Lay Off's

Michigan and Rhode Island once again led the nation with the highest jobless rates at 10.6% and 10% respectively. Rhode Island's rate is the highest in more than three decades.

The national unemployment rate rose to 7.2% in December, up from 6.8% the previous month and from 4.9% a year earlier.

On Monday alone, companies announced more than 71,000 job cuts... so over 71,000 people were laid off from there 'good' job.....

President Obama is pushing for quick passage of an $825 billion package it hopes will stimulate the economy and promote job growth.

"Just this week, we saw more people file for unemployment than at any time in the last 26 years, and experts agree that if nothing is done, the unemployment rate could reach double digits," Obama said Saturday. "If we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse."

So I am wondering would you take a 20% pay cut for your co-worker to keep their job?

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Nneka Hurley Handbags

I wanted to send a shout out to the Homie from Home, VA, congrats Ms. Nneka Hurley for coming up with an idea and making it a reality! I'm loving the handbags and I am definitely looking forward to the opening here in Atlanta!

Meet Nneka Hurley. This 28 year old graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and recent student at the Fashion Institute of Technology is already making moves in the fashion industry. Originally from Petersburg, Va, currently residing in New Jersey, she started ‘Nneka Hurley Handbags‘ in 2005. Currently Nneka creates limited numbers of each design, allowing customers to rock one-of-a-kind looks.

Her hand-made clutches and handbags are very popular among celebrities. People from Eve to Keyshia Cole have been seen rocking her original designs.
Check out her page and the feature on Concrete Loop:
Designer Spotlight Nneka Hurley
Nneka Hurley
Nneka's Myspace
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Go Kanye! Go Vets!

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/" target="_blank">Kanye West and Choose Or Lose Presents: Homecoming</a>

Kanye West and Choose Or Lose Presents: Homecoming

Okay so sometimes we hear about this dude fussin, cussin, actin up but I have a new found respect for him now after watchin the special on MTV. More to come...
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Post BET Awards

Did you think that D.L Hughley was funny?

Usher opened the Awards performing "Love In This Club" and he danced etc it was cool, but I don't think that it was all of that...

Keyshia Cole looked nice as she performed "Heaven Sent" and Lil Kim came out to perform "Let Go," this was a good show but the mic wasn't working.

Ne-Yo, looked nice as he normally does, and killed the live performance. His dancers were doing thier thing and he had the Jabbawockeez, the winners from the MTV Dance Show, help end his performance.

Young Jeezy ripped it with Kanye performing his new joint! It was classic just them two but it was HOT!

Alicia Keys looked like a teenager, as she performed "Teenage Love Affair" then segwayed into SWV's "I Get So Weak" then segwaying into EnVogue's "Hold On" and lastly TLC's "Waterfalls." They all looked great but I did over hear a few people say that Alicia's make up looked nice but those jeans and that wig was not a good look on her, lol. She paid homage to her favorite female groups (who all performed with her) and I must say that they all sounded good! I'm so thankful that she took that wig off when she accepted her award for Best Female R&B Artist.

Kanye won the award for Best Hip Hop Artist and brought Lil Wayne on stage with him and congratulated him on selling over a million albums in his opening week and called him his "fiercest competition!" I hear you Kanye!

T-Pain performed all his joints and brought out Flo Rida, Rick Ross, Big Boi, Ludacris and ended with "I'm So Hood," personally I love this song!

Marvin Sapp brought a lil soul with "I Made It," with you I made it; AMEN! GIVE IT UP FOR GOD!

Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton and Maxwell all sang individually to do a tribute to Al Green. Al Green brought it back with "Love and Happiness" and told all couples that they need to "Stay Together!"

Chris Brown started it off slow with "With You" and off course true to nature had to get his grind on with Ciara in their remix "Take You Down," as Rihanna clapped with a smile on her face ;-)

Rihanna sung "Take a Bow" as she looked elegantly fine and sounded great!

Ashanti, looked nice with her BIG hair, as she ripped the mic from D.L and made a point to introduce her man Nelly, who performed with J.D, their Jordan song (sort of like his Air Force song, lol) with Ciara. Fergie (with her lovely baby bump, I think E News reported that she is expecting) got
on stage with him to perform their song together.

Lil Wayne, closed it out with T-Pain to rap "Got Money" and off course "Lollipop" in ode to Static, his final song was of course "A Milli". . . as he raps, "Hip Hop is alive don't worry I got it!"

Best New Artist: The Dream
Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Kanye West
Best Video of the Year: UGK featuring Outkast
Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown
Best Female R&B Artist: Alicia Keyes
Best Group: UGK
Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Missy Elliot
Best Collaboration: "I'm So Hood"
Best Gospel Artist: Marvin Sapp
Best Male Actor: Denzel Washington
Best Female Actress: Halle Berry
Viewers Choice: Lil Wayne
BETJ Award: Raheem Devaughn

What's up with all the winners not being at the show to accept their awards? I must say some of the performances were HOT but the dialog before they announced the awards was a lil' corny, it was like they were trying to hard to be funny!

Check out some of the best and worst dressed, from my point of view!







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Raheem Devaughn and Chrisette Michele Blessed Atl!

Friday at The Tabernacle "The Art of Love" tour presented Solange, Chrisette Michele and Raheem Devaughn who blessed the stage to a sold out audience. I had never really heard Solange nor Raheem's music but I must say that though Solange was not up there long she sounded good; and Raheem ROCKED IT! Originally from D.C, he played songs from both of his albums "The Love Experience" and "Love Behind the Melody." He jumped around the stage, got down in the crowd and walked around in a cape and crown, lol! Towards the end he played a lil' Go Go music (which hit home to me considering I was born and raised in VA, :-)

Being a Chrisette fan I truly now know that I will be at any live appearance that she performs here in Atlanta, lol! She sounded great, looked great and had the audience jamming to songs from her debut album "I Am." She hit low and high notes and also got on the piano to perform "Golden," awesome performance!

Future Dates:
June 22: Miami (Fillmore)
June 26: Atlantic City, N.J. (House of Blues)
June 27: Hampton, Va. (Hampton Jazz Festival/Coliseum)
June 28: Raleigh, N.C. (Progressive Energy Theatre)
June 29: Columbia, Md. (Merriweather Post)
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Just In. . .

If you are thinking about going to the movies this weekend here are a few 'New Releases:'

Dark Knight featuring the late Heath Ledger
Get Smart
The Love Guru

Weekend Box Office Numbers as of 6/16/2008
The Incredible Hulk grossed $55,414,050
Kung Fu Panda $33,612,594
The Happening $30,517,109
You Don't Mess With the Zohan $16,307,344
Indiana Jones $14,741,834
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Celtics Fan Here We Go!!!!!

Game 5 is tonight at 9pm and I think that even if you are not a sports fan you will want to be in front of the t.v !

Celtics fans will be on the edge of their seats waiting for a ring versus Lakers fans hoping that the show will go on. . .

Phil Jackson canceled practice Friday after a defeat to the Celtics, who gave up a 24 point lead in the second, the series is now 3-1.

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art," Phil Jacksons reasoning behind his decision.

The Lakers have to make adjustments to survive Game 5, but the Celtics have been beating them with desire and intensity and fight (defense and rebounding) more so than with strategy and made shots. Boston's confidence and toughness allowed it to withstand the firsthand onslaught by L.A and helped it make all the key shots late in the contest. Because the Celtics are only one game away from the title, L.A. can do little to shake Boston's mind-set, so focusing on its own is the proper course to take.



Boston has been the tougher and more conditioned team throughout this series. Patient and trusting of one another, the Celtics have survived comebacks by L.A. and mounted a successful one of their own. To defeat a team as talented as L.A. two straight games on the road seems impossible, but it is clearly in their sights now. The Celtics' collective discipline should help them play a good game, as they may forget for a moment that they still have two home games to take care of business just in case. L.A., however, is a proud franchise with some terrific players who simply have been outplayed by better ones. Winning Game 5 should be their only focus, and losing two of three at home should be their driving force. Claiming a title is almost impossible now, so this game is the Lakers' last shot at good feelings until the fall, when their chase will begin again.

GAME 5 here we go!
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R. Kelly Free at Last?!

Before a verdict was reached in the R. Kelly child pornography trial, the judge denied a juror's request to be removed from the panel because of a recent string of family illnesses. Judge Vincent Gaughan told the juror that though he and the attorneys were sympathetic, the case was too important to turn back now.

A jury has found R. Kelly not guilty!

A jury acquitted the singer of all fourteen counts of child pornography. Kelly has always denied that being him on the video tape at the center of the trial — and even the alleged victim denied it was her! The jurors find the case as much more complex than presented by the prosecution. The jury—three women and nine men—acquit based on the lack of a victim, the lack of a credible sex tape and the undercurrent of a conspiracy with which the defense sought to taint key witness testimony.

Chicago Tribune

"At some point, we all thought there was a lack of evidence," a female juror said. A male juror said the absence of the victim on the witness stand and her family in the courtroom was "a major lack of evidence.Bloomberg"

DISCLAIMER: I think that GOD gives everyone talent and flaws. So before I finish I love R. Kelly as a musician, singer, producer etc! but I don't want him alone with any of my cousins, nieces, nephews (just kidding), god daughters etc.!

I think that there is NO WAY that you pick a jury in the U.S considering everyone had there opinion about him and the tape before they into that court, and honestly think that he is going to jail. No matter what they heard or saw before and during the trial, some wanted him to be free and some wanted to see him behind bars. This is a case of more wanted him free than behind bars! Because I can find 'a major lack of evidence' in any story I hear if I really want too. . .

Regardless of what a jury has to say we all have our opinions, we are all going to think of him the way that we want to think of him that's just life! Comedians are always going to have material to use in their 'acts' and TV shows like 'South Park' for example, are going to have more 'fuel for their fire.'

After all is said and done what do you think should of happened or not happened to R. Kelly?

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Tha "Carter 3" Expected To Sell Near a Millie

I'm not normally one to watch the numbers or the sales of albums but I have been quiet intrigued by the sales of the "Carter III" since it was leaked about a week ago and many people need not buy the real c.d. As I finished a recent blog on Usher I wondered in comparison (though there is NO comparison Wayne(rapper) to Usher(R&B dude) how well this album would do versus that one!? Since then I found out that Usher's "Here I Stand" sold 433,000 units in his first week out (versus "Confessions" 1 million) and drum roll please. . .

Weezy sold 437,000 units in his first day! June 10, 2008 he sold 423,000 unitsFox News, wow! Thanks to all the fans that regardless of the bootleg went to the stores, bought it on I-Tunes, ordered it on-line etc. For all the haters that thought Weezy would only sell 180,000 the first week I guess you can pick your jaws up from off the floor! Pat Monaco, exec VP of sales for the Universal Motown Republic Group reports "The sales the first few hours were exceeding the rate that the Kanye's album sold a year ago." An he estimates the disc will sell between 850,000 and 950,000 by the end of its first week. The album has already gone Gold and today is only it's second day!

For more info on the making of the c.d check out this article on The Rhapsody"Behind the Carter"

Last year's first-week top-seller was from Kanye West, who sold 957,000 copies of "Graduation."

First Week Units Sold 2008:
Nine Inch Nails 800,000 (I know this is a whole different ball game, but wow!)
Mariah Carey 463,000 (ranked largest sales first week for 08')
Usher 433,000
Danity Kane 236,000
Rick Ross 198,375
Janet Jackson 181,000
Snoop 137,000
Erykah Badu 124,000
Ashanti 86,200
Webbie 72,000
Fat Joe 46,125
Shawty Lo 31,000
Prodigy 12,962
Lil Flip 5,347
Pete Rock 3,806
Pimp C 2,729
Joe Budden 1,112 (which shows you that c.d's aren't that easy to sell, lol!)
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Lil Wayne "Carter 3" Hits stores today!

The highly anticipated album of the year by 'The Best Rapper Alive' Lil Wayne hits stores today!!! But if you are really a fan you bought it last night on I-Tunes (I know I did) and fyi the explicit version has 18 tracks whereas the c.d only has 16 tracks. The song "Prostitute" that was blasted out of numerous speakers last summer is missing from the c.d and I was very sad when I found out. I was also upset the first time that I heard the song because I could not believe Weezy was singing so hard but I could feel his pain and I loved that! Kudos to Vaushaun 'Maestro' Brooks for producing the song and for blessing us with the first song on the c.d "3 Peat" where Wayne states "They can't stop me, even if they stopped me. . . I get the beats from 'Maestro!'

Now I will say that I'm truly excited to hear this c.d but it's not typical Wayne he slows it down throughout the c.d one track in particular is "Comfortable" his collab with Babyface. On “Tie My Hands,” he gets serious and delivers some of his best lyrics, rhyming about the Katrina tragedy and stating "I lost everything but I'm not the only one, first came the hurricane then the morning sun... they try to tell me to keep my eyes open my whole city under water and some people still floatin"(Lyrics Rapbasement)

Other producers that have joined 'Maestro' to make 'The Best Rap Album' for 2008 are The Alchemist, Bangladesh, Cool & Dre, Deezle, Jim Jonsin, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, and Will.I.Am just to name a few. He has collaborated with Jay-Z, Bobby Valentino, Babyface, Busta, Robin Thicke, Kanye, and Fabolous on separate tracks but they are all worth listening too!

Regardless of my on-line purchase you can still catch me in line early at Wal-Mart to get the explicit version because why buy a c.d if you don't buy more than one copy (you need one for the car and a version for your IPOD, right?).

Regardless of whether or not the c.d is typical Wayne or not (and buy the way who wants typical Wayne, he wouldn't be the best if he didn't try new things and make them work. Look at all the rappers who are singing now. And I know Ja Rule tried it but well yeah he was never nowhere near the best maybe the worst rapper; okay my bad I'm getting off the subject) it will get a lot of airplay in my ride and I'm sure plenty of others. You will be happy that you bought this album and you can rest assure that "Here I Stand" will not be getting the airplay in the whips today!
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Yeah I'm a Blogger!

Check it out I started writing for a website called Exclusive Access. I'm a featured Blogger on the site. I'm excited I get a chance to be heard, I've been seen in pictures as U Bring Me Joi and now we're movin' on up, lol!

Exclusive Access Blog
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"Energy" Keri Hilson's First Single

Keri Hilson, premiered her first single on Concrete Loop, from her debut album, In A Perfect World…, which hits stores September 23rd. “Energy” is a great crossover record, produced by The Runaways.

Not sure who she is, well get familiar cause she's not just another cute singer, she is a songwriter and has written music for some of musics hottest acts: Britney Spears, Toni Braxton, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige etc. check out the Bio on Wiki.

Listen "Energy"

Check out Keri Hilson in Entertainment Weekly’s Summer Music Preview Feature!!
May 30, 2008 on Stands Now!!
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Usher "Here I Stand". . .

in line to buy the c.d today? I'm not sure this c.d will match up to the "Confessions" c.d that I'm still listening too! I like "Love in the Club" because Jeezy goes hard and you can't help but like it when you hear it every other song on the radio. The second single, "Moving Mountains" videointeresting topic (considering I'm still not sold on the wedding and the marriage; listen to the words) but I'm not impressed on the video. I know that making a c.d is not the easiest thing to do and year after year many singers try to live up to the hype but do you think that "Here I Stand" will be better than "Confessions"? How do you out do yourself?

"The album was an instant commercial success in the United States, selling 1.1 million copies in its debut first week, sales was the highest first week numbers ever scanned by a male R&B artist in Soundscan’s 13-year history (breaking R. Kelly's record of 540k for TP-2.com back in 2000). To date, the album has sold over nine million copies, and received a nine-time platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Confessions spawned four US number-one singles that substantially helped it dominate the chart."Confessions Wikipedia
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Obama Warns GOP "Lay Off My Wife"

So how funny is it that Obama told Republican's very calm on Good Morning America "Don't mess with my wife or my family!" and then smiled. You got to love that! He showed America that you can say what you want about me but not about my family, you go Obama!


Sen. Barack Obama ripped into a Republican ad today that targets comments made by his wife, Michelle, and called the GOP tactic "low class" and "detestable."

The Illinois senator told "Good Morning America" that he expects hardball tactics from the Republicans if he becomes the Democratic presidential nominee.

"But I also think these folks should lay off my wife," he told "GMA" as his wife chuckled beside him.


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China One Child Policy Causes Pain After Earthquake

China stopped for three minutes to mourn the estimated 50,000 people killed by the earthquake exactly one week earlier. This is touching that a country with over
1,321,851,888 people they all stopped their lives for three minutes to mourn.

But I'm wondering in a country where there is a one child per family policy
(Here is a link to read the policy:
The Chinese government introduced the policy in 1979 to alleviate the social and environmental problems of China.
One Child Policy on Wikipedia)

What do you feel when your child is one of the ones that dies in an earthquake where the death toll is 50,000 people?

I have friends who have 2, 3 and some even 4 children and they love them dearly so what would they feel if one day they lost one? Or more devastating how would they feel if they lost there only child?


I don't have any children and I was still at a loss of words when I watched families still calling out their child's names a week after the earthquake. I am deeply troubled that some of these families have stated that they would not have children again just because they never want to feel this type of pain. I'm troubled though I can understand not wanting to miss those precious moments of first words or first steps etc. My heart and my prayers go out to the many families that were effecting in the quake. . . As I take my three minute moment of silence now. . .

Here is a story on the pain that most parents are feeling; especially the ones that actually implemented the policy in their households.
One Child Policy Brings Extra Pain
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Lotto Winner Broke 3 years later

UK - A lotto winner who scooped £5.1million just three years ago is now skint and on benefits.
Divorced Pete Kyle splashed out on luxury homes, flash cars and holidays following his jackpot — one of Britain’s biggest ever Lottery wins.
But now he is on the dole after squandering all of his massive fortune at the rate of £4,600 a day.
One source told The Sun: �He had a golden opportunity to turn his life around — and then blew it.Want to read more
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Slow Down. .

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group.CNN Study

A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls -- nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Now we know that all studies are not 100% but regardless please slow down and think about what you are about to do; protect yourself and don't fall for the okey doke!
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