Pharrell Williams returns with feel good music with composer Heitor Pereira to create “Happy” – the first offering from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack.
Check out “Happy” below.
Month: May 2013
In what has become another ‘unpopular’ plan of action by Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina, the new target is the Attorney General of this state, Roy Cooper. In an unprecedented move, the governor and the GOP are attempting to overthrow the Attorney General’s authority of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and turn it over to the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Republican leaders see it as a ‘cost-cutting plan’ while others have deemed it to be another Republican Power Grab.
Attorney General Cooper, a Democrat, held a press conference on Monday with law enforcement supporters from across the state Monday, including chiefs of police, sheriffs, and district attorneys who literally stood behind him at a news conference.
Cooper pointed to the many political corruption cases handled by the SBI in recent years. The majority of the public officials investigated during that time were – like Cooper – Democrats. But they were investigated at a time when Democrats held the governorship.
Cooper said putting the SBI under the Department of Public Safety – with a secretary appointed by the governor – could hinder future corruption investigations of the party in charge.
“The SBI has provided a check on power. And no matter who controls the state legislature, the governor’s office or the attorney general’s office, this system works best. Putting the SBI under any governor’s administration increases the risk that corruption and cover-up occur with impunity,” said Cooper.
One of the district attorneys at the news conference – Jim O’Neill, an elected Republican from Winston-Salem – said he didn’t see the move as a political power grab – just an attempt to save money. But, he said he still didn’t agree with the move.
He believes the SBI should remain under the AG’s office and that the legislature should instead better fund the SBI lab to eliminate long delays on evidence analysis.
So why is the Governor and the Republican party in North Carolina so hell-bent on “taking over” this part of the crime division? It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s called, “ACCOUNTABILITY”! If they “Own” this division, they call the shots with NO Accountability. Just as they’ve taken control of the House, the Senate and have a Republican Governor, oversight of the Crime Division of North Carolina makes them this state’s version of “The Untouchables”.
Keep up the Fight Attorney General Cooper…Please!
The fight in North Carolina wages on into its 4th week. Ever since the people of this state elected a Republican Governor, a Republican House and a Republican Senate, the wheels have begun to fall off in the name of, “balancing budgets”. Gov. Pat McCrory and his Right Wing cronies have had backroom and midnight legislation passed without even a vote in some of his key moves. “If you meet with lobbyists secretly but refuse to meet with us publicly, you are violating the constitution,” said Rev. William Barber, North Carolina President of the NAACP.
McCrory’s GOP surrogates have made certain to pass other legislation including dismantling the Head Start program, making the Voter I.D. national argument a law, overturning Obamacare, decreasing Unemployment benefits from a maximum of $500 a week to $350 weekly and decreasing the length of Unemployment from 26-weeks to 13-weeks.
Rev. Barber stated in an interview, “They have cut 30,000 children, Black and white, from the preschool rolls,”. He continued, “They are trying to restart the death penalty. And we have the highest number of people on death row who have been exonerated. They have ended Sunday voting and have rolled back early voting. When we looked at all this, we decided that we had to go to another level.” This is a systematic attack by McCrory and the Republican party of North Carolina but what they didn’t count on was the backlash that has ensued.
Thanks to Rev. Barber, national attention is being brought to the ‘unrest’ in Raleigh in which Blacks and Whites, young and old, clergy, students, professionals, blue collar and white collar workers have stood together at the Legislation Building in what has been deemed, “Moral Mondays”. As they sing Spirituals and chants during the protest, the police have handcuffed and ushered them off to prison. They’ve also stood and prayed as they get ready for the next wave of what they call “civil disobedience” toward change.
They are fighting decisions to make cuts to Medicaid, education, unemployment and voting rights. Together they lit candles. Each one representing groups affected by these cuts. That’s what has made this movement similar to the Civil Rights Movement when Dr. Martin Luther King became the center of “change”. You had All types of People in All walks of Life supporting what was seen throughout the country, throughout the world as the worst form of discrimination. We see again the same Movement with All People coming together against a group seemingly passing legislation to continue to keep the ‘Elitists’ for and above the lowly.
How can people achieve the smallest of dreams when they’ve been laid off of work and need assistance through unemployment to make ends meet? With a family of four or more, $350 week won’t do it. Or how about Medicare assistance? If the Republicans have their way, that assistance will be null and void, leaving thousands of elderly searching for financial and medical assistance elsewhere. Has the Republican Party come up with an alternative to offset these cost to the elderly? NO! The overwhelming viewpoint to the protesters is They don’t care. Haven’t we seen this before?
The Head Start program that has been a major benefit to single parents is under fire as well. The GOP is looking to disband it causing preschoolers to be left in the cold and the single parents searching for other means of educational options for their child/children. And everyone knows the pre-years are the most important for children to get a “Head Start” and be prepared for elementary school.
Now, with the Voter I.D. legislation about to become law as well, this State is just about ready to boil over with discontent for this Government. And as we head into week 4 of the “Moral Mondays” protest, it’s time for National Attention to be brought to North Carolina. B.E.T. interviewed Rev. Barber recently so it has begun. But now, Big Guns need to be brought in to solidify the movement.
Understand people, just because Rev. Barber has taken the lead in this protest, this is Not an NAACP movement. EVERYONE in North Carolina is being affected by the Republicans continued barrage of unfavorable legislation. Medicare cuts will affect the elderly whether you’re Black or White or Latino. The unemployment benefits will affect Everyone, Black or White or Latino. The Head Start Program affects mostly low income people, Black, White or Latino. The Voter I.D. law will affect Black, White or Latino. With sweeping legislation, the Republicans have come in and done exactly what the Nation is trying to do across the board, get richer, make their corporate buddies richer and keep the low income and disenfranchised beneath them without a chance of progressing.
Amazing how some things Never change.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the recent tornado in Moore Oklahoma. The latest count as of 11PM eastern was 51 people killed.
Basehunters provided this video.
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Spring Is Breakup Season
Branden Lee is a blogger, screenwriter, producer, and actor, currently residing in Boston, MA. Follow Branden on Twitter and Tumblr.
First, Summer is coming. If you’re a college student and your significant other goes back to their home state, town, country, or wherever they’re from, and it’s not where you’re from, it may seem most appealing to breakup in time for summer. Like the Jessie James song “Boys In The Summer” points out ,”boys look so much hotter in the summer”. It’s difficult to determine the benefit of being tied down to someone who you won’t even see all summer, when you’re going out to the beach, clubbing, wherever with all your single friends who are free to hookup with hot guys, and you’re not. Plus if you’re significant other is far away, you won’t know that they’re being as loyal to you as you plan on being with them. Instead of spending summer paranoid you’re being lied to and cheated on, be single, wild, and free! At least for Summer. You can always reconnect in Autumn when the next semester rolls around.
Secondly, some people sadly enter relationships just so they have someone to snuggle up with in Winter. Even if they’re not that into them, it’s nice having someone to cuddle with when it’s cold. Frigid weather is definitely a mood killer. Even going out for a night with friends becomes a hassle if you don’t feel like leaving your warm home. When you’re dating someone in Winter, you don’t have to worry about going out. Trying to look as sexy as possible, but still managing to stay warm to avoid catching a cold is a difficult task, which can be completely avoided when you’re already dating someone. No need to go out. Just invite them over, and cuddle on the couch, and keep each other warm in bed. But as soon as the weather gets warm its time for that snuggle buddy to be cut loose. Hence why spring is the time to breakup.
Lastly, I don’t really even know. There’s so many factors as to why people can breakup in Spring. I do think the biggest reason is the end of the semester. People leaving their college towns or breaking up with their high school sweetheart before college seems like it would be the biggest cause of a couple deciding to go their separate ways. These couples managed to stay together past Valentine’s Day, so maybe some were just looking for an out as soon as that was over and they got their gifts. Some people do get fat once they enter relationships and no longer feel the need to stay fit because they’ve already caught themselves someone, and as soon as the weather warms and they can’t hide behind their baggy clothes, their partner may not like what they see and decides to split.
The moral of the story is if you’re currently in a relationship, you have until June 21st to watch out. A breakup may be heading your way just in time for Summer.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has been arrested on charges that he violated probation stemming from an altercation with his now ex-wife, TV reality star Evelyn Lozada.
A Broward County judge ordered Johnson jailed Monday until he posts a $1,000 bond. Another hearing was set for June 3. An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month when Johnson failed to meet his probation officer.
The six-time Pro Bowl player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco is serving a year of probation after Lozada said he head-butted her during an argument last August. She quickly filed for divorce. They had been married only since July 4.
Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins after the incident. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.
h/t – ESPN
Fringe right-wing radio host Pete Santilli made disturbing comments about Hillary Clinton last week, calling for sexual violence against the former secretary of state because of her alleged involvement in a bizarre conspiracy theory.
“Miss Hillary Clinton needs to be convicted, she needs to be tried, convicted and shot in the vagina,” he said. “I wanna pull the trigger. That ‘C U Next Tuesday’ has killed human beings that are in our ranks of our service.”
Santilli alleged Clinton was involved in drug trafficking in Arkansas and the killing of U.S. troops overseas.
“I want to shoot her right in the vagina and I don’t want her to die right away,” he added. “I want her to feel the pain and I want to look her in the eyes and I want to say, on behalf of all Americans that you’ve killed, on behalf of the Navy SEALS, the families of Navy SEAL Team Six who were involved in the fake hunt down of this Obama, Obama bin Laden thing.
“That whole fake scenario, because these Navy SEALS know the truth, they killed them all. On behalf of all of those people, I’m supporting our troops by saying we need to try, convict, and shoot Hillary Clinton in the vagina.”
The remarks were first reported by Right Wing Watch, which said it began monitoring Santilli after National Rifle Association board member Ted Nugent and Gun Owners of America director Larry Pratt appeared on his online radio program.
On his website, Santilli specifically claims that he is not a conspiracy theorist and that he is not crazy.
A new poll shows that recent scandals haven’t hurt President Barack Obama’s approval rating.
The poll, from CNN and ORC International, found that 53 percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing, while 45 percent disapprove. This number remains virtually unchanged from polls taken before the scandals hit.
The poll was taken on May 17 and 18, and has a 3 percent margin of error.
A CNN poll taken in early April showed Obama’s approval rating to be 51 percent. According to a Gallup poll taken in early May, the president’s approval rating was 50 percent.
The CNN poll also found that 71 percent of Americans believe the actions of the IRS employees who targeted tea party groups were unacceptable. However, 6 in 10 respondents said they trusted the president’s statements on the issue.
A 2-year-old boy in North Carolina is expected to survive after shooting himself with his father’s gun over the weekend.
Randolph County deputies said that the toddler found the handgun in his parents’ room at their home just outside Asheboro around 2 p.m. on Saturday. The boy put the gun in his mouth and fired it.
According to WGHP, the boy was listed in critical condition Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem on Sunday, but was expected to live.
“The bullet missed all the vital arteries there in the neck in the head and also missed the spinal cords, so I said it’s a miracle the child is still with us,” Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Captain Derrick Hill explained to WGHP.
A neighbor told the station that “the good Lord was looking after him.”
The sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices were considering whether to charge the parents with leaving the firearm unattended.
Politico is reporting that the newly minted Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia once compared Planned Parenthood to the Ku Klux Klan and bemoaned black voters’ “slavish devotion” to the Democratic Party — past statements that are likely to inflame the culture-war politics of the state’s 2013 elections.
E.W. Jackson, a black minister and activist nominated for lieutenant governor Saturday, posted a four-minute video on YouTube last fall exhorting African-Americans to vote Republican. In the video message, he accused the “civil rights establishment” of selling out their Christian values in order to support Democratic policy positions on gay marriage and abortion.
“The Democrat Party has created an unholy alliance between certain so-called civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood, which has killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions. Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was,” Jackson says in the video.
Video:
Students at Hofstra University wore white ribbons at their graduation ceremony today to honor a fellow student who was accidentally killed by a police officer responding to a home invasion call.
Andrea Rebello, a 21-year-old Hofstra University junior, was killed Friday when police confronted an armed intruder at the off-campus rental house she shared with her twin sister and two other students on Long Island, N.Y.
The suspect, Dalton Smith, 30, entered the home when someone went outside to move a car around 2 a.m. on Friday, according to police.
Smith was apparently unsatisfied with the valuables in the home and sent one of the Rebello’s roommates to an ATM, said Detective Lt. John Azzata of the Nassau County Police Department.
“He said if she wasn’t back in eight minutes, he’d kill one of the individuals in the house,” Azzata said.
The roommate called 911, Azzata said, and two officers were dispatched to the scene.
An officer entered the two-story home and found Smith holding Rebello in a headlock at gunpoint, Azzata said. When the suspect pointed the gun at the officer, he said the two exchanged fire.
“The officer eventually fired eight rounds in total,” Azzata said. “Seven of those rounds struck our subject, one of those rounds struck the victim.”
Rebello and Smith were both pronounced dead.
h/t – ABCNEWS
Miguel lands on top of an unsuspecting audience member while hitting the stage at the 2013 Billboard Music Awardsheld at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday (May 19) in Las Vegas.
During his performance of “Adorn”, the 27-year-old entertainer jumped and landed his crotch on top of a girl in the crowd. Later, he also appeared to kick another girl in the head after jamming out to his hit.
“got caught up in the moment, thank goodness Khyati is okay” Miguel tweeted after his performance.
Check out the video below!
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