and family, thankfully he will make a full recovery," Marshall's agents, Kennard McGuire and Harvey Steinberg, said in a statement. "We simply ask that his privacy is respected."

Dolphins officials say they were told by the league their team doctor is allowed to see Marshall and consult with Marshall's other doctors, despite the NFL lockout.

The Dolphins issued a statement saying: "We are aware of the report, and our thoughts are with Brandon at this time. We will look into the matter, but because we are not allowed to have any contact with any of our players we will refrain from making any further comment."

Marshall became engaged to Nogami-Marshall while in Hawaii for the 2009 Pro Bowl.

Brandon Marshall's wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, was arrested Friday on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Weeks after the engagement, according to police, the couple was seen hitting and kicking each other outside Marshall's Atlanta condominium.

Charges of disorderly conduct against Marshall and Nogami-Marshall were dismissed the same day.

On Friday, emergency services were called via 911 after Marshall was stabbed but were turned away when the dispatcher offered a ride to the hospital. Instead, Marshall was taken to the hospital in a car.

According to Broward County Sheriff's public information officer Veda Coleman-Wright, Nogami-Marshall was arrested at the couple's home. Nogami-Marshall did not drive Marshall to the hospital, according to police, but it was not clear who did or who called 911.

Coleman-Wright said no news conferences or further updates are scheduled for Saturday.

The NFL and the NFL Players' Association said through their respective spokesmen that they couldn't confirm any details of the situation.

"Sorry. Don't have any info on it," NFL executive Greg Aiello said in an email to ESPN.

Marshall, acquired from the Broncos last April to become Miami's biggest offensive threat, led the Dolphins in receiving yards in 2010 with 1,014 despite missing two games with a hamstring injury.

Marshall signed a four-year deal worth $47.5 million, with $24 million guaranteed, when he joined the Dolphins.

But the offseason headlines didn't stop at his trade and big contract for Marshall last year.

With the NFL's lockout looming even then, Marshall said in August he would attempt to play in the NBA if games were canceled.

"Not pursuing -- I'm going to be on an NBA team," Marshall said. "Seriously."
The NFL lockout entered its 43rd day on Saturday.

"There's not going to be any football," Marshall predicted in August. "If there's a lockout, I have to find a job.

I figure the Broncos will be a better choice because of the welcome home cheer I'll get -- a couple of boos at first. I'm gonna get with a basketball coach and get to work, prepare for the lockout."

A fourth-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos out of Central Florida in 2006, Marshall was named to the Pro Bowl with the Broncos in 2008 and 2009.

But his top-flight performance was often overshadowed by turbulence in Denver.

Marshall was suspended by the team for the entire 2009 preseason after a series of behaviors detrimental to the team. The final straw came when a Denver television station filmed Marshall walking when his teammates were running, punting a football in protest and swatting away balls during a training-camp passing drill.

Marshall was also one of the instigators of the fight that led to teammate Darrent Williams' shooting death on New Year's Eve in 2006.

And Marshall's history of arrests includes disorderly conduct, drunken driving, and a number of incidents of alleged domestic violence.

State of the Media -- Trends in TV Viewing—2011 TV Upfronts

story by Nielson

Consumers’ appetite for media continues to grow. New and enhanced technologies only fuel the demand for video content. The average American watched 34 hours 39 minutes of TV per week in Q4 2010, a year-over-year increase of two minutes.

The heaviest users of traditional TV are adults 65+ (47 hours 33 minutes per week), followed by adults 50-64 (43 hours per week). Trailing all other age groups, teens age 12-17 watch the least amount of TV (23 hours 41 minutes per week).

Over the 2010-2011 TV season, several trends have emerged in what and how consumers are watching. The Nielsen Company has prepared this fact sheet for your reference to highlight these trends.
Read more »

Radio One, TV One Lease 45,000 SF in Silver Spring

story by CoStar

Radio One, a major broadcasting company, signed a six-year lease for approximately 20,000 square feet in the Atrium at Station Square in Silver Spring, MD.

TV One, a Radio One affiliate broadcaster, renewed its lease and expanded within the same building for a total occupancy of 25,000 square feet.

The 14-story property totals 196,660 square feet in Silver Spring’s Station Square. The Atrium was built in 1987 and sold to Moore & Associates Inc. in 2009, according to CoStar information.

Radio One’s lease includes the entire 14th floor and about half of the 12th floor, which will be Radio One’s new corporate headquarters. TV One renewed its prior lease on the entire 10th floor and expanded its presence on the ninth.

Other tenants include Mutual of Omaha, Atlantachae Online and Data Transformation Corp.

Radio One and TV One were self-represented. Vince Coviello and Ed Asher were the in-house negotiators for Moore & Associates.

Filmmaker/Actor/Entreprenuer Tyler Perry Blasts Spike Lee: “Spike Can Go Straight To Hell”

story by Hello Beautiful

The drama between Tyler Perry and Spike Lee is heating up again! During a recent press conference for his Madea’s Big Happy Family, Tyler said: “I’m so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee,”. “Spike can go straight to hell!” If you remember back in the day, Spike Lee, referred to Perry’s films as “coonery buffoonery;” Perry responded publicly on 60 Minutes, and admitted that he felt insulted by Lee’s comments.

Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family opens nationwide this Friday. Listen to Tyler's comments on this link: http://hellobeautiful.com/gossip-news/sweet-sweetback/tyler-perry-spike-lee-go-to-hell/?omcamp=EMC-CVNL

Soul Train and Spotset Network Partner on Soul Train Radio

It’s been the hippest trip in America since 1971. Soul Train, the longest, continuous, first run syndicated program in television history, is celebrating 40 years this year. Soul Train Holdings has created original radio vignettes celebrating the musical impact of the show and their legendary guests. Through :30 and :60 radio vignettes on selected radio stations across America, Soul Train will spotlight their endearing and enduring relationship with generations of musical artists and American audiences. Memphis TN-based Spotset Radio Network is the exclusive provider of Soul Train Radio and will distribute the show through their advertiser-customized unwired national radio network.

“We’ve incorporated the best sound bites, greatest musical performances, the distinctive voice of Don Cornelius, the unforgettable Soul Train sound signatures and they’re all perfectly suited for radio,” explains Kenard Gibbs, Partner/CEO of Soul Train Holdings. Spotset Radio CEO Howard Robertson added, “Rarely, can advertisers combine their own brand equity with one of the most iconic and enduring brands in entertainment history. It’s a perfect storm of advertising opportunity.”

Unlike traditional syndicated radio features that are exclusively placed on one network affiliate per market, Soul Train Radio will air on America’s top Urban AC and Urban Oldies stations (two or three stations deep in some cases) in the markets specifically tailored to sponsoring advertisers’ needs. This thorough coverage and complete flexibility is synonymous with unwired networks that Spotset Radio has provided for advertisers including: General Mills, Nationwide Insurance, the U.S. Navy, the Tennessee Lottery and many others.

Soul Train Holdings was created following the acquisition of the iconic franchise and catalog of more than 1100 hours of archival footage from Don Cornelius Productions in June 2008 by Inter Media Partners and Madvision Entertainment and is part of Vibe Holdings, LLC.

For more information on Soul Train Radio contact Aryen Moore-Alston amoore@spotsetnetwork.com or call (901) 521-1300.

McDonald’s Adds 50,000 Jobs

Commentary by:

Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League

“You're only as good as the people you hire.” Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s Corporation

In March, the American economy added 216,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent, the lowest in two years. That is the good news. The bad news is that the nation has a mighty long way to go to recoup the 13 million jobs lost during the great recession. The real bad news is that with an unemployment rate of 15.5 percent for African Americans and 11.3 percent for Hispanics, communities of color seem to be fighting a losing battle to keep from being overwhelmed by the jobs crisis.

For more than two years, the National Urban League has led the call for a national response to extremely high unemployment throughout urban America. Our Jobs Rebuild America 12-point plan offers a blueprint for change. It calls for the restoration of the Summer Youth Jobs Program to provide summer jobs for millions of teens. We also propose greater public/ private investments in job training for those most at-risk for joblessness and least equipped to navigate their way back to gainful employment. And while Washington thus far does not appear to be listening, we have sought and found allies elsewhere, including some in corporate America.

For example, we are pleased that this week, McDonald’s Corporation, is launching an unprecedented hiring campaign, aimed at adding 50,000 new crew and management employees to its payrolls. The company plans to add 3-4 new workers to each of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. In addition to providing a pathway back to the dignity of work, many of these new “Mcjobs” come with training, flexible work schedules, competitive benefits, scholarship opportunities and growth potential. The company points out that more than 75 percent of its restaurant managers and many of its corporate staff and executive leadership, including current company president, Jan Fields, started behind the counter.

McDonald’s projects that the addition of 50,000 new employees will boost the economies of states and local economies, which can likely expect an additional $430 million spent on housing, almost $186 million in taxes, and $180.5 million in grocery purchases.

African American teens, 38.5 percent of whom are currently unemployed, may especially benefit from this hiring blitz. The unemployment rate for Black teens consistently hovers near 40 percent, the highest rate of any group in the country. In addition to putting thousands of Black teens on successful career paths, each year McDonald’s selects one high school student-employee from each state and the District of Columbia for $2,500 scholarships, as well as three national “McScholar” winners who each receive $5,000 scholarships.

The National Urban League will continue to push for federal action in response to the jobs crisis in urban America. In the meantime, we applaud McDonald’s for doing its part with its “National Hiring Day.” More jobs mean a stronger economy and a better future for our children, our neighbors and our nation.

Rev. Al Sampson: An Uncelebrated Warrior

commentary by George E. Curry

This is the first major civil rights organization of our culture that has given me an honorary opportunity with this particular gift.

The speaker was Rev. Al Sampson (photo right from revalsampson.org), a longtime civil rights activist and pastor of Fenwood United Methodist Church in Chicago. And the gift he was referring to was Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network's decision to honor Sampson along with former Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) President Charles Steele, Jr.; Barbara Shaw, board chair of the National Council of Negro Women, and me with a Rev. Dr. William A. Jones Justice Award. The awards were presented by the Social Justice Initiative of NAN.

Sampson, who was ordained by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. two years prior to the civil rights leader's assassination, was a movement stalwart. If you pick up any authoritative book on the modern civil rights movement, there will be at least one reference to Sampson, usually more.

Throughout his acceptance speech at the NAN convention that ended over the weekend, Sampson joked about all of the civil rights organizations that have never recognized his contributions. Beneath the laughter, however, there was deep pain. Not pain out of any need for public accolades, but pain that grew out of being ignored while others with lesser roles in the movement were allowed to take bows in public.

Jesse Jackson and I came out of North Carolina, Sampton noted. He was a transfer student [from the University of Illinois to North Carolina A&T University]. We were part of the Black State Legislature for a week. We passed a public accommodations bill. But PUSH never gave me an award.

In her book, My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King recalled an incident in Chicago when a teenage gang member who had come to visit Dr. King complained about SCLC allowing Whites to participate in the movement.

She wrote, "Al told them that there were a lot of white people who were helping our Cause and that some had even died for us."

Bearing the Cross, the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by David A. Garrow, recounted how outspoken Sampson was as a young civil rights organizer with SCLC.

Writing about tension between local residents of Natchez, Miss. and SCLC organizers, Garrow wrote: "The breach had become more irreparable when SCLC's Al Sampson 'had denounce[d] the local leadership in general and the NAACP by name, as unreliable, untrustworthy, and incapable' at an October 18 mass meeting."

Before joining SCLC, Sampson had been executive secretary of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP."The NAACP, I'm the only person, along with Albert Dunn and Charles Wells, that got arrested in Atlanta, Ga.," Sampson said. Constance Baker Motley [who wrote the original complaint in Brown v. Board of Education and later became the first Black woman judge appointed to the federal bench] was my attorney. Burke Marshall was the special counsel for the Justice Department and I'm the first person in America to testify for the United States Civil Rights Bill on the [segregationist restaurant owner and later Georgia governor] Lester Maddox Pickrick Restaurant case...But the NAACP ain't never gave me no award."
Sampson did more than take on Maddox, who closed his restaurant after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to avoid serving African-American customers.

Taylor Branch, author of a civil rights trilogy that won a Pulitzer Prize, wrote about the imprisonment of Sampson in Mississippi's notorious Parchman Prison Farm, 200 miles north of the Mississippi Delta. In one of his books, At Canaan's Edge, Branch wrote, "Prisoners smuggled out word that guards were beating the known leaders including SCLC's Rev. Al Sampson and that the 409 Natchez inmates were stripped, force-fed laxatives, and chilled by night fans."

Later in the book, Branch described how Sampson, Rev. Archie Hargraves and Bill Clark formed "a human shield around three terrified Puerto Rican men" in Chicago who had been cornered by a street gang.

In Coretta's book - she got a book, My Life with Martin Luther King - she mentions James Orange, James Bevel and myself living with Dr. King on the West Side of Chicago, on 16th and Hamlin, Sampson said. I'm all up in the book. But they built a development for him last week and flew Marty King in - that's alright. But I was on the property, in the building, documented by the mama but they didn't invite me.

SNCC was formed at a meeting on the campus of Shaw University while Sampson was enrolled there.

I gave SNCC the keys to Tucker Hall at Shaw University because they didn't have no meeting place, Sampson said. I would have been a member of SNCC but I was already president of the NAACP on campus. They had a reunion last summer. They didn't invite me and they didn't give me no award.

Once NAN made the decision to honor Sampson, he took extra precaution.

I didn't sleep much last night, he told the audience in New York. I've been behaving myself the last two days because I didn't want Brother Richardson [Board Chairman W. Franklyn Richardson] or Al Sharpton to take my award from me.

Although Sampson kept everyone at the ceremony laughing, ignoring his role in the movement was no joke.

Radio One To Buy Larger Stake In TV One

Story by TRI
written by Tom Taylor

Lanham-based urban radio giant Radio One, showing new confidence, will buy out DirecTV and prep for a stock buyback. That gives Radio One a majority ownership interest - just barely - in its cable channel, and that allows it to account for the TV One venture with its other operations on the consolidated balance sheet. When the DirecTV deal's done, Radio One will have a 50.8% interest in TV One. In the beginning, CEO Alfred Liggins had to promise pieces of TV One to distribution gatekeepers like DirecTV and Comcast to gain carriage, and now he's in a position to at least buy out DirecTV.

As for the stock buyback, the board authorizes a fairly loose one, good for up to $15 million over the next two years, for either the Class A or Class D stocks. At current trading levels, a 15% buyback would be something like 12% of the stock float.....

William Donald Schaefer, governor and mayor, dies -- Championed Harborplace, Camden Yards, the National Aquarium and other projects that changed the face of Baltimore

story by Baltimore Sun
written by Michael Dresser

William Donald Schaefer, the dominant political figure of the last half-century of Maryland history, died Monday after a "do-it-now" career that changed the face of Baltimore while bringing a new burst of energy to the city he loved.

Mr. Schaefer was 89.

In four terms as mayor and two as governor, he was a champion of big projects that transformed Baltimore: Harborplace, Camden Yards, the National Aquarium, the Convention Center and the light rail among them. Yet he was also intensely involved with the mundane details of city neighborhoods. As mayor, he would patrol the city at night and on weekends, calling city officials to demand immediate action to fill a pothole or clean a garbage-strewn alley.

Read more »

What If Your Advertiser Discriminates? "Leave The Money on The Table And Walk Away."

story by Radio Ink
written by Ed Ryan

As you know by now all stations will soon be required to include a non-discrimination clause on all advertising contracts. Those clauses will have to be certified and the new rule is coming down from the Feds. FCC Chairman Julius Genechowski has said the Commission will vigorously enforce its rules against discrimination in advertising sales contracts. However, just last week at the NAB, Peter Doyle, Audio Division Chief from the Media Bureau at the FCC said "whether this is an effective way to get at the real problem, which is, or could be, advertiser misconduct, I think is an open question."

David Honig is the President and Executive Director of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council. Honig recently sent a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genechowski thanking the commission for implementing the new rule. He believes if broadcasters follow the rules and explain them clearly to advertisers, this problem will go away. "I look at this through the lens of broadcast ownership. In addition to being an advocacy and training organization, MMTC owns five radio stations. On one of them, in Augusta, GA, we air conservative talk, and we might encounter some no-urban dictates. We would probably make more money if we accepted racially discriminatory advertising. But we don’t want dirty money and we won’t accept that kind of business. I’m very confident that most of our fellow broadcasters feel the same way.

Can a nondiscrimination clause be enforced?

Of course it can - just like any other provision in a sales contract can be enforced. Nondiscrimination clauses in housing and employment contracts have been with us for decades, and they are universally observed and respected. Advertisers and broadcasters depend on each other. Their relationships are close. Neither side wants to harm the other by breaching an advertising sales contract.

I’ve seen several examples of good nondiscrimination clauses. Here’s the best one I’ve seen:

“This station does not discriminate in the sale of advertising time, and will accept no advertising which is placed with an intent to discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity. Advertiser hereby certifies that it is not buying broadcasting air time under this advertising sales contract for a discriminatory purpose, including but not limited to decisions not to place advertising on particular stations on the basis of race, national origin, or ancestry.” It's perfect!

In addition to requiring nondiscrimination clauses in sales contracts, the rule requires us as broadcasters to practice nondiscrimination. Here’s how and why broadcasters will do that.

No-urban or No-Spanish dictates (“NUDs” and “NSDs”) are instructions by advertisers or agencies to rep firms or broadcasters whose purpose is to discourage minorities from patronizing the advertisers’ stores. Advertisers know NUDs and NSDs are morally wrong, which is why they’re seldom written down. Over the past two years I’ve collected over 60 NUDs and NSDs, and only three were in writing. But that doesn’t mean they’re a secret. In our business almost nothing is a secret. Broadcasting is a small world. Especially in medium and small markets, a NUD or NSD is almost never a secret.

When we hear of one, we should do exactly what we would do if we were confronted with a breach of any other provision of the contract: require the advertiser to demonstrate that there was no breach, or to cure the breach. If there is no explanation and no cure, we should terminate the contract – just as we would if the advertiser breached the provision requiring timely payment for spots, or breached the no-indecency provision – and just as the advertiser would if we failed to air spots or provide make goods.

If these standard contract compliance procedures are followed, advertising discrimination will be dead within two years, and that won’t be soon enough. Compliance would restore to minority broadcasters $200M+/year that they earn – but never collect – because 5-10% of advertisers unfortunately go out of their way to try to ensure that few, if any, members of minority broadcast audiences will patronize their stores.

Do you not agree, that the problem does not originate at the station?

There’s blame on both sides. Let’s be honest about this: some of the problem has originated with stations that quietly market themselves as friendly homes for advertisers that wish to discriminate. Remember the infamous “Katz Memo” which originated with a rep firm that invited advertisers to patronize its client’s radio stations and thus reach (white) “prospects, not suspects”?

Like many market distortions, discrimination has a supply side and a demand side. When a broadcaster looks the other way, or winks and nods as it pockets money paid by advertisers for discriminatory placements, the broadcaster becomes a part of a discriminatory scheme. Advertising discrimination would be impossible if there were no demand for discriminatory advertisers’ dollars by some broadcasters.

Let's say I'm an Account Executive and I'm having a discussion with an advertiser. The advertiser says I'm buying the rock station and the news/talk station, not the urban station. Here's my check. He reads the certified paragraph about non-disc. and signs the order. What does anyone really expect to happen at that point.

The rule requires the broadcaster to refuse the business, and most broadcasters will do that because broadcasters are law abiding citizens. And broadcasters believe in the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” NUDs and NSDs cause immense damage to minority broadcasters. So we should all ask ourselves this: if our house were on fire, wouldn’t we want our neighbor to call the fire department? Isn’t that what we’d do if our neighbor’s house were on fire? This is not just aspirational, it’s true, because broadcasters are members of an honorable profession.

Here’s an example drawn from the experience of another honorable profession. Suppose you’re a real estate agent. A developer comes to your office. She tells you “we don’t sell to African Americans, Jewish people, Hispanics or single parents. Here is my check.” Is there even one real estate agent who would cash the check? Let’s go one more step: wouldn’t most broadcasters refuse to air that developer’s advertising? And wouldn’t most broadcasters refuse business from an advertiser that practices discrimination in employment? Or in public accommodations? Of course most of us would refuse this unseemly business. Broadcasters are leaders of our local communities. Most broadcasters will follow their best instincts and refuse every invitation to participate in any racially discriminatory scheme.

What are your expectations from an account executive when confronted with advertiser racism? The pressure to get business back to the station is greater than ever.

Thanks to the FCC’s rule, an AE now has a diplomatic way to avoid a fight with an advertiser. She can say “I’m sorry, I can’t jeopardize our FCC license.” And walk away from the business. GMs and GSMs should back up their AE’s and reward them for doing the right thing.

What really needs to be done to make sure this problem goes away?

This is the time to show the world that our business has integrity, that the privilege of a broadcast license, the free and protected use of the public’s spectrum, really means something to us.

To make sure discrimination goes away, its simple: broadcasters should obey the rule. We shouldn’t tell advertisers, agencies and rep firms “if you have a NUD or NSD, don’t tell us – we don’t want to know.” Instead we should want to know. We should demand to know. And we should respond firmly by telling discriminators “we won’t help you degrade our listeners and viewers. Take your business somewhere else. We’re broadcasters, and we don’t want it.”

Keep in mind that a marketplace that’s free of race discrimination is not just good for minority broadcasters – it’s good for all broadcasters. Minorities are 40% of the audience for free, over the air TV and radio. Advertising discrimination means that the stations that minorities patronize the most (although hardly exclusively) are less able to afford to provide the level of service that all consumers expect and deserve. If minority consumers come to regard our industry as providing them with second class treatment, they have somewhere else to go: Cable. FIOS and U-verse. Satellite radio and TV. Pandora. I-Pods. YouTube.

On the other hand, if our industry seizes this opportunity to demonstrate how inclusive we are, how respectful of civil rights we are, how eager we are to fight race discrimination, we can all attract more minority consumers and build their loyalty and patronage. We can do good and do well at the same time.This is a teachable moment – and what it teaches is that we are all interconnected. As Dr. King reminded us on the night before he was assassinated, when he told the congregation that he’d been to the mountaintop, “we must live together as brothers or perish as fools.”

Radio One Q1 revenue up 11%.

story by Inside Radio

Radio One expects first quarter revenue to increase 11% to $65 million, based on preliminary financial results released today. Meanwhile, Radio One’s board has approved a stock repurchase of up to $15 million worth of its common stock representing 12% of the company's outstanding shares.

Why Would Republicans Put Obama’s Face On A Chimp?

commentary by Dr. Boyce Watkins

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Republican Party does it again. Orange County Republican Committee member Marilyn Davenport is in hot water after distributing an email that features President Obama as the child of a family of chimpanzees. In the email, which was widely-distributed, the long-standing committee member sent out the picture with the caption, “Now you know why – No birth certificate!”


County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh has called for Davenport’s resignation, saying that the picture was “dripping with racism and is in very poor taste.”He also referred the matter to the GOP Ethics Committee.

“I’m sorry if my email offended anyone, I simply found it amusing regarding the character of Obama and all the questions surrounding his origin of birth,” said Davenport. “In no way did I even consider the fact he’s half black when I sent out the email. In fact, the thought never entered my mind until one or two other people tried to make this about race. We all know a double standard applies regarding this president. I received plenty of emails about George Bush that I didn’t particularly like, yet there was no ‘cry’ in the media about them.”

One has to find it quite interesting that there are Republicans who genuinely believe that the tremendous hatred and scapegoating of President Barack Obama is not affected in the least by racial animosity. What might surprise you, however, is that I actually believe some of them when they claim that racism is not the driving force behind their attacks. The reason is that much American racism is subconscious, driven by hundreds of years of social conditioning in our society to continuously reinforce the notion that African Americans are less ethical, less reliable, and less intelligent than everyone else. In other words, we’re seen to be just a step above monkeys.

The great challenge for the Republican Party is that the thinking of many Republicans is built on the notions of power and entitlement. By working so hard to protect those in power (i.e. the wealthy and major corporations), Republicans reinforce the idea that those who are less powerful are meaningless players in our society. These groups include minorities, women, the poor, the elderly and the disabled. So, when one sees a Republican agenda that is hell-bent on cutting funding from nearly anything that helps disadvantaged groups, you can see the correlation between the party’s racist, sexist, homophobic, classist perceptions and the fact that some of their leaders think its funny to refer to the first black president as a chimp.

Of course the Republicans are going to denounce the picture, primarily because such a blatant exhibition of racism plays their discrimination card a bit too readily. But the very same Republicans who denounce the picture of President Obama as a chimp are going to go right back to Washington to attack the first black president in ways that they’d never attack a white man. The only difference between Ms. Davenport and her fellow Republicans is that her racism wasn’t covert.

At least 45 dead after storms rip through 6 states

Debris fill the street in Raliegh, N.C. after a tornado, flash flood, and hail storm yesterday

story by MSNBC
photo by Reuters

RALEIGH, N.C. — A furious storm system that kicked up tornadoes, flash floods and hail has left dozens dead on a rampage that has stretched for days as it barreled from Oklahoma to North Carolina and Virginia.

Emergency crews searched for victims in hard-hit swaths of North Carolina, where 62 tornadoes were reported from the worst spring storm in two decades to hit the state. At least 24 were killed, NBC reported from Raleigh, where rools were ripped off stores, trees were plucked out of the ground and scores of homes were damaged across the state. Tens of thousands were without electricity.

Arkansas has seen seven deaths since Thursday, in Virginia the death toll was four, seven in Alabama, two in Oklahoma and one in Mississippi, according to NBC News.

Authorities in the Carolinas and Virginia warned the toll was likely to rise higher Sunday as searchers probed shattered homes and businesses.

The storms claimed its first lives Thursday night in Oklahoma, then roared through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Read more »

Michael Jackson "LIVE" from Bucharest

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Luther Campbell is Running for Mayor of Miami

story by Eurweb

*He’s been talking about doing it for months and now it’s time to make it official. Luther Campbell, yes, “Uncle Luke,” has filed the necessary paperwork to run for mayor of Florida’s Miami-Dade County.

The 50-year-old controversial ex-rapper and member of the 2-Live Crew, spoke to a crowd about being taken seriously as politician.

“My major hurdle is people taking me seriously, a lot of people think this is a joke,” he said. “I call it a banana republic and I’m serious about it. You look at the commission and they make their own rules as they go, regardless of what the county attorney says, they make their own rules, just do what they want. They have no respect for the people.”

Campbell says if he’s elected mayor, he’ll focus on revitalizing the small business environment, redeveloping the area by stabilizing neighborhoods and beautifying the visual aesthetic of the county. Additionally, he voiced his public safety concerns by proposing to build stronger links between the law and community, as well as provide affordable housing and encourage adults to engage with the youth.

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CLYBURN STATEMENT ON 100 DAYS OF REPUBLICAN MAJORITY

WASHINGTON, DC—Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today commented on the first 100 days of the House Republican Majority.

“Here we are, 100 days into the Republican majority and still we’ve seen no jobs bill. Last year, all we heard from them was ‘Where are the jobs? But now that they run the House it’s a different story.

“What we’ve seen is a Republican budget that ends Medicare, forcing seniors to pay nearly double their current health care costs, slashes nursing home aid and makes college less affordable. At the same time their budget protects tax subsidies for companies that ship jobs overseas, maintains tax giveaways to big oil companies and makes permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, to the tune of $1 trillion. Seniors would pay $6,000 more for their health care costs and millionaires would get $200,000 more in tax cuts. These are unfair and misplaced priorities.

“The country is on the right track growing slowly, with 13 consecutive months of private sector job creation. Republican policies would turn the economy in the wrong direction, hurt seniors, and burden working families. I don’t know that the American people can stomach another 100 days, let alone 265 days, please of misplaced Republican priorities.”