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Actor and Former Nickelodeon Star Kel Mitchell Discusses Career, Life and Staying Fit

22 May

Kel Mitchell Main-1You may remember some of his catch phrases such as “Welcome to Good Burger, home of the good burger, can I take your order?” or, “Who loves orange soda?…” Former Nickelodeon star Kel Mitchell is a nostalgic figure of 90s television, but continues his career not only in entertainment, but by serving in the community and being a mentor to young people. The husband, father, actor, writer, director, producer, philanthropist and man of faith has a lot on his plate these days, but takes time to make sure his life remains in order and maintains a healthy exercise and nutrition regimen. Black Fitness Today was excited to catch up with Kel and learn more about his life, career and staying fit.

Q. When did you start acting? At what point in your life did you realize this was meant for you?

KM: When I was young, I loved to do impersonations and recite lines from my favorite films. But sometimes, I did this at the wrong time like during class, so after many trips to the principle’s office one summer my parents decided to put me into an acting class. My acting teacher was hard-core and was very knowledgeable. I enjoyed the art of acting and the history of acting. I learned about black actors from the past and what they experienced so that I have an opportunity to step on stage. I respected their journey and I knew this was something I wanted to do.

Q. We may be bias, but we think the 90s was the best era for TV and music, and you were such a big part of so many childhoods! What were your best memories as an actor on Nickelodeon and in movies such as Good Burger?

KM: Being on a show like All That provided a ton of great memories! We had so many awesome musical artists and I use to listen to these artists while growing up on the south side of Chicago, never knowing that I would one day be sharing the same stage as them. It was truly a blessing.

Q. According to your website, you have a genuine interest in the youth and mentoring them to be future leaders. You are the spokesperson for several organizations including The Boys & Girls Club, The Black College Expo, your Young, Fly and Saved movement, and more. Why are you so passionate about reaching out to young people?

KM: As a kid growing up in Chicago, I had friends that ended up in jail; one of my good friends was murdered because of gang violence. Today, young people are still dealing with these circumstances, so I support organizations and programs that help teens make positive choices and introduce them to God’s love and teach them how to walk by faith not by sight. Every young person should know that they can do all things through Christ; they do not have to be a product of their environment. I also had friends that made good choices and we need to applaud students and teens that deal with everyday stress and temptation of violence and drugs, but decide to stay focused and make the right moves. They need our support and prayers as well.

Q. After all these years, how do you stay in such great shape? What does living a healthy lifestyle mean to you?

KM: For years I went through a bit of a yo-yo effect when it came to fitness. I would go a full six to eight months living healthy then a full six to eight months not so healthy. I got fed up with having to go hard fixing the not-so-healthy times. I discovered that it was time to change my eating lifestyle. So now, I’m all about consuming foods that are high in nutrients. My wife and I are not vegetarians, but we are close to it. 90% of our daily diet is now comprised of nutrient- rich plant foods and 10% of low nutrient if we so choose that day. This has been very effective for us! We also love eating quinoa! It’s just awesome!!!
To stay focused in the gym, I write down how I trained each muscle each day so I can do better the next training day.

Kel-Orange-SodaQ. While orange soda isn’t a part of our diets anymore (LOL), we’ll still be fans for life. You even have a page dedicated to all your fans who love orange soda! How cool is that?! 

KM: It was a cool idea my team came up with for the fans that watch(ed) the show. I wanted to show them I appreciate them by showcasing them on my site. And no, orange soda is not part of my diet anymore…LOL. I have been thinking about telling the fans to pose with healthier options similar to orange soda like Zevia, which is really good! It’s a zero-calorie soda with no artificial sweeteners. Boom oh yeah!

Q. We’ve seen photos of your various juice concoctions on Instagram and they look great! We look to our NutriBullet to give us lots of nutrition, fast! What do you use for your juices?

KM: We also use the NutriBullet; the preparation is fast and the cleanup is easy which we love. We also use a GE Juicer/Juice Extractor.

Q. Between taking care of your family and the time commitment that comes along with being an actor, director, producer, and philanthropist, how do you achieve a sense of balance when things get stressful?

KM: One of my favorite Bible verses is Habakkuk 2:2 that says to write the vision and make it plain. I use day planners and set goals so I can stay focused. I also fully rely on God in everything I do.

Q. What advice would you give to the Black Fitness Today community about living a healthy lifestyle?

KM: Focus and stick with it to get results. Be consistent. Wake up with determination.

Q. What’s next for you and how can our audience find out more?

KM: You can catch me on the second season of the Nicktoons animated series Wild Grinders as the voice of Jay Jay. You can also catch me guest starring on the television show Love That Girl on TV One as Armando, and in the short dramatic film “Thirst” coming soon. Oh yeah – and you can catch me in the church and in the gym – believe that! Black Fitness Today!!! I’m always working on something so for more information on me check out my website – http://www.kelmitchell.net.

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2013 in African American News

 

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STATE OF FRIENDSHIP IN AMERICA REPORT, 2013

22 May

A First-Of-Its Kind Study Reveals National “Friendship Crisis” Facing Adults

New research provides a scientifically clear-eyed view into the state of friendship in America. And the findings are troubling.

Only a quarter of adults report being truly satisfied with their friendships. And almost two-thirds lack confidence in even their closest friends. Facing this, most Americans — by more than 2 to 1 — say they’d prefer to have deeper friendships than more friends.

Packed with fascinating (and quirky) insights from the front lines of friendship, we hope this report will help kickstart an important conversation — about how to be better, get deeper and live more fully with friends. Let’s get talking.

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DOWNLOAD REPORT NOW (PDF)

To book an interview with Tim and Alia of Lifeboat, please contact:

 

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2013 in African American News

 

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Aiming Autism Ads at Hispanic and African-American Parents

22 May

 

By JANE L. LEVERE

AUTISM Speaks, the autism and science advocacy organization, this week is introducing a new public service advertising campaign aimed at Hispanic and African-American parents.

An ad in the campaign showing parents observing a child with the early warning signs of autism, a developmental disorder.

The campaign, developed with the Advertising Council, which has worked with Autism Speaks since 2005, was created by the New York office of BBDO and LatinWorks of Austin, Tex., both part of the Omnicom Group. The campaign describes early signs of autism in detail and encourages parents to take immediate action if their child does not meet standard developmental milestones.

The new campaign is geared specifically at Hispanic and African-American parents because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current age of diagnosis among these groups, as well as among low-income families, is higher than that of the general public. According to the C.D.C., although the average age now of diagnosis in the United States is 4 to 5 years, a reliable diagnosis can be made as early as 18 to 24 months. And if the disorder is treated from the ages of 3 to 5, from 20 percent to 50 percent of children with autism will be able to attend mainstream kindergarten, according to studies by The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the United States. According to a study released last year by the C.D.C., in 2008, one in 88 children was diagnosed with autism by a doctor or other medical professional, a 78 percent increase over 2002. For boys, the ratio was one in 54.

Dr. Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, said the increase in autism diagnoses was partly because of a broadening of the definition of the disorder. She also said environmental risk factors probably affected the increase.

Autism Speaks, founded in 2005 by Bob Wright, former chairman of NBCUniversal, and his wife, Suzanne, whose grandson has autism, took a different tack than before with the new Ad Council campaign. Messages of previous campaigns, also created by BBDO, focused on the numerical odds of children being found to have autism, some with celebrities whose children have autism.

Peggy Conlon, president and chief executive of the Ad Council, said previous advertising had effectively increased awareness among the general public about the early signs of autism and encouraged parents to speak to their doctors about their children. The new campaign features “realistic situations parents will identify with. I believe they will help more minority parents speak to their doctors if they see the signs and get their children the intervention they need,” she said. So far, autism ads have run in donated time and space worth more than $350 million.

Liz Feld, president of Autism Speaks, also said there were “cultural barriers to diagnosis and cultural barriers to access to care among minority communities. We wanted to break down these barriers.”

New print and outdoor advertising features photos that zoom in on the eyes and mouth of infants. One ad says, “You think something may be wrong. The answer is not staring you in the face. Avoiding eye contact is one early sign of autism. Learn the others today at autismspeaks.org/signs. Early diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.”

Another ad, featuring the closed eye and eyelashes of an infant, asks, “How can a 12-month-old keep you up at night without ever making a sound? No babbling is one early sign of autism,” while a third ad, showing an infant’s mouth, says, “It’s been nearly six months without any big smiles. For either of you. No big, joyful smiles is one early sign of autism.”

TV ads, made in 15- and 30-second versions, show parents and infants. In all cases, the parents offer a variety of excuses for the child’s behavior, like “maybe he’s not a smiler” or “maybe he needs more stimulation.” All spots end with the voice-over saying, “Maybe is all you need to find out more about autism.”

Besides advertising, Autism Speaks will also work with clergy, local community groups, volunteer clinicians and federal and state partners to spread the message to African-American and Hispanic parents. The group also will use text-messaging to encourage parents to learn the signs of autism.

All advertising and texting initiatives have been created in both English and Spanish. LatinWorks advised BBDO on the campaign.

Kirsten Flanik, managing director of BBDO New York, said the new advertising was intended to “reflect the emotions the parents are feeling in an honest way, while still being able to educate them on the signs.”

The advertising also “takes the shame or guilt out of the equation. Parents’ excuses are transformed into an achievable, empowering message of hope,” said Sergio Alcocer, president and chief creative officer of LatinWorks.

Thomas H. Hayden, a lecturer on integrated marketing communications at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, said the campaign’s message was “quite clear and very focused,” since it “presents very specific things that parents of infants and toddlers may be concerned with.”

Autism Speaks’ integration of “the media campaign with community-based resources, combined with increasing access to screening, is state-of-the-art,” said Kasisomayajula Viswanath, an associate professor of health communication at the Harvard School of Public Health. He also predicted it would most likely “be effective in not just promoting awareness, but also facilitating action.”

Dr. Patricia Manning-Courtney, director of the Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, said the advertising was the first she had seen “with information presented in such a direct manner. It hits home a lot harder for parents who may have these questions in their mind.” Autism Speaks helps finance the center’s research.

She expressed concern, however, about the medical system’s ability to handle additional queries about autism by parents, since she said it was already “over-demanded and undersupplied.”

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2013 in African American Health

 

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3 Things You Need to Know About Sequestration and Cuts to Federal Public-Safety Programs

22 May

by Erik Stegman
SOURCE: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Carolyn Schapper poses in her home in Washington, D.C., July 3, 2008. Schapper was harassed in Iraq by a fellow Army National Guard soldier.

Lately it seems there is a never-ending stream of stories in the media about victims of terrible crimes, such as the three women and one of the women’s daughter who were recently rescued from a home in Cleveland, Ohio, after being kidnapped and held as prisoners for a decade. Some of them were also allegedly raped repeatedly. But for victims of such crime around the country, a series of recent budget cuts—including the reckless automatic across-the-board cuts known as sequestration—are a serious threat to their recovery and ability to seek justice.

When law enforcement responds to crimes, it relies on critical federally funded programs, as well as an invaluable network of service providers who can support victims in crisis. These service providers are a vital component of our justice system, giving victims the mental, physical, and emotional support they need to get back on their feet and the resources to seek their own justice.

Congress recently sprang into action to fix inconveniences for air travelers caused by automatic spending cuts, but victims of crime are left wondering where they fit into Congress’s priorities. The automatic cuts under sequestration are only the latest in a terrible trend of cuts to law-enforcement and victims services. Sequestration and related cuts in fiscal year 2013 alone will reduce or cut services to more than 955,000 victims. Automatic cuts are also threatening the U.S. Army’s ability to hire 829 military and civilian sexual-assault response coordinators as a result of an epidemic of sexual assault in the U.S. military.

Here are three things you need to know about how Congress is continuing to shortchange law enforcement and victims of crime through reckless deficit reduction and automatic cuts.

Cutting services for victims of domestic violence, child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, and other crimes

Due to sequestration, 337,000 victims of domestic violence, child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, and other crimes will lose critical support and services they receive through the Crime Victims Fund to help them recover from the heinous crimes committed against them.

Every year, the Crime Victims Fund—established under the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA—provides millions of crime victims in communities across the country with vital services in times of crisis. VOCA funds provide sexual-assault services, support for crisis intervention, assistance with the criminal-justice process, counseling, investigation and prosecution of child and elder abuse, and more. It also provides compensation to victims of crime.

Federal criminal offenders pay into the VOCA Crime Victims Fund through fines and penalties levied against them, meaning that it is budget neutral, doesn’t cost taxpayers anything, and doesn’t add to the national debt or deficit. But even a funding stream such as the one VOCA provides hasn’t escaped Congress’s reckless budget cutting: Sequestration is expected to reduce VOCA victims-service-assistance grants to states by $37.2 million, resulting in the more than 377,000 victims losing access to these services in FY 2013 alone. These grants fund services for victims of child sexual abuse (38,767 fewer served), domestic violence (178,894 fewer served), and adult sexual assault (21,363 fewer served). And the list goes on.

But it doesn’t end there. Due to the irresponsible budget-cutting environment, Congress this year asked the Department of Justice, which administers these funds, to cut management and administrative expenses from the VOCA fund for the second year in a row, compounding the cuts to victims services already set to take place under sequestration. Last year was the first year Congress had ever instructed the department to cut the fund for this purpose. This cut to VOCA funding is expected to reduce the number of victims served by nearly 578,000 on top of the sequester reductions, resulting in an estimated total of 955,843 fewer victims served in FY 2013.

Congress finally passed the Violence Against Women Act and then cut its funding

Countless victims of domestic violence and sexual assault waited and waited as Congress dragged its feet for nearly two and a half years to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, which provides for services and law enforcement for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Congress finally reauthorized the landmark law this year, but just as the victims thought they had finally scored a victory, sequestration slashed funding for the programs authorized under this vital law.

VAWA and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, or FVPSA, provide two of the most reliable sources of funding for domestic violence and sexual assault. At least 106,000 fewer victims are expected to receive services through these sources due to sequestration. And these cuts come at a time when a recent survey by the National Network to End Domestic Violence reports that 88 percent of state domestic-violence coalitions reported an increase in demand for services and 69 percent of these coalitions reported funding decreases.

Agencies and facilities across the country serving these women are grappling with how to handle the budget cuts. Most find themselves choosing between cutting services or staff, or closing down altogether. A recent report by the Police Executive Research Forum found that 56 percent of 700 responding agencies reported that the poor economy is driving an increase in domestic violence, up from 40 percent in a similar 2010 survey.

Early estimations of the effect of sequestration are now becoming reality. In the military, which has been plagued by rising and epidemic levels of sexual assault among its ranks, the U.S. Army has reported that sequestration may hinder its ability to hire 829 military and civilian sexual-assault response coordinators. In Louisiana, an organization that provides 11 specially trained nurses who travel the area to collect DNA evidence from rape victims at hospitals may have to close its doors due to sequestration-related funding shortages. And the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association may have to eliminate sexual-assault-prevention staff from its ranks due to a lack of funds. The combined impact of sequestration on VAWA, FVPSA, and VOCA alone is crippling the critical support system upon which victims of domestic violence and sexual assault rely.

Federal funding cuts to law-enforcement programming may be virtually unfunded by 2021

These devastating cuts to victims services come on the heels of two years of drastic and unprecedented cuts to federal public-safety programming. Programs such as the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, or Byrne JAG, and the Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, hiring grants are some of the vital federal sources of funding that state and local law agencies rely on for law enforcement, prosecution, crime prevention, education, corrections, and victims assistance.

A recent survey of 714 organizations, mostly local and state law-enforcement agencies, done by the National Criminal Justice Association and the Vera Institute of Justice found that over the past two years alone, federal support for criminal-justice assistance-grant programs has decreased by 43 percent. Left unchanged, the cuts mandated through sequestration could leave these vital federal programs virtually unfunded by 2021. These federal programs provide substantial funding for components of the criminal-justice system, including the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which saw its funding cut by 75 percent in FY 2012, and juvenile-justice and delinquency-prevention programs, which were cut by more than 50 percent in FY 2012.

The real effects of these cuts are emerging. One respondent to the National Criminal Justice Association and the Vera Institute of Justice survey from Ohio, for example, said that, “If projected cuts in government funding proceed, we anticipate that our court advocacy program will be greatly curtailed, if not virtually eliminated. That means we will not be able to offer hands-on assistance in accompanying victims to court proceedings and in assisting clients obtain protection orders.”

A law-enforcement respondent from Kentucky said that personnel and equipment needs were cut in half in FY 2012 due to funding cuts. “It’s hard to estimate the devastation these cuts will make to an already horrible condition,” said the respondent.

Cutbacks in funding to law-enforcement programming are on a dangerous trajectory. Through funding cuts and sequestration, Congress is asking law-enforcement agencies across the country to choose between a terrible set of options, none of which provide any comfort to victims of crimes such as sexual assault and domestic violence. These cutbacks are already hindering the ability of local criminal-justice systems to respond to crimes and provide support to victims.

Conclusion

Responding effectively and responsibly to crime requires an entire system of justice—one that provides adequate resources to law enforcement and victims-service agencies so that they can respond in times of crisis and help victims get back on their feet and seek justice. Unfortunately, there is nothing effective, responsible, or adequate about how Congress is treating victims of crime today. The current reckless budget-cutting environment threatens this entire system due to the immediate effects of sequestration and the further troubling trend of declining public-safety and victims-service funding.

Before boarding planes to go home on recess last month, Congress rushed to fix sequestration-related inconveniences for air travelers, but victims of crime and the law enforcement and other agencies that serve them remain dangerously shortchanged. Victims of crimes such as sexual assault and domestic violence have nowhere else to turn, and they deserve to be a priority every bit as much as air travelers do.

Erik Stegman is the Manager of the Half in Ten Education Fund at the Center for American Progress.

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2013 in African American News

 

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33 Moving Tips That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier

21 May

So you found a new place! It’s all wonderful and exciting until you start to think about how much crap you have.

Peggy WangBuzzFeed Staff

1. Pack an overnight bag containing all the essentials.

Pack an overnight bag containing all the essentials.

Chances are, you’ll be too tired to unpack your things. You’ll want your essentials within easy access, including a change of clothes if you’re going back to work the next day as well as all your toiletries. It’s also a great way to transport a laptop, which could run the risk of getting stolen during a move.

2. Pack the items you will need FIRST in a clear plastic bin.

Pack the items you will need FIRST in a clear plastic bin.

This includes things like a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags, eating utensils, select cookware, power strips, phone chargers, toilet paper, tools, etc. The clear bin allows you to see inside; it also separates itself from the myriad of cardboard boxes.

3. Wrap your breakables (dishes, glasses, etc.) in clothing to save on bubble wrap.

Wrap your breakables (dishes, glasses, etc.) in clothing to save on bubble wrap.

Two birds, one stone: you’re packing your clothes and kitchenware at the same time.

4. For extra padding, pack your glasses and stemware in clean socks.

For extra padding, pack your glasses and stemware in clean socks.

5. In addition to labeling what’s in your boxes, add what room they’ll be going into, as well.

In addition to labeling what's in your boxes, add what room they'll be going into, as well.

When you arrive at your new home, unpack BY ROOM. The unpacking process will feel more manageable.

And remember to label the SIDES of the boxes, not the tops. This way, you’ll be able to identify them even if they’re stacked.

6. If you can, show up to your new home before the move and pre-clean the bathroom and kitchen.

If you can, show up to your new home before the move and pre-clean the bathroom and kitchen.

Put up a new shower curtain liner and stock some new bath towels and toilet paper, as well. You’ll want to take a hot shower after a long day of moving.

7. Place an extra cotton pad or ball into your powder cosmetics to keep them from breaking.

Place an extra cotton pad or ball into your powder cosmetics to keep them from breaking.

This is a great tip for traveling in general.

8. Cover the openings of your toiletries with saran wrap, then put the tops back on.

Cover the openings of your toiletries with saran wrap, then put the tops back on.

This will keep your toiletries from breaking and leaking all over your stuff during the move.

9. Pack plates vertically, like records. They’ll be less likely to break.

Pack plates vertically, like records. They'll be less likely to break.

10. Keep drawers intact by covering them with Press’n Seal.

Keep drawers intact by covering them with Press'n Seal.

Dresser drawers are like their own moving boxes — this will keep you from having to unpack and re-fold their contents.

It’ll also make moving the actual dresser much more manageable.

11. Press’n Seal is also great for keeping jewelry displays intact.

Press'n Seal is also great for keeping jewelry displays intact.

Source: orgjunkie.com

12. Buy a roll of stretch wrap.

Buy a roll of stretch wrap.

It works like Press’n Seal but on a bigger scale. You can group items together, and it’ll protect your furniture from getting scuffed and scratched.

Source: google.com

13. Keep sandwich bags handy for holding any small parts of things you have to take apart, like curtain rods or mounted flat-screen TVs.

Keep sandwich bags handy for holding any small parts of things you have to take apart, like curtain rods or mounted flat-screen TVs.

Tape the sandwich bags to the back of the item they correspond to.

ALSO: use this method with the cords for your electronics.

14. Beer boxes are the best for books because they have handles on the sides.

Beer boxes are the best for books because they have handles on the sides.

So be sure to hit up your local liquor store.

15. Take a photo of how your electronics are connected so you can remember how and where all the wires go.

Take a photo of how your electronics are connected so you can remember how and where all the wires go.

Source: popularmechanics.com  /  via: reddit.com

16. Cut down on boxes by making all of your baskets, laundry bins, hampers, and suitcases work for you.

Cut down on boxes by making all of your baskets, laundry bins, hampers, and suitcases work for you.

Pack them with stuff! Use the wheeled suitcases for heavy things like books.

17. The fastest way to pack a closet:

The fastest way to pack a closet:

This also keeps your clothes on their hangers, for much faster unpacking.

18. Vacuum seal your out-of-season clothing.

Vacuum seal your out-of-season clothing.

Not only will they take up less space and be a breeze to pack, but they can go directly into storage in the new home.

19. Along with food and alcohol, give your friends who help you move first dibs on anything you originally planned to sell or donate.

Along with food and alcohol, give your friends who help you move first dibs on anything you originally planned to sell or donate.

It’s just an extra perk, since you won’t be paying them.

20. Make sure everything is completely packed before your friends show up to help you move.

Make sure everything is completely packed before your friends show up to help you move.

Don’t be that horrible person who makes everyone wait around/help you pack.

Another note: if you have enough friends, split them up into shifts — one set to help you move in the morning, and another to help you move when you get to your new home.

21. Enlist the color-coding system.

Enlist the color-coding system.

Pick a color code for each room and label that room’s boxes accordingly. Label the door of each room with the corresponding sticker/tape so that movers know where to place the boxes.

22. It doesn’t hurt to number your boxes.

It doesn't hurt to number your boxes.

Make a detailed corresponding list of what’s in each box by number. This makes it easier to make sure you didn’t forget any boxes, or god forbid, someone stole one. AND, if there’s anything valuable in there, you won’t be broadcasting it to the world by writing it down right there on the box.

23. If you have a lot of fragile valuables, hiring movers as opposed to asking friends can end up paying for itself.

If you have a lot of fragile valuables, hiring movers as opposed to asking friends can end up paying for itself.

Many movers come with insurance, which means if something breaks, they have to compensate you. You might want to weigh the pros and cons though — they won’t want to be responsible for a television that isn’t properly packed in its original box and could end up charging you upwards of $150 to pack it as they see fit.

Also remember to book them weeks in advance — you’re not the only person trying to get out of your space on the last day of the month.

Source: google.com

24. If you do hire movers, be sure to read the fine print and find out if they have any weird rules.

If you do hire movers, be sure to read the fine print and find out if they have any weird rules.

For instance, some movers will only move things in boxes, not garbage bags. Which means you’ll be paying them extra for unnecessary boxes at a marked-up price.

25. If you’re renting, take photos of your cleaned-out old home and your new home before moving in.

If you're renting, take photos of your cleaned-out old home and your new home before moving in.

This is essential if you ever hope to get your deposit back. It will save you major headaches with difficult landlords who charge you cleaning and repair fees unnecessarily when moving out.

26. Fill the nail holes in your previous home with a bar of soap.

Fill the nail holes in your previous home with a bar of soap.

27. If you’re doing a cross-country move and you don’t need your stuff immediately, consider shipping via Greyhound.

If you're doing a cross-country move and you don't need your stuff immediately, consider shipping via Greyhound.

It’s an inexpensive shipping option for large items. Just remember to pack your stuff really well — your boxes WILL get a little beat up along the way.

Source: google.com

28. Change your address at least two weeks prior to moving.

Change your address at least two weeks prior to moving.

This might seem like a no-brainer for important things like utilities and cable but don’t sweat the small stuff. You’ve also got Amazon, PayPal, credit cards, your bank, magazine subscriptions, and your mail to worry about.

29. If you own items that you want to get rid of but are too valuable to just give away, start selling on eBay, Etsy, or Craigslist at least 6 weeks before moving.

If you own items that you want to get rid of but are too valuable to just give away, start selling on eBay, Etsy, or Craigslist at least 6 weeks before moving.

It’s an easy way to make you feel like you aren’t procrastinating, and you might be able to make enough money back to pay for the entire move itself.

But it takes time for things to sell on Etsy and eBay so you’ll want to plan accordingly.

Source: blog.ebay.com

30. Arrange for a charity organization to come pick up the items you don’t want at least a week or two before moving.

Arrange for a charity organization to come pick up the items you don't want at least a week or two before moving.

It’ll save you the trouble of having to take it there yourself.

31. Make your last grocery trip two weeks prior to moving.

Make your last grocery trip two weeks prior to moving.

The more food you end up using before moving, the less you’ll have to throw out.

32. For same-city moves, hire a sitter for the children and pets.

For same-city moves, hire a sitter for the children and pets.

The last thing you need is to be worrying about losing track of your kids or pets on this stressful day.

33. Remember to defrost your refrigerator at least a day before moving and wipe up any liquid.

Remember to defrost your refrigerator at least a day before moving and wipe up any liquid.

Else you’re going to have stinky wet mess when you get to your new home.

 
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Posted by on May 21, 2013 in African American News

 

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African Film Enjoys Rare Cannes Outing‘26-Year-Old African-American Is One To Watch’

21 May

ABIDJAN, (AFP): African film is enjoying a rare invitation to cinema’s top table with a film by French-Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun competing for the coveted Palme d’Or, as the continent strives to satisfy an appetite for films made by Africans for Africans. Haroun, who left Chad during the civil war, won plaudits for his autobiographical 1999 film “Bye Bye Africa” and has continued to make films about his homeland despite settling in France more than 30 years ago. His latest film “Grigris” is one of 20 films in the contest for the Palme d’Or. It will be screened on Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival where he was invited to sit on the jury in 2011. Although the filmmaker won the Cannes jury prize in 2010 for “A Screaming Man”, few Africans will have seen his films at the cinema. Cinemas across the continent have in recent years fallen victim to a combination of lack of investment and the rise of television and DVDs, often pirated, as a preferred form of entertainment. Apart from Nigeria and South Africa, which have their own domestic film industries, the continent suffers from a shortage of homegrown movies. Ivorian actress Emma Lohoues, who scooped best actress awards at two international film festivals for her performance in Owell Brown’s 2010 romantic comedy “Le Mec Ideal”, believes many of the essential ingredients for a successful industry are already in place. “Our cinema has a future with a wave of talented emerging actors and directors,” she told AFP.

“All we need and which is badly missing is the support of the authorities,” she added. Democratic Republic of Congo director Ronnie Kabuika dreams of the day when there might be a state-sponsored infrastructure for the industry in his country, perhaps as part of the ministry of culture. “Those who try to produce things make do with what’s at hand (but) there is no support, no finance,” he said. Many on the continent look with envy at the way films are financed in Morocco, a set-up modelled on the French system. Government funding has made the country the envy of the continent with six million euros ($7.7 million) funding some 25 Moroccan films a year. In Rwanda, it is hoped that a planned film commission will help the country move on from films made by foreigners about the 1994 genocide.


Dare
“We should dare to make films (that look at things) through our own eyes,” said filmmaker Eric Kabera who in 2001 collaborated with British filmmaker Nick Hughes on the first feature film about the genocide.
Movie makers say the success of the Nigerian film industry, known as “Nollywood”, shows that Africa can produce its own films and make a splash in the wider world.
Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was recently named by Time magazine as one of its most 100 influential people.
Mostly shot on video and rooted in the hard realities of daily lives blighted by violence and corruption, the films made over the last 20 odd years “have placed Nigeria on the world map and redefined African cinema”, said Nigerian director Mahmood Ali-Balogun.
“Nollywood is worth celebrating. It has done well for Nigeria and Africa…. It has put Nigeria on the world map and redefined African cinema,” he said.
“It is about us, by us and for us…. Nollywood has empowered Nigerians,” he added.

Replaced
Older, poorer quality films known as “microwave” movies were being replaced with better productions, he added. “There is a lot of improvement these days,” he said. The success of “Nollywood” with its hundreds of films produced annually is also notable for the fact that it receives very little support. Despite that the industry was “viable and profitable” with stars that “take the public with them”, added Owell Brown. You may not have seen any of his stuff, but movie insiders predict you soon will. And good parents, American football and mentoring by Hollywood star Forest Whitaker are what gave him his chance. Aged just 26, from a modest background, African-American director Ryan Coogler is being tipped at the Cannes Film Festival as a dazzling new talent. His first feature movie, “Fruitvale Station”, featuring in Cannes’ “Un Certain Regard” competition, touches on a tragic true-life story that occurred in his native San Francisco. It recounts the last 24 hours in the life of a young black man, Oscar Grant, who is shot dead by a cop at a subway station just as he is getting his troubled existence back on track. Riots broke out after the verdict in the policeman’s trial. Filmed on less than a million dollars, the movie made a buzz in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury prize. A bidding war broke out, won by mogul Harvey Weinstein, who is releasing it in the United States in July. “Fruitvale Station” was warmly applauded at its press screening in Cannes, where it is vying for the Golden Camera prize for young talents. Britain’s Guardian newspaper gave the “quietly gripping debut” four out of a maximum five stars.

“I was incredibly fortunate,” the athletically-built young man told AFP in an interview. “(…) It’s more than you can ask for.” Coogler and his little brother were born to a couple who married young and focussed on education to help their rise out of tough neighbourhoods in the Bay Area around San Francisco. “They put us through nice schools,” said Coogler. “We lived in rough neighbourhoods, but we went to nice schools. So I grew up with both those worlds, and for a long time, I didn’t fit in to either.” He didn’t fit into his local neighbourhood because he was a bookworm. Nor did he fit into life at school, because he was poor. “But I started playing sports — and there I fitted in everywhere,” he said. With the help of a football scholarship, he went to a liberal arts school where he started taking classes in film-making. He followed up with a graduate course at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, one of the most prestigious movie schools in the world. There, he cut his teeth with a series of short films about life on the margins, including a piece about a young prostitute’s fight to protect her daughter. The next big break came through Whitaker, who won the 2006 Oscar for best actor as Ugandan tyrant Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland”.
“His company was looking for film makers to mentor while I was in film school,” said Coogler.
“For him it’s social issues. Forest is a humanitarian, he does a lot of work in conflict resolution in Africa and the US, so his company was naturally attracted to things that have social relevance. That’s how my name came up.” In their 45-minute first encounter, Coogler sketched his idea for a film that pulls Oscar Grant out of anonymity as yet another crime statistic, and recounts the last 24 hours in his life. “[Whitaker] said, ‘I’m going to help you make that,’ and walked out of the room,” Coogler said. Funding was scraped together from a variety of sources — grants from the San Francisco Film Society and Sundance, and Whitaker himself stumped up more than half. Coogler admitted he was having a hard time coping with all the attention. “I try to focus on the work, otherwise I think my head would probably explode.”

 
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Posted by on May 21, 2013 in African American Films, African Diaspora News, African News

 

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Where have Europe’s nurses gone?

21 May

By Sigrid Lupieri, Special to CNN
At the Shandong International Nurse Training Centre in Weihai, China, nurses who plan to move abroad attend language classes.
At the Shandong International Nurse Training Centre in Weihai, China, nurses who plan to move abroad attend language classes.

Poznan, Poland (CNN) – At the top of a flight of stairs with no elevator in sight, registered nurse Katarzyna Kaseja leans over the rickety metal bars of a crib. Her 4-year-old patient, a ventilator tube fastened to his throat, reaches out to take her hand.

“It’s hard to work as a nurse in Poland,” said Kaseja, 25. Since she began her career at the Specialized Hospital for Mother and Child in the western Poland city of Poznan, little funding and outdated machinery have only been part of the problem.

“There are not enough nurses, and you have to do everything,” she said. “And there is little money and low prestige.”

Meager salaries and demanding hours for nurses, however, are not purely a Polish problem. Throughout Europe, the nursing profession is rapidly losing its appeal. An aging workforce and dwindling student enrollment in nursing schools are precipitating a looming nursing crisis.

Nurse Katarzyna Kaseja, 25, comforts a patient at a Poznan, Poland, hospital.
Nurse Katarzyna Kaseja, 25, comforts a patient at a Poznan, Poland, hospital.

Add to that an economic recession and more seniors requiring long-term care, and Europe may be facing a shortage of 1 million health professionals by 2020, according to aEuropean Union Joint Action on Health Workforce Planning estimate.

“People are leaving the profession because they can’t stand the difficult work anymore,” said Paul De Raeve, secretary general of theEuropean Federation of Nurses Associations, which represents the interests of nurses in 27 European countries. “The young generation thinks you must be a fool to go into nursing.”

It’s actually bad all over: America, too, may have 1.2 million job openings for nurses, due to job growth and replacements, by 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

However, De Raeve believes the United States can serve as an example for Europe, as President Barack Obama’s administration has committed to improving working conditions.

When the Affordable Care Act takes full effect in 2014, nursing may soon become a more attractive career option in the United States. As part of the ACA, in addition to loan forgiveness programs, nurses will receive increased financial support for pursuing training programs and obtaining advanced certification.

But in Europe, a clear-cut solution to the nursing crisis may prove to be elusive, as governments and international organizations have very different approaches to dealing with the problem.

In countries such as the United Kingdom, which expects a nursing shortage within the next five years, the focus is on disease prevention and public health to reduce the overall number of patients.

According to Peter Sharp, chief executive at the United Kingdom’s Centre for Workforce Intelligence, an organization providing research and advice on workforce planning, recruiters should encourage nurses who left the job market due to family commitments to return to the workforce. Another plan is to train experienced nurses to take on greater responsibilities.

“A doctor costs more than four times a nurse,” Sharp said. “If you don’t spend as much on doctors, you can spend more on nursing.”

In other countries, such as Germany, the shortage is particularly acute, and the immigration of health care workers from poorer economies even outside of Europe is becoming part of the solution.

“We expect a tremendous nursing shortage of about 500,000 people by 2030,” said Professor Stefan Goerres, managing director of the Institute for Public Health and Health Care Research at the University of Bremen. “Even if the profession were more attractive, there just aren’t enough young people due to declining birth rates.”

In an attempt to alleviate the shortage, the Arbeitgeberverband Pflege, a health employer’s union in Berlin, has come up with an idea — enlisting nurses from China. In cooperation with the German Federal Employment Agency, an experimental project has recruited an initial 150 nurses from China to work in hospitals and nursing homes beginning in early 2014.

This month, at the Shandong International Nurse Training Center in Weihai, China, the nurses selected for the program are beginning their eight-month training in German life, culture, and language.

“The nurses learn international standards for caring, washing the elderly, and physical therapy,” said Kevin Ji, marketing executive of the government-sanctioned nursing center. The training center, which opened in 2001, has more than 400 students a year and has sent its graduates to countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

As part of the curriculum, the nurses destined for Germany have begun absorbing the tenets of German culture to ensure a smooth transition into Western society. “Recently, we had a lecture on garbage and recycling,” Ji said. “It’s very complicated in Germany.”

To create a more unified response to the nursing crisis on a European level, the Joint Action on Health Workforce Planning, funded in part by the European Commission, recently launched a project to foster international cooperation. Beginning this month, its agenda will also focus on the increasing mobility of nurses throughout Europe and its potential social and economic impact.

As the member states of the Joint Action begin to meet, some have expressed concern that the migration of nurses within Europe may have unintended consequences.

“Hungary and Poland are worried that their workforce is being poached by richer countries,” said Sharp, who attended the first Joint Action session in Brussels in April.

While weaker economies fear losing their best and brightest workers, wealthier countries worry about a potential influx of job seekers in a time when Europe is still in the throes of a recession. This scenario could become a reality in January 2014, when the Eastern European countries of Romania and Bulgaria gain unrestricted access to the EU.

The migration of nurses is further exacerbated by a significant wage disparity within Europe. While a nurse in the U.K. can expect a salary of about $2,800 a month, according to National Health Service estimates, a nurse in Romania can earn less than $200.

Back in Poland, about 500 nurses have requested official certificates to seek employment abroad over the past decade, said Teresa Kruczkowska, head of the self-governing Regional Parliament of Nurses in Poznan. In an area of only 3.5 million inhabitants, this would be enough to staff two large hospitals.

Kaseja, the nurse at the children’s intensive care unit in Poznan, said she loves working with children. But would she consider moving to a better-paying country?

She hesitates. In the small ward — its walls painted a cheerful green — her young patients lay motionless beneath the bulky, dated ventilator machines.

“Maybe,” she says.

 
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Posted by on May 21, 2013 in African American Employment

 

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