As the 2012 presidential election approaches, it is becoming painfully clear that the U.S. economy may be the topic helping voters decided which candidate to choose. Unemployment has remained relatively high across the nation, but some populations have been hit harder than others. The Obama administration has made progress in its attempts to stabilize unemployment, and job growth has been on a small but steady rise. But if stabilizing the economy is the greatest challenge for the 2012 election, then increased employment is the only solution.

While job growth has increased, the questions regarding who is gaining employment still remains. Today, the White House released a press release announcing the Summer Jobs Act to employ nearly 180,000 youth between the ages of 16-24 nationwide. The White House has been encouraging youth employment since 2009, and has worked with many private companies to ensure that young people received on-the-job training and paid internship positions. However, today they took an aggressive stance toward youth employment stating:

“America’s youth can’t wait for Congress to act.”

Obama is moving forward without Congress by proposing $1.5 billion to make sure that youth can be hired not only in the summer, but year-round.

This is an important step to ending high rates of unemployment not only for youth and disadvantaged communities, but also for the nation as a whole. With all of the political circus, we often forget that the high school and college students WILL  grow up to become the leaders of this nation. We must do everything possible to support their growth and development in every realm of society. The administration also points out that in 2011, taxpayers contributed more than $93 billion “in direct cost and lost tax revenue to support young adults disconnected from school and work.”

Many conservatives, such as Rick Santorum, repeatedly state that they want to discontinue social welfare programs, however, unemployed and uneducated youth will cost us far more in lost tax revenue than in entitlement programs alone. Translation: It will cost us far less, as a society, to educate and hire the multi-ethnic youth of America.

In the next 60 days, the administration will launch  Summer Jobs+ Bank, an online job search through its business, non-profit, and government partner organizations. They hope that these summer jobs will lead to a more informed workforce prepared for long-term employment in the private and public sector.

Check out the full press release here.

One of the dopest, most respected elders in hip-hop, Paradise Gray is featured on “The Angle,” a documentary focusing on subjects affecting American culture. In this installment, Paradise reflects on the foundation of hip-hop, in addition to introducing the concept of Muhammad Ali being the originator of the swag that Jay Z took ownership of. He does a damn good job of making his point. Paradise Gray’s perspective on hip-hop is very important.

It’s a pleasure and an honor to be affiliated with ‘Dise. He knows everything about the game and has possibly mentored your favorite rapper. He has so much knowledge and I, personally have absorbed a ton just being in the same room with him.

Paradise Gray: Hip-Hop (commentary) from Park Triangle Productions on Vimeo.

Almost three months into the Occupy movements and both white men and women have been pepper sprayed, arrested, and beaten by the police.  But what remains the pink elephant in the room is the question: where are the black people? Where are the people of color who have been disproportionately affected from public sector layoffs, increased taxes, failing schools and faulty mortgage practices? We all know the history of civil rights in America, but in case you didn’t know, African-Americans have played a major role in shaping the social justice movements of the past several decades. But where is that social power now?

Many will argue that the youngest generation of African-Americans have become listless, apathetic, lazy,  immoral, and this is why they have disconnected from the political and social issues that our world faces today. At one point, the African-American church served as a bridge between the community and social justice. However, churches rarely take on the task of challenging laws, economic practices, or developing social justice leaders in the inner city nowadays.

In cities like Milwaukee, non-profit agencies and NGOs specializing in training young leaders found themselves closing due to lack of funding, taking with them the knowledge and expertise to reach some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. I would say that it is not only the fault of the youth, but also of the elders who were not willing to prime new leaders to fill their positions.

With only a little guidance, young people have risen to the challenge and become leaders in their families and communities. They are in college, they are working for themselves, raising families, conducting research and producing work that questions and informs. Our generation has tried to think outside the social box that has not included us for many years. We have protested police brutality, politicians, the economic and social policies of banks that have affected our neighborhoods and people for many years. We have done more than protest. We have organized, and educated our neighborhoods through direct service and action. We have started gardens, schools, programs, health initiatives, legislation, and much more to address and improve our communities from within. We decided long ago that we had to move past protesting and into action – even if Jessie Jackson wasn’t involved.

Honestly, I don’t mind seeing that the majority of the 99% protestors are middle class, educated white men and women. For too long, that group has appeared silent, and oblivious to the struggles of black, Latino, and Asian Americans. I think unity is the only way that we will make a change and we need as many people as possible to speak out against inequality.  The 99% of Americans are extremely diverse, both economically, socially, and ethnically, and this may give us an opportunity to cross racial lines  and strengthen a movement that can benefit us all.

If you don’t have a clear understanding by now about the Ryan family and their mark in the NFL, please move from under the rocks. Buddy Ryan, a legend in his own right, was a take-no-junk, outspoken head coach for a tough nose Houston Oilers and Philadephia Eagles teams, who both led by their brutal defensive. His twin sons, Rex and Rob, are no different. Both having a guru-like rep as defensive leaders and play callers but also have reps for their wild yet comical personalities.  Rex’s latest stunt only supports that theory.

Avid New York Jets fan and comedic film guru, Adam Sandler, and New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan are teaming up to do a film in which Ryan will play a Boston-based lawyer who is – of all things – a New England Patriots fan. Yes, a Patriots fan.

Sandler wrote this role as an inexpensive lawyer who plays a huge Pats fan and loves Tom Brady and Pats head coach Bill Belichick. This will be a sure shocker for much of Jets Nation. The films title and release date are still up in the air.

“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers Mally Mel & Kool Herc brought forth a new genre.” Wait no – maybe that’s too far-fetched. “I have a dream that one day… I know it ain’t heaven-sent/ we ain’t ready to see a black president.” Maybe even that’s too harsh.

I’m looking at the world currently, both globally and nationally, and we are entering one of our most critical times in the history of our civilization. I’m wondering, who can save us from us? With one million and one questions about who will take over the throne in 2012 and what our country’s success will look like, who can weave out the truth? If you had a gut check now and BOOM the world as you know it changes, would you be ready?

I ask myself all of those questions and the one common factor I see is you. Yes, you, reading this story. You with your 9-5  job then 6-10 family time. You, who has never punched any clock but now owns the clocks which are being punched and of course, you. You, who left the inner city lifestyle to live in a more peaceful and quiet setting filled with singing birds, Sunday afternoon tailgating and desperate housewives. Somehow, 8 out of ten of us all fit into one of those lifestyles and the two that don’t – God Bless You. I ask you one more question. What do we all have in common?

HIP-HOP!

There was a time in hip-hop when lyrics weren’t just chess moves; they told stories. Words gave birth to movements, habits and a new culture. Racism, sexism and thug life were discussed and debated and lives were saved. You could listen to your favorite track and the entire load sitting on your shoulder suddenly would disappear. Those who didn’t make it to see graduation found ways to make a honest living and leave our generation the blueprint on how to change the game.

As the world turns and times change more than Nicki Minaj’s hair color, it’s time that we demand more and go back to what helped us in the first place. Hip-hop’s impact is no longer just an urban inner city culture, it’s worldwide. Forbes 500 companies, sports venues, even our political officers are using hip-hop to connect and market to our world. If they are smart enough to see the light, why can’t we do the same? When Sam Cooke said “A Change Gon Come,” he didn’t mean it would just fall from the sky, we must create change.

It’s time for us, as a people and culture, to mold the future. Music has always been an outlet for emotions, beliefs and informing others of our social status – both mentally and financially. It’s time we #OccupyHipHop. Let’s get away from downgrading our people and glorifying nonsense and reach those who need to be saved. The time is now. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!

Many are unaware but there is a new Muppet moving to Sesame Street. I first got word of the new Muppet months ago, when plans were in the making to bring a new Muppet on board and it was creating a lot of negative press.

With our country facing one of its biggest poverty issues in years, Sesame street was aiming to create a “homeless” puppet to show youth a growing issue that is one of America’s biggest secrets. To avoid controversy, Sesame Street never introduced that Muppet. Now, they are prepared to introduce a character with a extremely sad tale to sing.

Set to represent the many U.S. children who are malnourished and go to bed hungry at night, the children’s show will introduce Lily during a prime-time one-hour special on October 9. The goal is to raise awareness about hunger faced by millions of families in America. Lily, a 7-year old Muppet with a pink-colored denim dress and headband, will talk to the cast of Sesame Street about growing up in a home where there isn’t much food and she will help Elmo and friends set up a food drive to help feed her family. (ABCNews)

Jeanette Betancourt, the senior VP for outreach and educational processes at Sesame Workshop, explained that Lily’s creation took months of research to gather all the facts needed for an educational show. Children ages 6 and under make up over 9.6 million Americans with limited food resources. Betancourt also added that the story will be told from Lily’s point of view. Lily has a habit of looking down when talking about her situation, mirroring youth who hesitate when talking about intense issues. The main point of the program is to bring awareness to how serious this hunger issue is.

This is a very real problem in our world and I’m glad that PBS is taking matters into their own hands on how to raise awareness. I’m very interested in how the show will help spread the word and how we can all find a way to decrease hunger in America.  The show will air at 7 p.m. on October 9. If you have a young child, this may be a great chance to watch this show as a family and discuss an issue that they may not personally face. but a classmate or neighbor might. I tip my hat to Sesame Street and PBS  and I will be tuned in.

PCMag.com is reporting an unconfirmed threat to “erase the New York Stock Exchange from the Internet,” posted by hackers claiming to belong to the secretive Anonymous hacktavist collective.

Other representatives from Anonymous – whose jaunty headless suit-wearing logo belies the traditional view of hackers as cave-dwelling, disheveled and unwashed nerds – dispute the claims. Regardless, as the #OccupyWallStreet protests continue to attract major media attention, it is inevitable that we’ll see virtual signs of rebellion to match the movement in the streets.

In fact, it’s possible that a collective of brilliant, security-loophole exploiting hackers could cause serious damage to some of the financial systems at the heart of this viral movement…and a good deal faster than the rest of us trying to turn the ponderous wheels of the bureaucratic machine.

Do you remember the scene in the matrix when Morphoeus gave Neo the red or blue pill and asked him to choose? Below you will find a letter that Troy Davis wrote shortly before he was executed. They are his final words, and a message to each and every one of us.

You have a choice: you can stop reading and pretend that Troy Davis never existed. That last night never happened. Or you can keep reading and never stop fighting for Justice.

“To All” – A message from Troy Anthony Davis

To All:

I want to thank all of you for your efforts and dedication to Human Rights and Human Kindness, in the past year I have experienced such emotion, joy, sadness and never ending faith. It is because of all of you that I am alive today, as I look at my sister Martina I am marveled by the love she has for me and of course I worry about her and her health, but as she tells me she is the eldest and she will not back down from this fight to save my life and prove to the world that I am innocent of this terrible crime.

As I look at my mail from across the globe, from places I have never ever dreamed I would know about and people speaking languages and expressing cultures and religions I could only hope to one day see first hand. I am humbled by the emotion that fills my heart with overwhelming, overflowing Joy. I can’t even explain the insurgence of emotion I feel when I try to express the strength I draw from you all, it compounds my faith and it shows me yet again that this is not a case about the death penalty, this is not a case about Troy Davis, this is a case about Justice and the Human Spirit to see Justice prevail.

I cannot answer all of your letters but I do read them all, I cannot see you all but I can imagine your faces, I cannot hear you speak but your letters take me to the far reaches of the world, I cannot touch you physically but I feel your warmth everyday I exist.

So Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent must be accelerated. There are so many more Troy Davis’. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.

I can’t wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing,

“I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!”

Never Stop Fighting for Justice and We will Win!

AKA: Ace Ventura: Perv Detective

Ace Ventura is back and he seems very, very lonely. Publicity stunt? Hail Mary Pass for a lonely old man? My bet is #1, seems too Charlie Sheen to me. 35k views so far, watch it before it POPS!

Is this 9/11 memorial wine in bad taste?

A Long Island Winery, Lieb Family Cellars, has created a 9/11 themed memorial wine and says that 10 percent of the sales of their 9/11 Memorial Merlot and Chardonnay wines will go to the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.

The price of the wine has been set at $19.11 ,which I think is also another tasteless statement. The retailers will pocket around $6 from every bottle, while the Lieb Family Cellars says an estimated $1.15 to $1.91 per bottle is what will go to the September 11th Memorial and Museum.

“We lost a lot of friends on 9/11. The owners of the vineyard are Wall Street people. For us, it’s something we do to give back,” Gary Madden, the winery’s general manager said.

I’m sure that the winery feels this isn’t in bad taste, but to me, it is. If you really wanted to be charitable about it, all proceeds should go to the fund, not just a small 10 percent. (Full story at NYDailyNews)

What do you think of the 9/11 memorial wine  that costs $19.11 ? It is tasteless or an attempt to raise money for a good cause?

Rapper/actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson made a statement that he planned on feeding a billion people in Africa and now he is backing his words.

50 Cent has teamed up with Pure Growth Partners, a NYC-based company that conceives and markets consumer brands to launch a new line of energy shot drinks in which proceeds will benefit families in Africa.

The beverage dubbed Street King will be released in orange, mango and grape flavors with caffeine directly from coffee beans. The drinks will range between $2.49-$ 2.99 and for the health conscious has zero sugar,carbs and calories. With each purchase of the new product, a meal will be provided for a child in need.

By Anthony Kennedy, Guest Blogger

The comic world nearly destroyed the space-time continuum last week with the shocking announcement from Marvel Comics that Peter Parker was being killed off as Spider-Man. Let that sink in for moment.

The character of our youth that got bit by a radioactive spider, became a crime fighter, and starred in a host of Saturday morning cartoons and three blockbuster films is no more. Before everyone loses their mind, let me clear up a misconception: this is not the classic Peter Parker, he’s alive and well in the traditional Marvel Universe (referred to as ‘the 616’).

The character change was made with Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man title, a newer, completely separate universe altogether. Carrying on the web slinger mantle, will be a half-Black, half-Hispanic 13 year-old, named Miles Morales. Yes, you’ve read that right. There’s a Black (and Hispanic) Spider-Man.

Many have embraced the idea, even applauding Marvel for being so racially progressive. They declare that this a bold move toward creating a comic universe that actually looks like the multicultural world of 2011 as opposed to a universe continually occupied by characters birthed in 1963, when most of these superheroes were created. It’s in this new, “post-racial” society that Marvel is betting on that readers will be accepting of an iconic superhero re-imagined as minority.

Others, rightfully so, do not see it as a reflection of the company ushering in a new colorblind era in comics, but merely a publicity stunt. Why else is there more than a passing resemblance between Miles Morales with our current president? And why half-Black AND half-Latino?

Nonetheless, this is a bold statement from a company like Marvel. One of its flagship characters, with nearly 50 years of history, will now be a minority. This is much different than casting an actor of color to play the character on-screen. There it would still be Peter Parker, he would just happen to be played by a minority actor.

In the comic book world, where creators delve deeply into a superheroes’ personal lives, family and friends, readers will have to be exposed to the culture that makes up this character’s background. Considering the writer, Brian Michael Bendis, is Jewish and from Cleveland - it might be hard to do, but, (hopefully) he understands that this cannot be a mere attribute to a new kind of Spider-Man. If done solely as “we made him Black/Hispanic” it will alienate, not only their current dedicated readers, but any new readers that come onboard expecting stories and situations that reflect his diversity and he may just be viewed as the token minority.

It’s tempting, sometimes, to accentuate the differences at the expense of relatability. However, historically, within the comic book universe, characters with those ethnic backgrounds make fine members of an ensemble team (Storm, Black Panther, Luke Cage to name a few) and very rarely flagship characters. The key will be making the character relatable to people outside of the demographic. Otherwise, the novelty of the differentness will wear off very quickly. The ball’s in
your court, Marvel.

If Harajuku Barbie fans needed something else to go pink over – well here it is. Ms. Minaj will be taking her animated talents back to prehistoric times. Ms. Barbie herself is set to voice a role in the blockbuster film Ice Age: Continental Drift, the fourth film in the Ice Age series.

Nicki will join the cast which includes : Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo, Ray Romano, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, Jennifer Lopez and fellow YMCMB member Drake. Production of Ice Age 4 has began and this film is due to be released in 3D July 13,2012.

Speaking of sagging, look what we found. For the record, I’m riding with ‘Pac just because…..

I have to agree with Pac, we can’t solve every problem. But we will try to get 99 of em!

Creative young brothers in Newark, New Jersey have created a pant and underwear line that is sure to make high school principals cringe. Irese Davenport, Mark Davenport and Dwayne Hoard are using their understanding of urban culture and experience in the entertainment industry to create Sagz Jeans. They are the first pants of their kind and are “high quality jeans that sag naturally.”

This patented design allows customers to select from various types of briefs that can be adjusted to desired sagging length while staying in place even without use of a belt. Talk about progressive.

Sagz wants their brand to be seen as more than an “urban trend.” These young entrepreneurs call their products, “Rebellious Freedom,” as it validates a widely-rejected fashion trend, saggy pants. Looking at the pictures of the jeans on the company’s website, I must admit that the style does not look unusual from what I see in Houston every day. The Sagz Jeans are actually an upgrade and look nicer than many “make-shifts” I have seen.

So, we know the haters and stereotyping pundits are going to jump right on this and talk about jail or gangs as soon as the wave of this product gets to the larger world. But, I reject those notions and actually appreciate the economic “the earth is round” thinking from these New Jersey natives. It is a basic economic fact that, supply and demand drives our purchasing interest and engines. Times change and these entrepreneurs are going to profit from recognizing those changes.

As long as the boxers are clean and the jean are not worn to a professional job interview I say, “Hop up out your bed and put yo’ Sagz on”.

And the Father Award goes to this man but the Best Drummer award goes to lil homie! #GveTheDrummerSome

I’ll keep the sh!!! talking to a minimum. Not only can Bill Gates afford to wipe his ass with 42 million singles but he can afford to re-invent the platform he’s wiping it on. It’s all for a good cause.

Today, 40% percent of the world’s population does not have access to flush toilets. One billion people defecate in the open. Each year, 1.5 million children die each year from diarrhea, many of which are preventable with improved sanitation. Check out what the Gates Foundation plans on doing about it HERE

The Question of the Day is: Are we still angry at Chris Brown for being human when we thought he was perfect?

As you can see from the video above, Fox News just recently had this View-Style bashing of Chris Brown featuring a somewhat diverse panel of women who have a message to give to the large audience that still supports the C. Breezy movement. They’re stumped as to how young women could go through so much to attend a concert featuring the artist even though he’s known to have disrespected women via his lyrics and in past scenarios that went public. There are many things we’ve done in the past that we pray never comes to light. The only difference is Chris was exposed so why can’t we just pray for him and keep it moving.

Here’s another question: What if we never found out about the Rihanna situation, would we still be interrogating Chris Brown for disrespecting women through his lyrics (like every other artist)?

However, the video clip within the segment below that features his fans elaborating on if they’re concerned about his music, past relationship and the events that took place, was a bit suspect. Some women clearly don’t care about the messaging in Chris’s music or his personal life. They just care about him which is interesting. To them, if you dwell on the domestic abuse and derogatory content, you’re taking it too serious.

Are we brainwashed to believe that this is just entertainment and no one is affected by it?

One thing is for sure, CB has some ride or die fans!

In November of 2006, new anti-smoking laws were passed in Ohio, casting thousands of Ohio smokers into the streets. Some of the bar owners, however, were not eager to prevent their patrons from lighting up. To deny someone a good smoke while they enjoy a drink is considered by some to be damn near unethical and downright un-American. For some Ohio bar owners, asking their regulars not to smoke was like suggesting that they find another place to drink.

So, to enforce the smoking ban, lawmakers decided to target the bar owners instead of the patrons. That’s understandable, considering how difficult it would be to enforce a policy that required individuals to pay fines instead of the establishment. But tell that to the bar owners who not only have to demand that customers put out their cigarettes, but must tell customers who don’t comply to leave. Bad business.

Since the law was enacted, Ohio bars have racked up several million dollars in fines. Only a fraction of that money has been recovered by the state. So, in order to increase the expected amount of money collected from smoking violations, lawmakers have decided to reserve the right to deny renewal of liquor licenses. Ouch! Lawmakers hope to smoke out repeat offenders and owners who refuse to square up their debt.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going to a bar or restaurant without smelling like an ashtray when I leave. At the same time, I think it should be up to the owner to decide the crowd they want to cater to. How fair is it that a percentage of people who seek a particular social setting cannot go anywhere to enjoy their scene? My hat goes off to the bar owners who provide that scene for them. Maybe one day the law will be adjusted to accommodate the smoker’s needs. Until then, however, if you smoke, you might want to take a jacket to the bar, ’cause Ohio winters can be brutal, and you might not be welcome inside.

We posted this on our Facebook page, but it’s got us so fired up we had to share here, too. This is one of the realest MLK speeches we’ve seen.