50 Cent’s Tavis Smiley Interview

http://foreverdc.com/2009/11/24/50-cents-tavis-smiley-interview/ Posted by InTheMixWithTre'

Metro wrestles with growing suicide problem

By: KYTJA WEIR Examiner Staff Writer November 23, 2009 When a woman put herself in the path of a Red Line train at the Brookland station Friday evening, she became the latest statistic in a growing problem for Metro. The woman was at the least the ninth person to kill herself using a Metro train this year. The alarming suicide toll includes a 15-year-old boy, a Metro employee and a 57-year-old man who jumped in front of a train just a week ago. The transit agency reported just two cases each in 2007 and 2008. "That could be an anomaly. It could just be an unusual streak," said Karen M. Marshall, who is overseeing a nationwide study into suicides by train for the American Association of Suicidology in Washington. Suicides sometimes follow each other in clusters, with suicidal people spurred on by hearing of other deaths. Metro's numbers are still small enough that it can be hard to draw conclusions. Other transit systems also are reporting more cases, Marshall said. It's too early to know if there are indeed more deaths or whether agencies are just paying more attention to the problem. "It also could be clusters that are not related to the agencies at all," Marshall said. Much remains unknown about what drives people to choose such a high-profile method of death, one that shakes up riders and traumatizes train operators. Much remains unknown about what drives people to choose such a high-profile method of death, one that shakes up riders and traumatizes train operators. Until three years ago, no one even knew how big the problem was nationwide because transit agencies and railroad companies are not required to report suicides to any federal agency.Marshall's researchers teamed up with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration and verified 350 suicides by train nationwide in one year. She said they believed the number was actually higher because the survey had gaps. That represents less than 2 percent of the estimated 33,000 suicides nationwide each year, Marshall said. "It's a very unusual phenomenon if you look at that," she said. "Still, there's a reason people choose it." Metro has tapped into the researchers' expertise. The transit agency is partnering with Marshall's group and D.C.'s Department of Mental Health, said Metro spokeswoman Angela Gates. She said Metro planned to develop a public education campaign for riders and an internal training program for all Metro employees to learn how to spot suicidal riders and intervene before it's too late. "The idea is to empower employees for certain things to look for," Gates said. Metro hopes to begin the program by the beginning of February, she said.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Metro-wrestles-with-growing-suicide-problem-8564095.html kweir@washingtonexaminer.com

Posted by InTheMixWithTre'

All Members Of Congress Being Investigated For Ethics Are Black

By JOHN BRESNAHAN
The House ethics committee is currently investigating seven African-American lawmakers — more than 15 percent of the total in the House. And an eighth black member, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), would be under investigation if the Justice Department hadn’t asked the committee to stand down. Not a single white lawmaker is currently the subject of a full-scale ethics committee probe.
The ethics committee declined to respond to questions about the racial disparity, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are wary of talking about it on the record. But privately, some black members are outraged — and see in the numbers a worrisome trend in the actions of ethics watchdogs on and off Capitol Hill. “Is there concern whether someone is trying to set up [Congressional Black Caucus] members? Yeah, there is,” a black House Democrat said. “It looks as if there is somebody out there who understands what the rules [are] and sends names to the ethics committee with the goal of going after the [CBC].”
African-American politicians have long complained that they’re treated unfairly when ethical issues arise. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are still fuming over Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to oust then-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) from the House Ways and Means Committee in 2006, and some have argued that race plays a role in the ongoing efforts to remove Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) from his chairmanship of that committee.
Last week’s actions by the House ethics committee are sure to add fuel to the fire. The committee — which has one African-American lawmaker, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), among its 10 members — on Thursday considered three referrals from the recently formed Office of Congressional Ethics. It dismissed a case against Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who is white, but agreed to open full-blown investigations of California Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson, both of whom are black.
The committee was already investigating five other African-Americans. Rangel is the subject of two different probes, one involving a host of issues he has put before the committee and another involving allegations that corporate funds may have been used improperly to pay for members’ trips to the Caribbean in 2007-08. Reps. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Donald Payne (D-N.J.) and Del. Donna Christensen (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) are also included in the second of those investigations.
A document leaked to The Washington Post last week showed that nearly three dozen lawmakers have come under scrutiny this year by either the House ethics committee or the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent watchdog created in 2008 at the insistence of Pelosi. While the list contained a substantial number of white lawmakers, the ethics committee has not yet launched formal investigative subcommittees with respect to any of them — as it has with the seven African-American members.
The OCE has also been a particular target of ire for the Congressional Black Caucus. Black lawmakers, including CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), met with OCE officials earlier this year to raise their concerns. Spokesmen for Lee and the OCE both declined to comment. A number of CBC members opposed the resolution establishing the OCE, arguing that it was the wrong response to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, which helped Democrats seize control of the House in 2006. Setting up the OCE “was a mistake,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) told The Hill newspaper recently. “Congress has a long and rich history of overreacting to a crisis.”
Cleaver, though, now finds himself part of the four-member subcommittee that will investigate Waters, who voted against the OCE. Waters is being probed over her intervention with the Treasury Department on behalf of a minority-owned bank in which her husband served on the board and owned at least $250,000 in stock. While she has flatly denied engaging in any unethical or improper behavior in her dealings with OneUnited, Waters was described by colleagues and Democratic aides as “livid” over the ethics committee’s decision to investigate her.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29055.html Posted by InTheMixWithTre’

The Catholic Church versus the D.C. Council

By: MICHAEL NEIBAUER
Examiner Staff Writer
November 13, 2009
D.C. Catholic leaders say forcing the archdiocese to provide adoption services for gay couples, health benefits for gay workers or space for gay events puts at risk services the church gives thousands of poor residents.
"We're not threatening to withdraw services," said Susan Gibbs, archdiocese spokeswoman. "We're not going to be allowed to provide services. We need to be certified, and to get certified you need to say you followed D.C. law."
The same-sex marriage legislation, as amended and adopted by the D.C. Council's judiciary committee, poses far-reaching consequences, the archdiocese claims. It would put homelessness services, crisis assistance for teenagers, and adoption and foster care programs all at risk, because the Catholic Church will not abide by a D.C. law requiring it to promote gay marriages, church officials said. The archdiocese receives roughly $18 million a year to provide those services and more to District residents.
It "appears to leave religious institutions susceptible" to lawsuits and the loss of government funding for a church's refusal to provide benefits for the spouse of a gay employee, to facilitate an adoption or foster care by a same-sex couple, and to make church halls available to gay couples for non-wedding-related events, Archdiocese Chancellor Jane Belford wrote to Councilman Phil Mendelson, judiciary committee chairman.
Catholic Charities served 68,000 D.C. residents in 2008, Gibbs said, and claims to be "the largest provider of beds for the homeless in the District," serving more than 1,400 people every night.
Its programs include health and dental care for the poor, vocational training, child care and after-school care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, crisis assistance, and foster care support and adoption counseling. D.C. Clergy United for Marriage responded Thursday that the Catholic Church was running a "cynical political ploy" by threatening to "turn their backs on thousands of D.C. Catholics" and other residents. Mendelson called it, simply, "rhetoric."
"I don't want to be cavalier in dismissing them," he said. "On that other hand, I don't think the council will legislate by threats." He added, "I certainly don't want to drive anybody out of business. But equality is equality." The original legislation drafted by at-large Councilman David Catania exempted all religious societies from the "promotion" of any gay marriage-related activities that ran contrary to their beliefs, provided those same services were not available to the general public.
The amended bill, which is expected to garner final council approval before Christmas, provides a blanket exemption for churches from any activity directly related to a gay wedding ceremony, as well as from the promotion of same-sex marriage through "religious programs, counseling, courses, or retreats." The church is not required to teach gay marriage in a classroom, for example, but it must provide adoption services for a gay married couple. "We can't," Gibbs said. "We just can't."
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/The-Catholic-Church-versus-the-D_C_-Council-8521386-69905727.html Posted by InTheMixWithTre’

House of Hip Hop Every Thursday Night!!! Join The DMV"s Hottest Independent Artists....

We're growing every day with a different show each week. Artist come out to perform and to support. We house Emcee's, Producers, Open Mic, Spoken word and headlining DMV talent. No other showcases highlights so many R&B artist and female rappers and singers than the House of Hip Hop. Do you, a producer or an artist you know, want to perform in the showcase, open mic or enter the Beat Battle??

Contact: Veiga for booking Email: Info@veigaent.comMyspace.com/veigaent Facebook: Lani Veiga or website www.veigaent.com Performing artist list is posted weekly @ www.VeigaEnt.com This is one House you want to be in! Weyone's House of Hip Hop this week: HOSTED BY:Jo'IycE (WKYS 93.9) MUSIC BY: Egypt BOOKING: Veiga Ent. 8-9pm- Happy Hour's Industry Mingle & special features 9-9:30- Open Mic & artist performances9:30-10- Producers Battle & artist performances

Posted by InTheMixWithTre'

Darius Rucker First Black Man to Win CMA

Darius Rucker is the first African American to win a Country Music Award in the show's 43 years. While Rucker rocked it for some time as front man for Hootie and the Blowfish, the singer won the 'Best New Artist' title at this year's CMA's held in Nashville. http://www.essence.com/entertainment/hot_topics/darius_rucker_is_first_black_man_to_win.php Posted by InTheMixWithTre’

Meet Michelle Fenty, the Other First Lady of D.C.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:00 AM by Cynthia Gordy She's an accomplished attorney and hands-on mother, married to an influential Washington, D.C. political leader. When they first met, she was assigned to serve as his mentor. She's been noted for her stylish wardrobe, and her name is Michelle. You may be thinking of Mrs. Obama--but we're talking about Washington's other first lady, Michelle Fenty. The wife of Washington, D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty, who has served in office for nearly three years, Mrs. Fenty was born and raised in London, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, before moving to New York City with her family at age 18. She says she never envisioned herself as D.C's first lady when she met her future husband at Howard Law School in 1994. "Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that he would run for mayor, but I think what most people don't necessarily understand is that his journey was much more of a natural progression than simply looking at the end result of his being mayor," she says in her chic British accent, listing her husband's former positions, including Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and City Council member. "If you look at our lives, it was literally the next step in a progression, which was good because it gave us time to adjust." With three young children--nine-year-old twin sons Matthew and Andrew, and 11-month-old daughter Aerin--Mrs. Fenty certainly seems to have adjusted the challenges of her public capacity to suit her private life. Amid the benefits she attends and hosts, the charitable institutions with which she volunteers, and the speaking engagements she performs, she works as an attorney specializing in global technology. "I have spent a lot of years studying to be an attorney, and I felt it was important for me to continue to work and contribute," she says, "Not just to my household, but to my personal fulfillment as well." Mrs. Fenty also serves as president of the advisory board for Capital Breast Care Center, which provides free mammograms to underserved, low-income women in the District. "The breast cancer mortality rate in Washington, D.C. is among the highest in the country, and African-American women are twice as likely to die from the disease," she says, explaining why she got involved with the organization more than two years ago. "Given those two factors, I thought that it was important for me to do whatever I can to let residents know this, and provide mammogram screenings for women in the District." Family time, says Fenty, is another part of her hectic life that is absolutely critical, centered mostly on her children's activities. "My husband and I have had to remain very fluid and flexible with our schedules so we can adapt to not only the challenges from our professional lives, but also to our family," she says. "I basically approach each day knowing that I may not accomplish all the goals I set out to do in the morning, but I'm okay with that because, at the end of the day, I am trying to achieve so many things." http://www.essence.com/news/hot_topics_4/meet_michelle_fenty_first_lady_of_dc.php Posted By InTheMixWithTre’

House of Hip Hop Presents.....Thursday Nights at Weyone Lounge!! The BEST Artist Showcase Featuring the DMV's Hottest Talent.

We're growing every day with a different show each week. Artist come out to perform and to support. We house Emcee's, Producers, Open Mic, Spoken word, dance and headlining DMV talent. No other showcases highlights so many R&B artist and female rappers and singers than the House of Hip Hop. Do you, a producer or an artist you know, want to perform in the showcase, open mic or enter the Beat Battle?? Contact: Veiga for booking Email: Info@veigaent.com Myspace.com/veigaent Facebook: Lani Veiga or website www.veigaent.com Performing artist list is posted weekly @ www.VeigaEnt.com We feature: Dancers, Producers Battles, Open Mic, Spoken Word, & Poetry, Artist Showcase, Guest Performances and Surprise Guests. Artist performance line up is based upon arrival time. Walk-ins are welcome. 1st come, 1st serve. Performance times and show set up are subject to alter due to participation. Hosted by: Jo'IycE (WKYS 93.9) Music by: Egypt Booking & Production: Veiga Ent. * $10 cover fee to enter the building for everyone. No additional charges. ($20 for last Thursday's contest for performing artist) * Reserve your slot through Veiga Ent. now (walk-ins welcome but can't guarantee to perform that night...sign up early)! * Performing artist should be in the building by 9pm prepared for 1-2 songs depending on time. (1 song for last thursday of month, contest) * Open slots remain for November. Posted by InTheMixWithTre'