Clark Atlanta University STUDENTS!!!!!!!!

Auditions are being held at CAU on this Wednesday, October 19th at 7:30PM for Mass Media Arts students with an interest in television hosting, writing and production. PR company, BrandedPR is working with the community service based 411 Brand www.the411brand.com to bring awareness and inspiration to Atlanta's under served youth. The 411 Brand focuses on 3 core program areas; education, entertainment and athletics. As part of the entertainment program, 411 will be hosting its knowledge and entertainment show October 29, 2011 at the New Era flagship store in downtown Atlanta. Past guests include, Lamon Rucker, Jermain Dupri, DaBrat, Usher, Outkast, Chaka Zulu and others. We need a student host comfortable with interviewing a celebrity on-camera with energy, intelligence and charisma!

  We will need hosts for the show, writers/researchers to
  write scripts, questions for guests, audience members and assistants to help
  celebrities and crew.

 
  Auditions will be held this Wednesday,
  October 19th.

  Time: 7:30pm
 
 
  Location: Room G30 in Clark Atlanta University's mass media arts building
 
 
  Rules for the audition:

 
  1.   
  You may spread
  the word and bring ONE person along with you who is also a college student in good
  standing, who may be right for this opportunity. Males are welcomed.
 
  2.   
  PLEASE NO
  FRIENDS, BOYFRIENDS, GIRLFRIENDS, MOTHERS, SISTERS (YOU GET THE POINT). All attendees
  must be serious about the opportunity and willing to audition.
 
  3.   
  Please bring
  with you clips or writing samples. If you don't have anything to show,
  bring a winning smile, a professional attitude and elevator speech on why you are
  right for the job.
 

  If you have any questions, contact: tgray@the411brand.com.

Tahira Wright

Branded PR

www.brandedpr.net

E | tahira@brandedpr.net

404.578.6560

twitter @BPRTahira & @BrandedPR

Make your mark...Get Branded!

PROFILE

By Chivone Smith

         In a monotone voice and slumped over in her seat, a transfer in her third year of college fears being judged by her peers.  

         Described as being raised in an unorthodox family where her fourteen year old mother was courted by her (then) twenty-five year old father, Elena Major was very cautious of her responses when talking about her background as she did not want to get too personal about the dynamics of her family. However, when the mysterious Baltimore native expressed that her grandmother works for the FBI, all cards were out on the table. “My life was really wild before I got here,” Majors said. She added, “Just how I was raised and being out here by myself.” 

         The strong desire to get away is what drove this Morgan State University transfer from the confines of Baltimore to the hospitality of the South.  However, she quickly learned that everything that glitters isn’t gold.  Majors said, “I was slick tricked ‘cause I thought Atlanta was a city, but it’s not, it’s a slick country!” To add insult to injury, Major says that the academics provided at CAU isn’t impressive and that the old classrooms distracts her from learning effectively. “They make me feel like I’m in a high school classroom with a chalk board,” Majors said. 

         Donald Jones, a friend of Majors who happens to be an instructor at Morehouse College, stated that Majors is a very simple person despite how she may come off. However, he further explained the other side of Majors. “She’s very nice and receptive, but very straight forward,” Jones said. He added, “I don’t think she holds her tongue for anybody.” He further expressed his views on Majors by saying that people wouldn’t look at her and see a sorority girl. She is a member of the sweet Kappa Alpha Psi sweethearts and he ventured to elude that her sorority goes harder than the sweet ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

         From a cradle robbing parent, to having a grandmother who’s an active FBI agent, to being a wild child turned Kappa Alpha Psi sweetheart, there is no true understanding of who this mystery girl is. However, she feels that people should not shun her because they don’t know her and as a result, she had a message for the students of CAU. “I feel like a lot of stuff at this school is too much word of mouth and I feel like I should have equal opportunity as anybody else who knows people who been here for years,” said Majors. 

My review on the FABULOUS book on how to live a frugal lifestyle

The Frugalista Files by Natalie P. McNeal

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-11213-cdo-reads-the-frugal.html

My interview with Qasim Basir, director of movie 'Mooz-Lum'

‘Mooz-Lum’ provides lesson about Muslims 

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-11153-lsmooz-lumrs-provides-lesson-about-muslims.html

My interview with Michael Rappaport & Phife Dawg on new documentary

Doc shows ‘travels’ of A Tribe Called Quest
http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-11342-doc-shows-lstravelsrs-of-a-tribe-called-quest.html

Sean Kingston in critical condition

"Sean Kingston was in a accident today," a statement from Joseph Carozza, the publsist of hip hopper, Sean Kingston. While officials are still investigating the cause of the accident, it was stated that the jet ski of Kingston and a female accomplice who was also on board, reportedly crashed into a bridge connecting Palm Island to the MacArthur Causeway Sunday night, according to Gossip Cop. Currently, while the note of his injuries have not been released, it was conirmed that Kingston is being treated in the trauma region of Jackson Memorial Hospital. Earlier Sunday evening, Kingston tweeted, "South beach... #nicee... bout to get fresh and cause that movie!!..." Carozzas statement also mentioned that he and his family thanks everyone for the well wishes.

Oprah's "Until we meet again" finale

Well folks, it finally happened. After 25 seasons, Oprah gracefully called it a wrap on her show. I must admit, I was never a faithful watcher, however, this season had some pretty good episodes! Maybe it was because of all the hype about this being her last show that made me want to tune it because I wanted to see what tricks she had up her sleeve for surprised audience members, but it seemed that all her audience members this season were invited guest so forget trying to buy tickets lol!  Whatever the reason, I can honestly say that I rather enjoyed her last season.  Probably the best part was of the finale was the three day event. I’ve watched her three last episodes two times each (Us Chicagoians have the privilege to see her show in the am and pm…BOW!) and was so overcome by this ending! First Mayor Daley now Oprah?! Too much to handle in three weeks L Anyhoozer, I found it pretty cool that my former mentor was at the United Ccenter when Oprah was getting honored by the plethora of celebs who showed her love. (In my Italian Mob voice) Hey, how’s about a good word huh? LOL.

                After Oprah’s gentle, “Until we meet again,” spill, I just about lost it. What do we have left of local television? Exactly what does this mean? Is anybody eligible to take over? I can answer these questions in 4 parts. First, let’s narrow it down to the top 3 women in position right now (listed by who had a show out first); Ellen DeGeneres, Monique and Wendy Williams (I really wish I could include Tyra, but no. She wants to be all fancy and end her show with false hopes that she building buildings regarding ‘T-zone’ amongst the 1,000 other things she got under her belt #lottalyinlazy).

               1^st; Ellen, can she be the next Oprah? Answer: (In my Australian voice) Eh, sorry. She’s not diverse enough. Yeah she hands out prizes once every year and yeah she interviews Top celebrities, but we don’t dance around the crowd and crack jokes 24/7 with middle aged men and women, you ‘re 53, let’s uh, let’s start actin like it huh?! 2^nd candidate; Monique. Can she be the next Oprah? Answer: Maybe. While I do adore Monique’s passion for people and that is something that her and Oprah both share, she may be on the verge of being an over supportive host. She never seems to have a counterargument with a guest she’s invited to her show because she loves them so darn much. It’s almost 1-dimensional. 3^rd runner up; Wendy Williams. Can she be the next Oprah? Answer: DEFINITELY NOT! Now, I don’t mean to be blunt by emphasizing the ‘Definitely not’ portion, but honestly, it’ll be an insult to even compare the two.  Sooooooo, actually, I’m not even going to go into detail about why she won’t, I’ll let you all decide on why she won’t be the next Oprah, k?!

               4^th supporting reason to wrap up this ‘Who will take over Oprah’s slot’ question and answering is; WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW?! LOL, maybe the world doesn’t need another Oprah. Maybe we’ve ran that time span. Maybe we now need to welcome more middle aged men and women loosening up and laughing a little more. Maybe we do need embrace more hugs instead of getting ridiculed for our past and present experiences/choices. Maybe we even need to invite the less serious route while styling the world up while throwing some gosspip in the mix, I don’t know! I do know that I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wasn't worried about the future of television now. Who’s gonna set the new talk show standard?

Sister Sister is back!!!!!

Yes people, yes!!!!!! Tia and Tamera Mowrey will be returning to television...together! However, the rules have changed. Now, Tia and Tamera, both married women, will appear in a reality show together on the STYLE network in late August. Tamera recently wed FOX news' Adam Housley in Napa Valley this past Sunday. The couple is now vacationing in Athens. Tia Mowrey wed husband/actor Corey Hardict in 2008 in Santa Barbara, Calif and is now expecting their first child together. It's looking like a good year for the twins and with the set up of the new reality show, fans are also hoping for a successful series!

Lil Kim and Keyshia Cole Beef

Soooooo, it's true peeps...twitter is the OFFICIAL new age fist fight. Lil Kim is playing a Somaya Reece and calling out yet another music heavy hitter in the hopes that it will get her back in the spotlight...new victim? Keyshia Cole. According to Keyshia Cole's twitter, her and former rap icon Lil Kim are not friends. Despite recording on a couple of songs together, Keyshia implies that that was that. Obviously hurt by the responces, Kim then began to call out Keyshia's loyalty by tweeting, "“[You] got that right. We are not friends. The same way U take friendship seriously [I] take loyalty serious.” >< oooo! Honestly, any New Yorker who mentions anything about somebody not being 'loyal,' we got a serious problem on out hands Houston. Kim didn't stop there, she went so far as to practically call Keyshia a user, "The whole world has seen me extend my hand to u over and over again,” said Kim. She continued with, “Only someone who's trying to build a sincere relationship does shows 4 free & supports. [You] did not pay me a dime 4 none of that." lol. So understanding that she couldn't argue too much of Kim's antics, Keyshia responded with, "all I'm saying is don't have everyone thinking I was disloyal as a "friends" cause we were never that and u know it. No disrespect." lol yeahhhh, so take it how you want world, this is just another silly case of the twitter beef, until next time  #can'twealljustgetalong

Top 5 best movies (Podcast)

Newspaper article

Newspaper and Online news comparison

The AJC newspaper gave out a lot of information from beginning to end. I guess because it only has one chance to tell its audiences what happened, it tried to give as much information as possible. The article on the AJC also had better pictures that showed the turmoil of what happened.

The online information from the New York Post was more specific. It focused on the death toll. Every start of a new stanza, there was new information that caught your eye whether it was dealing with numbers or had something to do with a death toll. It also had more quotes than the newspaper story did. The online segment had more information because it was online so you could update more information than you would be able to on the physical newspaper. It hopped from one topic to the next. It was also able to paint of picture of what was happening rather than just telling the story.

On yahoo, it talked about the death toll for the most part. It also talked about predictions for other cities and states and how they need to be expecting some drastic weather. It had link options where you could share the story on facebook as well as other sites. It also gave readers the option to comment on the story after they read it. It talked more about the recovery rather than the death toll.

CAU Exclusive: Wiz Khalifa - Arts & Entertainment

My exclusive interview with Wiz Khalifa CAU Exclusive: Wiz Khalifa - Arts & Entertainment

Poisoin in most commonly used medicine

      Everyone keeps mentioning that people should address EVERONE poisoning the music industry and not just Nicki Minaj. I.e, Jasmine Manns got a lot of heat about just targeting Minaj. I mean, would you rather her have gone down the list of predominately the WHOLE music industry and disect who is giving us poisoning with our medicine? No, she can't address everybody, but in addressing Nicki, who is a big head in the music industry, she in a way, is attacking everybody, as she should. I read a blog that say's we should look past song's like "Roger that, itty bitty piggy, pu*** on your sideburns" etc., but look at the fact that she talk's to kids about abstinence and all that. That was a contridiction to the whole theme of discussion. If a murder murders someody but holds the doors open for old ladies, should we look past his crimes and see that he's a gentleman? Would you rather a prostitute say, "kid's dont have sex till your married" while she still trickin???           
          The point is, just because she talkin to kids about abstinence and loving yourself, don't make her poison less effective. She is a grown woman calling herself a cunt and a bitch, where the hell is music coming too? I can't love myself and call myself a cunt at the same time. The bar on female music use to be TLC, destinys child, and Queen Latifa, it scares me that this is the bar now. you can no longer argue that the industry is sexist and that feminism is still a debate, we doin it to ourselves! So, in being a Nicki fan, don't be biased in the matter that she is sending poison to this generation and to women. Its unfortunate because she is good lyricist and so is Wayne and Drake etc., but they not providin no balance. We the only culrure that boasts music degrading OURSELVES. No other race, besides Eminem, degrades their people as much as us and its sad that we can't look past these colorful words and fashions and see how we're hurtin ourselves.

Valentine's day brings about more love in MONIQUE - Arts & Entertainment

My Monique interview: Valentine's day brings about more love in MONIQUE - Arts & Entertainment

A True Georgia Peach

Her outlook on life exploded like a silent bomb. In this thought altering interview of Sequoyah Armour, she exposed her most pleasant memories, deepest regrets and her opinions on where we as a world stand today.

Armour, a 19 year old sophomore majoring in journalism, can very easily appear to be a closed book once you look at her rather soft demeanor. However, that isn’t something she’s too fond of to say the least. She mentioned how she regrets not being open when meeting new people. “I’m kind of closed off and too shy and standoffish sometimes. I guess I regret not meeting more people,” said Armour.

As she reflects on the make-up of her generation, she commends the fact that we’re smarter and more aware of the world in reference to books and the streets. However, that can also be our demise as we think we know too much according to Armour. “Like, a lot of us don’t know the difference between a girlfriend and a boyfriend and a husband and a wife’s marriage. It’s like we focus too much on relationships and sex,” said Armour.

Armour mentioned how we focus on shallow things compared to those who fought for Civil Right and serious things that could keep us in the future. Armour seemed to be very in-tune with her opinionated side. As I dug further to the core of this Georgia Peach, I discovered that she has a soft spot, her family. She noted that family vacations are her favorite past time. “I’m a family person. I like game nights and being with my family. They really know me and I really know them,” said Armour.

Armour also noted that her mother is her inspiration as her patient yet go-getter, attitude really inspires her. “She had a kid at 19 and she was still able to flip her life around to accommodate us. She know’s how to take care of her kids, her husband and her job,” said Armour. Following behind her mom’s title of people who inspire Armour, Terri McMillan also places a spot on her list. McMillan’s writing style is non-existent according to Armour, yet that’s what she likes. She mentions how McMillan writes about what she feels. That would probably explain McMillan’s recent tweets regarding Willow and Jaden Smith’s sudden stardom and Kim Kardashian’s backside.

While on the topic of writing styles, Armour confessed that she’s still searching for one. She stated that she’s motivated to find her own opinion on other people’s statements about topics. “I’ve taken lines from songs and just went off. It’s like a new thing I do.”Armour discovered her writing when she discovered how sports wasn’t going to be an option for her as ‘a thing to dabble in’ when she’s feeling expressive. She mentioned that she would re-write the ends of stories and change character descriptions to fit her comfort. It was then where she realized that she possessed the power in the pen to create.

This young gifted writer is on her way to self-discovery as her eyes are growing bigger on the world as her perspective grows on who she can become.

Armour attributes success to achieving your five to 10 year plans. “When you actually have pin-pointed all those plans and you have a check mark by it, that’s success,” said Armour. “You did what you really wanted to do and you helped others along the way,” Armour said.

Fate vs. Free Will

           Is there such a fight between Fate and Free will? Well, I think of it like this...Fate IS destiny. In that nature, our decisions are pre-destined and we don't even know it. So in reality, are we making our own decisions?
           In rare cases, people are aware of their fate. In those same cases, people find themselves trying to run from it by doing what they WANT to do (Free Will) rather than what they're SUPPOSE to do (Fate). But what happens in the end? Don't we eventually find our way? Don't all our decisions eventually lead to what we were destined to do, say, become and be?
          The truth of the matter is, we can NEVER escape our Fate. It is written. It is embedded in us. For example, you could find all kinds of ways to make 4 right? 2 + 2, 5-1, 4*1...but at the end of the day, it all equals '4' right? Those options are your free will, but fate is the 4. Number 4 will remain the same and even when you try to find loopholes to prove it wrong, you're indirectly proving it right.
           So why do we sometimes run from our fate and run to the very things God is trying to prevent us from so that we don't get hurt? Th truth of the matter is that God is a gentleman. He's not going force us to serve him. It is indeed a choice. He'll let us experience things and all that, but we are never fully complete because what we're searching for is him and it is in him that we will truly find answers to life's questions as well as our hearts desires.
            So go ahead and keep testing the waters in your careers and relationships etc...what you'll eventually find is that you will never truly be fulfilled in this life unless you stop and realize that you are not in control, but he is.

No strings attached" = sex vs. love

I am so sick and tired of hollywood promoting that life is just abou, sex, having fun and partying. It is extremely unrealistic to say that you can form a beautiful and loving relationship out of something that began with lust.

In the movie, "No Strings Attached," Natalie Portman was depicted as the emotionless girl who finds it completely suffocating and awkward to be in a relationship so she wants’ to have her cake and eat it too. Her relationship with Ashton Kutcher is awkward in itself and it sparked a thought in her mind that she wanted to KINDA be friends while sleeping together with each other periodically.

     Portman stated in an interview in the 'E' channel, that she thinks it's kind of liberating to have the roles reversed. The fact of the matter is that males more often have people believing that they're sex crazed and that they crave it 24-7. Portman mentioned that she appreciated the fact that the woman had the upper-hand in this case. o_0  Is this what it’s come to America? 

     I was in utter repulsion at the fact that this movie began with Kutcher getting sloppy dunk and finding himself in the home of Portman. After he woke up, they had sex. After the quickie, Portman established that she wanted to remain associated basically. She then realized that the sex was so good that they should become sex partners with no strings attached. Of course it wouldn't be a movie if no strings were attached, so the culprit happened to be Kutcher when he fell for her. 

     After countless episodes, Kutcher fell for Portman and as she kept fighting him off and PUSHING him to sleep with other women, she realized that she was f'ing up and she confessed her love to him. It was then where he told her that, if she took him back, she needed to realize that he wasn't gonna let her go. Are you friggin kidding me???

      How can you honestly sit up here and say that is is acceptable, cute and romantic to build a relationship on sex and call it love? How dare you promote that and have the audacity to nominate it for rewards??? I’m not understanding America, help me understand. Better yet, help yourself understand why you have so many basic problems in your relationship. How did your relationship start? In what way did you base your attraction on this person? 

     Stacy Dash mentioned that in her three divorces, she had sex the first night to see if it would last. She claimed that she wants to do it the right way this time. What does that tell you??? It is truly heartbreaking to see people go through such a preventable demise in this world when all it takes is a little patience and self-respect for self.

Women, men only treat you the way you allow them to treat you. Have more standards for yourself. Why are you in a rush to get into a relationship? To say that you got somebody? Think about your motive for wanting to be with someone or even while you're still with that person. 

     My mother told me once, people are so confused with relationships and marriages. You washing his clothes and living together and having joint accounts and no ring. That's a problem. There's no true commitment in that. He is truly having his cake and eating it too. Demand more for yourself.

     Men, we look to you for protection and comfort and guidance. Would you want your daughter to date someone like you? Expect more for yourself. We gotta have higher standards for ourselves people. 

Herschel Walker promotes 2nd knockout sports Endeavour!

Football legend, Herschel Walker, will battle it out with Scott Carson this Saturday on Strikeforce at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California at 10pm.

This will be the second fight for Walker following his victory over Greg Navy in his last match on Jan 30. Walker, 48, entered the world of MMA fighting, has many eyes raised as his counterparts are predominately half his age.

“I'm in better shape now than I was in my early 20’s playing football,” Walker said on a Monday evening teleconference to promote the fight, “I've been trying to get a lot of players to do some type of MMA training. It would help them out a great deal. Most of the things you do in MMA training is correlated to football.”

However, this doesn’t seem to be a hobby for Walker considering the fact that Martial Arts fighting has been under his belt since a young age. He says, “I've been doing Martial Arts for 33 years. I started in high school with just Tae Kwon Do. I got heavily into it when I was in college. Every fight that I go into I'm going to win. This is not a gimmick for me, this is life.”

Walker seems to be the Michael Jordan of football seeing as to how he’s trying to dominate a variety of sports. However, Walkers reasoning behind it is to stay active because he knows it’ll make him a better player and that is the type of challenge he aspires to give to his counterparts.

Walker is considering ambassadorship for the sport of MMA.

“Being an ambassador doesn't mean that you have to be fighting,” say’s Walker. “I want to be able to talk about this MMA stuff, and at least have the knowledge that I've been in the cage before and I've done it.”

In football, Walker went on to score three 90 Yard Touchdowns in a season while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He explains, however, the biggest challenge between the two sports.

Walker states, “In football, if I make a mistake I have a quarterback, a wide receiver or a defensive lineman who can make up for that mistake,” However, “There are not mistakes being made here. You make a mistake and you may be knocked out or you may be hurt.”

Walker see’s the sky as a road block and not a limit to achieving his goals. So what’s to come in future endeavors?

 “This is nothing but hard work,” Walker said, “I’ve never turned down a challenge and I wouldn't do it now.”

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3D Mobile adventure with Producer of SANCTUM - Arts & Entertainment

Mo'Nique is Back and Funnier than Ever - Arts & Entertainment

Mo'Nique is Back and Funnier than Ever - Arts & Entertainment

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ATL Celebrates Labor Day Weekend Luda Style - Arts & Entertainment

Roscoe Dash set to release album - Arts & Entertainment

Roscoe Dash set to release album - Arts & Entertainment

Donald Faison stars in "Skyline" - Arts & Entertainment

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Herschel Walker head's up!!!!

I just wrote my first (college) press release about NFL star, Herschel Walker preparing for his 2nd MMA match. The release'll be coming soon once I release it to my professor and he releases the edit's to me and I release it on the web!!! -Chivone