Congressional Black Caucus Tribute To Michael Jackson

By Holly Wood

Although none of the Jackon's participated in the Tribute To Michael Jackson at the Congressional Black Caucus' 39th Annual Legislative Conference, the panel that paid tribute was impressive. They included Michael Jackson and Katherine Jackson family attorney L. Londell McMillan, Rev Jesse Jackson, Cornel West, Congresswoman Diane Watson, BET President Debra Lee, Roland Martin and Extra's Shaun Robinson.

The panel was moderated by Toure.

The panelist shared memories and impressions about Michael Jackson. Dr. Cornel West was probably the most inspired and he waxed religious when he said, "MJ wrestled with spiritual malnutrition."

Mario's Green House

By Environment Man

I recently chatted with Mario at the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) 39th Annual Legislative Conference at the Convention Center in Washington, D.C. I almost shot a segment with him when he was taping the show last year, but our schedules and some technical circumstances prevented it from happening. I like what Mario is doing with His "Mario's Green House." He keeps it real.

Mario Van Peebles, left, son of Melvin Van Peebles, right, debuts his new environmental-reality television series "Mario’s Green House" on TV One this Sunday, September 27th at 6PM EST. Mario will show how families can go green at home. "Mario’s Green House" is a comedic look at how his family renovates their new home and lives to have less impact on the planet.

From the official site:

Mario has made a resolution to go green and he’s taking the family along the journey with him. He embarks on a massive eco-sensitive renovation of his house and hopes that the renovation will be a creative and meaningful project for his entire family, With a busy Hollywood career and a full-time job as Dad, Mario soon learns that major construction is just the tip of the iceberg when he needs a whole lifestyle makeover.

"The Beat! Go Go Music From Washington, DC"

The Beat! Go Go Music From Washington, DC is a reissue of an earlier book on go-go that Charles Stephenson co-authored with Kip Lornell. This updated edition includes a new epilogue addressing developments in go-go since the last publication.

Stephenson and Lornell invite you to An Evening of Go Go Facts, Fun, & Music at the Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street, NW, on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, from 6 PM - 8 PM. Please join them and special guest Chuck Brown for a special reading and signing of The Beat!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Charles C. Stephenson, Jr, 703-201-8833 - mobile

France's President's Black, Female, Muslim: Rama Yade

Rama Yade, 32, is France's Minister For Youth & Sports and is one of the most popular political personalities in the country. Only nine years after graduating from the Paris Political Science Institute, Yade has become a phenomenon: black, Muslim, female -- and one of the brightest stars in President Nicolas Sarkozy's political constellation.

Yade's main mission when she was appointed in May 2007 was to embody Sarkozy's effort to bring minorities into positions of responsibility. Yade is a poster girl for integration, but also as a politician with her own support and the promise of a career on the national stage.

Rama Yade, upper left with President Sarkozy, has been invited to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual legislative conference. Born Mame Ramatoulaye Yade in Senegal, West Africa, Yade was brought up in the Paris suburb of Colombes. Her father is a diplomat and professor.

After several years as a staff assistant in the Senate, she joined Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement. Yade gained celebrity with a conservative-oriented speech in which she castigated the opposition Socialist Party. About the same time Yade married Joseph Zimet, a high-level bureaucrat and the son of a well-known Yiddish singer.

Yade emerged as a media star during the 2007 presidential campaign, particularly among conservatives who were delighted to hear their beliefs championed by a black and an Arab. Both hailed Sarkozy as someone who would do something for minorities besides talk. During the same year, Yade published her first book, "Blacks of France," in which she analyzed the place in French society occupied by African immigrants' children and other French blacks. It reminded people that, despite her own swift rise in a conservative movement, Yade carried the heritage of a black woman in a predominantly white society. (Wash Post, 9/21/09)

Larry David Provides Last 'Black' Chance For KKKramer

[See Update]

Black people had their doubts about "Seinfeld," because there were no Blacks on the show until the end of the run when they put on only one recurring Black character, Jackie Chiles - the lawyer, as what appeared to be a token gesture due to the criticism. Black people have had no such reservations about Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiam" because David casually integrated Blacks into his reality sitcom without any pretense.

Michael Richards From Seinfeld Harasses Gangsters! - For more funny videos, click here

Now the 2009 season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" includes a 'tongue-in-cheek' "Seinfield" reunion. Yet the 'X' factor is Cosmo Kramer because of his use of the racist term 'NIGGER' in a rant at one of his stand-up routines. Many Black folks liked "Seinfeld" for the characters just as they liked "Lucy" and "The Beverly Hillbillies," but when Kramer went David Duke, all bets were off. Plus, "Seinfeld" is ancient history so who gave a s--t? Now this reunion thing on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." No better time than now to reform the Kramer character. And no better person to do it than Larry David. Black people like David because he seamlessly integrated Black folks into his crazy world. His bringing the Vivica Fox family into his home has been brilliant. The 'real black guy' (Leon Black) is as hilarious as when Larry hooked up with the black prostitute. David GETS black people and black people know it. Howard Stern and Bill Maher get the same pass.

So reviewers reviewed the first three available episodes, where they said Kramer was not too visible, but the real question is: will Larry David use his 'black street cred' to reform KKKramer? Our guess is that the David crew will use this as an opportunity to reform Kramer. Our guess is that Vivica A. Fox and 'the real black dude' (Leon Black) will be used to 'bring Kramer back.' We also would not be surprised to see Wanda Sykes included in the exorcism.

EPA Raises the Bar for Energy Star Televisions

Consumers will save more money and energy with new requirements

EPA has revised the qualifications for televisions to achieve the Energy Star label, requiring TVs to be 40 percent more energy efficient than conventional models. These requirements will help consumers save even more energy and money and fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while allowing them to continue to enjoy the features, performance and quality they expect. Televisions meeting EPA’s new, more stringent Energy Star specifications will be available in stores nationwide starting May 1, 2010.

The new requirements raise the bar on how energy efficient a TV must be to earn the Energy Star label. They require TVs to use less energy when turned on, ensure a satisfactory level of brightness and curb power associated with downloading program guide data. This all translates to big savings for consumers and the environment. If all televisions sold in the United States met the new Energy Star requirements, Americans would save $2.5 billion annually in energy costs while reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions of about 3 million cars.

With more than 19 million TVs with screens larger than 40 inches expected to ship to American homes in 2010, these Energy Star requirements will offer important savings in larger size TVs. For example, the new requirements for 46 and 50 inch TV models will deliver almost 50 percent savings over conventional models of the same size. The new requirements announced today demonstrate the agency’s continuing commitment to helping consumers find and purchase the most efficient products in this highly dynamic product category.

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