Quote4today

"It always seems impossible until its done. "  Nelson Mandela

Little known facts of the sunflower seeds- Health benefits of eating the seeds

The sunflower earned its name because its flowers resemble the sun and because they twist on their stems to follow the sun throughout the day. Wow thats really cool to know that the sunflower itself twists to follow the sun....so it actually is seeking out the suns rays....You learn something new each day!


My favorite are Davids seeds but look at the health benefits of eating sunflower seeds...And they are cheap so get this into your diet!!

They contain high levels of Vitamin E... we all know Vitamin E is good for the skin it helps skin look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E has also been shown  to reduce the risk of colon cancer as well preventing cardiovascular disease

*Just a quarter-cup of sunflower seeds contains 90.5% of the daily value for vitamin E. Skin Cancer

There are several benefits of vitamin e for your body. Some preliminary studies involving intakes of vitamin e higher than the daily-recommended requirement have shown that vitamin e may be useful in treating or possibly preventing:


•menstrual pain


•low sperm count


•inflammation of eye tissues


•cataracts


•restless leg syndrome or relief from muscle cramping


•Alzheimer’s disease


•Parkinson’s disease


•rheumatoid arthritis


•asthma


•various diabetes related complications and maybe helpful in treating and preventing diabetes itself


•cardiovascular disease


•prostate cancer and breast cancer

EAT THE SEEDS!!!! ENJOY

 

You can believe Ice T was hard but I have proof that in 1984 he looked like a cornball!!

Love Yabrough & Peoples they had this jam in 1984 that hardly ever gets airplay...Classics like this you cant get nowadays... They also did Dont stop the music which still can be heard on the radio old jams stations.
In the beginning of the video when the girl gets picked up by her date look real close and notice that is Ice T with a James Brown or some crazy loooking hairstyle....This guy is not hard please hes a cornball.  Despite him being in the video this is a great song and good video concept.  Enjoy!!

Look how much of a cornball Ice T looked like....LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Hard my ass whateva DUDE!!!!

Prince being honored on BET awards 2010

The royal badness was honored on BET awards 2010 see all the performances and his acceptance speech for the lifetime acheivement award.  There are 2 parts and I posted both...Enjoy!!!!!

El Debarge on BET awards 2010 what a nice surprise!!!

El Debarge on BET awards 2010 surprised us all when he turned around and the light flashed on him and he started singing.....Love all his songs!!

Highlights of BET awards 2010 Chris Brown was amazing!!!!

Chris Brown's tribute to Michael Jackson was fantastic...but the last song Man in the Mirror Chris broke down it was so heartfelt!!!! Chris has been thru so much and he deserves this comeback!!!!

Quote4today

"The nature of God is a circle of which the center is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere." Empedocles - Greek philosopher

How embarrasing this is? Lame ass Jagged Edge is selling sneakers at a yard sale!! LOL Why would any dude need all these shoes then selling them?

They got to be broke cause that last album they put out was a FLOP.  How is it cool for a guy to have so many sneakers.. not even nice shoes but sneakers....HOW LAME!!! Thats overindulgence and its gross!!! How do women see anything in guys like this that spend so much on themselves and dumb looking sneakers??? LOL

SAD SAD SAD...this is so LAME!!!!!!

See rare video of Michael Jackson, James Brown all on stage...AMAZING!!!!

RIP to the Greatest Michael Jackson= you are missed you are loved!!!!

Here are some Michael Jackson quotes:

"I think if I sat in a room with [Jesus] I would follow him everywhere he went, feel his presence. I would behave just like a child, like Gandhi.

"I love the Sermon on the Mount. I love the story when the Apostles are arguing amongst themselves about who is the greatest and Jesus says, 'Unless you humble yourself like this little child, be childlike. . . .' I thought that was the perfect thing to say. Return to innocence."

". . . I don't believe in karma. I think that is a bunch of crap, because so many mean-spirited, evil people are on top of the world and doing well and people love them, no matter how evil they are . . . Karma is a theory like any other theory that some human made up."


"Somebody had to create [the universe], a designer had to create this. From our lashes to our mouths to our digestive system."


"[To atheists], I tried to bring out the miracles of life, the children, look into their eyes, our bodies, how it all works just right, this can't happen on its own, come on, no way."


"We are the only species who destroys their own."


"Believing in children [gave me the strength to persevere]. Believing in young people. Believing that God gave me this for a reason, to help my babies."


"I have been an ambassador of goodwill all over the world spreading this message."

"I can't imagine that I couldn't reach [the hearts of Nazi's, just evil people] in some kind of way . . . You have to teach them, that somewhere something in their life went wrong. They don't see what they do. They don't understand that it is wrong a lot of times . . . I wish somebody could have reached their hearts."

WTF???? Paisley Print is back LOLLLLLLLL

I dont know whats worse here the cardigan on the paisley pants?? WOW what a dumb look!!!!

Put some orange into your beauty regime

Oranges- Who knew??


Check out some of the beauty benefits from oranges.


1.  CLOSES PORES - Take out juice from one orange and apply it directly on your face like a face wash and then rinse immediately. The Vitamin C in the orange juice will add smoothness and softness to your skin instantly. Orange juice is also considered very efficient in shrinking enlarged pores.


2.  WRINKLES - Orange juice has superb qualities in age reversing antioxidants helps to prevent wrinkles too. It can also be used on hair to get natural shine. Mix juice of one orange with equal measure of water. Add one teaspoon of honey to this mix. After shampooing your hair apply this mix on your hair and let it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Then rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water. The result will be amazingly beautiful shiny hair in an expensive and natural way.




3. ADDS VITAMIN E- Apply orange juice to your face. Besides drinking orange juice, the simple act of putting orange juice on your face will help add Vitamin E to your skin and will help to reduce wrinkles. Soak orange juice into a cotton ball and rub it over your face daily.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for him-Tiki u messed up!!!

Here is Tiki pictured with his wife before the new girlfriend-babysitter stole him from his family!

Ok so the story goes Tiki Barber-ex NFL player now turned broadcaster had this 20 something woman in his home babysitting his kid.  The 20 something woman bragged about watching his kid and got help from Tiki to land an internship at his place of employment.  So the story goes he cheated on his wife and left his wife for this 20 something woman while his wife was pregnant with his twins....WOW what an ass!  Well now he was let go from his job and the wife delievered the babies he tried to go into the hospital with his 20 something woman and his wife refused to let him and her into the room.  OK what an idiot he is!!! Anyway he has lost his family, career all for this???

 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!! SO NOT WORTH IT DUDE!! I wouldnt be surprised to find out that the 20 something woman that he got the internship with had something to do with getting him let go from his $300,000 a year job.  What a mess, now he claims he cant go through the court precedings in his messy divorce!! WHAT A LAME!!!! I Hate this guy... For real.

WOW Remember this 80s jam Boogie Boys- U aint fresh!!!!

Flashback of the day.....Miss the 80s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boogie Boys also did the song A fly girl!!! This is the video for u aint fresh!!

Michael Jackson Smooth Criminal video

Quote4today

 "Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." Mother Teresa

Wow shouldnt you be happy when your going out to eat together

Jeezzzzzz! It looks like these two are miserable as hell.  WOW she look like she is a real fun person to be around!! FAIL I hated Rhianna after the whole Chris Brown fiasco!!!

Video | TV One: Ultimate Merger- Omarosa new reality show

In case you missed the 1st full episode of Omarosa's new reality show click the link below... You will never believe it but one of the men on the show is no other than Al. B Sure....>WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Video TV One: Ultimate Merger

Michael Jackson- In the closet video!!

Quote4today

 “Being happy is better than being king” African Proverb

Each day this week Im posting Michael Jackson songs in honor of the KING!!

 Michael Jackson.....Liberian Girl- This song is the best I think!!!

Quote4today

 "If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree." African Proverb (Dont let fame, money or power go to ur head!)

My Top 3 TV Dads of All TIME..and the Winner is!!!!!

Heres my picks for my top 3 TV Dads of all time!!!

#1 James Evans played by John Amos for Good Times!  He endured struggle after struggle but still held his family down through thick and thin..Even though they were so poor the care and direction he gave his family should their true richness!!!!

#2. Bill Cosby played by Bill Cosby on the Cosby Show                                                                            

#3 James Ingalls played by Michael Landon on Little House on the Prairie

My all time Top 3 Dads on TV!!

#3. James Ingalls-played by Michael Landon... Little House on the Praire- He made so many sacrafices for his family.. What an honorable father!!

#2 Bill Cosby played by Bill Cosby..The Cosby Show. He showed what a caring loving dad should do for his family and he made it an honor to celebrate fatherhood!!

Get free food on your birthday from Firehouse subs and Cold Stone Creamery

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There's plenty of free food, free stuff and great deals for adults and kids on their special days, though, like senior discounts at restaurants, you may have to ask for them wherever you go.

Firehouse Sub

Log in to http://www.firehousesubs.com/  and register for the birthday club you will recieve a free med sub on your birthday!!!....No age limit

Cold Stone Ice Cream

Log in to http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/ and register for the their birthday club

Receive a coupon for free ice cream to help celebrate your birthday...No age limit


                                       

New song by Kelis 4th of July

I know Kelis is a little crazy at times...but she is vey unique and does come out with some pretty good music!

Here is her new video 4th of July...I like it! Shes still the same and her music is ecletic!! She can show variety and get away with it...

Manute Bol, N.B.A. Player and Activist, Dies at 47

WOWWW! This is crazy to die so damn young. Look how tall he was compared to Mugsy Bogues who is 5'3" tall! RIP Manute Bol!!!

Manute Bol a towering Dinka tribesman who left southern Sudan to become one of the best shot blockers in the history of American basketball died Saturday. Bol, at 7 feet 6 inches, was an athletic marvel. He arrived in the National Basketball Association in 1985 and promptly set a rookie record by blocking an average of five shots per game — a total of 397 for the season. He is 14th on the N.B.A.’s career list with 2,086.
“He really felt that his country needed him,” Mr. Prichard said. “He really died for his country. He wanted to do everything he could to see southern Sudan make it through this election in the best possible
 way.”

Manute pictured with Mugsy Bogues who is 5'3"tall.

Member of the group Parliament died Weds at age of 56 (He wore the diaper)

 RIP:
Garry Shider dies at 56; longtime member of musical collective Parliament-Funkadelic

Shider co-wrote and provided vocals on some of Parliament Funkadelic's biggest hits, including "Atomic Dog" and "One Nation Under the Groove."

56 is still young to die its a shame but it goes to show that life is not guarantee for anyone. He had brain and lung cancer..Wow what a shame we lost another great in music!

WOW Melanie B from Spice girls has sex 5 times a day with her husband

Damn thats what Im talking about...I think getting once a day is good damn 5 times a day....Go Melanie!!!!!

See the interview here: From George Lopez show

WOW Melanie B from Spice girls has sex 5 times a day with her husband

Damn thats what Im talking about...I think getting once a day is good damn 5 times a day....Go Melanie!!!!!

See the interview here: From George Lopez show

Quote of the day

“Don't set sail on someone else's star”



African Proverb quotes

Toy Story 3

Ive been waiting to see this!!! I will let u know how it is when I get back.  Love Buzz lightyear and the Dinosaur...my favs

WTF Snoop Dog is banned from performing at a Netherlands festival

Are u serious as doped up as the Netherlands is they want to ban Snoop Dog?? LOL WOW thats insane!  Heres the statement from the Mayor contends that Snoop was banned from performing at the family-oriented concert in order to promote an "open and friendly atmosphere." Wow Obviously they dont know that Snoop is a family man has been married longer than most people but I guess they forgot to get to know the man behind the music...See when you live your life with assumptions you miss out on alot.. A country who marvels over legal prostitution and drug use is banning Snoop Dog that is hiliarious....WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

Snoop has been married to his high school sweetheart and is a good father to his kids...how is that not a family man....?? SMH

Quote4today

"Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul." Democritus-Greek philosopher

Quote4today

Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith on Lopez Tonight

Good interview....cant wait to see the film!!



 

Music spotlight Nas ft Damian Marley, Lil Wayne and Joss Stone- My generation

This is why Lil Wayne is in jail...WAKE UP!!!!...Hes becoming worldwide and saying some positive things to change people...you know anytime someone comes out with consciousness then they get the government after their ass....but anyway this is the JAM!!!!!Always loved Damian Marley---the son of Bob Marley...Anyway request this on the radio stations...we need some positive uplifting songs on the airwaves!!!! Enjoy

Unemployed need not apply are u serious????? WTF

I came across an article in CNNmoney.com that says many companies are not even considering hiring unemployed workers.  If you are under a rock do you not know that millions of people lost their jobs through no fault of their own.  Two employers were highlighted and they found that a company in South Carolina and another one in Georgia put in their ads that the unemployed would not be considered. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH CORPORATE AMERICA.  IT IS RUN BY ELITISTS who hoard all the jobs and give them out to their buddies and relatives.. Are we living in a free society or is this FACISM.  How can you make an assumption that someone who already has a job make a better candidate than a displaced worker..  I would think the opposite if someone has a job but is wasting their time interviewing, searching and looking for work while at their current job how dedicated is that employee?? That employee is using some of their companies time to do their search.  Am unemployed worked 9 times out of 10 and especially in this economy was displaced because of the financial crisis, do you people not get that?? What is that now the fault of the unemployed that the economy dipped low.  No its the previous Presidents fault George W Bush and his deregulatory mismanagement!!! I guess when you live in a country that runs by catch 22 tactics this is the dumb decisions that are made.  How can people feel that this system is for them when you have employers refusing to give an unemployed worker who needs a damn job a fair chance, just a damn foot in the door?? Cmon we got to have a better society than this...what and who are the people that are making these dumb ass rules thinking??????

WTF The unemployed are hit by a double whammy...Companies are saying the unemployed need not apply

I just came across an article on CNNMoney.com that are exposing many companies who are saying that unemployed workers will not be considered.  Two companies one in South Carolina and one in Georgia has had recent media attention when they posted that they will not consider unemployed workers for their open positions.  Are u serious????? Many unemployed are displaced by no fault of their own.  How can you keep kicking people in the ass when they are down and out?  The article went on to say that many employers, recruiters assume that an unemployed work may have been let go for job performance.  Many of the recruiters ask a candidate if they are currently working, when an applicant says they are unemployed the recruiter says they will no longer consider that candidate. What kind of society are we living in???? THIS IS INSANE.  I have my background in Human Resources and to me if a candidate is already working and looking for a job with my company shouldnt that raise a flag, they are leaving their current job to interview and spend time finding another position.  So if you really think about it shouldnt the already employed worker be less considerable than the unemployed worker?? OH THATS RIGHT I FORGOT WE ARE LIVING IN A COUNTRY WHERE CORPORATIONS ARE RUN  BY FACIST RIGHT WINGED IDIOTS WHO DONT THINK!!!!! 

So the unemployed face a double whammy...kinda like our President faces Damn if you do and damn if u dont...This country is run by a Catch 22 mentality..We have to create a better system this cant keep happening to people!  How out of touch with reality you must be if you see the economy crashed millions of jobs lost and you are blaming the unemployed for not being hire worthy??? OH I FORGOT they live in their own fucked up reality of hoarding all the jobs and giving them out to a select few...I am so disgusted with this article!!

Throwback Thursday- my all time fav track from T.I.-he speaks the truth!!!!

Love T.I. and this song was so hard to find on youtube...all the booty shaking and nasty lyrics songs you never have a hard time finding but this one is the hard one to find?? Anyway this has some good lyrical content....ENJOY!!

Throwback Thursday... this is my all time fav track from T.I. he speaks the truth!!

Quote of the day

"Haste in every business brings failures." Herodotus

The gorgeous Kelly Rowland-Her South African Cosmo spread!

She was always my favorite Destiny Child....look at her spread what a classy woman...Love her pics!!
Simply gorgeous...

Quote of the day

"Riches, mediocrity and poverty begin in the mind." Remez Sasson

Limes for beauty purposes

1. Limes have some beneficial effects and should be a part of your beauty regimen.  A really cool rub for your face is a little bit of oatmeal and lime juice this mask with help smoothen your face.

2. Limes are also good to help lighten dark knees by applying limehalves to your knees and rubbing it into your knees. 

3.  The juice of the lime when applied to your face can aid acne, the acid in the lime does the trick.

There are many health benefits in using limes and lime juice..Incorporate Limes into your diet and you will feel and look better than before.

Quote of the day

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. "



Dalai Lama

My favorite rapper T.I. I like this pic

This is suppose to be the picture of his new album coming out soon...Im liking the pic for the album cover....I love Lions anyway and love the meaning behind the concept. I still think T.I. is the best rapper out of the south!

Charles Barkley says its Terrible...Did you see Michael Jordan's Hitler mustache??? LOL

Look what Charles Barkley had to say about his friend Michael Jordan's mustache in a new Hanes commercial...LOL..I love Charles Barkley he is so honest and funny!!

Charles Barkley said "I have got to admit when I saw that commercial I had to take a double take... That is one of the stupidest things that I have seen in a long time. First of all, I can't believe that they let that commercial get on the air like that. I mean in making commercials, they have got little ladies there making sure the cheese is right. When I am shooting the Taco Bell commercial they have got this little woman making sure that every cinnamon twist and every piece of cheese is in order and now they let my man get on TV with that terrible mustache. I was totally in shock and just, I just can't believe that. That is really not good at all."



WTFFFFFFFFF?????? This is a bad look. And Charles Barkley was so funny and right on point to say what he did!!

WOW they wanna ban plastic horns called vuvuzelas at the World Cup-The South African horns

They want to ban the horns at the World Cup FIFA games.  The nonstop drone of plastic horns has been the soundtrack of the World Cup so far, on and off the field, and they're so annoying that FIFA is considering a ban. It can't come soon enough for some. "We can't sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas." the French captain tells the BBC.

I believe like others that they are trying to Europeanize the games by taking the traditional South African horn and making that an issue at these games.  I think the French are just pissed because they lost and now they want something to blame.

This is what they are saying is making them go crazy

I say deal with the noise and shutup!! LOL

Quote of the day

"He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has." ~Henry Ward Beecher

Quote of the day

"He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has." ~Henry Ward Beecher

World Cup 2010 Shakiras video in honor of the games and Africa

I like this video....it looks like it was done in very good taste!

I think Jason Derulo gonna give Trey Songz a run for his money

Trey Songz is not all that talented and cant dance...hes just riding his wave of fame based on hpw fine he thinks he looks...thats not gonna take him very far! Jason Derulo has some talent he can sing and dance and I think Trey is gonnna have alot of problems competing with Jason! 

Peep Jason's video below

Quote of the day

"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." Mohandas Gandhi

I think Karate Kid remake is gonna be better than the original!!

I will have to go and see this movie...it looks a lot better than the original!

Quote of the day

"It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision." Helen Keller

Why are Americans so scared of sexuality-Theres nothing wrong with this commercial

There is not a damn thing wrong with this commercial....Why are we so scared of sexuality.  Americans love the hell out of some violence but anything to hint sex we cannot take?  There is a difference between showing sexuality and pornography.  It seems our culture loves pornography and the exploitation of sex. Put on any American movie and you will see blood, carnage and violence.  Any movie with sensuality and passion is void in our cinema. 

Celebrating early the LAKERs will win this!!!! No doubt

GO Kobe!!!!
Lakers will be champions 2010!!!

Such a beautiful family!

Is it me or does Wacka Flaka Flame look like Charles Barkley

LOL I just noticed that Wacka Flocka Flame looks alot like Charles Barkley is that his dad???? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Hey they say u have a twin walking around!

Damn she looks that bad without makeup

Alicia Keys looks so bad without makeup and so many pimples...u would think with all that money she would cover that mess up..

Girls stop trying to be these hollywood stars and embrace ur own beauty...they have to spend hours in makeup to look a certain image alot of us have that gift naturally ...Embrace U!!!

I love MY PRESIDENT...FUCK all the HATERS!!!

President Obama is doing a better job than all the presidents weve had in a long long time... I love the fact that he is determined to move forward despite all the skeptics and haters..This man has character and courage built of steel....We have been blessed with a true leader...and he is doing an excellent job

Heres a recent clip and Im glad he said it!

Throwback song of the day SOS Band-No ones gonna love you

This was the song back in the day they dont make music like this anymore!I was 14 when this song came out...WOW Im getting so old....Well enjoy a real song.......

Quote of the day

"Time is the wisest of things because it finds out everything." Thales-Greek philosopher

WTF Chris Brown denied entry into England?

I mean I know what Chris did was horrible but how is that a dnager to coming and doing a concert in England? He beat his girlfriend up he didnt kill anyone or rape anyone. That was between him and Rihanna....something else is behind this...somebody in the music industry with alot of power is jealous of Chris Browns talent.. Even Michael Jackson said Chris had alot of talent....Something aint right....its not like hes a serial killer.....he was accused of domestic violence ok thats bad but to to ban him entry into a country....ARE U FUCKIN SERIOUS??? someones priorities are jacked up....WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!WOW

Marvin Isley dead at age 56!

RIP Marvin Isley.....a bad bass guitarist!! He died of complications from diabetes on 6/7/10 he was only 56 years old...Another great musician gone...and no one to replace or even come close to this type of talent!!

Marvin Isley, the bassist who helped the rhythm 'n' blues vocal trio the Isley Brothers reinvent themselves as a self-contained band and was featured on such hits as "That Lady," "Fight the Power," "Choosey Lover" and "Between the Sheets" died June 6 at a hospice in Chicago from complications of diabetes. Marvin joined the Brothers in 1972 when they were already well established as one of the most influential acts in soul and rock.


Peep the song below...we all know this cut!! Classic!!!!!!!!!!!

TUESDAY BEAUTY TIP- LEMONS!!! FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONS

I tried lemons on my face and it really works!!!!!!

Lemon is rich in fruit acids that will gently remove dead skin cells and bleach darkened or discolored areas. We recommend you only use fresh-squeezed juice, not the bottled stuff, which contains anti-oxidizing chemicals that are harmful to the skin.
Discontinue using any of these formulas if you experience discomfort or sensitivity.


Here are our lovely, lively lemon beauty tips:

1. To lighten discolored elbows: Cut a lemon in half and place one elbow in each half for approximately 10 minutes. Lemon’s acids will gently break down the dark patches of skin so they may be washed away.


2. To exfoliate dead skin and diminish the appearance of freckles and age spots: Gently rub a cut lemon and 1/2 teaspoon sugar granules over the skin for a few minutes. Repeat at least once a week until the darkened areas fade.


3. Another way to lighten age spots: Simply sit with a slice of lemon applied directly to the area for 10 minutes. Repeat once a week until spots fade.


4. Lemon hair conditioner: Mix the juice of one lemon with one cup warm water and apply to hair. Allow to remain for a few minutes, then rinse. This will add fresh bounce and shine.


5. Dandruff treatment: Mix a few tablespoons of fresh lemon with warm olive oil and rub gently into scalp. Allow to remain for 15 minutes, then shampoo and rinse as usual.


6. For smooth, pretty feet: In a foot bath, combine 1 cup of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup milk and enough water to fill the basin. (You may also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance, if you like.) Soak feet for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Do this once a week for several weeks for noticeably softer, smoother feet.


7. Astringent toner for oily skin: Combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons vodka, 1 tablespoon distilled water, 1 teaspoon witch hazel. Apply with clean cloth or cotton balls to skin, then rinse. Caution: Do not apply to broken skin, as it will sting! This formula will keep in the refrigerator for a week.

Interesting read on Native American plight! I hope our current president gives the Natives their justice!! Its been too long

A Victory for Native Americans?


Jun 7 2010, 12:21 PM ET
Comment



Mistreatment of Indians is America's Original Sin, and the narrative is consistent. They lose their land, get portrayed as caricatures of social maladies, and are ripped off by the likes of Jack Abramoff. So it's no surprise that a tale with a very different ending, namely the righting of a horrible wrong affecting 500,000 Native Americans, proceeds with virtually no notice.

Indeed, you'd think that even Tea Party diehards should rally to this cause, given their anti-government and pro-property rights passion. They might even want to pay homage to the intrepid female accountant-turned-banker, who inspired one of the most fiercely litigated disputes against the federal government in history. But they likely won't. Who will? Not even many Indians believe that belated fairness is now on the way, given more than a century of government abuse and deceit whose undisputed facts strain credulity.

The facts are these: Following the House's approval, the Senate is considering whether to approve a $3.4 billion settlement of a 15-year-old lawsuit, alleging the government illegally withheld more than $150 billion from Indians whose lands were taken in the 1880s to lease to oil, timber, minerals and other companies for a fee. Back then, the government started breaking up reservations, accumulating over 100 million acres, giving individual Indians 80 to 160 acres each, and taking legal title to properties placed in one of two trusts. The Indians were given beneficial ownership but the government managed the land, believing Indians couldn't handle their affairs. With leases for oil wells in Oklahoma, resorts in Palm Springs, and rights-of-ways for roads in Scottsdale, Arizona, some descendants of original owners receive six- and even seven-figure sums annually. But the prototypical beneficiary, now poised to share in the settlement, is a poor Dakotan who struggles to afford propane to heat his quarters and has been receiving as little as $20 a year. More than $400 million a year is collected from Indian lands and paid into U.S. Treasury account 14X6039.

The story turns on theft and incompetence by the Interior and Treasury Departments, with culprits including Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the same Minerals Management Service now at the center of the BP oil spill fiasco. Over the past 100 years, government record systems lost track of more than 40 million acres and who owns them. The records simply vanished. Meanwhile, documents were lost in fires and floods, buried in salt mines or found in an Albuquerque storage facility covered by rat feces and a deadly Hantavirus. Government officials exploited computer systems with no audit trails to turn Indian proceeds into slush funds but maintain plausible deniability.

The lack of accountability is confirmed in the government's own reports and testimony dating to the early 20th century. Conclusions of "fraud," "corruption," "institutional incompetence," "deficiencies in accounting," "the accounts lack credibility," "multifaceted monster," "organizational nightmare," "dismal history of inaction," "criminal negligence," and "sorry history of department mismanagement," are found regularly between 1915 and the present. Congress ordered an accounting in 1994 but interior secretaries in both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations were held in civil contempt for not forking over records. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Texas Republican nominated by President Reagan who oversaw the case for a decade, called the whole matter "government irresponsibility in its purest form."

I sat in Lamberth's courtroom in 1999 when Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt both lost his cool and conceded that the government couldn't provide accurate cash balances of most accounts and that "the fiduciary obligation of the United States is not being fulfilled." But the dispute would not end, as the Clinton and Bush administrations fought unceasing adverse rulings in a case inspiring 3,600 separate court filings and 80 published decisions. No single case, including the antitrust action against Microsoft, has been as heavily litigated and defended by the government, say lawyers.

The government's chief nemesis has been Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, the accountant-turned-banker who in 1987 started Blackfeet National Bank, the first national bank on a reservation. With a very small team of attorneys led by a Washington banking specialist, Dennis Gingold, her suit has inspired 3,600 court filings and 80 published decisions. Not even the antirust action against Microsoft was as heavily litigated by the government.

The historic resistance melded with an unsympathetic appeals court often overruling the dispute's two trial judges. It ordered removal of Lamberth, now the district court's chief judge, due to harsh language toward the government. Last year, it threw out a ruling by District Judge James Robertson, Lamberth's successor, that the Indians were owed $476 million, a pittance compared to the reduced, $48 billion they were seeking by then. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain both urged settlement during the 2008 campaign.


A resolute Judge Robertson then hauled Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and plaintiffs into his chambers last year. He made clear to one and all that, in light of the latest appeals court ruling, both sides had the choice between spending maybe another 10 years in court or trying to finally settle. The initial atmosphere was not necessarily conducive to harmony. Career government employees in the Interior, Justice and Treasury departments felt burned after years of being belittled by both the plaintiffs and Judge Lamberth. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs had minimal trust in the government. But political appointees in the Obama administration, including Salazar and Attorney General Eric Holder, took their cue from President Obama's own support of a settlement. Dozens of meetings ensued, with the many prickly issues including how far back in time one would go to try to determine who should benefit.



Ultimately, Judge Robertson prodded what, given all the legal setbacks, is an impressive $3.4 billion deal announced in December. Ironically, before the recent congressional recess, the House approved the deal and Robertson announced his retirement, meaning District Judge Thomas Hogan becomes the third, and hopefully final, arbiter in the case. He would oversee a so-called "fairness hearing" in which objections can be raised.



There is inherent complexity in wrapping up. If the Senate approves, there will be a media campaign throughout Indian Country, including direct mail, newspaper and broadcast public service advertisements. Garden City Group of Melville, New York, which handled the major class action against Enron, will be claims administrator. It will get computer lists from the Interior Department, with the account information of perhaps 500,000 Indians and then doublecheck names and addresses. How good are the records? Nobody is really sure.



The $3.4 billion will be placed in a still-to-be-selected bank and $1.4 billion will go to individuals, mostly in the form of checks ranging from $500 to $1,500. A small group, such as members of the Osage tribe who benefit from huge Oklahoma oil revenues, will get far more, based on a formula incorporating their 10 highest years of income between 1985 and 2009. As important, $2 billion will be used to buy trust land from Indian owners at fair market prices, with the government finally returning the land to tribes. Nobody can be forced to sell. As for the winning lawyers, their take is capped at $100 million, actually low by class-action standards, though Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, an orthopedic surgeon, has groused about the fees.



The fairness hearing will be interesting since many Indians have a hard time believing they're not still being shafted. "This proposed settlement fixes nothing, the U.S. won by legal weaseling," writes a member of the Upper Midwest's Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe on a message board. He's not alone. Like a family victimized by homicide, Indians may never experience enough healing to truly recover. But, finally, as hard as it is for them to believe, there really may be some justice.

Quote of the day

“Justice must never mirror evil, Justice must always be a mirror for Evil so that all may see.”

 Ahmad Ragab quotes

PRINCE 52 years old today Happy Birthday!!!!! He looks 25 lets reverse the numbers...LOL

Trivia about Prince

Prince was set to record a duet with Michael Jackson on his Bad album, but the two of them couldn't decide on the words, so he left the project.



Prince held the spot of #1 film, #1 single, and #1 album for Purple Rain, at the same time


Prince writes, produces, composes, and performs all of his own music


Sometimes also credited as: Prince, Camille, Alexander Nevermind, Paisley Park, Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Prince & The Revolution, Jamie Starr


Prince: (preaching about the importance of virtue) when you use those (curse) words, you call up all the anger, all the negatives times the word has been used before you bring it toward yourself. Why would you want that?

A true legend!!!! There will never be another one like him!!!  Artists today cannot even come close!!!

Heres my favorite Prince song of all TIME!!!

17 DAYS

Quote of the day

“Smooth, but not a criminal.” Michael Jackson quote

WHO knew Micki Free from Shalamar was full blooded Native American? We just thought he was lightskinned fine! LOL

NOW:

Ur not gonna believe this remember Micki Free who was with shalamar well he is a full blooded Indian....we thought he was just light skinned fine!! but turns out he is Native American....LOL Peep the video Games with Micki Free and Shalamar!!!

THEN: Micki is the one who sings the verses in this song!



THEN:

Micki on the left......WOW who knew he was a full blooded Native American???? Learn something mew everyday!!!!